US3408666A

US3408666A - Bed rail

Info

Publication number: US3408666A
Application number: US616359A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan E Harris
Original assignee: Harris Hub Co Inc
Current assignee: HARUB Corp A CORP OF DE
Priority date: 1967-02-15
Filing date: 1967-02-15
Publication date: 1968-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-05

Description

Nov. 5, 1968 A. E. HARRIS BED RAIL original Filed July 15. 1965 Sv NW www e w/ Q A wm wmw@ m@ ,MM NNN NM @N QN .IHQN W #m www ww f kwmn w oooooiz` .L g f WN V @ma QN QM. QN M QW @mi ,NNW N N \J%m\ ww Qwm wm NN WN W .\v NN, @ma QM mvYw Mm NWN. :5MM J m TN oeoeav F L Mw x Nm) r vH QN Nm. ,NN C @Nv @v QW o I (Y 131,1 .w f\\ M 4 Unir-d Staf-S Paf-Onc- 3,408,666 Patented Nov. y5, 1968 3,408,666 l BED RAIL Allan E. Harris, Winnetka, Ill., assiguor to Harris-Hub Company, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 472,111, July 15, 1965. This application Feb. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 616,359

. 6 Claims. (Cl. 5--305) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bed rail system for connecting together side rails ofl beds of different widths, which system consists of strap members that are pivotally connected together and which contain at their lends'offset flanges `adapted to intert with bed side rails. .f

This application is a continuation of Allen E. Harris application Ser. No. 472,111, ytiled July'lS, 1965, 'now abandoned, and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention.'

This invention relates to a universal bed rail assembly and more particularly to a universal transverse bed rail assembly that is easily adaptable for `connecting together the side rails of beds of different widths. i

y -Beds long have been made with headboards and footb'oards connected together by wooden side pieces, These wooden side boards are usually spanned by a plurality of wooden slats resting on ledges attached to the innersurface of the side boards. The weight of the bedsprings and mattresses of such beds is borne by those wooden slats so a number of them, usually three, are needed to support the weight thereof.

' A common problem associated with such a bed construction is the tendency of the side boards to bow out,

inthe center and of the wooden slats to slide about and move around until they fall off the ledges and drop to the floor, carrying the springs and mattresses which they support along with them. Another ditliculty often 4associated with wooden construction is the tendency of the side board ledges and the wood slats Vto, break or come loose from the side'boards, an occurrence particularly prevalent in the beds of young'children of bouncing age.

i Metal slatless side rails have been developed which, because of the inherent strength of steel and the integral angle iron construction utilized, counteract the 'problem of structural failure. However, since bed frames constructed with these metal side rails are designed to support the springs or mattresses along the narrow horizontal ledge of the side rails without using any supporting transverse slats, the box springs or steel frame springs can readily drop off the ledges when they deflect outwardly even a slight amount.

By the present invention, there is provided a transverse universal bed rail assembly which not only is capable of restraining outward deflection of metal side rails of a bed frame, but is capable of connecting together such side rails making up part of beds of different sizes including those conventionally denoted as twin, double, queen and king size beds. The present transverse universal bed rail assembly is also capable of being adjusted for use with a given size bed in which the separation between the side rails may vary by a small amount.

' Furthermore, the transverse bed rail assembly of the present invention by its many adjustments is able to restrain deflection of bed side rails without placing them under continuous tension or strain for any extended time.

Additionally, the instant assembly is provided with Y means by which it may vreadily be attached and unattached from the metal side rails to allow for easy interchangeability when the width of the bed frame is expanded or reduced for use with different size mattresses.

More specifically,lthe transverse bed rail yassembly of the present ,invention is provided with` ai plurality .of metal straps pivotally y-mounted one to the other. The straps are capable of assuming various .positions .relative to each other wherein the length of the entire assembly may be` adjusted so that an offset flange at either end of the assembly engages a slot in the horizontalledge of each side rail to connect the two rails together.

One strap of the assembly, for example, may be used to connect together the side rails making up a` narrow bed; twostraps pivotally mounted to., each lother can be utilized alternately, depending upon their--relativeposition to each other, to connect together-side rails for at least two sizes of wider beds; and a thirdtstrap canzbe attachedto one of the first two straps and may be positioned to allow the assemblyto attain a yet greater length which is sufficient to connect together the side rails when they form part of a still wider bed.. t

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and of one embodiment thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which each and every detail shown is fully and completely disclosed as a partof this specification, in which like numerals lrefer to like parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a bed frame including a number of the transverse universal bed rail assemblies connecting together the metal side rails of the frame;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the three bed rail straps comprising one embodiment of the assembly of the present invention with one strap connecting together side tr ails making up part of the frame of a narrow or twin FIGURE 3 shows two of the straps pivotally connected together and having a length sufficient to connect the side rails of a double bed frame;

FIGURE 4 shows the two straps of FIGURE 3 reoriented whereby the assembly assumes a length suicient to connect together. the side rails of a queen size bed frame; f

FIGURE 5 shows the bed rail assembly of FIGURE 4 with a third strap connected to the second strap and pivoted 180 to increase the length of the lassembly to connect together side rails of a king size bed frame;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the bed rail of FIGURE 5 showing more clearly the spacing between the straps, their offset flanges and how they engage slots in the horizontal ledges of the bed frame side rails;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but without a third strap being secured thereto; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevation view of the strap assembly illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a bed frame 10 provided with a headrail or headboard 12 and a footrail or footboard 14 connected together in the usual manner by a pair of L- shaped metal side rails 16. The side rails 16 may be constructed from angle iron and include a vertically upward extending flange portion 18 and a horizontal ledge 20 extending towards the inside of the bed frame 10 for supporting mattresses or springs making up the bed. The side rails 16 are connected together at a plurality of longitudinally spaced points by the universal bed rail assemblies 22 of the present invention.

As seen in FIGURE 2, when the side rails 16 are part of a twin bed frame they are connected together by a first bed rail strap 24 which is provided with

offset flanges

26, 28 at either end thereof. The twin size strap 24 has a plurality of apertures 30 located between its midpoint and one end thereof. The strap `24 is connected to each side rail 16 by passing the

offset flange

26, 28 at each end down through a slot 32 formed in the horizontal ledge 20 of the side rail 16. Thus, when the bed rail 22 is in position between two side rails 16, it passes between the rails over the inner edge 34 of t'he ledge 20 down through the slot 32 so that the

offset portion

26, 28 lies beneath the horizontal ledge of each side rail 16.

The first strap 24, however, is not long enough to connect together the side rails 16 when they form part of a wider or double bed frame. The bed rail asembly 22 can be adapted for use in such a double bed frame by pivotal- 1y attaching one end of a second strap 36 to the original strap 24. The attachment is made by passing suitable nut and bolt assembly 38 through a hole 40 in one end of the second strap 36, through a spacer 42 disposed between the

straps

24, 36 and through one of the apertures 30 in the first strap 24. The aperture selected is governed by the exact spacing between the side rails 16 which, for example, may be a function of the attachment configuration of mechanism used to connect the side rails 16 to the headboard 12 and footboard 14. The free end of the second strap 36 is provided with an offset flange 44 for connection to a side rail 16 through a slot 32 in the ledge 20, as explained above.

Since the second strap 36 is pivotally attached to the first strap 24 off center, it is clear that the assembly 22 is capable of assuming two different configurations having different lengths. In the shorter of the two positions, as shown in FIGURE 3, the two

straps

24, 36 are aligned so the second strap 36 overlaps a major portion of the first and the offset flanges 28, 44 pass through slots 32. The two

straps

24, 36 are kept spaced apart from each other by the spacer 42 and by the offset flange 26 of the first strap 24 which rests on the surface of the second strap 36.

As seen in FIGURE 4, the assembly 22 may be easily adjusted so it can connect together the side rails 16 forming a part of a queen size bed by merely pivoting the straps 180 relative to each other so the offset flanges 26, 44 pass through the slots 32. In this position, the second strap 3 6 overlaps the shorter portion of the first strap 24 and the length of the assembly has been increased a suflicient amount for use in a queen size bed frame. A twopiece strap assembly capable of being used for double and queen size beds is shown specifically in FIGURES 7 and 8.

When the spacing between the side rails 16 is increased further, e.g., when the rails make up part of a king size bed, the assembly 22 can still be used to connect together the side rails 16. This is accomplished by pivotally attaching a third small strap 46 to the second strap 36 at a point 48 adjacent to the offset flange 44 thereof. When used, this third strap 46 is pivoted 180 from an overlapping position on the second strap 36, as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, to an extended position shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6, whereby the length of the assembly is now increased an additional amount to allow the

offset flanges

26, 50 to reach the side rails 16 and thereby connect together the side rails forming part of a king size bed frame.

Thus, there has been provided a -universal transverse bed rail assembly which is capable of readily connecting together the metal side rails of a bed frame to prevent outward deflection of the side rails from each other; which is capable of easy adjustment to allow for use with various size bed structures; and which allows for minor variations within each bed size.

Furthermore, the universal bed rail asembly is adaptable for use with all beds; may be transferred from one bed to another of different size by simply and easily changing its configuration. and can be readily attached and unconnected `from the bed frame side rails when `de sired.

It should be understood that the use herein of the terms twin, double, queen size, and king size beds is merely illustrative and exemplary of t'he adaptability of the present invention. Clearly, the universal bed rail can be adapted for use with any number of different size beds.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and in the illustrated embodiment thereof that numerous variations and modifications'may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention. Whatis claimed is:

l1. A universal bed rail assembly for connecting together bed side rails comprising two strap members pivotally attached to each other, one of said strap members having means integral with at least one end thereof and the other of said strap members having means at both ends whereby the strap members can be used to connect side rails of beds of different widths for preventing outward deflection thereof.

2. A universal bed rail assembly for connecting together Ibed side rails comprising a pluralityy of strap members including first, second, and third strap members in which the first strap member is pivotally connected to the second strap member and the second strap member is pivotally connected to the third strap member, each of said strap members having means integral with at least one end thereof whereby the strap members can be used to connect side rails of beds of different widths for preventing outward deflection thereof.

3. A strap assembly as set forth in claim 2 in which the` second strap is connected to the first strap at one of a plurality of off center positions and the third strap is connected to the second strap in end overlapping relation thereto and the means for connecting to the side rails are located at one end of each of said second and third straps and on both ends of said first strap.

4. A universal bed rail assembly for holding together side rails of a bed comprising in combination a first strap member having offset flanges at either end adapted to interconnect with the side rails, a second strap member having an offset flange at one end for connection to a side rail and pivotally attached at its other end to said first strap member so said strap members can assume a first position relative to each other wherein the second strap membei, overlaps more than one-half of said first strap member, and a second position relative to each other wherein said second strap member overlaps less than one-half of said first strap member, and a third strap member having `an offset flange at one end for connection to a side rail and pivotally attached at its other end to said one end of said second strap member, whereby the bed rail assembly can prevent outward deflection of bed frame side rails lbetween which it is connected.

5. In a bed frame having metal side rails, a universal bed rail assembly capable of assuming various'sizes and configurations for connecting together the side rails to prevent outward deflection thereof, comprising in combination a first strap having offset flanges at either end for engaging slots provided in each side rail, a second strap positioned to overlap one end of said .first strap to increase the length of said assembly and pivotally mounted at one end to said first strap at an off center position and having an offset flange at its other end for engaging one of the side rail slots, said straps pivotable through relative to each other to increase the length of the assembly an additional amount when the second strap overlaps the other end of said first strap, and a third strap having one end pivotally mounted to said other end of said second strap and having an offset flange at its other end for engaging one of the side rail slots.

6. A universal bed rail assembly for connecting together side rails of a bed frame separated by a distance generally dened by the width of the -headboard and footboard to which the side rails are attached comprising in combination a rst strap having offset flanges at both ends for connection between the side rails attached to a twin `bed headboard and footboard, a second strap overlapping one end of said first strap to increase the length of said assembly and pivotally connected at one end to the rst strap at an off center position and having an oset ange at its other end to allow for connection of the two-strap assembly between the side rails attached to a double bed headboard and footboard, said `second strap pivotable about said mounting position 180 to overlap the other end of said rst strap' to -f-urther increase the length of said assembly for connection between side rails attached to queen size headboard and footboard, and a third strap having an offset flange at one end and pivotal- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,698 9/1888 Zambusky 5-305 683,803 10/1901 Ruebusch 5-236 1,926,437 9/ 1933 Fanders 5-305 3,118,151 1/1964 Fredrnan 5-238 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

RAYMOND D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.