HEADBOARD SUPPORT
United States Patent 3740776
The support is an intermediate connecting structure between a bedframe which has its own self-supporting legs and a headboard which is to be supported by the bedframe. The structure has lateral and vertical adjustability for headboards of different widths and heights, and can secure to the headboard by being bolted thereto or by hooking into the conventional crosspins therein.
US Patent References:
Bedrail latch
Collins - January 1941 - 2227704
Bed-rail fastening
Dyke - August 1922 - 1424284
Rail fastener
Dyke - December 1924 - 1518970
Bed rail and connector structure
Von Canon - April 1962 - 3027572
TOOL BAR CLAMP
Batchelor - October 1970 - 3535751
Bedrail latch
Collins - January 1941 - 2227704
Bed-rail fastening
Dyke - August 1922 - 1424284
Rail fastener
Dyke - December 1924 - 1518970
Bed rail and connector structure
Von Canon - April 1962 - 3027572
TOOL BAR CLAMP
Batchelor - October 1970 - 3535751
Application Number:
05/154984
Publication Date:
06/26/1973
Filing Date:
06/21/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
5/304
International Classes:
A47C19/02; A47C19/00; A47C19/02
Field of Search:
5/296,304,288,201
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Mccall, James T.
Assistant Examiner:
Marquette, Darrell
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A bed frame bracket comprising:
2. The bedframe bracket of claim 1 wherein said bedframe bracket also includes an adaptor, said body bracket and said adaptor having a bolt therethrough so that said bolt can be tightened to secure said body bracket with respect to said adaptor, at least one of said adaptor and said body bracket having an upright slot therein with said bolt passing therethrough so that said body bracket may be vertically adjusted with respect to said adaptor.
3. The bedframe bracket of claim 2 wherein said body bracket has said upright slot therethrough, ears extending from said adaptor into said slot in said body bracket adjacent said bolt to inhibit rotation of said body bracket with respect to said adaptor around said bolt.
1. A bed frame bracket comprising:
2. The bedframe bracket of claim 1 wherein said bedframe bracket also includes an adaptor, said body bracket and said adaptor having a bolt therethrough so that said bolt can be tightened to secure said body bracket with respect to said adaptor, at least one of said adaptor and said body bracket having an upright slot therein with said bolt passing therethrough so that said body bracket may be vertically adjusted with respect to said adaptor.
3. The bedframe bracket of claim 2 wherein said body bracket has said upright slot therethrough, ears extending from said adaptor into said slot in said body bracket adjacent said bolt to inhibit rotation of said body bracket with respect to said adaptor around said bolt.
Description:
BACKGROUND
This invention is directed to a headboard support which interconnects a self-supporting bedframe and a headboard.
The traditional bed has a side rail on each side and these side rails connect into a headboard and a footboard to form a rectangular structure upon which is mounted the bedsprings and mattress. Support for the side rails is provided by the headboard and footboard, so that a downward load is applied from the side rails onto the headboard and footboard. The conventional interconnection therebetween comprises inwardly-directed sloping fingers on the ends of the side rails which engage pins in the headboard and footboard. The downward load upon the side rails causes tightening of the fingers over the pins, to cause self-tightening of the interconnection.
Another class of modern bed comprises the bedframe, which is a generally rectangular structure having its own legs. Often these legs terminate in casters at their lower ends. The bedspring is directly mounted upon the bedframe, and the mattress is located on top thereof. The bedframe-type of structure thus is directly supported from the floor and has no need for support by a headboard. Furthermore, conventionally the bedframe-type construction has casters, while the headboard-type of construction does not.
Problems arise, when it is decided that a headboard be secured to a bedframe. This is sometimes desirable, when a decorator desires the ornamental characteristics of headboard, without the impediment of a footboard. In such an arrangement, a bedframe has a construction as indicated, with the headboard supported at the head thereof. The usual bedframe has no connecting device which permits direct connection to a headboard. While a flange can be provided, variations in headboards do not permit convenient connection.
SUMMARY
In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a headboard support which is an intermediate connecting structure for attachment between a bedframe and a headboard to support the headboard from the bedframe. The headboard support has suitable adjustability to conveniently connect to headboards of different dimensions.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a headboard support which includes structure securable to a bedframe which has its own legs. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which has suitable structure for securement to a standard headboard. It is another object to provide an intermediate connecting structure between a bedframe and a headboard, which has suitable adjustability to provide headboard connection. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which engages the headboard by means of hooks engaging into the standard crosspins therein. It is yet another object to provide a headboard support which engages the headboard by being bolted thereto. It is still another object to provide a headboard support which alternatively or additively permits connection to the headboard by means of engaging the pins in the headboard, or being bolted to the headboard. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which has suitable lateral and vertical adjustability to engage a headboard and support it above the floor by means of a bedframe. It is still another object to provide a multi-purpose type of headboard support which is capable of connecting to any type of headboard to support the headboard with respect to a bedframe. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a headboard supported on a bedframe by the headboard support of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the headboard support of this invention, showing it connected to both a bedframe and a headboard.
FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view, in reduced scale as compared to FIG. 2, with parts broken away, of the headboard support of this invention.
DESCRIPTION
In the drawings, two headboard supports, in accordance with this invention, are illustrated. As seen in FIG. 1, headboard support 10 supports the left side of headboard 14 with respect to bedframe 12, while headboard support 16 supports the other side.
Bedframe 12 is a conventional adjustable bedframe having side rails 18 and 20. These side rails are in the form of upwardly and inwardly-extending angle irons. The side rails are maintained at a fixed distance with respect to each other by means of crossbars 22 and 24. These crossbars are adjustable, so that the distance between the side rails can be fixed at an appropriate width. At the appropriate width, the side rails embrace the undersurface and outer edges of a bedspring, to maintain it in position. The bedframe is raised above the floor by means of legs and, as illustrated, the legs preferably carry casters, as indicated at 26. Thus, the bedframe 12 independently supports the entire bed from the floor separately from any support provided by a headboard or footboard. Such bedframes are conventional, as illustrated in H. J. Sands U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,761.
There are several varieties of standard headboards, of which headboard 14 is one example. As stated above, in one conventional type of bed construction, a headboard and footboard support side rails and the side rails, in turn, support the spring and mattress of the bed. Thus, headboard 14 has legs 28 and 30 which, in ordinary application, would support the bed. The headboard 14 also has a face 32 which extends across the legs and is supported by the legs. The face 32 functionally prevents pillows from falling off the head end of the bed and provides decorative aspects. Face 32 may be of any of the conventional headboard constructions from rattan to milled woodwork to upholstery.
The downwardly-extending legs 28 and 30 have conventional slots 34 and 36 in the front thereof. Crosspins 38 and 40 extend across slot 34, while crosspins 42 and 44 extend across slot 36. This slot and crosspin construction is conventional.
The left and right headboard supports 10 and 16 are symmetrically identical and respectively secure the left side rail 18 to the left head board leg 28, and right side rail 20 to right headboard leg 30. Features and details described which are attributed with respect to one of the headboard supports are equally applicable to the other.
Adaptor 46 is secured to the head end of side rail 18 by means of bolts 48 which conveniently have thumbnuts thereon for assembly without tools. Adaptor 46 has a bolt hole through its forward end which carries bolt 50 therethrough. Thumbnut 52 is engaged on bolt 50. An ear is punched above bolt 50 and another ear therebelow. The upper ear is indicated at 54. The ears extend outwardly from the outer surface of adaptor 46 to act as keys.
The ears extend into slot 56 in body bracket 58. The body bracket is substantially L-shaped, when viewed from the top, and is of substantially uniform cross section, when viewed in that direction. Slot 56 is in main web 60 of body bracket 58. Main web 60 has an offset, so that portion of the main web which carries slot 56 is aligned substantially centrally with the flange foot 62 of the body bracket. Bolt 50 is a carriage bolt with its square shoulder in slot 56 and which extends through slot 56. It has its head on the opposite side of body bracket 58 from adaptor 46. Thus, ears 58 guide the body bracket in vertical sliding relationship to the adaptor 46, when thumbnut 52 is loose, to permit vertical adjustment followed by clamping by tightening of thumbnut 52.
The flange foot 62 of body bracket 58 has slots 64, 66, and 68 therein. These slots are equally spaced and are spaced on the same centers as the crosspins 38 and 40. The upper pair of slots 64 and 66 serves as one location for installation of the bifurcated clamp hook 70, as is seen in FIG. 2. Clamp hook 70 has fingers 72 and 74 thereon, see FIG. 3, which terminate in hooks 76 and 78, respectively, which respectively engage around the pins 42 and 44.
Clamp hook 71 in FIG. 3 is of identical construction to the clamp hook 70 of FIG. 2. The clamp hooks 70 and 71 are stamped to provide a passage therethrough in the general plane of the clamp hook for clamp screw 80. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screw engages upon the flange foot 62 of the body bracket so that tightening of the screw tightens the hooks 76 and 78 around their crosspins and pulls the flange foot against the legs of the headboard. Thus, secure clamping of the headboard support against the headboard leg is accomplished. Gross vertical adjustment is accomplished by placement of the clamp hook 70 in the other pair 66 and 68 of slots, while fine vertical adjustment is accomplished by sliding body bracket 58 vertically with respect to adaptor 48, with ears 54 in slot 56, followed by tightening of thumbnut 52.
Transverse adjustment is accomplished by proper positioning of the clamp hooks 70 and 71 along the length of the slots 64 and 66 which extend laterally of the flange 62 of body bracket 58. Lateral adjustment to permit the width of bedframe 12 to accommodate the width of headboard 14 is accomplished by the transverse slots 64 through 68. Vertical adjustment is provided so that the headboard 14 can be suspended slightly above the floor, or resting only lightly on the floor with the frame 12 carrying the weight of the headboard and the bed. Thus, the bedframe 12 with the headboard 14 so attached can be wheeled upon its casters 26.
The headboard support can be quickly and easily assembled and fully adjusted by means of unskilled labor, even in the absence of tools when the bolts 48 are equipped with thumb nuts. Since it relies upon hooks, such as hooks 76 and 78 to hold up the headboard, it provides rigid securement, especially as compared to the tapered wedge attachment of the standard bed sideboard. The clamping force is in the direction parallel to the floor along the rotational axis of screw 80. It should also be noted that the screw 80 is positioned so that its axis is equidistant between crospins 42 and 44.
As an additional means for securing the headboard support to a headboard leg, body bracket 58 is provided with bolt slots 82 and 84 through the flange foot 62 thereof. These bolt slots permit the installation of bolts therethrough and into or through the leg of the headboard. A few headboards are provided with predrilled bolt holes, instead of the crosspins 38 through 44. In that case, bolts can be installed therethrough. The lateral length of the bolt slots permits the width adjustment discussed above. The bolt slots 82 and 84 are positioned so that clamp screw 80 does not engage thereon, but engages adjacent thereto. In the case where the headboard leg is not provided with predrilled bolt holes, appropriate holes can be drilled for the installation of leg screws or through bolts, employing the bolt slots 82 and 84. Thus, the headboard supports 10 and 16 provide for clamping to any type of headboard, with adequate lateral and vertical adjustability to hold the headboard in non-bed-supporting position above the floor.
It is clear that the headboard supports 10 and 16 can be attached to other types of structures, such as footboards or other panels or structures of decorative value with respect to the bed. Furthermore, while it is preferably employed as a support means for supporting such a headboard above the floor, alternatively that end of the bedframe can be supported on the headboard, thus relieving part or all of the load of that end of the bedframe on the casters 26. In other words, the headboard supports can either hold a headboard up or down with respect to the bedframe and, thus, may be considered in more broad terms as being bedframe brackets.
This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.
This invention is directed to a headboard support which interconnects a self-supporting bedframe and a headboard.
The traditional bed has a side rail on each side and these side rails connect into a headboard and a footboard to form a rectangular structure upon which is mounted the bedsprings and mattress. Support for the side rails is provided by the headboard and footboard, so that a downward load is applied from the side rails onto the headboard and footboard. The conventional interconnection therebetween comprises inwardly-directed sloping fingers on the ends of the side rails which engage pins in the headboard and footboard. The downward load upon the side rails causes tightening of the fingers over the pins, to cause self-tightening of the interconnection.
Another class of modern bed comprises the bedframe, which is a generally rectangular structure having its own legs. Often these legs terminate in casters at their lower ends. The bedspring is directly mounted upon the bedframe, and the mattress is located on top thereof. The bedframe-type of structure thus is directly supported from the floor and has no need for support by a headboard. Furthermore, conventionally the bedframe-type construction has casters, while the headboard-type of construction does not.
Problems arise, when it is decided that a headboard be secured to a bedframe. This is sometimes desirable, when a decorator desires the ornamental characteristics of headboard, without the impediment of a footboard. In such an arrangement, a bedframe has a construction as indicated, with the headboard supported at the head thereof. The usual bedframe has no connecting device which permits direct connection to a headboard. While a flange can be provided, variations in headboards do not permit convenient connection.
SUMMARY
In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a headboard support which is an intermediate connecting structure for attachment between a bedframe and a headboard to support the headboard from the bedframe. The headboard support has suitable adjustability to conveniently connect to headboards of different dimensions.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a headboard support which includes structure securable to a bedframe which has its own legs. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which has suitable structure for securement to a standard headboard. It is another object to provide an intermediate connecting structure between a bedframe and a headboard, which has suitable adjustability to provide headboard connection. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which engages the headboard by means of hooks engaging into the standard crosspins therein. It is yet another object to provide a headboard support which engages the headboard by being bolted thereto. It is still another object to provide a headboard support which alternatively or additively permits connection to the headboard by means of engaging the pins in the headboard, or being bolted to the headboard. It is a further object to provide a headboard support which has suitable lateral and vertical adjustability to engage a headboard and support it above the floor by means of a bedframe. It is still another object to provide a multi-purpose type of headboard support which is capable of connecting to any type of headboard to support the headboard with respect to a bedframe. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a headboard supported on a bedframe by the headboard support of this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the headboard support of this invention, showing it connected to both a bedframe and a headboard.
FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view, in reduced scale as compared to FIG. 2, with parts broken away, of the headboard support of this invention.
DESCRIPTION
In the drawings, two headboard supports, in accordance with this invention, are illustrated. As seen in FIG. 1, headboard support 10 supports the left side of headboard 14 with respect to bedframe 12, while headboard support 16 supports the other side.
Bedframe 12 is a conventional adjustable bedframe having side rails 18 and 20. These side rails are in the form of upwardly and inwardly-extending angle irons. The side rails are maintained at a fixed distance with respect to each other by means of crossbars 22 and 24. These crossbars are adjustable, so that the distance between the side rails can be fixed at an appropriate width. At the appropriate width, the side rails embrace the undersurface and outer edges of a bedspring, to maintain it in position. The bedframe is raised above the floor by means of legs and, as illustrated, the legs preferably carry casters, as indicated at 26. Thus, the bedframe 12 independently supports the entire bed from the floor separately from any support provided by a headboard or footboard. Such bedframes are conventional, as illustrated in H. J. Sands U.S. Pat. No. 2,995,761.
There are several varieties of standard headboards, of which headboard 14 is one example. As stated above, in one conventional type of bed construction, a headboard and footboard support side rails and the side rails, in turn, support the spring and mattress of the bed. Thus, headboard 14 has legs 28 and 30 which, in ordinary application, would support the bed. The headboard 14 also has a face 32 which extends across the legs and is supported by the legs. The face 32 functionally prevents pillows from falling off the head end of the bed and provides decorative aspects. Face 32 may be of any of the conventional headboard constructions from rattan to milled woodwork to upholstery.
The downwardly-extending legs 28 and 30 have conventional slots 34 and 36 in the front thereof. Crosspins 38 and 40 extend across slot 34, while crosspins 42 and 44 extend across slot 36. This slot and crosspin construction is conventional.
The left and right headboard supports 10 and 16 are symmetrically identical and respectively secure the left side rail 18 to the left head board leg 28, and right side rail 20 to right headboard leg 30. Features and details described which are attributed with respect to one of the headboard supports are equally applicable to the other.
Adaptor 46 is secured to the head end of side rail 18 by means of bolts 48 which conveniently have thumbnuts thereon for assembly without tools. Adaptor 46 has a bolt hole through its forward end which carries bolt 50 therethrough. Thumbnut 52 is engaged on bolt 50. An ear is punched above bolt 50 and another ear therebelow. The upper ear is indicated at 54. The ears extend outwardly from the outer surface of adaptor 46 to act as keys.
The ears extend into slot 56 in body bracket 58. The body bracket is substantially L-shaped, when viewed from the top, and is of substantially uniform cross section, when viewed in that direction. Slot 56 is in main web 60 of body bracket 58. Main web 60 has an offset, so that portion of the main web which carries slot 56 is aligned substantially centrally with the flange foot 62 of the body bracket. Bolt 50 is a carriage bolt with its square shoulder in slot 56 and which extends through slot 56. It has its head on the opposite side of body bracket 58 from adaptor 46. Thus, ears 58 guide the body bracket in vertical sliding relationship to the adaptor 46, when thumbnut 52 is loose, to permit vertical adjustment followed by clamping by tightening of thumbnut 52.
The flange foot 62 of body bracket 58 has slots 64, 66, and 68 therein. These slots are equally spaced and are spaced on the same centers as the crosspins 38 and 40. The upper pair of slots 64 and 66 serves as one location for installation of the bifurcated clamp hook 70, as is seen in FIG. 2. Clamp hook 70 has fingers 72 and 74 thereon, see FIG. 3, which terminate in hooks 76 and 78, respectively, which respectively engage around the pins 42 and 44.
Clamp hook 71 in FIG. 3 is of identical construction to the clamp hook 70 of FIG. 2. The clamp hooks 70 and 71 are stamped to provide a passage therethrough in the general plane of the clamp hook for clamp screw 80. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screw engages upon the flange foot 62 of the body bracket so that tightening of the screw tightens the hooks 76 and 78 around their crosspins and pulls the flange foot against the legs of the headboard. Thus, secure clamping of the headboard support against the headboard leg is accomplished. Gross vertical adjustment is accomplished by placement of the clamp hook 70 in the other pair 66 and 68 of slots, while fine vertical adjustment is accomplished by sliding body bracket 58 vertically with respect to adaptor 48, with ears 54 in slot 56, followed by tightening of thumbnut 52.
Transverse adjustment is accomplished by proper positioning of the clamp hooks 70 and 71 along the length of the slots 64 and 66 which extend laterally of the flange 62 of body bracket 58. Lateral adjustment to permit the width of bedframe 12 to accommodate the width of headboard 14 is accomplished by the transverse slots 64 through 68. Vertical adjustment is provided so that the headboard 14 can be suspended slightly above the floor, or resting only lightly on the floor with the frame 12 carrying the weight of the headboard and the bed. Thus, the bedframe 12 with the headboard 14 so attached can be wheeled upon its casters 26.
The headboard support can be quickly and easily assembled and fully adjusted by means of unskilled labor, even in the absence of tools when the bolts 48 are equipped with thumb nuts. Since it relies upon hooks, such as hooks 76 and 78 to hold up the headboard, it provides rigid securement, especially as compared to the tapered wedge attachment of the standard bed sideboard. The clamping force is in the direction parallel to the floor along the rotational axis of screw 80. It should also be noted that the screw 80 is positioned so that its axis is equidistant between crospins 42 and 44.
As an additional means for securing the headboard support to a headboard leg, body bracket 58 is provided with bolt slots 82 and 84 through the flange foot 62 thereof. These bolt slots permit the installation of bolts therethrough and into or through the leg of the headboard. A few headboards are provided with predrilled bolt holes, instead of the crosspins 38 through 44. In that case, bolts can be installed therethrough. The lateral length of the bolt slots permits the width adjustment discussed above. The bolt slots 82 and 84 are positioned so that clamp screw 80 does not engage thereon, but engages adjacent thereto. In the case where the headboard leg is not provided with predrilled bolt holes, appropriate holes can be drilled for the installation of leg screws or through bolts, employing the bolt slots 82 and 84. Thus, the headboard supports 10 and 16 provide for clamping to any type of headboard, with adequate lateral and vertical adjustability to hold the headboard in non-bed-supporting position above the floor.
It is clear that the headboard supports 10 and 16 can be attached to other types of structures, such as footboards or other panels or structures of decorative value with respect to the bed. Furthermore, while it is preferably employed as a support means for supporting such a headboard above the floor, alternatively that end of the bedframe can be supported on the headboard, thus relieving part or all of the load of that end of the bedframe on the casters 26. In other words, the headboard supports can either hold a headboard up or down with respect to the bedframe and, thus, may be considered in more broad terms as being bedframe brackets.
This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.