Patent Publication Number: US-7895687-B2

Title: Cross bar system for a bed frame

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to beds and bed frames and more particularly to a cross bar system for bed frames. 
     Conventional beds may consist of a mattress, a box spring, a headboard, a footboard, a pair of spaced apart bed rails, and longitudinally spaced, transversely extending wooden or metal slats extending between the bed rails. The slats and the bed rails are used to support the mattress and box spring above the floor upon which the bed is positioned. During use, the slats have a tendency to warp, twist, or deflect under the weight of the box spring, the mattress, and the individuals using the bed. Any warping, twisting, or deflecting of the bed rails causes the box spring to sag or droop which leads to an uneven sleeping surface. Also, this is a problem with wider span beds such as queen size and king size width beds. Since the box spring is wider and longer it is heavy and needs better or enhanced support. Further, sagging of the box spring over time may damage the box spring or other bed components which would then need to be replaced. 
     It is also known that a bed frame may be constructed of various structural members such as side rails and cross members that are connected to the side rails to form a rigid structure that supports a box spring and a mattress. The side rails and the cross members include leg portions that extend downwardly to elevate the structural members above the floor. Each of the leg portions have fitted or inserted therein a glide assembly to provide easy movement of the structural members, the box spring, and the mattress. The side rails may be constructed from wood and the cross members may be constructed from metal. In this particular situation, the cross member has holes drilled in the ends thereof for receiving screws which are screwed into the wooden side rails. However, the point where the wood screws are screwed into the wooden side rails is typically the weakest point and it is here where the bed frame is subject to failure. For example, if the bed frame needs to be repositioned, the stress associated with moving the bed frame is centered where the screws are screwed into the wood side rails. Movement of the cross member will pull the screws out causing damage to the wooden side rails. If this occurs then the entire bed frame may have to be replaced or repaired. 
     The present disclosure is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings associated with support systems for bed frames or cross members. In particular, the present disclosure provides a cross bar system for supporting a box spring and a mattress and which reduces stress on bed rails associated with a bed. Moreover, the present disclosure is a cross bar system for supporting a bed frame and a bed. While the present cross bar system is applicable for use with full, queen, kings and California king size beds which require support legs on the cross members or cross bars to support the extra width and weight of such beds and bedding, it is also suitable for use with a twin size bed where support legs may be desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one form of the present disclosure, a cross bar system for supporting a bed having a pair of bed rails comprises a cross bar member, a bracket member for attachment to one of the bed rails with the bracket member for receiving the cross bar member, and a leg member for attachment to the cross bar member for supporting the cross bar member. 
     In another form of the present disclosure, a cross bar system for supporting a bed having a pair of bed rails comprises an L-shaped cross bar member having a horizontal flange, a vertical flange, a first end, and a second end, a bracket member for attachment to one of the bed rails with the bracket member for receiving one of the ends of the L-shaped cross bar member, and a leg member for attachment to horizontal flange and the vertical flange of the L-shaped cross bar member for supporting the L-shaped cross bar member. 
     In yet another form of the present disclosure, a cross bar system for supporting a bed having a pair of bed rails comprises an L-shaped cross bar member having a horizontal flange, a vertical flange, a first end, and a second end, a first bracket member for attachment to one of the bed rails and a second bracket member for attachment to the other one of the bed rails with each of the bracket members for receiving one of the ends of the L-shaped cross bar member, and a leg member for attachment to horizontal flange and the vertical flange of the L-shaped cross bar member for supporting the L-shaped cross bar member. 
     In light of the foregoing comments, it will be recognized that a principal object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed which is of simple construction and design and which can be easily employed with highly reliable results. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed that employs lightweight structures or components. 
     A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed that is capable of being manufactured using commonly available components that are relatively inexpensive. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed that can be shipped in a compact form and container. 
     Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed that has increased strength, reliability, and durability. 
     A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a cross bar system for supporting a bed that has height adjustable leg supports. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent after considering the following detailed specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cross bar system for supporting a bed constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a bracket member constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the bracket member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the bracket member shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a leg member constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of the leg member shown in  FIG. 5  shown partially cut away; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the leg member shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the leg member shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the leg member shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the leg member installed on a cross bar member with the cross bar member shown in cross section; 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of the cross bar system installed on a bed; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of an extension leg member; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the extension leg member shown in  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a leg member receiving the extension leg member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like items, number  10  identifies an embodiment of a cross bar system for supporting a bed constructed according to the present disclosure. With reference now to  FIG. 1 , the cross bar system  10  is shown comprising a first bracket member  12  mounted to a first bed rail  14 , a cross bar member  16  mounted to the first bracket member  12 , and a leg member  18  mounted to the cross bar member  16 . The system  10  may also comprise a second bracket member  20  mounted to a second be rail  22  with the cross bar member  16  mounted to the second bracket member  20 . The cross bar member  16  is sized to span the width of a particular shaped bed (not shown) such as a full, queen, kings or California king sized bed. In this manner, the leg member  18  will support the cross bar member  16 . The leg member  18  comprises a threaded glide member  24  inserted into a threaded insert  26  that fits in the leg member  18 . The threaded glide member  24  may be adjusted up or down in order to level the leg member  18 . Also, the leg member  18  is capable of sliding along the cross bar member  16 , as will be discussed more fully herein. It is also possible and contemplated that more than one leg member  18  may be installed on the same cross bar member  16  to add further support to the cross bar member  16 . For example, a king sized bed is wider than a full sized bed and this may require more than one leg support to prop up the cross bar member  16  along the entire span of the cross bar member  16 . The bed rails  14  and  22  are typically constructed from wood and the bracket members  12  and  20  may be screwed or otherwise secured to the rails  14  and  22 , as will be explained herein. The bed rails  14  and  22  each have a cleat  28 , and  30 , respectively, to which the bracket members  12  and  20  are mounted. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 24 , the first bracket member  12  is illustrated. The first bracket member  12  comprises a first flange  40 , a second flange  42 , and a hanger portion  44  between the flanges  40  and  42 . The first flange  40  has an upper portion  46 , an intermediate offset portion  48 , and a lower portion  50 . The upper portion  46  also has an aperture or opening  52  which is sized to receive a screw (not shown) such as a wood screw or other fastening type device. As previously indicated, the screw is used to secure or mount the first bracket member  12  to the wooden bed rail  14 . The wooden bed rail  14  may be predrilled to receive the screw. 
     The second flange  42  has an upper portion  54 , an offset portion  56 , and a lower portion  58 . The upper portion  54  has an opening  60  that allows a screw to be inserted therein. Although not described previously, the opening  60  may be chamfered or beveled to permit a head of a screw to be flush with the upper portion  54 . The upper portion  54  is placed on the cleat  28  of the bed rail  14  and secured in place. 
     The hanger portion  44  is centered between the flanges  40  and  42  and includes a slot  62  for receiving one end of the cross bar member  16 . The bracket  12  also comprises a pair of anti-crack grooves  64  and  66 . The grooves  64  and  66  facilitate the manufacturing of the bracket  12 . The bracket  20  is the same as the bracket  12  and the bracket  20  comprises the same component parts. Also, the brackets  12  and  20  are constructed from metal. 
       FIGS. 5-9  illustrate the leg member  18  without the glide member  24  or the threaded insert  26  being installed. The leg member  18  comprises a top portion  80  having a horizontal track  82 . The horizontal track  82  may comprise a first track portion  84  and a second track portion  86 . The track portions  84  and  86  are U-shaped in configuration. As can be appreciated, although two track portions  84  and  86  are shown it is also possible to have one track portion that extends along the entire length of the top portion  80 . The top portion  80  has an opening  88 . The leg member  18  further comprises a side portion  90  connected to the top portion  80  and extending downwardly from the top portion  80  and a vertical track  92  that extends along the entire length of the side portion  90 . The vertical track  92  is U-shaped in construction. It is also contemplated that the vertical track  92  may comprise two or more track portions. 
     The leg member  18  also comprises a central hollow portion  94  having a pair of ribs  96  and  98 . The ribs  96  and  98  are angled inwardly from the top portion  80  down to a bottom  100 . The bottom  100  has an opening  102  ( FIGS. 6 and 9 ) that is sized and shaped for receiving the threaded insert  26 . The opening  102  and the opening  88  are aligned with each other. 
     With particular reference now to  FIG. 6 , a back view of the leg member  18  is shown having a portion of the central portion  94  cut away to illustrate that the central portion  94  is hollow. The opening  102  is sized to allow the threaded insert  26  to be placed therein. The leg member  18  is preferably made from high density polyethylene. The leg member  18  is strong and can support weights of at least 2,300 pounds. It is also possible that the leg member  18  may be constructed from other materials such as metal or other high strength plastics. 
       FIG. 10  depicts the leg member  18  mounted to the cross bar member  16 . The cross bar member  16  is an angle iron or an L-shaped piece of metal. The cross bar member  16  has a horizontal flange  120  and a vertical flange  122 . The second track portion  86  of the horizontal track  82  is adapted to engage the horizontal flange  120  of the cross bar member  16 . The vertical track  92  is adapted to engage the vertical flange  122  of the cross bar member  16 . In the manner, the leg member  18  may be positioned on the cross bar member  16  by sliding the track portions  84  and  86  of the horizontal track  82  onto the horizontal flange  120  and the vertical track  92  onto the vertical flange  122 . The leg member  18  may be positioned anywhere along the entire length of the cross bar member  16 . In view of this, it is possible to place one or more of the leg members  18  along the cross bar member  16  for supporting the cross bar member  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the cross bar system  10  is shown being installed on a bed  150 . The bed  150  consists of a headboard  152  and a pair of side rails  154  and  156 . Other components of the bed  150  which are not shown may include a footboard, a mattress, and a box spring for supporting the mattress. The bed  150  is shown to have a first cross bar system  158  installed on the side rails  154  and  156 . In particular, the first cross bar system  158  comprises a leg member  160  that is engaged with a cross bar member  162  with the cross bar member  162  being hung on a pair of bracket members  164  and  166 . A second cross bar system  168  is also installed on the bed  150 . The second cross bar system  168  comprises a pair of leg members  170  and  172  fit into place on a cross bar member  174 . As can be appreciated, the leg members  170  and  172  can be positioned anywhere on the cross bar member  174  by sliding either or both of the leg members  170  and  172  along the length of the cross bar member  174 . Also, it is possible to have more than two leg members  170  and  172  on the cross bar member  174  in the case where more support is required. A third cross bar system  176  is used with the bed  150 . The third cross bar system  176  is positioned near the headboard  152 . The third cross bar system  176  uses one leg member  178 . Depending on the size of the bed  150 , it is also contemplated to include more that the three cross bar systems  158 ,  168 , and  176 . 
     In operation, the bracket members  164  and  166  are screwed onto the side rails  154  and  156 , respectively, by use of screws or other fastening devices. For example, the bracket members  164  and  166  may be positioned  63 ″ away from the headboard  152 . The leg member  160  is then placed onto the cross bar member  162  and may be centered on the member  162 . The glide  24  may be adjusted to allow the cross bar member  162  to sit flush with the top of the side rails  154  and  156  and to have the glide  24  touch the floor. The cross bar member  162  including the leg member  160  is then inserted into the bracket members  164  and  166 . The other cross bar systems  168  and  176  are installed in a similar manner. 
     As can be realized, the cross bar system  10  is applicable for use with full, queen, kings and California king size beds. The leg member  18  and the bracket members  12  and  20  may fit any size bed. The cross bar member  16  has to be the width of the particular sized bed. In this manner, a store may stock leg members  18  and bracket members  12  and  20  and have various sized cross bar members  16  for the various beds that are sold. Also, the store may stock one size of a cross bar member  16 , for example the widest width possible for a bed, and then cut the cross bar member  16  to length depending upon which bed is purchased. By using the bracket members  12  and  20  the cross bar member  16  does not have to have holes punched therein at each end and this reduces the cost for a cross bar system. Further, the hanger portion  44  of the bracket member  12  allows for some tolerance in the length of the cross bar member  16 . For example, the cross bar member  16  for a standard king size bed may have a length of between 75½″ to 77½″ and the hanger portion  44  will be able to accept this cross bar member  16 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of an extension leg member  200  that may be used to increase the height of the cross bar system  10 . For example, the side rails on a bed may be higher than is typical due to the side rails being placed on the headboard and footboard at a higher than typical height. In this situation the leg member  18  will not be long enough for the threaded glide member  24  to touch the floor. In order to compensate for the difference in height, the extension leg member  200  is used. The extension leg member  200  comprises a central hollow portion  202  having a pair of hollow rib members  204  and  206 . The hollow rib members  204  and  206  are used to capture the ribs  96  and  98  when a leg member  18  is inserted into the extension leg member  200 . The extension leg member  200  has a bottom portion  208  that has an opening (not shown) that is sized and shaped to receiving a threaded insert  26 . The extension leg member  200  also has a top portion  210  that is adapted to receive a leg member  18 . An aperture or opening  212  is formed in the extension leg member  200  whose function will be explained more fully herein. 
     With particular reference now to  FIG. 13 , a top view of the top portion  210  of the extension leg member  200  is illustrated. The top portion  210  is open and is sized and shaped to receive and hold a leg member  18  inserted therein. The extension leg member  200  also has a stop portion  214  that is used to rest the bottom  100  of the leg member  18 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a leg member  18  inserted into the extension leg member  200 . The extension leg member  200  is sized and shaped to receive and hold the leg member  18  in place. The rib members  204  and  206  receive the ribs  96  and  98 , respectively. The central hollow portion  94  of the leg member  18  is also aligned with the central hollow portion  202  of the extension leg member  200 . The leg member  18  also has a protrusion or bump  216  that is adapted to mate with the opening  212  of the extension leg member  200 . In this manner the opening  212  and the bump  216  lock the leg member  18  and the extension leg member  200  together. Locking the leg member  18  and the extension leg member  200  together prevents the members  18  and  200  from separating when installing the system  10 . Although not shown, a threaded guide member  24  and a threaded insert  26  may be used with the extension leg member  200 . 
     From all that has been said, it will be clear that there has thus been shown and described herein a cross bar system which fulfills the various objects and advantages sought therefore. It will become apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the subject cross bar system are possible and contemplated. All changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure are deemed to be covered by the disclosure, which is limited only by the claims which follow.