Patent Publication Number: US-8966684-B2

Title: Bed riser storage apparatus and system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The embodiments relate to bed risers, and in particular to an apparatus, system and kit for bed riser storage devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Bed risers are used by individuals for appearance, medical reasons and to increase the height of a bed frame in order to store large items under a bed. Bed risers serve the purpose of raising a bed a desired amount, either at one end or both ends of the bed. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment of the invention includes a bed riser storage device including at least one holder portion. The bed riser storage device couples with a bed riser. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a system including a bed riser storage device including at least one holder portion, and a bed riser removably coupled to a bed leg. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a kit comprising: at least one bed riser storage device including at least one holder portion, and a plurality of bed risers. The at least one bed riser storage device couples to one bed riser of the plurality of bed risers. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the Figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a bed riser storage device system according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of a bed riser storage device system shown in  FIG. 1 , shown with a bed leg inserted into the bed riser and various items stored in the bed riser storage device; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a stack or bed risers without the bed riser storage devices; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a bed riser storage device system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the bed riser storage device system; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the bed riser storage device system; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bed riser storage device system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc. 
     The description may disclose several preferred embodiments of bed riser storage devices, bed riser storage device systems and kits, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof. While the following description will be described in terms of bed riser storage device systems and devices for clarity and to place the invention in context, it should be kept in mind that the teachings herein may have broad application to all types of systems, devices and applications. 
     One embodiment of the invention provides a bed riser storage device including at least one holder portion. The bed riser storage device couples with a bed riser. In one example, the bed riser storage device connected with a bed riser that is used for connecting to a leg of a bed provides a storage area located under a bed for access by a user. The use of the bed riser storage device assists user in storing items out of the way and within reach. In one example, a user stores items typically placed on a night stand, such as a remote control(s), a cell phone, eye glasses, a TV programming guide, etc. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates bed riser storage device system  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device system  100  includes a bed riser storage device  110  and a bed riser  120 . In one example, the bed riser storage device  110  includes at least one holder portion or pocket  140 . In one embodiment of the invention, two or more holder portions  140  (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.) are included in the bed riser storage device  110 . In this embodiment of the invention, the two or more holder portions  140  are separated by a divider portion  150 . In one example, the two or more holder portions  140  may have the same or different sizes. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, bed riser storage device  110  includes a coupling portion  115 . In one example, the coupling portion  115  is shaped to slide over a bed riser  120 . In other examples, the coupling portion may comprise two portions that connect together (e.g., snap together, bolt/screw together, etc.) around a bed riser  120 . In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling portion has a round or conical shape that matches a conical shaped bed riser  120 . In other examples, the coupling portion  115  may have different shapes for attaching to different shaped bed risers  120 , such as square, rectangular, round, cylindrical, polygonal, etc. It should be noted that while a conical shaped bed riser  120  is shown in  FIG. 1 , in other examples the bed riser storage device  110  may have a corresponding shape to the different shaped bed risers  120 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  is a separate device that attaches to standard bed risers, either removably or irremovably. In another embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  is integrated with a bed riser  120 . In yet another embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  and the bed riser  120  are manufactured in a contiguous single device via molding or extrusion processes. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser  120  is shaped to hold a bed leg, a bed footing or a wheel/roller through an opening in a depression  121 . In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  is positioned a predetermined height above a base portion  122  of the bed riser  120 . In one example, the bed riser storage device  110  rotates around the bed riser  120  providing easy access to the storage portions  140  by a user. In another example, the bed riser storage device  110  is fixed to the bed riser  120 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser  120  includes a storage portion or pocket that is hidden from sight and internal to the bed riser  120 . In one example, the storage portion within the bed riser  120  locks into place and opens via a spring locking/releasing mechanism. In this example, devices may be hidden from sight when desired. In another example, a storage portion(s)  140  are only located on one portion of the bed riser storage device  110  (e.g., one half, one third, etc.). In this example, the bed riser storage device  110  may be rotated so that the storage portion(s)  140  are facing underneath a bed and cannot be seen. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  includes a wire management portion  130 . In one example, the wire management portion  130  provides a slot for wires from power sources or charging devices that are connected to stored electronic devices, such as cell phones, cameras, etc. The wire management portion  130  provides a user with a way to organize electrical wires to reduce the possibility of wires becoming tangled or damaged, makes it easy for wires from different devices to be separated, provides a clean look as opposed to multiple wires laying together on the floor, etc. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  includes an electrical device connector portion  160 . In one example, the electrical connector portion  160  is a USB connector. In another example, the electrical connector portion  160  includes a retractable USB connector for powering/charging electronic devices. In one embodiment of the invention, bed riser storage device  110  includes a light source  170  connected to a power source, such as one or more batteries, a USB connector, etc. In one example, the light source  170  is a LED light source that provides lighting to the holder portion(s)  140  and surrounding area. In another example, the bed riser storage device  110  includes more than one light source  170 , such as two, three, four, etc. In other examples, other types of light sources may be employed, such as Electroluminescent (EL) light sources, etc. In one embodiment of the invention, the bed riser storage device  110  includes glow-in-the-dark material. 
     In one example, the bed riser  120  and bed riser storage device  110  may be made of one or more of: reinforced polypropylene, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, nylon material, hardened plastic, polymer, wood, rubber, composite material, metal or metal alloy, etc., or similar materials. 
     In one example, the bed riser  120  has a height range from 4-8 inches, preferably 6 inches, and a diameter range of between 4-9 inches, preferably 6.5 inches. In one example, the bed riser storage device system  100  raises a bed 3-8 inches, preferably 6 inches. In one example, each bed riser  120  supports about 300 pounds. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a bed riser storage device system  100  shown with a bed leg  210  inserted in the opening of depression  121  of the bed riser  120  according to one embodiment of the invention. In one example, a small book  225 , a remote control  226  and 1 cell phone  227  are shown within holder portions  140 . A charging wire connector  229  (e.g., USB connector) is placed on a wire management portion  130 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a stack of three bed risers  120 . In one embodiment of the invention, a kit includes the four bed risers  120  and one bed riser storage device  110  shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In another example, a kit may include two bed riser storage devices  110  and four bed risers  120 . Other kits may include other embodiments of the invention, such as integrated bed riser storage devices  110  and bed risers  120 , etc. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of bed riser storage device system  100 . As illustrated, the wire management portion  130  is shown as a slot or groove. In other embodiments of the invention, the wire management portion  130  may comprises multiple slots or grooves for separating and managing electronic device wires. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of bed riser storage device system  100 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of bed riser storage device system  100 . In one example, support portion  510  comprises a reinforced design including a “webbed” molded structure for added strength. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-section view of the bed riser storage device system  100 . As illustrated, the bed leg support portion  610  has a height above the base portion  122 , which raises a bed upon a bed leg (e.g., bed leg  210  shown in  FIG. 2A ) being placed in the depression portion  121 . 
     It should be noted that while the various embodiments of the invention and examples are related to raising a bed, other uses for the bed riser storage device  110  and bed riser storage device system  100  may be employed, such as using the bed riser storage device  110  and bed riser storage device system  100  for other furniture, such as chairs, couches, desks, etc. 
     In the description above, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known equivalent components and elements may be substituted in place of those described herein, and similarly, well-known equivalent techniques may be substituted in place of the particular techniques disclosed. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid obscuring the understanding of this description. 
     Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.