U.S. patent number 3,761,971 [Application Number 05/262,607] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-02 for central rail bed frame with connector assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Harris-Hub Company. Invention is credited to Wilbert E. Behnke.
United States Patent |
3,761,971 |
Behnke |
October 2, 1973 |
CENTRAL RAIL BED FRAME WITH CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An improved bed frame assembly including a pair of parallel side
rails and a pair of end cross rails extending perpendicularly
between the side rails also includes a central support rail
extending parallel to the side rails and midway of the cross rails.
The central rail is T-shaped in cross section, having a vertical
leg and a pair of horizontal legs extending outwardly from the top
of the vertical leg. At least one end of the central rail is
connected to a cross rail by means of a plate secured to the
midportion of the cross rail. The plate includes a pair of opposed
protruding fingers extending horizontally below the plate, and
having opposed ends spaced from each other. The fingers define a
T-shaped space into which an end of the central rail is inserted,
so that an end of each horizontal leg of the central rail is held
between a respective finger and the plate, for a positive
connection between the central rail and the cross member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to bed
frames of the knock-down type, and in particular to bed frames
provided with a central support rail. Such bed frames have usually
been used for the wider "king size" and "queen size" bedding which
require center support, particularly when used in hotels and
motels, where they are commonly subjected to greater abuse and
stress than frames used in the home. Typical ones of such wider
frames have included a pair of spaced side frame members and a pair
of spaced cross frame members extending perpendicularly
therebetween, with the central support rail secured between the
cross frame members by bolts, rivets or other known expedients. A
problem has long existed in the art because of such conventional
central support rail design and fastening expedients, which have
made it time-consuming and inconvenient to assemble and disassemble
the bed frame assembly, and have normally required the use of
inconvenient fastener small parts. The need for satisfying the
demand for both "king size" and "queen size" bedding has aggravated
such lack of such convenient assembly and disassembly, and the
space needed for storage by vendors and institutional users such as
hotels has been greater than if convenient disassembly were
available. Even where bed frame assemblies of conveniently
adjustable width and otherwise superior assembly qualities have
been available, the accommodation of the central support rail in
the larger "king size" and "queen size" bedding types has not been
accomplished in a convenient manner, and has prevented taking full
advantage of the qualities of such improved bed frame assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the bed frame member of the
present invention solves the problems encountered in the prior art
by providing a secure but readily assembled and disassembled
interlocking relationship between the cross frame elements and the
central support rail which allows bed frames requiring such a
central support rail to be quickly and easily assembled in an
interlocking configuration of superior strength and rigidity
compared to prior expedients. The bed frame assembly of the
invention is adapted to support a box spring and mattress and
includes a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated
side rails, a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed
elongated end cross rails extending perpendicularly between the
side rails, and a central T-shaped support rail extending parallel
to the side rails generally midway between the side rails. The
support rail has a vertically extending flat leg and two horizontal
flat legs extending outwardly from the upper end of the vertical
leg and on opposite sides thereof, with the horizontal legs
extending a first given width. The assembly is also provided with
means for connecting the central support at each end thereof to a
respective cross rail. At least one of such connecting means
includes a flat plate associated with one of the cross rails and
carrying first and second fingers, with each finger having a first
generally transversely extending portion, and a second portion
extending horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with
the ends thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship. The
transversely extending finger portions are horizontally separated
by a first predetermined spacing greater than the first given width
of the central rail, and the ends of the second finger portions are
separated by a second predetermined spacing less than the first
given central rail width. In this manner the fingers define a
T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to the associated cross
rail, and adapted to receive an end of the central frame member.
Specifically, the horizontal legs of this end of the central rail
are positioned within the first predetermined spacing, with the
bottom surfaces of the horizontal legs of the central rail adjacent
respective horizontal finger portions. At the same time, the
vertical leg of the central rail member is positioned within the
second predetermined spacing between the opposed finger ends, to
thereby complete a positively held connection between the central
rail and the associated cross member.
Inventors: |
Behnke; Wilbert E. (Chicago,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Harris-Hub Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22998250 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/262,607 |
Filed: |
June 14, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/201; 5/282.1;
403/230; 403/345; 403/187; 403/335 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
19/024 (20130101); A47C 19/025 (20130101); F16B
12/54 (20130101); F16B 12/56 (20130101); Y10T
403/70 (20150115); F16B 2200/50 (20180801); Y10T
403/46 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
19/00 (20060101); A47C 19/02 (20060101); F16B
12/54 (20060101); F16B 12/00 (20060101); A47c
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/2D,201,207,282R,2C
;287/64,189.36R,189.36A,189.35 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; James C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bed frame assembly comprising: a pair of spaced parallel
horizontally disposed elongated side rails; a pair of spaced
parallel horizontally disposed elongated cross rails extending
perpendicularly between the side rails; a central support rail
extending parallel to said side rails generally midway between said
side rails, said central rail including a horizontal flat leg
extending a first given width; and means for connecting said
central rail at each end thereof to a respective cross rail, at
least one of said connecting means including support means
associated with one of said cross rails carrying first and second
fingers adjacent said one cross rail each finger having a first
generally transversely extending portion, and a second portion
extending horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with
the ends thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship, said
transversely extending finger portions being horizontally separated
by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given
width of said central rail and the ends of said second finger
portions being separated by a second predetermined spacing less
than said first given central rail width, said fingers thereby
defining a T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to said
associated cross rail, with an end of said central rail being
received within said T-shaped space defined by said fingers, said
horizontal central rail leg being positioned within said first
predetermined spacing over said horizontal elongated finger
portions, to thereby complete a positively held connection between
said central rail and said associated cross member.
2. A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, in which said central rail
is T-shaped.
3. A bed frame assembly as in claim 2, in which said T-shaped rail
is comprised of two rails each having mutually perpendicular legs
joined to place a leg of one rail in opposed abutting relationship
with a leg of the other rail.
4. A bed frame assembly as in claim 3, wherein said two rails
comprising said T-shaped rail are joined by means of rivets, and
wherein said assembly also includes a pair of supporting legs, at
least some of said rivets also joining said leg to said T-shaped
rail at points adjacent the ends thereof so that said legs extend
downwardly therefrom to support said T-shaped rail.
5. A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, in which said support means
includes a horizontally-disposed mounting plate secured to said one
cross rail and carrying said first and second fingers beneath said
plate.
6. A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first and
second fingers are formed integrally with said flat plate.
7. A bed frame assembly as in claim 5, wherein said one cross rail
is comprised of respective mutually perpendicular horizontal and
vertical flat legs, and wherein said mounting plate is secured to
said horizontal leg to position said plate so that the outside edge
thereof is flush with the plane of said vertical leg.
8. A connector assembly for joining one bed rail to the end of
another bed rail having a T-shape, defining outwardly extending
legs together having a first given width, and extending
perpendicularly from said one bed rail, comprising: a first finger
supported by said one bed rail and having a first portion extending
transversely to said one bed rail, said finger having a second
portion extending from said first portion generally parallel to
said one bed rail; and a second opposed finger supported by said
one bed rail in alignment with said first finger and having a first
portion extending transversely to said one bed rail, said second
finger having a second portion extending from said first portion
generally parallel to said one bed rail and in an opposite sense
from said second portion of said first finger, the ends of said
second portions being in spaced opposed facing relationship, said
transversely extending first portions being separated by a first
predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said
other rail, and the ends of said second finger portions being
separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first
given rail width, said fingers thereby defining a T-shpaed space
positioned perpendicularly to said one rail to enable an end of
said other T-shaped rail to be received therewithin for connection
with said one bed rail.
9. A bed frame assembly adapted to support a box spring and
mattress comprising: a pair of spaced parallel horizontally
disposed elongated side rails; a pair of spaced parallel
horizontally disposed elongated cross rails extending
perpendicularly between the side rails; a central T-shaped support
rail extending parallel to said side rails generally midway between
said side rails, said central rail having a vertically extending
flat leg and two horizontal flat legs extending outwardly from the
upper end of said vertical leg on opposite sides thereof, said
horizontal legs extending a first given width; and means for
connecting said central support at each end thereof to a respective
cross rail, at least one of said connecting means including a flat
plate associated with one of said cross rails and carrying first
and second fingers, with each finger having a first generally
transversely extending portion, and a second portion extending
horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with the ends
thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely
extending finger portions being horizontally separated by a first
predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said
central rail and the ends of said second finger portions being
separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first
given central rail width, said fingers together with said plate
thereby defining a T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to
said associated cross rail, with an end of said central rail being
received within said T-shaped space defined by said fingers, said
horizontal central rail legs being positioned within said first
predetermined spacing so that the ends of each of said horizontal
legs is positioned over a respective one of said horizontal
elongated finger portions, said vertical leg of said central rail
member being positioned within said second predetermined spacing
between said opposed finger ends to thereby complete a positively
held connection between said central rail and said associated cross
member.
10. A bed frame assembly as in claim 8, wherein said fingers extend
in a direction parallel with said cross rail associated with said
plate.
11. A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontal
legs of said central rail are of equal width and said vertical leg
is positioned midway therebetween.
12. A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontally
extending second finger portions are of equal width, and said first
transversely extending portions make equal angles with said flat
plate.
13. A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said fingers are
spaced from said flat plate by a vertical spacing greater than the
thickness of said horizontal legs of said central rail.
14. A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontal
legs of said central rail are in frictional engagement with the
lower surface of said flat plate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bed
frame assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the central
support rail and the connecting portion of the associated cross
rail of the assembly of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG.
1; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The
scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
Referring now to the drawing, the bed frame is shown in completely
assembled form at 10 in FIG. 1; it comprises a pair of spaced
parallel side frame rails 11 and 11' spanned by a pair of
perpendicularly extending cross frame rails 12 and 12'. Preferably,
the assembly rests on support legs of the type disclosed in the
commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,114 to F.J. Mis entitled "Bed
Frame Assembly. " In the illustrated embodiment, both the side and
cross rails are L-shaped and consist of mutually perpendicular legs
of similar width. The side and cross rails are secured to each
other so that one of the legs of each rail is disposed in a
horizontal plane so that a box spring may be supported by the
horizontal legs of at least two of the rails. The cross rails 12
and 12' may be either of conventional construction, or preferably
are one of the types disclosed and claimed in the commonly assigned
application of G.M. Harris entitled "Adjustable Bed Frame Member"
filed concurrently herewith, and the commonly assigned U.S. Pat.
No. 3,646,623 to A.E. Harris et al., entitled "Bed Frame Assembly."
The use of either of the cross rail constructions disclosed in the
referenced applications will provide a bed frame assembly which is
easily adjustable in width.
The bed frame assembly 10 further includes a centrally disposed
support rail 14 extending between cross rails 12 and 12' and
positioned midway between their ends. Support rail 14 is secured at
each of its ends 13 and 15 to the midpoint of a respective one of
cross rails 12 and 12'. Support rail 14 is T-shaped in cross
section, with mutually perpendicular legs. More particularly, this
rail 14 includes flat leg 16 and flat legs 17 and 18 extending
perpendicularly outwardly from the upper edge of leg 16. The legs
16, 17 and 18 are of equal width, with legs 17 and 18 together
being of a given transverse width and of like thickness. The
described construction of the T-shaped support rail 14 may be
easily accomplished by, for example, riveting as in the present
embodiment, or spot welding two stock angle irons such as would be
suitable for the side or cross rails, so that a leg of one rail is
in opposed abutting relationship with a leg of the other rail.
Some of the rivets fastening the rail 14 together are shown at 33
(FIG. 3). The configuration of the central supporting rail may best
be seen by reference to FIG. 2, which illustrates the orientation
of the legs of the rail as used in the bed frame assembly 10, so
that legs 17 and 18 are horizontal, while 16 is vertically
oriented.
Vertical leg 16, when constructed of two rails as just described,
is twice the thickness of the remaining legs 17 and 18, which
provides substantial increase in supporting strength and rigidity.
Supporting legs 32 and 32' are affixed respectively adjacent both
ends of central rail 14 by some of the same rivets 33 (FIG. 3) as
are used to hold together the rail 14. Preferably, the support legs
32 and 32' are of a type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 2,825,073 to C.
Harris for "Legs for Hollywood Beds."
At the point where it is intended to join support rail 14 with
cross rail 12, which in this case is the midpoint of the cross rail
12, the cross rail is provided with a generally flat or planar
support or connecting plate 20 that is attached by rivets 19, or
welding or the like, to the top surface of the horizontal leg 21 of
the cross rail 12. Both cross rails 12 and 12' are provided with
identical support plates, but for convenience of description, only
the plate 20 which is attached to rail 12 will be considered in
detail. The manner in which plate 20 is attached to a cross rail 12
may be seen in FIG. 3, showing plate 20 extending horizontally from
leg 21 and inwardly toward the support rail 14, with its outside
edge flush with the plane of the vertical leg of rail 12. Plate 20,
as may best be seen in FIG. 2, includes a pair of fingers 22 and
22' extending in opposed sense and horizontally below plate 20.
Both fingers 22 and 22' have generally transverse first portions 24
and 24' each extending downwardly from plate 20 and inwardly toward
the other at the same acute angle to plate 20. The fingers 22 and
22' also include horizontal second portions 25 and 25' of equal
transverse width extending from transverse portions 24 and 24'
horizontally below plate 20 toward each other and in the same plane
in the direction of the rail 12, and terminating with their ends in
spaced opposed parallel relationship. Such transverse and elongated
portions of each finger are integral with each other and with plate
20, being formed in the illustrated embodiment by a stamping or
punching method which depress a rectangular portion of plate 20
from the plane thereof, leaving slots 30 in the plate and
intermediate plate portion 31 between the slots.
The horizontal spacing between the transverse finger portions 24
and 24' and between the opposed ends of horizontal finger portions
25 and 25' together define a T-shaped space, as may best be seen in
the partial cross sectional view of FIG. 4. The horizontal space
between transverse finger portions 24 and 24' is slightly greater
than the given width of the horizontal legs 17 and 18 of cross rail
14, while the separation between the opposed ends of finger
portions 25 and 25' is substantially less than the given width of
the horizontal support rail legs. Also, the vertical spacing
between finger portions 25 and 25' and the plate 20 is slightly
larger than the thickness of legs 17 and 18 of support rail 14.
Such clearances are provided in order to enable ready insertion of
the end of support rail within the T-shaped space thereby defined
between plate 20 and the various portions of fingers 25 to assemble
the support rail 14 with the associated cross rail 12. More
particularly, the lower surfaces of legs 17 and 18 of the inserted
support rail end 15 are positioned in opposed relationship under
the upper surfaces of fingers 22 and 22', while the upper surfaces
of legs 17 and 18 of the rail end 15 are positioned in opposed
relationship with the lower surface of portion 31 of plate 20. The
opposite end 13 of the support rail 14 is connected to its
associated cross member 12' in the same manner by an identical
arrangement to complete the assembly. The central rail is thereby
connected in a positive improved manner, as is illustrated in FIGS.
3 and 4.
Plate 20 and portion 31 thereof prevents any upward movement of
rail 14 with respect to cross rail 12, while lateral movement of
the central rail 14 is similarly prevented by transverse finger
portions 24 and 24'. Since the support legs 32 and 33 force the
central rail 14 upwardly, with its legs 17 and 18 bearing upwardly
against plate 20 and portion 31 the upper surfaces of legs 17 and
18 and the lower surface of plate 20 and portion 31 are in strong
frictional engagement when the frame assembly is under load,
preventing separation of the rail 14 from engagement with cross
rail 12.
The invention provides a bed assembly with a center support rail
arrangement having both an unsurpassed ease of assembly and at the
same time improved strength. Once the center support rail has been
inserted between the fingers 22 and 22' and plate 20, the rail is
permanently locked into position with cross rail 12 as long as the
end 15 is maintained within the T-shaped space. By the same token,
the connection may be instantly disassembled by simply withdrawing
either support rail 14 or plate 20 longitudinally relative to the
other. The connnection may of course be remade and disassembled any
number of times in the foregoing manner, and indeed is particularly
useful in institutional contexts requiring frequent assembly and
disassembly of bedding. The simple and foolproof construction of
the invention is at once highly durable and convenient compared to
prior expedients, yet affords a significant cost savings in its
manufacture.
* * * * *