FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to convertible structures and furniture. In particular, the invention relates to what is set forth in the preamble of the independent claim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various convertible furniture is known from the prior art. A variety of mechanisms and arrangements have been presented, especially in the context of bed sofas, for converting furniture from a seat to a bed and vice versa.

Typically, the solutions according to the prior art are complicated and based on the use of different kinds of mechanisms for converting the furniture. Structural simplicity and non-necessity of tools are desirable features for easy use of convertible furniture. Besides, the manufacturing techniques of the furniture vary a lot, and special mechanisms, above all, may pose additional requirements and add costs to the manufacture of the furniture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at alleviating the above-mentioned drawbacks related to the prior art.

A special advantage of the invention is the simplicity of the solution provided which is preferable not only for the practical convenience offered by the solution but also for the manufacture of the solution. Besides, the solution provided by the invention is robust in structure and reliable in use, partly because of its simplicity. Neither tools nor a special mechanism are required to convert the convertible piece of furniture according to the invention.

The convertible piece of furniture according to the invention is characterized in what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1 .

According to an embodiment of the invention, a sidewall and the frame of the convertible piece of furniture comprise recesses and projections, respectively, allowing the sidewall to be attached to the frame by inserting the projections into the recesses. The recesses may also extend through the entire sidewall to make it possible to use the same recesses for mounting the sidewall, on both sides of the sidewall, on the projections of the frame.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the frame of the convertible piece of furniture is substantially box-shaped or cuboid-shaped.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the backrest of the convertible piece of furniture is immovably attached to a sidewall. According to another embodiment of the invention, a separate seat section which is positioned, together with the backrest, inside the frame, without tilting, is also attached to that sidewall of the convertible piece of furniture to which the sidewall is attached.

The invention provides a convertible piece of furniture which can be used as a seat or performance stage or bed platform. Thus, the convertible piece of furniture according to the invention can be used in different kinds of premises where space can be used for performances or for holding speeches and where both the amount of stage space and the number of seats needed may vary. The convertible piece of furniture according to the invention can also be used as a bed, or as a bed platform, the interior of the frame of the solution also allowing linen, blankets etc. to be stored therein. The piece of furniture according to the invention, being convertible from a seat to a platform, such as a bed, and vice versa, is especially useful in living areas with limited space.

The utility of the convertible piece of furniture according to the invention arises from different features, slightly depending on the embodiment.

Herein, the term’’exemplifying” is used to refer to different examples, not necessarily to the best alternative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is an exemplifying view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where a backrest sidewall is mounted on a frame, with its backrest side facing away from the interior of the frame,

Figure 2 is an exemplifying view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where the backrest sidewall is mounted on the frame, with its backrest inside the frame,

Figure 3 is an exemplifying sectional view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where the backrest sidewall is mounted on the frame, with its backrest inside the frame.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is an exemplifying view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where a backrest sidewall (102) is mounted on a frame (100), with its backrest side (102a) facing away from the interior of the frame (100). In this position, the convertible piece of furniture can be used as a seat having a backrest.

The backrest sidewall (102) comprises at least a backrest (104) attached to the sidewall, the backrest (104) possibly being unremovably and/or immovably attached, resulting that the backrest (104) cannot be tilted or pivoted but is fixedly supported. Alternatively, the backrest (104) can be an integrated part of the sidewall, the backrest (104) thus not being a separate part or attached to the sidewall (102) by means of separate fasteners.

The backrest sidewall (102) is mounted on the frame (100) by positioning recesses (108) provided in the backrest sidewall (102) on pins or similar projections (106) provided on the frame (100). Other ways of attachment, such as straps or latches, can be employed to attach the backrest sidewall (102) to the frame (100).

In addition to the backrest (104), the backrest sidewall (102) may comprise other parts, such as a seat section (1 10) and/or cushions. As a rule, any parts related to sitting are attached to the side (102a) comprising the backrest. Figure 2 is an exemplifying view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where the backrest sidewall (102) is mounted on the frame (100), with its backrest (104) inside the frame (100). The backrest sidewall (102) is mounted on the frame (100) by positioning recesses (108) provided in the backrest sidewall (102) on pins or similar projections (106) provided on the frame (100). In the shown embodiment, the side (102b) of the sidewall (102) facing away from the frame (100) is flat, not having anything attached to it, allowing it to be used as a platform, such as a performance stage, or as a part of a performance stage, or as a bed platform, or as a part of a bed, or as any other operational surface.

It is also possible to position convertible pieces of furniture according to the invention side by side, and, thus, to use them as modules to create larger stage or seat assemblies. Likewise, it is possible to use one convertible piece of furniture, or more convertible pieces of furniture, according to the invention as a bed or as a part of a bed.

Figure 3 is an exemplifying sectional view of a convertible piece of furniture according to the invention, converted to a position where the backrest sidewall (102) is mounted on the frame (100), with its backrest (104) inside the frame (100). This sectional view shows how the backrest (104) is positioned and fitted inside the frame (100) without any mechanisms or without removing the backrest (104) or tilting it to some other position.

In the shown embodiment, the frame (100) is box-shaped. In particular, the frame (100) can be substantially cuboid-shaped. However, the frame (100) can be embodied in a large variety of box shapes, such as in different polyhedron shapes. According to the embodiment considered, the backrest (104) is not only longitudinally attached along the sidewall (102) but a glulam beam of the backrest (104) stabilizes the sidewall (102) on both sides, making it useful as a platform for a person to stand or lie on.

A feasible manufacturing material for the invention is a wood product, such as plywood. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that both the materials and the dimensions of the convertible piece of furniture according to the invention may vary within the functionalities of the typical features of the invention. The scope of protection of the invention is defined in the claims. However, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the details of the different features of the invention may vary, to some extent, within the overall inventive idea, depending on the embodiment.