Abstract: A caster assembly that can be used with furniture to support the furniture and to make the furniture mobile. The caster assembly has a housing with a stem that extends upwardly to be attached to the particular piece of furniture. Within the housing is a plurality of spherical rollers that are supported within the housing so as to be rotatable about their center points and therefore can rotate in any direction as the furniture is moved. In the preferred embodiment, there are three spherical rollers that are all equidistant from the center line or longitudinal axis of the stem so that the weight of the furniture that bears down upon the stem is supported equally by the spherical rollers contacting the floor. As a further feature, a glide cup is provided that can be readily attached and detached from the bottom of the housing and, whet attached, the glide cup covers the spherical rollers and presents a flat, planar surface that contacts the floor.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for securing a center beam of a bed frame to the cross bars that enable the assembler to complete the assembly of the bed frame completely without the need for hand tools or securing implements to aid in the assembly. With a queen size bed frame or smaller, the cross bar members are joined together in overlapping manner to form cross bars and the center beam is secured to the cross bars by use of the present locking mechanism. In the case of a king size or a California king size bed frame, a universal extension bar is provided that can be used to join the cross bar members of either size bed frame and a extension cap is also provided that is affixed to the universal extension bar having indicia that instructs the assembler in the proper assembly of the particular bed frame.

Abstract: A comprehensive means of providing protection to a bed frame by covering various locations about the bed frame with plastic shields. The plastic shields are adapted to enclose the various locations about the bed frame including the ends of side rails, the junction of side rails and cross members, leg assemblies and the side rails themselves. The shields comprise a pair of housings joined together with a living hinge such that the free ends can be affixed together to surround and enclose the various locations where sharp edges are present. The use of the shields provides overall protection to all of the locations where there may be sharp edges that could harm a person striking the location and thus there is a comprehensive approach to full protection of the bed frame.

Abstract: A molded plug is provided that is used to lock structural members together where those members are joined together by the interengagement of a standoff rivet and a keyhole slot. In the normal interengagement of such structural members, a standoff rivet of one of the structural members is inserted into an enlarged portion of a keyhole slot on the other structural member and the structural members are moved relative to each other in order to slide the standoff rivet into the narrowed portion of the keyhole slot. When so positioned, the plug is inserted and locked into position within the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot and thus prevents any relative movement between the structural members to insure that the standoff rivet cannot again become aligned with the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot where inadvertent disengagement of the structural member could occur.

Abstract: A universal cross member that can be used with a bed frame or bed rails to provide support for a box spring and mattress. The universal cross member has a straight bar with telescoping ends so that the universal cross member can be used even where there are variances in the distance between the side rails and still be fitted to those side rails. A tensioning system is provided to add strength to the universal cross member to eliminate, in almost all instances, the need for some further support of the universal cross member from the floor, such as a caster or a glide. In the system, a tensioning bar has its ends affixed at or near the ends of the straight member and its center contacts a block at a finite distance from the straight member at or about the center of the straight member. By placing the tension bar in a predetermined tension, a force is created that acts through the block against the approximate center of the straight member.

Abstract: A caster assembly that can be used with furniture to support the furniture and to make the furniture mobile. The caster assembly has a housing with a stem that extends upwardly to be attached to the particular piece of furniture. Within the housing is a plurality of spherical rollers that are supported within the housing so as to be rotatable about their center points and therefore can rotate in any direction as the furniture is moved. In the preferred embodiment, there are three spherical rollers that are all equidistant from the center line or longitudinal axis of the stem so that the weight of the furniture that bears down upon the stem is supported equally by the spherical rollers contacting the floor. As a further feature, a glide cup is provided that can be readily attached and detached from the bottom of the housing and, whet attached, the glide cup covers the spherical rollers and presents a flat, planar surface that contacts the floor.

Abstract: A protective guard is disclosed that is particularly adapted for use with a bed frame. The guard is adapted to fit over an existing leg of the bed frame and has a specially shaped opening in the upper surface into which the leg of the bed frame can fit. A caster assembly has an upstanding stem that passes the existing leg in the leg structure and holds the protective guard in position affixed to the bed frame. The protective guard is shaped in a variety of configurations and surface markings so as to be adapted to fit the décor of the room in which it is used. In addition, the overall shape of the protective guard covers the leg of the bed frame to provide protection against injury from the inadvertent bumping of the bed frame leg by persons walking or standing near the bed frame. In one embodiment, the protective guard is an integrated shield and a caster assembly that is affixed to the leg of the bed frame and provides a protective plastic covering for the caster assembly as well as the leg.