Patent Publication Number: US-2004049847-A1

Title: Bed foundation method and apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF TILE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to foundations for mattresses used with beds, and more particularly to enhanced utilizations of such foundations.  
       [0002] Foundations are used with mattresses in order to elevate the mattress to an appropriate height in relation to a bed frame upon which the foundation rests. The typical foundation has a hollow frame Because the interior is hollow, the entire foundation is covered to conceal the hollow interior and give the appearance that the foundation is a solid support element. As a result the foundation has an inaccessible interior compartment.  
       [0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to adapt the foundation for additional usage with respect to its role as providing an intervening support between a mattress and a bedframe.  
       [0004] A further object of the invention is to adapt foundations for mattresses in a simple, inexpensive and utilitarian fashion.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides an encased foundation that is adapted to be positioned upon a bed frame for supporting a mattress, and adapting the encased foundation for the storage of objects within the foundation.  
       [0006] In accordance with one aspect of the invention the foundation is an encased hollow frame that is converted into an accessible storage compartment having at least one storage drawer which extends from the exterior of the frame to the interior of the foundation.  
       [0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention the frame has opposed elongated sides and the storage drawer extends into the foundation from one of the elongated sides, and a further storage drawer extends into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.  
       [0008] The bed frame upon which the foundation is placed is formed by a planar assemblage of support members which are positionable above a floor, and a plurality of storage drawers extend into the foundation from one of the elongated sides, and another a plurality of storage drawers can extend into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides. A plurality of storage drawers can occupy substantially the entire interior of the foundation.  
       [0009] In accordance with a method of the invention, the steps include (a) providing a bed frame; (b) adapting an encased foundation having a hollow interior for the storage of items therein; and (c) placing the foundation upon the bed frame.  
       [0010] The method further includes the step of placing a mattress upon the foundation and providing, in the foundation, at least one storage drawer, which can extend from the exterior of the frame to the interior of the foundation.  
       [0011] The frame has opposed elongated sides and the storage drawer is extended into the foundation from one of the elongated sides. A further storage drawer can extend into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.  
       [0012] The bed frame is formed by a planar assemblage of support members, and is positioned above a floor for supporting the foundation with a mattress thereupon. The method further includes the step of extending a plurality of storage drawers into the encased foundation from one of the elongated sides, and extending a plurality of storage drawers into the encased foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.  
       [0013] In accordance with a further aspect of the method, a plurality of storage drawers are positioned to occupy substantially the entire interior of the encased foundation. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed formed by a mattress supported uponj a bed frame by an encased foundation to give the mattress a suitable elevation.  
     [0015]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the encased foundation of FIG. 1.  
     [0016]FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the foundation of FIG. 2A with the encasement remove to expose the hollow interior of the foundation.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the adaptation of the encased foundation of FIG. 1 for the storage of objects. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0018] With respect to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a bed  10  formed by a standard mattress  11  supported by a standard, encased foundation  20  upon a standard bed frame  12 , which is elevated above a floor F by short legs  13 .  
     [0019] The encased foundation  20  is shown in FIG. 2A as being formed by a frame with elongated and opposed side walls  21  and  22 , and opposed, shorter end walls  23  and  24 . The encasement of the foundation  20  is by a fabric layer  25  that completely encloses the foundation to give solidity for ease of handling.  
     [0020] In FIG. 2B the fabric layer  25  has been removed to expose the hollow interior H of the foundation  20 .  
     [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates the adaptation of the encased foundation  20  of FIGS. 1, 2A and  2 B by providing a modified foundation  20 ′ with a plurality of storage drawers  20 - 1  through  20 - 6  that occupy the hollow interior H of the foundation  20 ′.  
     [0022] Storage drawers  20 - 1  through  20 - 3  extend from the elongated side wall  21  to the interior H, and storage drawers  20 - 4  through  20 - 6  extend from the opposite, elongated side wall  22  to the interior H. The storage drawers are suspended within the foundation  20 ′ in conventional fashion.  
     [0023] It will be understood that the foregoing detailed description is illustrative only and that other modifications and adaptations of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.