US3435469A

US3435469A - Collapsible bedspread holder

Info

Publication number: US3435469A
Application number: US638947A
Authority: US
Inventors: Betty W Fricke
Original assignee: BETTY W FRICKE
Current assignee: BETTY W FRICKE
Priority date: 1967-05-16
Filing date: 1967-05-16
Publication date: 1969-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-01
Also published as: DE1816339C3; DE1816339B2; DE1816339A1; GB1251350A

Description

April 1, 1969 B. w. FRICKE COLLAPSIBLE BEDSPREAD HOLDER Sheet 2 Org Filed May 16 19 INVENTU ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. -320 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to bedspread holders disposed at the foot of a footboard-less bed having legs, a mattress, and springs. More specifically, it deals with a fiat anchor member which is at least almost completely inserted between the mattress and the springs, and which has its forward portion hingeably connected to a fiat bedspreadholding member, the front portion of which is hingeably connected to a leg member, the height of which is adequate to maintain the holding member in substantially a horizontal position.

The forward portion of the anchoring member is preferably bent upwardly, but not high enough to extend beyond the top of the mattress. Also, the sides of the holding member may telescopically slide into the front and rear members so as to make the holding member extensible laterally. A connecting rod member is also provided, having a T on each end, said Ts being designed to fit into hollow front and rear members and thus enable joining of two or more holding members in the case of multiple bed arrangements.

Background of the invention In the case of footboard-less beds, there has been a need in the art for providing a place for setting aside, protecting, and facilitating the use of fragile, costly and often bulky and cumbersome bedspreads, without di-sturbing the decor of the bedroom. Such a device would enable the conveniently setting aside of the bedspread when the occupant is using the bed, and make it readily possible to cover the bed with the spread when the bed is not in use. Also, this should be possible without use of extensively-protruding or bulky means.

There has been proposed in Patent 2,979,736 a holder consisting of a finger-bearing framework having a leg, which may be pushed in between the mattress and the springs, and then withdrawn, when it is to be used for holding the spread. One disadvantage of such a unit is that it incurs continual wear of the mattress and spring tickings and eventually involves poking of the fingers through the tickings. A further disadvantage is that such a holder is too low, and it requires exposure of the bed for adjustment or use.

Another unit proposed in Patent 3,153,795, consists of crossable shelves which flatten against the mattress when it is not in use. Such a unit has the disadvantage, that it is in the way of the feet, when in use, and could be kicked by the feet so as to incur injury. It is also subject to accidental collapse when the bed is in use, with consequent possible injury to the occupants feet or legs.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 presents a top or plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention laid out in substantially one plane;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a side view of the unit depicted in FIGURE 1, as in use at the end of a bed, the end portion of which is shown;

3,435,469 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 FIGURE 3 shows a side view similar to that in FIG- URE 2, with the unit of the present invention collapsed (not in use) when the bed is not being occupied;

FIGURE 4 presents an end view of the unit when it is in use, as it is shown in FIGURE 2, but without the bedspread folded thereon;

FIGURE 5 depicts a partial end view of the unit when it is in collapsed condition as in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a side view of the unit when it is collapsed entirely for storage purposes;

FIGURE 7 presents a top or plan view of a modification of the holder member of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 shows a top or plan view of a coupling for use on the holder member of the holder of FIGURE 7, when applied to a double bed.

The same numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Description 0 the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 represents generally the anchoring member, numeral 11 represents generally the holding member, while numeral 12 represents generally the leg member. Each member is prefer-ably made "of rigid rod or wire material, which may be made of metal, plastic, wood, or the like.

Anchoring member .10 is made of a flat framework 13, preferably having loops 14, 15, etc., all in one plane. The outer members 13' and 13" preferably have their

terminal portions

16 and 17, respectively, bent at 19 at right angles, for a height preferably less than, but desirably not more than the height of mattress .18. Frame member 13' and 13" are hingeably connected at 20 to frame member 21 of holder member 11. In this case the hinges are loops formed on the ends of members 13' and 13", circumscribing member 21.

As is apparent from FIGURES 2-4, anchoring member .10 is inserted up to bend 19, between mattress 18 and springs 27 of the bed, indicated generally by numeral 28. Bed 28 is provided with frame 29 and legs 30.

Frame

13, 13' and 13" are inserted between the mattress and springs and kept there for the duration of the use of the bedspread holder.

Holder rear frame member 2 1 is connected to

side members

22 and 23, and to rear member 24, to form a generally rectangular-shaped holder. It is desirably provided with cross members 25, serving not only to reinforce

members

21 and 24, but also to support bedspread 26 placed thereon. It is desirable that

sides

22 and 23 of holder 11 be not longer than the distance from hinges 20 to the floor 34, and preferably shorter enough so as to enable sliding leg member 12 under the bed 28, when the holder is not in use.

Leg member 12 consists of

legs

31 and 32, connected at their lower portions by connecting member 33. These

legs

31 and 32 are hingeably connected at their upper end at 35, to front frame member 24 of holder 11. These legs are long enough so as to maintain holder 11 in substantially horizontal position when the holder is in use, as in FIGURE 2.

When in use, the holder unit is set up as in FIGURES 2 and 3, with leg member 12 supporting holder member 11 in horizontal position, so as to enable it to hold the folded quilt or bedspread 26. When the holder unit is not in use, bedspread 26 is removed, the leg member 12 is collapsed to fold under the bed, as in FIGURES 3 and 5. Thereafter, bedspread 26 is spread over the bed and draped over the foot of the bed to cover the flat anchoring members 1647, and flat holder member 11, which would otherwise be visible.

When the holder unit is to be removed and stored or shipped, it is collapsed into a compact assembly, as in 3 FIGURE 6, which should require no further explanation.

As is apparent from FIGURE 7, the holder member 11 may have the front and rear frame members 24' and 21' in the form of hollow tubes into which may be inserted telescopically the

bent ends

22a and 23b of

holder frame sides

22 and 23, respectively. This makes it possible to extend

sides

22 and 23 laterally, so as to adjust for the width of the bed, if desired.

Also, as is seen from FIGURE 7, the inner free area between

holder frame members

21 or 21, 22, 23, and 24 or 24', may be filled with wire mesh, or woven plastic strips 36, or the like, in lieu of crossbars 25.

As shown in FIGURE 8, it can be seen that, in the case of twin beds, for example, it is possible to connect hollow frame member 21' and 24 with a connector rod 37 connected to a

cross-piece

38 and 39, on each end, these pieces fitting into the hollow ends of member 21' and 24', thus making it possible to handle both holder units as a single unit.

It is thus apparent that the present invention provides a bedspread holder which need not be rubbed repeatedly between mattress and springs, and which is readily manufactured, and easily collapsed into a small volume for shipping. The unit may also be employed for other purposes, such as luggage rack, for example.

I claim:

1. A collapsible bedspread holder to be used on a footboardless bed having legs, a mattress and springs, and comprising:

a flat stationary anchoring member having a front portion and a rear portion, and designed to be disposed at least almost entirely between said mattress and said springs,

a bedspread holding member having a rear portion hingeably attached to the front portion of said anchoring member, and also having sides and a front portion, and having a distance between its front and rear portions no greater than the distance between its portion hinged to said anchoring member and the floor, but great enough to enable the hereinafter-mentioned leg member to be collapsed and pushed under the bed, and

a flat leg member having a rear portion hingeably connected to the front portion of said holding member, the height of said leg member being such as to maintain said holding member in substantially horizontal position when in use, said leg member being collapsible rearwardly when not in use so as to be concealed under said bed.

2. A collapsible bedspread holder, according to claim 1, in which the forward portion of said anchoring member is bent upwardly for a height not exceeding the height of said mattress.

3. A collapsible bedspread holder, according to claim 1 in which at least one side portion of said holding mem ber comprises a rod having a T on each end, the Ts being designed to fit into corresponding front and rear hollow portions of separate holding members, whereby two or more holding members may be moved as a unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,710,414 6/1955 Emery 5-319 2,863,156 12/1958 Hoexter 5319 X 2,979,736 4/1961 Kemman 5-318 X 3,153,795 10/1964 Emery 5-319 3,241,159 3/1966 Reed 5-318 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 248--