Headboards and footboards used, for example, with home care and long term care beds, are commonly attached to the ends of a bed using removable fasteners (e.g., brackets secured to each other using screws or bolts) to allow for frequent disassembly and reassembly of the beds.
The present application discloses exemplary embodiments of systems and assemblies suitable for beds and other devices requiring assembly and disassembly. In one embodiment, a latching arrangement for use with a variety of assemblies, including, for example, a bed, for detachably coupling a first component of the assembly (e.g., a bed frame) with a second component of the assembly (e.g., a headboard or footboard). In one exemplary embodiment, a latching arrangement includes first and second frame members. The first frame member includes one or more first interlocking features that interlock with one or more second interlocking features of the second frame member. The arrangement also includes a latch connected with the first frame member and movable to a locked position for engagement with a catch portion of the second frame member, thereby securing the first interlocking feature in interlocking engagement with the second interlocking feature for secure attachment of the first and second frame members.
Accordingly, in another exemplary embodiment, an assembly includes a first frame member, a second frame member, and a latch. The first frame member includes a first interlocking feature, and the second frame member includes a second interlocking feature. The second interlocking feature is configured to interlock with the first interlocking feature when the second frame member is assembled with the first frame member and the second frame member is moved with respect to the first frame member from a first vertical position to a second vertical position. The latch is secured to the first frame member and is horizontally movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the latch engages a catch portion of the second frame member to secure the second frame member in the second vertical position. In the unlocked position, the latch disengages from the catch portion of the second frame member to permit movement of the second frame member to the first vertical position.
In another exemplary embodiment, a bed assembly includes a bed frame, an end board, and a cam member. The bed frame includes an end bracket portion having at least one flanged tab portion. The end board includes a mounting portion having at least one slotted portion configured to interlock with the at least one flanged tab portion when the end board is assembled with the bed frame and is moved with respect to the bed frame from a first vertical position to a second vertical position. The cam member is secured to one of the bed frame and the end board, and is pivotable about a lateral horizontal axis substantially parallel to an interface between the first and second frame members between a locked position, in which the cam member engages a recess in the other of the bed frame and the end board to secure the end board in the second vertical position, and an unlocked position in which the cam member disengages from the recess to permit movement of the end board to the first vertical position.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a method of releasably attaching an end board to a bed frame is provided. The end board is positioned at a first vertical position such that at least one flanged tab extending from the bed frame aligns with a corresponding slotted portion in the end board. The at least one flanged tab is inserted into the corresponding slotted portion. The end board is moved from the first vertical position to a second vertical position such that the at least one flanged tab interlocks with the corresponding slotted portion to secure the end board to the bed frame. A cam member secured to one of the bed frame and the end board is pivoted to a locked position in which the cam member engages a corresponding recess in the other of the bed frame and the end board to prevent movement of the end board from the second vertical position to the first vertical position.
In another exemplary embodiment, a bed assembly includes a frame, an end member, and means for interlocking a portion of the end member to a portion of the frame in a first vertical position, thereby supporting the frame above a floor, and for releasing the portion of the end member from the portion of the frame in a second vertical position. The assembly further includes means for securing the frame in the first vertical position.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, a bed assembly includes a frame having a first interlocking portion, and an end member having a second interlocking portion for interlocking with the first interlocking portion when the frame is in a first vertical position and for releasing from the first interlocking portion when the frame is in a second vertical position. The frame includes a latch for securing the frame in the first vertical position.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a bed end includes means for interlocking a portion of the bed end to a portion of a bed frame in a first vertical position and for releasing the portion of the end member from the portion of the bed frame in a second vertical position. The bed end further includes means for receiving a latch extending from the bed frame to secure the bed frame in the first vertical position.
In another exemplary embodiment, a bed end includes an interlocking portion for interlocking with a portion of a bed frame in a first vertical position and for releasing from the portion of the bed frame in a second vertical position, and a catch portion for receiving a latch extending from the bed frame to secure the bed frame in the first vertical position.
In another exemplary embodiment, a bed frame includes means for interlocking a portion of the bed frame to a portion of a bed end in a first vertical position and for releasing the portion of the bed frame from the portion of the bed end in a second vertical position, and means for latching the bed frame to the bed end to secure the bed frame in the first vertical position.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a bed frame includes an interlocking portion for interlocking with a portion of a end in a first vertical position and for releasing from the portion of the bed end in a second vertical position, and a latch for engaging a catch portion of the bed end to secure the bed frame in the first vertical position.
Further features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains from a reading of the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
This Description merely describes exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as claimed is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning.
As described herein, when one or more components are described as being connected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwise interconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between the components (including being integrally formed with each other) or may be indirect such as through the use of one or more intermediary components. Also as described herein, reference to a “member,” “component,” or “portion” shall not be limited to a single structural member, component, or element but can include an assembly of components, members or elements.
According to one aspect of the present application, a latching arrangement is provided for use with assemblies including multiple components for which detachment and re-attachment is desired. In one such application, first and second frame members include first and second interlocking portions that are vertically movable into interlocking engagement with each other when the first frame member is assembled with the second frame member. A latch is assembled with the first frame member and is horizontally movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the first frame member is assembled with the second frame member and the latch is in the locked position, the latch engages a catch portion of the second frame members to limit vertical movement of the second frame member with respect to the first frame member, thereby preventing disengagement of the first and second interlocking portions and disassembly of the first and second frame members. When the latch is moved to the unlocked position, the latch disengages the catch portion to permit vertical movement of the second frame member with respect to the first frame member, thereby permitting disengagement of the first and second interlocking portions and disassembly of the first and second frame members. As used herein, movement of a second member with respect to a first member may include movement of the second member, movement of the first member (such that the position of the second member with respect to the first member changes), or movement of both first and second members.
As used herein, a frame member may include, for example, at least a portion of the component to be attached (e.g., a portion of a bed frame or end board), a bracket member for direct or indirect assembly with the component to be attached, or a combination of the bracket member and at least a portion of the component to be attached.
Other vertically engaging interlocking arrangements may be utilized. For example, the first frame member may be provided with a slot, and the second frame member may be provided with a tab (not shown), opposite the arrangement of the interlocking features of
In the exemplary embodiments, the latch 40a, 40b is movably assembled with the first frame member 20a, 20b for horizontal movement between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the latch 40a engages a corresponding catch portion 35a, 35b of the second frame member 30a, 30b to restrict vertical movement of the first frame member 20a, 20b with respect to the second frame member 30a, 30b. The latch may include any suitable means for latching or otherwise engaging the first frame member to the second frame member against vertical movement of the first and second frame members from the interlocking position (
Latching arrangements, such as the arrangements described above, may be utilized in a variety of assemblies. For example, an end member (e.g., an end board, headboard or footboard) of a bed may be detachably secured to a bed frame using one or more cam locking arrangements. In one such assembly, a latching arrangement may be secured to one of a bed frame and end member for selective locking engagement with the other of the bed frame and end member. This arrangement may, for example, minimize or eliminate the use of separate fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws), which may be lost upon detachment of the end member from the bed frame, and which may require separate tools for assembly and/or disassembly. Additionally or alternatively, the latching arrangement may be configured to provide for rigid, close fitting engagement between the bed frame and end member, thereby eliminating excessive gaps and loose engagement between the end member and bed frame.
A pivotable cam for a bed frame latching arrangement may be provided with a variety of user engageable portions to facilitate operation of the cam member, including, for example, one or more levers, buttons, knobs, or sliders. In an exemplary embodiment, a cam member includes a user graspable lever that is pressed downward to pivot the cam member to a locked condition, and pulled upward to pivot the cam member to an unlocked condition. In an alternative embodiment, a user graspable lever may be pulled upward to pivot the cam member to a locked condition, and pressed downward to pivot the cam member to an unlocked condition. In the illustrated example, each cam member 140 is pivotably connected to the corresponding end bracket 125, and includes a user engageable lever portion 142 and a horizontally extending camming portion 144. The exemplary camming portion 144 is eccentrically shaped, such that when the cam member 140 is pivoted to a locked position (pivoted downward in the illustrated example), an enlarged section 147 of the camming portion 144 is received in a recessed catch portion 139 of the end board 130, defined by the bracket 135 and the mounting portion 131. Engagement of the camming portion 144 with the catch portion 139 prevents or otherwise limits vertical movement of the end board 130 from the second vertical position to the first vertical position, thereby securing the end board 130 in interlocking engagement with the bed frame member 120. The surface of the recessed catch portion 139 may be contoured to closely receive or bear against the enlarged section 147 of the cam member 140 to further limit or prevent movement of the end board 130, providing tight engagement between the bed frame member 120 and end board 130. This contoured surface may be formed, for example, by a bent tab 139a extending from the bracket 135. When the cam member 140 is pivoted to the unlocked position, the camming portion enlarged section 147 is withdrawn from the catch portion 139, thereby allowing vertical movement of the end board 130 from the second vertical position to the first vertical position for withdrawal of the flanged tabs 128 from the keyed slots 138 and disassembly of the end board 130 from the bed frame member 120.
In another embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
To assemble the exemplary bed assembly 100 in accordance with an exemplary method, the end board 130 is held at a first vertical position such that the flanged tabs 128 extending from the bed frame members 120 align with the corresponding keyed slots 138 in the end board 130, and the flanged tabs are inserted into the corresponding keyed slots. The end board 130 is then lowered from the first vertical position to a second vertical position, in which the flanged tabs 128 interlock with the keyed slots 138 to secure the end board 130 to the bed frame members 120. The cam members 140 are then pivoted to the locked position, by pushing the cam lever portions 142 downward, such that the camming portions 144 engage the recessed catch portions 139 in the end board 130 to prevent movement of the end board 130 from the second vertical position to the first vertical position.
To disassemble the end board 130 from the bed frame members 120, the cam members are pivoted to the unlocked position, by pulling the cam lever portions 142 upward, such that the camming portions 144 disengage the recessed catch portions 139 in the end board 130. The bed frame member 120 is then lowered (or the end board 130 is lifted) from the second vertical position to the first vertical position to align the flanged tabs 128 with the bracket openings 136, allowing the flanged tabs to be withdrawn from the keyed slots 138 for separation of the end board from the bed frame members 120.
In accordance with an aspect of the present application, an exemplary bed frame for attaching with a bed end member includes an end bracket and a cam member pivotably secured to the end bracket. The end bracket includes a flanged tab extending from a distal interface of the end bracket for interlocking engagement with a keyed slot in the bed end member. The cam member includes a user graspable portion for pivoting the cam member between a locked position, in which an enlarged section of a camming portion of the cam member extends beyond the distal interface of the end bracket to interlock with a recess in the bed end member, and an unlocked position, in which the enlarged section is retracted with respect to the distal interface to disengage from the recess in the bed end member.
In accordance with another aspect of the present application, an exemplary bed end member for attaching with a bed frame includes a mounting portion defining at least one recess, and a latch bracket secured to the mounting portion. The latch bracket includes at least one opening that aligns with the at least one recessed to define a keyed slot having an undercut portion sized to interlock with a flanged tab extending from the bed frame. The mounting portion and latch bracket together define a recessed catch portion that is contoured to abut an arcuate camming section of a pivotable cam member assembled with the bed frame for secure engagement of the bed end member with the bed frame when the flanged tab is interlocked with the keyed slot and the cam member is pivoted to a locked position.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/643,421, entitled “FRAME LATCHING ASSEMBLIES” and filed May 7, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61643421 | May 2012 | US |