Mattress attachment apparatus

Abstract

An attachment apparatus is provided for releasably securing a mattress to a bed frame, the attachment apparatus including at least one set of two lengths of rope each attached to the mattress casing with each length of rope having a loop disposed for fastener engagement to the bed frame; and at least two rope fasteners, each rope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent to one of the loops, for removably engaging the loop and thereby releasibly securing the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of convertible sofa beds. More specifically the present invention relates to an attachment apparatus for removably securing a mattress to a convertible sofa bed, including those known as futons. The sofa bed is of generally conventional design, including a frame having an elongate seat panel with optional seat panel longitudinal end panels having end panel upper portions defining seat arms, a pivoting panel pivotally mounted to the seat panel to swing upward into a seat mode in which the pivoting panel functions as a back rest and to swing downward into a bed mode in which the pivoting panel becomes horizontally contiguous with the seat panel so that the seat panel and backrest panel together define a composite bed panel, and including a mattress which rests a against the seat panel and the pivoting panel. Legs preferably extend downward from the bed frame. The mattress itself is mostly conventional and preferably substantially rectangular, including two opposing mattress first side wall segments along its length and two opposing mattress second side wall segments along its width having second side wall segment upper and lower edges, and including two opposing mattress faces and a mattress outer skin generally called the casing. The attachment apparatus includes at least one set of two lengths of rope, which are incorporated into the mattress partially underneath the casing, each length of one set of rope extending respectively along each second side wall segment lower edge, preferably at the center of each given second side wall segment lower edge and another set, if provided, being the same at the corresponding upper edges. The middle portion of each length of rope is made to emerge from the inside of the casing and then return back inside the casing so as to form a loop for engagement to the frame. The portions of the rope disposed within the mattress is firmly sewn thereto. A mattress cover is preferably provided, which is generally conventional as well except for the addition of cover rope ports positioned to register with the mattress rope loops when the mattress cover is fitted onto the mattress. The apparatus further includes a rope fastener secured to the bed frame adjacent to the locations of the two lower rope exposed loops when the mattress is operationally in place on the bed frame, for releasably engaging each corresponding lower rope exposed loop and thus releasibly but securely holding the mattress against movement relative to the bed frame under forces of people sitting on and rising from the mattress.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There have long been convertible sofa beds for appearing and functioning as sofas, but being convertible into beds when desired. These beds have included seat panels and backrest panels pivotally mounted relative to the seat panels to pivot down into a bed mode to become horizontal and thereby to extend the seat panel and to pivot up in a seat mode to define a seat back rest, and a mattress which rests against the seat and backrest panels. A problem with these prior beds has been that the mattress rests on the seat and pivoting panels loosely, and often slides out of position when a user sits on it.

[0005] A few structural modifications have been tried, unsuccessfully, to solve this problem. One such modification has been a barrier along the forward edge of the seat panel, under the knees of a seated person. Yet these barriers have either been sufficiently high to have hurt or made uncomfortable the legs of the seated person or have been too low and failed to accomplish their objective. Non-skid surfaces have proven inadequate to the task, and hook and loop fasteners have tended to become dislodged. Prior clips for securing the mattress have torn loose.

[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a mattress attachment apparatus which releasibly, but reliably secures the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame without causing discomfort to the user.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide such an attachment apparatus which can be operated easily for engagement and disengagement of the mattress without need of any tools and which permits mattress engagement with either face of the mattress directed outward.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an attachment apparatus which can be incorporated into bed frames during manufacture and alternatively can be retrofitted to existing frames and mattresses.

[0009] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an attachment apparatus which is durable, reliable and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

[0011] An attachment apparatus is provided for releasably securing a mattress to a convertible bed frame, the frame including a substantially horizontal seat panel, a seat panel forward end and a seat panel rearward end and two opposing seat panel lateral ends, and a pivoting panel having a pivoting panel free end, two opposing pivoting panel lateral ends and a pivoting panel mounted end pivotally mounted to the seat panel so that the pivoting panel is pivotable upwardly to function as a back rest and is pivotable downwardly to become substantially horizontal and contiguous with the seat panel rearward end and thereby function as a composite bed panel, the mattress including first and second mattress faces, a mattress side wall and a mattress casing, one of the first and second mattress faces resting on the frame against the seat panel and against the pivoting panel, the attachment apparatus including at least one set of two lengths of rope attached to the mattress and extending underneath the mattress casing along the mattress side wall edges. The middle portion of each length of rope is made to emerge from and then re-enter the inside of the casing so as to form an exposed loop for engagement to the frame. Included are at least two rope fasteners, each rope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent to each of the rope loops, for releasably engaging each of the rope loops and thereby releasibly securing the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame.

[0012] A convertible bed having a frame including a substantially horizontal seat panel, a seat panel forward end and a seat panel rearward end and two opposing seat panel lateral ends, and a pivoting panel having a pivoting panel free end, two opposing pivoting panel lateral ends and a pivoting panel mounted end pivotally mounted to the seat panel so that the pivoting panel is pivotable upwardly to function as a back rest and is pivotable downwardly to become substantially horizontal and contiguous with the seat panel rearward end and thereby function as a composite bed panel; a mattress including first and second mattress faces, a mattress side wall and a mattress casing, one of the first and second mattress faces resting on the bed frame against the seat panel first face and against the pivoting panel first face; and a mattress attachment apparatus including at least one set of two lengths of rope extending underneath the mattress casing along the mattress side wall edges. The middle portion of each length of rope is made to emerge from and then re-enter to the inside of the casing so as to form an exposed loop for engagement to the frame, and two rope fasteners, each rope fastener being secured to the bed frame adjacent to one of the rope loops, for releasably engaging each rope loop and thereby releasably securing the mattress against substantial movement relative to the bed frame.

[0013] The mattress side wall preferably includes two opposing mattress first side wall segments and two opposing mattress second side wall segments, each second side wall segment having second side wall segment upper and lower edges; and each length of one set of ropes extends along each second side wall upper edge and each length of the second set along each second side wall lower edge. The rope fasteners preferably each include a snap shackle for snapping closed around and thereby engaging a rope loop and a threaded eyelet engaging the snap shackle and being threaded into the seat panel.

[0014] The mattress preferably additionally includes a mattress cover having cover rope ports positioned to register with the mattress rope loops when the mattress cover is fitted onto the mattress. The rope segments preferably are located at the center of each mattress second side wall segment upper and lower edge. The seat panel and the pivoting panel preferably are formed of laterally interconnected and spaced apart panel slats. The seat panel is preferably attached to an end panel at each seat panel lateral end, each end panel having an end panel upper portion defining a seat arm. The bed frame preferably additionally includes several legs extending downward from the seat panel for supporting the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a convertible sofa bed frame with the mattress removed, and including the rope fasteners of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mattress having the lengths of rope of the present invention embedded under the mattress casing and showing exposed rope loops that are releasably engaged by the rope fasteners.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of the convertible sofa bed with the end panels removed and the frame in the seat mode, showing the attachment apparatus anchoring the mattress to the frame.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a side view of the convertible sofa bed with the end panels removed and the frame in the bed mode, once again showing the attachment apparatus anchoring the mattress to the frame.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred mattress cover having the cover rope ports of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a close-up of the preferred rope fastener.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of the rope fastener of FIG. 6 engaging an exposed rope loop, with the portions of the length of rope covered by the mattress casing and mattress cover shown in broken lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0024] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, an attachment apparatus 10 is disclosed for use with a convertible sofa bed 40 having a frame 30, for removably securing a mattress 20 to the frame 30. The frame 30 includes an elongate seat panel 42 having a panel face 42a, a seat panel forward end 42c and a seat panel rearward end 42d and two opposing seat panel lateral ends 42e, and having an end panel 44 secured to each seat panel lateral end 42e with end panel upper portions defining seat arms 46. The frame 30 further includes a pivoting panel 48 having a pivoting panel face 48a, a pivoting panel free end 48c, two opposing pivoting panel lateral ends 48d and a pivoting panel mounted end 48e pivotally mounted on hinges 32 to the seat panel rearward end 42d such that the pivoting panel 48 is pivotable upwardly to function as a back rest and is pivotable downwardly to become substantially horizontal and contiguous with the seat panel rearward end 42d and thereby function as a composite bed panel. Mattress 20 rests on top of the seat panel 42 and against the pivoting panel 48.

[0026] Seat panel 42 and pivoting panel 48 are optionally formed of laterally spaced apart panel slats 52 interconnected by panel cross members 54. See FIG. 1. Legs 56 preferably extend downward from the seat panel 42 to support frame 30. The mattress 20 itself is generally conventional and preferably substantially rectangular, including two opposing mattress first side wall segments 22 along its length and two opposing mattress second side wall segments 24 along its width having second side wall segment upper and lower edges 24a, and including two opposing mattress faces 26 and a mattress casing 28.

[0027] Attachment apparatus 10 includes at least one set of two lengths of rope 60, which are incorporated into the mattress 20 partially underneath the casing 28, each length of one set of rope extending respectively along each second side wall segment 24 lower edge, preferably at the center of each given second side wall segment 24 lower edges 24a and another set, if provided, doing the same at the corresponding upper edges 24a. The middle portion of each length of rope is made to emerge from the inside of the casing and back inside so as to form a loop 60a for engagement to the frame. The portions of the rope remaining inside the mattress casing 28 are firmly sewn to the mattress 20. These portions on either side of the loops 60a should be at least ten inches (10″) long such that sewing along substantially the entire length of these portions will impart great strength to the loops 60a.

[0028] A mattress cover 80 is preferably provided, which is generally conventional as well except for the addition of cover rope ports 82 positioned to register with the rope loops 60a when the mattress cover 80 is fitted onto the mattress 20. See FIGS. 5 and 7. The apparatus 10 further includes a rope fastener 90 secured to the frame 30 adjacent to the locations of the two lower rope loops 60a when the mattress 20 is operationally in place on the frame 30, for releasably engaging each corresponding lower rope segment 60a and thus releasably and securely holding the mattress 20 against movement relative to the frame 30 under forces of people sitting on and rising from the mattress 20. The mattress 20 can be turned over so that the two upper rope loops 60a become the two lower rope loops 60a and are engaged by the rope fasteners 90. The rope fasteners 90 are preferably each a snap shackle 92 for snapping closed around a rope loop 60a, and fitted through the annular head of a threaded eyelet 96 which in turn is threaded into either a longitudinal end of seat panel 42 or onto an end panel 44. See FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0029] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Claims

1. An attachment apparatus for releasably securing a mattress to a bed frame comprising:

at least one set of two lengths of rope each attached to the mattress along the mattress side wall;

each rope having a loop formed from its middle portion; and

two rope fasteners secured to the bed frame in proximity to the loops when the mattress is placed on the bed frame, for releasably engaging the loops.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the loop is formed from middle portion of each length of rope by having it emerge from the inside of the mattress casing and then return back inside the mattress casing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which portions of rope disposed within the mattress casing are firmly sewn to the mattress.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a second set of two lengths of rope attached to the mattress along the mattress side wall and in which the four lengths of rope extend underneath the mattress casing along the mattress side wall, wherein the mattress side wall comprises two opposing mattress first side wall segments and two opposing mattress second side wall segments, each second side wall segment having second side wall segment upper and lower edges and wherein one of the four lengths of rope extends along each said second side wall upper edge and along each said second side wall lower edge.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the loops are located at the center of each mattress second side wall segment upper and lower edge.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rope fasteners comprise hooks secured to the bed frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the rope fasteners comprise threaded eyelets and snap shackles.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which the eyelets are secured to the bed frame by being threaded thereinto.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the mattress further comprises a mattress cover having cover rope ports positioned to register with the loops when the mattress cover is fitted onto the mattress.