Abstract:
A bed frame having a base portion and a mattress support portion articulated thereto and pivotable about an axis between an open position and a closed position. The base portion has exterior sidewalls and is adapted for use as a storage compartment. At least two sidewalls are covered with a plastic panel attached thereto.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to beds, especially to those having a lower portion adapted for use as a storage compartment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Beds having storage areas therewithin are well known in the art. Typically, such beds comprise an upper portion supporting thereon a mattress or other arrangement of cushioning articles, and a lower portion (often referred to as ‘bed box’) to support the upper portion. The lower portion has a hollow interior which is used for the storage. The interior may be accessed by providing a set of slideable drawers accessible from the outside. Alternatively, the upper portion may be moveable, such as being pivotable, allowing access to the hollow interior (‘storage compartment’) of the lower portion.  
         [0003]     It will be appreciated that the general term “bed,” as used in the present specification and claims, should be taken in its broadest sense, including daybeds, sofas, loveseats, chairs, benches, etc.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bed box designed as a storage/linen compartment formed with an external shell-like panel covering one or more outside faces of the bed box, said panel made of a plastic material.  
         [0005]     The arrangement is such that the plastic panel can either be spaced from a sidewall of the bed box, thus forming a confined space extending therebetween, or it can extend adjoining an out side surface of the sidewall.  
         [0006]     According to the invention there is a bed frame having a base portion and a mattress support portion articulated thereto and pivotable about an axis between an open position and a closed position, the base portion having exterior sidewalls and being adapted for use as a storage compartment, wherein, at least two sidewalls are covered with a rigid plastic panel attached thereto.  
         [0007]     Each plastic panel may comprise a side face being spaced from the sidewalls, and may further comprise a support element in the space between the sidewall and the ornamental element.  
         [0008]     The side walls of the bed may be made of wood, e.g. bare, unfinished wood, wherein the plastic panel covers the side walls.  
         [0009]     A bed according to the present invention may comprise one or more of the following features: 
        each of the covered sidewalls is fully covered by portions of at least one of the plastic panel; according to one embodiment a plastic panel extends substantially along the length of a respective sidewall, however the plastic panel may extend over a portion of a side wall, continued by a neighboring plastic panel;     the plastic panel has a substantially C-like shaped cross-section;     a seam between an edge of the plastic panels and the base portion is covered, for example by decorative tape;     a covering may be provided over a seam between adjoining (neighboring) plastic panels;     the plastic panels are made of a plastic molded or vacuum formed thermoplastic material;     the thermoplastic material may be for example polyethylene or (ABS) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene;     at least one of the plastic panels comprises an indentation located adjacent to the mattress support portion when in its closed position, to facilitate comfortable access to an edge of the mattress support portion;     the indentation is located on a sidewall being opposite or adjacent the axis;     a top edge and a bottom edge of the plastic panels are adapted for fixedly securing over corresponding top and bottom edge of a respective sidewall;     the top edge and the bottom edge of the plastic panels are substantially parallel to one another (i.e. horizontal when attached to the sidewalls);     the plastic panel is formed with ornamental features such as depressions and/or protuberances;     the plastic panel may be translucent, opaque, or transparent; also, different coloring and or patterns may be applied thereto;     the plastic panels may be enveloping some or all of the side walls, thus imparting the bed a solid look with ornamental features.     an illuminating element may be introduced in the space between the side walls and the respective plastic panel, said illumination being of any suitable type (e.g. neon, LED&#39;s LED neon flex, etc.).        
 
         [0024]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plastic-molded or vacuum-formed plastic panel for fixedly applying over an external surface of a sidewall of a bed box.  
         [0025]     The plastic panel may comprise one or more of the following features: 
        it may be adapted to be mounted to the sidewall such that a space is defined between the panel and the sidewall, or said panel is mounted adjoining an outside surface of the sidewall;     it may be of such a length so as to extend substantially along the length of the respective sidewall;     it may be made of a plastic-molded or vacuum-formed thermoplastic such as polyethylene or (ABS) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene;     the plastic panel may be translucent, opaque, or transparent; also different coloring and or patterns may be applied thereto;     it may comprise an indentation adapted, at least when applied to the external surface of the sidewall of the bed box, to be located adjacent a mattress support portion of the bed box when in a closed position;     the plastic panel has a substantially C-like shaped cross-section;     a top edge and a bottom edge of the plastic panels are adapted for fixedly securing over corresponding top and bottom edge of a respective sidewall;     the top edge and the bottom edge of the plastic panels are substantially parallel to one another (i.e. horizontal when attached to the sidewalls); and     it may further comprises ornamental features e.g. depressions and/or protuberances.        
 
         [0035]     According to still an aspect of the present invention there is a provided a method for manufacturing a bed, the method comprising the steps of assembling a bed box and a mattress support portion articulated thereto, and attaching, at any stage, a plastic-molded or vacuum-formed plastic panel to an outside surface of at least two side walls of the bed box. The plastic panels being fixed to the side walls such that a space extends there between, or adjoining the outside surface of the sidewall. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]     In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, several embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bed frame according to the present invention, in an open position;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section taken along line II-II in  FIG. 1   
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view similar to that of  FIG. 2 , illustrating a different embodiment;  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a seam cover provided to cover a seam between adjacent panels; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view, partially sectioned, of a bed according to an embodiment of the present invention, fitted with an illumination assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , there is provided a bed frame, generally indicated at  10 . The bed frame  10  comprises a base portion (‘bed box’), generally indicated at  12 , and a mattress support panel  14 .  
         [0043]     It should however be noted that the mattress support panel  14  may be a uniform panel as illustrated in  FIG. 1  or constructed of two or more panels (not shown), pivotally articulated to one another so as to support a mattress in different inclinations and positions, as known in the art.  
         [0044]     The interior of the base portion  12  is hollow, allowing for its secondary use as a storage compartment, which is accessed by raising the mattress support panel  14 . To facilitate this use, the mattress support panel  14  is hingedly articulated to the base portion  12  at a rear end, about hinges  15 . In addition, a pair of pistons  16  may be provided in order to prevent slamming of the mattress support panel  14  upon its release, and to assist in elevation thereof into the open position, so as to facilitate access to the storage compartment.  
         [0045]     The base portion  12  is constructed of rigid sidewalls  17 , e.g. made of wood (often bare and unfinished) fixedly articulated and formed into a rectangle. Rigid shell-like plastic panels  18  are attached on outside surfaces of sidewalls  17  of the base portion  12 , defining a space  13  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) between each sidewall and its corresponding panel. The panels  18  may be made from plastic-molded or a vacuum-formed plastic material (e.g. ABS-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), the panel being light weight and sufficiently rigid to maintain its imparted shape.  
         [0046]     According to some embodiments of the invention, the shell-like plastic panels impart the bed with decorative features. The plastic panels may be translucent, opaque, or transparent, or with combinations thereof. Furthermore, different coloring and or patterns may be applied thereto as well as ornamental patterns such as depressions  22  formed on at least some of the panels  18 , at regular irregular intervals. In addition, the panels may comprise some other features, such as indentation  24  at the front panel  25 , which serves to permit a user to grip a portion of the mattress support panel  14 , facilitating its lifting. Alternatively, or in addition to depressions, the panels may be formed with protuberances projecting from the outer surface of the panel (not shown).  
         [0047]     The plastic panels  18  may be of any shape and construction. According to one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , they are of substantially C-shaped cross-section, having upper and lower horizontal surfaces  26  and  28 , extending substantially parallel to one another, and a vertical plank  30 , constituting a side face, therebetween. The substantially horizontal edges  27  and  29  of horizontal surfaces  26  and  28 , respectively, are fastened to top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of each sidewall  17 . However, according to another embodiment, the panels adjoin an outside surface of the sidewalls.  
         [0048]     It is to be appreciated that the edges of the top and bottom surfaces of the plastic panels  18  my comprise a corresponding configuration as of the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the sidewalls  17 , so as to provide an eye-pleasing integration and a rigid fastening arrangement therebetween. Accordingly, these surfaces may extend otherwise than horizontal, e.g. they may be correspondingly inclined, etc.  
         [0049]     Fastening the plastic panels  18  to the sidewalls  17  may be done by any practical arrangement, such as using upholstery tacks  33 , staples, screws, nails, or an adhesive.  
         [0050]     Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a support element  38  may be provided in the space  13  between the sidewall  17  and the plastic panel  18 . The support element  38  comprises a base portion  38   a  and two support walls  38   b  projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The base portion  38   a  may be fastened to the sidewall  17  using several screws  39 . The support walls  38   b  project such that they extend the entire width of the space  13  between the sidewall  17  and the plastic panel  18 , bearing against the panel when it is fastened to the sidewall. They are spaced apart so as to allow for ornamental depressions  22  to be positioned therebetween.  
         [0051]     A strip of decorative tape or a concealing element  34  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) may be provided to conceal the upper horizontal ledge  29  of each plastic panel. In the event that the fastening is accomplished using means which are not entirely concealed by the panel, such as tacks and the like, a tape may also be used to conceal them.  
         [0052]     Reverting to  FIG. 1 , and in particular to the area indicated as ‘A’, plastic panels  18  may wrap around corners of the base portion  12 . A seam cover  35  may be provided to cover the seam between adjacent plastic panels  18 .  
         [0053]     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the seam cover  35  may be constructed with an outer facade  40  and an elongate gripping element  42 , defining an interstice  44  therebetween. The seam cover  35  is made from a flexible material, such as PVC. Before installation, it is provided as shown in  FIG. 3  as a straight strip with the gripping element  42  projecting therefrom. In order to allow the seam cover  35  to be bent at a sharp angle, so that it can conform to the profile of the plastic panels  18 ,  25 , a gap  46  is provided in the elongate gripping element  42 . If the profile of the panel comprises several sharp angles, a gap may be provided to correspond to each one.  
         [0054]     During assembly, the plastic panels  18 ,  25  are secured to the sidewalls  17  by any desired method, leaving a gap between adjacent panels. The gripping element  42  of the seam cover  35  is threaded under one of the plastic panels  18 ,  25 , such that the edge of the panel is gripped within the interstice  44 . In addition, a small amount of an adhesive may be applied to secure the seam cover  35 . The seam cover  35  is bent before or during assembly in order to conform to the profile of the panel. It is noted that the plastic panels  18  may be secured to the side walls  17  at any stage however, for practical reasons it would be easier to do so after the bed box  12  is assembled.  
         [0055]     As already mentioned above, the scope of the present invention shall not be limited to any particular shape of bed, nor to any type of mattress. As such, the mattress support panel  14  may be suitable for use with any type of mattress, such as that used in an articulated elevatable bed or the like.  
         [0056]     According to an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the plastic panel  18  is illuminated from the inside, i.e. within the space  13  there is an illumination arrangement comprising one or more illuminating elements  27  which in the present example are LED neon flex elements. These LEDs may be designed to emit any color as known per se, or there may be a light control box  29 , coupled to a power supply, for controlling the light intensity and the light color (which may also be a ‘light organ’ altering the light color according to some selected pattern).  
         [0057]     Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention mutatis mutandis.