U.S. patent number 3,754,289 [Application Number 05/229,962] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-28 for bed base.
Invention is credited to Edward J. Larkin.
United States Patent |
3,754,289 |
Larkin |
August 28, 1973 |
BED BASE
Abstract
A bed base for supporting a box spring which includes a
downwardly projecting support member extending substantially along
the longitudinal centerline thereof and normally having a mattress
resting thereon. The bed base includes a pair of side panels and a
pair of end panels. The side panels are shorter than the box spring
is long, and the end panels are shorter than the box spring is
wide. The side and end panels are equal in width and span a
distance or enclose the space between the box spring and the floor.
The opposite ends of the side panels include vertical tongue
structure and the opposite ends of the end panels are provided with
vertical grooves for receiving the tongues of the side panels to
rigidly and removably lock the side panels to the end panels, thus
establishing a continuous ledge for restingly supportint the box
spring with the perimeter thereof projecting outwardly from the bed
base. The box spring is precluded from side to side shifting by
providing a groove in each of the end panels for receiving the
downwardly projecting support member.
Inventors: |
Larkin; Edward J. (Memphis,
TN) |
Family
ID: |
22863398 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/229,962 |
Filed: |
February 28, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/201; 5/200.1;
5/131; 5/207 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
19/021 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
19/00 (20060101); A47C 19/02 (20060101); A47c
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/58,131,200,2C,201,207,238,282R,285,286,300,308,322,333 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; James C.
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination, a box spring, a mattress supported upon said box
spring, a bed base for resting upon a supporting surface to support
said box spring a distance there-above, said bed base comprising a
pair of spaced apart side panels having lengths thereto which are
shorter than is the length of said box spring, a pair of spaced
apart end panels having lengths thereto which are shorter than is
the width of said box spring, said side and end panels having
widths thereto which spans the distance between said box spring and
the supporting surface, means for rigidly and removably locking
said end panels to said side panels with the upper surfaces of said
end and side panels establishing a continuous ledge restingly
supporting said box spring, said box spring including a downwardly
projecting support member extending substantially along the
longitudinal center line thereof, and the upper surfaces of said
pair of end panels respectively being provided with notches
disposed intermediate the ends thereof receiving remote portions of
said support member.
2. The combination of claim 1 in which said means for rigidly and
removably locking said end panels to said side panels includes
tongue and groove structure with the opposite ends of said end
panels being provided with said grooves and the opposite ends of
said side panels including said tongues.
3. The combination of claim 2 in which said tongue and grooves
extend vertically and respectively have lengths thereto which are
slightly shorter than are the widths of said end and side
panels.
4. In combination, a box spring including a downwardly projecting
support member extending along the longitudinal axis thereof, a
mattress supported upon said box spring, a bed base for resting
upon a supporting surface and to support said box spring a distance
thereabove, said bed base comprising a pair of spaced apart side
panels having lengths thereto which are shorter than the length of
said box spring, a pair of spaced apart end panels having lengths
thereto which are shorter than the width of said box spring, said
side and end panels having widths thereto which are shorter than
the width of said box spring, said side and end panels spanning the
distance between said box spring and the supporting surface, and
the opposite ends of said side panels including tapered tongue
structure, the opposite ends of said end panels being provided with
tapered grooves respectively receiving said tongues to rigidly and
removably lock said side panels to said end panels with the upper
surfaces thereof establishing a continuous ledge restingly
supporting said box spring, said tongue and grooves extending
vertically and terminating downwardly a distance above the
supporting surface, each of said end panels having the upper
surface thereof provided with a notch intermediate said grooves,
said notches respectively receiving opposite end portions of said
downwardly projecting support member of said box spring to prevent
side to side shifting of said box spring.
5. The combination of claim 4 in which said side and end panels are
integrally formed respectively from polystyrene plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bed base structure for supporting a box
spring.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, there have been so-called Hollywood-type beds which
usually included angle iron structure suitably arranged to
constitute the side rails having horizontal flanges for restingly
supporting the sides of the box spring and upwardly directed
flanges for preventing side to side shifting of the box spring. The
side rails usually are supported a spaced apart distance by a head
and foot lateral angle iron member which does not engage the box
spring. Additionally, legs are attached to the angle iron structure
to support the box spring a distance above the floor. Oftentimes,
casters are included for facilitating movement of the bed over the
floor. Hollywood beds may or may not include a headboard, and the
bedspread usually extends to the floor so as to obscure the
supporting structure.
Certain disadvantages prevail in prior beds of the type above
described: First, the box spring is supported from the extreme side
portion thereof. The weight of the people sleeping in the bed
places undue stress on the support structure thereof. Second, the
rails are not supported rigidly by the head and foot lateral
support members, i.e., oftentimes skewing slightly, thus allowing
the box spring to slip from the rail and cause the bed to collapse.
Obviously, in addition to being aggravating, the box spring is
usually damaged as a result thereof. Third, removing dust and other
debris from beneath the bed is a neverending chore. Additionally,
articles often are misplaced by being inadvertently kicked beneath
the bed, e.g., oftentimes guests in a motel check out and leave
their shoes beneath the bed. Fourth, the legs of the Hollywood bed
are hazardous and a source of frustration. In other words, a guest
in a motel or other unfamiliar environment oftentimes injures his
foot by banging it against the legs of the bed.
A preliminary patentability search revealed the following U. S.
patents: Sullivan U.S. Pat. No. 754,255; Martin U.S. Pat. No.
1,259,764; Edelstein U.S. Pat. No. 1,355,545; Hamilton U.S. Pat.
No. 2,596,995; Johnston U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,407; and Fata U.S. Pat.
No. 3,090,086. None of the above references show or suggest
applicant's bed base structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards overcoming the
disadvantages and problems relative to previous bed base structure.
The concept of the present invention is to provide a bed base for
supporting a box spring which box spring includes a downwardly
projecting support member extending substantially along the
longitudinal centerline thereof and normally having a mattress
resting thereon. The bed base of the present invention includes a
pair of side panels and a pair of end panels. The side panels are
shorter than the box spring is long and the end panels are shorter
than the box spring is wide. The side and end panels are equal in
width and span the distance or enclose the space between the box
spring and the floor, i. e., the entire perimeter of the box spring
projecting outwardly a distance from the bed base.
The opposite ends of the side panels include vertical tongue
structure and the opposite ends of the end panels are provided with
vertical grooves for receiving the tongues of the side panels to
rigidly and removably lock the side panels to the end panels, thus
establishing a continuous ledge for restingly supporting the box
spring. Side to side shifting of the box spring is precluded by
providing a groove in each of the end panels for receiving the
downwardly projecting support member of the box spring. The side
and end panels preferably are respectively integrally formed from
polystyrene plastic. In addition to obviating the above-mentioned
disadvantages, the bed base of the present invention affords more
equal support of the box spring in utilizing more of the foundation
or cross structure thereof for support. This is achieved by
supporting the box spring along the sides a distance inwardly from
the perimeter thereof, and additionally, the end panels engage the
box spring along the head and foot portions thereof so as to
provide optimum support.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the bed base of the present
invention shown supporting a box spring having a mattress resting
thereon.
FIG. 2 is an end view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line III--III of FIG.
2.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on the line IV--IV of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as on the line V--V of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on the line VI--VI of FIG.
1.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as on the line VII--VII of FIG.
3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The bed base 11 of the present invention is intended for supporting
a box spring 13 which includes the usual downwardly projecting
support or structural member 15 extending substantially along the
longitudinal centerline thereof and normally having a mattress 17
resting thereon. From FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it may be seen
that the bed base 11 is resting upon a supporting surface S and
supports the box spring 13 a spaced distance above the supporting
surface S.
The bed base 11 generally comprises a pair of side panels 19 and a
pair of end panels 21. From FIG. 1 of the drawings, it may be seen
that the side panels 19 have length thereto which is shorter than
is the length of the box spring 13. From FIG. 2 of the drawings, it
may be seen that the end panels 21 have lengths thereto which are
shorter than is the width of the box spring 13. Additionally, both
side and end panels 19, 21 have sufficient width to span the
distance or enclose the space between the box spring 13 and the
supporting surface S.
The opposite ends of the side panels 19 include a tapered tongue 23
and the opposite ends of the end panels 21 are provided with a
tapered groove 25. The grooves 25 are complementally shaped to the
tongues 23 and respectively receive the tongues 23 to rigidly and
removably lock the side panels 19 to the end panels 21.
From FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, it may be seen that the tongue
23 includes a lower portion 27 which tapers in more sharply than
does the upper portion of the tongue 23.
In this regard, it should be pointed out that I prefer that the
panels 19, 21 be respectively integrally formed from polystyrene
plastic or any other suitable plastic, e. g., Dow 456 high impact
polystyrene foamed to .7 g/cc specific gravity. Accordingly, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a draft angle
of one-half degree is suggested for the molding process of the
panels 19, 21. For example, let us assume that the width (vertical
dimension) of the panels 19, 21 is equal to 7-1/2 inches.
Accordingly, the width of the groove 25 adjacent the bottom thereof
might be 7/16 inches, and the width adjacent the top thereof would
be one-half inch, i. e., the overall length of the groove being
71/4 inches. Additionally, the tongue 23 would be broader at the
top than at the bottom, i. e., even when the sharply tapered
portion 27 is disregarded. More specifically, the groove 23 is
complementally shaped to accept the tongue 23 with a recommended
0.005 inch fit, thus providing means for rigidly and removably
locking the side panels 19 to the end panels 21. It should be noted
also from FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings that the vertically
extending tongue and grooves 23, 25 have lengths thereto which are
slightly shorter than are the width of the side and end panels 19,
21.
From FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, it may be seen that the side
and end panels 19, 21 are similar in cross section, i. e., both
have I-beamlike shape in cross section thereto. More specifically,
the side panels 19 include upper and lower horizontal flange
members 29, 31 joined by a vertical web 33. Additionally, the end
panels 21 include upper and lower horizontal flange members 35, 37
joined by a vertical web 39. The upper flanges 29, 29; 35, 35
establishing a continuous ledge depicted in part by the numeral 41
for restingly supporting the box spring 13. The lower flanges 31,
31; 37, 37 establish a continuous plane depicted in part by the
numeral 43 for contiguously engaging the supporting surface S.
The upper flange 35 of each of the end panels 21 has an offset
portion 35' defining a notch 45. The notch 45 in each of the panels
21 preferably is disposed intermediate the ends thereof and
receives the aforementioned support or structural member 15. The
notch 45 is close fitted to the support member 15 and prevents side
to side shifting of the box spring 13.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with
respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so
limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which
are within the full intended scope of the invention.
* * * * *