US20080256704A1

US20080256704A1 - Adjustable angle bed frame

Info

Publication number: US20080256704A1
Application number: US12/082,341
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Conway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-10
Filing date: 2008-04-10
Publication date: 2008-10-23

Abstract

An “L-shaped” bed frame assembly, where the head end of the frame is taller than at the foot end, constructed in a manner which enables the user to raise the head of the bed frame by an electric motor, rising up along the taller “rail” at the head of the frame, adjusting the frame to any reasonable angle, while the frame remains flat—not bending in the middle like the older “hospital bed” style—constructed of either the traditional L-shaped flatiron, or a more tubular structural material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority benefit of a U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 60/922,702 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 10, 2007 and entitled “Adjustable angled bed frame”.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bed frames and, more specifically, to the class of bed frames that are adjustable, thereby, allowing the user to adjust the bed frame to any reasonable angle. Most adjustable bed frames are designed to operate like the “hospital bed” type frame, raising and positioning the head and shoulders near the head end of the bed and raising and positioning the lower extremities at the knee level. This requires that the mattress and mattress foundation be able to “break”, hinge or bend in one or two places—one in the general area of the user's hips, the other in the general area of the user's knees.
B. Prior Art
The history of adjustable bed frames is deep. However, most adjustable bed frames are of the “hospital bed” type whereby the bed frame can be raised at the head and shoulder level, creating a break in the center of the mattress. Most “hospital bed” type adjustable designs also allow the bed frame to be raised at knee level.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,689 issued on May 1, 1962 is one of these devices that elevate the head/shoulders using a pad fixed to one end of a threaded rod that is operated manually to adjust the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,178 filed on May 7, 2003 utilizes a “frame-within-a-frame” concept. Yet the bed frame still raises the head and shoulders area causing the mattress to fold in the middle as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the patent drawings. This design enables the bed frame to elongate easily. However, the design is relatively complicated with many more moving parts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,872 filed on May 9, 1978 provides a titling of the bed at either the head or the foot ends. However, this invention utilizes far more moving parts and electric motors adding unnecessary weight and complex assembly. In addition, this invention does not offer the same quality of sturdiness and support.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a bed frame that is a simple departure from “hospital bed”—type frames and other more complicated frames that enable the user to tilt the bed frame at its head end, providing an incline of the bed while allowing the mattress to remain flat.
A primary object of this invention is to provide a home user with an inexpensive, yet truly effective apparatus which provides simple user adjustment of his mattress inclination angle in a residential setting.
A further object of the invention is to provide a light-weight adjustable frame that is less expensive to ship, easier to assemble and easier to maintain.
A further object of the invention is to provide a bed frame that can incline to any reasonable angle using a simple electric motor at the head end of the frame, controlled by the user with an infrared, laser, Bluetooth or radio frequency remote control device.
A further object is to provide an inclined and adjustable bed frame that, when raised, allows the mattress and box spring it supports, to clear and not interfere with the footboard.
A further object is to provide an adjustable bed frame that will attach to any conventional headboard or footboard, of any conventional bed size (single, double, twin, queen, king, etc.)
Another object is to provide an adjustable bed frame specifically designed to be used in the home, offering a more basic functionality for simply lifting and lowering the entire frame at the head end of the bed frame while keeping the foot end of the bed frame practically stationary.
Yet another object is to provide an adjustable bed frame that allows the user to incline the bed frame, relative to the supporting floor, while allowing the mattress and box spring foundation to remain flat.
Still another object is to provide an adjustable bed frame whose construction enables the bed frame to incline using fewer moving parts, fewer motors or cranks, rendering it lighter in weight and maximizing ease of assembly and maintenance.
Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide the user with a simple and basic mechanism to easily lift and lower the head end of their bed so the bed can be used at any reasonable angle to improve the quality of sleep.
The design and structure of this invention is applicable to any conventional size bed frame (single, double, twin, queen, king and California king) and is designed to connect to any conventional headboard or footboard.
Thus, the bed-frame enables the bed to be raised in a single motion to a variable increased angle, while allowing the bed frame and the mattress to stay flat. The integrated “gliding channels” allow the inner frame to rise at the head end, while allowing the foot end to move slightly toward the head end, thereby, preventing the box spring and mattress from coming in contact or interfering with the footboard.
The advantages and features discussed above and other advantages and features will become apparent from the detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment showing the straight angled bed frame of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment showing the straight angled bed frame of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view of the straight angled bed frame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B and 3C are cut-away views. showing the foot assembly of the straight angled bed frame of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the first embodiment with bedding accessories;

FIG. 5A is a side perspective view of the first embodiment in a raised position;

FIGS. 5B and 5C are magnified side views of the straight angled bed frame sliding assemblies;

FIG. 6A is a front perspective view of the head portion of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a magnified front view of the headboard sliding assembly;

FIGS. 7 & 8 are front perspective views of a second embodiment of the headboard sliding assembly;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the screw jack elevating assembly of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an artistic rendering perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12A-E show various configurations of the third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 13A-B show various configurations of the third embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 14 is a front elevation view of a remote controller for various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Detailed reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1-14, the straight angled bed frame of the present invention is shown.
This bed frame invention is constructed of either a light-weight, square tubular metal material—the more conventional L-shaped flatiron used today, aluminum tubing, high strength composite tubing or materials, or another ridged, light-weight material to be determined in the future.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A-C, a rectangular, structure 10 consisting of an L-shaped outer frame 12 which supports a rectangular inner frame 14, upon which sits a mattress or a box spring/mattress set. The outer 12 and inner 14 frames are supported by adjustable “footings” 16 to better ensure that the structure is level in reference to the floor, even if the floor is irregular.
At the head end 18 of the bed frame 10 structure is the distinguishing head end riser 20, which forms the frame's L shape, affixed to the base of the bed frame 10 perpendicularly. It is along this axis that the head end 18 of the inner frame 14 is raised and lowered by an electric motor, shaft and support structures (see FIG. 6A) so that the inner bed frame 14 and mattress combination can be adjusted to any reasonable angle by the user. At various points along the inner frame 14, crossbeams 22 are added for structural support of the mattress and sleeping loads.
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5A-C, and 3C the mechanism for the inner frame 14 to glide and slide inside of the outer frame 12 is shown. In FIG. 4 the frame 10 is shown in a flat configuration, that is, horizontal or not elevated. Headboard 24 and footboard 26 are shown as accessories as well as a mattress 28 and boxspring 29. This is the normal position of the invention making it easy for a person to sit on the mattress 28 in a conventional manner or lie down upon or get up from the mattress 28.
Referring now to FIG. 5A, the inner bed frame 14 is shown in an elevated or raised position thus raising up the mattress 28 and boxspring 29 to an inclined configuration. It should be noted that the footboard 26 does not interfere with the movement
Referring now to FIG. 5B, the head end riser 20 is shown in a magnified view of FIG. 5A. Along the inside edges of the head end riser 20, are “glide channels” 30, in which, the rollers 32 slide in a captive manner, but remain firmly attached to the inner frame 14 as it moves up and down, as the inner frame 14 is raised and lowered by a motor and drive apparatus. These rollers 32 attached to the inner frame 14 and slidably captured by the glide channels 30 in the head risers 20 is the mechanism for securing the head end 18 of the inner frame 14 to the outer frame 12 at the head end 18 of the bed frame 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 3C and 5C a similar arrangement can be seen for the foot end 34 of the bed frame 10. A pair of foot end 34 rollers 32 are slidably captivated in a respective pair of glide channels 30 so that when the head end 18 of the inner frame 14 is raised by a motor or other elevating mechanism, the foot end 34 of the inner frame 14 slides away from the footboard 26 ensuring there is no mechanical interference between them. The inner frame 14 will not rise off of the outer frame 12 but the inner frame 14 can extend toward the head end 18 as the head end 18 raises and lowers. This arrangement is how the inner frame 14 is mechanically secured to the outer frame 12 at the foot end 34 of the bed frame 10.
Referring now to FIGS. 6A & 6B a motor 36 attached to a motor mount 38 elevates the inner frame 14 by driving a shaft 40 attached to the inner frame 14 in a vertical manner. The motor mount 38 is mechanically attached to the outer frame 12 so that the force generated by the motor 36 is exerted between the outer frame 12 and the inner frame 14. The motor 36 is controlled by the user with a remote control unit which can communicate with a receiver on the motor 36 using any of the known technologies such as infrared, radio frequency, Bluetooth, laser or ultrasound.
The shaft 40 is attached directly to the middle of the inner frame 14 and to the outer edges of the inner frame 14 by support arms 42. This assembly provides the needed support to raise and lower the head end 18 while providing stability at any height or angle. The user can raise the head end 18 of the inner bed frame 14 from one to approximately twelve inches, or any increment therein.
Though other bed frames provide various forms of adjustable tilting, this adjustable bed frame 10 enables a bed to be tilted by raising the head end 18 with far fewer movable parts and far fewer motors and gears than previous inventions in the field.
This bed frame 10 also compensates for the depth of the mattress 28 and boxspring 29 set, when the head end 18 is raised, to avoid interfering with the footboard 26. Furthermore, the design is capable of attachment to any standard headboard 24 and footboard 26. The bed frame 10 may be constructed of a square, tubular-shaped metal or the more common L-shaped flatiron thus making the bed frame lighter in weight and easier to assemble than previous inventions in the field. Aluminum tubing or other high strength metals or composite materials may be used individually or in combination as well for the bed frame 10 or other support components.
Referring now to FIG. 7 & 8 a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mechanism for elevating the inner frame 14 comprises a jack screw 60 attached at its top end to a roller 32 in each of the head end risers 20. The jack screw 60 is driven by a screw motor 62 receiving power through a power cord 64. The screw motor 62 receives commands from the remote control 80 to either raise, lower or maintain the inner bed frame 14 position.
Referring now to FIG. 9 the jack screw 60, screw motor 62 and power cord 64 are shown in greater detail.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3A, 4, 5A-C, the bed frame assembly 10 consists of an outer frame 12 which has an “L-shaped” riser 20 perpendicular to the floor at the head end 18 while the foot end 34 of the outer frame 12 remains flat by comparison and parallel to the floor. The outer frame 12 supports an inner frame 14 which raises and lowers within the outer frame 12, along the L-shaped riser 20 of the outer frame 12.
The outer frame 12 is supported by four adjustable footers 16. Reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 3A-C. Footer unit 16 is supported by an adjustable screw-type bolt which, in turn is connected to a footer-pad. This mechanism allows the bed frame to be adjusted so it is level to the floor or can compensate for a non-level floor.
As illustrated in FIG. 6A, an electric motor 36 is anchored at the head end 18 and just underneath of the outer frame 12 by the motor mount 38. The electric motor 36 drives the drive-shaft 40, the top of which is attached to the inner frame 14 and to the triangular shaped inner frame drive supports 42. When the operator of the bed frame activates the motor 36, using a remote control unit 80, the motor 36 drives the shaft 40 to either raise or lower the inner frame 14 from a flat position to any angle, extending the inner frame 14 to a maximum height of 12 inches at the head end 18. The inner frame 14 is raised at the head end 18 along the L-shaped riser 20.
The inner frame 14 is attached to the outer frame 12 by rollers 32. Rollers 32 at the head end 18 attach the inner frame 14 to the L-shape riser 20 via the glide channels 30 enabling it to slide up and down inside the riser 20. The inner frame 14 is attached to outer frame 12 at the foot end 34 by the rollers 32 such that when the head end 18 of the bed frame rises, the foot end 34 stays at the same level as the outer frame 12 but is allowed to travel slightly toward the head end 18 of the frame 12 via the foot end 34 rollers 32 which are attached to gliding channel 30. This dynamic also prevents the mattress set from interfering with the attached footboard.
A further embodiment would include the use of a waterbed mattress. Recent improvements in mattress construction include separate internal compartments and baffles such that a waterbed mattress can be inclined in the same manner as described above for conventional mattresses. The baffles and sealed inner compartments keep the water in the desired locations and prevent such from surging into the lower or foot end of the bed. The frame components including the structure and motor components are functionally the same except they are designed to accommodate higher loads due to the weight of the mattress.
Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11 a third embodiment of the invention is shown. An integrated bed frame 50 is displayed with a head end 18 and a foot end 34. A mattress or boxspring/mattress combination are supported on the inner frame 14. The head end 18 of the inner frame 14 slides up and down along the risers 52 at the head end 18 of the bed frame 50. The inner frame 14 pivots on support elbows 54 with the foot end 34 of the inner frame 14 rotating downward along the foot end 34 outer frame 12. The inner frame 14 foot end 34 will slide along the inner curve 56 of the outer frame. The ‘ribbon styling’ of the bed frame 50 is designed to accomplish both the functional requirements of this invention and also have a novel aesthetic appeal.
Referring now to FIGS. 12A-E, the ‘Ribbon Bed’ is shown. This hydraulic bed frame is powered by an electric motor at the top center point of the bed frame (see illustration b) The bed slides back and forth on the stainless steel bed frame at two connection points. The head of the mattress frame is connected by two headboard slots allowing the frame to move up and down four inches. The middle connection point (see illustration A) guides the mattress frame smoothly with roller bearings.
Referring now to FIGS. 13A-B, the ‘Ribbon Bed’ is shown in a raised position and a flat position. It should be noted that the foot end of the inner frame is designed to slide on the inner curve of the outer frame thus providing the necessary structural support for any sleeping or sitting loads on the mattress while it is inclined. As is well know from kinematics, when the head end of the inner frame is raised vertically, the foot end of the inner frame is retracted from the foot end of the outer frame. When the inner frame is returned to the flat position, the foot end of the inner frame slides over the foot end of the outer frame to provide structural support.
Referring now to FIGS. 14,a remote control unit 80 for the ‘Ribbon Bed’ is shown. It includes a visual display 82 which communicates the inclination angle of the bed frame to the viewer. The remote control allows the user to adjust the bed to the precise sleeping angle to fits his unique needs. The remote is also designed to recall specific inclination angles of the user or users in its electronic memory. Thus one click of a ‘memory’ button 84 will command the inner frame to a predetermined angle for the user. Built in weight on bed sensors 84 (see FIG. 10) provide further functions. For example when the user gets out of bed, the sensors communicate the ‘no weight’ signal to the control unit, and the bed frame is commanded to silently return to a flat position; when the user returns to bed, the weight sensors communicate the ‘weight on bed’ signal to the control unit, and the bed frame is commanded to return back to the angle set by the user. This function is very useful for night time journeys to the bathroom or kitchen.
Sleeping at a slightly inclined angle is healthier and more comfortable. It more evenly distributes your weight reducing pressure points that can cause back pain. Doctors know that clearer airways and a slightly inclined position dramatically reduces or eliminates snoring. A slightly inclined sleeping angle enables better circulation, therefore reducing or eliminating facial puffiness in the morning. When you lay completely flat, your sinuses have a greater tendency to clog. At a slight incline, airways stay clear
Many people, even younger people complain of acid reflux especially when they're trying to sleep, but increasing the angle of the bed just a few degrees can relieve the burning feeling of acid reflux.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An adjustable bed frame comprising a bed frame base assembly having a head end and a foot end; a mattress support frame disposed within said bed frame base assembly also having a head end and a foot end corresponding to said head and foot ends of said bed frame base assembly; and a motor attached to said bed frame base assembly and said movable mattress support frame for raising and lowering said head end of said mattress support frame.

2. The adjustable bed frame of claim 1 wherein said bed frame assembly includes a pair of vertically disposed rails at said head end for guiding said mattress support frame.

3. The adjustable bed frame of claim 2 wherein said mattress support frame includes circular wheel devices disposed at said head end and said rails include vertical glide channels within which said circular wheel device are inserted to thereby guide the vertical movement of said mattress support frame.

4. The adjustable bed frame of claim 3 wherein said mattress support frame includes circular wheel devices disposed at said foot end and said foot end of said bed frame includes horizontal glide channels within which said circular wheel device are inserted to thereby guide the horizontal movement of said mattress support frame.

5. An adjustable bed frame for sleeping and reclining upon comprises:

an outer frame;

an inner frame rotatably coupled to the outer frame;

wherein the inner frame rotates about a tranverse axis to the longitudinal direction of the bed frame.

6. The adjustable bed frame of claim 5 wherein said mattress support frame supports a waterbed mattress.

7. The adjustable bed frame of claim 5 and further comprising

an electric motor capable of receiving wireless commands from a remote control unit;

said motor mechanically coupled to said inner frame;

said motor further able to rotate said inner frame;

wherein said inner frame is commanded to multiple inclination positions by a user through said remote.