Selected Width Bed Frame

Abstract

A bed frame in which a pair of parallel side members are joined together by a pair of end members, each end member being divided into two sections affixed to one another by first pivots. The end members are connected to the side members by second pivots such that movement of the first pivots toward and away from one another moves the side members toward and away from one another. A lock plate extends between the end members and is affixed thereto to lock the first pivots against movement when the side members are at a selected distance apart corresponding to the desired width of the bed frame. A clamp is affixed to one end of each side member by a stem which passes through overlying slots in the side member and includes a pair of clamping means for securing a headboard to the bed frame.

Description

The present invention relates generally to bed frames and pertains, more specifically, to bed frames which may be selectively adjusted to a desired width and which provide improved means for securing a headboard to the bed frame.

Simple bed frames constructed of readily available angle iron have come into widespread use. Many of the presently available bed frames of that type are packaged and sold in disassembled form and must be assembled and adjusted on the site where a bed is to be erected. Various sizes are available for erecting various size beds.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bed frame so constructed as to enable the frame to be packaged and sold in preassembled form so that it can be set up and ready for use in the shortest time, with ease and simplicity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed frame of the type described in which one frame can be adjusted to any desired width.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bed frame of the type described above which can be set up without additional hardware.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bed frame which can be attached to a headboard without drilling holes into the headboard.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bed frame to which headboards of varying widths can be attached with ease and without drilling holes in the headboard.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which may be described briefly as a bed frame having a prescribed length and a selected width, the bed frame comprising a pair of parallel side members of prescribed length, each side member having opposite ends, a pair of end members extending between the side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each end member having opposite ends and being divided, intermediate the opposite ends thereof, into two sections, first pivots interconnecting the two sections of each end member, second pivots connecting the opposite ends of each end member to the side members such that movement of the first pivots toward and away from one another will move the side members toward and away from one another to selectively increase and decrease the spacing between the side members, and locking means for extending between the end members and locking the first pivots against movement toward and away from one another when the spacing between the side members corresponds to a selected width.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially diagrammatic top plan view of a bed frame constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one side member of the bed frame; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end of a side member of the bed frame.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the solid lines indicate the outline of a bed frame 1, constructed in accordance with the invention, when the bed frame is set up for regular bedding (typically 54 inches wide). The broken lines show the bed frame 1 set up in alternate widths for queen size (typically 60 inches wide), indicated at 17, and twin size (typically 39 inches wide), indicated at 18. The broken lines also show that the frame 1 can be contracted and expanded in width.

The frame includes a pair of parallel side members 20 and a pair of lateral end members 2. Each end member 2 is divided into two sections 22 joined with an overlap at 23 and including a first pivot 24 at the points joined. In the illustrated embodiment, frame 1 is constructed of angle iron of 1/8 in. gauge having vertical and horizontal extensions 25 and 26, respectively, (see FIG. 2) of 1 1/2 in. width. The length of the frame is 70 in. and the width 60 in., the maximum expansion dimension as illustrated at 17. The end member 2, shown in the form of two angle irons used to make up the width of the frame (one at the head end 30 and one at the foot end 32) which measure 60 in. in length, are each divided into two sections 22, each 30 in. long. When these two sections are cut from stock, 1 1/2 in. of iron is added to the 30 in. dimension making a total of 31 1/2 in. This additional iron is used for an overlap. The two sections 22 of iron, cut to 31 1/2 in. long, are placed end to end with an overlap of 1 1/2 in. and are joined with the first pivot 24. These two sections 22 when joined and in a straight line must measure 60 in. The two free ends 34 of each end member 2 are joined with second pivots 36 to the respective side members 20 of the frame, at a point 3 in. from the ends 30 and 32 of the frame. When all the joining is completed, the frame can be contracted and expanded to any desired width to accommodate any given size bedding, up to and including the 60 in. queen size. When the frame is fully expanded, the head and foot end members 2 assume a straight line position. When the frame is set to less than 60 in., an apex 38 is formed at both ends of the frame.

In order to prevent the frame from spreading outwardly, a lock plate 3 is included in the system. The illustrated lock plate measures 42 in. long and 3 in. wide. Holes 40 are punched out at intervals of one inch in a series down the center and in a straight line parallel to the length of the plate. At a point where the pivot 24 is placed at the two apexes, a prong 42 preferably 3/4 in. high stands attached to the metal, to enter a hole 40, the holes 40 having a diameter which allows the prongs 42 at the apexes to pass through the holes when the lock plate is placed as shown in FIG. 1 with one prong engaging one hole at each of the two apex areas. The lock plate is of a thickness which will insure safety. The lock plate is not used when the frame is expanded to its maximum width of 60 in.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, at the head end 30 of each side member 20 of the frame, a three part unit 44 is designed to hold a headboard 19 to the frame. In order to form one part of the three part unit 44 an additional 5 in. of metal is included in the overall length of metal used for the side members 20 of the frame, making a total of 75 in. rather than the 70 in. mentioned above. After the two angle irons are paired off so that the inside extension of each iron faces inwardly each toward the other, two bends 46 and 48 of 90.degree. are made in the iron. The first bend 46 is made at a point 2 iron. from the end of the rion. The second bend 48 is made 3 in. farther down from the first bend or 5 in. from the same end or point from where the first bend was made. Hence, utilizing the 5 in. of additional iron, the two bends are completed to establish a head 50 at the end 30 of each of the two side members 20 of the frame so that the ends 30 each have a J-shaped configuration which includes legs 5 and 6.

A pair of slots 7 and 8, each preferably 1 in. long and 1/8 in. wide (plus a tolerance) for receiving a stem 9, preferably and 1 in. wide, 1/8 in. thick and 3 1/2 in. long, are punched out one above the other so that slots 7 and 8 overlie one another at head 50, one in the center of the 2 in. leg 5 at the top 0and the other directly below in the 70 in. section. The two slots must be congruent to each other and parallel to the length of the frame. A rectangular first clamp member 11 has the shape of a stretched out flag attached to a flat pole. The rectangular first clamp member measures 4 in. wide and 3 in. high. The stem 9 measures 1 in. wide and 3 1/2 in. high (from the bottom of the rectangle) to establish the portion that is inserted into the slots 7 and 9. The entire length of the stem is 6 1/2 in. and the thickness is 1/8 in. When forming this part, the stock metal is cut to the overall dimensions of 5 1/2 in. at the top and 6 1/2 in. along the outside edge of the stem. The top dimension of 5 1/2 in. includes the 4 in. for the first clamp member 11, the 1 in. for the stem, and an allowance of 1/2 in. between the stem and the first clamp member. On the side where the first clamp member joins the stem, on a line 1 1/2 in. from the outside edge of the stem, a bend of 90.degree. is made, leaving the 4 in. rectangular first clamp member at a right angle to the 1 in. side of the stem. The 1/2 in. additional metal between the stem and the first clamp member establishes a shoulder 10 which rests upon and serves to fill the space of 1/2 in. from the end of slot 7 to the end 30 of the side member 20 of the frame, thereby allowing the headboard to rest flush against the frame for proper installation. The first clamp member 11 has a slot 12, preferably 3 1/2 in. long and 1/4 in. wide (for a bolt) midway and parallel to the top and bottom edges. The slot 12 begins 1/2 in. from the unattached side 52 and runs up to the line of bend 54, on the opposite side.

A second clamp member 13 is shaped in the form of letter L, when viewed from the top. The two extensions 56 of the L-shaped configuration preferably measure 1 1/2 in. wide and have a height of 2 in. On one side, a sleeve 14, preferably 1/4 in. in diameter, runs midway and parallel to the top and bottom of the second clamp member along the entire length of the 1 1/2 in. side. The second clamp member 13 is placed on the inside corner and behind the leg post of the headboard 19 with first clamp member 11 in front and against the leg post of the headboard so that together they function in a clamp-like fashion to hold the headboard firmly to the frame. A 1/4 in. bolt 15 is inserted through the slot 12 and through the sleeve 14 and tightened with a nut 16. The bolt is not inserted through the headboard, but alongside the leg post. This eliminates the necessity of drilling holes into the headboard.

The frame 1 may be provided with leg and wheel assemblies 4 which support the frame upon a floor.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A bed frame having a prescribed length and a selected width, said bed frame comprising:

a pair of parallel side members of prescribed length, each side member having opposite ends;

a pair of end members extending between the side members adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each end member having opposite ends and being divided, intermediate the opposite ends thereof, into two sections;

first pivots interconnecting the two sections of each end member;

second pivots connecting the opposite ends of each end member to the side members such that movement of the first pivots toward and away from one another will move said side members toward and away from one another to selectively increase and decrease the spacing between the side members; and

locking means for locking the first pivots against movement toward and away from one another in any one of a plurality of selected positions such that the spacing between the side members is selectable to correspond to a selected width.

2. The bed frame of claim 1 wherein the locking means comprise:

a prong projecting from each end member intermediate the opposite ends thereof;

a lock plate for extending between the prongs, said lock plate having a series of holes for receiving the prongs therein, the spacing between selected pairs of said holes corresponding to the location of the prongs when the spacing between the side members corresponds to a selected width.

3. The bed frame of claim 2 wherein each prong is located at a first pivot and projects upwardly therefrom.

4. The bed frame of claim 1 including:

a head at one of the opposite ends of each side member;

a longitudinal opening passing downwardly through each said head;

a pair of first clamp members extending laterally relative to the side members;

a stem projecting downwardly from each first clamp member for engagement within one of said openings to join the first clamp member and the head;

a pair of second clamp members; and

means for affixing each second clamp member to a first clamp member at a selected lateral location such that a headboard leg post may be received and secured between corresponding first and second clamp members.

5. The bed frame of claim 4 wherein each said head comprises overlying portions of the side members and said opening includes a pair of slots located one above the other and terminating short of said one of the opposite ends, the invention including a shoulder between the stem and the first clamp member for resting upon the side member between the termination of said one slot and said one of the opposite ends.

6. The bed frame of claim 4 wherein the affixing means each comprise a laterally extending slot in the first clamping member and a fastener passing through said slot and the second clamping member for locating the second clamping member in alternate lateral positions along the first clamping member.

7. In a bed frame including a pair of parallel side members, each having opposite ends:

a head at one of the opposite ends of each side member;

a longitudinal opening passing downwardly through each said head;

a pair of first clamp members extending laterally relative to the side members;

a stem projecting downwardly from each first clamp member for engagement within one of said openings to join the first clamp member and the head;

a pair of second clamp members; and

means for affixing each second clamp member to a first clamp member at a selected lateral location such that a headboard leg post may be received and secured between corresponding first and second clamp members.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein each said head comprises overlying portions of the side member and said opening includes a pair of slots located one above the other and terminating short of said one of the opposite ends, the invention including a shoulder between the stem and the first clamp member for resting upon the side member between the termination of said one slot and said one of the opposite ends.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the affixing means each comprise a laterally extending slot in the first clamping member and a fastener passing through said slot and the second clamping member for locating the second clamping member in alternate lateral positions along the first clamping member.