Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The invention relates generally to bed enclosures and more particularly to bed enclosures intended for use with persons who are prone to falling out of bed or who otherwise may need to be restrained in bed. Such bed enclosures are typically used in health care settings for persons with physical or mental disabilities. They are an improvement over bodily restraints that might otherwise be used to prevent injury. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Persons with multiple mental or physical disabilities may have difficulty sleeping in a standard bed. They may not make safe choices and could thus be prone to injury. They may attempt to leave the bed when they are not physically able to safely do so, resulting in falls, or they may leave the bed and wander about, unsupervised, resulting in the possibility of becoming involved in dangerous situations. They may also be prone to self-destructive behavior, such as head banging or flailing about, leading to injury. Consequently, the need to create a safe sleeping environment is a priority for persons with mental or physical disabilities. 
   Bed enclosures for restraining the users are well known in the art. These include cage-like bed enclosures completely surrounding the bed, with means for entering and exiting the enclosures. These are typically complicated, permanent, expensive devices. Often the enclosures have mechanical positioning devices to raise or lower the bed, as is commonly found in hospital beds. While such devices address the principal goals of providing a safe sleeping environment, they lack the simplicity of construction, inexpensive manufacturing costs, ease of cleaning and repair, and ease of storage. 
   It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide an improved bed enclosure which safely restrains a person within its interior. 
   It is a further objective of this invention to provide an improved bed enclosure which is easy to assemble and disassemble for ease of storage and shipping. 
   It is yet a further objective of this invention to provide an improved bed enclosure which is easy to clean and repair. 
   It is yet a further objective of this invention to provide an improved bed enclosure which is easy and cost efficient to manufacture. 
   SUMMARY 
   The invention is directed to an improved bed enclosure which safely restrains a person within its interior while also being easy to assemble and disassemble for ease of storage and shipping, as well as easy to clean and repair and cost efficient to manufacture. 
   The bed enclosure of the present invention is designed with safety in mind. It is for the young child or adult with disabilities who would not be safe in a standard bed. It provides a safe environment to those who are prone to head-banging, wandering, or making unsafe decisions. Many children with cognitive disabilities such as autism and mental retardation do not sleep well and tend to wander or get into unsafe situations. In many bedrooms the windows, heating systems, electrical outlets, and even the furniture pose a risk to these children in the absence of a safe sleep system. 
   The bed enclosure&#39;s inside corner padding helps to minimize injury from jumping, falling, or head-banging. The manner in which the frame and mattress come together helps to eliminate the probability of a person “burrowing” or getting caught between the mattress and the surrounding material. The way the bed is constructed also eliminates the possibility of any child with a pica disorder (e.g., tendency to eat non-food items) of contacting and chewing any of the frame. 
   Another important aspect of the bed enclosure is that it allows the caregiver to know exactly where the child or adult is, in the event of a fire or emergency. Many children or confused adults might hide during a fire and be at risk. With the bed enclosure of the present invention a caregiver knows exactly where to find the child. 
   The bed enclosure has a frame comprised of removable subframes, removable flexible sidewalls, a mattress support component, and an access mechanism for accessing the interior of the bed enclosure, operable from the exterior. The four subframes are removably attached to each other by an attachment component which also serves to removably attach each of the sidewalls independently to the frame. The removable sidewalls are suitably adapted to cover all portions of the frame accessible from the interior. This protects the user from the hard surfaces of the frame. 
   The preferred configuration of the attachment component comprises small apertures placed through and aligned among the sidewalls, the subframes, and the mattress support component, and fasteners suitably adapted to be placed into and through the aligned apertures. Edges of the sidewalls are placed between elements of the subframes and mattress support component, such that the edges of the sidewalls are sandwiched between the rigid subframes and mattress support component and secured in place by the fasteners. So configured, the bed enclosure may be easily disassembled for storage or shipping. The sidewalls may similarly be easily removed for cleaning, repair, or replacement. They also may comprise mesh portions to provide airflow through the interior of the bed enclosure and to provide visual access. The bed enclosure may be constructed of inexpensive materials, such as dimensioned lumber and canvas. 
   Other features and advantages of the invention are described below. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the frame of the present invention, depicting the structure of the four subframes. 
       FIG. 3  is a cut-away perspective view of the present invention, depicting the structure of the mattress support component. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the mattress support component, depicting the embodiment designed to address “burrowing”. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view of the present invention, depicting in detail the relationship of various elements of the mattress support component. 
       FIG. 4B  is an exploded side view of the present invention, depicting the relationship of elements of the subframe, the mattress support component, and the sidewall. 
       FIG. 4C  is a side view of the present invention, depicting in detail the relationship of the cross piece of the mattress support component to the subframe and the attachment component. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one corner of the present invention, depicting the attachment component and the relationship of the sidewalls thereto. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention, depicting the access mechanism. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The bed enclosure  1  of the present invention is comprised of a frame  10 , a mattress support component  500  supported by the frame  10 , four sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640 , each removably attached to the frame  10 , and an access mechanism  800  to access the interior of the bed enclosure  1 . See  FIG. 1 . 
   The frame  10 , mattress support component  500 , and four sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 ,  640  define a sleeping space  50 , with the sleeping space  50  formed by and partially enclosed by the frame  10 , sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640 , and mattress support component  500 . The bottom of the sleeping space  50  is defined by the mattress support component  500  and the sides of the sleeping space  50  are defined by the four sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640 . The top of the sleeping space  50  is left open. A bed mattress  5  is placed within the sleeping space  50  upon the mattress support component  500 . This configuration provides sufficient restraint to the user without presenting an overly restrictive sleeping environment, such as with an enclosed top. 
   The access mechanism  800  is integrated into at least one sidewall and comprises at least one closable aperture  810 . See  FIG. 6 . Each closable aperture  810  has an open state and a closed state, whereby the closable aperture  810  allows a person to access and to enter into or exit the sleeping space  50  when the closable aperture  810  is in the open state and prevents a person from accessing or entering into or exiting the sleeping space  50  when the closable aperture  810  is in the closed state. Maintaining the closable aperture  810  in the closed state when a person is in the sleeping space  50  retains that person within the sleeping space  50 . So arranged, a person may comfortably rest upon a bed mattress  5  within the sleeping space  50  without risk of falling off the bed mattress  5  or out of the bed enclosure  1 , and without risk of improper wandering. 
   The state of each closable aperture  810  of the access mechanism  800  is controlled from the exterior of the sleeping space  50 . In one embodiment the access mechanism  800  of the present invention further comprises a zipper  812  associated with each closable aperture  810  and a flap  814 . Each closable aperture  810  thus may be opened and closed by operation of its associated zipper  812  to free or secure the flap  814 . Each closable aperture  810  is in the open state when its associated flap  814  is freed and in the closed state when its associated flap  814  is secured. The flap  814  may further be rolled up and out of the way when it is in the opened state, secured in place by straps, to expose the interior of the sleeping space  50 . This is useful when training a user to sleep without restraints, for example when transitioning to a standard bed, as well as for accessing the sleeping space  50  for cleaning purposes. In another embodiment the flap  814  of each closable aperture  810  is formed of a mesh material. 
   Because the four sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  are removable, they can be taken off the frame  10  for easy cleaning, repair, or replacement. The sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  may be constructed of different materials, though a flexible material is preferred. This offers protection to the person using the bed enclosure  1 , so that a fall against a sidewall does not lead to injury. In one embodiment the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  are constructed of heavy duty canvas. In the preferred embodiment at least a portion of at least one of the sidewalls is constructed of a mesh material. This permits easy viewing into and out of the sleeping space  50  as well as improved airflow. In the most preferred embodiment the sidewall opposite a sidewall having at least a portion constructed of a mesh material or having a mesh flap  814  integrated therein would also have at least a portion constructed of a mesh material, thereby further increasing airflow through the sleeping space  50 . Another embodiment utilizes an opaque panel that can cover or uncover the mesh portion of a sidewall. The panel may be attached to the sidewall proximate to the top of the sidewall and rolled up and out of the way, secured by straps, to expose the interior of the sleeping space  50 , and unrolled to cover the sidewall to provide privacy. 
   The bed enclosure  1  of the present invention may further comprise padding  680  located within the sleeping space  50  at each inside corner of the frame  10 , and along the frame structure itself. See  FIG. 3 . The presence of padding  680  increases the safety of the bed enclosure  1  in that no hard surfaces are exposed to the person within the sleeping space  50 . The padding  680  may be made of high density foam and covered in a washable, durable material, such as canvas. Other materials may also be used for the padding  680 . In the preferred embodiment the padding  680  is removable for cleaning and replacement purposes. In the most preferred embodiment the padding  680  is attached to the sidewalls  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  by Velcro®. 
   The frame  10  of the bed enclosure  1  of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic. In the preferred embodiment the frame  10  is constructed of wood, specifically dimensioned lumber. The frame  10  is designed to be modular, facilitating assembly and disassembly, and allowing for convenient storage requiring a minimum of space when the bed enclosure  1  is not in use. See  FIG. 2 . As such, the frame  10  comprises a head subframe  100 , a foot subframe  200 , a first side subframe  300 , and a second side subframe  400 . The foot subframe  200  is substantially the same size and shape as the head subframe  100  and located opposite and substantially parallel to the head subframe  100 . The first side subframe  300  is attached substantially perpendicular to both the head subframe  100  and the foot subframe  200 , and has a width greater than the width of either the head or foot subframes  100 , 200 . The second side subframe  400  is substantially the same size and shape as the first side subframe  300  and located opposite and substantially parallel to the first side subframe  300 . The second side subframe  400  is also attached substantially perpendicular to both the head subframe  100  and the foot subframe  200 . The four subframes are removably attached to each other as described below by the attachment component  700 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  in detail. Each of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  shares the same basic configuration, a modified “H”-frame with an extra horizontal piece across the top. The “legs” of each subframe are designated the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member. The top piece is designated the upper horizontal support member, and the cross piece of the “H” is designated the lower horizontal support member. 
   The upper end  212  of the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410  of each subframe is fixedly attached to the first end  132  of the upper horizontal support member  130 ,  230 , 330 , 430 , and the upper end  322  of the second vertical support member  120 , 220 , 320 , 420  is fixedly attached to the second end  134  of the upper horizontal support member  130 , 230 , 330 , 430 . The first end  242  of the lower horizontal support member  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  is fixedly attached to the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410  at a point located between upper end  212  and the lower end  214  of the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410 , this point, designated the connection point  216 , being closer to the lower end  214  of the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410  than to its upper end  212 . The second end  244  of the lower horizontal support member  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  is fixedly attached to the second vertical support member  120 , 220 ,  320 , 420  at a point  326  located between the upper end  322  and the lower end  324  of the second vertical support member  120 , 220 , 320 ,  420 , corresponding to the same location as the connection point  216  on the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410 . For each of the subframes, the top edges  148 , 248 , 348 , 448  of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  are substantially the same distance from the lower ends  214 , 324  of the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 , 410 , 420  as for the other subframes, resulting in the top edges  148 , 248 , 348 , 448  of the horizontal support frames lying substantially within the same horizontal plane when the subframes are attached to each other by the attachment component  700 . 
   In the preferred embodiment the first vertical support member  110 , 210 , 310 , 410  and the second vertical support member  120 , 220 , 320 , 420  of each subframe are substantially the same height, and the upper horizontal support member  130 , 230 , 330 , 430  and the lower horizontal support member  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of each subframe are substantially the same length. This allows the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 , 410 , 420  to be oriented substantially parallel to each other, the horizontal support members  130 , 140 , 230 , 240 , 330 , 340 ,  430 , 440  to be oriented substantially parallel to each other, and the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 , 410 , 420  to be oriented substantially perpendicularly to the horizontal support members  130 , 140 , 230 , 240 , 330 , 340 , 430 , 440 . In the most preferred embodiment the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 , 410 , 420  of all subframes are substantially the same height, while the horizontal support members  130 , 140 , 230 , 240  of the head and foot subframes  100 , 200  are substantially the same length and the horizontal support members  330 ,  340 , 430 , 440  of the first side and second side subframes  300 , 400  are substantially the same length and longer than the horizontal support members  130 , 140 , 230 , 240  of the head and foot subframes  100 , 200 . 
   The attachment component  700  of the present invention is suitably adapted to allow the subframes to be securely attached to each other when the bed enclosure  1  is in use and detached from each other so the bed enclosure  1  may be stored away or shipped. In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , the attachment component  700  comprises a plurality of side apertures  710  and a plurality of side fasteners  730 . The side apertures  710  are formed through the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 , 410 , 420  of each of the subframes. Each of the side apertures  710  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertical support member into which it is formed, and has a substantially cylindrical inside diameter. The side apertures  710  formed into adjacent vertical support members of adjacent subframes are aligned with each other; for example, side apertures  710  formed into the first vertical support member  110  of the head subframe  100  are aligned with corresponding side apertures  710  formed into the second vertical support member  320  of the first side subframe  300 . So configured, each pair of aligned side apertures  710  forms a single continuous passage through the adjacent pair of vertical support members. The pairs of side apertures  710  formed into the first vertical support member  110  of the head subframe  100  and the second vertical support member  320  of the first side subframe  300  are collectively designated first corner apertures, the pairs of side apertures  710  formed into the first vertical support member  310  of the first side subframe  300  and the second vertical support member  220  of the foot subframe  200  are collectively designated second corner apertures, the pairs of side apertures  710  formed into the first vertical support member  210  of the foot subframe  200  and the second vertical support member  420  of the second side subframe  400  are collectively designated third corner apertures, and the pairs of side apertures  710  formed into the first vertical support member  410  of the second side subframe  400  and the second vertical support member  120  of the head subframe  100  are collectively designated fourth corner apertures. 
   The plurality of side fasteners  730  are suitably adapted to be positioned at least partially within the corner apertures. In the preferred embodiment each side fastener  730  comprises a shaft  732 , a retaining member  734 , and a securing member  736 . The shaft  732  has a first end and a second end, and the diameter of the shaft  732  is just slightly smaller than the inside diameters of the corner apertures, thus permitting the shaft  732  of the side fastener  730  to be inserted into the corner apertures. The retaining member  734  of the shaft  732  is substantially planar and fixed to the first end of the shaft  732  in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft  732 . The surface area of the retaining member  734  is greater than the inside diameters of the corner apertures, such that the retaining member  734  cannot be drawn into or through the corner apertures. The securing member  736  of the shaft  732  is substantially planar and removably attachable to the second end of the shaft  732 , in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft  732 . The surface area of the securing member  736  is also greater than the inside diameters of the corner apertures, such that the securing member  736  cannot be drawn into or through the corner apertures. In this embodiment, a side fastener  730  is positioned within an aligned pair of corner apertures by first removing the securing member  736  from the shaft  732 , inserting the second end of the shaft  732  into and through the pair of corner apertures until the second end of the shaft  732  is exposed and the retaining member  734  is positioned flush against the first of the pair of vertical support members, and then replacing the securing member  736  onto the second end of the shaft  732  such that the securing member  736  is positioned flush against the second of the vertical support members. So positioned, the side fastener  730  holds together the pair of vertical support members, with the retaining member  734  of the side fastener  730  preventing the shaft  732  from pulling through the pair of corner apertures in one direction, and the securing member  736  of the side fastener  730  preventing the shaft  732  from pulling through the pair of corner apertures in the opposite direction. The side fasteners  730  may be removed from the corner apertures by removing their securing members  736  from their shafts  732  and then withdrawing the side fasteners  730 . 
   In the preferred embodiment the retaining members  734  of the side fasteners  730  are countersunk flush into the vertical support members and the securing members  736  of the side fasteners  730  are countersunk flush into the other vertical support members. In the most preferred embodiment the side fasteners  730  are connector bolts having securing caps. Other configurations of side fasteners  730  are also contemplated by the present invention, for example traditional bolts and nuts. 
   The mattress support component  500  of the bed enclosure  1 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is suitably adapted to support a bed mattress  5 . The mattress support component  500  may be constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic. In the preferred embodiment it is constructed of wood, specifically dimensioned lumber. In one embodiment the mattress support component  500  is comprised of lateral members  510 , 530 , 540  secured in a substantially horizontal orientation to the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  on the interior portions of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400 , and a mattress support surface  550  which is placed onto the lateral members  510 , 530 , 540 . In the preferred embodiment the lateral members  510 , 530 , 540  each are substantially elongate and substantially planer and have a substantially uniform thicknesses and atop edge  518 , 538 , 548 . See  FIG. 3 . There is a head support member  510 , a foot support member, a first side support member  530 , and a second side support member  540 . The top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members lie substantially within a single horizontal plane. The mattress support surface  550  is substantially planar and has a width just slightly less than the length of the lower horizontal support member  140  of the head subframe  100 . It is placed onto at least a portion of the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of at least two of the lateral support members, for example onto the top edge  538  of the first side support member  530  and the top edge  548  of the second side support member  540 . In other embodiments there may be multiple mattress support surfaces  550 , placed on the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of lateral support members and lying within a single substantially horizontal plane. The use of multiple mattress support surfaces  550  allows each to be smaller and thus easier to manipulate. In the preferred embodiment each of the plurality of mattress support components  500  extends from the top edge  538  of the first side support member  530  to the top edge  548  of the second side support member  540 . 
   The mattress support component  500  may further comprise at least one cross piece  560 , with each cross piece  560  being substantially elongate and substantially planer and having a substantially uniform thickness, a top edge  568 , a first end, and a second end. See  FIG. 3 . Each cross piece  560  is secured between the first side subframe  300  and the second side subframe  400  and with its top edge  568  oriented upwards and in a plane with the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members. The first end of each cross piece  560  is secured to the first side support member  530 . Similarly, the second end of each cross piece  560  is secured to the second side support member  540 . Each cross piece  560  is oriented substantially parallel to the head support member  510 . The mattress support surface  550  is placed onto at least a portion of the top edge  568  of at least one cross piece  560 . When the mattress support component  500  is configured with one or more cross pieces  560  the mattress support surface  550  is better supported from below, strengthening the bed enclosure  1 . In another embodiment there may be a plurality of lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540  secured to each lower horizontal support member  140 , 240 , 340 , 440 . This permits the use of shorter lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540  and allows for gaps between the lateral support members located on a given lower horizontal support member, to accommodate the ends of the cross pieces  560 . In this configuration the first end of each cross piece  560  is secured directly to the lower horizontal support member  340  of the first side subframe  300  between adjacent first side support members  530 , and the second end of each cross piece  560  is secured directly to the lower horizontal support member  440  of the second side subframe  400  between adjacent second side support members  540 . 
   In the preferred embodiment the lateral support members are positioned relative to the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  such that the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members are positioned below the top edges  148 , 248 , 348 , 448  of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440 . See  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A, and  4 B. The height of the portions of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 ,  440  of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  which extend above the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540  is less than the thickness of the bed mattress  5 . This configuration addresses the problem of “burrowing”, in which a user of the bed enclosure  1  either intentionally or inadvertently places a portion of his or her body between the side of the bed mattress  5  and a side wall. This could occur when the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members are positioned in substantially the same plane as the top edges  148 , 248 , 348 , 448  of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of the subframes  100 , 200   300   400 , such that the sides of the bed mattress  5  are proximate to the flexible sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640 . An application of force to the region of proximity between the side of the bed mattress  5  and a sidewall may cause a space to open there between, potentially entrapping a body part and leading to serious harm to the user. With the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400  configured as described, a substantial portion of the bed mattress  5  lies below the top edges  148 , 248 , 348 , 448  of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 ,  440  so that the lower portions of the sides of the bed mattress  5  are proximate to a rigid structure, thereby minimizing the amount of space that can be opened between the sides of the bed mattress  5  and the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440 . Having the height of the portions of the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  which extend above the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540  less than the thickness of a bed mattress  5  allows the top portion of the sides of the bed mattress  5  to extend above the rigid structure, reducing the possibility of contact by the user with a hard surface. See  FIG. 4A . In the most preferred embodiment the height of the portions of the lower horizontal support members  140 ,  240 , 340 , 440  which extend above the top edges  518 , 538 , 548  of the lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540  should be just slightly less than the thickness of the bed mattress  5  when the bed mattress  5  is fully compressed. 
   The above-described elements of the mattress support component  500  may be fixedly secured to the subframes or removably secured to the subframes. In one embodiment the mattress support component  500  is removably secured to the subframes by a plurality of bottom fasteners  740  placed within bottom apertures  720  formed into and through the lateral support members and the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  of the subframes  100 , 200 ,  300 , 400 . See  FIG. 4C . Bottom apertures  720  are disposed along the lower horizontal support member  140  of the head subframe  100  and along the head support member  510  such that the bottom apertures  720  of the head subframe  100  align with the bottom apertures  720  of the head support member  510 . In a like manner bottom apertures  720  are disposed long the lower horizontal support members  240 , 340 , 440  of the other subframes  200 , 300 , 400  and aligned with bottom apertures  720  disposed along the other lateral support members. Each aligned pair of bottom apertures  720  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lower horizontal support member  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  or lateral support member into which it is formed, and has a substantially cylindrical inside diameter. So configured, each pair of aligned bottom apertures  720  forms a single continuous passage through the corresponding adjacent lower horizontal support member and lateral support member. The bottom fasteners  740  may be configured similarly to the side fasteners  730  of the attachment component  700 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  are removably secured to the frame  10  by the attachment component  700 . In this embodiment, each sidewall has a first vertical edge  652 , a second vertical edge  654 , a top edge  656 , a bottom edge  658 , a plurality of first edge apertures  662  located proximate to the first vertical edge  652 , and a plurality of second edge apertures  664  located proximate to the second vertical edge  654 . See  FIG. 5 . The first edge apertures  662  of the first sidewall  610  are aligned with the first corner apertures of the attachment component  700  and the second edge apertures  664  of the first sidewall  610  are aligned with the fourth corner apertures. The first edge apertures  662  of the second sidewall  620  are aligned with the second corner apertures and the second edge apertures  664  of the second sidewall  620  are aligned with the first corner apertures. The first edge apertures  662  of the third sidewall  630  are aligned with the third corner apertures and the second edge apertures  664  of the third sidewall  630  are aligned with the second corner apertures. The first edge apertures  662  of the fourth sidewall  640  are aligned with the fourth corner apertures and the second edge apertures  664  of the fourth sidewall  640  are aligned with the third corner apertures. The first sidewall  610  is secured to the frame  10  by placing its first vertical edge  652  between the first vertical support member  110  of the head subframe  100  and the second vertical support member  320  of the first side subframe  300  such that the side fasteners  730  placed within the first corner apertures pass through the first edge apertures  662  of the first sidewall  610 , and by placing the second vertical edge  654  of the first sidewall  610  between the second vertical support member  120  of the head subframe  100  and the first vertical support member  410  of the second side subframe  400  such that the side fasteners  730  placed within the fourth corner apertures pass through the second edge apertures  664  of the first sidewall  610 . In a similar manner the first and second edges  652 , 654  of the remaining sidewalls  620 , 630 , 640  are placed between pairs of vertical support members  110 , 320 , 120 , 410 , 420 , 210 , 220 , 310 , with side fasteners  730  passing through the edge apertures  662 , 664  of the sidewalls  620 , 630 , 640 . The sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 ,  640  may further comprise a plurality grommets  670 , with the grommets  670  located within the edge apertures  662 , 664 , one grommet  670  per aperture  662 , 664 . This strengthens the stress points between the side fasteners  730  and the edge apertures  662 , 664  and creates a more durable sidewall. Thus, the edges  652 , 654 , 656 , 659  of the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 ,  640  are sandwiched between pairs of vertical support members  110 , 320 , 120 , 410 , 420 , 210 , 220 ,  310 , with the side fasteners  730  placed through the edge apertures  662 , 664  to prevent slippage. This configuration allows the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  to be very securely attached to the frame  10 , yet easily removed simply by removing the side fasteners  730  and separating the subframes. In yet another embodiment the vertical support members  110 , 120 , 210 , 220 , 310 , 320 ,  410 , 420  may comprise indentations on their adjacent surfaces at the edge apertures  662 , 664  to accommodate the grommets  670 , allowing an even tighter fit between the subframes. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the top edge  656  of the first sidewall  610  is removably attached to the upper horizontal support member  130  of the head subframe  100 , the top edge  656  of the second sidewall  620  is removably attached to the upper horizontal support member  330  of the first side subframe  300 , the top edge  656  of the third sidewall  630  is removably attached to the upper horizontal support member  230  of the foot subframe  200 , and the top edge  656  of the fourth sidewall  640  is removably attached to the upper horizontal support member  430  of the second side subframe  400 . The top edges  656  of the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  may also be wrapped over and around the upper horizontal support members  130 , 230 , 330 , 430  of the subframes  100 , 200 , 300 , 400 . See  FIG. 5 . There may further be a plurality of top edge apertures located proximate to the top edge  656  of each sidewall  610 , 620 ,  630 , 640 , through which may be placed top fasteners. This creates a tighter fit of the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  to the frame  10 . 
   In yet another embodiment, the bottom edges  658  of the first sidewall  610 , the second sidewall  620 , the third sidewall  630 , and the fourth sidewall  640  are removably attached to the lower horizontal support members  140 , 340 , 240 , 440  of the head subframe  100 , the first side subframe  300 , the foot subframe  200 , and the second side subframe  400 , respectively. In one configuration, the first sidewall  610  has a plurality of bottom edge apertures located proximate to its bottom edge  658  and aligned with the bottom apertures  720  of the head support member  510 , the second sidewall  620  has a plurality of bottom edge apertures located proximate to its bottom edge  658  and aligned with the bottom apertures  720  of the first side support member  530 , the third sidewall  630  has a plurality of bottom edge apertures located proximate to its bottom edge  658  and aligned with the bottom apertures  720  of the foot support member, and the fourth sidewall  640  has a plurality of bottom edge apertures located proximate to its bottom edge  658  and aligned with the bottom apertures  720  of the second side support member  540 . The first sidewall  610  is further secured to the frame  10  by placing its bottom edge  658  between the lower horizontal support member  140  of the head subframe  100  and the head support member  510  of the mattress support component  500  such that the bottom fasteners  740  placed within the aligned bottom apertures  720  of the lower horizontal support member  140  of the head subframe  100  and the head support member  510  of the mattress support component  500  pass through the bottom edge apertures of the first sidewall  610 . In a similar manner the bottom edges  658  of the remaining sidewalls  620 , 630 , 640  are placed between corresponding pairs of lower horizontal support members  240 ,  340 , 440  and lateral support members, with bottom fasteners  740  passing through the bottom edge apertures of the sidewalls  620 , 630 , 640 . See  FIG. 4B . The sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  may further comprise a plurality of grommets  670 , with the grommets  670  located within the bottom edge apertures, one grommet  670  per aperture. Thus, the bottom edges  658  of the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  are sandwiched between corresponding pairs of lower horizontal support members and lateral support members, with the bottom fasteners  740  placed through the bottom edge apertures of the sidewalls  610 , 620 , 630 , 640  to prevent slippage. In yet another embodiment the lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 ,  340 , 440  and lateral support members  510 , 530 ,  540  may comprise indentations on their adjacent surfaces at the bottom apertures  720  to accommodate the grommets  670 , allowing an even tighter fit between the paired lower horizontal support members  140 , 240 , 340 , 440  and lateral support members  510 , 530 , 540 . 
   Modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing from the subject or spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: 1