GB2407492A

GB2407492A - Bed having a rectangular base frame which includes side frames and end frames which are connected by a sliding interfit of respective coupling members thereon

Info

Publication number: GB2407492A
Application number: GB0423381A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Broadbent
Original assignee: F Ltd AB
Current assignee: F Ltd AB
Priority date: 2003-10-31
Filing date: 2004-10-21
Publication date: 2005-05-04
Also published as: GB0423381D0; IE20040716A1; GB0325428D0

Abstract

A rectangular base bed frame 10 (Fig. 1) comprises a pair of opposed end frame members (11),12 (Fig.3) which can be assembled together with side frame members (13,14) to form the frame. Each side frame member carries a respective first coupling member (15,Fig.7) at each end thereof and each end frame member carries a pair of second coupling members (16,Fig.8) located one at or near each end thereof. The respective coupling members of each side frame member are slidably inter-engaged in an interfit with respective second coupling members on the end frame members to secure the side and end frame members and to form rigid corner assemblies of the frame which resist relative separation of the frame members. The coupling members may be U-shaped and also taper downwardly. The frame may also include an intermediate frame member (17,Fig.4) to support an array of slats. The arrangement may be supplied to a customer in a pre-assembled form to minimise storage/transport volumes.

Description

RECTANGULAR BASE FRAME FOR A BED

This invention relates to a rectangular base frame for a bed.

In the manufacture of bed base frames which are intended to support a mattress (so called divan beds), it is usual to make the components of the frame from wood, wood composite or the like, and in the form of planks, and which are secured together in the factory by bolts, screws or other fasteners at each corner of the frame to form a rectangular frame.

The planks are usually covered, at least on their outer faces, with fabric to improve the appearance, and the design of such fabric will normally be in harmony with the design of fabric covering of the mattress which is supported by the base frame.

0 The base frames can therefore be supplied to customers in assembled form, but necessarily this takes up a large volume of storage space, both at the factory before despatch, during transport, and/or at any intermediate storage depot. The larger space requirement arises, of course, from the substantial void space defined between the four planks of the base frame, when assembled.

As an alternative to supply in fully assembled form, the frame components may be packaged and despatched in knocked-down form, and it is left to the customer to complete the assembly on site at home. This involves substantial saving in storage/transport costs, but places a burden on the customer to complete the assembly using suitable tools to fasten the frame components at the corners of the frame.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved design of rectangular base frame for a bed, and which can be supplied to a customer in preassembled form to minimise storage/transport volumes, but which can be readily assembled on site by the customer in a manner not requiring tools to complete the fastening of the ends of the frame members to each other.

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According to the invention there is provided a rectangular base bed frame which comprises a pair of opposed end frame members and a pair of opposed side frame members which can be assembled to form a rectangular frame, in which: each side frame member carries a respective first coupling member at each end s thereof and each end frame member carries a pair of second coupling members located one at or near each end thereof; the first coupling members of each side frame member are co-operative with respective second coupling members on the end frame members in order to secure the side frame member to the end frame members and to form rigid corner assemblies of the lo rectangular frame; and the co-operation between each first and second coupling member is (a) a slidable interfit and (b) resists relative separation of the frame members at each corner assembly.

Therefore, a rectangular base frame according to the invention can be readily assembled on site by the customer, who only needs to engage the first and second coupling members with each other and then complete the assembly by a relative slidable movement. There is therefore no need to use a screwdriver, spanner or other tool to complete the fastening together of the frame members using threaded fasteners, screws or other fasteners as with known bed frame constructions currently supplied to customers in knocked-down form.

The shape of the co-operating first and second coupling members may take any suitable form to allow relative slidable movement to complete the assembly, and provided that when the coupling members are fully interengaged, an effectively solid corner joint is provided which resists any separation of the frame members, and preferably also resists any significant deviation from a right angle defined between the frame members at each corner of the frame.

2s Preferably, the inter-engagement between the coupling members is an up or down relatively slidable movement, and may comprise a generally telescopic inter-engagement.

In a preferred form, each coupling member tapers downwardly, as viewed in side elevation, so that the co-operating first and second coupling members move progressively to full inter-engagement when a limit to slidable movement is reached.

Each coupling member may also be generally wedge-shaped as viewed in plan, so that when the first and second coupling members are fully interengaged, there is strong resistance to (a) relative separation and (b) relative angular distortion of the frame members at each corner of the frame.

In a particularly simple form, each coupling member may be U-shaped, as seen in plan, and with the limbs diverging from the base of the U.; and further the lateral spacing apart of the lo limbs may decrease in a direction downwardly of the coupling member.

Conveniently, each side frame member takes the form of a plank, which extends generally perpendicularly upwardly of the floor surface on which it rests, and to the inner face of the plank there may be secured an inverted U-shaped supporting cradle, of which a base runs longitudinally of the plank, and is located a short distance below the upper edge of the plank, so as to form a supporting ledge for an array of bed slats, on which a mattress can subsequently be placed.

The limbs of the U-shaped cradle extend downwardly of the base, and preferably each lower end thereof is supported by a caster wheel, so that at least four caster wheels support the rectangular frame, when assembled, to allow easy movement of the frame.

To strengthen the rectangular frame, (upon assembly of the end frame members and the side frame members), an intermediate longitudinal frame member may be provided, having a pair of said first coupling members, one at each end thereof, and each co-operating with a corresponding second coupling member provided at a mid-region of the adjacent end frame. The intermediate frame member, upon assembly, will give increased strength to the rectangular frame, and also its rigidity, and further may provide additional support for the slatted assembly onto which a mattress can be laid.

A preferred embodiment of rectangular base frame according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the first stage of assembly of a rectangular base frame for a bed, in which one end frame member and one side frame member are joined together rigidly at one corner of the frame, via slidable inter-engagements between coupling members provided on the frame members; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a further stage of assembly, in which a second side frame member is coupled with the end frame member.

in Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of the assembled rectangular frame; Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of an additional frame component, which strengthens and adds rigidity to the frame, and also provides additional support for a slatted array and mattress, with the additional frame component comprising an intermediate longitudinal frame member; Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 4, but showing one of the end frame members integrated with a headboard panel; Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, showing a slatted array laid onto support ledges provided by the frame members, and onto which a mattress can be laid, with the mattress being restrained against lateral displacement by upper edge portions of the frame members which are upstanding relative to the slatted array; Figure 7 is a detail view of a first coupling member provided at one end of one of the side frames; Figure 8 illustrates one of the second coupling members provided on the end frames; and 2s Figure 9 is a detail view showing the beginning of inter-engagement between the first coupling member on the end of the side frame as shown in Figure 7, with a second coupling member provided on one of the end frame members.

Referring now to the drawings, there will be described a preferred embodiment of rectangular base frame 10 for a bed which, when assembled, comprises a pair of opposed end frame members 11 and 12 and a pair of opposed side frame members 13 and 14. The frame members are rigidly coupled together at the ends of the frame members, to form a -s rectangular frame, involving use of inter-engageable coupling members which will be described in more detail below.

Each side frame member 13, 14 carries a respective first coupling member 15 at each end thereof, and each end frame member 1 1, 12 carries a pair of second coupling members 16 at or near each end thereof.

The first coupling members 15 of each side frame member 13, 14 has cooperative inter engagement with a respective one of the second coupling members 16 on the end frame members 11, 12 in order to form rigid corner assemblies of the frame 10.

The co-operation between each first and second coupling member 15, 16 is a slidable inter lo fit, as shown in Figure 9, and in addition resists relative separation of the frame members at each corner assembly of the rectangular frame.

The shape of the co-operating first and second coupling members 15, 16 takes any suitable form to allow relative slidable movement to complete the assembly, and provided that when the coupling members 15, 16 are Filly inter-engaged, an effectively solid corner joint is provided which resists any separation between the adjacent frame members at each corner. In addition, the shaping of the coupling members, and their interengagement, is such that there is strong resistance to any attempted significant deviation or distortion from a right angle defined between the frame members at each corner of the frame.

In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement between the coupling members, 15, 16 is relative up and down slidable movement, and this may be a generally telescopic type of inter-engagement.

In the illustrated embodiment, each coupling member 15, 16 is generally Ushaped, as viewed in plan and also tapers downwardly. The coupling members slidable fit one within the other, and the shaping and inter- engagement is such that there is strong resistance to (a) relative separate of the adjacent frame members at each corner joint and (b) resistance to relative angular distortion of the frame members at each corner of the frame.

Figures 1 to 3 show successive stages in the assembly of the rectangular frame 10 and Figure 4 shows additional strength given to the frame structure by provision of an intermediate frame member 17 having a pair of said first coupling members, one at each end thereof, and co-operating with respective second coupling members (not shown in detail) provided at a mid-region on the end frame members 1 1 and 12.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing one of the end frame members 11 integrated into a headboard.

Each of the end frame members 13, 14 has an inverted U-shaped cradle secured to the inner face thereof, as shown in Figure 2, and comprising a longitudinally extending base 18 and 0 downwardly extending legs or limbs 19, each provided with a caster wheel 20 on its lower end. The base 18 is located a short distance below the upper edge of the frame member 13 and forms a support ledge on which can be laid an array of slats, as shown in Figure 6 and which array is also supported by the intermediate frame member 17.

An upper edge region of each of the frame members 11, 12, 13, 14 holds any subsequently applied mattress (not shown) against lateral displacement, when the mattress is placed on the array of flats shown in Figure 6.

The shape and inter-engagements between the first and second coupling members can be seen in Figures 7, 8 and 9, and they taper in a downward direction, sliding one within the other, and when fully engaged, the side limbs of the generally U-shape of each coupling member resists relative separation, and also provides strong resistance against any force tending to cause angular distortion of each corner of the frame.

In addition to providing the option to integrate one of the end frame members into the headboard panel, a further option which may be provided on the frame members includes provision of internal mountings to receive storage drawers (not shown).

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A rectangular base bed frame comprising a pair of opposed end

frame members which can be assembled to form a rectangular frame, in which: each side frame member carries a respective first coupling member at each end thereof and each end frame member carries a pair of second coupling members located one at or near each end thereof; the first coupling members of each side frame member are co-operative with respective second coupling members on the end frame members in order to secure the side frame member to the end frame members and to form rigid corner assemblies of the lo rectangular frame; and the co-operation between each first and second coupling member is (a) a slidable interfit and (b) resists relative separation of the frame members at each corner assembly.
2. A bed frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the co-operating first and second coupling members allow relative sliding movement to complete the assembly so that when the coupling members are fully inter-engaged an effective solid corner joint is provided which resists separation of the frame members.
3. A bed frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the coupling members resist deviation from a right angle defined between the frame members at each corner of the frame.
4. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the interengagement between the coupling members is an up or down relative slidable movement.
5. A bed frame as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inter-engagement is generally telescopic.
6. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each coupling member tapers downwardly.
7. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each coupling member is generally wedged shaped.
8. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each coupling member is U-shaped with the limbs diverging from the base of the U and wherein the lateral spacing of the limbs decreases in a direction downwardly of the coupling member.
9. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each side frame comprises a plank extending generally perpendicularly upwardly of the floor surface wherein an inverted U-shaped supporting cradle is secured to the inner face of the plank, a base running longitudinally of the plank, located a short distance below the upper edge of the lo plank so as to form a supporting ledge for an array of bed slats on which a mattress can be placed in use.
10. A bed frame as claimed in claim 9 wherein the limbs of the U-shaped cradle extend downwardly of the base.
I 1. A bed frame as claimed in claim 10 wherein the lower end of each limb is supported by a caster wheel.
12. A bed frame as claimed in any preceding claim including an intermediate longitudinal frame member having a pair of first coupling members one at each end thereof, and each co-operating with a corresponding second coupling member provided at a mid region of the adjacent end frame.
13. A bed frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.