Bed frame, plank, kit, and method

Abstract

A kit contains disassembled bed frame components that upon assembly form the bed frame. The components include a pair of planks, each plank comprising a plurality of boards that upon being oriented from end-to-end have abutting ends detachably connected together by interlocking components, including male and a female element. The interlocking components engage by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding abutting ends past each other in one direction. The interlocking components disengage by sliding them relative to each other in a reverse direction.

Description

DEFINITIONS

The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

The word “cuboid” means a three-dimensional shape, either solid or hollow, defined by six rectangular faces at right angles to each other, and the three-dimensional shape has a length greater than its height and a height greater than its width.

The words “my system” includes individually, and two or more in combination, of my bed frame, kit, multi-piece plank, and method of assembly.

BACKGROUND

Bed frames are common devices for supporting above ground in a generally horizontal orientation a box-spring and mattress. They may include a pair of horizontally orientated side planks and slats that extent crosswise between the planks for supporting the box-spring and mattress. A headboard and footboard may be respectively attached to opposed ends of the bed frame. The side planks may be made of wood or plastic and are rigid, unitary, one-piece structures having a length exceeding 59 inches, typically having a length substantially from 70 to 86 inches. Because of the length of the side planks, packaging for the components of a disassembled bed frame must have a length dimension to accommodate the pair of long side planks, which typically is from 70 to 86 inches.

SUMMARY

My system enables the dimensions of packaging for my disassembled bed frame to be minimized. It has one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define aspects of my system, distinguishing my system from the prior art; however, without limiting the scope of my system as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of its features are:

One my bed frame includes a pair of spaced apart multi-piece side planks, each plank formed by at least a pair of boards. For example, an elongated, multi-piece side plank may have a length substantially from 59 to 86 inches. The planks may have a substantially cuboid configuration and be substantially in registration, substantially parallel, and longitudinally and horizontally oriented upon assembly of the bed frame. Each plank has opposed side walls substantially at a right angle to ground, and these side walls define the height dimension of each individual plank. The planks may have a height substantially from 2 to 8 inches and be substantially equal in height, and their width may be substantially from 0.50 to 1.25 inches. These widths are usually equal, but may not be in some cases.

Two, the boards comprising an individual plank may have substantially the same height and width and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the individual plank formed by the boards, for example, a length corresponding to substantially from ⅓ to ½ the length of the plank. Individual boards may have a length substantially from 24 to 62 inches. In many cases the board length will range substantially from 30 to 43 inches. The sum of the predetermined lengths of the boards are equal to the length of the individual plank formed by these boards. The boards forming an individual plank are oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along substantially a straight line with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board. The boards are connected together to form the individual plank by interlocking components in the abutting ends. These abutting ends may each be substantially planar and these abutting ends are parallel. In one embodiment, only a single pair of boards form an individual plank, in which each board is approximately half the length of the plank formed by the pair of boards. In another embodiment, only three boards form an individual plank, in which each board is approximately a third of the length of the plank formed by the three of boards.

Three, the interlocking components may include a male element at the abutting end of the one board and a female element at the abutting end of the other board. One of these elements, ordinarily the female element, is seated in a recess in the abutting end in which it is located. In one embodiment, the recess may be centrally positioned in the one end to form therein end portions straddling the recess. The interlocking components engage by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends past each other in one direction. They disengage by sliding the abutting ends past each other in an opposite direction and withdrawing the male element from the female element. The male element and female element are positioned to engage when the ends carrying these elements face each other and are oriented substantially parallel. The male element may be at substantially a right angle to the end in which it is located. The individual side walls of the end-to-end aligned boards lie in substantially the same planes and the individual edges of the end-to-end aligned boards are misaligned but parallel as the male and female elements initially engage. Upon sliding the abutting ends in the one direction, the misaligned edges move into alignment.

Four, the female element may comprise a fixture having a raised central section including a keyhole comprising a narrow slot terminating an enlarged opening. Upon assembly of the bed frame, the slot is vertically oriented and the enlarged opening is beneath the slot. The male element may comprise a finger having a narrow neck terminating in an enlarged head. The head is sized to pass through the enlarged opening but not the narrow slot and the narrow neck is sized to pass through slot with the head sliding behind the raised central section as the narrow neck slides along the slot as the interlocking components engage and disengage. The slot may terminate in a stop portion that limits movement of the interlocking components as they engage.

Five, the raised central section of the female element is substantially planar with its opposed vertical surfaces defining its thickness. The male element includes a guide member inward from the enlarged head a predetermined distance substantially equal to the predetermined thickness of the raised central section so the head and guide member straddle the raised central section and snugly bear against the opposed vertical surfaces as the interlocking components engage and disengage. An outer vertical surface of the female element is inward of an open mouth of the recess a predetermined distance and the guide member has a thickness substantially equal to this distance. This arrangement brings the abutting ends closely in contact with each other and applies a force to hold the abutting ends in position, constraining the male and female elements to inhibit lateral movement of the boards relative to each other so the plank is rigid.

Six, the interlocking components may have different configurations. In one embodiment, the raised central section includes only one keyhole and one interactive male element. In another embodiment, the raised central section includes a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned keyholes and the male element comprises a pair of vertically aligned interactive fingers. The fingers of the pair are spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the plank formed by connecting the boards and positioned to interconnect with a counterpart keyhole in the female element.

My kit contains disassembled bed frame components that upon assembly form my bed frame, and my method comprising the steps of

(a) initially positioning said boards from end to end, lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board facing an end of the other board and the facing ends oriented substantially parallel and the individual side walls of the end-to-end aligned boards lying in substantially the same plane and the individual edges of the end-to-end aligned boards being misaligned but parallel,

(b) detachably connecting the boards together with interlocking components by moving the facing ends into an abutting relationship, the interlocking components including a male element at the end of the one board and a female element at the end of the other board, and

(c) as the facing ends move towards each other to abut, inserting the male component into the female component and sliding the abutting ends past each other to bring the misaligned edges into alignment.

These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The many aspects of my system are discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my bed frame.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the interlocking components for connecting and disconnecting abutting ends of boards forming a side plank of the bed frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the interlocking components depicted in FIG. 1, showing engaged male and female elements in opposed abutting ends of boards forming a side plank prior to moving the edges of the boards into alignment.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3A showing the position of the male and female elements after moving the edges of the boards into alignment.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view, with sections broken away, of another embodiment of my multi-piece side plank.

FIG. 3D is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the female element shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of interlocking components for connecting and disconnecting abutting ends of boards forming a side plank of the bed frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the interlocking components depicted in FIG. 4, showing engaged male and female elements in opposed abutting ends of boards forming a side plank prior to moving the edges of the boards into alignment.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4A showing the position of the male and female elements after moving the edges of the boards into alignment.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the backside of the female element used in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary, partially assembled, perspective view of another embodiment of my bed frame.

FIG. 5B is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to that of FIG. 7A showing a portion of my assembled bed frame.

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a kit containing the unassembled components of my bed frame depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

General

As depicted in FIG. 1, one embodiment of my bed frame is generally identified by the numeral 10, and, as depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, another embodiment of my bed frame is generally identified by the numeral 10a. Both bed frames 10 and 10a include a pair of spaced apart, parallel, planks 12 comprising a plurality of boards 14. The boards 14 forming an individual plank 12 are oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along substantially a straight line with an end of one board abutting an end of an adjacent board. All the boards 14 forming the pair of planks 12 may have substantially the same height and width and each board has opposed side walls SW1 and SW2 (FIG. 1), opposed edges ED1 and ED2, and opposed ends E1 and E2. The sidewall SW1 is an exterior wall and the sidewall SW2 is an interior wall. Each board 14 forming an individual plank 12 has a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the individual plank formed by the interconnected boards, and the sum of these individual lengths is equal to the length of the individual plank formed by these end-to-end interconnected boards. For example, one board may be ⅓ the length of a plank and the other board may be ⅔; or each board may be ½ the length of an individual plank 12. The multi-piece planks 12 so formed may be substantially cuboid in shape. Interlocking components 16 (FIGS. 2 and 4) of the boards 14 forming an individual plank 12 detachably connect together the abutting board ends E1 and E2 of adjacent boards. FIGS. 2 through 3C illustrate one embodiment of the interlocking components 16, and FIGS. 4 through 4C illustrate another embodiment of the interlocking components.

In both bed frames 10 and 10a, a head board HB and a footboard FB may be attached to the pair of spaced apart, parallel planks 12 in a conventional manner. Generally, the two side planks 12 are equal in length, height, and thickness. The main difference between the bed frames 10 and 10a is the manner of providing a box-spring and mattress support structure. In the bed frame 10 as depicted in FIG. 1, three rectangular frames 18a, 18b, and 18c extend between the parallel planks 12 and opposed parallel sections A and B of each frame are connected, for example, by screws 11 to the opposed interior sidewalls SW2 of the boards forming each plank 12. In the bed frame 10a as depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a right angle wood strip 13 nailed along a lower edge of each of the boards 14 provide opposed shelves 16 (only one shown) that support ends of slats 18 extending between the parallel planks 12.

FIGS. 1 through 3C

In the bed frame 10, each of the planks 12 is formed by at least a pair of boards 14 that are typically from ⅓ to ⅔ the length of an individual plank. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the abutting ends E1 and E2 may each be substantially planar and substantially orthogonal with respect to the opposed sidewalls SW1 and SW2 and opposed edges ED1 and ED2 of the board in which the orthogonal end is formed. In this embodiment, the abutting ends E1 and E2 are at a right angle to a longitudinal centerline CL of the plank 12 formed upon connecting and aligning the boards 14 as shown in FIG. 3B, but they could be at another angle. When the abutting ends E1 and E2 are at a right angle, however, the strength of the plank 12 is maximized.

The interlocking components 16 may include a male element ME at the abutting end E1 of the one board and a female element FE at the abutting end E2 of the other board. The female element FE is seated in a recess 20 in the abutting end E2 and the male element ME extends from the abutting end E1 of the adjacent board. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3A-3C, 4A and 4B, the recess 20 may be centrally positioned in the one end E2 to form therein end portions 20a and 20b straddling the recess. The recess 20 has an open mouth 21 and an opposed floor 21a and the depth of the recess is sufficient so the female element FE is seated below the open mouth. Thus, the female element FE is lodged completely within the recess 20. The male element ME projects outward from the adjacent abutting end E1 substantially at a right angle to the planar surface of this end E1.

The one embodiment of the interlocking components 16 depicted best in FIG. 2 employs a female element FE comprising a curvilinear metal fixture F1 having a raised central section 26 including a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned keyholes 28. Screws 19 secure the fixture F1 to the floor 21a and lodged completely within the recess 20. The raised central section 26 has a predetermined thickness t (FIG. 3A) substantially from ⅛ to ¼ inch, is substantially planar, is a slight distance d₁, below the open mouth 21 of the recess 20, and has opposed surfaces 26a and 26b oriented vertically upon assembly of the bed frame 10. Each keyhole 28 comprises a narrow slot 28a terminating an enlarged opening 28b, and upon assembly of the bed frame 10, the individual slots are vertically oriented and each enlarged opening is beneath its companion slot. Each slot 28a terminates in a stop portion 28c (FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The male element ME comprises a pair of aligned fingers 30. The fingers 30 are spaced apart so each finger 30 is positioned to interconnect with a counterpart keyhole 28 in the female element FE as depicted in FIG. 3B. Each finger 30 is at substantially a right angle to the end E1 in which it is located, and each finger has a narrow neck 30a terminating in an enlarged head 30b. Each head 30b is sized to pass through the enlarged opening 28b of its counterpart keyhole 28 but not the narrow slot 28a of its counterpart keyhole. The narrow neck 30a is, however, sized to pass through the slot 28a of its counterpart keyhole 28.

As the interlocking components 16 engage and disengage, the head 30b passes through the enlarged opening 28b and is behind the raised central section 26 to slide over the interior surface 26a of the raised central section as the narrow neck 30a moves along, and is guided by, the slot 28a. Each finger 30 includes a guide member 30c inward from the enlarged head 30b a predetermined distance substantially equal to the predetermined thickness t of the raised central section. Each guide member 30c has a thickness t₁ equal to the distance d₁ between the surface 26b and the open mouth 21. Consequently, when the male element ME and female element engage and interlock as shown in FIG. 3B, the abutting board ends E1 and E2 of adjacent boards bear against each other so that there is essentially no space between these abutting ends. The heads 30c are sized so they fit within the space between the floor 21a and the interior surface 26a of the raised central section when the male element ME and female element FE are engaged as shown in FIG. 3B. This dimensional precision insures that the male element ME and female element FE engage so the head 30b is within the recess 20 near the floor 21a and the end E1 is pressed snugly against the end E2. The guide member 30c also limits the distance screw ends 31 of the fingers 30 penetrated upon being screwed into the ends E1 of the boards 14. Consequently, the head 30b and guide member 30c straddle the raised central section 26 and snugly bear against the opposed vertical surfaces 26a and 26b as the interlocking components 16 engage and disengage. This pulls the abutting ends E1 and E2 tightly together as the interlocking components 16 engage upon moving the end-to-end aligned and connected board 14 relative to each other into a locking position shown in FIG. 3B.

The interlocking components 16 engage by manual insertion of the male element ME into the female element FE as shown in FIG. 3A and then sliding the abutting ends E1 and E2 past each other by moving the boards 14 in opposite directions, for example, the board 14 on the right carrying the male element ME may be moved vertically in an upward direction. To disengage, the abutting adjacent ends E1 and E2 are slid past each other moving in a reverse direction, for example, the board 14 carrying the male element ME may be moved vertically downward. When the heads 30b are aligned with the enlarged openings 28b, the male element ME is withdrawn from the female element FE.

Initially, adjacent boards 14 are positioned from end-to-end with the abutting ends E1 and E2 facing each other and oriented substantially parallel and offset so the male element ME and female element FE are positioned to engage as depicted in FIG. 3A. The sidewalls SW1 of the adjacent, end-to-end aligned boards 14 lie in substantially the same one plane, and the sidewalls SW2 of these same end-to-end aligned boards 14 both lie in another but parallel plane. These two parallel planes are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the end-to-end aligned boards. As shown in FIG. 3A, the individual edges ED1 and ED2 of the end-to-end aligned boards 14 are misaligned but parallel as the male element ME and female element FE initially engage. Upon sliding the abutting ends E1 and E2 in the relative to each other in one direction, the misaligned edges ED1 and ED2 of the end-to-end positioned boards 14 move into alignment as shown in FIG. 3B. The fingers 30 now abut their respective the stop portions 28c. Thus, upon engagement and interlocking of the male element ME and female element FE, these elements are constrained to inhibit lateral movement of the boards relative to each other so the plank 12 is rigid. Both of my multi-piece planks 12 as shown in FIG. 1 are substantially in registration, substantially in parallel, and longitudinally and horizontally oriented, each plank having its opposed sidewalls SW1 and SW2 substantially at a right angle to ground.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, three boards may be used, for example, each ⅓ the length of an individual plank 12. The centerboard 14′ has the male element ME at its one end E1 and the recessed female element FE at its opposed end E2. The end E2 of the left-hand board 14L has its female element FE at the end E2, but there are no connecting fixtures at its end E1, which may be attached to a footboard FB as depicted in FIG. 5B. The end E1 of the right-hand board 14R has its male element ME at the end E1, but there are no fixtures at its opposed end E2, which may be attached to a headboard HB in a manner similar to attaching the footboard FB. When only a pair of boards 14 is used, one board has the male element ME at one end and no fixture at its other end and the other board has the female element FE at one end and no fixture at its other end.

FIGS. 4 through 4C

The embodiment of the interlocking components 16 depicted best in FIG. 4 is similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 2, except only a single finger 30 constitutes the male element ME and this single finger interacts with a counterpart single female element FE having a single keyhole 28 in its curvilinear metal fixture F2. In this embodiment, the sizes of the keyhole 28 and finger 30 of the male element are a little greater than those of the embodiment in illustrated in FIG. 2, otherwise they are identical and function in essentially the same manner. In this embodiment, the finger 30 is along the centerline upon connecting the end-to-end aligned boards 14. As shown best in FIG. 4C, the underside of the female element FE includes a pair of outward projecting wedge members 47 that are on opposed sides of the slot 28a and hold the finger 30 securely the head moves over these wedge members as depicted in FIG. 4B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B

The outer ends of my multi-piece plank 12 may be secured respectively to a footboard FB and headboard HB as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIGS. 5A and 5B depicted securing one end of my multi-piece plank 12 to the footboard FB using a conventional L-shaped corner fixture 60 having a pair of L-shaped cut-away channels 62 along an edge of one leg L1 of the corner fixture. The other leg L2 of the corner fixture 60 is screwed to the interior sidewall SW2. A pair of vertically aligned bolts 64 with nuts 66 extend through the footboard FB and these bolts are slid into the channels 62 and then the nuts are attached as shown in FIG. 5B to secure my plank 12. The other end of my multi-piece plank 12 may be secure to the headboard HB in a similar manner.

FIG. 6

My system includes the kit 50 illustrated in FIG. 6. The kit 50 comprises a package 52, for example, a box, containing disassembled bed frame components that upon assembly form, for example, the bed frame 10a. As discussed above, a pair of planks 12 for each side of the bed frame 10a are formed from a plurality of boards 14. In the kit 50 includes two pairs of boards, for example, four identical boards 14, each board being ½ the length of a plank 12. Upon connecting abutting ends E1 and E2 as discussed above two multi-piece planks 12 of equal length are formed. The kit includes a bag 51 containing the female elements FE, for example, the fixture F1 and the male elements ME, for example, the fingers 30.

Thus, my multi-piece plank enables a substantially reduced sized packing be used to hold the disassembled components of a bed frame.

Scope of the Invention

The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate of carrying out my system, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my system. My system is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit my system to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my system as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention:

Claims

1. A bed frame including

a pair of spaced apart planks of substantially equal in length and substantially equal in height, each plank having

(a) a length substantially from 59 to 86 inches,

(b) a height substantially from 2 to 8 inches, and

(c) a width substantially from 0.50 to 1.25 inches, and

each said plank formed by at least a pair of boards, each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends,

said boards having substantially the same height and width of the plank formed by said boards and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the individual plank formed by said boards, the sum of said predetermined lengths of said boards being equal to the length of the individual plank formed by said boards,

said boards forming an individual plank being oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along substantially a straight line with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board and the boards connected together to form the individual plank by interlocking components in the abutting ends for connecting and disconnecting said abutting ends, said abutting ends each being substantially planar and parallel,

said interlocking components including a male element at the abutting end of the one board and a female element at the abutting end of the other board, one of said elements being seated in a recess in the abutting end in which said one element is located,

said interlocking components engaging by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends past each other in one direction, and disengaging by sliding the abutting ends past each other in an opposite direction and withdrawing the male element from the female element.

2. The bed frame of claim 1 where only a single pair of boards form an individual plank having a substantially cuboid configuration.

3. The bed frame of claim 2 where the predetermined length of each board in said pair of boards is approximately half the length of the plank formed by said pair of boards.

4. The bed frame of claim 1 where only three boards form an individual plank.

5. The bed frame of claim 4 where the predetermined length of each board is approximately a third of the length of the plank formed by said three boards.

6. The bed frame of claim 1 where the male element and female element are positioned to engage when the ends carrying said elements face each other and are oriented substantially parallel, the male element is at substantially a right angle to the end in which it is located, and the individual side walls of the end-to-end aligned boards lie in substantially the same planes and the individual edges of the end-to-end aligned boards are misaligned but parallel as the male and female elements initially engage, and upon sliding the abutting ends in the one direction, the misaligned edges move into alignment.

7. The bed frame of claim 1 where the planks are substantially of equal width and the boards forming each plank are substantially equal in width and said recess is centrally positioned in said one end to form therein end portions straddling the recess, and said male element projecting outward from the end in which said male element is located.

8. The bed frame of claim 1 where the female element comprises a fixture having a raised central section including a keyhole comprising a narrow slot terminating an enlarged opening, upon assembly of the bed frame, said slot being vertically oriented and the enlarged opening being beneath the slot.

9. The bed frame of claim 8 where the male element comprises a finger having a narrow neck terminating in an enlarged head, said head sized to pass through the enlarged opening but not the narrow slot and said narrow neck sized to pass through slot with said head sliding behind the raised central section as said narrow neck slides along the slot as the interlocking components engage and disengage.

10. The bed frame of claim 8 where the raised central section of the female element is substantially planar with opposed vertical surfaces and has a predetermined thickness and the male element includes a guide member inward from the enlarged head a predetermined distance substantially equal to the predetermined thickness of the raised central section so the head and guide member straddle the raised central section and snugly bear against the opposed vertical surfaces as the interlocking components engage and disengage.

11. The bed frame of claim 1 where the female element comprises a fixture having a raised central section including a pair of spaced apart vertically aligned keyholes and the male element comprises a pair of vertically aligned fingers, said fingers being spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the plank formed by connecting said boards and each finger being positioned to interconnect with a counterpart keyhole in the female element.

12. The bed frame of claim 11 where each finger has a narrow neck terminating in an enlarged head, each said head sized to pass through the enlarged opening of its counterpart keyhole but not the narrow slot of its counterpart keyhole and said narrow neck sized to pass through the slot of its counterpart keyhole, with said head sliding behind the raised central section as said narrow neck slides along the slot as the interlocking components engage and disengage, said slot of each keyhole terminating in a stop portion, said stop portions being spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the plank formed by connecting said boards.

13. A bed frame including

a pair of spaced apart elongated, side planks, each plank having a length, height, and width and a where the length is substantially greater that the height, and the height is substantially greater that the width,

said planks being substantially in registration, substantially in parallel, and longitudinally and horizontally oriented, each plank having opposed side walls substantially at a right angle to ground, said side walls defining the height dimension of each individual plank,

each said individual plank comprising a plurality of boards, each said board forming an individual plank having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the individual plank formed by said plurality of boards, each of said boards forming an individual plank having substantially the same height and width and the sum of said predetermined lengths of the boards forming said individual plank being equal to the length of the plank, and

said boards forming an individual plank being oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board and the boards connected together by interlocking components in the abutting ends to form the individual plank,

said interlocking components including a male element at the end of the one board and a female element at the end of the other board,

said interlocking components

(a) being positioned to engage upon the ends carrying the male and female elements facing each other and oriented to be substantially parallel and the side walls of the boards parallel and the edges of the boards misaligned but parallel,

(b) engaging by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends in one direction past each other to bring the unaligned edges into alignment, and

(c) disengaging by sliding the abutting ends in an opposite direction past each other to bring the aligned edges into misalignment and withdrawing the male element from the female element.

14. A bed frame including

a pair of spaced apart substantially cuboid, elongated, side planks, each plank having a length, height, and width and a where the length is substantially greater that the height, and the height is substantially greater that the width,

said planks being substantially in registration, substantially in parallel, and longitudinally and horizontally oriented, each plank having opposed side walls substantially at a right angle to ground, said side walls defining the height dimension of each individual plank,

each said individual plank comprising a plurality of boards, each said board forming an individual plank having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the individual plank formed by said plurality of boards, each of said boards forming an individual plank having substantially the sum of said predetermined lengths of the boards forming said individual plank being equal to the length of the plank, and

means for assembling said boards into an individual plank with said boards oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board and

said assembling means including means for connecting and disconnecting the boards including interlocking components in the abutting board ends, each said abutting end being substantially orthogonal with respect to the opposed side walls and opposed edges of the board in which said end is formed,

said interlocking components including a male element at the end of the one board and a female element at the end of the other board,

said interlocking components

(a) being positioned to engage upon the ends carrying the male and female elements facing each other and oriented to be substantially parallel and the side walls of the boards parallel and the edges of the boards misaligned but parallel,

(b) engaging by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends in one direction past each other to bring the unaligned edges into alignment, and

(c) disengaging by sliding the abutting ends in an opposite direction past each other to bring the aligned edges into misalignment and withdrawing the male element from the female element.

15. A multi-piece plank for a side of a bed frame having a length from 59 to 86 inches and comprising

a plurality of boards, each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends,

said boards each having substantially the same height and width and each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends, and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the plank formed and the sum of said predetermined lengths of boards being equal to the length of the plank,

said boards being oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board and the boards being detachably connected together to form the plank by interlocking components in the abutting ends,

said interlocking components including a male element at the abutting end of the one board and a female element at the abutting end of the other board,

said interlocking components engaging by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends past each other in one direction, and disengaging by sliding the abutting ends past each other in an opposite direction and withdrawing the male element from the female element, and

upon engagement said male element and female element being constrained to inhibit lateral movement of the boards relative to each other so the plank is rigid.

16. The plank of claim 15 where said abutting ends each are substantially orthogonal with respect to the opposed side walls and opposed edges of the board in which said orthogonal end is formed, and the male element and female element are positioned to engage when the ends carrying said elements face each other and are oriented substantially parallel and the individual side walls of the end-to-end aligned boards lie in substantially the same plane and the individual edges of the end-to-end aligned boards are misaligned but parallel as the male and female elements initially engage, and upon sliding the abutting ends in the one direction, the misaligned edges move into alignment.

17. The plank of claim 16 where the female element comprises a fixture having a raised central section including a keyhole comprising a narrow slot terminating an enlarged opening, upon connecting the ends of the boards, said slot being vertically oriented and the enlarged opening being beneath the slot.

18. The plank of claim 17 where the male element comprises a finger having a narrow neck terminating in an enlarged head, said head sized to pass through the enlarged opening but not the narrow slot and said narrow neck sized to pass through slot with said head sliding behind the raised central section as said narrow neck slides along the slot as the interlocking components engage and disengage.

19. The plank of claim 18 where the raised central section of the female element is substantially planar with opposed vertical surfaces and has a predetermined thickness and the male element includes a guide member inward from the enlarged head a predetermined distance substantially equal to the predetermined thickness of the raised central section so the head and guide member straddle the raised central section and snugly bear against the opposed vertical surfaces as the interlocking components engage and disengage.

20. A kit containing disassembled bed frame components that upon assembly form the bed frame, said components including

a pair of planks for a side of a bed frame of equal length from 59 to 86 inches, each said plank comprising

a plurality of boards, each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends,

said boards each having substantially the same height and width and each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends, and a predetermined length corresponding to a fraction of the length of the plank formed and the sum of said predetermined lengths of boards being equal to the length of the plank,

said boards being oriented from end-to-end lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board abutting an end of the other board and the boards being detachably connected together to form the plank by interlocking components in the abutting ends,

said interlocking components including a male element at the abutting end of the one board and a female element at the abutting end of the other board,

said interlocking components engaging by insertion of the male element into the female element and sliding the abutting ends past each other in one direction, and disengaging by sliding the abutting ends past each other in an opposite direction and withdrawing the male element from the female element, and

upon engagement said male element and female element being constrained to inhibit lateral movement of the boards relative to each other so the plank is rigid.

21. A method of assembling a bed frame wherein a substantially cuboid, elongated, side plank having a length substantially from 59 to 86 inches is formed from a plurality of boards, each board having opposed side walls, opposed edges, and opposed ends and a predetermined length corresponding to substantially from ⅓ to ½ the length of the plank, said boards having substantially the same height and width and the sum of said predetermined lengths of the boards being equal to the length of the plank,

said method comprising the steps of

(a) initially positioning said boards from end to end, lengthwise along a substantially straight line, with an end of one board facing an end of the other board and the facing ends oriented substantially parallel and the individual side walls of the end-to-end aligned boards lying in substantially the same plane and the individual edges of the end-to-end aligned boards being misaligned but parallel,

(b) detachably connecting the boards together with interlocking components by moving the facing ends into an abutting relationship, said interlocking components including a male element at the end of the one board and a female element at the end of the other board, and

(c) as the facing ends move towards each other to abut, inserting the male component into the female component and sliding the abutting ends past each other to bring the misaligned edges into alignment.

22. The method of claim 21 where one of said elements is seated in a recess in the end in which said one element is located, said recess being centrally positioned in said one end to form end portions straddling the recess, and said male element projects outward from the end in which said male element is located.