THREE-POSTURE FRAME STRUCTURE AND A SOFA STRUCTURE

Description

This application is a Continuation Application of PCT/CN2025/096227, filed on May 21, 2025, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411485266.X, filed on Oct. 23, 2024, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of furniture, in particular to a three-posture frame structure and a sofa structure.

BACKGROUND

An electric sofa is a modern piece of furniture with rich functionalities. They typically provide multiple adjustable postures through combination with motors, such as a sitting posture suitable for reading or working, a TV posture suitable for watching television or leisure activities, and a lying posture suitable for relaxation or rest.

Existing three-posture sofa structures are diverse. Most adjust angles between leg plates, seat panels, and backrests through movement of electric push rods. For example, a Chinese utility model patent with authorization announcement number CN215959113U, published on Mar. 8, 2022, discloses an electric sofa telescopic iron frame. It is achieved by arranging telescopic mechanisms on both sides of the telescopic iron frame, so that the driver can drive the second link assembly to act, thereby driving the extension of the leg rest mounting plate. Meanwhile, the front part of the sofa seat mounting plate is lifted through the first link assembly, which facilitates the adjustment of the sofa between postures such as sitting posture, TV posture, and lying posture.

However, the inventor has found that existing three-posture sofas have drawbacks. On one hand, their structures are relatively complex, leading to high production and maintenance costs. On the other hand, the seat cushion portion of most existing three-posture sofas moves simultaneously with the leg rest plate. This structure not only affects the stability of the sofa's framework but also may cause the hips to tilt downward or slide when the footrest and seat cushion tilt simultaneously, thereby compromising comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of at least one of the above technical problems, the present invention provides a three-posture frame structure and a sofa structure. Structural improvements are adopted to enhance the structural stability of the three-posture sofa and reduce costs.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a three-posture frame structure is provided, comprising a seat frame and the following components arranged on the seat frame:

• • a first telescopic unit, connected to the bottom of the seat frame and extendable or retractable toward a front end of the seat frame;
  • a leg rest plate, fixed to the movable end of the first telescopic unit;
  • a drive mechanism, one end of which is rotatably connected to the bottom side of the seat frame, and the other end is rotatably connected to the first telescopic unit;
  • a backrest frame, rotatably connected to the seat frame and located on a side away from the leg rest plate;
  • a second telescopic unit, rotatably connected to the backrest frame for driving a change in the angle of the backrest frame;
  • wherein the second telescopic unit is rotatably connected to the first telescopic unit;
  • when the drive mechanism retracts to an initial state, a sitting posture is formed;
  • When the drive mechanism extends, the first telescopic unit is first extended out of the seat frame to form a TV posture, and then the first telescopic unit drives the second telescopic unit to change the angle of the backrest frame to form a lying posture.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the seat frame comprises armrest frames arranged on both sides and a seat furniture frame connected to inner sides of the two armrest frames.

In some embodiments of the present invention, each armrest frame comprises an armrest bracket and two legs connected to the armrest bracket, the two legs being arranged in parallel and integrally formed with the armrest bracket.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first telescopic unit comprises:

• • a first link having one end rotatably connected to the leg rest plate;
  • a second link having one end rotatably connected to the bottom of the seat frame and another end rotatably connected to another end of the first link to form a V-shaped telescopic structure;
  • a third link having one end rotatably connected to the leg rest plate and a middle portion rotatably connected to a middle portion of the second link, such that the first link, the second link, and the third link constitute a quadrilateral structure, the other end of the third link is arranged to protrude outside the second link.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first telescopic unit further comprises a T-shaped push rod, the T-shaped push rod comprising a horizontal rod and a vertical rod connected to the horizontal rod;

• • one end of the horizontal rod is rotatably connected to the bottom of the seat frame;
  • a distal end of the vertical rod is rotatably connected to the end of the third link protruding from the second link;
  • the drive mechanism is an electric push rod, and a driving end of the electric push rod is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the vertical rod of the T-shaped push rod.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first telescopic unit is symmetrically arranged on both sides in a width direction of the seat frame;

• • a support rod is connected between the two T-shaped push rods and fixed to the two vertical rods;
  • the electric push rod is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the support rod.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the second telescopic unit comprises:

• • a support plate, which is fixed to the seat frame;
  • a three-terminal connector, wherein a first end of the three-terminal connector is rotatably connected to the support plate, and a second end of the three-terminal connector is fixedly connected to a side wall of the backrest frame; a swing rod assembly having one end connected to a third end of the three-end connector and another end rotatably connected to another end of the horizontal rod of the T-shaped push rod, to achieve the change of the angle of the backrest frame through the rotation of the T-shaped push rod.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the swing rod assembly comprises a swing rod and a push-pull rod;

• • one end of the swing rod is rotatably connected to the three-end connector, and another end is rotatably connected to the push-pull rod;
  • while the other end of the push-pull rod is rotatably connected to the horizontal rod; wherein the support plate is provided with a guide rail, the swing rod and the push-pull rod are rotatably connected within the guide rail;
  • the guide rail comprises an arc segment and a straight segment;

The swing rod is configured to rotate solely within the arc segment while the three-posture frame structure is being driven into the TV posture.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the guide rail is a guide groove provided on the support plate;

• • a roller is rotatably connected within the guide groove;
  • both the swing rod and the push-pull rod are rotatably connected to the roller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a sofa structure is provided, comprising the three-posture frame structure according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are: In the three-posture frame structure of the present invention, the seat frame is fixed. The first telescopic unit and the second telescopic unit drive the movement of the leg rest plate and the backrest frame respectively under the drive of the drive mechanism. Compared with the prior art, the structural stability of the three-posture sofa is improved. Moreover, through the linkage of the first telescopic unit and the second telescopic unit, the TV posture adjustment is performed first, followed by the lying posture adjustment. Compared with the prior art, the structure is simpler, and user comfort is enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings may be derived from these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the TV posture in the three-posture frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the sitting posture in the three-posture frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the lying posture in the three-posture frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the three-posture frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the three-posture frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention (omitting the armrest frame);

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the three postures of the first telescopic unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the three-posture frame structure from another angle according to an embodiment of the present invention (with the armrest frame omitted);

FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged view of area A in FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the connection structure among the support plate, the three-end connector, and the swing rod according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the three postures of the second telescopic unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1. Seat frame; 11. Armrest frame; 11a. Armrest bracket; 11b. Leg; 12. Seat furniture frame; 2. First telescopic unit; 21. First link; 22. Second link; 23. Third link; 24. T-shaped push rod; 24a. Horizontal rod; 24b. Vertical rod; 25. Support rod; 3. Leg rest plate; 4. Drive mechanism; 5. Backrest frame; 6. Second telescopic unit; 61. Support plate; 611. Guide rail; 611a. Arc segment; 611b. Straight segment; 612. Connection lug; 62. Three-end connector; 63. Swing rod assembly; 63a. Swing rod; 63b. Push-pull rod; 63c. Roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed to” another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be intervening elements. When an element is considered to be “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may exist simultaneously. Terms such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “left,” “right,” and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of the present invention. The terminology used in the description of the present invention is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present invention. The term “and/or” as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the three-posture frame structure comprises a seat frame 1, and a first telescopic unit 2, a leg rest plate 3, a drive mechanism 4, a backrest frame 5, and a second telescopic unit 6 arranged on the seat frame 1. FIG. 1 shows the TV posture of the three-posture frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first telescopic unit 2 is connected to the bottom of the seat frame 1 and is extendable or retractable toward the front end of the seat frame 1. The “front end of the seat frame 1” refers to the direction where the user's lower legs are raised when sitting on the sofa. The leg rest plate 3 is fixed to the end portion of the first telescopic unit 2, specifically the outer end portion as shown in FIG. 1. The drive mechanism 4 has one end rotatably connected to the bottom side of the seat frame 1 and another end rotatably connected to the first telescopic unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, this is the sitting posture of the three-posture frame in the embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the drive mechanism 4 performs telescopic motion in a linear direction, specifically, it can adopt various structural forms such as an electric push rod or a gas spring. The backrest frame 5 is rotationally connected to the seat frame 1 and is located on the side away from the leg rest plate 3. The “rotatably connected” means the bottom of the backrest frame 5 is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the seat frame 1 to enable switching between sitting and lying postures for the user. The second telescopic unit 6 is rotatably connected to the backrest frame 5 to drive the change in the angle of the backrest frame 5. It should be noted that the first telescopic unit 2 and the second telescopic unit 6 can have various structural forms in the prior art, achievable through the connection of multiple links. In the following embodiments of the present invention, one specific structure will be described in detail.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the second telescopic unit 6 is rotatably connected to the first telescopic unit 2. When the drive mechanism 4 retracts to an initial state, the sitting posture is formed. When the drive mechanism 4 extends, the first telescopic unit 2 first extends outward from the seat frame 1 to form the TV posture, and then the first telescopic unit 2 drives the second telescopic unit 6 to change the angle of the backrest frame 5 to form the lying posture. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the drive mechanism 4 extends, it first adjusts the angle of the leg rest plate 3 in the TV posture. While lying on the backrest, the user can adjust the lower legs to a comfortable angle without changing the angles of the hips and back during the adjustment. When lying down is required, continuing to control the drive mechanism 4 to extend can realize the reclining of the backrest frame 5, thereby adjusting the angle of the backrest. Through the above settings, the adjustable postures are more varied, and the adaptability to users of different body types is better.

In the above embodiment, by fixing the seat frame 1 in the three-posture frame structure, the first telescopic unit 2 and the second telescopic unit 6 respectively drive the movement of the leg rest plate 3 and the backrest frame 5 under the drive of the drive mechanism 4, compared with the prior art, the structural stability of the three-posture sofa is improved. Moreover, through the linkage of the first telescopic unit 2 and the second telescopic unit 6, the TV posture adjustment is performed first, followed by the lying posture adjustment. Compared with the prior art, the structure is simpler, and user comfort is enhanced.

Based on the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the present invention, the seat frame 1 comprises armrest frames 11 arranged on both sides and a seat furniture frame 12 connected to the inner sides of the two armrest frames 11. In specific implementation of the connection, the seat furniture frame 12 is connected to the two armrest frames 11 on both sides respectively. The specific connection method can be achieved by means such as screwing. Through the arrangement of this structure, it facilitates processing and installation, and also facilitates disassembly and maintenance.

To further improve the convenience of processing and manufacturing, please continue to refer to FIG. 4. In the embodiment of the present invention, each armrest frame 11 comprises an armrest bracket 11a and two legs 11b connected to the armrest bracket 11a. The two legs 11b are arranged in parallel and integrally formed with the armrest bracket 11a. By arranging the legs 11b on the armrest frame 11, the seat frame 1 is formed after the armrest frame 11 is connected to the seat furniture frame 12, thereby improving installation efficiency. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the armrest frame 11 can be configured as a door-shaped frame with a connecting rod additionally connected in the middle. When specifically connected to the seat furniture frame 12, the connection is made at the position of the connecting rod. Through the arrangement of this structural form, while the structure is simple, the structural stability of the armrest frame 11 can also be ensured.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the specific structure of the first telescopic unit 2 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The first telescopic unit 2 comprises: a first link 21, a second link 22, and a third link 23. As shown in FIG. 5, one end of the first link 21 is rotatably connected to the leg rest plate 3. The connection can be made directly to the leg rest plate 3 or via angle steel or other profiles attached to the leg rest plate 3. One end of the second link 22 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the seat frame 1, and another end is rotatably connected to another end of the first link 21 to form a V-shaped telescopic structure. During telescoping of this V-shaped structure, the angle between the first link 21 and the second link 22 changes, thereby changing the angle and position of the leg rest plate 3. One end of the third link 23 is rotatably connected to the leg rest plate 3, and its middle portion is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the second link 22, such that the first link 21, the second link 22, and the third link 23 constitute a quadrilateral structure. One end of the third link 23 is rotatably connected to the leg rest plate 3, and its middle portion is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the second link 22, such that the first link 21, the second link 22, and the third link 23 constitute a quadrilateral structure. The other end of the third link 23 is arranged to protrude beyond the second link 22. With this arrangement, when the portion of the third link 23 protruding beyond the second link 22 is pushed, the angles of the quadrilateral change, causing the leg rest plate 3 to transition from a vertical state to an outwardly tilted state as shown in FIG. 6, thereby forming a TV viewing posture. When the leg rest plate 3 is further pushed, the leg rest plate 3 moves to the upper part of the seat furniture frame 12, forming a lying posture structure for the legs.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first telescopic unit 2 further comprises a T-shaped push rod 24. The T-shaped push rod 24 comprises a horizontal rod 24a and a vertical rod 24b connected to the horizontal rod 24a. One end of the horizontal rod 24a is rotatably connected to the bottom of the seat frame 1. The distal end of the vertical rod 24b is rotatably connected to the end of the third link 23 that protrudes beyond the second link 22. In the embodiment of the present invention, the length of the vertical rod 24b of the T-shaped push rod 24 is greater than that of the horizontal rod 24a. Moreover, the pivot point of the horizontal rod 24a with the seat frame 1 is close to the pivot point of the third link 23. This structure not only forms a lever mechanism with the T-shaped push rod 24 but also enables the T-shaped push rod 24 to push the leg rest plate 3 from vertical to tilted upward during rotation, facilitating smooth force transmission and reducing stress concentration. In the embodiment of the present invention, the drive mechanism 4 is an electric push rod, and the driving end of the electric push rod is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the vertical rod 24b of the T-shaped push rod 24. The electric push rod is prior art and will not be elaborated here.

Optionally, to further improve the stability of the force applied by the drive mechanism 4, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the first telescopic unit 2 is symmetrically arranged on both sides in the width direction of the seat frame 1. A support rod 25 is connected between the two T-shaped push rods 24 and fixed to the two vertical rods 24b. The electric push rod is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the support rod 25. Thus, when the electric push rod applies force, the force is first transmitted to the support rod 25, which then synchronously pushes the rotation of the two T-shaped push rods 24, ensuring the leg rest plate 3 flips parallelly without twisting.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the specific structure of the second telescopic unit 6 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The second telescopic unit 6 includes a support plate 61, a three-end connector 62, and a swing rod assembly 63. As specifically shown in FIG. 8, the support plate 61 is fixed to the seat frame 1. For specific connection, holes can be formed on the support plate 61 to fix it to the seat furniture frame 12 by means of screw connection. In the embodiment of the present invention, the support plate 61 is vertically arranged. The first end of the three-end connector 62 is rotatably connected to the support plate 61, and the second end of the three-end connector 62 is fixedly connected to the side wall of the backrest frame 5. In the embodiment of the present invention, the three-end connector 62 is in an inverted T-shaped structure, and its middle vertical segment is fixedly connected to the backrest frame 5. The rotatable connection between the first end and the support plate 61 enables the angle adjustment of the backrest frame 5, and the angle change is driven by the swing rod assembly 63. One end of the swing rod assembly 63 is connected to the third end of the three-end connector 62, and the other end is rotatably connected to the other end of the horizontal rod 24a of the T-shaped push rod 24, so as to realize the change of the angle of the backrest frame 5 through the rotation of the T-shaped push rod 24.

Please continue to refer to FIGS. 8 and 9. In the embodiment of the present invention, the swing rod assembly 63 comprises a swing rod 63a and a push-pull rod 63b. One end of the swing rod 63a is rotatably connected to the three-end connector 62, and another end is rotatably connected to the push-pull rod 63b. Another end of the push-pull rod 63b is rotatably connected to the horizontal rod 24a. The support plate 61 is provided with a guide rail 611. The swing rod 63a and the push-pull rod 63b are rotatably connected within the guide rail 611. The guide rail 611 comprises an arc segment 611a and a straight segment 611b. The swing rod 63a is configured to rotate only within the arc segment 611a during the process of driving the three-posture frame structure to the TV posture. As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the arc segment 611a and straight segment 611b of the guide rail 611 enables the swing rod 63a to swing and rotate with the connection point of the three-end connector 62 as the center within the arc segment 611a. This ensures that the backrest frame 5 remains unaffected during the adjustment of the TV posture. When the TV posture adjustment is completed and the lying posture adjustment continues, the push-pull rod 63b pulls the swing rod 63a into the straight segment 611b, the straight segment 611b is inclined upward. This allows the swing rod 63a to pull the three-end connector 62 to change its angle, thereby driving the angle change of the backrest frame 5.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the guide rail 611 is a guide groove provided on the support plate 61. A roller 63c is rotatably connected within the guide groove. The swing rod 63a and the push-pull rod 63b are both rotatably connected to the roller 63c. The provision of the roller 63c reduces the resistance during the movement of the swing rod 63a within the guide rail 611, facilitates the processing and manufacturing, and reduces the production costs. Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the support plate 61 is further provided with an inwardly bent connecting lug 612, as shown in FIG. 4. On the one hand, the connecting lug 612 can serve to fix the seat furniture frame 12; on the other hand, the connecting lug 612 also has a limiting function, capable of abutting against the side wall of the three-end connector 62 to prevent excessive forward tilting of the backrest frame 5.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a sofa structure is also provided, comprising the aforementioned three-posture frame structure. During manufacturing, simply fixing cushions, backrests, armrests, and electrical control switches onto this frame is required. The structure is simple and installation is convenient, making it suitable for promotion and use. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments and the description merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, various changes and improvements may be made, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.