How Sofa Beds Work

Bed Frame Mechanisms

• Sofa beds get their ability to convert and transform from a sofa to a bed and vice versa from special framing mechanisms. The bed frame is made from metal strong, but lightweight metals that form the base of the bed. The metals are connected and hinged together so the bed can fold inside when the unit is used as a sofa, and unfold and expand when the unit is used as a bed. The frame also includes support bars in the middle to support the weight of the sleeper and a support bar at the end that is lowered to create legs for the bed.

Ease of Operation

• Ease of use was the main challenge faced by early sofa bed designers in order to create a product with mass appeal. While perfecting his design, Bernard Castro, the self-proclaimed "conqueror of living space," noticed how effortlessly and quickly his young daughter was able to convert the sofa. He went on to feature her in advertisements using the slogan "so easy, even a child can do it." Sofa beds on the market today take little effort to operate. Most are easily transformed from sofas to sleepers in 20 seconds or less.

Transforming the Sofa to a Sleeper

• The user starts by removing the seat cushions from the sofa. This will reveal a horizontal metal bar. The user raises the bar toward them to expose the bed. As they continue lifting the bar, the entire bed unit comes out from the rear of the sofa. The user then lowers the bed. While doing this, another support bar unfolds to serve as the base and "legs" to support the end of the bed on the floor, and completing the transformation.

Returning the Sleeper to a Sofa

• When users are finished sleeping they have to convert the sofa bed back to a sofa again. This is achieved by first taking off the sheets and other bedding on the bed. Then the user lifts up the metal bar at the foot of the bed, and continues lifting until they can fold the end frame over in half. The next step is to lift and push the folded portion of the bed forward, toward the base of the sofa. At this point the four-section, folding frame mechanism lets the user glide the folded bed components inside, so the shape of the unit returns to a sofa. The last task is to put the sofa cushions back to complete the conversion of the bed back into a sofa.