Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6584627
-
Patent Number
6,584,627
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, January 16, 200223 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 1, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 191
- 005 190
- 005 211
- 005 213
- 005 220
- 005 221
- 005 222
- 005 223
- 005 226
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A webbed frame includes a plurality of first and second straps mounted on a frame body to form a net. Each of the first and second straps has two opposite end sections trained on the frame body. A plurality of spaced apart retainers are fixed on the frame body. Each of several adjuster units includes a connector mounted slidably on a respective one of the retainers and connected to a respective one of the first and second straps. An adjusting bolt threadedly engages and extends through the connector, and has an abutting end that abuts against the frame body such that rotation of the adjusting bolt results in concurrent movement of the connector and the respective one of the first and second straps so as to adjust tension of the net on the frame body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frame, more particularly to a webbed frame for use in a piece of furniture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
2
A and
2
B, a conventional webbed frame for use in a piece of furniture, such as a bed, is shown to include a rectangular frame body
13
, a plurality of first and second straps
12
, a plurality of hooks
123
,
16
, and a plurality of strap adjuster units.
As illustrated, the first and second straps
12
are mounted on the frame body
13
, and extend in criss-cross manner to form a net
121
above the frame body
13
. Each of the first and second straps
12
has a first strap section
122
fastened to the frame body
13
via the hook
123
and a screw
133
, and a second strap section
124
fastened to the frame body
13
via the hook
16
and one of the strap adjuster units. Each of the strap adjuster units includes a threaded bolt
153
and a mounting plate
15
that is secured on the hook
16
, which is detachably mounted on the frame body
13
, and that has a lower portion
150
holding the second strap section
124
of each of the straps
12
which passes over a rear side of the mounting plate
15
. The threaded bolt
153
threadedly extends through the mounting plate
15
, and has an abutting end that abuts against the second strap section
124
of the strap
12
in such a manner that rotation of the bolt
153
relative to the mounting plate
15
results in pressing or non-pressing action on the second strap section
124
of the first and second straps
12
so as to change tension of the net
121
on the frame body
13
.
The conventional webbed frame is disadvantageous in that the mounting plate
15
tends to disconnect from the hook
16
due to a pulling force acting on the lower portion
150
via the second strap section
124
when the first or second strap
12
is pressed by the bolt
153
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a webbed frame for furniture, the webbed frame having a specific structure such that the aforesaid disadvantage encountered during use of the conventional webbed frame can be avoided.
Accordingly, a webbed frame of the present invention is adapted to be used in a piece of furniture, and includes a frame body defining a frame space, a plurality of adjuster units, and a plurality of first and second straps which are mounted on the frame body and which extend in criss-cross manner to form a net that covers the frame space. Each of the first and second straps has two opposite end sections that are trained on and turned around the frame body and that have terminating ends disposed underneath the net. A plurality of spaced apart retainers are fixed on and along the length of the frame body, and extend into the frame space. Each of the adjuster units includes a connector and an adjusting bolt. The connector is mounted slidably on a respective one of the retainers and is connected to a respective one of the terminating ends of the first and second straps so that movement of the connector on the respective one of the retainers results in concurrent movement of the respective one of the terminating ends so as to tighten or loosen the first and second straps on the frame body and so as to adjust tension of the net. The adjusting bolt threadedly engages and extends through the connector, and has an abutting end that abuts against the frame body so that rotation of the adjusting bolt results in concurrent movement of the connector and the respective one of the terminating ends so as to permit adjustment of the tension of the net on the frame body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a conventional webbed frame use in a piece of furniture;
FIGS. 2A and 2B
are respectively fragmentary exploded perspective and schematic sectional views of the conventional webbed frame, illustrating how a plurality of straps are mounted on a frame body;
FIG. 3
is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a webbed frame according to the present invention for use in a bed;
FIG. 4
is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along lines IV—IV in
FIG. 3
, illustrating how a net is mounted on a rectangular frame body;
FIG. 5
is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how the webbed frame is strengthened by a plurality of strengthening frames;
FIG. 6
is an exploded perspective view showing a modified preferred embodiment of a webbed frame according to the present invention for use in a bed;
FIG. 7
is a fragmentary perspective view of the modified preferred embodiment shown in
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is a fragmentary side view illustrating two pivotally connected frame halves of the modified preferred embodiment with straps removed therefrom;
FIG. 9
is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified preferred embodiment taken along lines IX—IX of
FIG. 6
, illustrating how a net is mounted on the frame halves; and
FIG. 10
is a fragmentary perspective view of the modified preferred embodiment in a stored position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the following preferred embodiments, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote similar elements throughout the specification.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a preferred embodiment of a webbed frame
2
according to the present invention is adapted for use in a bed, and includes a rectangular frame body
20
, a plurality of first and second straps
33
,
34
, a plurality of spaced apart retainers
25
, a plurality of adjuster units
4
, a mattress cover
5
, a ventilated mattress
8
, and a bed sheet
7
.
As illustrated, the frame body
20
includes left, right, front and rear frame portions
21
,
22
,
23
,
24
which cooperatively define a frame space
200
therein.
The first and second straps
33
,
34
, preferably made from metal, are mounted on the frame body
20
, and extend in criss-cross manner to form a net
300
that covers the frame space
200
(see FIG.
4
). Each of the first and second straps
33
,
34
has two opposite end sections
331
,
341
that are trained on and turned around the frame body
20
and that have terminating ends
332
,
342
disposed underneath the net
300
.
The retainers
25
are uniformly spaced apart from each other, and are fixed on and along the entire length of the frame body
20
in such a manner that the retainers
25
extend into the frame space
200
.
Each of the adjuster units
4
includes a connector
44
and an adjusting bolt
43
. The connector
44
is mounted slidably on a respective one of the retainers
25
, and is further connected to a respective one of the terminating ends
332
,
342
of the first and second straps
33
,
34
so that movement of the connector
44
on the respective one of the retainers
25
results in concurrent movement of the respective one of the terminating ends
332
,
342
so as to tighten or loosen the first and second straps
33
,
34
on the frame body
20
and so as to adjust tension of the net
300
. The adjusting bolt
43
engages threadedly and extends through the connector
44
, and has an abutting end
43
B that abuts against the frame body
20
in such a manner that rotation of the adjusting bolt
43
results in concurrent movement of the connector
44
and the respective one of the terminating ends
332
,
342
so as to permit adjustment of the tension of the net
300
on the frame body
20
.
Since the connector
44
and the respective one of the terminating ends
332
,
342
are concurrently moved in the same direction during tightening of the net
300
, the disconnection drawback as encountered in the prior art can be eliminated.
Each of the retainers
25
is generally U-shaped, and has one end fixed on the frame body
20
. The connector
44
is in the form of a plate having a top end formed with an upper hole
41
for extension of the other end of the retainer
25
, a bottom end formed with a lower hole
42
for extension of the respective one of the terminating ends
332
,
342
, and a threaded hole
45
formed between the upper and lower holes
41
,
42
to permit threaded extension of the adjusting bolt
43
. Each of the terminating ends
332
,
342
is formed into a loop that loops around the bottom end of the plate.
Preferably, a plurality of strengthening frame portions
31
which are disposed in the frame space
200
and are connected to the frame body
20
so as to enhance rigidity of the webbed frame and so as to define a cushion receiving space
32
between the net
300
and the strengthening frame portions
31
. A cushion member (not visible) can be disposed in the cushion receiving space
32
so as to absorb a load applied on the net
300
.
Since the specific structures of the mattress cover
5
, the ventilated mattress
8
and the bed sheet
7
are not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
Referring to
FIGS. 6
,
7
and
8
, a modified preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to have a structure similar to that of the previous embodiment. The main difference resides in that the frame body
20
includes two pivotally connected frame halves
20
″, which are movable relative to each other between a storage position, where the frame halves
20
″ are stacked one above the other, as best shown in
FIG. 10
, and a use position, where the frame halves
20
″ are unfolded, as best shown in FIG.
7
.
Referring to
FIG. 9
, each of the adjuster units
4
further includes a rigid washer
48
and a nut
47
. The rigid washer
48
is sleeved around the adjusting bolt
43
. The nut
47
is mounted threadedly on the adjusting bolt
43
in such a manner that rotation of the nut
47
in a clockwise direction on the adjusting bolt
43
results in movement of the washer
48
toward the connector
44
and permits the washer
48
and the connector
44
to cooperate with each other to clamp the respective terminating end
332
,
342
of the first and second straps
33
,
34
therebetween, thereby preventing loosening and disorder of the first and second straps
33
,
34
when the frame halves
20
″ are folded into the storage position. The frame halves
20
″ are preferably provided with two connector plates
93
that overlap each other when the webbed frame of the present invention is disposed at the use position. The plates
93
can be immobilized by bolt-and-nut sets
94
,as best shown in
FIG. 7
, so as to enhance stability of the webbed frame at the use position.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
- 1. A webbed frame for furniture, comprising:a frame body defining a frame space; a plurality of first and second straps mounted on said frame body and extending in criss-cross manner to form a net that covers said frame space, each of said first and second straps having two opposite end sections that are trained on and turned around said frame body and that have terminating ends disposed underneath said net; a plurality of spaced apart retainers fixed on and along the length of said frame body and extending into said frame space; a plurality of adjuster units, each of which includes a connector mounted slidably on a respective one of said retainers and connected to a respective one of said terminating ends of said first and second straps so that movement of said connector on the respective one of said retainers results in concurrent movement of said respective one of said terminating ends so as to tighten or loosen said first and second straps on said frame body and so as to adjust tension of said net, and an adjusting bolt threadedly engaging and extending through said connector and having an abutting end that abuts against said frame body so that rotation of said adjusting bolt results in concurrent movement of said connector and said respective one of said terminating ends so as to permit adjustment of the tension of said net on said frame body.
- 2. The webbed frame as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said retainers is generally U-shaped, and has one end fixed on said frame body.
- 3. The webbed frame as defined in claim 2, wherein said connector is in the form of a plate having a top end formed with an upper hole for extension of the other end of said retainer, a bottom end formed with a lower hole for extension of said respective one of said terminating ends, and a threaded hole formed between said upper and lower holes to permit threaded extension of said adjusting bolt, each of said terminating ends of said first and second straps being formed into a loop that loops around said bottom end of said plate.
- 4. The webbed frame as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of strengthening frame portions disposed in said frame space and connected to said frame body so as to enhance rigidity of said webbed frame and so as to define a cushion receiving space between said net and said strengthening frame portions, and a cushion member disposed in said cushion receiving space so as to absorb a load applied on said net.
- 5. The webbed frame as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame body includes two pivotally connected frame halves, which are movable relative to each other between a storage position, where said frame halves are stacked one above the other, and a use position, where said frame halves are unfolded.
US Referenced Citations (5)