Abstract:
A bed support mechanism. The mechanism includes at least two substantially identical L-shaped support members each including a top section and a leg section, the top sections being adjacently positioned to one another and each of the leg sections extending downward at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned L-shaped support members to support the bed. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustable foot is connected to the distal end of each of the leg sections to provide adjustment for beds of different heights. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the L-shaped support members are connected together by bolts and wing nuts which extend through a plurality of apertures spaced along the length of the top section wherein the apertures align at pre-selected positions along the length of the L-shaped support members for inserting the fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, the position of the apertures is the same for each of the pair of the L-shaped support members thereby allowing a single design to serve for each of the pair.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to bed support mechanisms and, more particularly, to a bed support mechanism having at least two substantially identical members that are adjustably connected for supporting a variety of bed widths. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Bed frames provide a pleasing appearance while supporting the mattress and/or bedspring resulting in longer life for the bed and a more comfortable feel for the user. The traditional western bed design includes a frame having two side rails running between a headboard and a footboard that support the mattress and bedspring along its edges. Slats extend between the side rails providing support for the bed interior, which is particularly necessary as a majority of the weight placed upon the bed, is in the middle, away from the edges. However, previously available bed support mechanisms have a number of disadvantages. 
     There are currently numerous different bed width designs available on the market. For example, common bed widths include a double having about a fifty-four inch width, a queen having about a sixty-inch width, a California king having about a seventy-six inch width, and a king having about a seventy-eight inch width. Therefore, a manufacturer who makes these four separate bed designs is required to manufacture and stock four separate sizes of bed supports. Additionally, there may be manufacturing variances in the widths which require the support mechanisms to be adjustable. For example, a sixty inch bed may have manufacturing variances resulting in the width actually extending between about fifty-nine to sixty-one inches. 
     Another drawback of previous support mechanisms is placing an interior foot or feet that extend from the bed slats to the floor to help support the bed. Many previous designs require the user to place the interior feet at the proper position along the length of the support length to support the interior of the bed. If the placement is incorrect, such as too far or too close to the side rails, there is little support which may result in the bed slat failing. Additionally, many previous designs utilized pivotable interior feet. The drawback of this design is that if the bed were to slide laterally, the interior feet may pivot upward so as not to support the interior of the bed. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved bed support mechanism which provides support for beds of various widths while, at the same time, includes adjustable height interior feet to provide support to the interior of the bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a bed support mechanism. The mechanism includes: at least two substantially identical L-shaped support members each including a top section and a leg section, the top sections being adjacently positioned to one another and each of the leg sections extending downward at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned L-shaped support members to support the bed. In the preferred embodiment; an adjustable foot is connected to the distal end of each of the leg sections to provide adjustment for beds of different heights. 
     The L-shaped support members may be selectively positioned to provide support for a bed having a width in the range of between about 54 inches to about 78 inches. Specifically, the length of the top section of each of the L-shaped support members is greater than about one half the width of the widest accommodated bed width while, at the same time, the length of the top section of each of the L-shaped support members is less than the width of the smallest bed size. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the L-shaped support members are connected together by bolts and wing nuts which extend through a plurality of apertures spaced along the length of the top section wherein the apertures align at pre-selected positions along the length of the L-shaped support members for inserting the fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, the position of the apertures is the same for each of the pair of the L-shaped support members thereby allowing a single design to serve for each of the pair. In an alternative embodiment, the L-shaped support members are connected together by one or more conventional C-clamps or U-shaped brackets which, may provide sufficient strength for many applications. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a bed support mechanism including at least two substantially identical L-shaped support members each including a top section and a leg section, the top sections being adjacently positioned to one another and each of the leg sections extending downward at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned L-shaped support members to support the bed. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a bed support mechanism. The mechanism includes: at least two substantially identical L-shaped support members each including a top section and a leg section, the top sections being adjacently positioned to one another and each of the leg sections extending downward at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned L-shaped support members to support the bed; and an adjustable foot connected to the distal end of each of the leg section and extending to the floor to provide adjustment for beds of different heights. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a bed support mechanism. The mechanism includes: at least two substantially identical L-shaped support members each including a top section and a leg section, the top sections being adjacently positioned to one another and each of the leg sections extending downward at opposite ends of the adjacently positioned L-shaped support members to support the bed; an adjustable foot connected to the distal end of each of the leg sections to provide adjustment for beds of different heights; and means for selectively positioning the L-shaped support members to provide support for a bed having a width in the range of between about 54 inches to about 78 inches. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed support mechanism, constructed according to the present invention, in use under a bed; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bed support mechanism removed from the bed; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the bed support mechanism shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the bed support mechanism shown in FIG. 3, taken along lines  3 A— 3 A; 
     FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate side views of a first embodiment of the aperture placements along the lengths of the support members; 
     FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate side views of a second embodiment of the aperture placements along the lengths of the support members; and 
     FIGS. 6A-6E are a third embodiment of aperture placements along the length of the support members. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, a bed support mechanism, generally designated  10 , is shown constructed according to the present invention. The bed support mechanism includes at least one pair of substantially identical L-shaped support members  12 ,  14 . The support members include apertures  16  which extend through the L-shaped support members to allow for fasteners  20  to extend therethrough and connect the pair of L-shaped support members together. The support members extend between side rails  24 ,  26  to support the mattress  30  and/or bed spring  32 . Cleats  34  may be mounted on the insides of the side rails  24 ,  26  for attachment by the support members  12 ,  14 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a single pair of connected L-shaped support members  12 ,  14 . Each of the support members is substantially identical providing for ease in manufacturing as only a single design is required. This design is also preferable for retailers as the design is adjustable to accommodate a variety of bed widths. Each support member includes a top section  36  and a leg section  40 . Preferably, the leg section  40  extends at about a 90° angle to the top section, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the leg section  40  may extend at any angle relative to the top section depending on the particular application. 
     When the adjacent L-shaped support members are fastened together, the top sections  36  align to support the bed spring  32  and/or mattress  30  having a combined length extending from Point A to Point B as illustrated in FIG. 2. A mount  42  is included on each end of the L-shaped support members to connect to the side rail  24 ,  26  and cleat  34 . The mount  42  extends beyond the lower edge  46  of the top section for placing over the cleat  34 . An aperture  44  may further be included on the mount for connecting to the cleat via screw, nail or other like fastener. The mount  42  may alternatively be constructed of an L-shaped member which abuts both the cleat  34  and side rails  24  or  26 . 
     Another embodiment features L-shaped brackets attached to the top side of each of the L-shaped members  12 ,  14  for attaching to the bed rails. This embodiment is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,058 filed Mar. 3, 1998, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     The sides of the top section  36  include apertures  16  spaced along the length for attaching the adjacent L-shaped support members. The apertures  16  extend through the entire width of each of the L-shaped members to provide space for fasteners  20  to extend through and hold the adjacent L-shaped support members together. The apertures may be sized to provide for adjustability to accommodate for the manufacturing variances in the widths of the beds. For example, the apertures are about 1 inch in length to accommodate adjustments in the overall length of the bed supports. 
     The fasteners  20  are preferably a bolt and nut arrangement which provides for hand tightening by a user for easy installation and adjustment as illustrated in FIG.  3 A. The L-shaped support members may further be attached by other commonly known means such as tape, glue or other type of mechanical fasteners. Preferably, the means of fastening the L-shaped members together provide for repeated fastening and unfastening to allow for adjustability and use for a variety of bed widths. 
     The side edges  50  of the L-shaped support members provide for mating alignment when placed side-by-side. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the side edges  50  are substantially flat which provides for direct abutment with the adjacent L-shaped support member. The side edges  50  may further include complimentary faces such as grooves or ridges that mate with the adjacent L-shaped support member. 
     A floor guide  52  is attached to the bottom of the leg section  40 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 . The floor guide is adjustably mounted to the bottom of the leg section to provide for adjustments depending upon the height of the bed. In one preferred embodiment, the leg section  40  and floor guide  52  extend a distance between about eight and thirteen inches from the upper edge of the top section  36 . The floor guide  52  provides for easy adjustment by the user such as a screw type arrangement in which the floor guide can be rotated to extend or retract to the desired position. 
     A spacer  54  may be positioned between the leg section  40  and floor guide  52  to provide for additional vertical spacing as illustrated in FIG.  2 . In one preferred embodiment, the combination of the leg section  40 , spacer  54 , and floor guide  52  provide for vertical positioning between about thirteen and eighteen inches from the upper edge of the top section. The spacer  54  is particularly useful in antique beds which are normally set vertically higher from the floor than more contemporary designs. 
     FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate a first aperture arrangement to provide for accommodating each of the four basic bed widths: fifty-four, sixty, seventy-two and seventy-eight. As illustrated in FIG. 4E, the first L-shaped support member  12  has a single aperture  102  and the second L-shaped support member  14  has four apertures  104 ,  106 ,  108  and  110 . In each of the embodiments, the length of the top section  36  must be greater than ½ of the maximum accommodating bed width. In this embodiment, the length must be greater than about thirty-nine inches to provide for the maximum bed width of the seventy-eight inches. The length of the support arm is defined as the distance from the end of the L-shaped support member, illustrated as Point A in FIG. 4E, to the point at which the top section bends to form the leg section, illustrated as Point C. In each embodiment, the length of the top sections must not be greater than the shortest accommodating bed width. In this embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E, about fifty-four inches. 
     In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E, the L-shaped support members are substantially identical except for the placement of the apertures. FIG. 4A illustrates the alignment of the L-shaped support members to accommodate a bed width in the range of about seventy-six to about seventy-eight inches. The first support member  12  and first aperture  102  align with the second support member  14  and aperture  104 . A single fastening mechanism is attached through the aligned apertures  102 ,  104  to adjoin the L-shaped support members. FIG. 4B illustrates the arrangement for about a seventy-two inch bed width in which aperture  102  aligns with aperture  106 . FIG. 4C illustrates about a sixty inch bed width in which aperture  102  aligns with aperture  108 . FIG. 4D illustrates about a fifty-four inch bed width in which aperture  102  aligns with aperture  110 . 
     In this embodiment, aperture  102  is centered about thirty-eight and ½ inches away from Point A, as illustrated in FIG.  4 E. Aperture  104  is centered about thirty-eight and ½ inches away from Point B, aperture  106  is centered about thirty-four and ½ inches away from Point B, aperture  108  is centered about twenty-one and ½ inches away from Point B, and aperture  110  is centered about fifteen and ½ inches away from Point B. In one preferred embodiment, the length L of the top section of each of the L-shaped support members  12 ,  14  is about forty inches. 
     FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate a second embodiment in which each of the L-shaped support members  12 ,  14  include four apertures spaced along the length. FIG. 5E illustrates the spacing of the apertures: apertures  126 ,  136  are centered about fifteen and ½ inches from the end of the top sections, Points A and E respectively; apertures  124 ,  134  are centered about twenty-one and ½ inches from the end of the top sections; apertures  122 ,  132  are centered about thirty-four and ½ inches from the end of the top sections; and apertures  120 ,  130  are centered about thirty-eight and ½ inches from the end of the top sections. It will also be understood that the apertures may be elongated to allow for adjustments in the width. By way of example, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A may be between about seventy-six and seventy-eight inches. 
     FIG. 5A illustrates the alignment to accommodate about a seventy-six to about a seventy-eight inch bed width in which aperture  120  aligns with aperture  130 . FIG. 5B illustrates the alignment to accommodate about a seventy-two inch bed width in which aperture  122  aligns with aperture  132 . FIG. 5C illustrates the arrangement to accommodate about a sixty inch bed width in which aperture  124  aligns with aperture  130  and aperture  120  aligns with aperture  134 . FIG. 5D illustrates the alignment for about a fifty-four inch bed width in which aperture  126  aligns with aperture  130  and aperture  120  aligns with aperture  136 . The advantage of this embodiment is that two fasteners may be used to attach the L-shaped support members for a sixty inch and fifty-four inch bed width. Additionally, each of the L-shaped support members  12 ,  14  are substantially identical including the placement of the apertures. 
     FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate a third separate embodiment in which each of the L-shaped support members  12 ,  14  include three slots and two apertures. A slot, as illustrated at  160 , is equivalent to about a two inch elongated opening. By way of example, slot  160  is centered at about forty inches from point B, and extends between about thirty-nine and forty-one inches. In one preferred embodiment, the length L of the top sections is about forty-two inches. As the slots are elongated, they may extend into the leg sections. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the leg section is sized to allow for the slot extension and still contain a fastener. 
     The slots and apertures of each of the L-shaped support members  12 ,  14  are substantially identical: the length of the top section is about forty-two inches; slots  160  and  150  are centered about forty inches from the end of the top sections and extend between about thirty-nine and forty-one inches; slots  162  and  152  are centered about thirty-seven inches from the end of the top sections and extend between about thirty-six and thirty-eight inches; slots  164  and  154  are centered about thirty-four inches from the end of the top sections and extend between about thirty-three and thirty-five inches. Apertures  166  and  156  are centered about twenty inches from the end of the top sections; and apertures  168  and  158  are centered about seventeen inches from the end of the top sections. 
     FIG. 6B illustrates the alignment to accommodate between about a seventy-six and seventy-eight inch bed width in which slots  160  and  152 , and  162  and  150  overlap to allow for fasteners to extend through each of the two openings. FIG. 6C illustrates the alignment for about a seventy-two inch bed width in which slots  162  and  154 , and  164  and  152  overlap to provide for fasteners. FIG. 6D illustrates the alignment for about a sixty inch bed width in which slot  160  overlaps with aperture  156  and aperture  166  overlaps with slot  150 . 
     FIG. 6E illustrates about a fifty-four inch bed width in which slot  162  overlaps with aperture  158 , slot  164  overlaps with aperture  156 , aperture  166  overlaps with slot  154 , and aperture  168  overlaps with slot  152 . The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6E has the advantage of providing two fasteners for about the seventy-six to seventy-eight inch bed width, two fasteners for about the seventy-two inch bed width, two fasteners for about the sixty inch bed width, and four fasteners for about the fifty-four inch bed width. 
     In viewing the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E,  5 A- 5 E, and  6 A- 6 E, it is apparent that the leg sections  40  of each of the L-shaped support members are maintained at appropriate positions to support the various bed widths. The leg sections are maintained in effective positions for the various bed widths to provide support to the interior of the mattress and box springs. For king sizes that of ten utilize two single box springs, the legs are positioned in the interior of the bed to support the box springs. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, one or more C-clamps or U-shaped brackets  2  may be used to attach together the L-shaped support members. The U-shaped bracket may contain an aperture extending through the opposed side walls of the bracket for receiving a bolt which extends through the L-shaped members or may fit around to “snap-on” and lock together the L-shaped members. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.