TALL AND STURDY METAL MATTRESS PLATFORMS
A metal mattress platform includes a plurality of interconnected metal bars disposed in a common plane and forming a generally rectangular frame and at least four legs. Upper surfaces of the metal bars define a platform surface of the metal mattress platform. Each leg is disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame. The legs are sufficiently long to position the generally rectangular frame a relatively high distance above the ground, such as about sixteen inches or more. In some embodiments, the platform may include two or more panels, some of which may be hingedly attached to one another to allow the platform to be folded to smaller dimensions for shipping or storage.
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to mattress platforms constructed of metal and used to support a mattress cushion above the ground.
BACKGROUNDMattresses are commonly supported above ground using an assembly that includes a metal frame and a mattress foundation, which is commonly referred to in the industry as a “box spring” or a “box.” The metal frame is constructed to support the foundation above the ground, and typically includes two mattress length rails, each of which has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape so as to receive a lower longitudinal edge of the foundation therein. One or more cross-beams connect the rails together. Legs are typically disposed at the four corners of the frame. Occasionally, an additional leg or support member may be disposed at the center of a central cross-beam to provide additional support at the center of the mattress. The rails of the frame are commonly about seven inches above the ground.
The foundation is typically constructed of wood, and may include a fabric covering thereon. The foundation typically has a thickness of about nine inches. An upper surface of the foundation provides a platform surface upon which the mattress rests.
The height at which the lower surface of a mattress is positioned above ground when supported by such a metal frame and foundation assembly is thus defined by the length of the legs of the metal frame and the thickness of the foundation.
Metal mattress platforms have also been used as an alternative to such metal frame and foundation assemblies, though they are less common. Metal mattress platforms generally include a layer of metal mattress support members and legs holding the support members above the ground. Such metal mattress platforms typically suffer from two primary drawbacks, namely stability and limited height. In particular, in attempting to support a mattress at a height above the ground comparable to that of mattresses supported by frame and foundation assemblies, the legs of mattress platforms are typically longer than the legs of the frames of frame and foundation assemblies. However, as the length of the legs is increased, the ability of the legs to flex increases and the platform becomes unstable.
In compromising between the factors of height and stability, metal mattress platforms have typically been constructed such that the upper platform surface thereof is disposed at a height of about fourteen inches or less above the ground.
BRIEF SUMMARYEmbodiments of metal mattress platforms of the present disclosure have been developed in an effort to provide a metal mattress platform that is high above ground, while still being very rigid and stable.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a metal mattress platform comprising a plurality of interconnected metal bars disposed in a common plane (in an assembled state) and forming a generally rectangular frame, and at least four legs. Upper surfaces of the metal bars define a platform surface of the metal mattress platform. Each leg is disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame. A distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface may be at least sixteen inches.
In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes a method of forming a metal mattress platform. A generally rectangular frame is formed that comprises a plurality of interconnected metal bars disposed in a common plane (in an assembled state). Upper surfaces of the metal bars define a platform surface of the metal mattress platform. At least four legs are attached to the generally rectangular frame. Each leg is disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame. A distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface is at least sixteen inches.
In yet further embodiments, the present disclosure includes a method of assembling a metal mattress platform. A first panel of interconnected metal bars and a second panel of interconnected metal bars are provided. The first panel and the second panel are hingedly coupled to one another and folded relative to one another so as to be disposed adjacent one another in parallel planes. Each of the first and second panels includes at least two legs hingedly attached thereto proximate a respective corner thereof and folded such that the legs are oriented generally parallel to the parallel planes of the first and second panels. In accordance with the method, the first and second panels are unfolded such that the first and second panels are coplanar, and the legs are unfolded relative to the panels such that the legs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels. A distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface may be at least sixteen inches.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present invention, various features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of example embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any particular metal mattress platform or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe embodiments of the present disclosure. Elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.
Each of the interconnected bars 102 may comprise a relatively strong metal or metal alloy, such as steel. For example, the bars 102 may comprise a metal or metal alloy that exhibits a yield strength of approximately 75 MPa or more, 100 MPa or more, or even 180 MPa or more.
In some embodiments, the bars 102 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, an oval cross-sectional shape, or a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the bars 102 may be hollow tubes. As one particular non-limiting example, the bars 102 may be hollow tubes having a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
As a non-limiting example, the bars 102 may have average cross-sectional dimensions of between about 0.25 inches and about 1.5 inches, or more particularly, between about 0.5 inches and 1.0 inches.
The rectangular frame 104 may include two or more panels of the interconnected metal bars 102 that are coupled to one another. For example, in the embodiment of
The interconnected metal bars 102 of each panel 110A, 110B may be rigidly coupled to one another. For example, the interconnected metal bars 102 of each panel 110A, 110B may be welded to one another. In other embodiments, the bars 102 of each panel 110A, 110B may be rigidly coupled to one another using bolts and nuts, screws, or other fasteners.
As shown in
In some embodiments, each of the legs 106 may be located a distance from the peripheral edge of the rectangular frame 104. For example, the legs 106 may be located a distance of at least about two inches, or even at least about three inches from the peripheral edge of the rectangular frame 104. In other embodiments, each of the legs 106 may be located substantially along the peripheral edge of the rectangular frame 104.
Furthermore, as shown in
The legs 106 may have a round, oval, or rectangular (e.g., square) cross-sectional shape. As one particular non-limiting embodiment, the legs 106, 108 may have a round cross-sectional shape, which may provide improved strength and stability relative to common previously used legs in similar platforms. In such embodiments, the round legs may have a cross-section diameter of 1.25 inches or more, 1.30 inches or more, 1.5 inches or more, or even 2.0 inches or more. Furthermore, the legs 106, 108 also may comprise a relatively strong metal or metal alloy, such as steel. For example, the legs 106, 108 may comprise a metal or metal alloy that exhibits a yield strength of approximately 75 MPa or more, 100 MPa or more, or even 180 MPa or more. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional size of the additional legs 108 may be greater than a cross-sectional size of the legs 106. As one non-limiting example embodiments, the legs 106 may be round and have a diameter of 1.25 inches, and the legs 108 may be round and have a diameter of 1.30 inches.
The platform 100 of
As previously mentioned, the first panel 110A of bars 102 and the second panel 110B of bars 102 may be hingedly coupled to one another. For example, as shown in
In this configuration, the platform 100 may be folded into a condensed state for storage and/or shipment in which the panels 110A, 110B are folded relative to one another so as to be disposed adjacent to one another in parallel planes, with the legs 108, 106 also oriented at least generally parallel to the panels 110A, 110B (and the parallel planes in which they are respectively disposed in the folded state) and disposed between the panels 110A, 110B. To assemble the platform 100 from the folded state, the first and second panels 110A, 110B may be unfolded such that the panels 110A, 110B are coplanar (as shown in
As shown in
As a queen size mattress platform 200, the generally rectangular frame 204 may have a length of between about 78 inches and about 80 inches and a width of between about 58 inches and about 60 inches. In other embodiments, however, the platform 200 may be sized and configured for supporting any of the other standard mattress sizes, such as twin, twin XL, full, full XL, king, and California king.
The metal mattress platform 200 further includes eight legs 206, four of which are disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame 204. The other four legs 206 are disposed proximate the longitudinal ends of the frame 204 closer to the lateral midpoint of the frame 204. In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment of
The first panel 210A of bars 202 and the second panel 210B of bars 202 may be hingedly coupled to one another as previously described in relation to the panels 110A, 110B. For example, a bracket 216 may be disposed at an upper end of each of the additional legs 208, and each of the first and second panels 210A, 210B may be pivotally attached to the brackets 216. Similarly, the third panel 210C of bars 202 and the fourth panel 210D of bars 202 may be hingedly coupled to one another, as previously described in relation to the panels 110A, 110B, using brackets 216 disposed at an upper end of each of the additional legs 208, for example. Additionally, the first panel 210A and the third panel 210C may be rigidly coupled to one another, and the second panel 210B and the fourth panel 210D may be rigidly coupled to one another. In this configuration, the first panel 210A and the third panel 210C are hingedly coupled to the second panel 210B and the fourth panel 210D.
Referring to
As shown in
As previously described in relation to the platform 100 of
Thus, the platform 200 may be folded into a condensed state for storage and/or shipment in a similar manner as previously described with reference to
As in the previous embodiments, the platform 300 includes a plurality of interconnected metal bars 302, which are disposed in a common plane and form a generally rectangular frame 304 upon which a mattress may be supported. Upper surfaces of the metal bars 302 define a platform surface of the metal mattress platform 300. The bars 302 may be as described above in relation to the bars 102.
As a king size mattress platform 300, the generally rectangular frame 304 may have a length of between about 78 inches and about 80 inches and a width of between about 74 inches and about 76 inches. In other embodiments, however, the platform 300 may be sized and configured for supporting any of the other standard mattress sizes, such as twin, twin XL, full, full XL, queen, and California king.
The metal mattress platform 300 further includes eight legs 306, four of which are disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame 304. The other four legs 306 are disposed proximate the longitudinal ends of the frame 304 closer to the lateral midpoint of the frame 304. In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment of
The first panel 310A of bars 302 and the second panel 310B of bars 302 may be hingedly coupled to one another as previously described in relation to the panels 110A, 110B. For example, a bracket 316 may be disposed at an upper end of each of the additional legs 308, and each of the first and second panels 310A, 310B may be pivotally attached to the brackets 316. Similarly, the fifth panel 310E of bars 302 and the sixth panel 310F of bars 302 may be hingedly coupled to one another, as previously described in relation to the panels 110A, 110B, using brackets 316 disposed at an upper end of each of the additional legs 308, for example. Additionally, the first panel 310A, the third panel 310C, and the fifth panel 310E may be rigidly coupled to one another, and the second panel 310B, the fourth panel 310D, and the sixth panel 310F may be rigidly coupled to one another. In this configuration, the first panel 310A, the third panel 310C, and the fifth panel 310E are hingedly coupled to the second panel 310B, the fourth panel 310D, and the sixth panel 310F.
Referring to
As shown in
In the embodiment of
The platform 300 may be folded into a condensed state for storage and/or shipment in a similar manner as previously described herein, but wherein the first and second panels 310A, 310B are disconnected from the third and fourth panels 310C, 310D, the fifth and sixth panels 310E, 310F are also disconnected from the third and fourth panels 310C, 310D, and each of the third and fourth panels 310C, 310D are disconnected from all other panels. To assemble the platform 300 from the disassembled and folded state, the first and second panels 310A, 310B may be unfolded such that the panels 310A, 310B are coplanar, and the legs 306 may be unfolded relative to the panels 310A, 310B such that the legs 306 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels 310A, 310B, respectively. Similarly, the fifth and sixth panels 310E, 310F may be unfolded such that the panels 310E, 310F are coplanar, and the legs 306 may be unfolded relative to the panels 310E, 310F such that the legs 306 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the fifth and sixth panels 310E, 310F, respectively. As previously discussed with reference to
Although not illustrated in the figures, the mattress platforms as described herein may also include headboard brackets mounted to the longitudinal ends of the rectangular frames thereof, and the headboard brackets may extend downward from the frames to a vertical position that would typically be occupied by a standard headboard bracket mounted on either a seven-inch frame or a fourteen-inch platform.
By employing legs 106, 108 as described herein constructed of high-strength metal or metal alloy, such as steel, and having cross-sectional dimensions of 1.25 inches or greater, and by locating and configuring the legs 106, 108 as described herein, the mattress platforms of the present disclosure can be provided with a frame located relatively high above the ground, while remaining strong and sturdy. For example, the mattress platforms as described herein may be sufficiently strong and sturdy to support an evenly distributed static load of 3,000 pounds or more, or even 4,000 pounds or more (e.g., up to 4,800 pounds).
Furthermore, the rectangular frames of the mattress platforms as described herein may be constructed entirely of rigid bars and components, and may be free of flexible support wires, which adds to the stability of the mattress platforms.
The increased height of the mattress platforms as described herein allows increased storage space underneath the platforms, and improved flexibility in the types of articles that can be stored underneath the platforms. For example, baskets, drawers and drawer sets, containers, or hampers may be used to store articles underneath the platforms. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an assembly or kit-of-parts may include a mattress platform as described herein in combination with one or more of baskets, drawers, drawer sets, containers, or hampers. As a non-limiting example, an assembly or kit-of-parts may include a mattress platform as described herein in combination with an open-topped container (e.g., a wicker basket) with a removable fabric clothes hamper lining the container (e.g., with a draw string to close the fabric clothes hamper after it is removed from the container. The extra two inches in storage height in the sixteen inch or more platforms as disclosed herein relative to a platform having a frame fourteen inches above the ground allows for an extra 15% in storage space for dirty laundry or other storage items, and the combination of the platform and laundry hampers is advantageous to users as it frees up the space in a bedroom that would otherwise be occupied by a traditional laundry hamper.
Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. Specific embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail herein to provide illustrative examples of embodiments of the disclosure. However, the disclosure is not limited to the particular forms disclosed herein. Rather, embodiments of the disclosure may include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as broadly defined herein. Furthermore, elements and features described herein in relation to some embodiments may be implemented in other embodiments of the disclosure, and may be combined with elements and features described herein in relation to other embodiments to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A metal mattress platform, comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected metal bars disposed in a common plane and forming a generally rectangular frame, upper surfaces of the metal bars defining a platform surface of the metal mattress platform; and
- at least four legs, each leg disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame, wherein a distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface is at least sixteen inches.
2. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein each of the interconnected metal bars comprises steel.
3. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein each of the interconnected metal bars has a hollow rectangular cross-sectional shape.
4. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein each of the legs is located at least two inches from a peripheral edge of the generally rectangular frame.
5. The metal mattress platform of claim 4, wherein each of the legs is located at least three inches from a peripheral edge of the generally rectangular frame.
6. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein the rectangular frame includes a first panel and a second panel hingedly coupled to one another.
7. The metal mattress platform of claim 6, wherein the interconnected metal bars of each of the first panel and the second panel are rigidly coupled to one another.
8. The metal mattress platform of claim 6, further comprising:
- at least one additional leg located between the first panel and the second panel; and
- a bracket disposed at an upper end of the at least one additional leg;
- wherein each of the first and second panels is pivotally attached to the bracket.
9. The metal mattress platform of claim 6, wherein the generally rectangular frame has a length of between about 78 inches and 80 inches and a width of between about 36 inches and about 38 inches.
10. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein the rectangular frame includes a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, and a fourth panel, the first panel and the third panel rigidly coupled to one another, the second panel and the fourth panel rigidly coupled to one another, the first panel and the third panel hingedly coupled to the second panel and the fourth panel.
11. The metal mattress platform of claim 10, wherein the generally rectangular frame has a length of between about 78 inches and about 80 inches and a width of between about 58 inches and about 60 inches.
12. The metal mattress platform of claim 1, wherein the rectangular frame includes a first panel, a second panel, a third panel, a fourth panel, a fifth panel, and a sixth panel, the first, third, and fifth panels being rigidly coupled to one another, the second, fourth and sixth panels being rigidly coupled to one another, the first, third, and fifth panels hingedly coupled to the second, fourth, and sixth panels.
13. The metal mattress platform of claim 12, wherein the generally rectangular frame has a length of between about 78 inches and about 80 inches and a width of between about 74 inches and about 76 inches.
14. A method of forming a metal mattress platform, comprising:
- forming a generally rectangular frame comprising a plurality of interconnected metal bars disposed in a common plane, upper surfaces of the metal bars defining a platform surface of the metal mattress platform; and
- attaching at least four legs to the generally rectangular frame, each leg disposed proximate a respective corner of the rectangular frame, wherein a distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface is at least sixteen inches.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the interconnected metal bars comprises steel.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the rectangular frame to include a first panel and a second panel, and hingedly coupling the first panel to the second panel.
17. A method of assembling a metal mattress platform, comprising:
- providing a first panel of interconnected metal bars and a second panel of interconnected metal bars, the first panel and the second panel hingedly coupled to one another and folded relative to one another so as to be disposed adjacent one another in parallel planes, each of the first and second panels including at least two legs hingedly attached thereto proximate a respective corner thereof and folded such that the legs are oriented generally parallel to the parallel planes of the first and second panels;
- unfolding the first and second panels such that the first and second panels are coplanar; and
- unfolding the legs relative to the panels such that the legs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels; and
- wherein a distance between lower surfaces of each leg and the platform surface is at least sixteen inches.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising fixing the legs in the unfolded position using brackets extending between the legs and the first and second panels, respectively.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
- providing a third panel of interconnected metal bars and a fourth panel of interconnected metal bars, the third panel and the fourth panel hingedly coupled to one another and folded relative to one another so as to be disposed adjacent one another in parallel planes, each of the third and fourth panels including at least two additional legs hingedly attached thereto proximate a respective corner thereof and folded such that the legs are oriented generally parallel to the parallel planes of the third and fourth panels;
- unfolding the third and fourth panels such that the third and fourth panels are coplanar; and
- unfolding the at least two additional legs relative to the third and fourth panels such that the legs are oriented substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth panels;
- securing the third panel to the first panel; and
- securing the fourth panel to the second panel.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein securing the third panel to the first panel comprises providing a fifth panel of interconnected metal bars and securing a first side of the fifth panel to the third panel and securing a second side of the fifth panel to the first panel, and wherein securing the fourth panel to the second panel comprises providing a sixth panel of interconnected metal bars and securing a first side of the sixth panel to the fourth panel and securing a second side of the sixth panel to the second panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 26, 2016
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2018
Inventor: Shawn David Moon (Cedar Hills, UT)
Application Number: 15/335,332