The principle of operation and the choice of the mechanism of the "French clamshell"

Besides the fact that upholstered furniture in itself is very comfortable and comfortable, it also often requires a place to sleep.

One of the successful devices for turning the chair into a sleeping place will be a transformation mechanism called a French folding bed. This sofa has a sleeping surface that consists of three sections.

You can get a full-fledged berth by simply pulling the edge of the seat. Thus, the mechanism is activated, the sections will stand on the necessary supports (legs) and open.

The resulting surface is intended for good rest.

Advantages and disadvantages of the "French clamshell"

Such a sofa has both advantages:

• Compactness (takes up little space, looks aesthetically pleasing, suitable for small spaces)
• Cost (cheaper than similar ones issued by competitors)
• Standard (the system of mechanism, parts or dimensions of the mattress meet many standards, so it will not be difficult to replace them)
• Safety (when used on a good flooring, the legs of the sofa, due to the design, will not be able to harm the floor)

So are the cons when using:

• Not for everyday use (preferably used as a guest option)
• There are no comfortable, roomy cabinets for linen (the sofa is filled with the mechanism itself)
• Duration of the process (you need to remove the pillows, unfold the bed to form the surface)
• Weight restrictions (awning up to 80, lat construction - 13kg)

Varieties of the mechanism

Considering such a bed as a French folding bed mechanism, you should choose one of the two existing ones. They are called mixtoile and meratual. Moreover, they can be equipped with various sleeping places.

Since the frame of almost all types of folding sofas is the same, then in the choice of the sleeping place itself, you can find the one that suits your liking. It can be a net, awning, battens, a combination of battens and awning, and even a welded lattice.

How does such a mechanism work?

This clamshell is a triple folding design. The sleeping place itself looks like three parts that are connected by hinges.

Before unfolding such a bed, it is necessary to remove all unnecessary elements (pillows), install the mechanism itself horizontally by expanding all sections.

The main of these three parts is attached near the back, resting on the mounting bracket. The next two, intended for the body and legs, are installed on separate supports. Thus, as a result, you get a full-fledged place to sleep or rest.

How to choose the right one

This French mechanism is used for both corner and straight types of sofas.

When choosing, you should pay special attention to:

• Materials from which this model is made, how much it meets both production standards and your taste
• The mechanism, it is necessary to check its working condition and make sure that there are no breakdowns
• Filler, it is better to clarify what it is from, how durable the material is and how hypoallergenic it is
• Upholstery, also the quality of the material, its durability, it should be borne in mind that the upholstery is used throughout the day.

What are the breakdowns

The main complaints during the transformation of these sofas are the creaking of parts and the jamming of the mechanism.

But in any case, you must first establish the exact cause of the breakdown.

If this:

• The rivets, which are responsible for connecting the moving parts of the mechanism, have broken. They can be simply replaced with bolts of suitable size. We drill the old parts with a drill and drill, select the desired bolt, insert into the hole left from under the rivet, tighten the nut on it. It is better to check all rivets in advance and change them if necessary.
• If the support legs are damaged, repairs on their own are hardly possible, they must be completely replaced with new ones.
• Unfortunately, breakage or deformation of the necessary units of the main frame of the clamshell is also beyond repair and requires replacement of a part.
• Replacing battens or lamellas is quite simple; if they are deformed or broken, they are replaced with new ones. The old part is removed from the holder (the bolts are unscrewed) and a new one is installed in the reverse order. If the holder itself breaks down, it must be replaced with a working one.
• The cause of the seized mechanism can be established by inspection. Sometimes any extraneous things or even the casing itself, which got into the working mechanism, can interfere with the correct functioning. In this case, the unnecessary item is simply removed.
• Some, when the French mechanism creaks, complain about the creaking of parts. This malfunction is eliminated as quickly as possible. You need to take any oil that is intended for technical use and lubricate all the moving parts of your sofa with it. After lubrication, it is necessary to fold and unfold the bed several times, so that the lubricant will penetrate into all places and you will eliminate the creak. Most importantly, do not forget to remove the mattress before this.

The French clamshell can be repaired by yourself. If the breakdown allows it, of course. As you can see from the article, some details of such a sofa simply cannot be repaired.

The service life of such pieces of furniture is about seven years with not too active use. Therefore, if you can repair this mechanism yourself, that's great.

Indeed, it is sometimes so difficult to part with beautiful, beloved and functional furniture. If not, don't hesitate, buy a new one.

Video: French clamshell layout mechanism