The present invention relates generally to the field of bedding products and, more particularly, to an improved support structure for a mattress.
Platform type bed frames have been used for several years as an alternative to standard bed frames that lie closer to the floor and are designed with relatively open framing to accommodate a mattress foundation as well as a mattress. In contrast, platform bed frames are typically raised a greater distance from the floor, for example ten to fourteen inches, which allows for underbed storage. Platform bed frames are also typically provided with a horizontal framework that is specifically designed to fully support a mattress without the need for a foundation. An example of a known platform bed frame is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,278. The platform bed frame described in the '278 patent has the added benefit of having a folding design. More specifically, the bed frame is divided into two halves with the halves being connected at the midpoint of the frame by a hinge connection.
However, platform bed frames of the type described in the '278 patent have a number of significant drawbacks. First, the folding design utilized in these frames requires a structurally complex middle hinge that is relatively expensive. Further, the prior art platform bed frames have a relatively limited weight capacity that can create issues for larger customers. Also, while these prior art frames do fold, they still require larger packaging and are difficult to place on to standard store display shelves.
In addition, when used in combination to support larger mattresses, the known prior art platform bed frames provide insufficient support for the middle of the mattress, which can result in sagging of the mattress, especially in the case of foam mattresses or lower profile innerspring mattresses. In particular, the prior art frames utilize connecting bars to connect two frames together, which allows the mattress to sag between the connecting bars.
Another drawback of prior art frames is the manner of construction, which requires a large number of welds and relatively expensive, extruded materials. A further drawback is the lack of a resilient base for the prior art frames.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an improved platform bed frame having greater structural rigidity and weight capacity while being foldable into a smaller footprint to enhance packaging and display qualities.
One aspect of the invention generally pertains to an improved platform bed frame having increased structural rigidity, both when used alone and when multiple bed frames are combined to accommodate larger mattresses.
Another aspect of the invention pertains to an improved platform bed frame having an increased weight carrying capacity.
Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a platform bed frame capable of being folded into a smaller footprint.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide an alternative construction arrangement for lower cost and easier assembly.
One additional aspect of the invention is to provide a resilient base for a platform bed frame.
In accordance with one or more aspects of the invention, a platform bed frame is provided that includes two frame segments connected by hinge connections, leg assemblies connected to the two frame segments, a rotating hook member pivotally secured to one of the frame segments; and a securing extension attached to the other frame segment, and wherein the rotating hook and extension allow two bed frames to be secured together. Alternately, the frame may include an extension and T-slot to connect two frames. A related improvement is a suspension leg including telescoping sections and a compressible, resilient member controlling movement of the telescoping sections. Another related improvement relates to a frame structure with connected angled supports and slats connected thereto to form the mattress supporting surface.
These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings.
Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.
In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the figures. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer frame member 18 of each frame segment 12, 14 differ slightly in their shape. For example, the distal ends of the frame segments 12, 14 may be provided with one or more rounded corners. These rounded corners generally match the peripheral shape of the mattress resting on the bed frame 10 and minimize protrusion of any portion of the bed frame beyond the mattress edge. In the case of bed frames 10 that are intended for use in multiple sets, as discussed in more detail below, only the outer, distal corners of the frame segments 12, 14 are rounded as the inner, distal corners will typically lie adjacent a matching frame 10 and be positioned underneath the middle portion of the mattress.
The cross-members 20 for each frame segment 12, 14 are linear pieces of material, in most cases the same material used for the outer frame member 18, that are attached to the outer frame member 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-members 20 are welded to the outer frame member 18, although those of skill in the art will recognize that any number of other connecting methods can be used. The cross-members 20 serve at least two purposes. First, they provide increased rigidity to the frame segment. Second, combined with the other cross-members 20 of the bed frame 10, they form the primary components of the platform that supports a mattress placed on the bed frame 10
The frame segments 12, 14 may be further supported by multiple elongated support members 22. These elongated support members 22 combine with the cross-members 20 to provide additional support to a mattress on the frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated support members 22 are narrow diameter bars that extend from one end of each frame segment to the other. These support members 22 are connected at each end to the outer frame member 18. The elongated support members 22 may be welded to the outer frame member 18. In other embodiments, the elongated support members 22 may be provided with threaded end sections that are threaded into mating threaded holes in the outer frame member 18. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that a variety of connecting methods are suitable for attaching the elongated support members 22 to the outer frame member 18. In addition, to further increase the rigidity of the structure, the elongated support members 22 may also be connected to one or more of the cross-members 20 by any known means.
Each frame segment 12, 14 is provided with a folding leg assembly 24. In the illustrated embodiment, these leg assemblies include two legs 26 and a leg assembly support beam 28. The leg assembly support beam 28 is connected to each of the legs 26 in a secure manner, for example by bolts, screws, welds, or similar means. In a preferred embodiment, the leg assemblies 24 also include one or more angled support brackets 30. The angled support brackets 30 are connected at one end thereof to the support beam 28 or the legs 26 and at the other end to the frame segment. In alternate embodiments, the leg assemblies 24 may only include legs 26 that are connected by hinges, as discussed below, to their respective frame segment.
The leg assembly 24 is hingedly connected to the frame segment 12, 14. In the illustrated embodiment, a hinge connection 32 is provided at the top of each leg 26 to facilitate a pivoting connection between the leg 26 and one of the cross-members 20 of the frame segment 12, 14. Similarly, where support brackets 30 are utilized, a hinge connection 34 may also be provided at the connection of the bracket 30 and frame segment 12, 14. While the leg assembly 24 is connected to one of the cross-members 20 rather than to the outer frame member 18, the latter arrangement is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The frame segments 12, 14 are attached to one another by two lateral hinge connections 36. The hinge connection may take many forms. In the illustrated embodiment, each hinge connection 36 comprises a pair of parallel hinge members 38 that are pivotally connected at each end with the outer frame members 18 of the frame segments 12, 14.
In order to provide further support to the bed frame 10, each hinge connection is provided with a leg 40 to support the middle portion of the bed frame 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the leg 40 is rigidly connected to the parallel hinge members 38 to form a roughly “T” shaped structure. This arrangement positions the legs 40 between the frame segments 12, 14 when the frame 10 is placed into its folded position, as illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
It is contemplated that pairs of bed frames 10 may be used in combination to accommodate mattresses of larger size. For example, a single bed frame 10 may be provided with overall length and width dimensions to accommodate a twin size mattress. Two such frames can be combined to accommodate a full size mattress. Swivel hooks 200, as shown for example in
The other frame segment 12, 14 is provided with an extension 206 to which the hook end 204 of the swivel hook 200 may be attached. The extension 206 may be, for example, the head of a bolt that is screwed into or welded to the outside surface of the outer frame member 18 of the other frame segment 12, 14. Preferably, the extension 206 is positioned near the side of the other frame segment 12, 14 that abuts the frame having the swivel hook 200. The relative positioning of the swivel hook 200 on the first frame segment 12, 14 and the positioning of the extension 206 on the other frame segment 12, 14 may be advantageously arranged such that engaging the extension 206 with the swivel hook 200 maintains the two frames in an abutting relationship.
In a preferred embodiment, each frame 10 has a swivel hook 200 at one end and an extension 206 at the other end. This arrangement allows for each frame 10 to be manufactured in an identical manner but, by flipping one frame 180° relative to the other frame, the swivel hook 200 of the first frame will be in position to engage the extension 206 of the second frame, while the swivel hook 200 of the second frame will be in position to engage the extension 206 of the first frame, so that both ends of the frames are secured together to form a solid base structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the connection structure illustrated in
Various combinations of extensions 102 and T-slots 104 may be used with the frames, so long as each extension 102 on a frame has a mating T-slot 104 at the appropriate location on the other frame to allow the frames to align in an abutting relationship. In one version, each frame may have multiple extensions 102 on one side of the frame and T-slots 104 on the other side. Where the frame is folding and composed of two frame segments, it is preferred that each frame segment be provided with at least one extension and one T-slot. Alternatively, each frame may have at least one extension 102 and one T-slot 104 on each side of the frame.
Cross members 308 are secured to two opposing angle supports 306 to span the space therebetween and provide a support surface for a mattress. In one embodiment, the cross members 308 are wooden slats that are screwed or bolted to the horizontal portions of opposing angle supports 306. The foregoing embodiment allows for a frame that is extremely economical to produce. Notably, the swivel hook and extension connecting arrangement discussed with the preceding embodiment can be utilized with this low cost embodiment as well in the same manner as described above. Platform frames using this structure may be produced in a non-folding version or a folding version by incorporation of a pair of hinges to connect to identical frame segments constructed in the above described manner.
A spring 406 is provided within the space defined by the two telescoping sections 402, 404 to bias the two telescoping sections apart and toward their maximum combined length. The spring 406 is advantageously provided with sufficient strength to be compressible in response to a significant weight being placed on the frame without “bottoming out” by compressing to an extent that the telescoping sections reach their shortest length. In this manner, except where a weight in excess of a maximum recommended amount is placed on the frame, the suspension leg remains in a position to provide resilient support to the bed frame.
In a preferred version of this embodiment as shown in
In an alternate version of the suspension leg shown in
In yet another version shown in
The preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in the best mode known to the inventors. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150320225 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |