GB2120541A - Upholstered bed - Google Patents

Abstract

In an upholstered bed comprising a box-type frame (1) and a slatted base (7) supported thereon, an outer frame extends around the periphery of the bed and projects at least partly beyond the support surface of the slatted base so as to define, together with the support surface of the slatted base, a seat for a mattress (11). At least the two opposite longitudinal members of the outer frame consist of outer frame members (3 and 3') spaced at a distance apart from the corresponding side-wall (13 and 14) of the box-type frame. An air gap (6 and 6') communicating with the outside air, is maintained between the outer frame members (3 and 3') and the side walls (13 and 14) for the purpose of ventilating the bottom of the mattress and/or the slats of the slatted base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Upholstered bed This invention relates to an upholstered bed comprising a box-type frame extending substantially over the entire length of the bed, a slatted base supported on the box-type frame and an outer frame extending around the periphery of the bed, projecting at least partly beyond the support surface of the slatted base and defining, together with the support surface of the slatted base, a seat to accommodate a mattress.

Upholstered beds with a box-type frame to accommodate the bedding have been known for some time. Generally speaking, in these known beds the slatted base is mounted within the boxtype frame in such a way that the support surface of the slatted base is lower than the uppermost edges of the walls of the box so that these walls and the support surface of the slatted base define the seat to accommodate the mattress.

In the case of these known upholstered beds, it may happen, particularly when the beds are used in cold rooms, that condensate is deposited on the slats, resulting in mildew on or decay of the slatted base covers and/or the mattress covers.

The object of the present invention is to provide an upholstered bed of simple construction which is economic to manufacture and in which the risk of mildew and/or decay is eliminated.

This object is achieved, according to the present invention, by disposing at least the two opposite longitudinal members of the outer frame at a distance from the corresponding side wall of the box-type frame, so that an air gap is maintained between the outer frame member and the corresponding side wall of the box-type frame, enabling ventilation of the mattress and the slatted base. This ensures that no condensate is deposited on the slats (which are normally sealed with a synthetic resin and therefore do not absorb moisture). Consequently, the bottom of the slatted base covers are prevented from becoming damp and from eventual decay.

Thus, the present invention provides an upholstered bed comprising a box-type frame extending substantially over the entire length of the bed, a slatted base supported on the box-type frame and an outer frame extending around the periphery of the bed, projecting at least partly beyond the support surface of the slatted base and defining, together with the support surface of the slatted base, a seat to accommodate a mattress, in which at least the two opposite longitudinal members of the outer frame are disposed at a distance from the corresponding side-walls of the box-type frame so that an air gap, communicating with the outside air, is maintained between the said frame members and the said side-walls, for the purpose of ventilating the slatted base and any mattress supported thereon.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the upholstered bed is one wherein the outer frame members are connected to the corresponding side-walls of the box-type frame by means of spacers. Preferably, this connection is detachable.

This means that the outer frame members are very easy to assemble and can also be replaced if necessary without undue effort or expenditure.

This arrangement also makes it possible to produce beds of different appearance by using a standard bed box and varying the outer frame members. The outer frame members can be designed as facing panels for this purpose. For example, the outer frame members can act as a support for a flexible foam panel which is covered together with the outer frame member without impeding the ventilation of the mattress or the slatted base.

Preferably, the outer frame members consist of panels. This results in an air gap of constant width, parallel to the longitudinal sides of the box-type frame, thereby permitting unimpeded circulation of the air. For example, the width of the air gap may be in the range 10 mm to 100 mm, in particular 10 mm to 30 mm. Preferably, the spacers consist of plates, so that on the one hand a high level of rigidity of connection between the bed box and the outer frame members is achieved, and on the other hand, circulation of air between the side walls and the outer frame members is disturbed as little as possible.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention is one wherein the bottom edge of the outer frame members is higher than the base of the box-type frame. In this way, the desired circulation or air is always ensured, even if the bed box is supported directly on the floor.

In order to facilitate circulation of air the outer frame members can advantageously be provided with openings.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the slatted base lies directly on the box-type frame. In this case, the spacers can advantageously project at least partly above the uppermost edge of the side-walls to provide additional support for the slatted base.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view from above of the basic structure of an upholstered bed according to the invention, the slatted base and the mattress having been removed, and Figure 2 is a section on line Il-Il of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 , the upholstered bed has a box-type frame 1, open at the top, extending substantially over the entire length of the bed, which comprises a base surface 17, vertical sidewalls 13 and 14 and end-walls 1 5 and 16. A slatted base (not shown) is supported on the frame and generally serves to accommodate the bedding.

Outer frame members 3 and 3' are respectively attached to side-walls 13 and 14 by means of spacers 2. The outer frame members 3 and 3' are in the form of panels and extend parallel to the corresponding side-walls so that an air gap 6 and 6' of constant width is defined on each longitudinal side of the bed.

On the outermost surface of end wall 1 5 there is attached, by means of screws 20, a reinforced headboard 4. A footboard 5, of substantially the same thickness as the outer frame members 3 and 3', is attached to the outermost surface of the opposite end wall 16, by means of screws 20'.

The outer frame members 3 and 3' are the same length as box-type frame 1, whilst the headboard 4 and the footboard 5 are wider than the frame so that the air gaps 6 and 6' are closed by the headboard and footboard at the corresponding ends of the bed. However, it is also possible to keep the two air gaps at least partly open at the ends of the bed.

Referring now to Figure 2, a slatted base 7 is supported on the box-type frame 1 and a mattress 11 is placed on the slatted base.

The slatted base 7 consists of a frame 1 8 and fasteners 1 9 (attached to the frame and extending substantially vertically upwardly therefrom) on which transverse slats 12 are supported at a distance from the frame. The frame 1 8 rests on side walls 13 and 14.

The outer frame members 3 and 3' together with headboard 4 and footboard 5 and the support surface of slatted base 7, define a seat for the mattress 11. The distance between the two outer frame members 3 and 3' is basically the same as the width of mattress 11, whereas the box-type frame 1 is slightly narrower than the mattress. The spacers 2, by means of which the outer frame members 3 and 3' are attached to the side-walls are generally cuboid in shape. These spacers can be attached by means of screws, plugs, nails or adhesives to the side-walls of the frame. The outer frame members 3 and 3' are attached to spacers 2 by means of screws. The width of the two air gaps 6 and 6' is predetermined by the size of the spacers and is selected to be in the range 10 mm to 100 mm, preferably 10 mm to 30 mm.

The bottom edges 21 and 21' of outer frame members 3 and 3' respectively are higher than the bottom edge 17 of the box-type frame. This ensures that ventilation of the slatted base 7 or the bottom of the mattress always takes place, even if box-type frame 1 is placed directly on the floor.

Flexible foam panels 9 and 9' are attached to the respective outermost surfaces of the outer frame members 3 and 3' and are provided with a cover 10. The cover 10 encloses the frame members 3 and 3' as well as the foam panels 9 and 9'. Thus, the outer frame members 3 and 3' serve also as decorative panels, so that beds of different appearance can be produced using a standard bed box and damaged or dirty panels can be replaced without undue effort and expenditure.

The ventilation of the bottom of the mattress and the slatted base is not impeded by the use of the outer frame members as supports for the decorative panels, The outer frame members can be made, for example, from wood, metal or chipboard.

Ventilation of the bottom of the mattress and the slatted base can be enhanced, if desired, by means of a small muffled fan.

In order to further support the slatted base, the spacers 2 can advantageously project at least partly above the top edge of side-walls 13 and 14.

Claims (12)

1. An upholstered bed comprising a box-type frame extending substantially over the entire length of the bed, a slatted base supported on the box-type frame and an outer frame extending around the periphery of the bed, projecting at least partly beyond the support surface of the slatted base and defining, together with the support surface of the slatted base, a seat to accommodate a mattress, in which at least two opposite longitudinal members of the outer frame are disposed at a distance from the corresponding side-walls of the box-type frame so that an air gap, communicating with the outside air, is maintained between the said outer frame members and the said side-walls for the purpose of ventilating the slatted base and any mattress supported thereon.

2. An upholstered bed according to Claim 1, in which the outer frame members are attached to the respective side-walls by means of spacers.

3. An upholstered bed according to Claim 2, in which the spacers are detachable from the outer frame members and from the side-walls.

4. An upholstered bed according to Claim 2, in which the spacers are permanently attached to the side-walls and detachably connected to the outer frame members.

5. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer frame members are in the form of panels.

6. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the spacers are in the form of plates.

7. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bottom edges of the outer frame members are higher than those of the box-type frame.

8. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer frame members are provided with openings whereby the air gap communicates with the outside air.

9. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer frame members are provided with facing panels.

10. An upholstered bed according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the slatted base lies directly on the box-type frame.

1 An upholstered bed according to Claim 10, in which the spacers project at least partly above the top edge of the side-walls to provide additional support for the slatted base.

12. An upholstered bed, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.