Patent Abstract:
A multiple configuration bed frame system for allowing a single or multiple bed frames to be configured in many different ways to accommodate available space and the creativity of the user includes at least one main frame member, an optional rail member, raised bed leg members, and short leg members that also serve as frame connectors for joining two or more main frame members. A plurality of receivers are coupled to the main frame member and positioned to permit joining of the components of the invention to form the various configurations.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to bed frames and more particularly pertains to a new multiple configuration bed frame system for allowing a single or multiple bed frames to be configured in many different ways to accommodate available space and the creativity of the user. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of bed frames is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,595 issued to Price describes an interlocking bed frame with an integrated ladder and safety rail. The Price device has a number of individual bars and rails that interconnect and are held in place by pins extending through the corner posts. 
   Another type of bed frame is U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,241 issued to Sideroff. The Sideroff patent discloses a convertible bed that is expandable from a configuration having the appearance of a single bed to a configuration having multiple beds or bunks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,727 issued to Liu discloses a collapsible base frame for supporting a bed, particularly a water-filled mattress. U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,327 issued to Severson discloses a foldable bed assembly having multiple cot-like frames positionable in a bunk like configuration. U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,234 issued to Randleas discloses a static frame having a lower bed and a vertically movable bunk. U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,245 issued to Kurz discloses a joint structure for a hinged frame positionable for supporting a person in a prone position. U.S. Pat. No. 1,724,852 issued to Scott discloses a hinged or collapsible bed structure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,763 issued to Echavarren discloses another collapsible double bunk bed structure. U.S. Pat. No. 895,898 issued to Scheer discloses a bunk bed structure using bars and posts to be easily assembled and lightweight. U.S. Pat. No. 1,389,697 issued to Phipps discloses a very simple and easily assembled double bunk bed structure. U.S. Pat. No. 1,624,950 issued to Hoard discloses a multi-function support structure for use as a slumber bed, cooling board, and casket support. U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,134 issued to Montiague discloses a sofa convertible into a double bunk bed structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,128 issued to Tarnay discloses a folding leg mechanism for supporting a planar structure such as a table or mattress support. The published U.S. patent application No. 2002/0092445 of Glover et al. discloses a collapsible and folding banquet table. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that provides even greater flexibility in the possible configurations and superior storage potential of unused component parts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a bed frame system having component bed frames, leg and rail structures, and storage options for compactly storing unused components. The components of each bed frame unit will interlock with another bed frame unit to permit multiple configurations having multiple bed spaces. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that has storage options for unused components to prevent loss of component parts. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that provides myriad configuration possibilities to permit users having traditionally few furniture options, such as college dorm residents, to exercise creativity in configuring necessary furniture. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that efficiently utilizes available space. 
   Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that allows compact positioning of multiple bed spaces within a small area. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that is easily assembled and disassembled to permit efficient reconfiguration of the bed structure. 
   Still even another object of the present invention is to provide a new multiple configuration bed frame system that is durable, sturdy and stable. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises at least one main frame member, an optional rail member, raised bed leg members, and short leg members that also serve as frame connectors for joining two or more main frame members. A plurality of receivers are coupled to the main frame member and positioned to permit joining of the components of the invention to form various configurations. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a new multiple configuration bed frame system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in an end to end configuration. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in a spaced end to end configuration. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the present invention in an L-shaped configuration. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the main frame member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the main frame member of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the attachment means of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new multiple configuration bed frame system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the multiple configuration bed frame system  10  in the simplest form generally comprises a main frame member  20  and a plurality of leg members  40 . A plurality of leg connection members  22  are coupled to the main frame member  20  for attaching the leg members  40  to the main frame member  20  to support the main frame member  20 . The main frame member  20  includes cross members for supporting a mattress. The plurality of leg members  40  includes short leg members  42  and elevated leg members  44 . The elevated leg members  44  each include a pair of outer side members  46  and cross members  48  extending between the outer side members  46 . The cross members  48  form a ladder  50  for facilitating access to the main frame member  20  when the main frame member  20  is supported by the elevated leg members  44 . The elevated leg members  44  have a length greater than the short leg members  42  for supporting the main frame member  20  at a higher elevation than the short leg members  42 . Thus, by selecting either the short or elevated leg members, the main frame member is positionable at different elevations. 
   Leg locking means  52  are provided for securely coupling each of the leg members  40  to a selectable one of the leg connection members  22 . The typical leg locking means  52  comprises each leg member having a biased protrusion extending through an aperture adjacent to the inserted end of the leg member. The protrusion is pushed into the leg member to permit insertion of the leg member into the leg connection member. Each leg connection member includes an aperture for receiving the protrusion, thus locking the leg member in place. Removal is achieved by pressing on the protrusion directly when the leg connection member has an aperture that exposes the protrusion. 
   The leg connection members  22  include end leg connection members  23  that are pitched outwardly such that lower ends  45  of the elevated legs  44  are spaced when the elevated leg members  44  are coupled to the end leg connection members  23 . The outward pitching and length of the elevated leg members  44  permits positioning of a second main frame member  20  beneath a main frame member  20  supported by elevated leg members  44  when the second main frame member is supported by short leg members  42 . The depth of the leg receivers is preferably not greater than the depth of the main frame member to prevent the leg receivers from protruding downwardly from the main frame member. However, additional support for the leg members may be obtained by utilizing leg receivers having greater depth. 
   In an embodiment, a rail member  30  is couplable to the main frame member  20 . A pair of rail collars  32  are coupled to the main frame member  20  and positioned on an underside of the main frame member  20 . The rail collars  32  are positioned to hold the rail member  30  in a storage position extending along the underside of the main frame member  20 . 
   For connection of the rail member  30  to the main frame member  20 , the main frame member  20  includes a pair of recesses  34  positioned in spaced relationship along one long side  21  of the main frame member  20 . The rail member has a pair of opposite ends  31  insertable into the recesses  34  such that the rail member  30  extends up from the long side  21  of the main frame member  20 . 
   Rail locking means  36  are provided for releasably securing the opposite ends  31  of the rail member  30  in the recesses  34 . The rail locking means also employs a biased protrusion similar to the leg locking means  52  except the biased protrusion is rigidly attached to a button portion remote from the protrusion such that pushing on the button portion will retract the protrusion into the rail member to permit removal of the rail member from the depression in the main frame member. It is to be understood that the rail member may be attached to a collar extending from the main frame member and utilizing a locking means similar in structure to the leg locking means  52 . Conversely, the leg connection members may restrict direct access to the biased protrusion of locking means  52  in which case a locking means similar to rail locking means  36  may be employed. 
   The main frame member  20  further has a plurality of interconnection receivers  24  for facilitating interconnection of multiple main frame members. Each of the interconnection receivers  24  is structured to receive a selectable one of the leg members  40 , typically one of the short leg members  42 , such that leg member  40  is partially inserted into the main frame member  20  and extends outwardly from the main frame member  20 . The extending portion of the leg member  40  is then insertable into a selectable interconnection receiver  24  of a second main frame member  20  to couple the main frame members together. Leg members  42  have locking means  52  on each end for securely interconnection the main frames. 
   The interconnection receivers  24  of each frame member includes a pair of end connection receivers  28 . Thus, first and second main frame members  20  are couplable to each other by alignment of the main frame members and insertion of leg members  40  into the end connection receivers  28  to form an end to end configuration as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   In an embodiment, each of the main frame members  20  has a respective side leg receiver  25  positioned in spaced relationship to an end of the main frame member  20 . The side leg receivers  25  are for receiving a respective one of the outer side members  46  of one of the elevated leg members  44  when the main frame members  20  are in the end to end configuration. Thus, an elevated leg member  44  is positioned along a side of the end to end positioned main frame members  20 . However, the strength of materials used is preferably sufficient to make use of the elevated leg member  44  along a side of the end to end configuration optional. 
   The interconnection receivers  24  of the main frame members  20  also include a pair of side connection receivers  29 . The side connection receivers  29  are spaced to conform to the spacing of the end connection receivers  28 . Thus, first and second main frame members  20  are couplable to each other to form an L-shaped configuration as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   Support members  66  are insertable into the interconnection receivers  24  for coupling main frame members  20  together in spaced relationship to each other. The support members  66  have a length longer than the short leg member  42  to permit ample support of the main frame members and the desired spacing. The side leg receivers  25  are positioned appropriately from the ends of the main frame members to permit coupling of the elevated leg members  44  to extend along the side and between the spaced end to end main frame members. When in the spaced end to end configuration, the cross members  48  of the elevated leg member  44  positioned between the main frame members forms a ladder for facilitating access to the main frame members through an opening  68  formed between the main frame members and the support members. 
   It is to be understood that the inventive system may include main frame members having a limited number of specifically positioned interconnection receivers to permit only specific configurations between given main frame members. However, full functionality and creativity is provided by each main frame member having the full compliment of interconnection members to permit the maximum number of possible configurations. 
   A plurality of leg storage receivers  60  are coupled to the main frame member  20  for facilitating storage of unused leg members  40 . Typically, the leg storage receivers  60  are coupled to the underside of the main frame member and pitched slightly downward to prevent interference between the stored rail member and a stored elevated leg member attached to the leg storage receivers  60 . 
   The elevated leg members  44  also include storage collars  49 . The storage collars  49  are positioned and spaced such that the elevated leg members  44  are nestable in series for storing a plurality of elevated leg members  44  coupled to the main frame member  20  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Due to the uniform sizing of the leg members and various receivers and collars, the short leg members  42  are also couplable to either the leg storage receivers  60  or the storage collars  49 . Further, the positioning of the storage collars  49  aligns below at least one of the cross members of the main frame to provide potential support to the main frame in the event the locking means of the elevated leg member fails and the upper end of the elevated leg member begins to pass through the receiver. In the event failure occurs, the cross member will contact the storage collars of the elevated leg member as an added safety feature to minimize the chance for significant injury during use. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0