Patent Publication Number: US-6216289-B1

Title: Combination bedding foundation and adjustable height bed frame

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bedding products, and more particularly, to a combination box spring and bed frame. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional bedding system comprises a metal bed frame to which a headboard and footboard may be attached, a box spring resting upon the metal bed frame and a mattress resting upon the box spring. A popular common type of bed frame is a low metal bed frame known as a “Hollywood” bed frame. This relatively inexpensive metal frame may be used with or without a headboard and is particularly attractive to the public because of its low cost. Such an inexpensive Hollywood bed frame is collapsible and is relatively easy to assemble. Because the bed frame is a knock down or collapsible type of bed frame, the bed frame is usually packaged and shipped as a separate item requiring assembly by the purchaser at the desired location. Oftentimes, such assembly requires additional fasteners which are commonly lost or misplaced, thus requiring replacement and delaying assembly of the bed frame. Additionally, such Hollywood bed frames have many sharp edges which oftentimes tear or rip the upholstery surrounding a conventional box spring which rests upon the metal bed frame. 
     Such metal bed frames usually have one or more fixed legs depending downwardly from one or more members of the bed frame to which a caster wheel is attached, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,710. With such metal bed frames, the height of the bed frame relative to the supporting surface or floor of the room in which the bed is located is fixed. Consequently, the height of the box spring and mattress are fixed. Oftentimes, consumers find the fixed height of the bed frame, box spring and mattress to be too high or low. Thus, there is a need for a metal bed frame having an adjustable height. 
     Several bed frames have been developed having adjustable heights, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,689. Additionally, applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,614 discloses a center support system with legs of adjustable heights so as to adjust the height of a center support system adapted to be secured to a bed frame. 
     Attempts have been made to eliminate the metal bed frame by retrofitting a conventional box spring by supporting the box spring above the ground with a leg-type structure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 discloses such a bedding product. This patent discloses a conventional box spring having a framing member secured to each side rail of the box spring and a pair of leg structures pivotally connected to the framing members and extending therebetween. The leg structures are foldable against the underside of the box spring to facilitate shipment. Although the bedding product disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 eliminates the need for a separate metal bed frame to support a box spring, the legs supporting the box spring off the ground are not adjustable so as to vary the height of the box spring. Additionally, the framing members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 are located on the outside of the bed frame, exposing the sharp edges of the framing members. Consequently, a person trying to get in or out of the bed may easily cut himself or herself. Additionally, the exposed edges of the framing members may catch and tear one&#39;s clothing. 
     Therefore, it has been one objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product which incorporates a portion of a bed frame thus eliminating the need for a separate metal bed frame to raise the bedding product off the ground. 
     It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product having an adjustable height. 
     It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product comprising a conventional box spring with a pair of opposed angle elements secured to the inside of the side rails of the bed frame in a relatively protected position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention of this application which accomplishes these objectives comprises a bedding product made up of a conventional box spring and a pair of support members secured to the frame of the box spring. Each of the support members has a plurality of supporting, adjustable feet extending downwardly from the support member. The bedding product may be varied in height by rotating the feet secured to the support members. The height of the bedding product may be fixed by locking the feet at a specific height. 
     The bedding product of the present invention has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, the longitudinal dimension being greater than the transverse dimension, as is conventional in most bedding products. However, the present invention may be used with a square bedding product as well in which the longitudinal and transverse dimensions are identical. The bedding product of the present invention includes a box spring having a frame including a pair of longitudinally extending side rails and a pair of transversely extending end rails extending between the side rails. Additionally, a plurality of transversely extending cross slats extend between the side rails between the end rails of the frame and provide support for the springs of the box spring. 
     The support members are secured to the side rails of the box spring frame. Each of the support members comprises an angle element, a plurality of brackets secured to the angle element and a supporting, adjustable foot depending from each bracket. Each of the angle elements comprises a horizontal flange and vertical flange extending downwardly from the horizontal flange. The vertical flange of the angle element is secured to an inside surface of one of the side rails of the box spring frame, and the horizontal flange of the angle element is secured to at least one of the cross slats extending between the side rails of the box spring frame. Thus each of the support members is located inside one of the side rails of the box spring frame in a relatively hidden position. In such a position the outside edges of the angle elements are not exposed, but rather are located inside the end rails of the box spring frame where they are not able to catch an individual&#39;s clothing. Although the angle elements are most commonly made of iron and called angle irons, the angle elements may be made of any material including but not limited to steel or plastic. 
     Each of the brackets is secured to the vertical flange of one of the angle elements and has a planar portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion has a bore or hole therein, inside which is located a plastic insert. 
     Each plastic insert has a body portion, a flange and a threaded thoroughbore extending through the body portion and the flange. The threaded thoroughbore is adapted to receive a threaded stem of an adjustable foot. 
     Each of the supporting, adjustable feet of the present invention comprises a threaded stem extending upwardly from a bottom member or base. The threaded stem threadably engages an insert located inside one of the brackets of one of the support members. A wing nut having a threaded interior hole therethrough is located immediately underneath the plastic insert, with the threaded stem of the adjustable foot passing through the threaded hole of the wing nut below the plastic insert. In order to fix the adjustable foot at a predetermined height the wing nut is rotated against the plastic insert. 
     The location of the angle elements of the support members inside the box spring frame protects the outer edges of the angle elements of the support members so they are unable to catch or snag a person&#39;s clothing or the upholstery surrounding the box spring. Additionally, the bedding product of the present invention avoids the use of a traditional metal bed frame and enables the height of a conventional box spring to be changed as desired. By merely rotating the adjustable feet extending downwardly from the brackets of the support members secured to the box spring frame, one can fix the height of the box spring. 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the bedding product of the present invention comprising a conventional box spring, a pair of support members secured to the frame of the box spring including a plurality of supporting, adjustable feet; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the corners of the bedding product of the present invention illustrating a portion of angle element, a bracket and a supporting, adjustable foot; 
     FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an adjustable foot assembly of the present invention, including a bracket, a supporting foot, a wing nut and a threaded insert. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a bedding product  10  comprising a conventional box spring  12  and a pair of support members  14 . 
     The bedding product  10  has a longitudinal dimension or length L and a transverse dimension or width W. Typically, the longitudinal dimension is greater than the transverse dimension, although the dimensions may be identical in a square bedding product. 
     The box spring  12  has a frame  16  comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side rails  18  and a pair of transversely extending end rails  20 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, extending between the side rails  18  are a plurality of cross slats  22 . Although just three cross slats  22  are illustrated in FIG. 1, any number of cross slats may be used in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 also illustrates a plurality of longitudinally extending intermediate slats  24  located between the side rails  18  of the box spring frame. As is conventional, a plurality of springs (not shown) are secured to the frame  16  and covered with an upholstered covering  25 . 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the side rails  18  has a top surface  26 , bottom surface  28 , outside surface  30  and inside surface  32 . Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the end rails  20  has a top surface (not shown), bottom surface  34 , outside surface (not shown) and an inside surface  36 . Additionally as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the cross slats  22  has a top surface  40 , a bottom surface  42  and a pair of opposed side surfaces  44 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, each of the support members  14  comprises an angle element  46 , a pair of brackets  48  secured to the angle element  46  and a supporting, adjustable foot  50  extending downwardly from each of the brackets  46 . Each supporting, adjustable foot  50  is threadably engaged with a portion of one of the brackets and may be changed in length by rotating the base of the foot. Although two brackets and feet are illustrated in FIG. 1 as depending downwardly from each of the support members  14 , each support member  14  may have any number of brackets and supporting, adjustable feet. This application is not intended to limit the number of supporting, adjustable feet extending downwardly from the support members  14  or the number of brackets  48  secured to the angle elements  46 . 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the angle elements  46  comprises a horizontal flange  52  and a vertical flange  54  extending downwardly from the horizontal flange  52 . The angle element  46  is oriented so that the horizontal flange  52  extends inwardly from an upper portion of the vertical flange as illustrated in FIG.  3 . Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the angle element  46  has an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration. 
     In order to fixedly secure the angle element  46  to one of the side rails  18  of the frame  16 , the vertical flange  54  of the angle element  46  is secured to the inside surface  32  of the side rail  18  of the frame  16  with fasteners  56 , which may be screws, rivets or any other types of fasteners. Similarly, fasteners  58  (see FIG. 2) secure the horizontal flange  52  of the angle element  46  to at least one of the cross slats  22 . These fasteners  56 , 58  fix the position of the angle element  46  in a location in which the angle element  46  is protected by the side and end rails of the frame. In such a position, the outside edges  60  of the angle element  46  are not exposed where they could cause injury to people either getting in or out of the bed, or bumping against the bed. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 2, each angle element  46  has an end edge  60  which abuts against the inside surface  36  of one of the end rails  20  of the box spring frame. Thus the angle element  46  extends from the inside surface  36  of one end rail  20  longitudinally to the other inside surface of the other end rail  20  of the frame. However, this application does not intend to limit the length of either of the support members. Therefore, the support members  14  and more particularly the angle elements  46  may be of any length. 
     Alternatively, multiple individual pieces of support member may be secured to each side rail of the box spring frame, as opposed to one continuous support member  14  as is illustrated and described. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the horizontal flanges  52  of the angle element  46  has an opening  62  therein through which passes a bracket  48 . Each bracket  48  has a planar portion  64  and a cylindrical portion  66 . The planar portion  64  of the bracket is welded or otherwise secured with fasteners  68  to the vertical flange  54  of the angle element  46 . The cylindrical portion  66  has a cylindrical bore  70  therein sized so as to receive a plastic insert  72  (see FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the plastic insert  72  has a body portion  74  and a flange  76 . A threaded thoroughbore  78  extends through the body portion  74  and the flange  76  of the plastic insert. The threaded thoroughbore  78  is adapted to receive a threaded stem  80  of a supporting, adjustable foot  82 . The adjustable foot  82  further comprises a base or bottom member  84 , which is illustrated as being circular but may be any other configuration or shape. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plastic insert  72  resides inside the bore  70  of the cylindrical portion  66  of one of the brackets. The threaded stem  80  of an adjustable foot  82  is threadably engaged with the plastic insert  72  so that upon rotation of the adjustable foot, the height of the adjustable foot changes. A wing nut  86  having a threaded interior hole  88  is located underneath the plastic insert. The wing nut  86  is tightened in order to fix the height of the adjustable foot  82  as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bracket  48 , plastic insert  72 , wing nut  86 , and adjustable foot  82  make up a supporting foot assembly  90 . 
     By rotating each of the supporting, adjustable feet  82  extending downwardly from the support members  14 , a user may change the distance the frame  16  of the box spring  12  resides upon a supporting surface or floor. In order to facilitate shipment, the adjustable feet and wing nuts may be removed, thus a one-piece unit may be shipped to its desired located where it may be assembled without the need for a conventional metal bed frame. 
     While I have described one preferred embodiment of the bedding product of the present invention, persons skilled in the art will appreciate changes and modifications which may be made to the bedding product without departing from the spirit of the invention of this application. Therefore, I intend to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.