AU2010202447A1 - Support for slat bed arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A support assembly (2) for a slat bed arrangement having an array (60) of substantially parallel slats (8), the support assembly including at least one elongate member (10) having a series of spaced apart recesses (24), each recess (24)receiving a slat (8); at least 5 one leg (30) for detachable engagement with a respective one of said at least one elongate member (10); wherein said engagement is provided through interlocking portions of each of the elongate members (10) and respective legs (30) to provide support for the slat array (60) at a range of heights above a floor. 1 ] al - LCIS

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Applicant(s): WENTWORTH COMMERCIAL FURNITURE PTY LTD Actual Inventor(s): REX ARTHUR CARR and CIRO GIULIANI Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: SUPPORT FOR A SLAT BED ARRANGEMENT Associated Provisional Applications: No(s).: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- SUPPORT FOR A SLAT BED ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a support for a slat bed arrangement having a plurality of 5 substantially parallel slats. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bed frames are usually provided in one of two forms, that is, one that is made of an external frame being a headboard, footboard and side rails in order to support a mattress or base ensemble. The other type is usually sold as a complete bed frame 10 having an internal mattress support base, which is usually slats, but can be a solid panel base having ventilation slots. Slat based beds over time suffer from a lack of support to users of the bed as the slats tend to deflect downwardly which in turn make a person be positioned towards the centre of a double bed as he/she is resting. Sometimes the slats become displaced over 15 time which can provide inadequate support to the users. Some slat based beds do not use legs for supporting the array of slats but rely on complex mechanisms such as steel spines that interlock or secure each of the slats and separate the slats. Steel bars may also be placed in between the slats to provide additional strength and rigidity. Without the use of support legs, such double-bed and larger bed arrangements do not adequately 20 support the weight of two people, particularly if a heavy mattress is used. Even when legs have been fitted to such arrangements, when the bed is moved, for example when vacuuming, the leg fittings have generally given way and failed. Furthermore, slat beds of this type are complex to erect, as the slats have to be threaded through openings on the steel spine and is difficult to fit or manoeuvre by one person when filly assembled. 2 Furthermore, bed frame manufacturers tend to have a series of differently sized and differently shaped bed frames to suit individuals or to suit particular purposes. These bed frames generally vary in height and there is a need to provide a bed frame support that can be matched to a variety of bed frame heights and sizes. 5 The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art in Australia. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a support assembly for a slat 10 bed arrangement having an array of substantially parallel slats, the support assembly including: at least one elongate member having a series of spaced apart recesses, each recess receiving a slat; at least one leg for detachable engagement with a respective one of said at least 15 one elongate member; wherein said engagement is provided through interlocking portions of each of the elongate members and respective legs to provide support for the slat array at a range of heights above a floor. Each of the at least one elongate member may have first slot means and each of 20 said at least one leg may have second slot means for engaging with the first slot means. The first slot means may be a series of spaced apart slots. The first slot means may alternatively be a series of sets of slots with each set of slots being spaced apart from an adjacent set of slots. 3 The series of spaced apart recesses may be located on a side of each elongate member opposite to a side on which the first slot means is located. One or more slots of the first slot means may have different depths in a respective elongate member. Each leg may have a number of sides and the second slot means may be one or more 5 slots formed in the sides of each leg. The one or more slots of the second slot means may have different depths. The support assembly may further include a side rail batten attached to a respective side rail of the bed arrangement for supporting the array of slats. The side rail batten may have a series of recesses on one side with each recess receiving a respective 10 slat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a front view of each of the components that form a support for a bed 15 arrangement; Figure lB is an exploded perspective view from above of the components of Figure 1A; Figure IC is a front view of an elongate member that forms a component of the support for a bed arrangement; 20 Figure ID is a front view of a leg, also a component of the support, adapted for engagement with a corresponding elongate member shown in Figure 1C; Figure 2 is a further exploded perspective view of the components of the support; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the inter engagement of three legs with an elongate member through respective slots provided in each of the legs, and elongate 25 member; and 4 Figure 4 is a perspective view from above showing a bed arrangement having an array of slats aligned parallel with one another through the use of an elongate member and side rail battens each having corresponding recesses to house and support each slat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 5 With reference to Figures 1A and 1B, there is shown a support assembly (2) particularly for a slat bed arrangement that has an array of substantially parallel slats. The support assembly (2) includes at least one elongate member (10), at least one leg (30), and optionally a side rail batten (4) which is also shown affixed to a side rail (6) (of a bed). Also shown is a slat (8) that together with many other slats (8) form an array of 10 slats (60) that are supported by at least one leg (30) and at least one elongate member (10). The bed arrangement will generally have a pair of side rails (6) optionally with a respective side rail batten (4) attached thereto, the side rail batten (4) having a series of recesses (I1) with each recess (11) supporting a slat (8). The side rail battens (4) are used when just a single elongate member (10) is used. Alternatively a pair of elongate 15 members (10) may be used to align the slats without the need for the side rail battens (4). With reference to Figure 1 C there is shown in greater detail a front view of an elongate member (10), in the form of a rib, strut or spine, which has a front face (12), a rear face (not shown), top side (14), bottom side (16) and first and second ends (18 and 20). Located on the top side (14) are a series of recesses (24) separated by corresponding 20 projections (22). The width and depth of the recesses (24) and projections (22) can vary to accommodate different widths and depths of slats which are supported and housed in the recesses (24). On the bottom side (16) there is located first slot means (26), of which three such series of first slots means (26) are shown. Within each first slot means (26) there are 25 three slots (28, 29 and 31) shown each of a varying depth. In this example, slot (28) has 5 a depth of 45mm, slot (29) has a depth of 105mm and slot (31) has a depth of 75mm. Each of the ends (18 and 20) have a curved portion, respectively shown at 19 and 21, to conform to the shape of the fitting at each of the head and foot of the bed frame. Such shapes can be altered to account for corresponding shapes in the head and feet of the bed 5 frame. With reference to Figure ID there is shown in greater detail a leg (30) which is used to inter-connect witb and support an elongate member (10). The leg (30) has four sides (32, 34, 36 and 38). Located in the sides (38) is a second slot means in the form of slots (40, 42, 44 and 46). Each of the slots may be of varying depth. 10 In Figure 2 there is shown a exploded view of each of the components of the support assembly (2). In addition to the components as shown in Figure IB, a complete array of slats (60) is shown, an additional side rail (6) with corresponding side rail batten (4) as well as the use of three legs (30) that interconnect with the elongate member (10) through the first slot means (26) on the elongate member (10) and second slot means on 15 each of the legs (30). With reference to Figure 3 there is shown three legs (30) engaged with an elongate member (10), connected through the largest slot (40) of each leg (30) and slot (28) of first slot means (26). This provides one of many different heights available between the slats (60) and a floor which fit within the recesses (24) of elongate member 20 (10). Other combinations of heights of the slats can be achieved through various combinations of the slots (40 to 46) of each leg (30) and slots (28, 29 and 31) of first slot means (26). Ideally where more than one first slot means (26) is present on the elongate member (10), as is shown in Figure 3, whichever of those corresponding slots (28, 29 or 3 1) is chosen to interact with the corresponding legs (30), each of the chosen slots (28, 29 25 or 3 1) are ideally of the same depth. Similarly the same depth slot (40 to 46) is chosen 6 on each leg (30) where more than one leg (30) is used, so as to provide the array of slats (60) at one height. Shown in Figure 4 is a single elongate member (10) supported by three legs (30) and placed parallel to each of the sides (6) of the bed frame approximately half way 5 between the side rails (6). An array of slats (60) are placed in corresponding recesses (24) of the elongate member (10) and fit within corresponding recesses (11) of the side rail battens (4) attached to the side rails (4) of the bed frame. The recesses (24) of the each elongate member (10) and the recesses (11) of each side rail batten (4) have a width to match the width of the slats (8). Generally the slats (8) are between 40 and 50mm 10 wide with projection (22), that is the spacing between adjacent slats (8), ideally 50mm wide. The slats (8) are preferably made from hardwood timber. The slat (8), although shown to be substantially parallel to the head and foot of the bed frame, may alternatively be parallel to the side rails (6) of the bed frame and elongate members (10) perpendicular to the slats (8). 15 Where a double or queen size bed arrangement is used, a single elongate member (10) is adequate, however a side rail batten (4) must be used, respectively attached to a corresponding side rail (6), that have suitable recesses (11) to maintain a substantially parallel formation of the array (60) of slats (8). In the case of a king size bed being used, at least two elongate members (10) are required which is sufficient to maintain parallel 20 alignment of the array (60) of slats (8), without the need for side rail battens (4). By providing a series of elongate members supported by one or more legs as is shown in Figure 4 in between the side rails of the bed frame, greater support is provided to the series of slats to in turn provide support to a person on a mattress positioned on top of the array of slats. This substantially prevents deflection or sagging of the slats over 25 time. Through the various combinations and sizes of the slots in the first slot means and 7 the second slot means, a corresponding variety of heights of the array of slats above a floor may be achieved to suit different styles of bed frames. The support assembly is simple to assemble by one person only without the need for tools. Il I

Claims (10)

1. Support assembly for a slat bed arrangement having an array of substantially parallel slats, the support assembly including: 5 at least one elongate member having a series of spaced apart recesses, each recess receiving a slat; at least one leg for detachable engagement with a respective one of said at least one elongate member; wherein said engagement is provided through interlocking portions of each of the 10 elongate members and respective legs to provide support for the slat array at a range of heights above a floor.

2. Support assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the at least one elongate member has first slot means and each of said at least one leg has second slot means for 15 engaging with the first slot means.

3. Support assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first slot means is a series of spaced apart slots. 20

4. Support assembly according to claim 2 wherein the first slot means is a series of sets of slots with each set of slots being spaced apart from an adjacent set of slots.

5. Support assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the series of spaced apart recesses are located on. a side of each elongate member opposite to a side on 25 which the first slot means is located_

6. Support assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein one or more slots of the first slot means have different depths in a respective elongate member, 30

7. Support assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein each leg has a number of sides and the second slot means is one or more slots formed in the sides of each leg. 9

8. Support assembly according to claim 7 wherein the one or more slots of the second slot means are of different depths.

9. Support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims further including 5 a side rail batten attached to a respective side rail of the bed arrangement for supporting the array of slats.

10. Support assembly according to claim 9 wherein the side rail batten has a series of recesses on one side with each recess receiving a respective slat. 10 15 20 25 30 10