Adjustable bed frame member

Abstract

An improved adjustable cross frame member for use in a bed frame having side frame members and another such cross frame member. The improved member is comprised of first and second elongate L-shaped elements having mutually perpendicular legs. Both elongate elements are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots and protruding fingers in one leg thereof, with the spacing between slots and fingers and their sizes being alike for both elongate elements. The fingers of each element are oriented to be inserted into respective slots of the opposite element which are complementary therewith when the elements are initially positioned with like legs in face abutting engagement. The elongate elements are then longitudinally moved relative to each other to position each inserted finger in overlapping engagement with the portion of the opposite element adjacent the slot in which the fingers are initially inserted, and thereby positively hold the elements against separation. In order to lock the elements longitudinally in this position, one of the elements includes position defining apertures associated with each of the slots, and the other element includes a releasable resilient member having a detent which engages a position defining aperture when the fingers are moved in overlapping engagement with the elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to be fastened transversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed frame members so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallel relationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to one of said pair of further bed frame members and comprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs, said first leg being provided with a first finger protruding therefrom at the end opposite said adapted end, said finger having a first generally transversely extending portion and a second elongated portion spaced from said first leg and extending generally parallel to said first leg, said first leg also including a plurality of longitudinally spaced and longitudinally elongated slots; a second elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to the other of said pair of further frame members and comprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs, said first leg being provided with a second finger protruding therefrom at the end opposite said adapted end, said second finger having a first generally transversely extending portion extending a direction opposite to that of said first portion of said first finger and a second elongated portion spaced from said first leg and extending generally parallel to the first leg of said second element, said second element also including a plurality of longitudinally spaced and longitudinally elongated slots that are spaced from each other and from said second finger by dimensions corresponding to the spacing of the same elements of said first elongate element, said fingers being similar in transverse width to said elongated slots and somewhat smaller in longitudinal length than said elongated slots, each of said fingers being adapted for respective insertion through one of the elongated slots of the other element when like legs of said elongate elements are positioned in face abutting engagement with one another, the space between each of said elongated finger portions and their respective legs allowing said elongated finger portions to clear the adjacent leg of the other element, said elongated finger portions of each elongate element overlapping and engaging the first leg of the other elongate element when said first and second elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another so that said first and second elongate elements are positively held against separation; and means for retaining said first and second elements in a selected position of adjustment and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, position defining apertures in one of said elongate elements, with one of said position defining apertures being associated with each slot on said one elongate element and the complementary slot on the other elongate element, said retaining means further including a releasable locking member at a fixed location on the other of said elongate elements, said other elongate element being provided with a single lock access aperture at said fixed location, said locking member being a thin, flat elongated, inherently resilient member connected at one end to said other elongate element and passing over said access aperture, said resilient member having a detent at said access aperture adapted to pass therethrough and engage within one of said position defining apertures, said resilient member also having a manually graspable portion for withdrawing the member against its resilient bias, said access aperture being spaced from the selected one of said position defining apertures when said fingers are initially inserted in said slots associated with the selected position defining aperture, and said access aperture being positioned in registry with the selected position defining aperture when said elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another to cause said fingers to engage a leg of the other elongate element, whereby said detent is moved into engagement with the selected position defining aperture to lock said first and second elongate elements in said positively held together relationship position of adjustment until said locking member is released by withdrawing said detent from the selected position defining aperture. 
     
     
       2. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first legs are vertically disposed and said second legs are horizontally disposed. 
     
     
       3. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fingers are integral with their respective legs. 
     
     
       4. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 1 wherein the detent and manually graspable portion of said locking member are formed integrally therewith. 
     
     
       5. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 4 wherein said detent portion is provided by an outwardly bent section having a rounded end portion. 
     
     
       6. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 5 wherein the manually graspable portion is provided by a further section which is bent outwardly in a direction opposite to said detent portion. 
     
     
       7. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to be fastened transversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed frame members so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallel relationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to one of said pair of further bed frame members and comprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs; a second elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to the other of said pair of further frame members and comprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs; first and second fingers associated with the first leg of at least one of said elongate elements, said fingers each having a first generally transversely extending portion and a second elongated portion spaced from the first leg with which said fingers are associated; a plurality of longitudinally spaced and longitudinally elongated slots associated with the first leg of at least one of said elongate elements, said slots being spaced so as to correspond to a plurality of selectable positions, said slots having a transverse width similar to the transverse width of said fingers and a lengthwise dimension which permits said elements to be positioned with the first and second legs thereof in face abutting engagement and with each finger received within one of said slots, the elongate portion of said fingers being spaced from the legs with which the fingers are associated by a dimension at least as great as the thickness of the leg having the slots therein so that upon lengthwise movement of the elongate elements, the elongate finger portions embrace the leg portions adjacent the slots therein; and means for retaining said first and second elements in a selected position of adjustment and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced, position defining apertures in one of said elongate elements, said retaining means further including a releasable locking member at a fixed location on the other of said elongate elements, said other elongate element being provided with a single lock access aperture at said fixed location, said locking member being a thin, flat, elongated, inherently resilient member connected at one end to said other elongate element and passing over said access aperture, said resilient member having a detent at said access aperture adapted to pass therethrough and engage within one of said position defining apertures, said resilient member also having a manually graspable portion for withdrawing the member against its resilient bias, said access aperture being spaced from the selected one of said position defining apertures when said fingers are initially inserted in said slots, and said access aperture being positioned in registry with the selected position defining aperture when said elongate elements are moved longitudinally relative to one another to cause said fingers to move into said aforementioned leg embracing relationship, whereby said detent is moved into engagement with the selected position defining aperture to lock said first and second elongate elements in positively held together relationship position of adjustment until said locking member is released by withdrawing said detent from the selected position defining aperture. 
     
     
       8. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second fingers are both provided on the first leg on said other elongate element, with the elongated portions of said first and second fingers extending in the same direction, said slots all being provided on said one elongate element and spaced from one another by a dimension corresponding to the spacing between said fingers. 
     
     
       9. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 7 wherein said locking member is secured to the side of the first leg of said other elongate opposite from said fingers. 
     
     
       10. A bed frame member as set forth in claim 9 wherein the detent of said locking member is provided by one end of a pin that is located at the end of said locking member remote from its connection to said other elongate element, with the opposite end of said pin providing said manually graspable portion. .Iadd. 11. In a bedframe having side rails, interconnected by end crossbars respectively having a pair of sections manually releasably interconnectable in nested relation at a plurality of selectable positions to provide a plurality of standard bed widths, comprising: connecting means on one of the sections of each end crossbar operable to engage a portion of the other section of the end crossbar at each selectable bed width position, and at the selected bed width position to anchor the connected sections against axial relative movement; and manually releasable latch means carried by one of said sections including a unitary spring clip for retaining the sections in connected nested relation at the selected bed width, said nested crossbar sections including flat surfaces parallel to one another, said spring clip being mounted on one of said flat surfaces, and said spring clip including a flat portion parallel to its respective flat surface and mounted for movement with respect thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The bed frame according to claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the connecting means is associated with said spring clip, said portion of said connecting means being a projection extending from said spring clip. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. The bed frame according to claim 11 wherein said nested crossbar sections are L-shaped members, each L-shaped member consisting only of mutually perpendicular flat legs. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The bed frame according to claim 11 wherein said spring clip is an inherently resilient member. .Iaddend.