Bed elevating device

Abstract

A system of base blocks and attachment blocks used to securely elevate the head of various bed frames, including bed legs and straight back bed frames. Both the base blocks and the attachment blocks have a well disposed within their top surface, which allows for support of a bed leg. The wells of each of the base block and attachment block have removable first and second side pieces, which allow for a straight back bed frame to be securely elevated. The remaining front and rear walls of the well provide a support mechanism for the straight back bed frame, thus providing stability to the elevated bed. The wells on the attachment blocks have a retaining side wall formed therearound, extending past the bottom surface of the attachment block. The retaining side wall of the well is of a size and shape to match the well of the base block or another attachment block, providing a stable nesting feature, thus allowing for the elevation of a bed to be easily adjusted.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional patent application 60/180,648 filed on Feb. 7, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a bed elevating device, capable of receiving and securely elevating various types of headboards for beds, including straight-back bed frames as well as other types of legs of beds.

[0004] 2. Review of the Prior Art

[0005] Persons with certain medical conditions, such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease, are often advised by their physicians to raise the head of their beds, to introduce a tilt to their sleeping surface, which can have beneficial physiological effects. For example, when gastro-esophageal reflux disease is present in an individual, the tilting of a sleeping surface utilizes gravity to decrease the likelihood that acidic stomach contents will pass upward through the esophageal sphincter. Elevation of the head of a bed may also be useful to assist individuals with other physical ailments such as sinusitis, allergy symptoms and other conditions. Depending on the nature and severity of the condition, doctors may give different advice as to the degree of tilt necessary to alleviate a condition. Doctors may also advise an individual to initially start with a greater tilt and gradually taper the degree of tilt as the condition improves. For this reason, it is advantageous to have a system that allows for an individual to easily and securely adjust the head of a bed to various specific heights.

[0006] There are many inventions disclosed in the prior art capable of elevating furniture or bed frames; however, none of the prior art has the adaptive capability to elevate all types of bed frames, including a straight back bed frame in a secure fashion. Additionally, the prior art does not provide for a system of elevating the head of a bed, along with providing support for the elevated middle support post of the bed to a proportional height. Finally, other bed elevating devices do not allow for the bed to be easily moved once it is in the elevated position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a bed elevating device that is capable of adaptively receiving and securely elevating legs of beds or the bottom portion of a straight back bed frame. This objective is achieved by utilizing a base block having a well disposed within its top surface, capable of receiving most legs of beds. The top surface of the base block also has first and second side walls which can be removed, leaving raised walls capable of receiving and securely elevating and retaining a straight back bed frame or an unusually large or unique shaped leg of a bed. The raised walls serve to retain the bed frame in an elevated position and thus prevents the bed frame from slipping off of the bed elevating device.

[0008] The present invention also allows a bed in the elevated position to be easily moved, since the leg or straight back bed frame is securely retained when in the elevated position. Also, the bottom surface of the base block is created of a non-frictional material capable of sliding easily across a floor and the bottom surface of the base block may also be adapted to receive rollers, thus facilitating the ease of movement.

[0009] An attachment block can also be utilized in conjunction with the base block to provide for increased elevation of a bed. An attachment block has a top surface with a well formed therein, a retaining side wall formed therearound, extending downward below the bottom surface the attachment block. The retaining side wall of the well is of a size and a shape to match the well in the base block or another attachment block, thus providing for a stable nesting of the blocks. The well of the attachment block also has first and second side walls which can be removed, leaving a raised front and rear wall capable of receiving and securely elevating a straight back bed frame or a unusually large or unique shaped leg of a bed.

[0010] Another object of this invention is to provide a bed elevating device with features that prevent damage from occurring to the leg of a bed or bed frame that is elevated. The present invention utilizes inserts that fit within the well of the base block or attachment block to allow for minute adjustments to the elevation height of the bed. These inserts may also have an inclined or tilted surface so as to provide that the bottom of the bed leg or bed frame lay flush on the bed elevating device, thus preventing the possibility that damage will occur to the bed frame or leg of the bed. Additionally, these inserts may be padded, thus further providing additional protection for the bed leg or frame.

[0011] Finally, this invention utilizes a system wherein the middle support posts of a bed may also be supported at a proportionate height to the elevation of the head of the bed. A combination of all these factors provides an easily adjustable and secure means for elevating a bed.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base block of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base block of the present invention with the first and second side walls of the well removed.

[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second side walls of the well and the base block of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an attachment block of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the attachment block of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an insert and a base block of the present invention with the first and second side walls of the well removed.

[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a tilted insert and a base block of the present invention with the first and second side walls of the well removed.

[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a base block nested with two attachment blocks of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a base block nested with an attachment block of the present invention that has the first and second side walls of the well removed, and supporting a straight back bed frame.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a base block and an attachment block of the present invention with the first and second side walls of the well retained supporting a leg of a bed.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a side view of a bed elevated by a base block and an attachment block of the present invention at the head and proportionately shorter base block and attachment block at the middle support post.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a side view of a head of a bed frame elevated by a base block of the present invention with a tilted insert.

[0024] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the bottom surface of a base block of the present invention with rollers.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a tilted insert showing a padded top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] The initial component of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, which discloses a rectangular shaped base block 1 with a well 2 disposed within its top surface 3. The well 2 has a first and second side wall, 4, 5 and a front and rear wall 6, 7. The disclosed shape of the base block 1 is a rectangle, but the shape may vary to include, but not limited to, a round, square, oval or other design shape. The bottom surface 15 of the base block 1 is flat and is comprised of a non-frictional surface, thus enabling it to slide easily across any type of flooring, including carpet. In its preferred embodiment, the base block 1 would be constructed of a hard plastic material; however, it may also be constructed of wood, metal or another comparable material. Additionally, the bottom surface 15 of the base block 1 may contain apertures 16, as shown in FIG. 13 to allow for the insertion of rollers, 17 to additionally facilitate ease of movement of an elevated bed. The apertures 16 may be placed along the four corners of the bottom surface 15 of the base block 1, and the rollers 17 may be attached to the bottom surface 15 similar to a self-locking dowel system.

[0027] The well 2 of the base block 1 is sufficient depth into which the leg of a bed 71, shown in FIG. 11, may be placed and securely maintained by the well 2. The well 2 is typically a depth of at least one to one-half inches, but the depth may be varied. The well 2, as is shown in FIG. 1, is the shape of a rectangle; however, this shape may vary to include, but not be limited to, other shapes, such as round, square, oval or other design.

[0028] The first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 of the base block 1 are removable, as is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 shows that once these first and second side walls 4, 5 are removed, the base block 1 is capable of receiving a straight back bed frame 70, shown in FIG. 9, which is securely retained by the raised front and rear walls 6, 7. The raised front and rear walls 6, 7 provide a support structure that prevents a straight back bed frame 70 from inadvertently sliding off of the base block 1. The additional support provided by the raised front and rear walls 6, 7 also allow for a bed to be moved while in an elevated position.

[0029] The well 1 may be defined by many shapes, in which case the side walls 4, 5 may merely be portions of the surrounding structure of well 2. This may also be utilized in design of the corresponding attachment blocks 20.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 attached to the base block 1 by means of two mortise structures 8, 9 on the first and second side walls of the well 4, 5 of the base block 1 and two tenon structures 10, 11 on the raised front and rear walls 6, 7 of the well 2. Similar connecting devices, such as a dovetail or flared insert design, could also be utilized for attaching the first and second side walls 4, 5 to the base block 1 when necessary. FIG. 3 also shows the bottom surface 12 of the well 2 of the base block 1, which has a plurality of apertures 13 formed therein. The first and second side walls 4, 5 have a plurality of extensions 14 on the bottom surface of each first and second side wall 4, 5, which are removably retained by the apertures 13 of the bottom surface 12 of the well 2, thus providing for additional support to retain the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 to the base block 1. Recessed bolts, screws, clamps or other means could also be utilized to secure the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 to the base block 1.

[0031] When the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 are secured to the base block 1, as depicted in FIG. 1, the base block 1 is capable of receiving an attachment block 20, shown in FIG. 4, to provide for additional elevation of a bed. The attachment block 20 has a top surface 21 that contains a well 22 formed by a retaining side wall 23, which extends downward though the attachment block 20. The well 22 extends throughout the width of the attachment block 20 and past the bottom surface 31 of the attachment block 20, as is shown in FIG. 5. The depth of the well 22 of the attachment block 20 may vary, but does not extend past the bottom surface 31 of the attachment block 20. The retaining wall 23 of the well 22 of the attachment block 20, which extends throughout the attachment block 20 and past the bottom surface 31 of the attachment block 20, is a solid piece.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates that the well 22 on the attachment block 20 also has first and second side walls 24, 25 that are removably retained by the attachment block 20. When the first and second side walls 24, 25 of the well 22 of the attachment block 20 are retained, the attachment block 20 is capable of securely receiving and elevating the leg of a bed 71, as is shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 9 shows that once these first and second side walls 24, 25 are removed, the attachment block 20 is capable of receiving a straight back bed frame 70, which is then securely supported by raised front and rear walls 26, 27 of the attachment block 20.

[0033] As is illustrated in FIG. 4, each of these first and second side walls 24, 25 of the attachment block 20 are connected to the attachment block 20 by two mortise structures 28, 29 on the first and second side walls 24, 25 of the attachment block 20 and two tenon 30, 31 structures on the front and rear walls 26, 27 of the well 22 on the attachment block 20. The well 22 of the attachment block 20 also has a bottom surface 32 that has a plurality of apertures 33 formed therein. The first and second side walls 24, 25 of the attachment block 20 additionally have a plurality of extensions 34 on the bottom surfaces, which are removably retained by the apertures 33 of the bottom surface 32 of the well 22 of the attachment block 20, which provides additional support for the first and second side walls 24, 25 when they are retained by the attachment block 20. Recessed bolts, screws, clamps or other means could also be utilized to secure the first and second side walls 24, 25 of the well 22 to the attachment block 20. Both the base block 1 and the attachment blocks 20 may be constructed without the ability to remove the first and second side walls 4, 5, 24, 25, of the wells 2, 22.

[0034] When a bed frame is to be elevated to a level greater than the height of a combined base block 1 and attachment block 20, a second attachment block 40, as is shown in FIG. 8, may be used to increase the level of elevation. If a second attachment block 40 is utilized with a combined base block 1 and attachment block 20, the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 on the base block 1 must be retained, along with the first and second side walls 24, 25 of the well 22 of the attachment block 20. The second attachment block 40 may then have the first and second side walls 44, 45 of the well 42 removed or retained, depending on the type of bed frame needing elevation. If the first and second side walls 44, 45 of the well 42 are removed to accommodate a straight back bed frame 70, then the raised front and rear walls 46, 47 assist in securely maintaining the bed frame.

[0035] FIG. 8 illustrates how the retaining side wall 43 of the well 42 of the second attachment block 40, which extends beyond the bottom surface 51 of the second attachment block 40, is designed to fit securely into the well 22 of the attachment block 20. Accordingly, the retaining side wall 23 of the well 22 of the attachment block 20 must correspond to the shape of the well 2 of the base block 1 into which it is to be inserted. Once two or more attachment blocks 20 are utilized in this stacking manner, the stacked attachment blocks 20 are all retained within the well 2 of the base block 1. Although the well 22 of the attachment block 20 and well 42 of the second attachment block 40 are both shown in the accompanying drawings in the shape of a rectangle, its shape can vary to include, but not be limited to, round, square, oval or other design. If increased elevation is required, more than two attachment blocks 20 may be utilized.

[0036] Base blocks 1 and attachment blocks 20 of varying heights may also be used to elevate the middle support post 73 of a bed. As is shown in FIG. 11, the base block 1 or combination of base block 1 and attachment blocks 20 used to elevate the middle support post 73 of the bed should be proportionately shorter than the base block 1 or combination of base block 1 and attachment blocks 20 used at the head of a bed by a factor of approximately one-half, since the middle support posts for beds are typically approximately midway between the top and bottom of the frame, and is thus raised approximately one-half as high as the front of the bed.

[0037] The height to which a bed is elevated by the present invention may vary. For example, a base block 1 of four inches in height along with an attachment block 20 of four inches may be utilized to raise the head of the bed. In this situation, if a middle support bar was present on the bed, a base block 1 or a combination of a base block 1 and an attachment block 20 could be utilized to elevate the middle support post 73. For example, the middle support post 73 could be supported by a base block 1 of four inches in height or a combination of a base block 1 of two inches and an attachment block 20 of two inches in height. It is anticipated that base blocks 1 and attachment blocks 20 of varying heights could be produced to allow for beds to be raised to numerous desired increments.

[0038] The bottom surfaces of the wells 12, 32 of both the base block 1 and the attachment block 20 may be covered with a non-slip material 61, as is shown in FIG. 2, to prevent the resting leg, roller or straight back frame of the bed from slipping off the base block 1 or attachment block 20. This non-slip material 61 increases the stability of the elevated bed and assists in ensuring that the bed leg or frame does not slip off the bed elevating device.

[0039] The height of the blocks may be minutely adjusted by use of inserts 80, as is shown in FIG. 6. These inserts 80 have a top surface 81 and a bottom surface 82, which fit on the bottom surfaces of the wells 12, 32 of either the base block 1 or the adjustment block 22. These inserts 80 can be utilized either with the first and second side walls 4, 5, 24, 25 of the wells 2, 22 retained or with the first and second side walls 4, 5, 24, 25 removed. If utilized with the first and second side walls 4, 5, 24, 25 retained, the insert 80 would be designed to fit within the well 2, 22 structure itself If the insert 80 is utilized with the first and second side walls 4, 5, 24, 25 removed, then the insert 80 would be designed to cover the entire bottom surface of the well 12, 32, as is shown in FIG. 6, which illustrates an insert 80 utilized with a base block 1 with the first and second side walls 4, 5 of the well 2 removed. The insert 80 has a plurality of extensions 83 on its bottom surface 82, designed to fit within the plurality of apertures 16, 36 formed on the bottom surfaces of the well 12, 32 on the base block 1 or attachment block 20. The inserts 80 could also be attached to the base block 1 or attachment block 20 by means of recessed bolts, screws, clamps or other means.

[0040] FIG. 7 shows how tilted inserts 85 may also be used in conjunction with the base block 1 or an attachment block 20. The tilted inserts 85 have an inclined top surface 86, resembling a ramp-type structure, and attach to the base block 1 or attachment block 20 in the same fashion as the inserts 80 previously discussed. The tilted inserts 85 serve to provide an inclined structure on which to rest the frame or leg of the bed, as is shown in FIG. 12, providing that the bottom of the bed frame will rest flush on the bottom surface of the well 12, 32, thus reducing the possibility that damage to the bed may occur with use of the bed elevating device. The degree of incline on the top surface 86 of the tilted inserts 85 may be varied to provide various degrees of angles. Additionally, the inserts 80 and tilted inserts 85 may also contain a pad 90 on their top surfaces 81, 86, as is shown in FIG. 14, to further provide protection from damage to the bed frame or leg of the bed.

[0041] The inserts 80 and the tilted inserts 85 may be covered with a non-slip material 61 to assist in preventing the bed frame or leg from slipping off of the base block 1 or attachment block 20. Also, the exterior shape of the inserts 80 and tilted inserts 85 may be varied to accommodate the shape of the well 2, 22 of the base block 1 or the attachment block 20 with which it is to be utilized.

[0042] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications thereof can't be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A bed elevating device, comprising:

a base block having a top surface, and a front and rear wall;

a well formed within said top surface;

said first and second side wall of said well removably retained within said well.

2. The bed elevating device of

claim 1 further comprising an attachment block, said attachment block having a top surface with a well formed therein, said well having a retaining side wall formed therearound, said retaining side wall extending downward below a bottom surface of said attachment block.

3. The bed elevating device of

claim 2 wherein said retaining side wall of said well of said attachment block is removably retained within said well of said base block.

4. The bed elevating deice of

claim 1 wherein said base block has a predefined height, said well of said base block formed in said top surface extending downward into said base block a depth of said predefined height.

5. The bed elevating device of

claim 1 further comprising an insert, said insert removably retained within said well.

6. The bed elevating device of

claim 5 wherein said well is further comprised of a well bottom surface, said well bottom surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein, said insert having a plurality of extension, said extensions removably retained within said apertures of said well bottom surface.

7. The bed elevating device of

claim 5 wherein said insert is an inclined insert.

8. The bed elevating device of

claim 5 wherein said insert is received in said well of said base block after removal of said first and second side wall of said well.

9. The bed elevating device of

claim 2 wherein said attachment block has a first and second side wall of said well, said first and second side wall of said well removably retained on said attachment block.

10. The bed elevating device of

claim 3 further comprising an insert, said insert removably retained within said well of said attachment block.

11. The bed elevating device of

claim 3 wherein said well is further comprised of a well bottom surface, said well bottom surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein, said insert having a plurality of extension, said extensions removably retained within said apertures of said well bottom surface.

12. The bed elevating device of

claim 3 wherein said insert is an inclined insert.

13. The bed elevating device of

claim 7 wherein said inclined insert is further comprised of a padded top surface.

14. The bed elevating device of

claim 12 wherein said inclined insert is further comprised of a padded top surface.

15. A bed elevating system for raising the height of a bed, comprising:

a base block having a top surface and a well formed therein, said well having a first and second side wall;

zero or more attachment blocks removably retained within said well of said base block, each of said zero or more attachment blocks having a top surface and a well formed therein, said well having a retaining wall formed therearound and extending downward through said attachment block, said retaining wall of said well of said attachment block removably retained within said well of said base block;

wherein said well of said attachment block is further comprised of a first and second side wall, said first and second side wall removably retained within said well of said attachment block.

16. The bed elevating system of

claim 15 further comprising an insert removably retained within said well of said attachment block, said insert having an inclined top surface.

17. The bed elevating system of

claim 15 further comprising an insert having a plurality of extensions, said well of said attachment block having a plurality of matching apertures, said plurality of extensions of said insert retained within said apertures of said well.

18. The bed elevating system of

claim 15 further comprising a center bed post support block, said center bed post support block having a height about one-half the height of said base block.

19. The bed elevating device of

claim 1 where in said base block is further comprised of a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a plurality of apertures with rollers removably retained within said apertures of said bottom surface.

20. A bed-elevating system for raising the height of a bed, comprising;

a base block having a top surface, with a well formed therein, said well having a removably retained first and second side wall;

one or more attachment blocks, said attachment blocks having a top surface with a well formed therein, said well having a side wall formed therearound, said retaining side wall extending downward below a bottom surface of said attachment block and removably retained within said well of said base block or said well of an attachment block;

wherein said well of said attachment blocks have a first and second side wall, removably retained on said well of said attachment blocks;

wherein an insert having a top and bottom surface is removably retained within said well of said attachment block.