INTEGRAL SLEEP SURFACE SUPPORT AND BEDDING STRUCTURE BASE

Abstract

A sleep surface support includes a plurality of corner structures, at least four crossbars, and a reinforcement strut. The plurality of corner structures each include a respective leg portion extending therefrom and each is adapted to receive at least two crossbars. The crossbars are configured to be detachably engaged to at least two separate corner structures configured to form a substantially rectangular shape to support a sleep surface. The reinforcement strut is configured to be detachably provided between two of the at least four crossbars such that the reinforcement strut extends between the at least two crossbars at a substantial midpoint of the at least two crossbars. The corner structures include interfaces configured to attachably receive at least one bed rail, headboard legs, and a footboard of a bedding structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/848,033, filed Sep. 29, 2006, entitled “Integral Sleep Surface Support and Bedding Structure Base,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A support for a sleep surface and a base for a bedding structure are provided, more specifically, the present specification describes an integral sleep surface support and bedding structure base.

Sleep surface supports are typically provided for the purpose of elevating a sleep surface, typically, a box spring and a mattress, above a floor surface. Such supports are typically assembled from a plurality of rigid struts such as metallic and/or wooden crossbars. Such supports are assembled so that they are surrounded by a bedding structure such that the sleep surface is supported by the support, but the bedding structure is not.

Presently, there is a need for an integral sleep surface support and bedding structure base such that upholstered bed rails, a footboard, and a headboard may be attached directly to the bed frame.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment includes a sleep surface support, including a plurality of corner structures, at least four crossbars, and a reinforcement strut. The plurality of corner structures each include a respective leg portion extending therefrom and are adapted to receive at least two crossbars. The at least four crossbars are configured to be detachably engaged to at least two separate corner structures to form a substantially rectangular shape to support a sleep surface. The reinforcement strut is configured to be detachably provided between two of the at least four crossbars such that the reinforcement strut extends between the at least two crossbars at a substantial midpoint of the at least two crossbars. Additionally, the corner structures include interfaces configured to attachably receive at least one bed rail, headboard legs, and a footboard of a bedding structure.

Another exemplary embodiment includes a sleep surface support, including a plurality of corner structures, at least four crossbars, a reinforcement strut, and means for attachably receiving bed rails, headboard legs, and a footboard of a bedding structure. The plurality of corner structures each includes a respective leg portion extending therefrom and each are adapted to receive at least two crossbars. The at least four crossbars are configured to be detachably engaged to at least two separate corner structures to form a substantially rectangular shape to support a sleep surface. The reinforcement strut is configured to be detachably provided between two of the at least four crossbars such that the reinforcement strut extends between the at least two crossbars at a substantial midpoint of the at least two crossbars.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the inventions described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the inventions and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings and their exemplary depictions do not in any way limit the scope of the inventions embraced by this specification. The scope of the inventions embraced by the specification and drawings are defined by the words of the accompanying claims.

FIG. 1 depicts a top view of an exemplary sleep surface support and bedding structure base;

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of an exemplary sleep surface support and bedding structure base;

FIG. 3 depicts a planar view of an exemplary sleep surface support and bedding structure base;

FIG. 4 depicts another planar view of an exemplary sleep surface support and bedding structure base; and

FIG. 5 depicts a planar view of an exemplary bed assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. Unless otherwise noted, any directional terms such as “above,” “below,” and “outside” refer to directions with respect to the geometric center of the sleep surface support and bedding structure base in accordance with the present invention, when the sleep surface support and bedding structure base is in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the ground. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and additional words of similar import.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an integral sleep surface support and bedding structure base (“the support 10”). The exemplary support 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes four crossbars 12 arranged to form an exterior portion of the support 10. Each crossbar 12 is a rigid structure made of a suitable material such as steel, for example. The crossbars 12 may all have the same length, or may have different lengths depending upon the intended configuration of the support 10. Also, crossbars 12 having different shapes, such as an L-shaped crossbar 12, may also be utilized.

Four corner structures 14 are provided in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Each corner structure 14 may receive one end of two different crossbars 12 thereon. The ends of the exemplary crossbars 12 are removably attached to the corner structures 14 so that substantially a rectangle is formed as shown in FIG. 1 to support a sleep surface. Alternative geometric shapes, such as other quadrilaterals, could also be formed by the crossbars 12 and corner structures 14 as known in the art. Suitable attaching hardware, such as a bolt, a washer, and a nut may be used to attach the ends of the crossbars 12 to the corner structures 14. Alternate attaching hardware such as a screw and threaded screw hole or a locking mechanism could be used to attach the ends of the crossbars 12 to the corner structures 14. Such a listing of attaching hardware is non-limiting and other suitable attaching hardware is also known to those skilled in the art.

At least one reinforcement strut 16 may be provided to reinforce the support 10. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a single reinforcement strut 16 is detachably provided between two of the crossbars 12 such that the reinforcement strut 16 extends between the at least two crossbars 12 at a substantial midpoint of the crossbars 12. Alternative arrangements utilizing multiple reinforcement struts 16 and/or alternative placements of the reinforcement strut 16 or reinforcement struts 16 may also be utilized.

A plurality of legs 18 may be provided to lift the support 10 off of the ground. As can be seen in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a leg 18 may be provided beneath each corner structure 14. Additionally, at least one leg 18 may be provided beneath the reinforcement strut 16. For example, the leg 18 may be provided beneath a central position of the reinforcement strut 16. At least one leg 18 could also be provided beneath any of the crossbars 12. The exemplary legs 18 could be attached to the support 10 via screws or other suitable attachment devices methods, for example, gluing or utilizing a nail or a bolt.

The crossbars 12 and the corner structures 14 include interfaces for receiving headboards, footboards, and/or bed rails thereon. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the corner structures 14 include at least one hole 20 positioned above the region where the crossbars 12 are attached to the corner structures 14. The corner structures 14 also include at least one hole 20 positioned outside the region where the crossbars 12 are attached to the corner structures 14.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a bed rail 22 includes an elongated board with an optional covering on a first side and attachment hardware on a second side. In the exemplary embodiment, the bed rail 22 is a long thin sheet of particle board with fabric and padding on the side facing away from the center of the support 10 and t-nuts on the side facing the interior of the support 10. The t-nuts are positioned to line up with at least one of the holes 20 in the corner structures 14 or crossbars 12 such that the bed rail 22 is attached directly to the support 10 via a bolt, for example.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the holes 20 in the corner structure 14 may have different diameters, and may also have different shapes. Similarly, the holes 20 in the crossbars 12 may have different diameters, and may also have different shapes. The variety in the size and shapes of the holes 20 allows the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 to be easily received by the support 10 and provide a range of adjustment. To this end, the positioning of the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 may be adjusted based on the size and shape of the holes 20 and their locations. Attaching the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 to the support 10 provides an entire bedding structure that is a single integrated piece. Thus, the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 may be supported entirely by the support 10 such that they do not contact the ground.

Alternate hardware for attaching the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 to the support 10 is also known to those skilled in the art. Such alternate hardware may include, but is not limited to, a screw and a screw hole in the crossbars 12 and/or corner structure 14, and a pre-threaded hole in the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22. Such alternate hardware could also include a protruding member positioned on the crossbars 12 and/or corner structure 14 and a receiving member positioned on the headboards 26, footboards 28, and bed rails 22 and configured to receive the protruding member.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the corner structure 14 may also receive headboard legs 24 via the holes 20. This allows the bottom edge of a headboard (see FIG. 5) attached to the headboard legs 24 to stand above the top of a mattress positioned on the support 10.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a fully assembled support 10 with a headboard 26 attached to headboard legs 24, two bed rails 22, and a footboard 28 all attached to the support 10. Additionally, a set of mattresses 30 may be positioned on the support 10.

Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, define, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.

Claims

1. A sleep surface support, comprising:

a plurality of corner structures, each including a respective leg portion extending therefrom and being adapted to receive at least two crossbars;

at least four crossbars configured to be detachably engaged to at least two separate corner structures configured to form a substantially rectangular shape to support a sleep surface; and

a reinforcement strut configured to be detachably provided between two of the at least four crossbars such that the reinforcement strut extends between the at least two crossbars at a substantial midpoint of the at least two crossbars,

wherein the corner structures include interfaces configured to attachably receive at least one bed rail, headboard legs, and a footboard of a bedding structure.

2. The support according to claim 1, wherein the crossbars include interfaces configured to attachably receive at least one bed rail, headboard legs, and a footboard of a bedding structure.

3. The support according to claim 1, further comprising:

a leg portion detachably engaged to the reinforcement strut at a substantial midpoint of the reinforcement strut.

4. The support according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of corner structures each includes a vertical extended portion configured to extend above the detachably engaged crossbars.

5. The support according to claim 4, wherein the vertical extended portion of each of the plurality of corner structures includes at least one of the interfaces.

6. The support according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of corner structures each includes at least two of the interfaces.

7. The support according to claim 6, wherein the at least two of the interfaces each have a different size.

8. The support according to claim 6, wherein the at least two of the interfaces each have a different shape.

9. The support according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of corner structures each includes a horizontal extended portion configured to extend outside a parallel one of the detachably engaged crossbars.

10. The support according to claim 9, wherein the horizontal extended portion of each of the plurality of corner structures includes at least one of the interfaces.

11. A sleep surface support, comprising:

a plurality of corner structures, each including a respective leg portion extending therefrom and being adapted to receive at least two crossbars;

at least four crossbars configured to be detachably engaged to at least two separate corner structures configured to form a substantially rectangular shape to support a sleep surface;

a reinforcement strut configured to be detachably provided between two of the at least four crossbars such that the reinforcement strut extends between the at least two crossbars at a substantial midpoint of the at least two crossbars; and

means for attachably receiving bed rails, headboard legs, and footboard of a bedding structure.

12. The support according to claim 11, further comprising:

a leg portion detachably engaged to the reinforcement strut at a substantial midpoint of the reinforcement strut.

13. The support according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of corner structures each includes a vertical extended portion configured to extend above the detachably engaged crossbars.

14. The support according to claim 13, wherein the means for attachably receiving is located in the vertical extended portion of each of the plurality of corner structures.

15. The support according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of corner structures each includes a horizontal extended portion configured to extend outside a parallel one of the detachably engaged crossbars.

16. The support according to claim 15, wherein the means for attachably receiving is located in the horizontal extended portion of each of the plurality of corner structures.