Abstract:
A wrap around bed frame for use in supporting a box spring and mattress having side rails and cross members and a foot member that is affixed to the foot ends of the side rails to provide support for the foot end of the bedding. The entire bed frame can be assembled with fittings that do not require tools for assembly and thus, the bed frame can be assembled easily by the user by simply sliding or snapping the components together. Protective shields cover the bed frame so as to minimize harm to a person inadvertently striking one of the bed frame components. The foot member is comprised of an upper and lower member affixed together. There are also center wedges on the cross members where a foot can be affixed to the center wedge to facilitate assembly of the bed frame.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/931,278, filed Jan. 24, 2014, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a bed frame for supporting a mattress or mattress set and, more particularly, to a wrap around bed frame that includes a foot member to provide an all around support to a mattress and bedding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With a conventional bed frame, there normally are two side rails that are placed in a parallel orientation with respect to each other and one or more cross members that span between the side rails to provide support to the box spring and mattress. The sides of the box spring are support by a horizontal flange of the side rails and the internal area of the box spring and mattress are supported by the cross members. 
         [0004]    With many bed frames, the side rails and cross members are made of a metal, generally steel, and are comprised of steel angle irons. As a recent innovation, the side rails can also be comprised of angle irons joined together to form a T-shaped member or can be constructed and used as single, unitary T-shaped steel components. 
         [0005]    With a typical steel bed frame, the foot ends of the side rails extend beyond any supporting legs such that the foot ends of the side rails extend in cantilever manner outwardly beyond the supporting legs and there is no further component, such as a foot supporting member that provides support for the foot ends of the side rails. 
         [0006]    There is currently a trend of not having a foot board at the foot end of the bed. The absence of a footboard not only reduces support at the foot end of the bed but eliminates the pleasing and decorative component that would normally cover and enclose the foot end bedding and give the overall foot end of the completed bed a pleasing appearance. 
         [0007]    As such, the foot end of the box spring and mattress are basically unsupported and a weight placed at that end, such as by a person sitting on the very end of a mattress, can create bending and cause damage to the bed frame. This is particularly true of a king size bed frame where there may be two box springs or foundations used in a side by side relationship and, in such instance, there is a decided lack of support at the center of the bed where the two box springs or foundations come together. 
         [0008]    Another difficulty with present bed frames is that there is a certain amount of labor used in securing the frame members together, that is, the metal components are affixed together by hand and often require hand tools to complete the assembly of a bed frame. As such, since the initial set up of a bed frame is normally carried out by a delivery person who may have multiple deliveries on the same day, the amount of time used to complete the set up of the bed frame is important and, obviously, there an advantage in being able to assemble the bed frame quickly and accurately in as little time as possible. 
         [0009]    A further difficulty with current bed frames is that the metal structural components have sharp edges and joints and the presence of those sharp edges can cause tearing of the linen, bed spreads or other bed coverings used with the bed. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a metal bed frame where the foot ends of the side rails are connected to a foot member to form an aesthetically pleasing design that visually provides a smooth continuation of the side rails that transition to the foot member as well as provide support to the foot end of a box spring and mattress. 
         [0011]    It would be further advantageous to have a bed frame that was easily assembled without the need for tools or specialized skill and which was fully protected by some shields to cover any sharp edges or corners to prevent tearing or damage to the bed coverings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, there is a bed frame assembly that is used to support a box spring and mattress and which has side rails having a horizontal surface to support the sides of the box spring. There is at least one, and normally multiple, cross members to aid in the support of the box spring and mattress and which span the distance between the side rails. 
         [0013]    At the foot ends of the side rails, there is a foot member that is connected by an affixation system so that the overall bed frame is a wrap around design that includes the foot member to support the foot end of the box spring and mattress. 
         [0014]    In all, the foot member is affixed to the foot ends of the side rails by a simple affixation system that eliminates the need for tools to carry out that connection. In addition, the cross members can also be affixed to the side rails in the assembly of a bed frame without the need for tools. As such, the entire bed frame is readily assembled without tools since all of the components of the bed frame either drop in, snap in or slide into the desired positions in the assembly of the bed frame. 
         [0015]    The cross members include center legs that are easily and without tools simply snapped on to the bed frame during assembly. The foot member itself comprises a multi-component structural member that is preferable preassembled for the user by the manufacturer and, again, is simply is connected by an easy assembly step without tools. Upon assembly of the foot member to the side rails, a pleasing appearance is maintained by included movable slides that can be slid into place to cover gaps between the foot member and the side rails. 
         [0016]    While the following description of the invention relates to the presence of a foot member to support the foot end of the bed frame, it can be seen that a similar feature could be added to the head end of the bed frame, that is, the use of a head member that is affixed by means of a wedge and receiver to the head ends of the side rails to replace head board brackets that normally are present at the head end of the side rails. Thus, the headboard itself would be eliminated and the head end of the bed would be finished off in the same manner as the foot end as described herein. 
         [0017]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view illustrating an exemplary bed frame of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of the foot member of the bed frame of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating an end of the foot member; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an end of the foot member taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an end of the foot member; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C are side views illustrating the progressive steps in the attachment of the foot member to the side rail of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a completed assembly of the foot member to the side rail in the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are a perspective view, and an enlarged perspective view, respectively, of a foot member affixed to a side rail; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the connection between a side rail and a foot member; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of the connection between a side rail and a foot member taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of a bed frame  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the bed frame  10  is comprised of two side rails  12  that are oriented parallel to each other and support the side edges of a box spring and mattress. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , each of the side rails  12  is made up of L-shaped angle irons affixed together to produce a T-shaped structural member, however, the side rails  12  can also be other configurations, such as L-shaped angle irons or T-shaped members as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,184 of Polevoy et al. and the disclosure of the &#39;184 patent is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
         [0029]    As will be described herein, the side rails  12  in the construction of the bed frame  10 , have head ends  14  which are defined, and will be herein referred to, as the location where the head of the user is positioned and which normally will include head end brackets  16  for being affixed to a head board (not shown). The opposite ends of the side rails  12  are defined as the foot ends  18  where the feet of the user are designed to be located when the user is lying supine on the bed. As can be seen, the foot ends  18  in the exemplary embodiment are curved. 
         [0030]    The side rails  12  can have protective shields  20  affixed thereto to create an esthetically pleasing appearance as well as provide protection against potential damage by ripping or tearing of the bed coverings through the encountering of an end or corner of an angle iron that forms the side rails  12 . The protective shields  20  can be constructed and assembled to the side rails  12  in accordance with that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,027 and the disclosure of the &#39;027 patent is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
         [0031]    There can also be seen, cross members  22  that have their ends  24  affixed to the side rails  12  and span the distance therebetween. At the ends  24  of each of the cross members  22 , there is an end wedge  26  formed and which interfits into a receiver  28  having a cavity  30  formed therein. The receivers  28  are affixed to each of the side rails  12 . The use of an end wedge and receiver is shown and described in U.S. Application Publication No. 2010/0242171 of Polevoy et al. and the disclosure of the &#39;171 publication is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0032]    A foot member  32  is present that is affixed to the foot ends  18  of the side rails  12  by means of an affixation system. The foot member  32  includes a protective shield  34  that covers the external surface of the foot member  32  and may be of the type shown and described in the aforementioned &#39;027 patent of Polevoy et al. In addition, the foot member  32  includes movable slides  36  located at the opposed ends of the foot member  32  and the purpose of the movable slides  36  will be later explained. 
         [0033]    As also can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the cross members  22  have a center wedge  38  that extends downwardly from each of the cross members  22  in a similar manner to the end wedges  26 . As such, when the bed frame  10  is assembled, a center leg  40  can be affixed to each of the center wedges  38  so that the center legs  40  can contact the support surface such as the floor and support the bed frame  10  at the center thereof. As will become clear, the assembly of the center legs  40  is carried out by simply sliding a center leg  40  onto each center wedge  38  such that center leg  40  snaps on to the center wedge  38  to be retained in that affixed position. 
         [0034]    Turning then to  FIG. 2 , taken along with  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of the foot member  32  and illustrating its assembly. It should be noted that the assembly of the foot member  32  is preferably carried out by the manufacturer of the bed frame rather than by the ultimate user on site, however, it could be done by the user. As such, the foot member  32  is comprised of an upper member  42  that is the same as a cross member  22 , however the upper member  42  will be referred to by different identification numbers to better explain its particular function in forming a foot member  32 . As such, the upper member  42  is a T-shaped iron member having an upper flat flange  44  and a center, downwardly extending flange  46  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0035]    A pair of foot end wedges  48  are affixed to the opposed ends of the upper member  42  and may be affixed thereto by means of rivets. As can also be seen, with the use of rivets, there are formed holes  50  in the foot end wedge  48 , the purpose of which will be later explained. As seen in  FIG. 2 , there are two holes  50 , however, there are an additional two holes formed on the opposed side of the foot end wedge  48  and are not shown in  FIG. 2 . In effect, the opposite side of the foot end wedge  48  is a mirror image of the side shown in  FIG. 2 . Again, to facilitate the manufacture of the overall bed frame  10 , the upper member  42  as well as the foot end wedges  48  and other features of the upper member  42  are the same as the cross members  22  as well as the assembly of center legs  40  that are slid onto the center wedge (not identified in  FIG. 2 ) such that center leg  40  snaps on to the center wedge of the upper member  42  in the same manner as with the center legs  40  of the cross members  22 . 
         [0036]    The foot member  32  is further comprised of a lower member  52  that is made of an angle iron  54  that is covered by the protective shield  34  and which includes the movable slide  36 . A pair of corner decks  58  is affixed to the opposed ends of the angle iron  54  by means such as rivets and each corner deck  58  has an opening  60  therethrough. 
         [0037]    Accordingly, in the assembly of the foot member  32 , the upper member  42  is connected to the lower member  52  by inserting the foot end wedges  48  through the openings  60 . In so doing, protrusions  62  present in the internal surface of the corner deck  58  surrounding the openings  60  snaps into the holes  50  so that the foot member  32  is solidly constructed with the upper member  42  affixed to the lower member  52  with the foot end wedges  48  extending downwardly from the foot member  32 . 
         [0038]    Turning then to  FIG. 3 , there is a top view of one of the ends of the foot member  32 . In this view, there can be seen the upper flange  44  of the T-shaped structural member as it is fitted into corner deck  58 . Also shown is the protective shield  34  that covers the angle iron  54 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the junction of the foot member  32  taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and illustrates the position of the T-shaped upper member  42  with the foot end wedge  48  depending downwardly therefrom and passing through the opening  60  in the corner deck  58 . Also shown are the protrusions  62  that are formed in the inner surface of the opening  60  that snap into the holes  50  to firmly retain the upper member  42  to the corner deck  58 . 
         [0040]    Turning then to  FIG. 5 , taken along with  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is a perspective view of an end of the foot member  32  and illustrating the fitting of the upper flange  44  of the upper member  42  into a similarly dimensioned slot  64  in the corner deck  58 , thereby presenting a flat surface for seating of the box spring. 
         [0041]    Turning then to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C, there are end views illustrating the assembly or affixation of the foot member  32  to the foot end receivers  66 . As such, in  FIG. 6A , the foot member  32  is positioned just above the foot end receiver  66  to be lowered in making the connection. In  FIG. 6B , the foot member  32  has been lowered such that the foot end wedge  48  has passed through the opening  50  and is seated within the foot end receiver  66 . 
         [0042]    As shown, particularly in  FIG. 6B , there is a gap  68  between the foot member  32  and the foot end receiver  66  due to variations in the dimensions and tolerances in the fabrication of the components. The movable slide  36  in  FIG. 6B  is in its open position such that the gap  68  is uncovered. As a final step, in  FIG. 6C , the movable slide  36  is slid into a closed position where it covers the gap  68  to provide a final overall pleasing appearance. 
         [0043]    Accordingly, in  FIG. 7 , there is a perspective view of the completed junction of a foot member  32  with the foot end receiver  66  and, correspondingly, with a side rail  12 . 
         [0044]    Turning then to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , there is a perspective view and an enlarged perspective view, of a foot member  32  affixed to a side rail  12  by means of the coupling between the foot member  32  and a corner deck  58  that is, in turn affixed to a side rail  12  as previously explained. As can be seen, the foot member  32  is in position and the movable slide  36  has been moved to its closed position straddling the gap  68  (see  FIG. 6B ) between the foot member  32  and the curved end of the side rail  12 . 
         [0045]    In moving the movable slide  36  to its closed position, the movable slide  36  is moved in the direction of the arrow A and has a tooth  70  at its distal end. The tooth  70  at that distal end progresses along a slight ramp  72  progressing upwardly, and, at the end of that ramp  72 , there is a pocket  74  into which the tooth  70  drops, thereby retaining the movable slide  36  in its final position. In a preferred embodiment, the ramp  72  and the pocket  74  may be incorporated into a plug  76  that interfits into the open end of the foot member  32  and which also eliminates the otherwise sharp end of that foot member  32 . 
         [0046]    Turning to  FIG. 9 , there is an end view of the connection between a side rail  12  and a foot member  32  and  FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . In these Figures, it can be seen that the movable slide  36  is in its closed position covering the slot ( FIG. 6B ) and the corner deck  58  fits down upon the foot end receiver  66  to provide a strong connection. 
         [0047]    Again, as explained in the Summary of the Invention, the present invention can include a head member that is affixed between the head ends of the side rails so that the head end of the bed frame is finished off in a manner the same as the foot end as described in the present patent application. As such, the head member can have wedges affixed thereto that interfit into receivers provided in the head end of the side rails and eliminate the head board brackets as well as an attached headboard. Such an arrangement can provide additional support to the head end of the bed frame as well as create an attractive appearance. 
         [0048]    While the present invention has been set forth in terms of a specific embodiment of embodiments, it will be understood that the present wrap around bed frame and components therefore 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.