Bedframe Assembly

Abstract

A bedframe assembly including an improved cross frame member comprising a first cross frame element slidably engaged within a second cross frame element. The second cross frame element includes a flange configuration defined by reentrant flange portions that confine the first cross frame element for slidable movement within the second cross frame element. Releasable locking means is positioned for securing the cross frame elements at one of a plurality of selectable positions relative to one another. The locking means includes a male element that is resiliently biased outwardly from one cross frame element, and a female element defined by a plurality of apertures in the other cross frame element with the apertures being positioned to receive the male element and hold the cross frame elements in the selected position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bedframes of the knockdown type. Such bedframes have conventionally included a pair of spaced generally L-shaped side frame members and a pair of spaced generally L-shaped cross frame members extending perpendicularly therebetween, with the cross frame members commonly consisting of separate elements detachably secured to one another. The side and cross frame members cooperate to provide a base for supporting a mattress and box spring unit between a footboard and headboard. While such structures have met with wide commercial acceptance, the means that have been used in the past to detachably secure the elements of the cross frame members to one another have not been entirely satisfactory.

Serious problems have occurred primarily because the securing means for the cross frame elements have not provided positive interlocking engagement between the cross frame elements, and have required the use of a large number of fasteners making it time consuming and difficult to assemble and disassemble the bedframe assembly. Furthermore, with the advent of "king-size" and "queen-size" bedding, bedframe vendors have found it necessary to stock undesirably large inventories of bedframe assemblies of a given size, because of the complete lack of an easily manipulatable and reliable means for adjusting the width of the bedframe assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The bedframe of the present invention solves the problems encountered in the prior art by providing a secure but readily releasable interlocking relationship between the cross frame elements which allows the bedframe to be quickly and easily assembled to the desired width.

The improved bedframe of the present invention includes cross frame members comprising a pair of cooperating cross frame elements, one of said elements being slidably insertable within the other element, the other of said elements having a configuration which forms an interlocking relationship between the elements while still permitting longitudinal movement therebetween.

The slidable cross frame elements are secured in stationary predetermined positions by positive locking means comprising a male element attached to one of the cross frame elements which engages and releasably interlocks with a female element on the other of the cross frame elements. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking means comprises an element having means which automatically engages apertures formed at predetermined positions in the cooperating cross frame element when the elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another. It has been found that a detent that is resiliently biased outwardly is suitable for use as the male element of locking means of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bedframe assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cross frame member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring with particularity to the drawings, the bedframe is indicated in its entirety at 10 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel side frame members 11 spanned by perpendicular cross frame members 12.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the side frame members 11 are L-section metal bars arranged with horizontal flanges 16 extending toward one another and with vertical flanges 17 extending downwardly from the flanges 16 at the outer edges thereof. The upper surfaces of flanges 16 are disposed in a common horizontal plane to provide a supporting surface for a box spring unit. Box spring confining means 18 are provided near the ends of side members 11. The bedframe assembly may be supported by legs 19 having casters attached thereto, as is disclosed and claimed in the commonly assigned, copending application of Frank J. Mis, Ser. No. 741,577 filed July 1, 1968.

Other embodiments of the side frame members 11 are known such as the use of upwardly extending horizontal flanges to form runners which retain the box spring unit. These and other embodiments of the bedframe assembly may also be used in conjunction with the improved cross frame members of the present invention.

The cross frame members 12 include a set of paired elements, one element 13 being cooperatively insertable within the other element 14 in interlocking relationship. The width of the bedframe may be changed by moving the frame members 13 and 14 longitudinally relative to one another, and the bedframe is shown extended to its fullest width in broken lines at 15 in FIG. 1.

The ease with which the width of the frame may be adjusted to accommodate a box spring of specific size is readily discernable as shown in FIG. 1. Cross frame element 13 is slidably inserted within cross frame element 14 until the desired width of the frame is achieved. The cross frame elements are then automatically latched in the selected position by positive locking means to be hereafter described. A single bedframe, according to the invention, is thereby useful with any conventionally sized bedding.

As can be best seen in FIG. 3, element 13 comprises a generally L-shaped metal bar having mutually perpendicular legs 13a and 13b, the ends of which terminate in flanges 20 and 21, respectively, formed integrally with the bar and having respective reentrant portions 20a and 21a. The dimensions of element 13 are relatively smaller than the dimensions of element 14, which also comprises a generally L-shaped metal bar having mutually perpendicular legs 14a and 14b, the ends of which terminate in flanges 22 and 23, respectively, formed integrally therewith and having respective reentrant portions 22a and 23a. The reentrant flange portions integrally formed at the ends of the legs of the cross frame elements 14 form guide channels which the flanges of relatively smaller element 13 may slidably traverse in a horizontal plane.

Relatively smaller element 13 is thereby slidably insertable within cooperating element 14 to form cross frame member 12. The reentrant flange portions allow elements 13 and 14 to cooperate in interlocking relationship while permitting element 13 to be horizontally slidable with element 14.

Positive locking means to hold the cross frame elements in predetermined positions of longitudinal adjustment is provided by a male locking element attached to one of the cross frame elements. The locking element engages and releasably interlocks with a female element in the form of one of a plurality of apertures in the other of the cross frame elements.

The male locking element is provided by a detent 24 preferably secured to the inner surface of the downwardly extending vertical leg 13b of cross frame element 13. The detent 24 includes a generally cylindrical metal enclosure 30 that is force-fit within an opening 25 adjacent the leading end of element 13 and enclosure 30 has an outwardly flared end portion 30a that is seated against an inclined flange 34 around opening 25. An opening 30b is provided in end portion 30a, and is positioned in axial alignment with an opening 33 in the opposite end of enclosure 30. A detent plunger 31 is positioned in enclosure 30, and includes reduced diameter portions 31a and 31b slidably positioned in openings 30b and 33, respectively. Plunger 31 further includes an enlarged portion 31c between portions 31a and 31b, and a coil spring 32 is positioned between a washer 35 that engages the end of enclosure 30 around opening 33 and plunger portion 31c to urge the plunger outwardly of enclosure 30.

The plunger 31 includes a rounded detent head 26 that rides along the inner surface of leg 14b when element 13 is slidably inserted within cooperating element 14. The plunger is held in a depressed position by leg 14b until it reaches an aperture in leg 14b, when spring 32 automatically forces the plunger outwardly to engage within the aligned aperture and releasably interlock cross frame elements 13 and 14 in the selected position.

The downwardly extending vertical leg of cross frame element 14 contains a plurality of apertures 27a, b and c spaced illustratively corresponding to the width of a conventional box spring, a queen-size box spring, and a king-size box spring, respectively. The plunger of the detent assembly is maintained in a depressed position by the wall of leg 14b until it passes one of the apertures. With no restraining wall present to maintain the plunger in the depressed position, the plunger automatically springs forward and is positively engaged in an aperture 27 thereby interlocking cooperating elements 13 and 14. It is apparent that if the cross frame members are not at the desired width the detent may be retracted and disengaged from the aperture and cross frame members may then be slidably positioned to the desired width at which point the detent will engage the appropriate aperture in positive interlocking fashion.

A bedframe assembly according to the invention contains at least one cross frame member and preferably two cross frame members as described herein. While a specific embodiment of the cross frame members has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it is understood that various modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the detent has been positioned on the inner surface of element 13 for safety and manufacturing reasons. However, the positioning of the detent to provide a positive locking relationship between the cross frame elements is not critical. If desired, the detent may be attached to element 14 and made to engage apertures formed in element 13. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation be placed on the scope of the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A bedframe assembly adapted to support a box spring and mattress comprising: a pair of spaced, parallel horizontally disposed first frame members; at least one horizontally disposed second frame member extending perpendicularly between the first frame members, said second frame member including a first elongated noncircular element consisting essentially of a first flat leg, a second flat leg disposed at an angle with respect to the first flat leg and extending away from one side thereof, and an end portion disposed at an angle at the extremity of one of said legs, said end portion being spaced from the remainder of said first noncircular element to define an access opening, the said essential components of said first noncircular element being integral and unitary and extending lengthwise throughout the length of said element, said first element being connected to one first frame member, said second frame member further including a second noncircular element having a first flat leg positionable adjacent the first flat leg of said first noncircular element and a second flat leg extending away from one side of the first flat leg of said second element and positionable adjacent the second flat leg of said first noncircular element, said second noncircular element being connected to the other first frame member, the end portion of the first noncircular element embracing one leg of the second noncircular element and defining means for confining the second element for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said confining means permitting said first and second elements to be assembled in telescoping relationship and adjusted relative to one another, said confining means preventing said first and second elements from rotating relative to one another about their respective longitudinal axes and preventing said elements from being disassembled other than by lengthwise relative movement between the elements, one of said elements including a plurality of longitudinally spaced position defining means, said position defining means being disposed along a common line and being formed by a plurality of spaced-apart female members in the first flat leg of said one element; and means at a fixed location on the first flat leg of the other of said elements for releasably locking said elements at one of a plurality of selectable positions, said releasable locking means comprising a male member on the same side of said other element as the second flat leg thereof and spring means biasing said male member outwardly toward said female members, said spring means urging said male member toward the last-mentioned leg of said one element, said confining means retaining said male member in the line of said female members during lengthwise relative movement between the elements and said spring means permitting said male member to engage within one of said female members when said elements are adjusted to position said male member in alignment with one of said female members, said male member being readily accessible through said access opening whereby said male member can be readily withdrawn from said female member when it is desired to adjust said second frame member.

2. The bedframe of claim 1 wherein said cross frame elements are permanently connected to the respective side frame members.

3. The bedframe of claim 1 in which said female members are defined by a plurality of spaced apertures in said one element.

4. The bedframe of claim 1 in which said first and second elements are generally L-shaped members, comprised of two mutually perpendicular legs, and wherein an end portion as defined in claim 1 is provided on both of the legs of said first element, said end portions being defined by a flange at the end of each leg of said first element, with the flanges on said first element having reentrant portions confining the legs of said second element.

5. The bedframe of claim 4 in which the legs of said first element are positioned in sliding, face-abutting engagement with the legs of said second element.

6. The bedframe of claim 4 wherein the reentrant flange portions are parallel with their respective legs.

7. The bedframe assembly of claim 1 wherein said first frame members are side frame members and said second frame member is a cross frame member.