Beds – Bedsteads – Having bottom
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-01
2001-04-24
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
Bedsteads
Having bottom
C005S238000, C005S200100, C005S201000, C005S613000, C005S618000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219863
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of support structures and, more particularly, to a support structure and fabrication methods for support structures of a type for supporting the human body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For human beings, sleep is essential for sustaining physical and emotional health. Due to the essential importance of sleep in this regard, the prior art is replete with an array of apparatus and systems for not only promoting restful sleep, but also providing comfortable and, in some instances, therapeutic rest. Various mattress, box spring and support structure designs for supporting a sleeping surface are but few of the vast array of available sleep related features that have enjoyed considerable innovation throughout recent years.
Although much has been done to the structure of mattresses, box springs and structures for supporting mattresses and/or box springs, little attention has been devoted toward modular sleeping systems operative for only decreasing the high cost commonly associated with conventional frame and mattress sleeping systems, but also accommodating specific consumer needs of adaptability and convertibility of a sleeping assembly. The foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the art therefore necessitate new and useful improvements.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide new and improved support structures and fabrication methods for support structures of a type for supporting a human body for sleep and/or rest.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved support structure that is easy to construct.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved support structure that may be converted into one or more of a plurality of body supporting orientations.
It is still another purpose of the present invention to reduce substantially the high costs associated with conventional frame and mattress sleeping systems.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved support structure that is inexpensive.
It is yet a further purpose of the present invention to accommodate consumer sleeping and rest needs.
It is still a further purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved modular sleeping system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others are realized in a new and improved support assembly and fabrication method for a support assembly of a type for supporting the human body. In a specific embodiment, the support assembly is generally comprised of a first support structure including a first framework having first free ends and a first support member removably coupled with the first free ends, and a first plurality of slats supported by the first framework at first and second ends thereof, the first plurality of slats for receiving and supporting a first body supporting element having a supporting surface, one of the first and second ends of each one of the first plurality of slats removably coupled with the first removable support member. Further included is a second support structure including a second framework having second free ends and a second support member removably coupled with the second free ends, and a second plurality of slats supported by the second framework in series at first and second ends thereof, the second plurality of slats for receiving and supporting a second body supporting element having a supporting surface, one of the first and second ends of each one of the second plurality of slats removably coupled with the second removable support member.
Consistent with the foregoing, with the first and second removable support members removed from the first and second free ends and one of the first and second ends of each one of the first and second plurality of slats, further provided is a connector assembly engagable with one of the first and second ends of each one of the first and second plurality of slats and with the first and second free ends. In this regard, the connector assembly and the first and second plurality of slats operate to receive and support a selected body supporting element having a supporting surface greater than the supporting surface of each of the first and second body supporting elements.
In a specific embodiment, the connector assembly may include an elongate support structure having ends, means for detachably securing the ends of the elongate support structure with the first and second free ends of the first and second frameworks, and means for removably coupling one of the first and second ends of each one of the first and second plurality of slats with the elongate support structure intermediate the ends thereof.
In a further embodiment, the present invention may also include an adjustable support assembly. In this regard, and with one of the first and second plurality of slats removed from one of the first and second frameworks, the adjustable support assembly may be removably engaged with the one of the first and second frameworks, the adjustable support assembly for receiving and supporting an adjustable body supporting element and movable between a lowered orientation and an elevated orientation. In a particular embodiment, the adjustable support assembly may a linkage assembly removably engagable with the one of the first and second frameworks intermediate first and second ends thereof, the linkage assembly being movable between a lowered orientation and an elevated orientation and directed toward one of the first and second ends of the one of the first and second frameworks. Further included is a motor for moving the linkage assembly between the lowered orientation and the elevated orientation.
In another embodiment, the adjustable support assembly may still further include another linkage assembly removably engagable with the one of the first and second frameworks intermediate first and second ends thereof, the linkage assembly being movable between a lowered orientation and an elevated orientation and directed toward the other one of the first and second ends of the one of the first and second frameworks. The motor previously disclosed, or another motor if desired, may be employed for moving the other linkage assembly between the lowered and elevated orientations.
Consistent with the foregoing, associated methods may also be provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3061843 (1962-11-01), Singer et al.
patent: 3921230 (1975-11-01), Hanning et al.
patent: 4567615 (1986-02-01), Fanti
patent: 4589151 (1986-05-01), Behrens
patent: 4752981 (1988-06-01), Salens
patent: 5916086 (1999-06-01), Rossdeutscher
patent: 5926872 (1999-07-01), Rossdeutscher
patent: 3101215 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 0397069 (1990-11-01), None
patent: 2563096 (1985-10-01), None
Loberg Dwayne D.
Viveiros Walter M.
Goltry Michael W.
Hewitt James M.
Melius Terry Lee
Parsons Robert A.
Parsons & Goltry
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