Bed Slat Covers

Abstract

A slat cover includes a fabric material extending longitudinally at least a length of an associated bed frame from a front end to a back end of the associated bed frame and extending horizontally at least a width of a slat support of a side rail of the associated bed frame. The slat cover is configured to be secured on an associated bed frame. A bed assembly includes a pair of slat covers, a bed frame with a plurality of slats, and a mattress. Each slat cover is secured to the bed frame of the bed assembly.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to covers for bed slats and, more particularly, to slat covers which remain in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, mattresses, or mattress and box spring sets, require some type of support when positioned on a bed frame. Bed slats are often used for this purpose. Such bed slats are typically elongated beams or planks that are transversely positioned so as to extend between the side rails of the bed frame. The bed slats are spaced apart running along the longitudinal axis from the front (or footboard) to the back (or headboard) of the bed frame to support the mattress or box spring and mattress set and distribute body weight to the bed frame.

Depending on the size of the mattress or mattress and box spring set supported by the bed frame and slats, the end portions of the slats (including the slat ends which engage the side rails of the bed frame) may be visible to a consumer. This is considered unattractive by some consumers. Slat covers can also be offered as a solution to enhance the overall aesthetic of the bed.

SUMMARY

There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the devices and systems described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

In one aspect, a slat cover for covering end portions of slats of a bed frame includes a fabric material extending longitudinally at least a length of an associated bed frame from a front end to a back end and extending horizontally at least a width of a slat support of a side rail of an associated bed frame. The slat cover is configured to be secured on an associated bed frame.

In another aspect, a bed assembly includes a bed frame which includes a plurality of slats connected by slat supports of a left side rail and a right side rail. The bed assembly also includes a mattress, and a pair of slat covers. Each slat cover includes a fabric material extending longitudinally at least a length of the bed frame from a front end to a back end and extending horizontally at least a width of a slat support of the bed frame. Each slat cover is secured to the bed frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top and bottom elevational view of a bed slat cover embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is front perspective view of a bed frame with a pair of bed slat covers of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a section of a bed frame, set of bed slats and mattress with the bed slats uncovered.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a section of a bed frame, set of bed slats and mattress of FIG. 3 provided with a slat cover of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an enlarged section of a bed frame, partial view of bed slats and bed slat cover of an embodiment of the disclosure during installation of the bed slat cover.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of bed slats as positioned on a bed frame and a slat cover of the disclosure installed on the bed slats.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the bed slats and slat cover of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a portion of a bed frame, set of bed slats and installed bed slat cover of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a bed frame, set of bed slats and a bed slat cover of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the bed slat cover of FIG. 9 secured to a side raid of a bed frame using a fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present disclosure, bed slat covers are provided. More specifically, bed slat covers that are secured to an associated bed frame, are provided.

A first embodiment of a slat cover of the disclosure is indicated in general at 10 in FIG. 1. Top and bottom views of the slat cover are shown. The slat covers may be any fabric, woven or nonwoven. The non-woven fabric can be made of any known material, including, but not limited to polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The slat covers may be any desired color and coordinated with the bedding or bed frame color. In certain embodiments, the slat covers are black, white, or neutral (beige) in color.

The slat covers include first (left) and second (right) sides 12 and 14 and front and back edges 16 and 18. The slat covers also include a top side 11 and bottom side 13. The slat covers may also include an overlap portion of the fabric 22 and 24 on each side of the cover. The bottom side 13 of the slat cover may also include attachment means including, as an example only, at least one attachment strip 20, with four (20a, 20b, 20c and 20d) being shown in FIG. 1. A greater or lesser number of strips may be used, and they may feature alternative shapes (including, but not limited to, patches of any shape). In some embodiments, no attachment means is present, and the slat covers are held in place by the mattress, or a different attachment means. If present, the attachment means may be equally or unequally distributed on the slat cover. The attachment means may be located near the front and back edges 16 and 18 and, as shown in the figures, abutting the edges.

The bed slat covers as shown and described in the current disclosure may be the same width and length to cover bed slat end portions for a variety of bed sizes, such as, using the North American market as an example, twin, full, queen, king and/or California king. The slat covers could also be used on any bed sizes outside of the North American market, such as (as examples only) UK, Australia, India, Middle East, Korea, etc. The bed slat covers may also be custom produced based on the bed size and vary in length and width depending on the size. As examples only, the bed slat covers may be between about 78 inches and 85 inches long (length of 12 or 14) and between about 2 inches and 6 inches wide (length of 16 or 18). In a preferred embodiment the bed slat covers are about 82 inches long and about 4 inches wide. The bed slat covers are intended to cover the gaps between the mattress and the side rails of the bed, which includes exposed bed slats and slat supports of the side rails.

FIG. 2 shows a bed frame 30 which includes side rails 32 and 34 and bed slats 38 which run transversely from side rail 32 to side rail 34 and bed slat covers 10 applied to the bed slats. The bed slats are connected to the side rails 32 and 34 by the slat supports 52 and 54 of the side rails. The slats may be attached to the slat supports by fasteners or the slat supports may include indentations that the end portions of the slats are placed in. The slat covers of the current disclosure can be applied to a bed frame with any number of slats. As explained in greater detail below, the slat covers are applied on top of or over the slats and run from the back end 40 to the front end 36 of the bed frame. FIG. 3 shows portions of a bed frame 30 and mattress 42 before the application of a bed slat cover of the current disclosure and FIG. 4 shows a bed frame and mattress after the application of a bed slat cover 10.

For application of one embodiment of the bed slat cover, illustrated with reference to FIGS. 5-7, edge 16 is wrapped around and folded under a slat 38a of a bed frame adjacent to side rail 32. The upward facing bottom 13 (FIG. 1) of the end portion of the slat cover 10 is attached to the downward facing bottom of an adjacent section of the slat cover, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, using attachment strips 20a and 20b. As examples only, the attachment strips may be hook and loop fasteners (such as VELCRO®) or other adhering means, such as double-sided tape or glue. The slat cover may also just be laid on and over the bed slats and simply folded under slat 38a without any attachment.

In an alternative embodiment of the bed slat cover, illustrated in FIG. 8, the end portion of the bed slat cover 10 may be folded under two or more slats 38a and 38b, with or without attachment strips (20b shown in FIG. 8) securing the upward-facing bottom of the cover to the bottoms of the slats.

In another alternative embodiment of the bed slat cover, the end portion of the slat cover 10, as illustrated in FIG. 9, may be wrapped around and folded under slat 38a. With reference to FIG. 10, the slat cover may then be secured in place by a fastener 50. As an example only, the fastener 50 may be a wood screw driven through the folded over portions of the slat cover 10, with the end portion of the slat 38a positioned therebetween, to secure the covered slat to the slat support 54 of the bed frame side rail 34. Non-limiting examples of the fastener 50 also include staples, tacks and/or nails.

In each of the above embodiments, the end portion of the slat cover 10 opposite the end portion illustrated in FIGS. 5-10 is secured to the slat at the opposite end of the bed frame in the same manner. As a result, the bed slat cover 10 is secured and resists movement after a mattress or mattress and box spring set is positioned on the covered slats.

As noted previously, hook and loop fasteners (such as VELCRO®) or other adhering means, such as double-sided tape or glue is used as the attachment strips 20a and 20b of FIG. 1 (and other figures) to secure the slat cover 10 to the bed frame by wrapping around and under one or more of the slats (as shown in FIGS. 5-10). In some embodiments, when hook and loop fasteners are utilized, strips of either the hook or the loop portion are provided on the bottom end portions of the cover, as shown in FIG. 1, and then a corresponding hook or loop portion is provided on adhesive backed sheets that may be either applied to the bottoms of the end slats, the underside of the cover, or both.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A slat cover for covering end portions of slats of a bed frame, comprising:  a fabric material extending longitudinally at least a length of an associated bed frame from a front end to a back end of the associated bed frame and extending horizontally at least a width of a slat support of a side rail of the associated bed frame; andwherein the slat cover is configured to be secured on an associated bed frame.

2. The slat cover of claim 1, wherein the fabric material is nonwoven.

3. The slat cover of claim 1, wherein the slat cover has a length between about 78 inches and about 85 inches long, preferably about 82 inches.

4. The slat cover of claim 1, wherein the slate cover has a width between about 2 inches and 6 inches, preferably about 4 inches.

5. The slat cover of claim 1, wherein the slat cover is secured by a weight of a mattress of an associated bed.

6. The slat cover of claim 1, wherein the slat cover is secured by an attachment means.

7. The slat cover of claim 6, wherein the attachment means includes at least one of the group consisting of a screw, hook and loop fastener, glue, tack, nail and staple.

8. A bed assembly comprising: a bed frame which includes a plurality of slats supported by slat supports of a left side rail and a right side rail;a mattress supported on the plurality of slats; anda pair of slat covers, each slat cover comprising a fabric material extending longitudinally at least a length of the bed frame from a front end to a back end of the bed frame and extending horizontally at least a width of a slat support of the bed frame;wherein each slat cover is secured to the bed frame.

9. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein the fabric material is nonwoven.

10. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein each cover has a length between about 78 inches and about 85 inches long, preferably about 82 inches.

11. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein each cover has a width between about 2 inches and 6 inches, preferably about 4 inches.

12. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein the slat covers are secured by a weight of the mattress.

13. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein the slat covers are secured by an attachment means.

14. The bed assembly of claim 13, wherein the attachment means includes at least one of the group consisting of a screw, hook and loop fastener, glue, tack, nail and staple.

15. The bed assembly of claim 8, wherein the width of each slat cover is at least a width of the gap between the mattress and each side rail of the bed assembly.