US2886832A

US2886832A - Adjustable bed slat

Info

Publication number: US2886832A
Application number: US643069A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mitchell Tony; Schroeter Gerhard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-02-28
Filing date: 1957-02-28
Publication date: 1959-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-19

Description

May 19, 1959 T. MITCHELL ETAL ADJUSTABLE BED SLAT Filed Feb. 2B. 1957 IN VEN TORS.

United States Patent() ADJUSTABLE BED SLAT Tony Mitchell, Brooklyn, and Gerhard Schroeter, Laurelton, N.Y.

Application February 28, 1957, Serial No. 643,069

5 Claims. (Cl. 5-236) The present invention relates generally to adjustable bed slats, and in particular to a metallic adjustable bed slat for use on beds having either metal or wood bed rails.

In an attempt to overcome the problems attendant to employing wood bed slats which must be cut and fit to the spacing between the rails of the bed frame, it has been suggested that bed slats be constructed of two or more members telescoped with respect to each other and adjustable to a prescribed width. Such adjustable bed slats are available on the market and embody hollow channel members, one telescoped within the other and suitably formed at their outermost ends for engagement with the rails of the bed.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bed slat suitable for use on metallic bed rails. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an adjustable bed slat which may be used alternatively on metal or wood rails by a simple manual manipulation and transposition of parts.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, an adjustable bed slat is provided for use between opposed bed rails which slat is adapted to support a spring and mattress. The slat comprises first and second members arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensile and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment. Cooperating pawl and ratchet means are provided on the trst and second members arranged to normally permit said extensile and retractile movement and adapted to lock the first and second members in various positions ot adjustment in response to downward loading of the pawl and ratchet means by the weight of the spring and mattress bearing against the tirst and second telescoped members. Accordingly, the slat may be placed between the bed rails and upon being adjusted to a prescribed length may be locked in its adjusted position by merely placing the spring and mattress onto the bed frame.

Advantageously, provision may be made for adapting the adjustable bed slat for use on wood bed rails. To this end, the innermost and telescoped ends of the bed slat are provided with cleats which are disposed inwardly of the opposite ends of the bed slat when the same is used upon metal bed rails; by the mere separation of the first and second telescoped members, turning each end for end, and reengaging the members, the cleats may be disposed outermost and in position for biting engagement with the wood bed rails.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, may be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a typical bed frame having supported between the side rails thereof adjustable bed slats constructed in accordance with the present invention, a box spring and mattress being shown by the broken lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view,

ice

with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a portion of an adjustable bed slat supported on a metal rail and illustrating the details of the pawl and ratchet locking means on the telescope members of said slat; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, the pawl being illustrated as being engaged in the ratchet in response to loading of the bed slat by the box spring and the mattress.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown a typical, but illustrative, bed frame 10 which includes opposed

metal side rails

12, 14 adapted to support a box spring and mattress, shown in phantom and designated use on wooden bed rails, as indicated by the reference numeral 20 in Fig. l. The slats 20 include an inner or` rst channel member 22 and an outer or second channel member 24 arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other, the inner channel member 22 having its end 22a extending into the adjacent end 24a of the outer channel member 24. Each of the

channel members

22, 24 islessentially C-shaped in construction and is formed of sheet metal of a gauge adequate to assure the requisite structural strength. Each of the C-

shaped channel members

22, 24 includes

base sections

22e, 24e` disposed in confronting and abutting relation relative to each other, opposed leg sections 22d, 24d depending from the opposite side edges of the respective base sections, and inwardly directed

flange sections

22e, 24e on the lowermost ends of the opposed leg sections.

The rst and second C-

shaped channel members

22, 24 are provided with cooperating pawl and ratchet means 26, 28 on confronting portions thereof which are arranged to normally permit the extensile and retractile movement of the members and constructed so that the members may be locked in various positions of adjustment in response to downward loading of the pawl and ratchet by the weight of the spring 16 and the mattress 18 engaged upon the bed slats which are supported on the

rails

12, 14. The pawl 26 is formed on the base section 24C of the channel member 24 at a location adjacent the end 24a and is in the form of a depressed tongue stamped out from the springy material of the base section of the channel member 24. The ratchet 2S includes a number of ratchet openings and teeth stamped in the base section 22e of the channel member 22, each having a prole substantially complementary to the stamped -tongue 26 whereby the tongue or pawl may be selectively engaged in successive ones of the ratched teeth in various positions of adjustment of the

telescoped members

22, 24.

The

channel members

22, 24 and the respective pawl and ratchet means 26, 28 are -dimensioned relative to each other so that there is provided a clearance between the pawl and the ratchet enabling the pawl to ride over the ratchet openings and telescoped members to be moved relative to each other in either direction when the members `are substantially co-linear. However, upon loading of the bed slat 2t) in response to the placing of the box spring and mattress onto the bed frame, the members are deflected from a co-linear to an angular disposition and the base section 24a` is urged into bearing engagement with the base section 22:.` and the pawl or tongue 26 engages in the underlying ratchet tooth and is locked therein by the downward loading.

The use of the bed slat 20 may be best: appreciated by considering the showing of Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the ends 2211, 2411 of the

channel members

22, 24 are disassess?,

posed outermost. The

members

22, 24 `are extended relative to each other into the prescribed position of their extensile movement in which position the end portions of the

members

22, 24 bear against and are supported by the rails l2, ld, which in this form of the invention are illustrated as being angle irons. Thereupon, the box spring and mattress are placed upon the one or more adjusted slats and the weight of such box spring and mattress achieves the required downward loading and locking action.

When the present improved bed slat is to be employed on rails of Wood, the end 22a of the channel member 22 is withdrawn from the end 24a of the channel member 24. Thereupon, the channel members are each turned end for end, that is through 180, and the end 22b of the channel member 22 is engaged within the end 24h of the channel member 24. This adjusted position is illustrated in Fig. l by the reference numeral 20'. For use on wood bed rails, the slat 20 is provided with

cleats

30, 32 formed on the

ends

22a, 24a of the

channel members

22, 24. As seen in the drawings, the cleats 32 are in the form of downwardly directed V-shaped teeth which are formed by cutting out portions in the leg sections and ange sections of the respective channel members. When the

cleats

30, 32 are disposed outermost they may be engaged into wood bed rails. When the cleats bite into such wood bed rails they effectively lock the bed slat in the prescribed position of adjustment.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended 'in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of othervfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner in accordance with the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein.

What We claim is:

'1. An adjustable bed slat for use between opposed bed rails and adapted to support a spring and mattress comprising rst and second members arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensile and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment, and cooperating pawl and ratchet means on confronting portions of said first and second members arranged to normally permit said extensile and retractile movement and locking said first and second members in said various positions of adjustment in response to downward loading of said pawl and ratchet means by the weight of said spring and mattress whereby the pawl engages in the ratchet, said pawl and ratchet means including a series of ratchet openings provided on the confronting portion of one of said members and a pawl fabricated of a springy material rigidly connected to the confronting portion of the other of said members to project at an angle therefrom such that said pawl rides over said series of ratchet openings in either direction in response to eXtensile and retractile movement of said members when said members are disposed substantially colinearly and such that said pawl engages said ratchet openings to lock said members when said members are moved from a substantially colinear disposition to an angular disposition in response to downward loading thereof by a spring and mattress.

2. An adjustable bed slat for use between opposed metal bed rails and adapted to support a spring and mattress comprising first and second C-shaped channel members arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensile and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment, each of said C-shaped channel members including a base section, opposed leg sections depending from said base section and inwardly directed ange sections on said -leg sections, and cooperating pawl and ratchet means on confronting portions of the base sections of said first and second C-shaped channel members arranged to normally permit said eXtensile and retractile movement and locking said C-shaped channel '4mm I members in said various positions of adjustment in response to downward loading of said pawl and ratchet means by the weight of said spring and mattress whereby the pawl engages in the ratchet, said pawl and ratchet means including a series of ratchet openings provided on the confronting portion of one of said members and a pawl fabricated of a springy material rigidly connected to the confronting portion of the other of said members to project at an angle therefrom such that said pawl lrides over said series of ratchet openings in either direction in response to extensile and retractile movement of said members when said members are disposed substantially colinearly and such that said pawl engages said ratchet openings to lock said members when said members are moved from a substantially colinear disposition to an angular disposition in response to downward loading thereof by a spring and mattress.

3. An adjustable bed slat for use between opposed rails of a bed and adapted to support a spring and mattress comprising inner and outer channel members arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensile and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment, said members including confronting base sections and cooperating pawl and ratchet means on the confronting base sections of said members arranged to normally permit said extensile and retractile movement and locking said members in said various positions of adjustment in response to downward loading of said bed slat by the weight of said spring and mattress bearing against said opposed rails whereby said pawl engages and locks in said ratchet, said pawl being struck from the base section of the said outer channel member and said ratchet being .formed in the confronting base section of said inner channel member and comprising a series of ratchet openings, said pawl being fabricated of a springy material and being rigidly connected to the confronting base section of said outer channel member to project at an angle therefrom such that said pawl rides over said series of ratchet openings in either direction in response to extensile and retractile movement of said inner and outer channel members when said inner and outer channel members are disposed substantially colinearly and such that said pawl engages said ratchet openings to lock said inner and outer channel members when said inner and outer channel members are moved from a substantially colinear disposition to an angular disposition in response to downward loading thereof by a spring and mattress.

4. For use in combination with a bed including a frame having opposed rails and a spring and mattress supported on said rails, an adjustable bed slat comprising inner and outer channel members arranged in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensile and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment, and cooperating pawl and ratchet means on confronting portions of said members arranged to normally permit said extensile and retractile movement and locking said members in said various positions in response to downward loading of pawl and ratchet means by the weight of said spring and mattress against the reaction force of said rails, said pawl and ratchet means including a series of ratchet openings provided on the confronting portion of one of said members and a pawl fabricated of a springy material rigidly connected to the confronting portion of the other of said members to project at an angle therefrom such that said pawl rides over said series of ratchet openings in either direction in lresponse to extensile and retractile movement of said members when said members are disposed substantially colinearly and such that said pawl engages said ratchet openings to lock said members when said members are moved from a substantially colinear disposition to an angular disposition in response to downward loading thereof by a spring and mattress.

5. An adjustable bed slat for use on metal and wood bed rails and adapted to support a spring and mattress comprising inner and outer channel members, said inner channel member having one end extending into one end of said outer channel member whereby said channel mem bers are mounted in telescopic relation relative to each other for extensiie and retractile movement to various positions of adjustment, cooperating pawl and ratchet means adjacent said one end of said inner channel member and said one end of said outer channel member on confronting portions thereof arranged to normally permit said extensile and retractile movement and locking said members in said various positions in response to downward loading of pawl and kratchet means by the Weight of said spring and mattress bearing against said bed slat, and cleat means integrally formed on said one end of said inner channel member and integrally formed on said one end of said outer channel member whereby upon turning each of said channel members end for end and extending the other end of said inner channel member into the other end of said outer channel member, said cleat means are disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said bed slat for engaging wood bed rails and said paw] and ratchet means are disengaged from each other, said pawl and ratchet means including a series of ratchet openings provided on the confronting portion of one of said members and a pawl fabricated of a springy material rigidly connected to the confronting portion of the other of said members to project at an angle there `from such that said naw] rides over said series of ratchet openings in either direction in response to extensile and retractile movement of said members when said members are disposed substantially colinearly and such that said pawl engages said ratchet openings to lock said members When said members are moved from a substantially co linear disposition to an angular `disposition in response to `downward loading thereof by a spring and mattress.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 557,697 Pettee Apr. 7, 1896 614,820 Anderson Nov. 29, 1898 616,000 Lowry Dec. 13, 1898 1,035,765 Ballard Aug. 13, 1912 1,096,760 Rudolph May 12, 1914 1,504,807 Brotherton et a1. Aug. 12, 1924 '2,458,076 Houston I an. 4, 1949 2,599,117 MaXson June 3, 1952 2,606,329 Connelly Aug. 12, 1952