Center support for bed frame, bed frame and assembly method

Abstract

A bed frame comprises a center support, a pair of extender bars, each extender bar having a pair of connector elements, a pair of rail members, and two pairs of cross-arms. A cross-arm in each pair of cross-arms is attached at one end to one rail member and has at a free end adapted to be attached to one end of an extender bar. Individual extender bars connect together the free ends of one pair of cross-arms attached to one rail member to the free ends of the other pair of cross-arms attached to the other rail member. The center support has opposed ends each including a pair of notches. The notches are sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in an extender bar upon assembly.

1 . A bed frame comprising a plurality of components that upon assembly form the bed frame, said components including
 first and second rail members,   a first pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the first pair having a free end and another end attached to the first rail member,   a second pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the second pair having a free end and another end attached to the second rail member, and   first and second of extender bars, each extender bar having a pair of connector elements, the first extender bar for connecting together the free end of one cross-arm of the first pair to the free end of one cross-arm of the second pair, and the second extender bar for connecting together the free end of the other cross-arm of the first pair to the free end of the other cross-arm of the second pair, and   a center support having opposed ends, first and second end edges respectively at said opposed ends of the center support, a first pair of notches near the first end of the center support, and a second pair of notches near the second end of the center support,   the first pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the first extender bar, one notch in the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the other notch having a terminal open end along the first end edge of the center support, said notches of the first pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other, and   the second pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the second extender bar, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the other notch having a terminal open end along the second end edge of the center support, said notches of the second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other.   
   
   
       2 . The bed frame of  claim 1  where each connector element includes a head member on a stem member extending outwardly and downwardly upon assembly of the bed frame. 
   
   
       3 . The bed frame of  claim 1  where each connector element comprises a shoulder rivet, said pair of connector elements positioned adjacent each other with the stems of the rivets being substantially parallel. 
   
   
       4 . The bed frame of  claim 1  where the attached ends of the cross-arms are connected by hinge members, each hinge member being at or near an end of a rail member. 
   
   
       5 . The bed frame of  claim 1  where each extender bar has opposed ends and the free ends of the cross-arms upon assembly overlap with the ends of the extender bars and a locking mechanism detachably locks together the overlapping ends of extender bars and the cross-arms. 
   
   
       6 . A bed frame comprising a plurality of components that upon assembly form the bed frame, said components including
 first and second rail members,   a first pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the first pair having a row of spaced apart projections, a free end, and another end attached to the first rail member,   a second pair of cross-arms, each cross-arm of the second pair having a row of spaced apart slots, a free end, and another end attached to the second rail member, and   first and second extender bars, each extender bar having opposed end portions, one end portion including a row of spaced apart projections, the other end portion including a row of spaced apart slots, and a pair of adjacent connector elements substantially centrally positioned between the row of projections and the row of slots, each connector element comprising a head member on a stem member extending outwardly and downwardly upon assembly of the bed frame,   upon assembly of the components, the first extender bar connecting together the free end of one cross-arm of the first pair to the free end of one cross-arm of the second pair, and the second extender bar connecting together the free end of the other cross-arm of the first pair to the free end of the other cross-arm of the second pair, said end portions of the individual extender bars overlapping the ends of the cross-arms being connected thereto and the projections in the cross-arms being received in the slots in the extender bars and the projections in the extender bars being received in the slots in the cross-arms, and   a center support having opposed ends, first and second end edges respectively at said opposed ends of the center support, a first pair of notches near the first end of the center support, and a second pair of notches near the second end of the center support,   the first pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the first extender bar, one notch in the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the other notch having a terminal open end along the first end edge of the center support, said notches of the first pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other, and   the second pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the second extender bar, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support and the other notch having a terminal open end along the second end edge of the center support, said notches of the second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other.   
   
   
       7 . The bed frame of  claim 6  including a locking mechanism that locks together the overlapping ends of extender bars and the cross-arms. 
   
   
       8 . The bed frame of  claim 6  where the projections and slots in the cross-arms and extender bars are in predetermined positions relative to each other to be engaged selectively to control the distance between the first and second rail members to accommodate beds of different sizes. 
   
   
       9 . A bed frame comprising a plurality of components that upon assembly form the bed frame, said components including
 a pair of rail members, each rail member having attached thereto a pair of cross-arms adapted to project in the same direction from the rail member to which it is attached substantially at a right angle,   an intermediate assembly for attaching the pairs of cross-arms together including a pair extender bars connected together by a center support having opposed ends with one said opposed end detachably connected to one extender bar and the other said opposed end detachably connected to the other extender bar,   each extender bar having a pair of centrally positioned, adjacent connector elements, each connector element comprising a head member on a stem where the head member has a greater diameter then the stem member and the stem member extends outwardly and downwardly upon assembly of the bed frame a predetermined distance to form between the head member and a portion of the extender bar a gap, and   said center support having first and second end edges respectively at said opposed ends of the center support, a first pair of notches near the first end of the center support, and a second pair of notches near the second end of the center support, said first and second ends having a predetermined thickness substantially equal to said predetermined distance so the opposed ends of the of the center support can each be respectively wedged into said gaps in upon assembly of the components,   said first pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the one extender bar, one notch in the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support with dimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements to be received therein upon assembly of the components and the other notch having a terminal open end along the first end edge of the center support with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element to be received therein upon assembly of the components, said notches of the first pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other, and   said second pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the other extender bar, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the center support and dimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements in the other extender bar to be received therein upon assembly of the components and the other notch having a terminal open end along the second end edge of the center support with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element in the other extender bar to be received therein upon assembly of the components, said notches of the second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other,   said connector elements and notches being connected by inserting the stem of one connector element of a pair of said connector elements in an extender bar into one notch in a side edge of the center support and rotating in a first direction to insert the stem of the adjacent connector element of said pair into the second notch in an end of the center support, and rotating in a second direction to dislodge at least some of the stems from the notches.   
   
   
       10 . The bed frame of  claim 9  where
 one pair of said cross-arms attached to one rail member has in an end portion thereof a row of projections and the other pair of cross-arms attached to the other rail member has in an end portion thereof a row of slots, and each extender bar has in an end portion thereof a row of projections and has in another opposed end portion thereof a row of slots, and   upon assembly of the components, the end portions of the cross-arms with the projections therein overlap with the end portions of the extender bars with the slots therein and the projections are received in the slots, and the end portions of the cross-arms with the slots therein overlap with the end portions of the extender bars with the projections therein and the projections are received in the slots.   
   
   
       11 . The bed frame of  claim 10  including locking mechanisms that detachably lock together the overlapping ends of extender bars and the cross-arms. 
   
   
       12 . The bed frame of  claim 10  where the projections and slots in the cross-arms and extender bars are in predetermined positions relative to each other to be engaged selectively control the distance between the first and second rail members to accommodate beds of different sizes. 
   
   
       13 . A center support for a bed frame to be detachably connected between first and second bed frame components with the first and second bed frame components substantially parallel and the center support substantially perpendicular to said bed frame components, each said bed frame component including a pair of adjacent connector elements, each connector element comprising a head member on a stem where the head member has a greater diameter then the stem member and the stem member extends outwardly a first predetermined distance to form a gap between the head member and a portion of a bed frame component, said center support comprising
 an elongated rigid member including first and second end edges respectively at opposed first and second ends of the rigid member, each said opposed end having a predetermined thickness substantially equal to said first predetermined distance corresponding to the gap so each said end can be wedged into a gap in upon assembly of the center support and bed frame component,   a first pair of notches near the first end, and a second pair of notches near the second end,   said first pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the first bed frame component, one notch in the first pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the rigid member with dimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements to be received therein upon assembly of the center support and the first bed frame component and the other notch having a terminal open end along the first end edge of the rigid member with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element to be received therein upon assembly of the center support and the first bed frame component, said notches of the first pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other, and   said second pair of notches sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the pair of connector elements in the second bed frame component, one notch in the second pair having a terminal open end along a side edge of the rigid member and dimensions that enable the stem of one of the connector elements in the second bed frame component to be received therein upon assembly of the center support and the second bed frame component and the other notch having a terminal open end along the second end edge of the rigid member with dimensions that enable the stem of the other connector element in the second bed frame component to be received therein upon assembly of the center support and the second bed frame component, said notches of the second pair being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other,   said connector elements and notches being connected by inserting the stem of one connector element of a pair of said connector elements in a bed frame component into one notch in a side edge of the rigid member and rotating in a first direction to insert the stem of the adjacent connector element of said pair into the second notch in an end of the rigid member, and rotating in a second direction to dislodge at least some of the stems from the notches.   
   
   
       14 . The center support of  claim 13  where the connector elements of a pair each have a center and said centers are separated by a second predetermined distance and the notches of each pair each have a center and said centers are separated by the same said second predetermined distance. 
   
   
       15 . The center support of  claim 14  where the second predetermined distance is substantially from ½ to 3 inches. 
   
   
       16 . The center support of  claim 14  where the centers of each pair of notches are in registration with the centers of the notches upon insertion of the stems of a pair the connector elements into corresponding interactive notches. 
   
   
       17 . The center support of  claim 14  where each notch terminates within the body of the center support in a rounded bottom. 
   
   
       18 . A bed frame component comprising
 an elongated, rigid metallic member having opposed ends and a length substantially from 48 to 86 inches and a width substantially from 1 to 3 inches,   said metallic member at said ends having a substantially uniform thickness substantially from 1/16 to ¾ inch, each said end having therein a pair of notches,   one notch of each pair being along an end edge of the metallic member and having a terminal open end along the end edge and the other notch of each pair being along a side edge of the metallic member and having a terminal open end along the side edge,   both said notches in each pair having a substantially U-shape configuration and being substantially at a right angle.   
   
   
       19 . The bed frame component of  claim 18  where the metallic member includes at least one side edge extending between said ends and the side notches of each pair of notches are along this same said one side edge. 
   
   
       20 . The bed frame component of  claim 18  where the metallic member includes pair of opposed side edges extending between said ends and a side notch of a pair of notches at one end is along one side edge and a side notch of the other pair of notches at the other end is along the other side edge. 
   
   
       21 . A method of assembling a plurality of components to form a portion of a bed frame where the components include
 a first component having a pair of adjacent connector elements, each connector element including an enlarged head member on a stem member to provide a gap between the head member and an underlying portion of the first component, and   a second component having an end with an edge thereat and a pair of notches near the end edge,   each notch sized and shaped to engage and interlock with the one of connector elements, one notch having a terminal open end along a side edge of the second component with dimensions that enable one stem member to be received therein upon assembly of the components and the other notch having a terminal open end along the end edge of the second component with dimensions that enable the stem member of the other connector element to be received therein upon assembly of the components, said notches being substantially at a right angle with respect to each other,   said method comprising   (a) aligning the terminal open end of the notch along the side edge with the stem of one connector element and wedging the end of the center support between the enlarged head member and the underlying portion of the first component, and   (b) rotating the components relative to each other in one direction to bring the terminal open end of the other notch along the end edge into alignment with the stem of the other connector element and wedging the end of the second component between the enlarged head member and the underlying portion of the first component.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  where the notches lie in the same plane and distance between the stems of the adjacent connector elements and the positions of the notches is predetermined so rotation through an angle of 90 degrees orients the components at 90 degrees with respect to each other. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  where the enlarged head member is a predetermined distance from said underlying portion of the first component to provide a gap and the end of the second component has a predetermined thickness substantially equal to said predetermined distance so said end of the second component can be wedged into the gap upon assembly of the components. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  where rotating the components relative to each other in a direction opposite said one direction dislodges the one stem from the notch along the end edge of the center support. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  where with both notches in essentially the same plane as the stems of the pair of connector elements being engaged and the first and second components initially at an acute angle with respect to each other,
 aligning the terminal open end of a notch along a side edge of the second component with the stem member of one of the connector elements in the first component,   advancing said stem into said notch along a side edge of the second component until said stem contacts a bottom of the side notch to wedge a part of an end segment of the second component between an enlarged head member on said stem and an underlying portion of the first component,   with said stem member contacting the bottom of said one connector element, rotating in one direction the first and second components until said components are perpendicular to bring the terminal open end of the other notch along the end edge into alignment with the stem of other connector element of the pair being engaged, and   continuing to rotate the first and second components relative to each other, until said the stem of this other connector element is moved into the other notch along the end edge, so when the first and second components are perpendicular, the remaining part of the end segment of the center support is wedged between the enlarged head member of this other connector element and the underlying portion of the extender bar.