Beds – Bedsteads – Having bottom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-04-17
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Bedsteads
Having bottom
C005S400000, C005S264100, C005S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216289
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bedding products, and more particularly, to a combination box spring and bed frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional bedding system comprises a metal bed frame to which a headboard and footboard may be attached, a box spring resting upon the metal bed frame and a mattress resting upon the box spring. A popular common type of bed frame is a low metal bed frame known as a “Hollywood” bed frame. This relatively inexpensive metal frame may be used with or without a headboard and is particularly attractive to the public because of its low cost. Such an inexpensive Hollywood bed frame is collapsible and is relatively easy to assemble. Because the bed frame is a knock down or collapsible type of bed frame, the bed frame is usually packaged and shipped as a separate item requiring assembly by the purchaser at the desired location. Oftentimes, such assembly requires additional fasteners which are commonly lost or misplaced, thus requiring replacement and delaying assembly of the bed frame. Additionally, such Hollywood bed frames have many sharp edges which oftentimes tear or rip the upholstery surrounding a conventional box spring which rests upon the metal bed frame.
Such metal bed frames usually have one or more fixed legs depending downwardly from one or more members of the bed frame to which a caster wheel is attached, such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,710. With such metal bed frames, the height of the bed frame relative to the supporting surface or floor of the room in which the bed is located is fixed. Consequently, the height of the box spring and mattress are fixed. Oftentimes, consumers find the fixed height of the bed frame, box spring and mattress to be too high or low. Thus, there is a need for a metal bed frame having an adjustable height.
Several bed frames have been developed having adjustable heights, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,689. Additionally, applicant's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,614 discloses a center support system with legs of adjustable heights so as to adjust the height of a center support system adapted to be secured to a bed frame.
Attempts have been made to eliminate the metal bed frame by retrofitting a conventional box spring by supporting the box spring above the ground with a leg-type structure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 discloses such a bedding product. This patent discloses a conventional box spring having a framing member secured to each side rail of the box spring and a pair of leg structures pivotally connected to the framing members and extending therebetween. The leg structures are foldable against the underside of the box spring to facilitate shipment. Although the bedding product disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 eliminates the need for a separate metal bed frame to support a box spring, the legs supporting the box spring off the ground are not adjustable so as to vary the height of the box spring. Additionally, the framing members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,966 are located on the outside of the bed frame, exposing the sharp edges of the framing members. Consequently, a person trying to get in or out of the bed may easily cut himself or herself. Additionally, the exposed edges of the framing members may catch and tear one's clothing.
Therefore, it has been one objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product which incorporates a portion of a bed frame thus eliminating the need for a separate metal bed frame to raise the bedding product off the ground.
It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product having an adjustable height.
It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding product comprising a conventional box spring with a pair of opposed angle elements secured to the inside of the side rails of the bed frame in a relatively protected position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention of this application which accomplishes these objectives comprises a bedding product made up of a conventional box spring and a pair of support members secured to the frame of the box spring. Each of the support members has a plurality of supporting, adjustable feet extending downwardly from the support member. The bedding product may be varied in height by rotating the feet secured to the support members. The height of the bedding product may be fixed by locking the feet at a specific height.
The bedding product of the present invention has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, the longitudinal dimension being greater than the transverse dimension, as is conventional in most bedding products. However, the present invention may be used with a square bedding product as well in which the longitudinal and transverse dimensions are identical. The bedding product of the present invention includes a box spring having a frame including a pair of longitudinally extending side rails and a pair of transversely extending end rails extending between the side rails. Additionally, a plurality of transversely extending cross slats extend between the side rails between the end rails of the frame and provide support for the springs of the box spring.
The support members are secured to the side rails of the box spring frame. Each of the support members comprises an angle element, a plurality of brackets secured to the angle element and a supporting, adjustable foot depending from each bracket. Each of the angle elements comprises a horizontal flange and vertical flange extending downwardly from the horizontal flange. The vertical flange of the angle element is secured to an inside surface of one of the side rails of the box spring frame, and the horizontal flange of the angle element is secured to at least one of the cross slats extending between the side rails of the box spring frame. Thus each of the support members is located inside one of the side rails of the box spring frame in a relatively hidden position. In such a position the outside edges of the angle elements are not exposed, but rather are located inside the end rails of the box spring frame where they are not able to catch an individual's clothing. Although the angle elements are most commonly made of iron and called angle irons, the angle elements may be made of any material including but not limited to steel or plastic.
Each of the brackets is secured to the vertical flange of one of the angle elements and has a planar portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion has a bore or hole therein, inside which is located a plastic insert.
Each plastic insert has a body portion, a flange and a threaded thoroughbore extending through the body portion and the flange. The threaded thoroughbore is adapted to receive a threaded stem of an adjustable foot.
Each of the supporting, adjustable feet of the present invention comprises a threaded stem extending upwardly from a bottom member or base. The threaded stem threadably engages an insert located inside one of the brackets of one of the support members. A wing nut having a threaded interior hole therethrough is located immediately underneath the plastic insert, with the threaded stem of the adjustable foot passing through the threaded hole of the wing nut below the plastic insert. In order to fix the adjustable foot at a predetermined height the wing nut is rotated against the plastic insert.
The location of the angle elements of the support members inside the box spring frame protects the outer edges of the angle elements of the support members so they are unable to catch or snag a person's clothing or the upholstery surrounding the box spring. Additionally, the bedding product of the present invention avoids the use of a traditional metal bed frame and enables the height of a conventional box spring to be changed as desired. By merely rotating the adjustable feet extending downwardly from the brackets of the support members secured to the box spring frame, one can fix the height of the box spring.
These and other objects and advantages of this invention
L&P Property Management Company
Trettel Michael F.
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
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