Abstract:
A bed frame having a bumper assembly that can be added to the foot end of the bed frame in order to extend the length of the bed frame fully support the box spring and mattress. The bumper assembly can be factory installed or provided as a kit to install on site and includes a rigid straight member and curved ends dimensioned and radiused to surround the box spring. An extender rail is also optionally added to the normal center beam and affixed to support the rigid straight member. The extender rail can have a leg that supports the extender rail from the floor and that support thereby includes a support for the bumper assembly. The completed bed frame with the extender assembly also can have various protective members affixed thereto in order to provide protection to a user as well as improve the overall appearance of the bed frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/570,699, filed May 14, 2004 and entitled “BED FRAME WITH EXTENDED BUMPER ASSEMBLY”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bed frames, and, more particularly, to a bed frame having a foot end extended frame. 
     In general, bed frames are comprised of a pair of side rails and a plurality of cross rails that span between the side rails in order to assemble and complete the bed frame structure. The bed frame, once assembled is adapted to support a box spring and a mattress to make up the bed itself. Normally, therefore, the conventional bed frame assembly is shipped and delivered unassembled for convenience and general transportation. 
     There is also, normally, a center beam that is positioned so as to be generally parallel to the side rails and which is located at or near the center of the bed frame in order to provide additional support to the overall structure and, of course to the box spring and mattress. The center beam is added to the bed frame to span between the cross rails in order to prevent the further relative movement between the cross rail members as well as to secure the center beam into the bed frame to finalize the task of assembling that bed frame. 
     Conventionally, with a bed frame, the side rails are constructed of metal members and are dimensioned so as to provide support substantially along the entire length of a box spring, however, the cross rails are located inboard of the ends of the side rails and the side rail themselves terminate short of the length of the box spring and mattress. As such, the ends of the box spring and mattress at the head and foot of the bed are unsupported. While the unsupported end normally does not matter at the head of the bed inasmuch as that end is generally against a wall and/or has a headboard attached thereto, at the foot end of the bed, the lack of support, however, can be a problem since persons tend to sit on that unsupported foot end of the mattress and can cause problems with the box spring and mattress. 
     The problem is exacerbated with a wider bed and, in the case of split queen and king size beds, since the box springs are configured in two parts. In addition, the standard metal frames with side rails that terminate short of the mattress set suffer from an incomplete appearance and, compared to a traditional wood bed or platform bed, the ends of the metal beds are open and have an unfinished appearance. 
     It would thus be advantageous to have an extension that can be added to the standard metal bed frame to extend the support at the foot end of the bed frame so as to provide additional support to the box spring and mattress as well as present a pleasing appearance to the metal bed frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Now, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bed frame that includes a bumper assembly that attaches to the distal footboard ends of the side rails in order to add a rail member that conforms generally to the foot end of a box spring. 
     The rail member comprises a rigid straight member and a pair of curved ends that are affixed to the ends of the side rails and, in an embodiment, the rigid straight member is a T-shaped component having the curved ends constructed of stamped sheet metal. 
     The bumper assembly can also, optionally, have a leg that extends downwardly to contact the floor so as to provide support for the bumper assembly and aid in the support of the box spring and mattress. 
     Thus, with the present invention, the bed frame is better appearing and has a finished look as well as providing support for the foot end of the mattress and box spring. The curved ends can be attached to the side rails by a number of illustrated methods to secure that rail member firmly to the side rails. The present bumper assembly can also be used with various types of bed frames including conventional bed frames having L-shaped angle iron side rails or other conventional types of bed frames. 
     Other features of the present bed frame with the bumper assembly affixed thereto will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable width folding bed frame for supporting a box spring and mattress; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of a bed frame showing the bumper assembly of the present invention and  FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of a component taken alone the line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of that embodiment taken along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are, respectively, a top view, side view and cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a completed bed frame utilizing the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an adjustable width folding bed frame  10 . In the Figure, there are a pair of side rails  12 ,  14  that have a T-shaped cross section, rotated 90 degrees from a normal T. Thus the T-shaped side rails  12 ,  14  have the large flat vertical flanges  16  forming exterior surfaces  18  with horizontal flanges  20  extending inwardly from the vertical flanges  16  forming upper surfaces  22  and located about midway between the outer edges of the vertical flanges  16 . The side rails  12 ,  14  have headboard ends  24 ,  26  respectively and footboard ends  28 ,  30  respectively. At the headboard ends  24 ,  26 , there are normally located headboard brackets  32 ,  34  to aid in the attachment of a headboard to the side rails  12 ,  14 . 
     To make up the bed frame  10 , there are also cross rails  36 ,  38  comprised of cross rail members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  that extend outwardly from side rails  12 ,  14  at about a right angle. As explained, for the convenience of handling and transportation of the components of a bed frame  10 , the cross rail members  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  are pivotally mounted to the side rails  12 ,  14 , that is, cross rail members  40  and  42  are pivotally mounted at junction points  48 ,  50  to side rail  12  while cross rail members  44  and  46  are pivotally mounted at junction points (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to side rail  14 . As an example, therefore, during shipment, the cross rail members  40  and  42  are positioned 90 degrees from the orientation shown in  FIG. 1  and rest parallel to and abut against the side rail  12  and, during assembly, the cross rail members  40  and  42  are rotated about 90 degrees to the position as shown. 
     Legs  52  extend downwardly from each of the cross rail members  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  generally at or near the junction points between the cross rail members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  and the side rails  12 ,  14  and the legs  52  thereby provide the support for the bed frame  10  after the assembly thereof. The legs  52  may be provided with glides or rollers (not shown) that contact the floor. As can be seen the legs  52  are mounted to the cross rails  36 ,  38  proximate to the junction points  48 ,  50  between the cross rails  36 ,  38  and the side rail  12  but displaced inwardly a finite distance. The same is true of the location of the legs  52  that extend downwardly from the cross rail members  44 ,  46 . In addition, it also can be seen that the cross rail  38  is affixed to the side rail  12 ,  14  at junction point  50  and that the side rails  12 ,  14  extend in a cantilever manner further outwardly from those junction points to reach the footboard ends  28 ,  30  of side rails  12 ,  14 . 
     In addition, there is also a center beam  54  that is affixed to and spans the cross rails  36 ,  38  and is positioned to be generally parallel to the side rails  12 ,  14 . That affixation of the center beam  54  to the cross rails  36 ,  38  may be by bolts and nuts in a conventional manner. The center bean  54  is configured as an upright T-shape with the large horizontal flange  56  providing an upper surface  58 . 
     There is also shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 1 , a box spring  60  that sits atop of the upper surface  22  of the horizontal flanges  20  of side rails  12 ,  14  as well as the upper surface  58  of the center beam  54  and in making a bed, a mattress normally sits atop of the box spring  60 . As can be seen, there is a head end  62  and a foot end  64  of the box spring  60 . The foot end  64  can be seen to extend beyond the footboard ends  28  and  30  of the side rails  12 ,  14  and further beyond the support provided by the cross rail  38  such that there basically is no support to the foot end  64  of the box spring  60 . As such, someone sitting on the end of a mattress can cause the foot end  64  of the box spring  60  to bend downwardly potentially harming the box spring  60  or lifting the head end  62  of the box spring  60  from the bed frame  10 . 
     Turning then to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a partially exploded view of a bumper assembly  66  of the present invention and which is affixed to the side rails  12 ,  14  in order to provide support for the overhanging box spring and mattress at the foot end of the bed frame  10 . The bumper assembly  66  can be pre-assembled by the bed frame manufacturer or provided as a kit to be assembled from parts and components supplied by the manufacturer. The bumper assembly  66  comprises a rail member  68  that is affixed to the footboard end  28 ,  30  of the side rails  12 ,  14  and that rail member  68  is, in turn, comprised of a rigid straight member  70  and a pair of curved ends  72 ,  74 . The rigid straight member  70  has a T-shaped cross section oriented and constructed in the same manner as the side rails  12 ,  14 , that is, there is a vertical flange  76  facing outwardly and a horizontal flange  77  shown in  FIG. 2A ) directed inwardly and extending from the midpoint between the outer edges of the vertical flange  76 . 
     As will be seen, the curved end  72  is affixed to the footboard end  28  of side rail  12  and the curved end  74  is affixed to the footboard end  30  of the side rail  14 . The other ends of the curved ends  72 ,  74  are affixed to the rigid straight member  70  and may be by bolts and nuts or rivets in a conventional manner. The radius of curvature of the curved ends  72 ,  74  can be designed so as to closely follow the curvature of a typical box spring such that the overall completed bed frame conforms generally to the outer configuration of the box spring  60  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     There is also an extender rail  78  that spans between the cross rail  38  and the rigid straight member  70  and, again the manner of affixing the extender rail  78  can be by means of bolts and nuts. The addition and use of an extender rail  78  is optional as the structure of the bumper assembly  66  is itself, in most cases, is sufficiently strong to not require the added support of the extender rail  78 . A leg  80  extends downwardly from the extender rail  78  for support and that leg  80  contacts the floor through a caster  82 . The caster  82  can be of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,031 of Polevoy et al, and the disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The same casters  84  can be used to support the center beam  54  and are attachable to the legs  52 . Thus, there is support for the extender rail  78  from the floor and which also, therefore, provides support to the rail member  68  by the connection of the extender rail  78  to the rigid straight member  70 . 
     In order to improve the safety as well as the appearance of the bed frame  10  with the bumper assembly  66  affixed thereto, those legs  52  that can be potentially struck by a passerby are protected with leg protective members  86  constructed and installed in accordance with that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,578 of Polevoy et al and the disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In addition, the side rails  12 ,  14  and the rigid straight member  70  can be covered by snap-on protective members  88  constructed in accordance with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/997,389 and the disclosure of that patent application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. There can also be used, corner protective members  90  having pins  92  that enable the comer protective members  90  to interfit with adjacent snap-on protective members  88 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , there are shown a side view and a cross sectional view taken along the line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A , respectively, and illustrating a mechanism that can be used to affix, for example, the curved end  74  to the side rail  14 . In the Figs, the curved end  74  has a bifurcated flange that extends outwardly therefrom thereby forming a horizontal slot  94  that creates an upper flange member  96  and a lower flange member  98 . When the curved end  74  is slid onto the side rail  14 , the upper and lower flange members  96 ,  98  straddle the horizontal flange  100  of the side rail  14  such that the horizontal flange  100  enters and resides within the horizontal slot  94 . A pair of standoff rivets  102 ,  104  are affixed to the vertical flange  16  of the side rail  14  with one above and one below the horizontal flange  100 . The upper and lower flange members  96 ,  98  also have angled slots  106 ,  108  that are oriented so as to form an acute angle leading away from the distal ends  110 ,  112  of the upper and lower flange members  96 ,  98 . As seen in  FIG. 3A , the standoff rivets  102 ,  104  are shown to be just entering the angled slots  106 ,  108 . Thus as the curved end  74  is released or pushed further inwardly, the curved end  74  will move downwardly and seat the standoff rivets  102 ,  104  at the closed ends  114 ,  116  of the angled slots  106 ,  108  to seat the curved end  74  and thereby affix it firmly to the side rail  14 . 
     To retain the curved end  74  in that seated position, there may be a spring loaded button  118  that passes through suitably located holes in both the lower flange member  98  and the vertical flange  16  so as to retain the curved end  74  to the side rail  14 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, there is shown a top view, a side view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of an alternative mechanism for affixing the curved end  74  to the side rail  14 . In this embodiment, there are a pair of upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122  that, again form a slot  124  that straddles the horizontal flange  100  of the side rail  14 . In this embodiment, the upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122  extend along the inner surface of the vertical flange  16  of the side rail  14  while there is an external prong  124  that extends along the outer surface of the vertical flange  16 . The upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122  are affixed to the vertical flange  16  by means such as pins  126 , that pass through holes formed in the upper and lower prongs  120 ,  122  thereby affixing the curved end  74  to the side rail  14 . 
     Thus, turning finally to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective view of a completed bed frame  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention with the various protective members in place to provide an overall pleasing appearance and added safety features. Accordingly, as can be seen, the bed frame  10  includes the bumper assembly  66  supported by the leg  80  and caster  82  the contacts the floor. The overall appearance is enhanced by the use of the protective members  88  that cover the principle components as well as the corner protective members  90  and the leg protective members  86 . The curvature of the curved ends  72 ,  74  are determined so as to conform to the arcuate corners of a box spring so that a box spring fits into the bed frame  10  and the outside periphery of the bed frame  10  generally fits closely around that box spring to provide a neat, finished appearance and which also provides the needed support the foot end of a box spring and mattress. 
     While the present invention has been set forth in terms of a specific embodiment of embodiments, it will be understood that the present bed frame having a bumper assembly herein disclosed may be modified or altered by those skilled in the art to other configurations. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.