Dolphin type transformation sofas

Modern sofa bed today is one of the main components of the decor of any home. It is ideal for small and medium-sized apartments or apartments. For convenience and comfort, a number of different transformation mechanisms have been developed, which make it possible to turn the seat of such a sofa into a sleeping place. One of the most convenient, practical and attractive recognized transformation mechanism, having the name "Dolphin".

"Dolphin" is a variation of the so-called roll-out type of sofa layout. This means that the transformation begins with the movement of the wheels on the floor surface: that part of the bed that hides in the depths of the seat rolls out. This is carried out as a result of physical effort, in other words, the owner must pull the hinges mounted in the seat and pull the lower unit out.At this stage, it is important not to damage the floor covering, so a good design will surely be equipped with rubberized wheels.

At the next stage, the bed itself must be lifted directly from the platform, which when folded is in the “recessed” state. To do this, it is enough to pull up the same hinges; this movement activates the mechanism built into the design, raising the platform to the desired height.

At the same time some constructive nuances are possible, peculiar to the mechanisms of various manufacturers and capable of facilitating the lifting task:

1. The presence of gas lift, which contributes to the easy and fast lifting platform;
2. Different ways of fastening the rod-synchronizer, which serves to evenly distribute the load when lifting;
3. Quality roll-out rollers (the presence of silicone or rubber coating);
4. The presence of several levels of lifting platform.

This system has undeniable and time-tested advantages:

1. Reliability (sleeping platform is designed for a weight of 200 kg.);
2. Ease of transformation;
3. The possibility of daily use;
4. Budget cost.

The disadvantages of this mechanism are:

1. There is no space under the seat for the laundry box, as there is a roll-out platform;
2. The ability to get a bed of uneven elasticity, due to the fact that the seat is usually more rigid compared to the surface of the platform;
3. The location of the bed is not very high from the floor level.

The basis of the "dolphin" is the frame on which the seat is located and the transformation mechanism is mounted. The internal filling of the seats may consist of various soft fillers and spring blocks. For the convenience of owners, often angular modifications of sofas complement the table, shelves or bar.

The frame is usually made of the following materials:

1. Woodmost often it is dried pine; luxury models use beech, ash or oak;
2. Plywood (most common birch);
3. Chipboard which is laminated to give extra strength;
4. Combinations materials: wood and plywood, wood and chipboard, metal frame and wood.

Solid wood is considered to be a fairly strong and durable material, but a prerequisite for its high quality is the highest grade of wood, its processing and finishing.

The most durable, as practice shows, are oak, beech and ash, but pine or birch in a few years can cause cracks. The important point when working with wood is the observance of the entire technological chain, the shelf life of the sofa frame will depend on it. Qualitatively made timber should look perfectly smooth, not have knots and be smooth.

Plywood also turns out to be a qualitative basis for a sofa, but this applies only to those sheets that are made of alternating strips with longitudinal and cross-section. Chipboard, even covered with laminate, can not be called a reliable material for the sofa frame, as the rollers of the mechanism during the transformation carry out sliding movements on the surface of the frame and quite quickly lead the wood chip plate to useless.

The device mechanism is not particularly complex.At the bottom of the sofa is a roll-out hinged platform attached to the frame. It easily and freely extends along the guides of the beam through the rollers. In order for the sofa to become a sleeper, you need to roll out and lift the lower platform, this happens with the help of either springs or gas lifts. Additional accessories, such as stoppers, are not completed with all models of dolphin mechanisms, since this increases the final price tag and is not always welcomed by buyers.

From above on a sofa framework soft pillows or the seats filled with a filler keep within. In the manufacture of sofas, the filling may have a spring block at the base, covered with soft filler or springless.

Soft fillers include:

1. Coconut Tow, being a natural product, the main characteristic of which is elasticity;
2. Durafil - non-woven fabric of synthetic origin, elastic and hypoallergenic, in which bacteria and dust mites do not reproduce;
3. Holofiber - spiral polyester fiber, has springy properties;
4. Latex - elastic natural material derived from rubber, resistant and hypoallergenic;
5. Furniture foam, which is also called polyurethane foam;
6. Sintepon;
7. Sintepukhwhich is a curled polyester.

Spring filler:

1. Block of bonnel springs interconnected;
2. Flat spring blocks "snake";
3. Blocks, including hourglass springs, each of which is in a separate fabric case.

The latter are also the name of the block independent springs. Bonnel and blocks of independent springs are classified as orthopedic, as they provide the best quality of sleep.

In models having a snake-type spring at the base, they are covered with a thermal fuser on which the filler is laid. Most often it is furniture foam, a layer which can reach 20 cm.

Bonnel springs are able to withstand more weight due to their volume, they are interconnected by fasteners, which allows you to more evenly distribute the load on the seat area. This design allows the use of a thinner layer of filler, which reaches 4 cm. The independent spring block, which has a spring in “bags”, also allows the use of a not very large layer of soft filler and is the most expensive.

Also in the production of corner sofas can be used springless type of filling, providing additional rigidity. At the base of such a seat is plywood, on which polyurethane foam is laid, which has an increased density.

Choosing a folding sofa that has a roll-out mechanism of transformation "dolphin", you should carefully examine the features and features inherent in various designs.

Today in furniture stores you can find a large number of sofas with a berth, and especially fastidious buyers will be able to choose for themselves such an option as an orthopedic sofa, which will provide a much greater level of comfort of sleep. A feature of this design is the presence in the base of the sleeping block of the lattice of special wooden elements, which are called armor. Thanks to them, as well as the presence of a block of independent springs, the weight of the sleeper is distributed most evenly, contributing to the treatment and prevention of diseases of the spine.

Another feature of the design of the sofa bed is the presence of storage tanks. The usual dolphin sofa models are available with an ottoman, or, as it is also called, a stool. It is located under her box for linen, a convenient place to store bedding. In direct models, there is no such capacity, since the space under the seat is occupied by a folding platform.

Also, sofa models are significantly different in their size. Manufacturers take into account the need to equip both small one-room apartments and spacious halls of hotels or offices. Mini-sofas with a dolphin mechanism can be placed in the kitchen or in the hallway. Moreover, for the convenience of customers created models without armrests, occupying very little space.

Among the interesting models that have a dolphin transformation mechanism are both straight and angular structures:

• Owners of a small apartment should pay attention to the straight mini-sofa called "Berlin", compact and neat, having a non-standard design and designed for both the living room and the hallway or kitchen. The frame is made by combining wood and metal.The dimensions of this model are 180x106 cm. When you lay out it, you get a sleeping place of 188 x 140 cm, sufficient for one or two people. The filling consists of a spring block of the "snake" type and polyurethane foam (PUF). A feature of this model can be called direct wide armrests of veneered chipboard, which can serve as a shelf or table. The same chipboard decorated horizontal surface of the back of the sofa. In this model there is no box for linen, but there are two rectangular pillows. The cost of a direct sofa "Berlin" depends on the fabric chosen for upholstery and starts from 15,500 r.

• An interesting model of a budget corner sofa is “Atlanta. Its dimensions when assembled are 245x85x154 cm. When unfolded, you can get a sleeping place 200x143 cm. This design has a universal angle, the location of which is selected directly during assembly. The frame is made of a combination of timber, plywood and laminated chipboard. The seat filler is polyurethane foam. Upholstery is most often used as eco-leather, but you can also order a version of the fabric. In the corner compartment of the sofa there is a laundry storage box, equipped with a gas lift device.An interesting feature of the design is a coffee table equipped on the site of one of the armrests, which has two levels of shelves.

• "Philadelphia"- another one of the interesting variants of the modern corner sofa with a variant of the dolphin mechanism. It has a universal angle, dimensions 252x186x75 cm, when unfolded, a berth for two people will be 210x135cm. The frame is made of coniferous timber in combination with plywood and chipboard. The filler is polyurethane foam made by casting. Upholstery can be made of fabric, leatherette or eco-leather at the choice of the buyer. There is a niche for storing bed linen. An interesting design idea, giving the sofa "Philadelphia" individuality, is the decor of Kant and buttons on the pillows. The cost of such a sofa is 31 270 p.

• An interesting model of a straight sofa with a dolphin mechanism, which is called "Venice". An elegant two-seater sofa made in the Art Deco style has a size of 235x85 cm, forming a sleeping place of 195x156 cm when laying out.The seat filler is PPU (furniture foam rubber), the pillows are filled with foam rubber and holofiber, the soft curved armrests and the bottom of the sleeping platform are decorated with MDF rates. The upholstery of the sofa "Venice" can be made of nine types and colors of fabric, it is possible to perform in combination of two or three material options. In this model, there is no storage box for bedding, but five small decorative pillows are offered. It is possible to buy a sofa "Venice" for the sum from 19 000 rubles. (cost depends on the choice of material upholstery).

• Chesterfield is a model of an angular sofa with a cabinet, equipped with a transformation mechanism "dolphin". In this modification of the corner sofa there is no usual ottoman, but it has a linen cupboard under the outermost half-armchair. This model is made in a modern style with elements of classics, a distinctive feature is the ability to transform the angle, the location of which is selected during assembly. The dimensions in assembled form are 251x99x180 cm, the bed space measures 204x139 cm. The filler is polyurethane foam, the upholstery of the sofa is made partly of leather (the outer part of the seat, armrests and backrest), partly of leatherette. The cost ranges from 63 000 p.

• The famous manufacturer of upholstered furniture is the factory "March 8", which produces direct and corner sofas of various sizes, many of which have in their design a roll-out mechanism of transformation "dolphin". Most models, for example, corner sofa "Marco", Has narrow armrests, thanks to which it can be placed in a small room. But a large modular sofa "Palermo" can be completed at the choice of the buyer, he will decorate a spacious living room or hall.Filling the seats is made of spring blocks, covered with reinforced furniture foam rubber. In most cases, upholstery is treated with a protective agent, such as Teflon, which makes the fabric resistant to stains and wetting. The cost of sofas is significantly different in connection with components and upholstery. There are both low-end models and luxury class sofas.

• An interesting design has a small straight sofa with roll-out mechanism of transformation, which is called "Darcy". When assembled, the dimensions of the sofa are 200x112 cm., The berth is 200x160 cm. Its back, which consists of two parts, is equipped with independent adjustment of the angle of inclination and is capable of turning into comfortable headrests when laying out the berth. The frame of the sofa "Darcy" is made of a combination of hardwood, softwood, plywood and fiberboard. Polyurethane foam is used to fill the seats, holofiber is used for pillows. A great advantage of the design is the flexible base of the seat, which is made in the form of a lattice made from orthopedic lats. They are mounted on the frame and allow you to provide the most optimal elasticity for a berth.Upholstery can be selected from twelve types of fabric, the cost of which will depend on the final price of the sofa. Approximate cost is 22 500 p.

• Large straight sofa "Amadeus", which is decomposed using the dolphin mechanism, has a length of 240 cm and a depth of 102 cm. The bedding layout will be 200x155 cm. The model has a modern design, soft armrests of medium width are decorated with decorative overlays of MDF. This model, like all direct models with the dolphin transformation mechanism, does not have a drawer for storing linen, PPU is used as a filler, soft pillows are filled with holofiber. The cost of the sofa upholstered in the fabric of the first category will be 18 000 r.

The appearance of the sofa depends not only on its design and configuration, but largely on the color and quality of the materials from which the upholstery is made.

Among the upholstery fabrics, the most expensive material is genuine leather. Its high cost is due to excellent wear resistance, ease of maintenance and visual appeal. The sofa, made in leather upholstery, has always been considered a symbol of wealth and testified to the high status of the owner.

Currently, the cost of leather furniture is still significant, so these sofas belong to the luxury category. However, on the market you can find the so-called hybrid models, in which only the front parts of the upholstery are made of this expensive material: the seat, the outer surface of the backrest, the top of the armrests. The rest of the surfaces in such modifications are sheathed with leatherette or eco-leather of a suitable shade, so even for a close look it is difficult to notice the differences.

Fabrics used for upholstery are diverse, they are divided into categories depending on quality and cost.

The most common in the domestic furniture market are the following types of fabrics:

1. Tapestry, which can be called a classic upholstery fabric. It can be made of cotton, polyester or wool blend;
2. Chenille, which is currently the most popular upholstery fabric. In her weaving necessarily present threads with villi. This material is always made of two types of threads, for example, from jacquard and viscose or cloth and acrylic;
3. Flock representing non-woven textile material, which can be obtained from cotton, wool, polyamide, acrylic or viscose;
4. Jacquard - surprisingly beautiful patterned fabric, at the base of which there can be up to 24 different threads;
5. Eco-leather which is also called polyurethane skin, breathable material having a foam structure;
6. Leatherette - it is a material of polyvinyl chloride applied to the surface of cotton or polyester;
7. Microfiber - an analogue of suede made from polyester, which can be both elastic and non-woven.

Upholstered furniture is characterized by a variety of shapes and sizes. Sofas and sofas can be designed for installation in a small kitchen, and for placement in spacious living rooms. Large modular sofas can be made up of buyers from segments, with the dimensions of the main module, as a rule, being 252 x112 cm; the size of the ottoman is 92 x172 cm, the angular modules are 112x112 cm.

Folding bed in such modular structures can have a width of 140 cm to 220 cm.

Straight sofas are often divided into double and triple. The sleeping area of ​​any of these sofas will not exceed 160 x 200 cm.

Folding corner sofa allows you to relax on a more spacious bed, the dimensions of which will be 180 x 200 cm.

The assembly of upholstered furniture when it is purchased is usually carried out by professional assemblers who are provided by the furniture store or factory. However, in the event of a move for such dimensional furniture will require disassembly and assembly in a new place. Almost every skilled man will be able to cope with this, having saved a considerable amount for the family budget.

When buying a sofa, you should ask the consultant about the presence of instructions for assembling and disassembling this type of furniture, this can help to further disassemble it for relocation.

Consider how to do your own hands disassembly of the corner sofa with the transformation mechanism "dolphin". Main steps:

1. All removable elements are removed: covers, pillows;
2. Detachable rear bracket;
3. Removed sidewall (armrests);
4. Ottoman is disconnected, from which, if necessary, the seat and back are removed;
5. The transformation mechanism, which is attached to both the seat and the back, is removed only as a last resort.

Particularly difficult when disassembling the sofa may be the fact that the elements fastening the details may be hidden under the upholstery. In this case, it is necessary to carefully detach the material and re-fix it at the appropriate place with the help of a furniture stapler during subsequent installation.

It is also important to carefully assemble all small parts of the fasteners and pack them to avoid loss.

Learn how to assemble and disassemble the sofa with the transformation mechanism "dolphin", learn in the next video.

To assess how comfortable a sofa with a dolphin layout is, customer reviews and opinions can help:

1. Lay out-fold such a structure every day is not difficult, easy to use system, moves smoothly, does not emit squeak;
2. "Dolphin" saves space and looks prettier compared to the “eurobook”;
3. For frequent use as a bed, it is recommended to purchase sofas. with spring block;
4. Retractable platform wheels normally pass on the carpet with a low pile, but more fluffy coatings can cause inconvenience when unfolding the mechanism;
5. Every day is recommended to buy a sofa with orthopedic system (with armor).