Device For Converting A Crib To A Bed

Abstract

A device for converting a crib to a bed in the form of a spacer bracket with a locking arrangement, which spacer bracket is basically a U-shaped channel member with one vertical side of the channel extending higher than the other such side, the shorter side of the channel member having a perpendicular extension, said higher vertical side having bolt openings therein for attachment purposes to a bed headboard or a bed footboard, and said perpendicular extension of the shorter vertical side having an opening to receive a leg member for a regular bed, and where said perpendicular extension member serves as the vertical support member upon which portions of a bed spring member can rest.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to that class of devices structured and intended to be used to convert beds of one type to another. Convertible beds as such are not new in the prior art. Also, devices which are used in one specific way or another to help convert one bed into another type are generally known in the prior art.

Notwithstanding the state of the development of the art in this general area, no device has been known and advanced which would provide a means for expediently converting a child's crib to a regular bed. More particularly, a family is compelled at required intervals to purchase a crib for a baby, and then use this crib for the first three or four years of the child's life. After this initial stage of child development, a smaller bed, and not a crib, is frequently used for a child of the approximate age of five to twelve years. Economically, this requires the family to undergo the expense of purchasing a new bed for the child who has just outgrown a crib. This latter financial difficulty could be alleviated by some means of converting a crib to a regular bed of small size, as circumstances dictate. Thus, some means for facilitating a conversion from a crib to a bed would appear to be justifiable and expedient for the family raising several children. This latter aspect reveals a twofold value of such a conversion device, particularly in view of the fact that it would allow reconversion of the regular bed back to the crib, as required.

It is in view of the foregoing background and deficiencies in the pertinent prior art that this invention is conceived, and consequently:

It is thus an object of this invention to provide an efficient device for facilitating the conversion of a crib to a regular bed;

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which improves the stability of a bed converted from a crib;

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved bed conversion device;

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved bed support device;

Other and further objects of this invention will become evident from the following description of the preferred embodiment read in conjunction with the indicated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional crib which can be converted into a small conventional bed by use of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a small conventional bed into which the crib in FIG. 1 can be converted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adapter device shown partially in phantom, which is used to convert a conventional pair of crib springs to a conventional bed;

FIG. 4 shows in perspective the arrangement of parts which the adapter device shown in FIG. 3 is used to combine together, beginning with a partial view of a bed headboard with fastening bolts indicated as FIG. 4A; a fastening device, FIG. 4B; a partial view of a conventional set of bed springs used interchangeably between a crib and conventional bed, indicated as FIG. 4C; the adapter device seen also in FIG. 4D; a leg for the conventional bed, FIG. 4E;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fastener device which may be used to secure a leg to the springs and adapter device seen in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the fastener device seen in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the adapter device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an adapter device used for converting a crib to a conventional bed, the adapter device being basically a U-shaped-in-cross section flanged channel member having two vertical, parallel sides, one of which projects vertically upward from and as part of one side of the channel member to an approximate height which is double that of the other vertical side, the other vertical side having a perpendicular extension which extends from the upper part of such side in a direction away from the bottom of the channel. The vertically protruding side which extends twice as high as the other such side has two elongated holes therein situated one above the other, these holes being the route of connection for appropriate screws or bolts to an adjacent bed headboard or footboard. The perpendicular extending member has a rectangular hole therein for receiving the upper portion of a leg to be fastened to a set of springs for use on a conventional bed. The basic inventive concept perceives the use of four such adapter devices at the four opposing corners of a pair of bed springs in order that four attachment points are made to the respective headboard and footboard, as well as providing four points for securing legs to the bed. Additionally, should legs be permanently attached to the bed headboard and footboard, the subject adapter device can be used to secure the bed springs to the headboard and footboard without requiring further means to affix said adapter device to said springs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE SUBJECT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the subject invention is shown, a conventional crib 20 is shown in FIG. 1. Crib 20, as shown, has elevated, vertical side rails 22 on each lateral side connecting an elevated, horizontal rail 24, with a horizontally disposed lower rail 26. The elevated rails 24 and the lower rails 26 in turn join a headboard 28 and footboard 30, both of which are conventional for a crib as shown in FIG. 1. A set of springs 31 joined in a horizontal and rectangular disposition is situated in crib 20 as indicated in FIG. 1 and supports a mattress 32, which, while not shown in FIG. 1, is pictured in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 1, the springs 31 are fitted into one level of a series of vertical support brackets 34 which are integrally attached to headboard 28 and footboard 30. The springs 31 can be moved vertically upward or downward into position in such brackets 34 for an appropriate horizontal level as desired.

A conventional bed 40 is shown in FIG. 2. This bed 40 is not as large as the usual single bed used by adults, it is rather a bed for a small person, and consequently, it is adapted to size and structure to use the same size springs and mattress as used in crib 20 represented in FIG. 1. The bed 40 in conjunction with the use of the subject invention, utilizes the set of springs 31 and mattress 32, which, as indicated, are the same set of springs as used and seen in crib 20. In addition, bed 40 has a rectangularly shaped headboard 42 and a rectangularly shaped footboard 44, one or the other of which may be smaller than the other. The mattress 32 is placed on springs 31 as seen in FIG. 2. Bed 40 has four legs 46 disposed at the respective corners of the springs 31, such legs providing, by direct connection to the springs 31, the vertical support for the bed components thusly described. In some variations of headboard 42 and footboard 44, the legs 46 may be integrally attached to the respective ends of the footboard and headboard. The subject invention may be used as a conversion device in both the situation where the legs are attached directly to the footboard or headboard or in the situation where the legs are separate and must be attached to the bed 40 independently.

The set of springs 31 is basically arranged in a rectangular frame having a longitudinally extending sidebar 50 on each side and laterally extending end bars 52 on each end as seen in the partial view of FIG. 4. The sidebars 50 and the endbars are metallic with the sidebars being L-shaped-in-cross section, while the endbars are generally channel members, being U-shaped-in-cross section. The sidebars 50 and the endbars 52 are connected on their respective ends to one another by an appropriate weld or riveting, forming thereby a corner joint 53. Adjacent each corner joint 53 of the respective sidebars 50 and endbars 52, there is a diagonally extending brace member 54 which connects respective sidebars 50 and end-bars 52. This brace member 54 is a flat rectangular shaped member extending at approximately 45 degrees to each bar 50 and 52, as seen in FIG. 4C. The drawing in FIG. 4C only shows one sidebar 50 and one endbar 52 at their respective joint connection 53, however, the remaining bars and their connections are similar to those shown and described.

Four adapter brackets 60, such as the one represented in FIGS. 3 and 4D are provided to join the set of crib springs 31 for crib 20 to the headboard 42 and footboard 44 in order to construct thereby the bed 40. Each adapter bracket 60 is basically a U-shaped-in-cross section channel member of approximately 2-3 inches in longitudinal length, with two vertically upward extending sides 62 and 64, which extend in parallel planes, the width between such sides 62 and 64 being slightly larger than the length of each of the respective channel sides of the U-shaped endbar 52. A horizontal base leg defines the bottom of the channel between legs 62 and 64. The upward extending leg 62 extends vertically upward to about twice the distance of vertical leg 64. Vertically extending leg 64 has a height which is slightly higher than the vertical height of endbar 52. In addition, leg 64 has horizontal extension leg 66 which extends from the uppermost portion of leg 64 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane of leg 64.

Machined into the central portion of vertically extending leg 62 are two holes 68A and 68B. These holes 68A and 68B are elongated in a direction parallel to the plane of the horizontal base leg 65, being about three times as long as they are high. These holes are adapted to receive bolt or screw members 70, as seen in FIG. 4A, for affixing the outside face of leg 62 to a headboard or footboard. Machined into the central portion of perpendicularly extending leg 66 is a rectangular opening 72.

The adapter device 60 is used as described below. The crib 20 is dismantled with the springs 31 being separated from the headboard 28 and footboard 30, and the vertical side rails 22 and horizontal rails 26 and 24. An adapter device 60 is then fitted onto that portion of endbar 52 adjacent each corner juncture 53, as seen in FIG. 4. More particularly, the bar member 52 is caused to be inserted in the channel of device 60 with the bottom of the bar member 52 being adjacent to base member 65. Once the ends of each endbar 52 are so inserted, the outer face of each leg 62 on adapter device 60 on the head end of springs 31 is caused to be placed against the headboard 42 and correspondingly the outer faces of legs 62 on adapter devices on the foot end of springs 31 are placed against footboard 44. Then bolt or screws 70 are inserted through holes 68A and 68B to lock the adapter devices 60 to the bed headboard 42 or bed footboard 44 respectively. Once so secured, the perpendicular leg 66 will extend under the adjoining portion of springs 31 such that the leg 66 will rest partially under a diagonal support brace member 54, 54, and such that rectangular opening 72 will be fully exposed through the triangular space defined by sidebar 52, endbar 50 and diagonal cross brace 54. Once the adapter device is so affixed, if a bed headboard 42 or footboard does not have the legs attached thereto a leg 73 with an upward protruding screw 74 and shoulders 75 is placed upright such that the leg 66 rests on shoulders 75 of leg 73 with the upwardly protruding screw projecting vertically upward through the opening 72 to such a height that will enable it to extend beyond the upper height limit of the lateral bars 52 and 50. Once so placed, it is desirable but not essential to use a rectangular fastening device 80 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 4B, to secure the leg 73 to the springs. More specifically, the rectangular fastening device has a threaded hole 82 which is adapted to wind onto the screw 74 on leg 73 and clamp the leg 73 firmly to the springs 30. If a headboard or footboard having legs is used the steps of inserting the legs are not needed, the leg 66 serving then as a vertical support device to hold springs 31. When the four adapter devices 60 are thusly secured to the headboards 42 and footboard 44 of bed 40 the steps of converting crib 20 to bed 40 are completed except with the final step of placing mattress 32 onto the springs 31.

An alternate embodiment of the subject invention is shown in FIG. 7, as an adapter device 60 structured particularly as a conversion device for situations when a bed footboard 42 and headboard 44 have legs directly affixed thereto. Specifically, adapter device 60A is basically a U-shaped-cross-section channel member with vertical legs 62A and 64A being of the same relative height as adapter device 60. Leg 62 has elongated holes 68C and 68D therein of the same size and location as holes 68A and 68B. However, leg 64A has a horizontal and perpendicular extension 66A which extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane of leg 64A. Leg 66A is a V-shaped-in-cross section member which has the same vertical extent as leg 64A. More particularly, a V-shaped groove 72A is machined into leg 66A and opens into the inner face of leg 64A and runs therefrom for the entire length of leg 66A, such groove being open at the outer end of leg 66A also. The adapter device 60A is affixed to a headboard 42, a footboard as thusly described for adapter device 60, however, its positioning is such that it is placed in an overlapping position to cornerjuncture 53 of springs 31. Once so situated the down rail extending leg of sidebar 50 is seated in groove 72A for vertical support of springs 31. Shown in FIG. 6 is an alternate form of a brace plate to be used in securing the legs to the bed.

The foregoing description is set forth as an exemplification of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter device for converting crib springs to a regular bed having a headboard and footboard and comprising:

A. a channel member having a first and second vertically extending side, and

B. a flange plate member extending from and attached to the upper portion of the second vertically extending side, said flange plate member extending substantially perpendicular to said second vertically extending side, said perpendicularly extending flange plate member having an opening therein for receiving a portion of a leg of said bed, said channel member and said flange plate member supporting said crib springs,

C. said first vertically extending side having a plurality of holes therein for receiving bolts to be attached to the headboard or footboard of said bed.

2. An adapter device for affixing springs to a bed headboard or footboard comprising:

A. a U-shaped-in-cross section channel member having a first and second vertically extending side, and a bottom horizontal member joining said first and second vertically extending sides, the said first vertical side having a plurality of holes therein for receiving bolts to be attached to the headboard or footboard of said bed, the said second vertical side having an extension thereto which is substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of said second vertical side, said channel member and said extension supporting said springs.

3. An adapter device as described in claim 1 in which the first vertical side has a plurality of holes therein for receiving bolts to be attached to the headboard or footboard of said bed which first vertical side is higher than said second vertical side.

4. An adapter device as described in claim 2 in which the perpendicular extension has an elongated depression therein for receiving a portion of said springs which is open on the upper surface of the perpendicular extension member, as well as being open on both ends of such perpendicular extension.

5. An adapter device for converting crib springs to a set of springs for a regular bed having a headboard and footboard and legs comprising:

A. a U-shaped-in-cross section channel member;

1. said channel member having a first and second vertically extending side;

2. a horizontal base member joining the first and second said vertical sides, said base member adapted for receiving a portion of the crib springs between said first and second vertical sides;

3. said first vertical side having a plurality of holes therein for receiving bolts to be attached to the bed headboard or footboard;

4. said second vertical side having a perpendicular extension extending in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plane of said second vertical side, and extending away from the first vertical side, said perpendicular extension having an opening therethrough for receiving a leg of said bed;

B. means for securing said bed leg to said adapter device.