Convertible Settee and Bed (John H. Evans, No. 591,095)
The patent by John H. Evans of Cleveland, Ohio, describes a Convertible Settee and Bed (Patent No. 591,095, 1897). The objective is to provide a convenient, easily and readily convertible article of furniture that transforms from a box-style settee into a two-story (bunk) bed.
Invention and Mechanism
The furniture uses sliding, reversible frames for the seat and back, and telescopic braces to lock the components into the upper bunk position.
1. Frame and Storage
- Ends (A, A), Front (F), Back (B), and Bottom (C): These pieces form the main settee-frame, creating a box suitable for holding bedding or other articles.
- Grooves: The end frames (A, A) are key, featuring both horizontal grooves () and vertical grooves () (with upper recesses
).
2. Conversion of Seat (Lower Bed)
- Reversible Seat-Frame (D): The seat is a frame adapted for making a bed on one of its sides.
- Mechanism: Pins (
) in the back corners of the seat-frame (D) fit into the horizontal grooves () in the end frames (A, A).
- Function: The seat is drawn out forward using the grooves and then turned over to form the lower bed surface (D in Fig. 2).
3. Conversion of Back (Upper Bed)
- Reversible Back (E): The settee’s back is also a frame adapted for making a bed.
- Mechanism: Pins (
) in the lower corners of the back frame (E) fit into the vertical grooves () in the end frames (A, A).
- Function: The back (E) is raised using the vertical grooves and pins, turned into a horizontal position, and made to rest in the upper recesses (
), forming the upper bunk surface (E in Fig. 2).
4. Adjustable Support (Key Innovation)
- Support and Brace (L): This mechanism connects the ends of the upper back frame (E) to the end frames (A, A). It consists of telescopic rods.
- Locking: The upper member of the telescopic rod is provided with a latch () that catches on the top edge of the lower member, preventing the rod from contracting.
- Function: When the back (E) is down, the rods (L) are contracted. When the back is raised into its horizontal position (the upper bed), the rods elongate and lock into a perpendicular position, providing rigid support and bracing for the upper bed frame.
Historical Significance and the Inventor
John H. Evans’s 1897 patent is a late 19th-century solution for efficient space utilization, reflecting the increasing population density and urbanization of the era.
- Space Saving: The invention addressed the universal need for dual-purpose furniture in small homes, apartments, and guest rooms. By converting from a settee to a stacked bunk bed, it offered both seating and sleeping space while preserving floor space—a significant economic and convenience benefit.
- Ingenious Transformation: The design is significant for its mechanical ingenuity, using the same components (seat and back) to create two completely separate sleeping levels and designing a simple, reliable telescopic brace (L) to lock the upper structure securely.
- The Inventor (John H. Evans): Evans, residing in Cleveland, Ohio, contributed to the vast market for domestic utility and convertible furniture, a highly competitive field in the late 19th century.
Concepts Influenced by This Invention
Evans’s settee-bed utilizes principles of convertible furniture and locking telescopic components that are standard in modern design.
- Multi-Stage Convertible Furniture: The design of using pivoted and sliding frames to transform one piece of furniture into a drastically different, multi-level form influenced the engineering of modern sofa-beds, convertible high-chairs, and fold-out shelving units.
- Telescopic Support with Positive Lock: The use of telescopic rods (L) that extend to a fixed position and utilize an internal latch () to prevent collapse is the foundational mechanism for modern:
- Adjustable Legs and Stands: The locking mechanism in camera tripods, adjustable walker legs, and portable lighting stands uses similar internal buttons, pins, or latches to secure telescoping members.
- Kinematic Guiding: The use of specific grooves (horizontal and vertical ) in the end frames to guide the reversible components (D and E) into their correct final positions is a simple, effective method of kinematic guiding, a principle used to manage the motion and alignment of parts in all types of transformation mechanisms.
