Abstract:
A support structure for beds and the like is described comprising a plurality of components which are easily secured together in a minimum amount of time. The scaffold or support is comprised of a pair of floor cross supports, four vertical legs, a pair of lower cross supports, a pair of left end supports, a pair of right end supports, bed cross pieces, a pair of ceiling beams, and a pair of upper cross supports. When assembled, the floor space beneath the support structure is available for use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention is directed to a load-bearing scaffold or support structure for beds and the like which provides substantially one hundred percent unobstructed floor space in sleeping quarters and garages. The present invention discloses a unique system for adjustably securing the ceiling beams of the invention to the end supports thereof. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Load-bearing scaffolds are well known in the construction arts. Such scaffolds are generally adapted for supporting workmen, construction equipment, and building materials. 
     Also known are bunks and berths adapted to provide sleeping accommodations for passengers, military personnel, students, or small children. These apparatus are often adapted to be supported from poles anchored to the floor and ceiling of a room. For example, apparatus of this general species are disclosed by Lein, U.S. Pat. No. 665,535; Rodrigues, U.S. Pat. No. 958,895; Gosso, U.S. Pat. No. 1,325,320; and Gosso, U.S. Pat. No. 1,089,545. 
     Also known to the art are bunks or berths adapted to be supported by anchoring the bunk or berth to a wall. For example, apparatus of this general species are disclosed by Lein, U.S. Pat. No. 669,175; Dowling, U.S. Pat. No. 822,592; Rodrigues, U.S. Pat. No. 860,941; Gumm, U.S. Pat. No. 1,001,946; Thompson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,387; Coomes, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,254; and Trexler, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,276. 
     Inventions of this type are unsuitable for the present objects since their installation requires that they become room fixtures. Additionally, such bunks or berths necessarily require the dedication of otherwise useful floor space. 
     Freestanding bunk beds are also known to the bunk and berth art. Examples of this type of bed may be found disclosed by Lein, U.S. Pat. No. 631,962; Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,195,637; Weaver, U.S. Pat. No. 1,253,549; and Janson, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,349,962. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,616 provided a support structure for beds and the like which derived at least some of its support from the interior surfaces of a room. Although the device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,616 represented an advance in the art, the invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,829 was an advance thereover due to the fewer components parts, ease of assembly, and superior strength. 
     It is believed that the instant invention represents an advance over the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,829 and other prior art due to the unique method of adjustably securing the ceiling beams to the end supports. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Many educational institutions provide dormitories in order to accommodate students who are required to live on campus. Dormitories are generally multistory buildings having a central elevator and stairway corridor. On either side of the central area is a hallway having a plurality of small rooms located on either side of the hallway. These small rooms generally do not have bathrooms. 
     Each room has a small closet and is usually furnished with two single beds, two desks, two lamps, two chairs, and a dresser or bureau. Even though each room contains a minimal amount of furniture, the rooms are small, and space is at a premium. 
     Since these rooms are small and sparse, it is difficult for two people to live comfortably within the room. This is true since most dorm rooms lack sufficient space to maintain a stereo, television, small refrigerator, or to store a bicycle and the like. 
     Students desiring a more livable environment often remove their beds or make the existing two single beds into a lower and upper berth bunk bed. With the same goal in mind, students also replace their beds with futon mattresses. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved load bearing scaffold capable of supporting beds or items to be stored while providing substantially one hundred percent unobstructed floor space therebelow. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that does not require the scaffold to be attached to the room infrastructure or superstructure. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that will not damage room surfaces. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that is easy to assembly and disassemble. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that is safe to use and durable in construction. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that is low in cost and easy to manufacture. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable load-bearing scaffold adapted to fit in any size room. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold that frees existing floor space. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a load-bearing scaffold capable of supporting beds, desks, shelves, and the like. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a unique method of adjustably securing the ceiling beams to the end supports. 
     These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a load-bearing scaffold adapted to support items to be stored or beds while providing one hundred percent unobstructed floor space therebelow. The scaffold of this invention is comprised of a plurality of component parts which are easily secured together in a minimum amount of time. Essentially, the scaffold is comprised of a pair of floor cross supports, four vertical legs, a pair of lower cross supports, a pair of left end supports, a pair of right end supports, bed cross pieces, a pair of ceiling beams, and a pair of upper cross supports. A unique method of adjustably securing the ceiling beams to the end supports is disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scaffold of this invention in its assembled state; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the scaffold; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled scaffold; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of the scaffold; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating certain components of the invention; 
     FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating the means for adjustably securing the ceiling beams to the end supports; 
     FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the means of FIG. 6A; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the means of FIGS.  6 A and  6 B. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The assembled scaffold of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  (FIG.  3 ). The numerals  12  and  12 ′ refer to identical floor cross supports. Since floor cross supports  12  and  12 ′ are identical, only floor cross support  12  will be described in detail with “′” indicating identical structure on floor cross support  12 ′. Floor cross support  12  includes an elongated tube  14  having pegs  16  and  18  secured to the opposite ends thereof which extend upwardly therefrom. Vertical legs  20  and  22  which are hollow tubular members have their lower ends received by the pegs  16  and  18 , respectively. Square tubes  24  and  26  are welded to the vertical legs  20  and  22  below the upper ends thereof. The numeral  28  refers to a lower cross piece comprised of an elongated tubular member  30  having hollow tubes  32  and  34  secured to the opposite ends thereof which extend downwardly therefrom, as seen in the drawings. Tubes  32  and  34  are slidably mounted on the upper ends of the vertical legs  20  and  22 , respectively. End support  36  is mounted on the upper end of vertical leg  20  and is comprised of an outer tubular post  38 , inner tubular post  40 , lower tubular member  42  which is secured to and which extends between the lower ends of posts  38  and  40 , intermediate tubular member  44  and upper tubular member  46 . The opposite ends of tubular member  44  are welded to the inner and outer posts  38  and  40 . The outer end of upper tubular member  46  is welded to the upper end of outer post  38 . As seen in the drawings, the upper end of inner post  40  is welded to the underside of upper tubular member  46 . 
     End support  52  is positioned on the upper end of vertical leg  22  and is identical to end support  36 . End support  52  includes an outer post  54  which is mounted on the upper end of vertical leg  22 , inner post  56 , lower tubular member  58 , intermediate tubular member  60 , and upper tubular member  62 . 
     The numeral  64  refers to a bed end piece comprising an elongated tubular member  66  having hooks  68  and  70  provided at the outer ends thereof which are adapted to receive the lower tubular members  42  and  58 , respectively, as illustrated in the drawings. Bed cross pieces  72  and  74  extend between bed end piece  64  and tubular member  30  of lower cross piece  28 . Bed cross piece  72  includes an elongated tubular member  76  having hooks  78  and  80  secured to the opposite ends thereof which are adapted to receive tubular member  30  and tubular member  66 , respectively. Similarly, bed cross piece  74  includes an elongated tubular member  82  having hooks  84  and  86  at the opposite ends thereof which are adapted to receive the tubular members  30  and  66 , respectively. 
     Upper cross support  88  comprises an elongated tubular member  90  having sleeves  92  and  94  at the opposite ends thereof which are adapted to be received on the upper ends of the posts  38  and  54 , respectively, as best seen in FIG.  2 . Ceiling beams  96  and  98  are provided and are adapted to be slidably received by the inner ends of tubular members  46 ,  150  and  62 ,  166 , respectively. 
     Referring now to the other end of the scaffold or bed support of this invention, a pair of vertical legs  124  and  126  extend upwardly from the pegs at the opposite ends of the floor cross support  12 ′ and have square tubes  128  and  130  welded thereto below the upper ends thereof. The numeral  132  refers to a lower cross piece comprised of an elongated tubular member  134  having hollow tubes  136  and  138  secured to the opposite ends thereof which extend downwardly therefrom, as seen in the drawings. Tubes  136  and  138  are slidably mounted on the upper ends of vertical legs  124  and  126 , respectively, and are limited in their downward movement by the square tubes  128  and  130 . 
     End support  140  is mounted on the upper end of vertical leg  124  and is comprised of an outer tubular post  142 , inner tubular post  144 , lower tubular member  146  which is secured to and which extends between the lower ends of posts  142  and  144 , intermediate tubular member  148 , and upper tubular member  150 . The opposite ends of lower tubular member  146  are welded to the posts  142  and  144 . The opposite ends of intermediate tubular member  148  are also welded to the posts  142  and  144 . Further, the upper tubular member  150  is welded to the posts  142  and  144 . 
     End support  156  is positioned on the upper end of vertical leg  126  and is identical to end support  140 . End support  156  includes an outer post  158  which is mounted on the upper end of vertical leg  126 , inner post  160 , lower tubular member  162 , intermediate tubular member  164 , and upper tubular member  166 . 
     Bed end piece  172  is identical to bed end piece  64  and is secured to and extends between the tubular members  146  and  162 , as seen in the drawings. Bed cross pieces  174  and  176  are identical to bed cross pieces  72  and  74  and are secured to and extend between the tubular members  134  and  172 , as seen in FIG.  3 . 
     The inner ends of tubular members  46 ,  62 ,  150 , and  166  each have a unique fastening mechanism associated therewith which is designated by the reference numerals  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″, and  200 ′″, respectively. Inasmuch as the mechanisms  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″, and  200 ′″ are identical, only mechanism  200  will be described in detail. 
     The underside of tubular member  46  has an opening  202  formed therein and has an internally threaded nut  204  welded thereto which communicates with opening  202 . The number  206  refers to a generally U-shaped member having an inner leg  208  and an outer leg  210  joined by an arcuate section  212 . The free end of outer leg  210  has a threaded opening  214  formed therein which threadably receives an externally threaded stud  216 , the outer end of which includes a hexagonal opening  218  formed therein adapted to receive an Allen wrench or the like therein. The upper surface of inner leg  208  has a flat, anti-slip member  220  positioned thereon. 
     One end of ceiling beam  96  is slidably received by the inner end of tubular member  46 . The inner leg  208  is inserted into the end of tubular member  46  below the outer end of ceiling beam  96  until the upper end of stud  216  is aligned with nut  204 . It should be noted that inner leg  208  could have been positioned in the end of tubular member  46  prior to ceiling beam  96  being inserted therein. Stud  216  is threadably rotated which causes the upper end of stud  216  to thread through nut  204  and to engage the underside of inner leg  208 . Continued rotation of stud  216  causes inner leg  208  to be moved into frictional engagement with the underside of ceiling beam  96  to lock or secure ceiling beam  96  and tubular member  46  together to prevent relative movement therebetween. The mechanisms  200 ′,  200 ″, and  200 ′″ are similarly installed to secure the ceiling beams to the tubular members of the end supports. 
     The scaffold  10  of this invention is assembled as follows. The floor cross supports  12  and  12 ′ are placed opposite each other against the wall where the bed will be placed lengthways. Lower cross support  28  is placed over the top of the vertical legs  20  and  22 . The bottom ends of the vertical legs  20  and  22  are then placed over the pegs  16  and  18  at the ends of the floor cross support  12 . The lower cross support  132  is placed over the tops of the vertical legs  124  and  126 . The lower ends of the vertical legs  124  and  126  are then placed over the upstanding pegs at the opposite ends of the floor cross support  12 ′. 
     End supports  36  and  140  are then placed on the floor opposite to each other with their bases being positioned the adjacent wall. The ceiling beams  96  and  98  are secured to the tubular members  46 ,  150  and  62 ,  166  as previously described. 
     The upper cross support  88  is then positioned on the upper ends of the posts  38  and  54 , respectively, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Upper cross support  88 ′is then mounted on the upper ends of the posts  142  and  158 , respectively. 
     The support or scaffold of this invention assembles in approximately ten minutes with few parts, without any tools except for an Allen wrench. 
     The construction of the scaffold, through the design of the same, is extremely strong, since it is much like a truss structure. Further, the floor space beneath the scaffold or bed support is devoid of any obstructions which enables the floor space to be maximized. The fastening mechanisms  200 ,  200 ′,  200 ″, and  200 ′″ provide a strong and rigid connection between the end supports and the ceiling beams. The fastening mechanisms enable the structure to be built with many less holes being necessary. For example, comparing the present structure with respect to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,829, the present invention eliminates the need for holes or openings in two of the end supports, and eliminates the need for adjustable wedges. 
     Thus, it can been seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.