Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
KNOCK-DOWN BED BASE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/073284
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention concerns a knock-down bed base (10) which can be assembled from a knocked down form quickly and without any need for dedicated or sophisticated tools. The knock-down bed base (10) includes two side panels (12) which are spaced apart on edge to form opposite sides of an assembled bed base and two elongate end panels (14) which are spaced apart on edge to form opposite head and foot ends of the assembled bed base. During assembly, the side and end panels are brought together to form a rectangular bed base frame. Connectors (24, 30) are attached to opposite ends of each of the end and side panels and are arranged to project inwardly and adjacent to one another inside each corner (36) of the frame. For each corner of the frame there is a leg (16) carrying an operatively upstanding peg (44). These pegs can be inserted into vertically aligned openings (38, 40) in the connectors of the respective side and end boards thereby to connect the connectors, and hence the side and end panels, to one another at each corner with the frame then being supported on the legs at its corners. There is also a mattress supporting structure (18) which can be laid out on and supported by the rectangular frame.

More Like This:
JP2017113504FOLDABLE SIMPLE BED
WO/2022/016876SMART BED
Inventors:
METZ LANCE CRAIG (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2017/056278
Publication Date:
April 18, 2019
Filing Date:
October 11, 2017
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
KAP BEDDING PTY LTD (ZA)
International Classes:
A47C19/00; A47C19/02
Foreign References:
US8990979B12015-03-31
US20080208709A12008-08-28
US20080235868A12008-10-02
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SPOOR & FISHER et al. (ZA)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1 .

A knock-down bed base comprising:

- two elongate side panels to be spaced apart on edge to form opposite sides of an assembled bed base,

- two elongate end panels to be spaced apart on edge to form opposite head and foot ends of the assembled bed base, the side and end panels being configured to be brought together to form a rectangular bed base frame;

- connectors attached to opposite ends of each of the end and side panels, the connectors being positioned and configured to project inwardly and adjacent to one another inside each corner of the frame;

- for each corner of the rectangular frame, a leg carrying an operatively upstanding peg, the pegs being insertable into vertically aligned openings in the connectors of the respective side and end boards thereby to connect the connectors, and hence the side and end panels, to one another at each corner, with the frame then being supportable on the legs at its corners; and

- a mattress supporting structure which can be laid out on and supported by the rectangular frame.

2.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 1 wherein each connector includes spaced apart upper and lower elements which project laterally relative to the associated panel and which are formed with vertically aligned openings therein.

3.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 2 wherein each connector is of bifurcate form.

4.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the vertically aligned openings are of tapering shape.

5.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 4 wherein the spaced apart upper and lower elements of the connectors of the respective side and end boards are positioned and configured to intercalate with one another inside each corner of the frame such that the tapered openings in the intercalated elements align with one another at each corner.

6.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 5 wherein the pegs carried by the legs are tapered for complemental reception in the aligned openings.

7.

A knock-down bed base according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mattress supporting structure comprises a plurality of rigid slats dimensioned to span between the side panels and connected flexibly to one another in one or more groups such that the slats in each group can be rolled up compactly.

8.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 7 wherein, in each group of connected slats, the slats are located in spaced apart pockets formed in a flexible slat retaining sheet.

9.

A knock-down bed according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the slats , in each group of connected slats, some of the slats carry locating pins at their ends which are receivable in corresponding receptacles carried by the bed base frame thereby to locate the slats relative to the frame.

10.

A knock-down bed base according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the slats are made of timber.

1 1 .

A knock-down bed base according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the side panels carry ledges near to their operatively upper edges on which ends of the slats can rest.

12.

A knock-down bed base according to any one of claims 7 to 1 1 and comprising one or more elongate bolsters each configured to span between the end panels and having an upper edge coplanar with the upper edges of the ledges to provide support for the mattress supporting structure between the side panels.

13.

A knock-down bed base according to claim 12 wherein the bolster(s) is/are made of timber.

14.

A knock-down bed base according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the side and end panels are made of timber.

15.

A knock-down bed base according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connectors and legs are each of one-piece, moulded plastics construction.

Description:
KNOCK-DOWN BED BASE

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a knock-down bed base. The invention is particularly concerned with bed bases or foundations on which a mattress is placed in use in order to create a complete bed.

High transportation and storage costs have given rise to increasing interest in furniture items which can be supplied in a knock-down form, i.e. the furniture item is supplied in a disassembled, knocked down form, typically in a box or other compact container which can be transported in the boot or trunk of a passenger vehicle. It is however an important requirement of a knock-down item of furniture that it should be possible to assemble the item at its destination in a simple and rapid manner and without the need for dedicated or complicated tools.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide such a knock-down bed base. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a knock-down bed base comprising:

- two elongate side panels to be spaced apart on edge to form opposite sides of an assembled bed base,

- two elongate end panels to be spaced apart on edge to form opposite head and foot ends of the assembled bed base, the side and end panels being configured to be brought together to form a rectangular bed base frame;

- connectors attached to opposite ends of each of the end and side panels, the connectors being positioned and configured to project inwardly and adjacent to one another inside each corner of the frame;

- for each corner of the rectangular frame, a leg carrying an operatively upstanding peg, the pegs being insertable into vertically aligned openings in the connectors of the respective side and end boards thereby to connect the connectors, and hence the side and end panels, to one another at each corner, with the frame then being supportable on the legs at its corners; and

- a mattress supporting structure which can be laid out on and supported by the rectangular frame.

In a preferred embodiment, each connector includes spaced apart upper and lower elements which project laterally relative to the associated panel and which are formed with vertically aligned openings therein. The connectors may be of bifurcate form and the vertically aligned openings may be of tapering shape.

In the preferred embodiment, the spaced apart upper and lower elements of the connectors of the respective side and end boards are positioned and configured to intercalate with one another inside each corner of the frame such that the tapered openings in the intercalated elements align with one another at each corner. The pegs carried by the legs are may be tapered for complemental reception in the aligned openings.

Conveniently, the mattress supporting structure comprises a plurality of rigid slats dimensioned to span between the side panels and connected flexibly to one another in one or more groups such that the slats in each group can be rolled up compactly. Preferably, in each group of connected slats, the slats are located in spaced apart pockets formed in a flexible slat retaining sheet. In each group of connected slats, some of the slats may carry locating pins at their ends which are receivable in corresponding receptacles carried by the bed base frame thereby to locate the slats relative to the frame. Typically, the slats are made of timber.

The side panels may carry ledges near to their operatively upper edges on which ends of the slats can rest.

The knock-down bed base of the invention may also include one or more elongate bolsters each configured to span between the end panels and having an upper edge coplanar with the upper edges of the ledges to provide support for the mattress supporting structure between the side panels.

The bolster(s) and side and end panels are conveniently made of timber. The connectors and legs may each be of one-piece, moulded plastics construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an assembled bed base with the mattress supporting structure thereof omitted; Figure 2 shows a side panel; Figure 3 shows an end panel Figure 4 shows a leg;

Figure 5 shows an internal view of a corner of an assembled frame of the bed base;

Figure 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the components seen in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a bottom perspective view of an assembled bed base according to the invention;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the mattress supporting structure of the bed base; and

Figure 9 shows a top perspective view of the assembled bed base.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An assembled bed base according to the invention is indicated by the reference numeral 10 in Figures 7 and 9. The bed base 10 includes two elongate side panels 12, two elongate end panels 14, four legs 16 and a mattress supporting structure 18. Other components of the bed base are also described below.

Referring to Figure 2 in particular, an elongate element extends along the length of each side panel 12 and is fixed to the panel near to its upper edge so as to form a ledge 20. Pin-receiving receptacles 22 are fixed, for example by screws, to the ledge at selected, spaced apart positions. Connected to the ends of each side panel 12, for example by screws, are connectors 24. Each connector is of bifurcate form and has vertically spaced upper and lower elements 26 projecting from a back member 27 with a gap 28 between the elements. As shown in Figure 2, the side panel connectors 24 are fixed to each side panel towards its upper edge, just beneath the ledge 20. The side panels and ledges are made of timber. The receptacles 22 and connectors 24 are each of one-piece, moulded plastic construction.

Referring to Figure 3 in particular, connectors 30 are connected to the ends of each end panel 14. Each connector 30 is of bifurcate form and has vertically spaced upper and lower elements 32 projecting from a back member 33 with a gap 34 between the elements. The end panel connectors 30 are fixed to each end panel towards its lower edge. The end panels are made of timber and the connectors 30 are each of one-piece, moulded plastic construction.

During assembly of a bed base according to the invention, the end and side panels are brought together to form a rectangular bed base frame with four corners 36. At each corner the connectors 24, 30 project inwardly, inside the corner. The configuration and positioning of the connectors is such that as they move together at right angles they intercalate with one another, as shown in Figure 5, with, in each case, an upper element 32 of a connector 30 locating in a gap 28 of the intercalated connector 24.

Each of the elements 26, 32 is formed with a vertically extending, square cross-section passage 38, 40. These passages align vertically with one another when the connectors are intercalated with one another as described above. Each of the passages tapers slightly in an upward direction, as viewed in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, so as to form, in the intercalated assembly, a continuous, upwardly tapering passage. Referring to Figure 4 in particular, each leg 16 has rectangular side members 40 meeting one another at right angles, a horizontal, triangular top member 42 extending between upper edges of the side members and a vertical peg 44 extending upwardly from the top member. As illustrated the peg has a square cross-section and tapers upwardly. The taper of the peg matches the taper of the continuous passage formed by the intercalated connectors 24, 30 at each corner 36 of the frame. The legs 16 are each moulded in one piece of a suitable plastics material, possibly the same as that used for the connectors 24, 30 and for the receptacles 22

At each corner, the peg of the associated leg 1 6 is pushed into the continuous passage formed by the intercalated connectors. The arrangement is such that the peg makes a tight fit in the passage and so cannot easily be withdrawn. The pegs serve to connect the intercalated connectors 24, 30 to one another and hence also to connect the side and end panels 12 and 14 to one another to form the rectangular bed base frame seen in Figure 1 .

In Figures 1 and 7, the numeral 50 indicates a bolster, in the form of a timber panel which extends between the end panels 14, parallel to the side panels 12. The bolster is located centrally between the side panels and is connected at its ends to the end panels by means of suitable connectors (not shown), for example slide connectors into which the ends of the bolster can slide. The connections are such that the upper edge 52 of the bolster lies in the same plane as the upper edges of the ledges 20.

The mattress support structure 18 seen in Figure 8 has two identical parts 56. In each part 56, there is a group of rigid, parallel, spaced apart timber slats 58. Each slat is located in a pocket 60 formed in a flexible plastic sheet 62. The flexibility of the sheet is such that each entire part 56 can be rolled up to form an elongate, compact roll.

After assembly of the bed base frame as described above, the parts 56 are unrolled to the flat form seen in Figure 8. The parts are then laid out flat with the opposite ends of the slats 58 resting on the upper edges of the ledges 20, and with the parts alongside one another, as shown in Figure 9.

Fixed, for example by screws, to the ends of the endmost slats in each part 56 are moulded plastic pegs or pins 64 which are dimensioned to be tight fits in the receptacles 20. When the parts are laid out on the bed base frame as described, the pins 64 are pushed into the receptacles. The spacing of the receptacles is such that each part 56 must be stretched out under some tension in order for the pins to locate in the receptacles. This correctly positions the slats relative to one another and ensures that they are maintained in a flat configuration.

The mattress support structure 18 formed by the parts 56 rests on and is supported by the bolsters 50 mid-way between the ledges 20.

This completes the assembly of the bed base 10 seen in Figures 7 and 9. A mattress (not shown) of suitable size can now be placed on the support surface provided by the support structure 18 in order to provide a complete bed.

The connectors 24 and 30, the pin-receiving receptacles 20 and the pegs 64 are all fixed in place under factory conditions and before the various components are packaged.

The drawings show a bed base suitable for use in a single bed. In other cases, the various components can be dimensioned for other bed sizes, such as double, queen or king size. Further bolsters similar to the bolster 50 can be provided in the bases for such other, wider bed sizes.

Advantages of the illustrated embodiment are that the various components can be packed very compactly in a knocked down form, and can be assembled on site in a simple and rapid manner without the need for any separate tools. ln practice, the legs 16 may be installed when the frame is upside down, as in Figure 7, whereafter the frame can be inverted to the operative orientation seen in Figure 8. It is envisaged that it will be easier to install the legs in this way for the reason that the intercalated connectors 24 and 30 will be visible from above and it will be a simple matter to align the legs correctly for the pegs to be pushed downwardly into the associated, tapering passages.