Box spring with foldable frame

Abstract

Furniture pieces are disclosed that have rigid portions that can be separated from other portions of the furniture, with the rigid and other portions being foldable to reduce the space needed for packaging, shipping, and storage. Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to bedding, and more particularly to box springs. In these embodiments, the box spring can comprise a frame that is surrounded by a fabric cover that can have padding or cushioning. The frame can be removed from the fabric cover and can be folded or collapsed to reduce its size. The fabric cover can also be folded, with the now folded frame and cover having a greatly reduced size for shipping and storage. This reduces the cost of shipping and storage for the box spring, and also provides the option to the end user to more easily store the box spring when desired.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A box spring for a bed, comprising:
 upper rigid support structure defining the upper surface of the box spring, wherein said upper support structure comprises first and second upper portions;   a lower support structure defining the lower surface of the box spring wherein said upper support structure comprises first and second lower portions;   a plurality of struts separating said upper rigid support from said lower rigid support structure; and   a plurality of supports, wherein said first and second upper portions and said first and second lower portions are rotatably mounted to said supports such that said box spring can be folded about said supports with the first and second upper portions are approximately against said first and second lower portions when said box spring is in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said struts are rotatably mounted to said upper rigid support and said lower rigid support. 
     
     
         3 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said struts are bent. 
     
     
         4 . The box spring of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover. 
     
     
         5 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second upper portions each comprise half of said upper rigid support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lower portions each comprise half of said lower rigid support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid upper support structure comprises first and second opposing upper U-shaped edge bars, wherein each of the ends of said U-shaped edge bars are rotatably connected to one of said supports. 
     
     
         8 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid lower support structure comprises opposing first and second lower U-shaped edge bars, wherein each of the ends of said lower U-shaped edge bars are rotatably connected to one of said supports. 
     
     
         9 . The box spring of  claim 7 , wherein the ends of said upper U-shaped edge bars comprise upper tabs rotatably connected to said supports. 
     
     
         10 . The box spring of  claim 8 , wherein the ends of said lower U-shaped edge bars comprise lower tabs rotatably connected to said supports. 
     
     
         11 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said supports have a wider lower section for connection to said first and second lower portions and narrow upper portion for connection to said first and second upper portions. 
     
     
         13 . A piece of furniture, comprising:
 a rigid frame defining the shape of said piece of furniture;   a removable cover over said rigid frame, wherein said rigid frame is foldable when said cover is removed, wherein said rigid frame comprises;   a plurality of support structures that define the shape of said piece of furniture;   a plurality of struts separating at least some of said support structures;   a plurality of supports, wherein support structures are rotatably mounted to said supports and wherein said support structures can be folded about said supports with one of said support structures are approximately against others of said support structures when ridged frame is in the folded position.   
     
     
         14 . The piece of furniture of  claim 13 , comprising a box spring for a bed. 
     
     
         15 . The piece of furniture of  claim 13 , wherein said struts are rotatably mounted to said support structures. 
     
     
         16 . The piece of furniture of  claim 13 , wherein said struts are bent. 
     
     
         17 . The piece of furniture in  claim 13 , wherein said support structures comprise tabs that are rotatably connected to said supports. 
     
     
         18 . The box spring of  claim 1 , wherein said supports have a wider lower section and an upper portion that is narrower than said lower section. 
     
     
         19 . A box spring for a bed, comprising:
 an upper rigid support structure defining the upper surface of the box spring, wherein said upper support structure comprises multiple upper portions;   a lower support structure defining the lower surface of the box spring wherein said lower support structure comprises multiple portions;   a plurality of struts separating multiple upper portions from said multiple lower portions; and   a plurality of supports, wherein multiple upper portions and said multiple lower portions are rotatably mounted to said supports such that said box spring can be folded about said supports to bring one of said multiple upper portions approximately against one of said multiple lower portions.   
     
     
         20 . The box spring of  claim 19 , wherein said struts are rotatably mounted to said multiple upper portions and said multiple lower portions.