Abstrict A collapsible, adjustable bed frame supporting an adapted box springs.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A box-springs and frame comprising:
a frame including a common connecting means,
a multiplicity of support elements extending radially from said
common connecting means and having co-planar upper surfaces, at
least two of said support elements being pivotally carried by said
common connecting means, with the peripheral ends of each of said
support elements being free from the other support elements, whereby
the width of the frame may be adjusted by changing the angle of
disposition of the support elements,
means for latching the said support elements in a desired angular
position at the common connecting means,
adjustable means at the free end of each support element for preventing
the movement in opposite directions of a box springs supported on
the frame,
and support legs carried by the common connecting means and by
the support elements;
and a box springs including longitudinal runners on each side,
transverse slats connected to the upper surfaces of said longitudinal
runners,
and at least one filler element connected to at least one transverse
element and having a lower surface in the plane of the lower surface
of the said longitudinal runners and engaging the bed frame.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bed frames and combined bed frames and
box springs.
Generally, bed frames which are used to support box springs consist
of support elements arranged peripherally with respect to opposite
sides of the box springs which they support. These bed frames are
often adjustable by means of changing the length of the end tie
elements. However, such bed frames are usually not collapsible,
but must be disassembled into two or more sections for storage and
shipping.
One disadvantage of the ordinary bed frame comprised merely of
peripheral support elements is that it provides no support for the
center section of the box springs. This requires the internal construction
of the box springs to carry the full load at the center out to its
periphery before receiving any support from the frame itself. Realizing
this disadvantage, certain prior inventors have sought to provide
a means whereby the center sections of the box springs would be
more or less directly supported by support elements arranged diagonally
beneath the box springs. However, other more sophisticated means
for providing a bed frame which itself provides this central support
have been developed. See U.S. Pat. Nos. Fitzgerald 3621497; Tyhanic
3881202; Falivene 3747066; Clerc 2550224; Hood & Christmas
250814; Blin 1478937; Sevcik 3003158; Bent 870663. In eliminating
this defect, however, these inventors have either completely sacrificed
the adjustability of the frame to varying sizes of box springs,
see U.S. Pat. Nos. Fitzgerald 3621497; Blin 1478937; or have
to some degress sacrificed the simplicity of the adjustment means
or have impaired the adjustability of the bed frame to varying sizes
of box springs. See U.S. Pat. Nos. Tyhanic 3881202; Sevcik 3003158;
Bent 870663; Longnecker 274749. Conversely, those inventors who
have been conscious of the need to retain the simplicity and degree
of the adjustment of the bed frame have been forced to sacrifice
the effectiveness of the support provided by the internal support
elements of their inventions. See U.S. Pat. Nos. Clerc 2666934;
Falivene 3744066. Some of these inventors in their attempts to
fulfill both the objects of internal support and of adjustability
have failed to some degree to fulfill either of them. See U.S. Pat.
Nos. Clerc 2550224; Longnecker 2674749.
Two particular problems which have been encountered in the design
of adjustable bed frames have been the difficulty of limiting the
number of adjustment points, see U.S. Pat. Nos. Tyhanic 3881202;
Falivene 3744066; Bent 870663; Longnecker 2674749; Clerc 2550224;
Clerc 2666931; and the difficulty of limiting the number of points
at which the bed frame is locked into the position to which it has
been adjusted. See U.S. Pat. Nos. Tyhanic 3881202; Bent 870663;
Longnecker 2674749; Clerc 2550224. In certain designs these
two problems are integrated since the means of adjustment also serves
some locking function. U.S. Pat. Nos. Sevcik 3003158; Longnecker
2674749. Other designs have neglected to provide any locking means
at all. Clerc 2666931; Falivene 3744066.
Finally, many of the conventionally designed bed frames require
the use of a material with an L shaped cross section in the construction
of the support elements. This L-shaped cross section is required
to hold the box springs securely in place, as well as to facilitate
the placement of the transverse wooden slats which provide a means
for supporting the internal sections of the box springs. U.S. Pat.
Nos. Rosenfeld 2567619; Blanke 2664959; Sands 2745117; Roche
2772424; Harris 3555579; Spitz 3781930.
Accordingly, it is an object to provide a bed frame which may be
simply adjusted to accomodate box springs of varying sizes by means
of support elements radially arranged about and pivotally carried
by a common connecting element.
A further object is to provide a means whereby adjustments may
be secured by a simple locking means located at the common connection
element.
A further object of this invention to provide a bed frame wherein
at least some internal transverse structural members of the box
springs are supportively carried by the bed frame by means of support
elements directly beneath these members.
It is a further object to provide a bed frame which does not require
the use of materials of L-shaped cross section.
Further objects will become apparent upon reading the following
specification and claims and referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment
of the bed frame and box springs with the head board and box springs
shown in phantom lines.
FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the preferred embodiment of
the bed frame and box springs taken along the line 2--2 in FIG.
1 illustrating the means for supporting the transverse elements
of the box springs by the radial support elements.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment
of the common connecting and support means located centrally with
respect to the circle defined by the radius of the radial support
elements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The instant invention defines a multiplicity of radially arranged
support elements all of which are carried by a common connecting
means, one or more of which radial support elements are pivotally
carried by common connecting means and a means for supporting the
bed frame above the floor level. It is preferred that filler elements
be attached to the lower surfaces of at least some of the internal
transverse ties of the box springs in such a manner that the filler
elements engage and are supportively carried by the bed frame.
In the preferred form the radially arranged support elements are
supportively carried by a common connecting means centrally located
with respect to the circle defined by the radius of the radial support
elements. Referring now to FIG. 1 four radial support elements
123 and 4 are shown.
The preferred embodiment of the common connecting means, a hinge
plate 5 is also shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The hinge plate 5 is comprised
of two plates, an upper plate 6 and a lower plate 7 of identical
construction which are displaced vertically one above the other
an appropriate distance for the radial support elements 1-4 to be
pivotally inserted therebetween. In both the upper plate 6 and the
lower plate 7 holes are provided which will be aligned with the
appropriate mounting holes in the radial support elements and through
which bolts 8 will be passed to connect said radial elements 1-4
either in a stationary position or pivotally to the hinge plate
5. The preferred embodiment of two of the radial support elements
is a single length of support material such as a box section of
metal which is pivotally carried by the hinge plate 5 at the support
elements longitudinal mid point in order to form the two radial
support elements 1 and 3. In the preferred embodiment, the other
two radial support elements 2 and 4 are supportively carried by
the hinge plate 5 in a stationary position by two bolts 8.
The bed frame structure is itself supportively carried by a support
means which supports the structure at a level above the floor. Referring
to FIG. 1 the preferred means for supporting the bed frame structure
above the level of the floor is a multiplicity of support legs 9
10 11 12 and 13.
The angular disposition of the radial support elements at the common
connecting means may be adjusted by pivoting the pivotally carried
radial support elements. Such adjustments may be secured by a locking
means at the common connecting means. The preferred embodiment of
such locking means is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 3 the preferred embodiment of the common connecting
means, the hinge plate 5 pivotally carries the radial support elements
1 and 3. As previously disclosed the radial support elements 1 and
3 of the preferred embodiment consist of a single length of support
material. Thus, radial support elements 1 and 3 may be secured in
position by a common locking means the preferred embodiment of which
comprises a multiplicity of pairs of vertically aligned holes 14
and 15 in the upper and lower surfaces of the hinge plate 5 which
may be aligned with a similar pair of vertically aligned holes 16
in the radial support element 1. A pin 17 may be passed through
the selected pair of holes in the hinge plate 5 after they have
been aligned with the pair of holes 16 in the radial support element
1.
A means for supporting the transverse ties of the box springs by
the radial support elements and the common connecting means are
provided by a filler located between the lower surfaces of the transverse
ties and the upper surfaces of said support elements of the bed
frame structure. The preferred embodiment of this combination is
illustrated by FIG. 2. Referring now to FIG. 2 the preferred embodiment
of the filler element is shown to be a wooden slat 18 attached to
the lower surface of the conventional transverse ties 19 of a box
spring in such a manner that the lower surface of the wooden slat
18 is coplanar with the lower surfaces of the peripheral support
members 20 of the box springs. Thus, the lower surfaces of the transverse
slats of a conventional box springs may be uniformly carried by
the support elements of the bed frame structure.
An adjustable means for preventing the movement in opposite directions
of the box springs upon the bed frame structure is disclosed. The
preferred embodiment of such means is illustrated by FIGS. 1 and
2. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 the preferred embodiment of the
adjustable means for preventing the movement in opposite directions
of the box springs upon the bed frame structure is shown to be multiplicity
of L-shaped elements 21 adjustably carried by the outer ends of
the radial support elements 1 2 3 and 4. These elements may be
adjusted by movement of the L-shaped elements 21 in a plane parallel
to that of the lower surfaces of the box springs and the upper surfaces
of the radial support elements 1 2 3 and 4 of the bed frame structure
until the upper and inner surfaces of the L-shaped element engage
the lower and outer surfaces, respectively, of the peripheral support
elements 20 of the box springs. In the preferred embodiment of the
means of adjustment the L-shaped element is provided by longitudinal
slots 22 in the portion of the L shaped elements 21 which engage
the upper surface of the radial support elements 1 2 3 and 4.
A threaded bolt 23 is passed through this slot and a pair of holes
24 in the outer ends of the radial support elements and is secured
by a winged nut 25. The adjustment is secured by tightening winged
nut 24 in such a manner that the L-shaped element is held in the
position to which it has been adjusted.
The preferred method of operation of the bed frame is as follows:
first, taking the bed frame in its collapsed position for shipment
where radial support elements 2 and 4 are parallel with radial support
elements 1-3; the pivotally carried support elements 1-3 should
be rotated clockwise until the pair of vertically aligned hole 16
in radial support element 1 are aligned with the desired locking
holes 14 or 15 in the hinge plate 5. Once these pairs of holes are
in aligned position the locking pin 17 may be passed through the
selected pair of holes in order to lock the bed frame in the desire
position, thereby fixing it width. For instance the holes 14-15
may be positioned to lock the frame in position to support either
a single or double width box spring. The wing nuts 25 should be
loosened so that the L-shaped elements are freely movable to the
farthest extent of their longitudinal travel in the slots 22. The
box springs is then layed upon the bed frame and the L-shaped elements
21 are adjusted so that the lower portion of the L engages the peripheral
edges of the box springs. The wing nuts 25 should then be tighten
so that the L-shaped elements 21 will not slide in their longitudinal
slots 22. In order to disassemble the bed the reverse procedure
should be followed.
It is evident from the foregoing description that this bed frame
structure and box springs provides an easily adjustable, collapsible
bed frame which provides a means of support for the internal structural
elements of the box springs. Furthermore, it is evident that such
means of support is provided without the necessity for using peripheral
support elements of L-shaped cross section.
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described
above, that embodiment is illustrative only; the invention is limited
solely by the appended claims. |