US1213098A

US1213098A - Bed-frame corner-block.

Info

Publication number: US1213098A
Application number: US74035713A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Grotenhuis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1913-01-06
Filing date: 1913-01-06
Publication date: 1917-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1934-01-16

Description

W. GROTENHUlS.

BED FRAME CORNER BLOCK.

APPLICATION HLED IAN-6.1913- Patented Jan, 16, 1917.

W 1 (1 M W A 95 y/WZ Wfirofcflkuzis WILLIAM J'. GROTENI-IUIS,-

CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

BED-FRAME CORNER-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 168, 1917..

Application filed January 6, 1913. Serial No. 740,357.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GRo'rnN- I-IUIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bed-Frame Corner-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bed frame corner blocks, of that kind in which the block is secured to the leg or post of the bed frame, and in which the block is provided with a groove or socket for a correspondingly shaped end portion of the side rail of the frame, the dropping of the side rail into position, serving automatically to tighten the joint thus formed at each end thereof.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel and highly efficient bed frame corner block construction of the foregoing general character.

Special objects are to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby the said corner block construction may be composed of sheet metal bent or pressed into the required shape, instead. of the heavy and crude castings which have ordinarily been employed for this purpose, and whereby the joint of the corner block construction thus provided will automatically and effectively tighten itself when the side rail is dropped in place, and without tending to bend or otherwise distort the portion thereof upon which the strain is imposed.

It is also an object to provide certain details of construction tending to increase the general efficiency and serviceability of a corner block construction of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an end view of that portion of the corner block which is secured to the leg or post of the bed. Fig. 2 is an end view of that portion of the corner block which is secured to the side rail of the frame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the end portion of the element shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the element shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the element shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the element shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 show, respectively, the elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and are in the nature of a horizontal section on line 78 in Figs. 5 and 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As thus illustrated, the portion A of the corner block construction which is secured to the post or leg of the bed, and which is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7, comprises two parallel sheet metal strips a, which are bent at their rear ends to provide the portions a that embrace the tubular leg or post of the bed, and which are provided attheir forward ends with bent portions a that provide a vertical socket a having a slot a which opens on the face or end of the element A, in the manner shown. The said face or end of the element A is formed by the two vertically disposed surfaces a disposed at opposite sides of the entrance slots a said surfaces being inclined slightly, at their upper ends toward the leg or post of the bed, whereby these surfaces, in effect, provide a bevel or incline. The sheet metal portions a are held together by a sheet metal plate a provided with downturned side edges or flanges a that embrace the portions a and hold them against lateral dis placement. The plate a is provided with an opening a which forms the top of the socket or opening a it being observed that the said socket or opening is simply the general interior of the element A, and does not have the shape of the opening a through out the vertical length thereof, as this is not necessary. It is true, however, that the provision of the said socket, by bending the portions a inward and against the sides of the portion a, results in the formation of the grooved shoulders a within the element 'A, at opposite sides of the slot a which shoulders are in the form of rounded grooves which extend exactly vertical from top to bottom of the block. Spot welding or other means may be employed for holding the sheet, metal parts in place and together.

The element B which forms the other half of the corner block construction, and which is shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8, is secured to the end of the side rail in any suitable or desired manner, as by inserting rivets through the holes 1) shown in the side thereof. This element B is composed .of the sheet metal side portions 6 which are bent around and together at their front ends to form the neck portions 6 which are then bent apart to form the laterally projecting portions 22 the intermediate portions Z) forming the face or engaging surfaces of the element B, said surfaces being disposed at opposite sides of the neck portions 6 and said surfaces being inclined outwardly at their upper endsthat is to say, in the same direction in which the end surfaces of the element A are inclined. The locking end portion *of the element B is then formed by a short piece of sheet metal which is bent together at its ends to provide portions 6 which bear against the neck portions 5 and which has its middle or intermediate portions bent in such a manner as to provide rounded and vertically disposed shoulders b, and the curved end wall If, it being observed that the formation is adapted to fit and pass through the opening a of the other element of the block. An internal reinforce is provided for the element 13 in the form of a strip of sheet metal 6 which is secured to the portion 6 and, in addition, there is a plate Z2 which covers the top of the element B, and which is provided with downturned flanges 12 and I) that hold the construction together. It will be understood that all of these sheet metal parts thus bent into proper shape, and arranged to fit to- 'gether, are held in place by spot welding or any suitable means.

In operation, the end portion of the element B is dropped through the opening a of the element A, the shoulders b fitting and sliding within the grooves a there being no tapered or wedge-like formation in this respect, as these shoulders are of the same formation from top to bottom. It will be seen, however, that the portions 6 bear hard against the portions a and this is where the wedging action takes place, because these meeting surfaces of the two elements are inclined in the same direction, and as the element B moves downward, it endeavors by reason of this wedging action to 'move endwise away from the element A, in

a manner that will be readily understood. This wedging action serves, therefore, to pull the shoulders b tightly and firmly into the grooves a and the proportions and construction are such that the relative movement ceases as soon as the two elements are flush or level at their upper surfaces. The wedging action is effective in making a tight joint, but at the same time it is not of such character that it tends to distort the sheet metal parts, especially that portion of the element B that enters into the socket a, and which is of a shape which might tend to squeeze together or become distorted, were the wedging action made to take place within the element A, instead of outside thereof. The wedging action occurs between flat oppositely disposed surfaces, which are substantially braced against distortion, and in this way the corner block construction thus provided is capable of being made of sheet metal, and of making a tight joint, without danger of being bent out of shape.

Another advantage is that the portions a are drawn together by the portions b", because of the interlocking action of the hooklike shoulders I) and the grooves a This keeps the portions a from spreading apart, and makes a tight joint. Thus, if the slot a of the bifurcated element A becomes spread or widened, the connection of the two elements will draw the two portions (6:

toward each other and into tight engagement with the portions 6 Each front end portion of the element A. is compressed between the shoulders Z) and the portion 0 by reason of the wcdging fit between these portions 6 and the portions (L as previously explained.

Vi hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a resilient post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, and provided with interlocking means subject to a tight ening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread.

2. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a di rection to force the sections away from each other, when therail section is dropped into place, provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portion and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said Surfaces being four in number, one at each side of the longitudinal center line of each element, one pair of surfaces being separated by a vertical slot, and the other pair of surfaces being separated by a neck which enters said slot when the two sections are brought together,

relapse and said means including mutually engaging shoulders at opposite sides of said slot and neck, which shoulders are held together by the pull exerted on said neck by the en gagement of said surfaces.

3. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said elements having their cooperating portions made of sheet metal, the sheet metal being doubled back upon itself to form the said interlock ing means.

l. in corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements eonsisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said surfaces being external of said elements, said interlocking means having engaging shoulders which are disposed between the said surfaces and the end of the bed frame, said elements having their cooperating portions made of sheet metal, the sheet metal being bent upon itself to form the said interlocking means.

5. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place provided with interlocking means sul ject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said surfaces being four in number, one at each side of the longitudinal center line of each element, one pair of surfaces being separated by a vertical slot, and the other pair of surfaces being separated by a neck which enters said slot, when the two sections are brought together said means including mutually engaging shoulders at opposite sides of said slot and neck, which shoulders are held together by the pull exerted on said neck by said surfaces, said elements having their cooperato. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair coupling elements consisting of a pest section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said interlocking means having a straight sliding fit, as distinguished from the wedging fit of said sur faces.

7. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section isdropped into place, provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, said surfaces being external of said elements, and said interlocking means having engaging shoulders which are disposed between the said surfaces and the end of the bed frame, said interlocking means having a straight sliding fit, as di tinguished from the wedging fit of said surfaces.

8. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a side rail section having engaging surfaces inc-lined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, and provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section against lateral spread, one of said elements being bifurcated at its ends, and said means and surfaces cooperating to hold the two portions of said bifurcated end against spreading apart.

9. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of coupling elements consisting of a post section and a siderail section having engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections away from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, and provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulders whereby the rail section holds the post section against lateral spread, one of said elements having 10 member and prevent the same from spreading apart, said ends being hook-shaped, and two of said shoulders being curved to engage the hollows of said hooks.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of December, 1912.

WILLIAM J. GROTENHUIS.

Witnesses H. KNUDsoN, G. E. GRANsTRoM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.