Bed frame with integral air purifying device

Abstract

An integral air purifying unit disposed inside a bed frame between a pair of cross-members. The air purifying unit includes a fan, at least one filter and an ultraviolet germicidal lamp. The structural members are provided with louvered openings to provide an inlet and outlet for the air purifying unit. Air is drawn through the inlet by the fan and passes through at least one filter. The air also passes over a germicidal lamp before exiting through an outlet in the side member on the opposite side of the fan.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/490,785 filed on Jul. 28, 2003, and entitled “Bed Frame with Integral Air Purifying Device,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to bed frames and air purifying devices, and in particular to a bed frame having an integral air purifying device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a frame design that incorporates an air purifying device such that the air purifying device is secure and does not take up any CL additional floor space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above-described need by providing a connecting device with a structural member having opposed end walls connected to a side wall. Each of the end walls has an inner wall extending therefrom in spaced apart relation to the side wall. The structural member has a first slot and a second slot. The first slot extends from the end wall through the inner wall and the second slot extends through the opposite inner wall. A cross-bearing member having a side wall, end wall, inner wall and top wall disposed on at least one end engages with the structural member. The end wall and inner wall connect to the side wall and are spaced apart from the top wall such that the end wall, inner wall and side wall are capable of sliding through the first slot in the structural member and the side wall on the opposite end is capable of sliding through the second slot.

An integral air purifying unit is disposed inside the frame between a pair of cross-members. The air purifying unit includes a fan, at least one filter and an ultraviolet germicidal lamp. The structural members are provided with louvered openings to provide an inlet and outlet for the air purifying unit. Air is drawn through the inlet by the fan and passes through at least one filter. The air also passes over a germicidal lamp before exiting through an outlet in the side member on the opposite side of the fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bed frame of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged perspective view of the inside top of one of the side support members;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the inside bottom of one of the side support members;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the air purifying device of the present invention; and,

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the frame and air purifying device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of structural members 10, 13 are connected by a plurality of cross-bearing members 16. The structural members 10, 13 comprise a left hand member 10 and a right hand member 13. The members 10, 13 are substantially similar except for their right and left hand orientation as described herein. The members 10, 13 are preferably constructed from metal (i.e., 18 gauge steel), however, other materials may also be suitable. The members 10, 13 have a substantially planar side wall 19 that extends along the entire length of the member. At the top and bottom of the side wall 19 there are inner walls 22, 25 respectively. The inner walls 22, 25 are preferably integrally formed by bending the metal. The top inner wall 22 extends substantially parallel to the side wall 19. An end wall 28 shown in FIG. 1A connects the inner wall 22 to the side wall 19.

The bottom inner wall 25 extends parallel to side wall 19, and the bottom end wall 31 shown in FIG. 1B extends substantially perpendicular to side wall 19. The cross-bearing members 16 connect to the side structural members 10, 13 at opposite ends as detailed below. The cross-bearing members 16 have a central portion 43 disposed between opposite ends 46, 49. The ends 46, 49 interlock with a plurality of slots 52, 55 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) in the side support members 10, 13. The bed frame structure is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,786, which is incorporated by reference.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the air purifying device 100 of the present invention is bounded at opposite ends by the side wall 19 of structural members 10, 13. At the opposite sides the device 100 is bounded by cross-members 16 as the device 100 fits between a pair of cross members. The side wall 19 is provided with an opening 103 for air intake. The opening 103 may be louvered or covered by a grill as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art.

On the opposite structural member, there is an opening 106 for an air outlet. On the intake side of fan 109, at least one pre-filter 112 is arranged in housing 115. The pre-filter 112 may include various mechanical filtering elements and chemical filtering media such as carbon as will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art.

On the discharge side of the fan 109, an ultraviolet lamp 118 is disposed such that discharge air from the fan 109 passes over the lamp 118. The lamp 118 provides a germicidal effect to kill viruses and bacteria in the air. After the air passes through the field of lamp 118, the air may pass through a final filter 125 containing further mechanical and chemical filtering media.

Turning to FIG. 4, as shown, the air purifying device 100 fits within the bed frame below the cross-bearing members 16. Accordingly, the device is securely installed to prevent theft. Also, the device fits completely within the bed frame and therefore, does not take up any floor space. The present invention may also be used with bed frames having structural members that attach by means of fasteners such as bolts or the like.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bed frame, comprising:

a support structure having at least two lengthwise structural members and having at least one cross-member connected to the at least two lengthwise structural members, the support structure having openings defined therein; and,

an air purifying unit having an inlet and an outlet, the air purifying unit attached to the support structure and disposed between the at least two lengthwise structural members such that the inlet and outlet are in communication with the openings in the support structure.

2. The bed frame of claim 1, wherein the air purifying unit further comprises a fan.

3. The bed frame of claim 1, wherein the air purifying unit further comprises a pre-filter disposed upstream of the fan.

4. The bed frame of claim 3, wherein the pre-filter is mechanical.

5. The bed frame of claim 3, wherein the pre-filter is chemical.

6. The bed frame of claim 2, wherein the air purifying unit further comprises an ultraviolet lamp disposed such that discharge air from the fan passes over the lamp.

7. The bed frame of claim 6, wherein the air purifying unit further comprises a final stage filter disposed downstream of the lamp.

8. The bed frame of claim 7, wherein the final stage filter is mechanical.

9. The bed frame of claim 7 wherein the final stage filter is chemical.

10. A bed frame, comprising:

A support structure having at least two lengthwise structural members and having at least one cross-member connected to the at least two lengthwise structural members, the support structure having openings defined therein; and,

an air purifying unit having an inlet and an outlet, the air purifying unit attached to the support structure and disposed between the at least two lengthwise structural members, the air purifying unit having a fan in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the air purifying unit having a pre-filter disposed upstream of the fan, an ultraviolet lamp, and a final stage filter disposed downstream of the fan.

11. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the air purifying unit is bordered on all sides by the at least two lengthwise structural members and two cross members.

12. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the pre-filter is mechanical.

13. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the pre-filter is chemical.

14. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the final stage filter is mechanical.

15. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the final stage filter is chemical.

16. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet lamp is disposed such that discharge air from the fan passes over the lamp.

17. A bed frame, comprising:

a support structure having at least two lengthwise structural members having a pair of opposed first and second end walls connected by a first side wall and having a pair of opposed first and second inner walls extending from the first and second end walls respectively and disposed in spaced apart relation to the first side wall, the first and second end walls disposed substantially perpendicular to the first side wall, the first and second inner walls disposed substantially parallel to the first side wall, the first and second inner walls being shorter than the first side wall such that an opening is formed in the structural member, the first end wall having at least one first slot defined therein and extending from the first end wall through the adjacent first inner wall, the second inner wall having at least one second slot defined therein, the lengthwise structural members having openings defined therein, and, having at least one cross-bearing member having a third end wall and a fourth end wall connected by a second side wall and a third inner wall and a fourth inner wall disposed in spaced apart relation to the second side wall, the third end wall and fourth end wall being disposed such that the second side wall, third inner wall, and third end wall are capable of sliding through one of the first slots in the first end wall of the structural member and such that the second side wall is capable of passing through one of the second slots in the second inner wall of the structural member and such that the second side wall, fourth inner wall and fourth end wall are capable of sliding through one of the first slots in the first end wall of the structural member and such that the second side wall is capable of passing through one of the second slots in the second inner wall of the structural member, the third and fourth end walls being disposed at an angle of sixty to eighty degrees with respect to the top wall, the support structure having openings defined therein; and,

an air purifying unit having an inlet and an outlet, the air purifying unit attached to the support structure and disposed between the at least two lengthwise structural members such that the inlet and outlet are in communication with the openings in the support structure.