US2772424A

US2772424A - Bedframe support leg

Info

Publication number: US2772424A
Application number: US462264A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin E Roche; Leslie K Jackson
Original assignee: Harvard Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Harvard Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1954-10-14
Filing date: 1954-10-14
Publication date: 1956-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1973-12-04
Also published as: DE1116354B

Description

De 4, 1956 M. E. ROCHE ET AL 2,772,424

BEDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Filed Oct. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TORS ii n 25 1 LESLIE K. JAcKsoNa l4 4' 24 22 BY MELV\N E. ROCHE HQ 6 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 4, 1956 ROCHE ET AL 2,772,424

BEIDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Filed Oct. 14. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I IH INVENTORS LESLIE K. JACKSON 6 BY MELVIN E. ROCHE ATTO RNE Y5 United States Patent BEDFRAME SUPPORT LEG Melvin E. Roche, Strongsville, and Leslie K. Jackson,

Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to The Harvard Manufactgfiing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Application October 14, 1954, Serial No. 462,264 6 Claims. (Cl. -176) This invention relates to bedframes, and more particularly to support legs and bedframe construction adapted for partial disassembly for transport, which frames are normally made from metal rails of right angle shape in cross section.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified combined brace and supporting leg structure in the vicinity of the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse frame elements.

Another object is to provide an integral brace and leg structure adapted, in combination with a transverse frame element, for co-active interlocking perpendicular relationship with a longitudinal frame element at either end of the transverse element to eliminate the need for separate right and left units.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved brace and leg structure adapted, in combination with the transverse frame element, to support the frame at a point recessed inwardly from the longitudinal frame element.

A further object of our invention is to provide bedframe having an inexpensive but sturdy pivotal connection between the longitudinal and transverse frame elements so that these elements may be shipped com pactly partially unassembled in longitudinal alignment and still may be readily assembled in locked operative right angle relationship with minimum effort by inexperienced users.

Another object is to provide in an integrally formed brace and leg construction a vertically extending reinforcing rib or channel conformation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings, setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the inventions, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of our invention in assembled bedframe form;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame elements with the transverse members in the process of being opened;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of bedframe;

Fig. 4 illustrates in plan view a modification in form of the top flange of the support leg shown in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modification wherein a rivet-like element is used as a stop and lock;

Fig. 6 shows in vertical cross section the alternative construction shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a corner portion of a bedframe, including a longitudinal rail and a transverse rail operatively associated with each other a corner of an assembled "ice and a preferred form of the top flange of the integral brace and leg structure;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the transverse rail swung to inoperative position aligned with the longitudinal rail;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of a corner of the bedframe as shown in Fig. 8 and including a caster.

A principal problem in the structural design of bedframes sometimes referred to as the Hollywood type, i. e., box spring support frames normally used without a footboard and frequently used without a headboard, is the provision of sufficient rigidity in the frame and strength in the leg structure to accept the severe end, oblique and twisting forces to which bedframes are subjected in use. Transportation costs necessitate that frames be as light as possible consistent with strength requirements and that they be capable of being shipped in knockdown condition with the ultimate user having to complete the assembly. In addition to these requirements, experience has shown that it is highly desirable from a users safety and convenience standpoint to recess the support legs inwardly of the sides and ends of the frame to reduce foot stubbing and tripping accidents when the bed is being made. Location of the support legs in wardly of the frame periphery, together with the use of casters, requires exceptional strength in the frame supporting structure and heretofore it has been ditficult to achieve this economically with light gauge angle iron members because of their inability to withstand deformation in the absence of cumbersome bracing arrange ments.

To overcome the structural difficulties referred to above and the disadvantages of the prior art in bedframes of this type, we have invented a compact, simple and reliable, integral brace and support structure involving a novel co-operative interaction of longitudinal. transverse and leg elements.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the assembled frame 1, shown in Fig. 1, comprises a pair of longitudinal right angle side rails 3 and transverse or cross rails 4. It will be noted that in the frame shown the transverse elements 4 comprise a pair of rails pivotally attached to the respective longitudinal elements and being adapted, as shown in Fig. 2, to be swung into longitudinal alignment with the respective side rails 3. In the assembled form they are secured together by suitable tension clamp or other means to provide a unitary, but transversely adjustable, structure. At one end of the longitudinal rails is shown an end plate 5 which may be suitably secured thereto as by welding and which end plate is adapted for securing a headboard or similar member (not shown) to the bedframe.

As shown in the drawings, preferably each of the rail elements 3 and 4 have horizontally and vertically directed legs thereon. The vertically extending legs or runners of the longitudinal elements 3 are adapted snugly to contain the edge of a box spring or the like and the horizontal legs normally will be the load carrying surfaces of the bedframe. The transverse rails 4 are inverted, in comparison to the longitudinal rails, and the horizontal leg is uppermost so that it may act as a load carrying surface and the depending vertical leg is toward the ends of the frame. The transverse member is secured to the longitudinal member by means of a rivet or similar element 6, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, with the transverse elemerit being secured beneath the horizontal leg of the longitudinal element and spaced therefrom as by a washer 14, as more particularly shown in Fig. 9.

To the outer surface of the depending leg of the transverse member 4 is secured a support leg generally identified at 2. This leg element comprises a horizontally extending shoulder or flange 8, a preferred form of which is shown in Figs. 8 and 10, a centrally disposed channel or rib formation 11 and a web section having lateral Wings 12, which wings are at right angles to the shouldeer or flange 8. The reinforcing channel portion 11 of the leg is necked as indicated in Fig. so that the support leg has a generally tubular section 15 at the lower end thereof formed by folding portions 17 inwardly so as to provide a caster spindle receiving socket for a caster 29 or a glide socket, as is shown at 16.

The support leg is secured to a depending leg of the transverse element by rivets 13 or other suitable means as is shown in Fig. 10. It should be pointed out that the securing of the support leg to the leg of the transverse member provides, as may be observed in igs. 3 and 7, a sturdy T-like section. The formation of the T section at the contacting end of the transverse memher with the longitudinal member provides a reactive force against torsional effects on the transverse member resulting from the offset loading characteristics of tracking casters. The amount of strength in the combination of the wing portion of the leg with the dependent leg of the transverse member is further increased by the presence of the channel formation intermediate the wings which extends throughout the leg into the top flange, as may be seen in Figs. 7 and 8. This reinforcing chan ncl 11 is of generally arcuate shape in the form shown although it may take other conformations.

in the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the top flange 8 of the support leg has inwardly tapered end portions so that longitudinal outwardly directed locking shoulders 9 and 10 are provided on longitudinally spaced portions of the top of the flange.

In order to provide an abutment or stop for movement of the transverse rail 4, which, as has been pointed out, is pivotally secured to the longitudinal rail 3 by means of the rivet 6, the longitudinal rail preferably has downwardly extending an integral lance or lug 7 struck therefrom and extending longitudinally of the longitudinal rail in a direction toward the rivet 6 from a point spaced therefrom longitudinally along the side rail. It will be appreciated that with an appropriate reversal of functional design, pivotal movement of the transverse support asscmbly could occur through the flange of the leg rather than through the transverse frame member.

in Figs. 7 through It] the operation of the shoulder and lock relationship of the invention will be apparent as the transverse rail having the leg secured thereto is moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 7 with the shoulder 9 being brought into engaging contact with a side portion of the lance 7 to limit pivotal movement of the transverse rail and support leg assembly away from the superimposed position of the rails shown in Fig. 7. As previously mentioned, the cross rails or cross rail sections 4 are suitably secured together or may. as an alternative, extend across between a pair of longitudinal rails as a unit in order to form a suitable l' crlframe assembly.

in the preferred form, as shown in Figs. 7-10, it will he noted that the height of the top flange of the support leg is somewhzt less than the height of the horizontal leg of the transverse member so that as the flange is swung into position, as shown in Fig. 7, a portion of the flange is swung under the horizontal leg of the longitudiuul member and brought into contact therewith through the engagement with the lance 7. An alternate shape for the top flange 8 is illustrated in Fig. 4 where the t-utcr surface of the flange is tapered outwardly from a central point with the taper coming into contact with the lance 7 to limit further pivotal movement of the transver e member.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6. other abutment means, such, for example, as a rivet shank, may be provided on the longitudinal rail for stopping motion of the cross rail assembly, if desired. A rivet 22 having a flange portion 23 is provided in the longitudinal rail as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the upper surface 27 of the flange 8 is brought into contact with the lower surface 25 of the horizontal leg of the longitudinal rail and the upper surface 24 of the depending rivet portion 23 is in contact with the under surface of the flange 8, thereby supporting securely the flange between the under surface of the horizontal leg of the longitudinal member and the rivet portion 23. in the plan view of Fig. 5 the contact of the shoulder 9 with the rivet portion 22 in abutting relationship may be seen.

An additional feature to be mentioned is that usually the bedframe will be painted or otherwise given a protective coating during its manufacture and after assembly of the bcdframe components. In Figs. 6 and 9, the washer or spacing element 14 is positioned intermediate the adjacent surfaces of the longitudinal and cross rails so that the entry of paint or other preservatives between such adjacent surfaces is facilitated.

It will be seen that the construction of the invention provides a particularly sturdy arrangement for limiting pivotal movement of the transverse rail assembly on the side rail, since the lance 7 is spaced a substantial distance from the rivet 6. Inasmuch as the lance 7 or the rivet arrangement 22 is adapted to engage snugly with the undersurface of the support leg and the flange 8 thereof, these combined support and abutment members will hold the cross rail assembly against any twisting movement by forces applied to the bedframe. It should also be pointed out that the rivets 13 securing the support leg to the cross rail are relatively widely spaced to further aid in providing a sturdy braced connection between the Support leg and the cross rail. In addition, the provision of the support leg as shown serves to locate the leg and caster assembly laterally inwardly of the periphery of the assembled bedframe, thus avoiding interference with other furniture that may be disposed adjacent the bedframe and with the feed of persons wall;- ing around the frame.

We wish also to emphasize that the support leg 2 shown in the drawings is adapted to be used on either side of the bedframe inasmuch as it is of a similar conformation about a center line therethrough. Thus. when the support leg is used at an opposite end of the cross rail, as that shown in Fig. 7, the similar shoulder 10 will serve to abut against the lance 7 in the opposite side rail to limit pivotal movement of the cross rail assembly. Hence, the support leg need be made in only one design or conformation, thus facilitating the manufacture of the frame assembly by eliminating the necessity of using a distinctly shaped right and left-hand unit.

In view of the foregoing, it is submitted that the objects of the invention have been achieved and that a novel frame assembly and support means have been provided having a sturdy reinforced construction lending rigidity to the frame and having an attractive, simple structure and appearance.

Since the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. In a bedframe of contractible type, a longitudinal frame member having a horizontal support surface, a transverse frame member pivotally secured to the longi tudinal member near an end thereof having in at least the end portions thereof a right angle structure With a horizontally depending flange and a vertically depending flange facing longitudinally outwardly from said frame; an integral brace and leg member having vertical portions abutted against and rigidly secured to said vertically depending flange of the transverse frame member near an end thereof, having a horizontal top flange parallel to and facing oppositely to the horizontal flange of said transverse frame member, the transverse edge of said leg flange having a greater depth in the center than at the end and said leg member having substantially throughout its entire length a vertically extending reinforcing channel portion between said vertical portions with the lower part of said channel portion being formed into a socket; said longitudinal frame member having an abutment element spaced longitudinally outward of said pivot and depending from the horizontal surface thereof, said abutment element being adapted to engage an outer transverse edge of said top flange of the leg member to limit pivotal movement thereof.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is provided on the abutment element at the lower end thereof a retaining surface adapted to contact the under surface of said top flange of the leg support member whereby the said top flange is engaged by said abutment element both vertically and horizontally.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the abutment element on the longitudinal frame member is defined as being a lance protruding downwardly from the said longitudinal frame member and extending longitudinally thereof toward said pivot thereon and being spaced therefrom.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the abutment element is defined as being in the form of a. rivet shank. said shank having an annular horizontally extending fie age at the lower portion thereof.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transverse edge of the leg flange is further defined as having thereon a pair of oppositely disposed shoulder portions, either of which is adapted to abut against the abutment element depending from the appropriate longitudinal frame member.

6. in a bedframe of contractible type having a longitudinal frame member having a horizontal support surface and a transverse frame member pivotally secured to the longitudinal member near an end thereof wherein the transverse frame member is of right angle cross section with a horizontal upper flange and a vertically depending flange facing outwardly from said frame, a support leg comprising a top flange having a longitudinally outwardly directed locking shoulder provided thereon adjacent each end thereof, a web section connected to and extending downwardly from said top flange, and a vertically extending reinforcing channel portion in said web section extending up into said top flange to provide a reinforced support engaging means for the leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,223,285 Martin Apr. 17, 1917 2,607,051 Jackson Aug. 19, 1952 2,683,266 Baldwin July 13, 1954