IP Library Granted Patent US 9,027,178
Granted Patent B2
US 9,027,178 · App. 13/168,438 · Granted May 12, 2015

Sleep system

Inventors: Blair Wieland (Fort Wayne, IN); Steven Stieglitz (Harlan, IN); Anthony J. Warncke (Archbold, OH); Martin J. Krause, Jr. (Fort Wayne, IN); Joel D. Alberda (Leo, IN); Donald E. Newfer (Auburn, IN)
Assignee: Sauder Manufacturing Co.
A47C17/1655A47C19/22A47C7/506A47C17/62
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,027,178
App. No.
13/168,438
Granted
May 12, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A furniture system ( 400 ) includes a furniture back ( 408 ) having a back front surface ( 410 ). A desk ( 414 ) having an upper work surface ( 434 ) extends forwardly from an upper central portion of the front back surface ( 410 ). The system ( 400 ) also includes a pair of bases ( 426 ) with a pair of seats ( 424 ) positioned above the bases ( 426 ). A spatial interior area ( 427 ) exists between lateral sides of the seats ( 424 ), and the desk ( 414 ) is centered laterally between the seats ( 424 ). The furniture system ( 400 ) is movable between sitting configurations and sleeping configurations.

Claims (48)

1. A sleep system assembly adapted for conversion between various environmental applications, said environmental applications comprising at least a sitting configuration, a sleeping configuration, and a desking configuration, said sleep system assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

at least a pair of seats, each having an upper surface on which a user may sit when said sleep system assembly is in said sitting configuration;

a furniture back positioned substantially upwardly and rearwardly from said seats, and adapted to provide back support when a user is sitting in one of said seats and said sleep system assembly is in said sitting configuration, said furniture back comprising a back front surface and a rear back surface;

at least one linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism being directly or indirectly connected to said frame, and adapted to move said sleep system assembly between said sitting configuration and others of said environmental applications;

a desk coupled to said back front surface of said furniture back, and positioned forwardly and extending in a horizontal plane when said sleep system assembly is in said sitting configuration;

a foot print of said sleep system assembly is maintained as a pre-determined size independent of the particular environmental application of said sleep system assembly at any given time;

when said sleep system assembly is in said sleeping configuration, said rear back surface acts as a sleeping surface for said user; and

said desk can be converted between an operable position and a non-operable position without the necessity of moving outside of said foot print of said predetermined size of said sleep system assembly when in either of said positions.

2. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that a back support is provided within said sofa configuration.

3. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said linkage mechanism is hidden from view at all times during operation or stationary position of said sleep system assembly.

4. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly is specifically adaptable between said sleeping configuration and a desking application.

5. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly is convertible between said sleep configuration and said sitting configuration, and is further convertible between said sitting configuration and a desking application.

6. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said desk is coupled to a back front surface.

7. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said desk moves in unison with a back front surface when said sleep system assembly is moving between configurations.

8. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that in each of said various environmental applications, said desk is positioned so as to not extend forwardly beyond a front vertical plane of the entirety of said sleep system assembly.

9. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said desk is capable of being stored between opposing seats of said assembly when said assembly is in said sleep configuration.

10. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 9 , characterized in that when said sleep system assembly is in said sleep configuration, said desk is fitted between said opposing seats of said assembly.

11. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 10 , characterized in that when said assembly is in said sitting configuration, said assembly comprises pairs of bases and seats, configured so as to provide a spatial interior area between lateral sides of said seats and bases, with said seats and bases facing each other.

12. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 11 , characterized in that when said assembly is in said sitting configuration, and users are seated on said seats, said users can position their legs forwardly of a front vertical plane of said sleep system assembly or, alternatively, can position their legs in a sideways orientation, with their legs extending into said interior spatial area.

13. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated footrest, said footrest being movable between an extended position and a hidden, retracted position.

14. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated storage area.

15. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated footrest, and lever means for manipulating said integrated footrest.

16. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 11 , characterized in that said desk is centered laterally between seats of said assembly, and has a width which is smaller than the width of said spatial interior area.

17. A sleep system assembly adapted for conversion between various environmental applications, said environmental applications comprising at least a sitting configuration, a sleeping configuration, and a desking configuration, said sleep system assembly comprising:

a supporting frame;

at least a pair of seats, each having an upper surface on which a user may sit when said sleep system assembly is in a sofa sitting configuration;

a furniture back positioned substantially upwardly and rearwardly from said seats, and adapted to provide back support when a user is sitting in one of said seats and said sleep system assembly is in said sofa sitting configuration, said furniture back comprising a back front surface and a rear back surface;

at least one linkage mechanism, said linkage mechanism being directly or indirectly connected to said frame, and adapted to move said sleep system assembly between said sofa sitting configuration and others of said environmental applications;

a desk coupled to said back front surface of said furniture back, and positioned forwardly and extending in a horizontal plane when said sleep system assembly is in said sitting configuration;

a foot print of said sleep system assembly is maintained as a pre-determined size independent of the particular environmental application of said sleep system assembly at any given time;

when said sleep system assembly is in said sleeping configuration, said rear back surface acts as a sleeping surface for said user; and

in each of said environmental applications, said desk is positioned so as to not extend forwardly beyond a front vertical plane of the entirety of said sleep system assembly.

18. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that a back support is provided within said sofa configuration.

19. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said linkage mechanism is hidden from view at all times during operation or stationary position of said sleep system assembly.

20. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said assembly is specifically adaptable between said sleeping configuration and a desking application.

21. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said assembly is convertible between said sleep configuration and said sitting configuration, and is further convertible between said sitting configuration and a desking application.

22. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said desk is coupled to a back front surface.

23. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said desk moves in unison with a back front surface when said sleep system assembly is moving between configurations.

24. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said desk can be converted between an operable position and a non-operable position without the necessity of moving outside of said foot print of said pre-determined size of a foot print of the sleep system assembly when in either of said positions.

25. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said desk is capable of being stored between opposing seats of said assembly when said assembly is in said sleep configuration.

26. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 25 , characterized in that when said sleep system assembly is in said sleep configuration, said desk is fitted between said opposing seats of said assembly.

27. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 26 , characterized in that when said assembly is in said sitting configuration, said assembly comprises pairs of bases and seats, configured so as to provide a spatial interior area between lateral sides of said seats and bases, with said seats and bases facing each other.

28. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 27 , characterized in that when said assembly is in said sitting configuration, and users are seated on said seats, said users can position their legs forwardly of a front vertical plane of said sleep system assembly or, alternatively, can position their legs in a sideways orientation, with their legs extending into said interior spatial area.

29. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated footrest, said footrest being movable between an extended position and a hidden, retracted position.

30. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated storage area.

31. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 17 , characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one integrated footrest, and lever means for manipulating said integrated footrest.

32. A sleep system assembly in accordance with claim 27 , characterized in that said desk is centered laterally between seats of said assembly, and has a width which is smaller than the width of said spatial interior area.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL 052159, FRAME 0208 Recorded Sep 13, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
Reel/Frame 068967/0728 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2024
From: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068565/0887 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 12, 2020
From: SAUDER WOODWORKING CO.; SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052159/0208 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2015
From: WIELAND, BLAIR; STIEGLITZ, STEVEN; WARNCKE, ANTHONY J; KRAUSE, MARTIN J, JR; ALBERDA, JOEL D
To: SAUDER MANUFACTURING CO.
Reel/Frame 035081/0850 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61358699 · Jun 25, 2010
Related Publication 20120131745A1 · May 31, 2012