Patent Application
20230248154
This invention relates generally to the field of adjustable beds and more particularly to a mattress retainer for an articulating bed having an articulating platform, a mattress incorporating carry straps proximate at least two edges and clips located proximate edges of the articulating platform receiving and constraining the carry straps.
Articulating beds have long been used in hospital and healthcare facilities to allow positioning of a patient in a reclining position, sitting position, elevated leg position or combinations of these positions. General usage of articulating beds has been rapidly expanding due to the comfort and convenience available from adjusting the bed to desired positions for reading, general relaxation or sleeping.
Articulating bed frames provide various mattress support members which articulate relative to one another to provide angled support for the upper body, seat, thighs and lower legs. In the articulated position, a mattress which is firm enough for comfort may not maintain contact with the various articulating support members. It is therefore desirable to have a retention system to maintain engagement of the mattress with the support members.
The embodiments disclosed herein overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an adjustable bed having a mattress with a plurality of carry straps attached an underside of the mattress proximate side edges, a foot end edge and a head end edge. An adjustable foundation has articulating support panels including an upper body support rotatably attached to a seat support section, a thigh support panel rotatably attached the seat support section and a lower leg support panel rotatably attached to the thigh support panel. At least one clip is attached proximate an edge of at least one of the support panels, the at least one clip configured to engage a mating one of the carry straps on the mattress.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary implementations when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Implementations shown in the drawings and described herein provide an adjustable bed having a mattress with carry straps for manipulation during installation and engagement of restraining clips on support panels of an adjustable foundation for limiting separation or translation of the mattress with respect to the support panels during articulation.
Referring to the drawings,
As seen in
To secure the mattress 4 to adjustable foundation 2 to maintain position of the mattress during articulation of the various adjustable portions of the bed, clips are mounted to upper surfaces of the support panels. As seen in
Clip assemblies 28 are employed to attach the clips to the support panels and are shown in detail in
The clips 22, 24 are secured to the support panels 14, 18 with “nutserts” 42. Each nutsert 42 incorporates a body 44 with a top flange 46 having a first diameter greater than the body. In the example shown, a barrel 48 extends from the body. A threaded bore 50 extends axially through the nutsert 42. The body 44 has flats 52 to engage mating flats in receiving apertures to prevent rotation and the top flange 46 prevents the nutsert from being drawn through the aperture. In the example shown, bottom plate 34 of the clip 22 includes the receiving apertures 54 with mating flats 56 and the top plate 32 has eyes 58 axially aligned with the receiving apertures 54. The eyes 58 have a second diameter greater than the first diameter to allow the nutsert to be inserted through the eye into the receiving aperture. Bolts 60 are configured to be inserted through holes 62 in the support panel 14 and received in the threaded bore 50. In the example shown, the bolts 60 have large heads 64 to allow hand tightening. Additionally, washers or sleeves 66 may be employed over the bolts to adjust tensioning length to prevent the bolts from protruding through the eyes 58 in the top plate 32 of the clip 22. In certain implementations, the holes 62 may have flats 63 to supplement or replace mating flats 56 in the bottom plate 34 of the clip 22.
In certain implementations grommet clips 68 inserted in the holes 62 may be employed for sizing or bordering the holes. Through holes 70 in the grommet clips 68 are sized to receive the barrel 48 or body 46 of the nutsert and may also include flats 72 in addition to or as a replacement for flats 52 in the receiving apertures 54 of the clip 22. As seen in
As represented in
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The implementations disclosed provide a method for preventing translation or separation of a mattress on an adjustable foundation. Aa plurality of carry straps are attached to an underside of a mattress proximate side edges, a foot end edge and a head end edge. At least one clip is mounted by attach attaching the clip proximate an edge of at least one support panel in an adjustable foundation having articulating support panels including an upper body support rotatably attached to a seat support section, a thigh support panel rotatably attached the seat support section and a lower leg support panel rotatably attached to the thigh support panel. A mating one of the carry straps on the mattress is then engaged in the at least one clip.
In example implementations, the at least one clip is resilient material flat plate bent greater than 180° for a flexible spine with extending top plate and bottom plate, the flexible spine urging an upper edge of the top plate into contact or close proximity with the bottom plate adjacent a lower edge. Engaging a mating one of the carry straps is accomplished by frictionally engaging the mating one of the carry straps between the top plate and bottom plate at least at the upper and lower edges. With the clip located proximate a foot edge of the lower leg support panel, the foot edge of the mattress is prevented from lifting and constrained against the lower leg support panel upon articulation of the thigh support panel and rotatably attached lower leg support panel.
Additionally, mounting the at least one clip is accomplished by inserting a plurality of nutserts through receiving apertures, each nutsert with a body having a top flange with a first diameter greater than the body, the body having flats to engage mating flats in the receiving apertures to prevent rotation and the top flange prevents the nutsert from being drawn through the aperture. The bottom plate of the clip includes the receiving apertures with mating flats and the top plate has eyes axially aligned with the receiving apertures, the eyes having a second diameter greater than the first diameter to allow the plurality of nutserts to be inserted through the eyes into the receiving apertures. Bolts configured to be received through holes in one of the support panels are inserted through the holed into threaded bores extending axially through each of the plurality of nutserts.
In certain implementations grommet clips are inserted in the holes. The grommet clips have through holes sized to receive the barrel or body of the nutsert and include second flats in addition to or as a replacement for flats in the receiving apertures of the clip.
Having now described various embodiments of the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims.
