Abstract:
A connecting device having side support members with U-shaped slots disposed therein for connecting cross members. The cross members have ends cut at an angle such that the side support members are disposed at an angle of approximately sixty to eighty degrees with respect to a horizontal support surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Applicant hereby claims priority based on Provisional Application No. 60/144,636 filed Jul. 20, 1999, and entitled “BED FRAME” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally pertains to connecting devices for connecting structural members and particularly to a bed frame construction. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for a frame design, and in particular, a design for a connection between the side rails and cross-bearing members of a frame that is economical, easy to assemble, and safer than conventional designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the above-described need by providing a connecting device with a structural member having opposed end walls connected to a side wall. Each of the end walls has an inner wall extending therefrom in spaced apart relation to the side wall. The structural member has a first slot and a second slot. The first slot extends from the end wall through the inner wall and the second slot extends through the opposite inner wall. 
     A cross-bearing member having a side wall, end wall, inner wall and top wall disposed on at least one end engages with the structural member. The end wall and inner wall connect to the side wall and are spaced apart from the top wall such that the end wall, inner wall and side wall are capable of sliding through the first slot in the structural member and the side wall on the opposite end is capable of sliding through the second slot. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the connecting device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cross member of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the inside top of one of the side support members; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the inside bottom of one of the side support members; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of one of the cross members; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the front top of one of the side support members; and, 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the top of one of the side support members. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, a pair of structural members  10 ,  13  are connected by a plurality of cross-bearing members  16 . The structural members  10 ,  13  comprise a left hand member  10  and a right hand member  13 . The members  10 ,  13  are substantially similar except for their right and left hand orientation as described herein. The members  10 ,  13  are defined along a longitudinal axis X and axes Y, Z as shown in FIG.  4 . The members  10 ,  13  are preferably constructed from metal (18 gauge steel), although wood or plastic would also be suitable in some instances. The members  10 ,  13  have a substantially planar side wall  19  that extends along the entire length of the member. At the top and bottom of the side wall  19  there are inner walls  22 ,  25  respectively. The inner walls  22 ,  25  are preferably integrally formed by bending the metal. The top inner wall  22  extends substantially parallel to the side wall  19 . An end wall  28  (shown in FIG. 4) extends substantially perpendicular to the side wall  19 . 
     The bottom inner wall  25  extends parallel to side wall  19 , and the bottom end wall  31  (shown in FIG. 5) extends substantially perpendicular to side wall  19 . The cross-bearing members  16  connect to the side structural members  10 ,  13  at opposite ends as detailed herein. The cross-bearing members  16  have a central portion  43  disposed between opposite ends  46 ,  49 . The ends  46 ,  49  interlock with a plurality of slots  52 ,  55  (shown in FIGS. 4-5) in the side support members  10 ,  13  as detailed below. 
     Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-bearing members  16  are angled at the ends  46 ,  49  at an angle a of approximately sixty to eighty degrees with the horizontal. As a result when the side support members  10 ,  13  are connected by the cross members  16 , they also take an angle of approximately sixty to eighty degrees to the horizontal. 
     In FIG. 4, the structural member  10  is shown in greater detail. As shown the ends of the side support member  10  include an end wall  28  perpendicular to the side wall  19  and an inner wall  22  parallel to the side wall  19 . A slot  52  terminates at one end at the end of the inner wall  22 . The slot  52  extends along the Z-axis to end wall  28 . Then the slot  52  extends along the Y-axis to a point  53  near the side wall  19  (best shown in FIG.  8 ). The slot  52  then extends in a straight line along the X-axis for approximately one inch. Next, the slot  52  turns inward and extends along the Y-axis to a termination point  54  on the end wall  28 . Accordingly, the slot  52  forms a U-shape inside the end wall  28  and then extends through the edge of the inner wall  22 . The slot  52  must generally permit the side wall  60  (shown in FIG. 6) to pass through and must engage with a portion of the end of the cross-bearing member  16  to hold it in position. Accordingly, other shapes for slot  52  and end wall  28  and inner wall  22  capable of accomplishing the above are also suitable. The slot  52  receives the end  46  (shown in FIG. 6) of the cross-bearing member  16  in sliding fashion as described hereafter. 
     Turning to FIG. 5, the inside bottom portion of the side support member  10  has a corresponding slot  55  that also receives the end  46  of cross-bearing member  16 . 
     In FIG. 6, the end  46  and central portion  43  of cross-bearing member  16  is shown in detail. The central portion  43  of cross-bearing member  16  has a vertical side wall  60 , a top wall  63  disposed perpendicular to the side wall  60 , and a third wall  66  (shown in FIG. 3) connected to the top wall  63  by a curved section  69 . The third wall  66  extends parallel to but is much shorter than the vertical side wall  60 . The end  46  has an opening  72  defined by an end wall  75  disposed perpendicular to the vertical side wall  60 . The opening  72  of approximately five-eighths of an inch is positioned between the end  78  of the top wall  63  and the end wall  75 . The end wall  75  has an inner wall  81  disposed perpendicular to it and disposed in spaced apart parallel relation to the vertical side wall  60 . The end wall  75  is approximately three-quarters of an inch wide, and the inner wall  81  is approximately one-half inch wide. Accordingly, end  46  is capable of sliding downward through slot  52  from the top of the side support member  10  to the bottom of side support member  10  (shown in FIGS.  4  and  5 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the end wall  28  of the structural member  10  has an opening defined by slot  52  that is capable of receiving the side wall  60 , the end wall  75 , and the inner wall  81 . Turning to FIG. 5, the bottom of the side support member  10  only has a slot  55  for the side wall  60  to pass through. An opening for the end wall  75  and the inner wall  81  is not necessary at the bottom because these walls fit inside the space between the side wall  19  and the inner wall  25 . 
     FIG. 7 shows slot  52  from the inside of structural member  10 , and FIG. 8 shows slot  52  from the back of structural member  10 . 
     Structural member  13  is substantially similar to member  10  and has slot  52  disposed at the top such that it faces slot  52  on member  10  when the side support members are disposed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     End  49  is substantially similar to end  46  described above. Accordingly, ends  46 ,  49  engage with structural members  10 ,  13  in a similar fashion as described above. 
     The present invention provides a connecting device that is secure, easy to assembly and disassemble, and of relatively simple construction. When the connecting device is used with side rails and cross-bearing members to form a bed frame, the sixty to eighty degree angle on the end of the cross-bearing member provides for clearance around the perimeter of the bed at the floor level. 
     The present invention advantageously provides a connecting device for structural beams that can be used in many applications besides the bed frame disclosed herein. The connection device can be used for connecting floor joists, rafters, bridges, shelving, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.