Abstract:
A system for converting a bed into a simulation of four-poster comprising an frame member having a rectangular shape comprising four rail members, each rail member being secured to the bedroom ceiling with fasteners above and parallel with the sides and ends of the bed. Each rail member has a recessed portion extending substantially around its periphery and an upper lip portion formed by the recess and extending around the periphery of each rail member forming the frame member. A first fastening system is applied to the surface of the lip portion of each rail member to couple a valance thereto and a second fastening system is applied to the surface of the recessed portion of each rail member to couple draperies thereto.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention provides a system which inexpensively simulates the look of a conventional four poster bed without using posts.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The conventional bedroom four-poster comprises a large sized bed, vertically extending posts positioned at the four corners of the bed, a support member coupled to the four top ends of each post and valances extending around the edges of the support member. Other four-posters include draperies positioned to decorate the posts.  
           [0005]    Conventional four-posters, although desirable to many homeowners, can not be utilized in the bedrooms of typical residences, due to the size of the four-poster, and more importantly, the cost thereof.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,727 to Steele discloses a kit for converting a bed into a four-poster. The conversion kit includes four corner posts and means for securing pelmets above an associated corner of the bed. Although the kit described in the &#39;727 patent allows a standard bed to be converted into a four-poster, the kit is complex to assemble and relatively expensive to purchase.  
           [0007]    What is thus desired is to provide a bedroom arrangement which simulates a four-poster but is less expensive and relatively easy to assemble when compared to a conventional four-poster.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a system for converting an ordinary bed into a simulated four-poster and comprises an essentially rectangular shaped frame member, preferably comprising four separate rail members, each rail member secured to the bedroom ceiling with fasteners above and parallel with the sides and ends of the bed. Each rail member has a recessed portion extending substantially around its periphery and an upper lip portion formed above the recess and extending around the periphery of each rail member forming the frame member. A first fastening system is applied to the surface of the lip portion of each rail member to couple a valance thereto and a second fastening system is applied to the surface of the recessed portion of each rail member to couple draperies thereto.  
           [0009]    The draperies and valances are provided in predetermined colors and styles and the customer can choose the desired combination in accordance with their design preferences.  
           [0010]    The system is relatively inexpensive and easy to assemble and enables the homeowner to decorate his/her bedroom in a stylish manner, the bed giving the visual impression of a four-poster without the cost normally associated therewith. The frame member can be easily disassembled and the system reutilized in a different residence or another room of the same residence if so desired. The valances/draperies are easily removable and interchangeable with other sets of valances/draperies made of different fabric and variable colors.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
       [0011]    For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional four-poster;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the simulated four-poster of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates the frame member portion of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-section along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a detail of a portion of FIG. 4;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the frame member of FIG. 2 with one portion of a fastening system secured thereto;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 illustrates draperies attached to the frame member;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 illustrates valances attached to the arrangement shown in FIG. 7; and  
         [0020]    FIGS.  9 ( a )- 9 ( e ) illustrate the detailed steps to assemble the system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional four-poster bed arrangement  10  is illustrated. The bed  12  has four vertically extending posts positioned at each bed end (only one post  14  is illustrated). A valance  16  is connected to an upper frame member  18  and a series of four drapes, or curtains,  20  are positioned at the bed corners to cover and decorate the adjacent posts  14 .  
         [0022]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the same look as that shown in FIG. 1 is provided without the four vertically extending posts conventionally used as shown in FIG. 2. The simulated four-poster comprises bed  30 , valances  32  and drapes  34 . As will be set forth in more detail hereinafter, a frame member  40  (FIG. 3) is secured to ceiling  42  with valances  32  and drapes  34  joined to frame member  40 .  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 through 5, frame member  40 , preferably made of four joined pieces of wood (a single, integral wood frame can also be utilized), is square or rectangle in shape (depending upon the size of bed  30 ) and sized to somewhat overlap the size of the bed  30  positioned there below. Frame member  40  comprises head rail  44 , foot rail  46 , and side rails  48  and  50 . The frame can be made of other materials, such as plastic. As illustrated, frame member  40  is secured to ceiling  42  using a plurality of fastening screws  52 . Each rail member which comprises frame member  40  is L-shaped, having leg portions  54  and  56  forming a recessed portion  58 , the recessed portions of each rail member, when joined together, extending around the periphery of frame member  40 . The surfaces of leg portions  54  and  56  facing away from the bed  30  as illustrated, in the preferred embodiment, has one part  60  of a Velcro® fastening system secured thereto, such as the Velcro loops (Velcro is a trademark of Velcro Industries, for hook and loop type separable fasteners). As will be set forth in more detail hereinafter, loops  60  formed on surface  62  of leg portion  56  are adapted to receive the hook portions of the Velcro fastening system formed on valances  32 ; loops  60  formed on surface  66  of the leg portion  54  are adapted to receive the hook portion of the Velcro system attached to the drapes  34 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 illustrates side rails  48  and  50  of frame member  40  in more detail prior to the addition of valences  32  and drapes  34 . It is noted that the same reference numerals in the figures refer to identical components. A ceiling panel, or cover,  70 , having one component of the Velcro system  72  sewn thereto is provided for both decorative purposes (the person lying on the bed sees the panel  70 , not the wood frame member  40 ) and to provide the fastening surface to secure draperies  34  thereto. The inner surface of the panel edge is joined to Velcro fastener  66  as illustrated. The corner surface of panel  70  having a Velcro component  74  secured thereto which is joined to Velcro portion  66 . Drapes  34  have a second fastening Velcro component  76  attached thereto, such as by sewing, whereby drapes  34  are secured to the outer Velcro surface of panel  70 , the drapes thus in turn being secured to frame member  40  as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, valances  32  have the second fastening Velcro  80  attached thereto, such as by sewing to secure valances  32  to frame member  40 .  
         [0025]    A detailed description of how the components of the system of the present invention are assembled is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.  9 ( a )- 9 ( e ).  
         [0026]    1. Frame member  40  is assembled by joining together rail members  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  using predrilled holes  45  formed on head rail  44  and foot rail  46  with fastening screws  52 . Corner brackets  51  and  53  are attached to maintain the shape of frame member  40 .  
         [0027]    2. Frame member  40  is then lifted and centered over bed  30 . An approximately one half inch gap is maintained between head rail  44  and wall  71  to allow room for attaching the valances  32  and draperies  34 . Frame member  40  is then attached to ceiling  42  using screws  52 .  
         [0028]    3. The head valance  85  (FIG. 9( c )) is next attached to the top lip of the head rail  44 , the Velcro on head valance  85  being aligned with the Velcro on head rail  44  and then being firmly pressed into place.  
         [0029]    4. One side of the ceiling panel  70  (FIG. 9( e )) is then positioned adjacent the surface of head rail  44  having Velcro secured thereto. From the center of the lower notched portion of head rail  44 , the fabric side is first snapped to frame member  40  using snap members  77  (FIG. 3) and then the Velcro fastening members are attached, the fabric being stretched tight as it is stretched the length of head rail  44 .  
         [0030]    5. The snap  79  on ceiling panel  70  is located and then starting at the center of foot rail  46 , ceiling panel fabric is stretched and snap  79  is attached to the corresponding snap  79  on frame member  40  (not shown in FIG. 3). Working from the center of foot rail  46 , the fabric is pulled taught as the Velcro fastener is attached to the corresponding Velcro fastener attached to foot rail  46  along the length of foot rail  46 .  
         [0031]    6. The snap  81  on ceiling panel  70  is then located. Starting at the center of side rail  48 , the ceiling panel fabric is stretched and snap  81  is attached to the corresponding snap on frame member  40  (not shown in FIG. 3). From the center of rail member  48 , the ceiling panel fabric is stretched taut and the Velcro fasteners on ceiling panel  70  is attached to the corresponding Velcro fastener attached to rail member  48  of frame member  40 .  
         [0032]    7. The snap  83  on ceiling panel  70  is then located. Starting at the center of side rail  50 , the ceiling panel fabric is stretched and snap  83  is attached to corresponding snap portion  87  on frame member  40  (FIG. 3). From the center of rail member  50 , the ceiling panel fabric is stretched taut and the Velcro fasteners on ceiling panel  70  is attached to the corresponding Velcro fastener attached to rail member  50  of frame member  40 .  
         [0033]    8. The four side panels  82 ,  83 ,  84  and  85  each are attached at the four comers of bed  30 . With an appropriate marker, the side panel Velcro portions are pressed firmly into place with the Velcro portion secured to the lower notched portion at the butting edges of the rail members.  
         [0034]    9. Starting at wall  71 , valance  86  is attached on the top piece of Velcro formed on the lip portions of rails  46 ,  48  and  50 . The conventional welt at the top of the valance is rolled up against ceiling  42  and is adjusted to hide any discrepancies in the ceiling  42 .  
         [0035]    It should be recognized that other systems can be used to secure the valances and draperies to frame member  40 , including, but not limited to, adhesives, buttons, sewing, etc. and that various fasteners can be used to secure the frame member  40  to the ceiling  42 . As envisioned, the frame member  40  and the screws  52  used to fasten the frame member  40  to the ceiling  42  may be sold as a kit and the valances, draperies and cover  70  as separate accessories. Alternately, a retail center can have all the components of the system available for purchase with instructions on how to assemble the components to form the four-poster according to the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0036]    While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.