Mattress Foundation Frame with Slide Mount for Headboard/Footboard Bracket

Abstract

A mattress foundation frame includes: (a) an upper structure that: (i) is defined by an approximately rectangular perimeter having four corners, and (ii) provides a top surface for supporting a mattress foundation; (b) a plurality of legs attached to the upper structure; (c) two first sliding mechanisms, one provided at each of two adjacent ones the corners; and (d) two headboard/footboard bracket assemblies, each having: (i) a bracket for attaching at least one of a headboard or a footboard, and (ii) a second sliding mechanism that is engaged with the first sliding mechanism of one of the two first sliding mechanisms, such that each of the headboard/footboard bracket assemblies is slidably attached to one of the first sliding mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress foundation frame, comprising:
 (a) an upper structure that: (i) is defined by an approximately rectangular perimeter having four corners, and (ii) provides a top surface for supporting a mattress foundation;   (b) a plurality of legs attached to the upper structure;   (c) two first sliding mechanisms, one provided at each of two adjacent ones said corners; and   (d) two headboard/footboard bracket assemblies, each having: (i) a bracket for attaching at least one of a headboard or a footboard, and (ii) a second sliding mechanism that is engaged with the first sliding mechanism of one of said two first sliding mechanisms, such that each of said headboard/footboard bracket assemblies is slidably attached to one of said first sliding mechanisms.   
     
     
         2 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first sliding mechanisms is provided at a distal end of a first structure that extends inwardly, starting from a proximal end of said first structure, from a corresponding one of said two adjacent corners. 
     
     
         3 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said headboard/footboard bracket assemblies also includes a vertically elongated member that provides said bracket and a second structure that extends away from said vertically elongated member, starting from a proximal end of said second structure, and wherein the second sliding mechanism is provided at a distal end of said second structure. 
     
     
         4 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said second sliding mechanisms has been slidably engaged with a corresponding one of said first sliding mechanisms until said second structure comes into contact with a bottom surface of at least one of said first structure or said perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 3 , wherein said vertically elongated member has an at least approximately L-shaped cross-section formed by two elongated panels that are joined together at a common edge. 
     
     
         6 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said two elongated panels includes a sequence of horizontal slots for attaching at least one of a headboard or a footboard. 
     
     
         7 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said two elongated panels includes a sequence of horizontal slots for attaching at least one of a headboard or a footboard. 
     
     
         8 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 3 , wherein when one of said headboard/footboard bracket assemblies is slidably attached to one of said first sliding mechanisms until a stop has been reached, said vertically elongated member extends downwardly to approximately a same distance as a bottom surface of each of said legs, so that said vertically elongated member also functions as an additional leg. 
     
     
         9 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said first sliding mechanism comprises a vertically oriented slot. 
     
     
         10 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 9 , wherein said second sliding mechanism comprises a tab that is disposed within said vertically oriented slot. 
     
     
         11 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said first sliding mechanism and said second sliding mechanism has a cross-section in a shape of a rectangle with a portion of one side missing. 
     
     
         12 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first sliding mechanism and said second sliding mechanism narrows in width as a function of vertical position, so as to provide a wedge fit between said first sliding mechanism and said second sliding mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper structure and said plurality of legs are made primarily of metal. 
     
     
         14 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper structure and said plurality of legs are made primarily of steel. 
     
     
         15 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said top surface also includes a plurality of longitudinal slats, separated from each other by gaps, and a plurality of lateral slats, also separated from each other by gaps. 
     
     
         16 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of longitudinal slats and said plurality of lateral slats have top surfaces that are approximately coplanar with each other. 
     
     
         17 . A mattress foundation frame according to  claim 1 , wherein said legs are hingedly attached to different points on said perimeter.