Bed foundation method and apparatus

United States Patent Application 20040049847

Method and apparatus for sleeping or relaxing employing a hollow foundation interposed between a bedframe and a mattress, with the foundation adapted for the storage of objects by including at least one storage drawer that extends from a frame of the foundation to its interior, the frame having opposed elongated sides and the storage drawer extends into the foundation from one of its elongated sides and from the opposite one of the elongated sides so that a plurality of storage drawers can occupy substantially the entire interior of the foundation.

Leoutsakos, Thomas (North Quincy, MA, US)

10/241847

03/18/2004

09/13/2002

Click for automatic bibliography generation

LEOUTSAKOS THOMAS

5/2.1

5/58, 5/308

A47C17/86; A47C19/22; (IPC1-7): A47C19/22

Download PDF 20040049847  

20100093251	Systems and Methods for 2-D and 3-D Soft Products Having Heartbeat Sound Emission	April, 2010	Viniotis
20060185093	Cushion pad	August, 2006	Yu
20080276371	MOVABLE BED DIVIDING SCREEN	November, 2008	Stowers
20070277324	Beam construction of air mattress	December, 2007	Liu
20030229378	Spinal support for reclining persons	December, 2003	Weber
20080216881	Camping Apparatus	September, 2008	Ganz
20070157392	Baby support wrap system	July, 2007	Ragen
20040040086	Healthcare system with coordinated operation of sub-systems	March, 2004	Eisenberg et al.
20040003465	Bedding or seating foundation having metal spring modules	January, 2004	Wells et al.
20020112286	Patient movement aid	August, 2002	Upton et al.
20050273938	Airbed utilizing extruded coils	December, 2005	Metzger et al.

SINGH, SUNIL

Thomas Leoutsakos (Medford, MA, US)

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus for sleeping or relaxing comprising: a bed frame; a foundation upon said bed frame; and a mattress upon said foundation; wherein said foundation is adapted for the storage of objects.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said foundation comprises a hollow frame.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said foundation includes at least one storage drawer.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said storage drawer extends from said frame to the interior of said foundation.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said frame has opposed elongated sides and said storage drawer extends into said foundation from one of said elongated sides.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said a further storage drawer extends into said foundation from the opposite one of said elongated sides.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bed frame is formed by a planar assemblage of support members which are positionable above a floor.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of storage drawers extend into said foundation from one of said elongated sides.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of storage drawers extend into said foundation from the opposite one of said elongated sides.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of storage drawers occupy substantially the entire interior of said foundation.

11. The method of expediting an arrangement for sleeping or relaxing comprising the steps of: (a) providing a bed frame; (b) adapting a foundation having a hollow interior for the storage of items therein; and (c) placing said foundation upon said bed frame.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of placing a mattress upon said foundation.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of providing, in said foundation, at least one storage drawer.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 further including the step of extending said storage drawer from said frame to the interior of said foundation.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein said frame has opposed elongated sides and said storage drawer is extended into said foundation from one of said elongated sides.

16. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of extending a further storage drawer into said foundation from the opposite one of said elongated sides.

17. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said bed frame is formed by a planar assemblage of support members, further including the step of positioning said bed frame above a floor.

18. The method as defined in claim 1 1 further including the step of extending a plurality of storage drawers into said foundation from one of said elongated sides.

19. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of extending a plurality of storage drawers into said foundation from the opposite one of said elongated sides.

20. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of positioning a plurality of storage drawers to occupy substantially the entire interior of said foundation.

BACKGROUND OF TILE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to foundations for mattresses used with beds, and more particularly to enhanced utilizations of such foundations.

[0002] Foundations are used with mattresses in order to elevate the mattress to an appropriate height in relation to a bed frame upon which the foundation rests. The typical foundation has a hollow frame Because the interior is hollow, the entire foundation is covered to conceal the hollow interior and give the appearance that the foundation is a solid support element. As a result the foundation has an inaccessible interior compartment.

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to adapt the foundation for additional usage with respect to its role as providing an intervening support between a mattress and a bedframe.

[0004] A further object of the invention is to adapt foundations for mattresses in a simple, inexpensive and utilitarian fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides an encased foundation that is adapted to be positioned upon a bed frame for supporting a mattress, and adapting the encased foundation for the storage of objects within the foundation.

[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the invention the foundation is an encased hollow frame that is converted into an accessible storage compartment having at least one storage drawer which extends from the exterior of the frame to the interior of the foundation.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention the frame has opposed elongated sides and the storage drawer extends into the foundation from one of the elongated sides, and a further storage drawer extends into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.

[0008] The bed frame upon which the foundation is placed is formed by a planar assemblage of support members which are positionable above a floor, and a plurality of storage drawers extend into the foundation from one of the elongated sides, and another a plurality of storage drawers can extend into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides. A plurality of storage drawers can occupy substantially the entire interior of the foundation.

[0009] In accordance with a method of the invention, the steps include (a) providing a bed frame; (b) adapting an encased foundation having a hollow interior for the storage of items therein; and (c) placing the foundation upon the bed frame.

[0010] The method further includes the step of placing a mattress upon the foundation and providing, in the foundation, at least one storage drawer, which can extend from the exterior of the frame to the interior of the foundation.

[0011] The frame has opposed elongated sides and the storage drawer is extended into the foundation from one of the elongated sides. A further storage drawer can extend into the foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.

[0012] The bed frame is formed by a planar assemblage of support members, and is positioned above a floor for supporting the foundation with a mattress thereupon. The method further includes the step of extending a plurality of storage drawers into the encased foundation from one of the elongated sides, and extending a plurality of storage drawers into the encased foundation from the opposite one of the elongated sides.

[0013] In accordance with a further aspect of the method, a plurality of storage drawers are positioned to occupy substantially the entire interior of the encased foundation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed formed by a mattress supported uponj a bed frame by an encased foundation to give the mattress a suitable elevation.

[0015] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the encased foundation of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the foundation of FIG. 2A with the encasement remove to expose the hollow interior of the foundation.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the adaptation of the encased foundation of FIG. 1 for the storage of objects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] With respect to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a bed 10 formed by a standard mattress 11 supported by a standard, encased foundation 20 upon a standard bed frame 12, which is elevated above a floor F by short legs 13.

[0019] The encased foundation 20 is shown in FIG. 2A as being formed by a frame with elongated and opposed side walls 21 and 22, and opposed, shorter end walls 23 and 24. The encasement of the foundation 20 is by a fabric layer 25 that completely encloses the foundation to give solidity for ease of handling.

[0020] In FIG. 2B the fabric layer 25 has been removed to expose the hollow interior H of the foundation 20.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates the adaptation of the encased foundation 20 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B by providing a modified foundation 20′ with a plurality of storage drawers 20-1 through 20-6 that occupy the hollow interior H of the foundation 20′.

[0022] Storage drawers 20-1 through 20-3 extend from the elongated side wall 21 to the interior H, and storage drawers 20-4 through 20-6 extend from the opposite, elongated side wall 22 to the interior H. The storage drawers are suspended within the foundation 20′ in conventional fashion.

[0023] It will be understood that the foregoing detailed description is illustrative only and that other modifications and adaptations of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.