Mattress foundations

Abstract

A mattress foundation for inclusion as part of a bed, to support a mattress, such as one of the type made of foam material and usually marketed and shipped in a compressed, reduced-sized configuration. The mattress foundation is configured to be marketed and shipped to a purchaser as a set of subassemblies and parts that are contained together in a compact package and can be assembled without use of tools. The set of mattress foundation subassemblies and parts can be packed and shipped in a rectangular box made of material such as corrugated cardboard that may be flattened out and incorporated in the mattress foundation. The package in which the subassemblies and parts are contained is small enough to be carried up stairways and through passageways to a bedroom where a bed incorporating the mattress foundation is to be set up for use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress foundation having a length and a width, comprising:
 (a) a first frame end assembly and a second frame end assembly, the first and second frame end assemblies having a width corresponding to the width of the foundation, each of the first and second frame end assemblies having an end beam portion with a pair of opposite ends and a pair of end-to-side beam assemblies perpendicularly extending from each opposite end, the end-to-side beam assemblies each having a length that is less than one-third the length of the mattress foundation and having a first longitudinal support member extending across at least a portion of the length of each of the end-to-side beam assemblies;   (b) a pair of side beam assemblies each extending in a lengthwise direction with respect to the mattress foundation, each of the pair of side beam assemblies having a pair of opposite ends and a second longitudinal support member extending therebetween, each of the pair of opposite ends being selectively connectable to a respective end of one of the end-to-side beam assemblies of the first and second frame end assemblies, each of the pair of side beam assemblies further including a plurality of spaced slats that extends transverse of the second longitudinal support member and that forms a slot between each pair of adjacent slats of the plurality of spaced slats;   (c) a plurality of connectors each having a length, opposing ends, and a channel extending through the length, the channel being wide enough at the ends to incorporate each end of each of the pair of side beam assemblies to a respective one of the end-to-side beam assemblies; and   (d) a plurality of transverse mattress support members each having a narrow surface, a wide surface relative to the narrow surface, and a pair of opposite ends, wherein each end of the pair of opposite ends of a mattress support member of the plurality of transverse mattress support members is received in a respective slot formed by the plurality of spaced slats and is supported on the second longitudinal support member such that the plurality of transverse mattress support members extend between the pair of side beam assemblies parallel to the width of the foundation, the narrow surface of the plurality of transverse mattress support members facing upwards.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end frame assemblies include a top surface that supports a mattress, and wherein the second longitudinal support member of each of the pair of side beam assemblies supports the plurality of transverse mattress support members such that the narrow surface of the plurality of transverse mattress support members received in the slots are co-planar with a plane of the top surface of the first and second end frame assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress foundation of  claim 2 , wherein a top surface of each of the second longitudinal support members includes a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress foundation of  claim 2 , further comprising a pair of elevation members sized to be each removably supported on a respective second longitudinal support member, the pair of elevation members supporting the plurality of transverse mattress support members such that the narrow surface of the plurality of transverse mattress support members received in the slots extend above the plane of the top surface of the first and second end frame assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress foundation of  claim 4 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces of each of the pair of elevation members include a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress foundation of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposite ends of two or more transverse mattress support members of the plurality of transverse mattress support members are supported on the first longitudinal support member of opposed end-to-side beam assemblies of each of the first and second frame end assemblies with the wide surface of the two or more transverse mattress support members facing upwards. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress foundation of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of opposite ends of four transverse mattress support members of the plurality of transverse mattress support members are supported on the first longitudinal support member of the end-to-side beam assemblies of each of the first and second frame end assemblies with the wide surface of the four transverse mattress support members facing upwards. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress foundation of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of side beam assemblies further includes a top rail, a bottom rail, and at least one vertical spacer member connecting the top and bottom rails in a spaced relationship. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress foundation of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced slats includes opposed first and second end portions, the first end portion being attached to the top rail and the second end portion being attached to the bottom rail. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress foundation of  claim 9 , wherein the second longitudinal support member is attached to the plurality of spaced slats such that the plurality of spaced slats is disposed between the second longitudinal support member and the top and bottom rails. 
     
     
         11 . A side beam assembly connectable to frame end assemblies to form a mattress foundation, the side beam assembly comprising:
 a top rail;   a bottom rail parallel to the top rail;   at least one vertical spacer member connecting the top and bottom rails in a spaced relationship;   a plurality of spaced slats attached to the top and bottom rails, the plurality of spaced slats extending transverse of the top and bottom rails and forming a plurality of slots between each pair of adjacent slats of the plurality of spaced slats; and   a longitudinal support member that is a parallel to the top rail and is attached to the plurality of spaced slats.   
     
     
         12 . The side beam assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal support member is positioned on the plurality of spaced slats such that, when a plurality of transverse mattress support members is received in the plurality of slots, a narrow surface of the plurality of transverse mattress support members is co-planar with a plane of a top surface of the top rail. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress foundation of  claim 12 , wherein a top surface of the longitudinal support member includes a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress foundation of  claim 12 , further comprising an elevation members sized to be removably supported on the longitudinal support member, the elevation member being sized such that, when the plurality of transverse mattress support members is received in the plurality of slots, the narrow surface of the plurality of transverse mattress support members extends above the plane of the top surface of the top rail. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress foundation of  claim 14 , wherein opposed top and bottom surfaces of the elevation member include a plurality of ridges.