US3287746A

US3287746A - Back rest for beds

Info

Publication number: US3287746A
Application number: US430946A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis E Weddle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-02-08
Filing date: 1965-02-08
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

Nov. 29, '1 966 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 F. E. WEDDLE BACK BEST FOR BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FRANCIS E. WEDDLE 4 Hornet s Nov. 29, 1966 F. E. WEDDLE BACK REST FOR BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 INVENTOR. FRANCIS E. WEDDLE MMM Fig. 4.

AHorne\ S United States PatentO 3,287,746 BACK REST FOR BEDS Francis E. Weddle, Bargersville, Ind. Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 430,946 Claims. (Cl. 5-327) The present invention relates to an improved back rest for a bed; and more particularly, to a back rest which be stored in a vertical position and tilted as desired to provide a reclining support for a person sitting in bed.

It has long been useful to provide beds with tiltable back rests in order to make sitting up in bed more comfortable. Invalids or people who prefer to relax in bed find it highly desirable to have a back rest that can be secured in any one of several angular positions with respect to the bed and that can be stored, when not in use in an out-of-the-way place. While prior back rests have been proposed for beds, a common deficiency in most of these back rests is that the adjustable element is likely to bind during movement in either direction between its storage position and a related position angular with respect to the bed. It is therefore desirable to provide a back rest which has a guiding means that allows the back rest to be moved angularly with respect to the bed without binding; or if binding should occur, to provide movement in the back rest so that the bound back rest can be freed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a back rest which has a guiding structure that minimizes chance of the back rest being bound in position.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide an improved back rest which if it becomes bound, is movable to either side so that the back rest may be freed and moved as desired.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved back rest of this invention, mounted on a bed, and shown inits storage position (solid lines) and in a position angular with respect to the bed (dotted lines);

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved back rest of this invention shown in a state of disassembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged view showing a portion of the detailed construction of the frame of the back rest illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the section line 44 of FIG. 1, of the improved back rest of this invention fully assembled and in its storage position (solid lines), and (in broken lines) in two of its alternative positions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view, partially in crosssection, illustrating one means by which the improved back rest of this invention may be mounted as an attachment on a conventional bed; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the improved slide guide of this invention taken substantially along section line 66 of FIG. 4.

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention, there is provided a back rest comprising a frame which may be the head board of a bed or which may be separately mounted on a bed, and which has a centrally located and vertical trackway, and a board having a hinge means secured thereto with a discoid slide having a per imetral bearing surface secured to said hinge means. Thediscoid slide is mounted in the aforementioned trackway with its bearing surfaces contiguous to a portion of trackway whereby the board is mounted on the frame and capable of vertical reciprocation and binge action with respect to the frame and oscillation about the axis of the discoid slide.

Referring to the drawings, the back rest of this invention generally comprises a rectangular frame 10 and a rectangular board 12 attached to frame 10 and angularly slidable with respect to frame 10. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the back rest may include a pair of leg-

supports

14, 16 by which frame 10 may be mounted as an attachment on a conventional Hollywood-type bed at the head end thereof.

Frame 10 comprises a pair of end portions 18 and side portions 20 which are secured in end-to-end relationship so as to form a rectangular frame, and a forward extending perimetral flange 22 which is substantially perpendicular to frame 10, thereby forming a relatively shallow box. A trackway 24 comprising two elongated, parallel strips or rails 26 is mounted on frame 10 within perimetral flange 22 at a medial position intermediate and parallel end portions 18. Elongated strips 26 have facing edges 28 which extend vertically between side portions 20. Mounted on each end portion 18 adjacent perimetral flange 22 in vertical alignment are a plurality of hooks 30. Hooks 30, as shown in FIG. 3, are secured to end portions 18 by means of screws in such a manner that each hook 30 is adjustable in vertical position.

Board 12 is rectangular in shape, having ends 33 and sides 34, and is of such a size as to fit within the perimetral flange 22 with

edges

33, 34 adjacent and parallel to end portions 18 and side portions 20 of frame 10 respectively. Adjacent the opposite ends 33 of the upper side 34 of board 12 two brackets 36 are mounted. Each bracket 36 has a mounting portion 38 through which a plurality of screws 40 are inserted and driven into board 12 thereby securing the bracket 36 in position, and a portion 42 which is bent away from the surface of the board 12 adjacent side 34. A pin 44 is secured to portion 42 in parallel, spaced relation to side 34 of board 12, as most clearly seen in FIG. 4, by welding, brazing or other suitable means.

Secured to board 12 at a medial position between the opposite ends 33 of board 12 and adjacent to side 34 is a hinge plate 46 which is secured to board 12 by means of screws 48. Hinge plate 46 has a portion 50 bent away from board 12 adjacent side 34. Bent away portion 50 has at its distal end two spaced, curled ears 52 formed therefrom. An intermediate hinge plate 54 having a curled ear 55 at one end thereof is pivotally attached to hinge plate 46 by means of a pintle 56 driven through the

ears

52, 55 of

hinge plates

46, 54. At its opposite end, plate 54 is formed with spaced ears 59, and a third hinge plate 58 having an ear 61 at one edge is secured to intermediate hinge plate 54 by means of a pintle 60.

A disc 64 is provided having a perimetral groove 66 with a bottom 68 and upstanding and facing

bearing surfaces

70, 72 defining a rectangular groove cross-section. Disc 64 thereby forms a discoid slide which can be slidably mounted between the vertical rails 26 of trackway 24 with facing edges 28 within the groove 66 and adjacent bottom 68 of the groove 66. Disc 64 thereby mounted has a forward facing surface 74 which is secured to surface 62 of hinge plate 68 by means of screws 76 driven through hinge plate 68 into disc 64.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 5, the means by which frame 10 can be secured to the head end of a conventional Hollywood bed is shown. Each

leg element

14, 16 comprises an upper leg member 78 having

opposite ends

80, 82 and a rearwardly turned toe portion 84 adjacent end and a lower leg member 85 having

opposite ends

86, 88 and a forwardly bent toe portion 89 adjacent end 88. Adjacent ends 86 of leg portions 85 and extending longitudinally for a portion of the length of members 85 are elongated slots 90. A generally C-shaped strap 92 is provided for each leg element, proportioned to embrace the lower portion of member 78 and the upper portion of member 85. Bolts 94 are passed through slots 90 and through registering perforations (not shown) in straps 92 and members 78 to secure members 85 adjustably to members 78. Leg members '78 are secured to perimetral flange 22 adjacent one side 20 of frame It) by means of positioning toes 80 contiguous to the flange 10 by means of positioning toes 80 contiguous to the flange 22 and securing them together by means of bolts or screws 96.

Leg elements

16, 14 may be secured to the head end of a box spring of a conventional bed by positioning toes 88 contiguous to the end piece 97 of the box spring and securing them together by means of screws spring and securing them together by means of screws 98.

In a specific embodiment of this invention, the frame 10 and the board 12 are preferably made of wood, but may be made of metal, plastic or any other rigid selfsupporting material having the requisite strength.

Leg element

14, 16, trackway 24, hooks 30,

hinge plates

46, 54, 58 and bolts and

screws

48, 32, 96, 98, 94 are preferably made of metal but can be made of other rigid and self-supporting materials which are equally suitable. Disc 64 is desirably made of Teflon, nylon or a similar bearing material.

In one embodiment of this invention, a leaf spring 100 is secured to the perimetral flange 22 at a medial position adjacent the upper side portion 20 of frame ltl. Leaf spring 100 holds the board 12 in storage position and against rattling when properly inserted into the perimetral flange 22 by urging the top side 34 of board 12 away from flange 22 and the bottom side 34 toward and into contact with flange 22. Also finger openings 102 may be positioned on the forward facing surface of board 12 so as to provide an easy means for grasping board 12 to remove the board 12 from its storage position; or a suitable handle may be attached to the board in any desired manner.

In operation, the frame 10 is mounted on the head end of a conventional bed by means of the

leg elements

14, 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and or in the alternative frame may be built into or secured to a conventional head board in substantially the same position. Hooks 30 are then positioned vertically on end members 18 of frame It) at the desired locations. Vertical adjustments in position can be made of hooks 30 to suit individual tastes and needs. Disc. 64 is then positioned in trackway 24 and board 12 is assembled onto frame 10 as shown in FIG. 4. Board 12 is then stored in the position shown in FIG. 4 in the solid lines with leaf spring 100 urging the board 12 against the bottom portion of perimetral flange 22 thereby keeping board 12 in storage position.

Whenever it is desired to use the back rest, board 12 can be removed from within the perimetral flange 22 by grasping the openings or handle 102 and pulling the board 12 upwardly and outwardly. By pulling the board 12 outwardly away from the perimetral flange 22 and the frame 119, the board may be raised and lowered in vertical reciprocation by sliding disc 64 vertically in trackway 24, or it may be angularly moved with respect to the frame 10 by means of the pivotal connection of board 12 to the disc 64, or it may be moved about the axis of disc 64 by means of rotating 64 in trackway 24. By being capable of all three such movements, the board 12 can be freed from flange 22 and frame 10 if it becomes bound and can be positioned in a variety of desirable positions. When a desirable position is found, the pins 44 of the brackets 36 are received into the hooks 38 on either end of the frame 10 and are secured therein by pushing downwardly on the board 12. By this means, the pins 44 may be secured to frame 10 in a variety of positions (see

positions

12a and 12b of FIG. 4). Each of the positions,

12a, 12b refers to a location of the pins 44 in a different pair of hooks 30, and places the board 12 at a different angular position with respect to the bed and frame 10. The lower the pair of hooks 30 in which rods 44 are secured the more nearly horizontal the board 12 becomes.

While the above description sets forth a specific construction, it is within the scope of this invention to finish the frame 10 with decorative styling in a manner of conventional head boards, and to upholster board 12 so as to provide a comfortable back rest for a conventional bed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A back rest for beds comprising a rectangular frame having opposite end portions and side portions and a forward extending perimetral flange, said flange and said end and side portions being substantially perpendicular thereby forming a shallow box,

means for vertically mounting said box onto the head end of a bed,

a plurality of hooks mounted on said end portions in vertical, spaced-apart relationship adjacent said perimetral flange, said hooks being adjustable in vertical position,

a trackway comprising two elongated and parallel strips havingfacing edges, said trackway being secured to said side portions parallel to said end portions and extending from one of said side portions to the other of said side portions, said trackway being at a medial position intermediate said end portions,

a rectangular board having opposite ends and sides, said board being of a size to fit within said perimetral flange,

a pair of brackets mounted on said board adjacent said opposite ends and one of said sides of said board, each of said brackets having a portion which is bent away from said board adjacent said one side of said board,

a pair of pins secured respectively to said bent portions of said brackets parallel and adjacent said side of said board,

three hinge plates hingedly connected in edge-to-edge relationship, one of said hinge plates being secured to said board adjacent said one side at a medial position intermediate said opposite ends of said board, said one hinge plate being bent away from said board adjacent the connection with the intermediate hinge plate and adjacent said one side, said intermediate hinge plate being capable of overlapping said one of said hinge plates, and

a discoid slide having a perimetral groove with a bottom and two upstanding bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces defining a rectangular groove cross-section, said slide being mounted in said trackway, said facing edges of said strips being in said groove adjacent said bottom, the third of said hinge plates being mounted on said discoid slide whereby said board is mounted on said frame and capable of vertical reciprocation and hinge action with respect to said frame and oscillation about the axis of said disc, and whereby said hooks receive said pins to secure said board in positions angular with respect to said frame.

2. The back rest of claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pair of supports having second opposite ends, each support having an upper member and a lower member, said members being overlapped and slidably secured to each other thereby being adjustable in length, each of said supports having an end portion adjacent said second opposite end, one of said end portions being secured to said frame, the other of said end portions being adapted to be secured to the head end of a bed.

3. A back rest for beds comprising a frame having opposite ends and a forward extending perimetral flange,

means for vertically mounting said frame onto the head end of a bed,

a plurality of hook means mounted on said frame adjacent said ends in vertical, spaced apart relationship adjacent said flange, a trackway having elongated and parallel facing edges, said trackway being vertically secured to said frame intermediate said ends, a board proportioned to fit within said flange and having opposite ends, second means mounted on said board adjacent said opposite ends of said board for engaging said hook means, hinge means secured to said board intermediate said opposite ends of said board, said hinge means having a surface, and a discoid slide having a perimetral groove with a bottom and two upstanding bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces defining a rectangular groove cross-section, said slide being mounted in said trackway, said oppositely facing edges of said trackway being in said groove, said slide having a forward facing surface, said forward facing surface being mounted on said surface of said hinge means whereby said boardis mounted on said frame and capable of vertical reciprocation and hinge action with respect to said frame and oscillation about the the axis of said disc. 4. A back rest for beds comprising a frame having a centrally located vertical trackway, said trackway having elongated and parallel facing edges, means for mounting said frame onto the head end of a bed, a board having opposite ends, hinge means secured to said board intermediate said opposite ends, and a discoid slide mounted on said hinge means and having a perimetral bearing surface, said slide being mounted in said trackway, said facing edges being contiguous to a portion of said bearing surface whereby said board is mounted on said frame and capable of vertical reciprocation and hinge action with respect to said frame and oscillation about the axis of said disc.

5. A back rest and bed combination comprising a bed having head and foot ends, a frame having a centrally located vertical trackway, said trackway having elongated and parallel facing edges, means for mounting said frame onto said bed at said head end, a board having opposite ends, hinge means secured to said board intermediate said opposite ends, a discoid slide mounted on said hinge means and having a perimetral bearing surface, said slide being mounted in said trackway with said facing edges contiguous to a portion of said bearing surface, and cooperating means on said frame and on said board for supporting the upper edge of said board selectively in any one of a plurality of positions of vertical adjustment relative to said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,799 5/1951 Sprunger 5--327 2,844,829 7/1958 Levy 5327 3,110,911 11/1963 Osborne 5-327 X FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Acting Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A BACK REST FOR BEDS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS AND SIDE PORTIONS AND A FORWARD EXTENDING PERIMETRAL FLANGE, SAID FLANGE AND SAID END AND SIDE PORTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THEREBY FORMING A SHALLOW BOX, MEANS FOR VERTICALLY MOUNTING SAID BOX ONTO THE HEAD END OF A BED, A PLURALITY OF HOOKS MOUNTED ON SAID END PORTIONS IN VERTICAL, SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIP ADJACENT SAID PERIMETRAL FLANGE, SAID HOOKS BEING ADJUSTABLE IN VERTICAL POSITION, A TRACKWAY COMPRISING TWO ELONGATED AND PARALLEL STRIPS HAVING FACING EDGES, SAID TRACKWAY BEING SECURTED TO SAID SIDE PORTIONS PARALLEL TO SAID END PORTIONS AND EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS TO THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS, SAID TRACKWAY BEING AT A MEDIAL POSITION INTERMEDIATE SAID END PORTIONS, A RECTANGULAR BOARD HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, AND SIDES, SAID BOARD BEING A SIZE TO FIT WITHIN SAID PERIMETRAL FLANGE, A PAIR OF BRACKETS MOUNTED ON SAID BOARD ADJACENT SAID OPPOSITE ENDS AND ONE OF SAID SIDES OF SAID BOARD, EACH OF SAID BRACKETS HAVING A PORTION WHICH IS BENT AWAY FROM SAID BOARD ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BOARD, A PAIR OF PINS SECURED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID BENT PORTIONS OF SAID BRACKETS PARALLEL AND ADJACENT SAID SIDE OF SAID BOARD, THREE HINGE PLATES HINGEDLY CONNECTED IN EDGE-TO-EDGE RELATIONSHIP, ONE OF SAID HINGE PLATES BEING SECURED TO SAID BOARD ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE AT A MEDIAL POSITION INTERMEDIATE SAID OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOARD, SAID ONE HINGE PLATE BEING BENT AWAY FROM SAID BOARD ADJACENT THE CONNECTION WITH THE INTERMEDIATE HINGE PLATE AND ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE, SAID INTERMEDIATE HINGE PLATE BEING CAPABLE OF OVERLAPPING SAID ONE OF SAID HINGE PLATES, AND A DISCOID SLIDE HAVING A PERIMETRAL GROOVE WITH A BOTTOM AND TWO UPSTANDING BEARING SURFACES, SAID BEARING SURFACES DEFINING A RECTANGULAR GROOVE CROSS-SECTION, SAID SLIDE BEING MOUNTED IN SAID TRACKWAY, SAID FACING EDGES OF SAID STRIPS BEING IN SAID GROOVE ADJACENT SAID BOTTOM, THE THIRD OF SAID HINGE PLATES BEING MOUNTED ON SAID DISCOID SLIDE WHEREBY SAID BOARD IS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND CAPABLE OF VERTICAL RECIPROCATION AND HINGE ACTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND OSICLLATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID DISC, AND WHEREBY SAID HOOKS RECEIVE AND PINS TO SECURE SAID BOARD IN POSITIONS ANGULAR WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME.