CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONThis application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/880,242 filed Jan. 12, 2007 and entitled “BED FRAME SUPPORT” the contents of which are incorporated in full by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel bed frame support that does not require a large box to package the frame, is adjustable from full, queen or king size, and can be assembled in minutes by anyone. In particular, the frame contains 2 side rails, at least 2 cross supports, and a plurality of legs. Each cross support is a three piece unit that comprises tubes of varying size such that one tube is received within or over another.
2. Prior Art
While bed frames are well known, most are not easily packaged in a small box, have legs that stub your toes, and require multiple tools to assemble. Typically bed frames are made from metal and consequently such products can be stamped from tubes and angle iron.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn the broadest sense, the present invention comprises an easily packageable, easily assembled, adjustable bed frame, comprising: 2 side rails, each side rail an angle iron and at least 2 large hollow tubes secured perpendicular to the angle iron; at least 4 medium hollow tubes, each having at least one support leg secured thereto and designed to fit into the large hollow tubes of the 2 side rails; and at least 2 small hollow tubes designed for both ends to fit into corresponding medium hollow tubes.
Preferably the bed frame is constructed wherein said 2 side rails each have 3 large hollow tubes, and said frame has 6 medium hollow tubes, one end of which inserts into the large hollow tubes, and 3 small-hollow tubes.
More preferably the bed frame is constructed wherein said medium hollow tubes have 2 support legs each.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bed frame support including a first side rail, a second side rail, at least two cross rails disposed perpendicular to the first side rail and second side rail for supporting a mattress, wherein each cross rail includes a first hollow tubing perpendicularly engaged to the first side rail, a second hollow tubing perpendicularly engaged to the second side rail, a first medium hollow tubing having a first end and a second end, a second medium hollow tubing having a first end and a second end, and a small tubing having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first medium hollow tubing is received into the first hollow tubing, and the first end of the second medium hollow tubing is received into the second hollow tubing, and the first end of the small tubing is received into the second end of the first medium hollow tubing, and the second end of the small tubing is received into the second end of the second medium hollow tubing forming an adjustable arrangement.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support includes the first medium hollow tubing and the second medium hollow tubing having a leg extending perpendicular therefrom.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support includes the leg including sliders.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further includes a hole positioned on the first hollow tubing and the second hollow tubing is adapted to receive a set screw for securely retaining the first end of the first medium hollow tubing and the first end of the second medium hollow tubing.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further comprises a hole positioned on the first hollow tubing and a hole positioned on the second hollow tubing, each hole is configured to receive a push button located on the first end of the first medium hollow tubing and the first end of the second medium hollow tubing for securely retaining the first end of the first medium hollow tubing and the first end of the second medium hollow tubing.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further comprises a plurality of holes located on the first medium hollow tubing and the second medium hollow tubing.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further comprises a push button located on the first end of the small tubing and a push button located on the second end of the small tubing, whereby the push button is selectively positioned within the plurality of holes located on the first medium hollow tubing, and the plurality of holes located on the second medium hollow tubing for adjusting the bed frame to accommodate various sizes of mattresses.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further comprises the first hollow tubing and the second hollow tubing incorporating a leg extending perpendicularly therefrom, and the first medium hollow tubing and the second medium hollow tubing comprises a leg extending perpendicular therefrom.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support further comprising, the first medium hollow tubing and the second medium hollow tubing comprises at least two spaced apart legs extending perpendicular therefrom.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the bed frame support comprises an angle iron shaped first side rail, an angle iron shaped second side rail, at least three cross rails disposed perpendicular to die angle iron shaped first side rail and the angle iron shaped second side rail for supporting a mattress, wherein each cross rail comprises a first hollow tubing perpendicularly engaged to the first side rail, a second hollow tubing perpendicularly engaged to the second side rail, a first medium hollow tubing having a first end and a second end, a second medium hollow tubing having a first end and a second end, and a small hollow tubing having a first end and a second end, whereby the first end of the first medium hollow tubing is received into the first hollow tubing, and the first end of the second medium hollow tubing is received into the second hollow tubing, and the first end of the small tubing is received into the second end of the first medium hollow tubing, and the second end of the small tubing is received into the second end of the second medium tubing forming an adjustable arrangement.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a kit for assembling a bed frame support that includes a first side rail, a second side rail, at least two cross rails for supporting a mattress, wherein each cross rail includes a first hollow tubing, a second hollow tubing, a first medium hollow tubing, a second medium hollow tubing, a small tubing, two legs for attachment to each cross rail, and coasters for attachment to each leg.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a kit for assembling a bed frame support including a push button for inclusion in the first medium hollow tubing, a push button for inclusion in the second medium hollow tubing, and two push buttons for inclusion on the small tubing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of a side rail.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, exploded view of a portion of the side rail and a portion of the cross rail.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, exploded view of a portion of the side rail and the cross rail.
FIG. 4 is a top or plan view of the assembled bed frame of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an end view the bed frame showing the position of one leg arrangement.
FIG. 6 is an end view the bed frame showing the position of another leg arrangement.
The drawings are provided to assist one in understanding the invention, but they are not submitted to expand the scope of the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSWhile the components of the present invention can be fabricated from any strong material, the bed frames of the present invention are preferably fabricated from square, metal, hollow tubes. Referring toFIG. 4,reference10 illustrates the novel bed frame of the present invention. The bed frame includes 11 pieces and 12 roller feet. The frame has 2side rails12,14. The frame also has 3cross rails16,18, and20. For lighter weight mattresses and box frames, perhaps 2 cross rails could be employed (eliminating the center cross rail), but the inventions favors3. Each side rail is a mirror image of each other, and includes angle ironshaped support member21 about 70 inches long for the U.S. market. Of course the sizes of the side rails and cross rails can be adjusted to the standards of each country. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, eachside rail12,14 is secured to 3 pieces (or optionally 2 as discussed previously) of largehollow tubing22, preferably by welding, but any suitable fastening means that can support the mattress, box springs and occupants is acceptable. Thehollow tubing22 extends beyond the inside edge of theside rail12,14 and is secured perpendicular to therail12,14. Each largehollow tube22 has a vertical side (when viewed from its assembled state) containing aset screw24, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. While any set screw is acceptable, a simplewelded nut26 with amating screw28 in the center is sufficient, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Thehollow tubing22 has a hole stamped into the vertical side wall. Thenut26 is positioned around the hole and themating screw28 is capable of extending through the hole and contacting anything inserted into the largehollow tube22. On the opposite side (the opposite vertical face) of the largehollow tube22 is anotherhole29 through which a push button can project when inserted there into (seeFIGS. 2 and 3).
Eachcross rail16,18, and20 includes 3 tube pieces, namely36,38 and another36 (FIGS. 3,5 and6).Tube piece36 is a medium hollow tube having anend40 with just apush button42 on one vertical face of thetube36, and at theopposite end44 it has aset screw46 consisting of a nut and a mating screw, identical to setscrew24 inFIG. 1. On the vertical face that containspush button42 are 3 holes52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) adapted to adjust the frame to full, queen and king sizes, for example. Those skilled in the art will realize that theholes52 can be stamped into the mediumhollow tube36 to accommodate any size mattress/box springs as conventionally known in various countries. Each mediumhollow tube36 has at least oneleg54. Onesuch leg54 is positioned near theend44 adjacent theset crew46, as illustrated inFIG. 6. Optionally, the mediumhollow tube36 can preferably have anotherleg54 near end40 (FIG. 6). Eachleg54 is designed to hold a roller or slider type device56 that makes contact with the floor. Thebed frame10 preferably has12 rollers or slider type supports70. If the bed frame has the optional 2cross members16 and20, for example, then the frame only has 8 rollers orsliders70.
When the mattress to-be-supported is queen or king size it is desirable and preferable to use 3cross rails16,18 and20 to provide the best support for the mattress, so that it does not have a tendency to sag with time. Moreover, the preferred leg configuration is for each mediumhollow tube36 to have aleg54 adjacent eachend40,44 as illustrated inFIG. 6. This arrangement is preferred because you avoid cracking your toes against thelegs54 while standing next to the bed. Contrarily, if the legs are configured as shown inFIG. 5, they are even with edge of the mattress and you can easily crack your toes on the leg.
Each smallhollow tube38 has apush button60 at each end, preferably on the same vertical face of thetube38, as illustrated inFIG. 3.
To assemble the bed frame, lay the side rails12 and14 parallel to one another, spaced apart about the width of the mattress. Make sure theset screws24 in each largehollow tube22 are backed out of the way sufficiently to permit a mediumhollow tube36 to be inserted. Insert end40 of a mediumhollow tube36 into the largehollow tube22. You may have to rotate the mediumhollow tube36 untilpush button42 aligns withhole29.Insert end40 until thepush button42 extends outhole29. Tighten the large22 and mediumhollow tube36 by turning theset screw24 tightly against thetube36. Repeat this procedure for each large22 andmedium tube36 on both side rails12 and14. Next, insert each end of smallhollow tube38 intoend44 of a pair of corresponding mediumhollow tubes36. You may have to rotate thetube38 until thepush buttons60 align with the vertical face oftube36 containing theholes52. If the mattress is “full” size, thepush buttons60 must be inserted into theholes52 closest to the side rails12,14. If the mattress is “queen” size, the push buttons must be inserted into the center hole of the 3 holes52. If the mattress is “king” size, the push buttons must be inserted into thehole52 closest to end44 of the mediumhollow tube36. Once both ends of smallhollow tube38 are positioned properly in mediumhollow tube36, tighten theset screws46 against thesmall tube38. Lastly, the rollers orsliders70 are inserted into thelegs54.
As an alternative embodiment, smallhollow tube38 can be solid (not shown), since nothing is inserted into it. Further, thehollow tube38 could be the same size as the large hollow tube, such that each end of the mediumhollow tube36 fits within a large hollow tube. In this further embodiment, not shown, theset screw46 would be mounted ontube38. Alsotube38 would have theholes52, while thetube36 carried thepush button60.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a bed frame that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.