Abstract:
A rigid furniture post comprises a single piece of extruded material formed into any number of shapes which may serve as a post for furniture. A coupler comprises a piece of thermoplastic containing at least one female side wherein a post may be inserted to facilitate in the linear assembling of post segments into a longer post.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/885,085, filed Jan. 16, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to furniture and more particularly to the structure and fabrication of posts and couplers used in the assembly of furniture pieces such as beds. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Case goods sold to institutions such as schools and colleges often include beds comprising wooden headboards and metal bed frames. The term “headboards” typically includes both headboards and footboards, since they are often identical at least in dimension. Consequently, beds can optionally be stacked atop one another to form bunk beds and save space. Also, in colleges especially, it is common to mount the headboards on extenders so that the bed will be elevated, providing space beneath the bed for desks, chairs and the like. 
   Wooden headboards are typically fabricated from two posts and at least one crosspiece extending between the posts. The crosspiece is joined to the posts by doweling and gluing or by mortise and tenon joints. Under normal use, this ancient construction serves adequately, but with heavy institutional use and with changes in climate (e.g., temperature and humidity), it is not uncommon for the joints to loosen. This will typically increase maintenance costs and possibly diminish the durability of the bed. 
   Bed frames are commonly fabricated from angle iron side rails and end rails, welded together in a square with one or more reinforcing pieces extending between the side rails. Springs or wires are strung between the rails to support a mattress. A mounting bracket adapted to hang on pins in each post of a headboard is riveted to a side rail at each corner of the bed frame. Frequently the joints between the mounting brackets and the side rails loosen under heavy use, leading to early failure of the bed frame. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other problems are solved by the present invention of a post for a bed comprising an elongated body having at least one channel sized to receive a pin channel where the elongated body is a segment of extruded material. The elongated body can have a second channel sized to receive a headboard. The first and second channels are preferably at a right angle to each other. 
   The elongated body can have a hollow channel, and it can have a cap on one end and coupler on the other end. Preferably, the cap and the coupler each have a boss that extends into the hollow channel. 
   In one aspect, the elongated body can have four channels at rights angles from each other and at least one channel is sized to receive a headboard. The extruded material can include aluminum and it can include a polymer. 
   In another aspect, the invention includes a coupler for a bed post of the type having one of a recess and a hollow channel. The coupler has a female side having a well sized that is shaped to receive an end of the bed post. The coupler can also have a male side having a boss sized to be snugly received within the recess or the hollow channel. 
   Preferably, the well is defined by walls that angle slightly outwardly. The coupler can have two female sides and it can be L shaped or T shaped or even cross shaped. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a bed incorporating a furniture post extrusion according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a bunk bed incorporating furniture post extrusions coupled together according to the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a raised bed incorporating a furniture post extrusion according to the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a furniture post extrusion according to the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the furniture post extrusion of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the furniture post extrusion of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the coupler in the furniture post extrusion of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the coupler of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view taken along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 21  is a cross sectional view taken along line  21 - 21  of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a coupler according to the invention. 
       FIG. 23  is a cross sectional view taken along line  23 - 23  of  FIG. 22 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  show an environment where the invention may be used, i.e., a bed such as may be found in a university residence hall.  FIG. 1  shows a typical bed  2 ,  FIG. 2  shows a bunk bed  4 , and  FIG. 3  shows a raised bed  6 , all of which incorporate furniture posts  10  according to the invention. It will be noted that a furniture post  10  according to the invention forms a bed post for each bed shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . An embodiment of a furniture post  10  according to the invention is illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS. 4-6 . It comprises an elongated body  11 , with a cap  12  on one end, a coupler  14  on the other end, and at least one pin channel  16  mounted along one side. The elongated body  11  in this embodiment is an extruded segment with four “U-shaped” channels  17   a - d  extending outwardly and orthogonally from a hollow channel  19 . The hollow channel  19  is generally a cruciform channel running the length of the elongated body  11 . The furniture post  10  is preferably extruded of aluminum but may be made of any extrudable material such as a polymer or PVC. 
     FIG. 6  shows an end view of the elongated body  11 . It can be seen that each “U-shaped” channel  17   a - d  has two spaced arms  21 ,  23  that define a channel width W, and that that extend from a web  25  that defines, in part, the hollow channel  19 . Three of the channels  17   a - c  have the same width W and the fourth  17   d  has a slightly larger width W′. The widths can be determined according to the purpose for which they are to be used. In the present embodiment, the three smaller “U-shaped” channels are dimensioned to hold the aforementioned pin channel  16  which nests within any of the smaller extruded channels  17   a - c . Preferably, one or more score lines  18  are marked on the web  25  of each of the smaller “U-shaped” channels  17   a - c  into which a pin channel  16  may be inserted. The score lines  18  are made during the production of the elongated body  11  and serve to locate screws that will hold the pin channel  16  into place against the web  25 . An exemplary pin channel  16  can be that found in co-owned patent application Ser. No. 60/827,540. Such a pin channel  16  will allow the height of various pieces of the furniture to be adjusted. The fourth larger “U-shaped” channel  17   d  is preferably dimensioned to receive a standard sized headboard or footboard such as might be made from ¾″ stock. 
   Looking more closely at  FIG. 5 , each of the cap  12  and the coupler  14  has a shape to match the cross sectional shape of the elongated body  11 , which in this embodiment is a generally cruciform shape. The cap  12  and the coupler  14  each have a boss  8 , preferably but not necessarily sized and shaped to be received within the hollow channel  19  at either end of the elongated body  11 . The boss need only be sized and shaped to guide placement of the elongated body  11  relative to the coupler, and preferably, to assist holding it in place. Thus the boss  8  can have at least one cross sectional dimension nominally larger than a corresponding dimension in the hollow channel  19 . The coupler  14  actually serves two primary functions, to-wit: it can act as the base or foot of the furniture post  10  or it can act as a coupler to couple two elongated bodies  11  together. Preferably the cap  12  and coupler  14  are both formed of a thermoplastic or other moldable material, such as by injection molding. Further, the cap  12  is sized to be received within the coupler  14 . 
     FIGS. 7-9  show the coupler  14  in greater detail. The coupler  14  comprises a male side  20  from which the boss  8  extends. A ridge  22  runs along the periphery of the top surface  27  of the male side  20 . The upper surface  27  and ridge  22  are sized so that the elongated body  11  rests on the upper surface within the ridge  22 . The cruciform boss  8 , when received in the hollow channel  19 , also helps to hold the elongated body  11  in place. In this way, the elongated body  11  can be supported by the coupler  14  as a foot or a base. 
     FIG. 9  and the cross sectional view shown in  FIG. 8  show that the coupler  14  also has a female side  24  which comprises a well  26  sized and shaped to receive the elongated body  11 . The walls  28  of the female side  24  are preferably slightly angled outwardly so that when the female side  24  couples with the elongated body  11 , it fits easily and is held in place. 
   It will be understood that the elongated body  11  need not be cruciform in shape to accomplish its intended functions. For example, the elongated body  11  can be L-shaped, where one channel is dimensioned to receive a pin channel and the other channel is dimensioned to receive a headboard or footboard.  FIGS. 10 and 11  show a second embodiment of a coupler  30  in an “L-shaped” configuration adapted to accommodate an “L-shaped” elongated body. This coupler  30  also contains on a male side  31  an “L-shaped” boss  32 , and an “L-shaped” ridge  34  to hold the elongated body  11  in place when acting as a base or foot.  FIG. 11  shows that the “L-shaped” coupler  30  also has a female side  36  with slightly angled walls  37  defining a well  38  shaped and dimensioned to receive an “L-shaped” furniture post when acting as a coupler. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  show a third embodiment of the coupler  40  in a “T-shaped” configuration which would work with a “T-shaped” furniture post. This coupler  40  also contains o a male side  41  a “T-shaped” boss  42 , and “T-shaped” ridge  44  to hold the furniture post in place.  FIG. 13  shows that the “T-shaped” coupler  40  also has a female side  46  with slightly angled walls  47  to define a well  48  that can receive a “T-shaped” furniture post. 
   It will be understood that the coupler is not limited to use with an extruded segment as described above. It can be easily adapted to work with a more conventional furniture post.  FIGS. 14 and 15  show a fourth embodiment of the coupler  50  adapted to accommodate a conventional wooden furniture post. This coupler  50  will preferably have a simpler shaped boss adapted to be received in a recess in the post for centering the post and holding it in place on the coupler. Of course, the boss can be any shape, such as the aforementioned cruciform boss  52 . Preferably, a ridge  54  extends along the periphery to hold the wooden post in place.  FIG. 15  shows that the coupler  50  also has a female side  56  with slightly angled walls  57  defining a well  58  to receive a wooden post. 
     FIGS. 16 and 17  show a fifth embodiment of the coupler  70  in a cross shaped configuration which would work with a cross shaped furniture post  10 . This coupler  70  contains two female sides  72  and  74  into each of which a cross shaped furniture post  10  may be inserted.  FIG. 17  shows that both female sides  72  and  74  have walls that are slightly angled to receive a cross shaped furniture post  10  easily and hold it in place. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  show a sixth embodiment of the coupler  80  in an “L-shaped” configuration which would work with an “L-shaped” furniture post. This coupler  80  contains two female sides  82  and  84  into each of which an “L-shaped” furniture post may be inserted.  FIG. 19  shows that both female sides  82  and  84  have walls that are slightly angled to receive an “L-shaped” furniture post easily and hold it in place. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21  show a seventh embodiment of the coupler  90  in a “T-shaped” configuration which would work with a “T-shaped” furniture post. This coupler  90  contains two female sides  92  and  94  into which a “T-shaped” furniture post may be inserted.  FIG. 21  shows that both female sides  92  and  94  have walls that are slightly angled to receive a “T-shaped” furniture post easily and hold it in place. 
     FIGS. 22 and 23  show an eighth embodiment of the coupler  100  meant to work with a conventional wooden post which is not extruded. This coupler  100  contains two female sides  102  and  104  into which a wooden post may be inserted.  FIG. 23  shows that both female sides  102  and  104  have walls that are slightly angled to receive a wooden post easily and hold it in place. 
   While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.