GB2410891A

GB2410891A - A bed frame and a method of assembling a bed frame

Info

Publication number: GB2410891A
Application number: GB0403364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Anthony Preston
Original assignee: RP DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: RP DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-16
Filing date: 2004-02-16
Publication date: 2005-08-17
Also published as: GB0403364D0

Abstract

A bed frame (1) assembled without the use of tools and disassembled for storage when not required. The bed frame (1) comprises end panels (2, 3) and side panels (4, 5) that can be coupled to one another at corner pieces (6). The panels are further secured by locking pegs passing though apertures made in the ledges of the tie placed on the corner piece. Laths (7) run between the side panels (4, 5) to form a mattress support. The components of the bed frame can be manufactured from a plastics material making them light and strong.

Description

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Improvements in and Relating to Bed Frames

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to bed frames, to kits of parts for assembly into a bed frame, and to methods of assembling bed frames.

Background to the Invention

Beds comprising a base/frame, headboard and mattress are well known, and are typically sized to provide a sufficiently long and wide area for a user to sleep in comfort. Owing to this minimum size constraint single beds normally occupy at least an area of 190cm by 90cm, with double or king size beds having larger dimensions.

The area occupied by a conventional bed can not be easily used for other purposes, and for beds that are in only occasional use, e.g. guest beds this may represent a significant waste of room space.

To avoid this problem, occasional beds comprising a folding metal frame and thin, foldable mattress have been developed. However, these may not be stable in use, and although folded can be difficult to store when not in use.

It is therefore an aim of preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a bed that is stable in use, and that can be conveniently stored when not required.

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Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bed frame comprising first and second end panels, first and second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein in use each corner piece receives an end of a side panel and an end of an end panel to thereby couple the side and end panels.

lo Suitably, in use the corner pieces releasably couple the side and end panels.

Suitably, each corner piece comprises a first slot to slidably receive the end of the end panel. Suitably, each corner piece comprises a second slot arranged to receive the end of the end panel. Suitably, the first and second slots are arranged at right angles to one another.

Suitably, one or more of the side panels, end panels and corner pieces comprise a plastics material, preferably unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC).

Suitably, one or more of the side panels and the end panels comprises a projection extending from its face.

Suitably, one or more of the side panels and the end panels comprises a plurality of projections extending from its face.

Suitably, each of the first and second side panels comprises a projection extending from its face, arranged to provide a support surface. Suitably, the support surfaces are arranged to in use support a mattress support . . . . . . means. Suitably, the mattress support means comprises a plurality of laths.

Suitably, each corner portion comprises locking means arrangeable in use to secure at least one of the side and end panels in engagement therewith. Suitably, each corner portion comprises a plurality of locking means. Suitably, the or each locking means comprises a locking peg arranged to pass partially through an aperture in the corner piece lo and engage a recess in the panel, thereby inhibiting the release of the corner portion from the panel. Suitably, the or each locking means further comprises a flexible tie arranged to secure the locking peg to the corner piece.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a kit of parts suitable for assembly into a bed frame, the kit comprising first and second end panels, first and second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein each corner piece is arranged to receive an end of a side panel and an end of an end panel on assembly to thereby couple the side and end panels.

Suitably, the kit further includes at least one of a mattress support means, a mattress and a headboard.

Suitably, the components of the kit are substantially as described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of assembling a bed frame comprising first and second end panels, first and second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein the method comprises inserting an end of a e . . . side panel and an end of an end panel into each of the corner pieces to couple the side and end panels.

Brief Introduction to the Figures

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembled bed frame according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a corner of the bed frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a joint between a lath and a side panel of the bed frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an end view of a corner piece of the bed frame of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the corner piece shown in Figure 4 at the line X- X and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a bed frame 1 comprising first and second end panels 2,3, first and second side panels 4,5, four corner pieces 6 and seven laths 7. The bed frame 1 is : 'r. ;e::.., : ::: easily assembled and disassembled without the need for tools, and can be packed away into a small, regularly shaped container when not required.

The method of assembling the bed frame 1 will now be described in more detail, with reference to Figures 2, 4 and 5. The corner piece comprises first and second slots 61,62 arranged at right angles to one another. The first slot 61 in use receives an end of the first end panel 2 lo and the second slot 62 receives an end of the second side panel 5. Projecting from the interior angle of the corner piece 6 are upper and lower ledges 63. Each ledge 63 includes an aperture 64 there through proximal to the first slot 61, and a recess 65 formed there below. A corresponding aperture 64 and recess 65 are also provided proximal to the second slot 62.

The first end panel 2 comprises upper and lower wedge shaped projections 21, formed with a horizontal upper surface. The wedge shaped projections 21 each have a substantially cylindrical recess 22 formed in their horizontal upper surface, proximal to the end of the first end panel 2.

When the end of the first end panel 2 is received in the first slot 61, the wedge shaped projections 21 locate in the recesses 65 so that each of the horizontal upper surfaces abuts a ledge 63. The apertures 64 each line up with one of the cylindrical recesses 22. Locking pegs 66 are provided and secured to the corner piece 6 adjacent to each of the apertures 64 by a flexible tie. A locking peg 66 can be passed into each of the apertures 64 and further into the cylindrical recess 22 there below to secure the 2 He..' corner piece 6 to the first end panel 2. The same mechanism can be employed to secure the corner piece 6 to the second side panel 5, and at the joints at each corner or the bed frame 1.

With the ends of the panels 2 and 5 in place in the first and second slots 61,62 respectively, the remaining panels 3,4 can be similarly joined at the corner pieces 6. The next stage in the construction is for the laths 7 to be secured to the side panels 4,5. The upper wedge shaped projection 21 comprises a series of equally spaced fingers 52 formed on its horizontal upper surface. Each lath 7 comprises a securement recess 71 at each end, arranged to receive a finger 52 when the lath 7 is arranged in the bed frame 1. The engagement of the fingers 52 with the securement recesses 71 ensures correct alignment and spacing of the laths 7, and prevents the laths 7 from moving once in place.

Once the bed frame 1 has been assembled as described, a headboard can optionally be attached, and a mattress supported in the frame 1 by the laths 7. The region below the laths 7 can provide a useful storage area. The bed frame 1 may be provided with a made to measure headboard (not shown), that is vacuum formed in a plastics material.

The headboard can be conveniently located on the first end panel 2 of the bed frame 1 and attached thereto by provision of head board fixing means that are formed on the first end panel 2. Such fixing means may comprise projections and complementary recesses, similar to those on the side panels 4,5 and the laths 7.

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: ' . ::: When not required, the bed frame 1 can be disassembled easily without the need for any tools, and can be conveniently packed away for storage. If a folding or inflatable mattress is employed with the bed frame 1 then the bed can be easily packed away in its entirety.

The bed frame 1 can conveniently comprise a plastics material, for example unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC). This material is lightweight, flexible, lo unsusceptible to rot, compliant with British Standard fire resistance requirements for furniture, is easy to clean and convenient to work with during manufacture. It is envisaged that the panels 2,3,4,5, corner pieces 6 and laths 7 could be formed by an extrusion process, either as solid material or as hollow sections. For strength considerations the panels 2,3,4,5 may be solid, whereas the laths 7 may be at least partially hollow and include strengthening ribs 72. An alternative mattress support means could comprise a solid or foldable panel.

In addition to its use as described above, the bed frame 1 can also be used without the laths 7 as a play pen. In the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, the spaces between the laths 7 in use are equal to the width of the laths 7. This allows the laths 7 to be placed against one another, with only every second lath 7 held in place by a finger 52 to form a continuous surface across a portion of the bed frame 1. When arranged in such a configuration, the bed frame 1 can also serve as a child's play desk or the like.

The bed frame described is lightweight, strong and can be easily assembled and disassembled without the need for any e - -- A- e e e . tools. It is stable in use, and when disassembled can be packed away into a small space. The provision of corner pieces does away with the need for butt or mitred joints where the end and side panels meet, and allow a relatively rigid and stable construction to be achieved without unduly stressing any component parts either during assembly or in use.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which lo are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features - ... . : .. .- :: I: . . . .

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

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Claims

Claims: 1. A bed frame comprising first and second end panels, first and

second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein in use each corner piece receives an end of a side panel and an end of an end panel to thereby couple the side and end panels.
2. The bed frame of claim 1, wherein the corner pieces lo releasably couple the side and end panels.
3. The bed frame of claim 1 or 2, wherein each corner piece comprises a first slot to slidably receive the end of the end panel.
4. The bed frame of any preceding claim, wherein, each corner piece comprises a second slot arranged to receive the end of the end panel.
5. The bed frame of claim 4 as dependent on claim 3, wherein the first and second slots are arranged at right angles to one another.
6. The bed frame of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the side panels, end panels and corner pieces comprise a plastics material.
7. The bed frame of claim 6, wherein the plastics material comprises unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC).

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8. The bed frame of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the side panels and the end panels comprises a projection extending from its face.
9. The bed frame of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the side panels and the end panels comprises a plurality of projections extending from its face.
10. The bed frame of any preceding claim wherein each of lo the first and second side panels comprises a projection extending from its face, the projection arranged to provide a support surface.
11. The bed frame of claim 10, wherein the support surfaces are arranged to in use support a mattress support means.
12. The bed frame of claim 11, wherein the mattress support means comprises a plurality of laths.
13. The bed frame of any preceding claim, wherein each corner portion comprises locking means arrangeable in use to secure at least one of the side and end panels in engagement therewith.
14. The bed frame of claim 13, wherein each corner portion comprises a plurality of locking means.
15. The bed frame of claim 13 or 14, wherein the or each locking means comprises a locking peg arranged to pass partially through an aperture in the corner piece and engage a recess in the panel, thereby inhibiting the release of the corner portion from the panel.

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16. The bed frame of claim 15, wherein the or each locking means further comprises a flexible tie arranged to secure the locking peg to the corner piece.
17. A kit of parts suitable for assembly into a bed frame, the kit comprising first and second end panels, first and second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein each corner piece is arranged to receive an end of a side panel lo and an end of an end panel on assembly to thereby couple the side and end panels.
18. The kit of claim 17, further including at least one of a mattress support means, a mattress and a headboard.
19. The kit of claim 16 or 17, wherein the components of the kit are substantially as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.
20. A method of assembling a bed frame comprising first and second end panels, first and second side panels, and four corner pieces; wherein the method comprises inserting an end of a side panel and an end of an end panel into each of the corner pieces to couple the side and end panels.
21. A bed frame, kit or method substantially as described herein, with particular reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

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