25.07.2019
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In this article we will briefly and informatively talk about the most common mechanisms for transforming sofas, which are presented on our website. Our goal is to help you quickly navigate these not always clear names and find the option that suits you.
To do this, we will look at sofas from the consumer’s point of view, and these are just 2 main criteria:
1. convenience of daily unfolding of the sofa; 2. possible load on the sleeping place.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LAZY TO READ:
mechanisms that are not suitable for daily use are labeled "guest".
Now let's list the most common sofa mechanisms:
1. Book; 2. Tick-tock; 3. American folding bed (Sedaflex); 4. French folding bed (Mixotoile); 5. “3-fold mechanism”; 6. Spartak.
Sofa transformation mechanisms: how to choose the right one?
January 17, 2022
Most often, a new sofa is chosen based on its appearance - it matches the interior and has beautiful upholstery. In fact, the folding mechanism is no less important: it determines how long the upholstered furniture will last you and whether it will be convenient to use. Let's figure out how to choose the appropriate transformation mechanism.
Photos of sofas
Models of upholstered furniture are very diverse. Designers are experimenting with different colors and armrests. Most often, the Eurosof mechanism is used in sofa beds for daily use for sleeping. This interior element will also be an excellent option for accommodating guests for the night.
Thanks to the transformation features, the sofa looks impressive and unusual in appearance.
Sofa models often have beautiful pillows of different shapes; they perfectly emphasize the luxury of the model and give it a special charm.
For daily use
If you are choosing a sofa specifically for sleeping, pay attention to models with a durable folding mechanism and orthopedic properties. These can be “Eurobook”, “Tick-Tock”, “Puma”, “Austin”, “High-Rise”, “Dolphin” or “Couch”. Reliable and durable, such mechanisms will last a long time even with constant use.
The sofa for everyday sleep should be comfortable, otherwise you risk waking up with back pain. The surface of the sofas listed above is as comfortable as an orthopedic mattress, so they are suitable for daily sleep. They are indispensable in bedrooms and children's rooms - they save space during the day and are comfortable to sleep on at night.
Many folding sofas replace a double bed, others are designed for one person. So a suitable transformer can be selected for a married couple, a child, or a bachelor.
Tips for those who buy upholstered furniture for sleeping
- When choosing in a store, do not rush; pay attention not only to the dimensions and appearance, but also to the internal condition of the product.
- Evaluate the mechanism for modification. Metal elements must be durable, well painted and securely connected to each other.
- Find out what the frame is made of. It can be wood, metal or chipboard. If the base is made of a third material, it will not last long.
- Check how filled the filler is. On each part of the product it should be of different density. The hardest one is on the seat. It is better if it consists of polyurethane. The foam will sag too quickly.
- The fabric should be durable, and the seams should be even and well stitched. Thin ones will quickly deteriorate or look ugly. Leather is not necessarily the best upholstery. Now there are many new materials that are not inferior to it in quality.
- If the product squeaks already in the store, do not buy it.
- Models with a metal frame are considered the most convenient and durable, as it is easier to repair and more reliable.
- A good manufacturer provides at least 18 months of warranty.
- You need to sit or even lie on the sofa to understand whether you are comfortable.
Guests
Sofas with guest types of mechanisms are not as convenient to transform as those with mechanisms for daily use. Most often, guest sofas are designed for a soft and comfortable fit, and the sleeping place is more of a bonus.
Such mechanisms include: “French folding bed”, “Franco-Belgian folding bed” and “Italian folding bed”, which is also called “Spartak”. Sofas of this type are indispensable when you need to organize temporary sleeping places, for example, when guests arrive.
Eurosofa (Eurobook)
Even a child can understand Eurosoph, which is why they are so popular. Due to the minimal number of elements, such a mechanism rarely breaks down. The folding mechanism is as simple as possible: you need to pull the seat forward and put the backrest in its place. The surface is flat and large in area, and the inner drawers can store bed linen, pillows and blankets.
Advantages - durable; - spacious; — assembled — a full-fledged sleeping place for one person; - easy to unfold; — has a built-in compartment for linen.
Tick-Tock (Pantograph)
Sofas with the Tic-Tac mechanism are also called “walking Eurobook” due to a similar folding principle. Its main feature is that when unfolded, the seat does not roll out on rollers, but moves over the required distance without touching the linoleum, laminate or even carpet.
“Tic-Tac” folds out easily: you need to lift the seat and pull it forward, and put the backrest on the vacant seat. Sleeping on it is just as comfortable as sleeping on a Eurobook.
Advantages: — spacious; — assembled — a full-fledged sleeping place for one person; — has a built-in compartment for linen; - Easily transformable.
Disadvantages of Sedaflex
Judging by the reviews, the main complaints are not the system itself, but the design features of the sofa, for example, in straight models there is no internal box for linen and a mattress. So,
This is the first minus. Often, manufacturers equip sedaflex with a springless mattress made of polyurethane foam, which is not very durable. Although it can always be replaced. But be careful! There are restrictions on the model and filler. The height of the mattress should not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer, this is usually 10 or 12 cm. Otherwise, the folding bed simply will not fold up. And one more thing - the mattress can be rolled up. Only PPU (polyurethane foam, foam) mattresses fit these criteria.
And the second is the high cost. It is determined by the European origin of the mechanism. Sedac Meral is a leading manufacturer and developer of sofa bed mechanisms. They are also produced in Russia, but under a license for which you need to pay. This means that you will receive a reliable and high-quality product. Service life, with proper use, is at least 10 years.
Dolphin
The mechanism got its name because of its special folding: the sleeping place slides under the sofa seat - visually this resembles a dolphin diving into the water. Some furniture factories call this mechanism “kangaroo”, it’s not hard to guess why.
Sofas with a dolphin mechanism are easy to unfold: you need to slide the lower part of the sofa out from under the seat, and then pull it up using the strap until the cushions are level. “Dolphin” is often installed on corner models; in this case, the laundry compartment is located in a fixed part - a corner module (canapé).
Advantages: — spacious; — when disassembled it does not take up much space; - reliable; - Easily transformable.
Roll-out mechanisms:
7. Eurobook (Eurosopher); 8. Dolphin; 9. Kangaroo; 10. Conrad (telescope).
"Book".
The principle of using this mechanism is simple: you need to raise the seat until it clicks, and then lower it - the backrest will also lower. The “book” is the simplest mechanism in terms of use - it is easy to unfold and difficult to break. Maximum load up to 200 kg.
Pros:
the sleeping place is located along, and not across the wall.
This folding mechanism is perfect for small spaces because it does not take up much space, both assembled and disassembled. Cons:
when unfolding the sofa, you need to move it away from the wall, which is completely inconvenient for daily use. There is a risk of damaging the floors if you do not lift the sofa. In the place where the back and base connect, a bump or indentation may form, which interferes with comfortable sleep and limits space.
"American folding bed" or Sedaflex.
Here the sleeping area consists of two sections. To unfold the sofa, you need to remove all the cushions, pull the seat up and towards you using a special handle and unfold the sections until they rest on the supports. The sofa unfolds in two steps: first, the first section opens, and behind it the second section unfolds. Maximum load - 240 kg.
Pros:
reliable transformation mechanism made of high-quality wear-resistant materials.
The Sedaflex sleeping place turns out smooth without creases or bends. This sofa has a reinforced metal frame and mesh, which provide high structural rigidity and comfortable sleep. This model also allows you to use high-quality 12-centimeter mattresses. Cons:
There is no linen drawer, and the sleeping surface may have seams.
"French folding bed" (Mixotoile).
This transformation mechanism is similar to an American folding bed, but unlike its “American version” it consists of three parts, and otherwise the folding principle is absolutely identical. The “French folding bed” has a completely metal frame, to which a high-density canvas awning is attached using springs. Under the tarpaulin there are special wooden slats that give the sofa an orthopedic effect. The maximum load on the mechanism is 180 kg.
Pros:
soft sleeping place, equipped with a 50 cm thick mattress.
Cons:
uneven sleeping place, does not have a linen drawer.
"Spartacus".
The mechanism is structurally identical to the “French clamshell” - it also consists of three sections and unfolds in the same way. However, there is a significant difference that can affect your purchasing decision. "Spartak" is equipped with a reinforced metal mesh, which allows it to withstand high loads, and you can use the sofa for daily sleep. Maximum load up to 240 kg.
Pros:
Due to the reinforced frame, the model is highly durable, and therefore its durability is higher.
Has a spacious sleeping area. Cons:
like all clamshells, the Spartak mechanism does not have a very aesthetically pleasing side view when unfolded. Due to the improved quality, the mechanism will cost more than clamshells.
"Tick-tock."
The main advantage of tic-tac is its ease of use. The mechanism unfolds in two steps: pull the seat up and forward, and then lower the backrest to the vacant seat. This can be done even with one hand! In this case, the maximum load on the berth is 240 kg.
Pros:
The mechanism provides a spacious sleeping area and does not touch the floor covering when unfolded.
Cons:
when folded, the sofa has a fairly wide seat, which is not always comfortable. If the mechanism breaks, repairs will cost a fairly large sum.
Three fold mechanism
and the “French clamshell” mechanism are essentially the same. They lay out the same and look the same. But many manufacturers separate them, explaining that they use different materials for manufacturing. Therefore, when choosing a sofa with such a mechanism, check what it is made of in order to avoid surprises later. The maximum load on the bed is 180 kg.
Puma/Austin
The “puma” mechanism resembles a “tick-tock” type of transformation. To unfold it, you need to lift the seat and push it forward, and lift the pillow under the seat up so that both parts are level and form a flat sleeping place. Thanks to the springs in the mechanism, part of the transformation occurs automatically, so no special effort is needed.
The Puma does not have retractable rollers, so they will not leave dents on the linoleum or scratch the laminate.
Another mechanism similar to the “Puma” is the “Austin”. It unfolds according to the same principle, but is made of three parts: two parts rise and unfold, and the third extends from under the seat.
Advantages:
— compact; - reliable; - comfortable for sleeping.
High-rollout
“High-rollout” is reminiscent of two mechanisms for laying out sofas: “roll-out” and “dolphin”. It consists of several parts and moves forward, like roll-out models, but one of the parts is disassembled according to a similar principle to the “dolphin” - it stretches out and rises.
“Vysokovykatny” has adopted the best qualities of two mechanisms at once: sleeping on it is as high and comfortable as on models with a “dolphin”, and when assembled it looks compact and saves space in the room. Thanks to its long and flat surface, sleeping on it is as comfortable as on a double bed.
Advantages: - large area; - reliable; - high and level sleeping place; - Suitable for small spaces.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's start with the advantages, of which Eurosof sofas have quite a few:
- High structural strength. The linen drawer lid alone can support more than 200 kg, which makes the sofa safe for people of almost any weight. Plus, the minimum number of moving elements allows for maximum reliability.
- Compactness. Can be used even in the smallest room, since the depth of the folded sofa is 0.9 m.
- The sofa can be easily converted into a bed. Even a teenager can cope with this task.
- The dimensions allow the furniture to be used comfortably for both adults and children.
- The sofa allows you to rest in comfort both during the day and at night, when it “turns” into a bed, since there are no joining seams on the mattress.
- The furniture is equipped with drawers for linen. The design allows you to easily “get” to the storage area, even when the sofa is not unfolded.
- The presence of removable covers at the backs, which are easy to remove and wash.
- A large number of upholstery options allows you to choose furniture to suit any interior.
The only downside that can be noted is the rolling rollers of the linen drawer, which can damage the floor covering if furniture is frequently unfolded. But this problem can be easily solved by installing rubberized pads on the rollers.
Couch
A “couch” is a name for small sofas that can be converted into a single bed, but they can be folded out in different ways.
There are two different mechanisms called "couch". The first transforms into a bed, thanks to soft armrests that fold down and form a flat, elongated surface. The second one is similar to the Eurobook layout mechanism. Its side part extends and leaves space under the head of the sofa, which is lowered there.
Even after the transformation, the “couch” takes up little space. Ideal for children's rooms, bedrooms for one person and even loggias, where sometimes you just want to take a nap.
Advantages: - easily transforms into a bed; — there is a compartment for linen; - an option for a small room.
French folding bed (Mixotoil)
Sofas with a French folding mechanism are better used for sitting than for sleeping. We recommend using the mechanism as a guest sleeping option. The folding bed itself is located under the seat. To disassemble it, you need to remove the cushions and pull the edge of the seat. The parts of the folding bed will move apart and stand on their legs.
Advantages: — spacious; - compact.
Franco-Belgian folding bed (Sedaflex)
It is both easy to use and reliable, which makes Sedaflex an ideal transformation option for more frequent use. The sleeping place turns out to be perfectly flat, without bends or creases, and the folding mechanism itself is made of high-quality metal and therefore lasts a long time.
Reinforced metal frame, metal mesh, the ability to choose a 12-centimeter mattress (PPU or spring), structural rigidity - all this ensures a comfortable and restful sleep. The mechanism can withstand a load of 150 kg. for each bed.
The great advantage of the Sedaflex is that when folded, it has parameters that make the seat flooring as comfortable as possible.
Advantages:
- spacious;
— compact;
- reliable;
— mattress to choose from PPU or PB (spring block).
Sofa filling
The filling of sleeping furniture depends on the transformation mechanism. The model with the Eurosof mechanism uses dense, high-quality polyurethane foam or a spring block. Both fillers guarantee a comfortable sleep.
PU foam used in sofas has a density of at least 30 kg/m2. The height of the material is at least 10 cm. This ensures a comfortable body position while sleeping.
The spring block can be of two types: with independent springs or dependent ones. The difference is in the compression and deflection of the surface. A block with springs that operate separately from each other is considered more ergonomic.
It is worth noting that the contents of the sofa determine its final cost.
According to reviews from buyers of upholstered sleeping furniture, Eurosofa is the best option with any of the fillings. The choice depends on personal preference. PPU has a harder surface; an independent spring block is considered a softer filling.
