GB2326090A

GB2326090A - Separable beds

Info

Publication number: GB2326090A
Application number: GB9809863A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Stewart Perry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-14
Filing date: 1998-05-08
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Also published as: GB9712373D0; GB9809863D0

Abstract

A bed base comprises two separate units (10 and 11), each of which includes a pair of triangular, ground-engaging support members (12) between which extends a generally horizontal frame (13). Each frame (13) includes parallel angle-section side members (14) and slats (16) extending between the side members (14) to provide mattress support formations. The two units (10 and 11) can be used separately as single bed bases or, with one unit (11) inverted and stacked on top of the other unit (10), the two units together can be used as a base for a single bed.

Description

BEDS Field of the Invention This invention relates to beds.

With the current restrictions on space in many modern dwellings, problems are often encountered in finding a suitable space in which to store a spare bed. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new form of combination bed.

More particularly, it is a specific object of the present invention to provide a bed base construction which can be arranged either as two single beds, or as one single bed.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a bed base comprising two separate units, each of which comprises a pair of ground-engaging support members between which a generally horizontally extending frame is connected, the frame including mattress support formations such that, when the two units are separate, each can be used as the base of a single bed, and the arrangement being such that, when one of the units is inverted and placed on top of the other unit, the two units stack together in such way that the combination obtained by stacking the two units together can also be used as the base of a single bed.

The frame of each unit preferably comprises a rectangular framework comprising parallel side members and parallel end members, the end members being attached to the ground-engaging support members and the mattress support formations preferably being in the form of slats or bars which extend between the side members. The side members of the frameworks are preferably in the form of angle-section elements.

Each ground-engaging support member preferably includes a lower portion which extends for substantially the full width of the associated framework and an upper portion of minimal width. For example, each ground-engaging support member may be in the form of a right-angled triangle with the hypotenuse inclined to the horizontal. The ends of the hypotenuse may be radiused or otherwise shaped to avoid the presence of sharp edges. The arrangement is preferably such that, when two units are stacked one on top of the other, they form a generally rectangular structure.

The width of the framework of one of the units is preferably slightly greater than the width of the framework of the other unit so that, when the one unit is inverted and placed on top of the other unit, the angle-section side members of the two units nest one within the other.

It will be appreciated that, when the two units are separated from one another they can be used either as the bases of two separate single beds or, when positioned side-by-side, as the base of a double bed.

Brief Descrintion of the Drawings Figure 1 shows two units positioned one on top of the other to form a base for a single bed, Figure 2 shows the two units of Figure 1 separated from one another, Figure 3 is a plan view of the combination of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section along the line A - A of Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a section along the line B - B of Figure 4.

DescriDtion of the Preferred Embodiment The combination shown in Figure 1 comprises two separable units 10 and 11 which are shown separated in Figure 2. To obtain the configuration shown in Figure 1, bed 11 is inverted as compared to the condition shown in Figure 2 and placed on top of unit 10.

Each unit 10, 11 comprises a pair of spaced, triangular end supports or ground-engaging members 12. As shown, each end support 12 has the configuration of a right-angled triangle with the hypotenuse inclined to the horizontal. The end supports 12 of unit 10 are shaped so that they are of complementary configuration to the end supports 12 of unit 11 so that, when unit 11 is inverted and placed on top of unit 10, the end supports 12 fit together (as shown in Figure 1) to form a rectangular structure at each end of the bed.

The end supports 12 of each unit 10, 11 are interconnected by a rectangular horizontal framework 13 which includes anglesection side frame members 14 and angle-section end frame members 15. The side frame members 14 carry spaced parallel slats or boards 16 and the slats 16 of the two units 10 and 11 are so arranged (as can be seen from the drawings) that, when unit 11 is inverted and placed on top of unit 10, the slats 16 of unit 11 fit in the spaces between the slats 16 of unit 10 and vice versa.

The framework 13 of unit 11 is slightly longer and slightly wider than the framework 13 of unit 10 so that, when unit 11 is inverted and placed on top of unit 11, the side and end frame members 14 and 15 of unit 11 fit over the corresponding frame members 14 and 15 of unit 10. The slats 16 are fastened to the horizontal limbs of the angle-section side frame members 14 and the ends of the slats 16 of unit 11 are spaced from the vertical limbs of the angle section side frame members 14 so as to define gaps to receive the side frame members 14 of unit 10 when unit 11 is placed on top of unit 10.

In the condition shown in Figure 1, the two units 10 and 11 together form the base of a single bed and a mattress is then placed on the substantially continuous surface provided by the slats 16. The two units 10 and 11 interfit so that the upper unit 11 is located positively in engagement with the lower unit 10. The end supports 12 of the two units 10 and 11 fit together and the combination of the two units 10 and 11 provides a visually attractive single bed base, on which a mattress can be placed.

When the two units 10 and 11 are separated (as shown in Figure 2) each unit can be used separately as a single bed base, the array of slats 16 (even though they are spaced apart) providing firm support for a mattress. The two units 10 and 11 can, of course, also be placed side-by-side to form a wide double bed base.

Claims

Claims:

1. A bed base comprising two separate units, each of which comprises a pair of ground-engaging support members between which a generally horizontally extending frame is connected, the frame including mattress support formations such that, when the two units are separate, each can be used as the base of a single bed, and the arrangement being such that, when one of the units is inverted and placed on top of the other unit, the two units stack together in such way that the combination obtained by stacking the two units together can also be used as the base of a single bed.

2. A bed base as claimed in Claim 1, in which the frame of each unit comprises a rectangular framework comprising parallel side members and parallel end members, the end members being attached to the ground-engaging support members.

3. A bed base as claimed in Claim 2, in which the mattress support formations are in the form of slats or bars which extend between the side members.

4. A bed base as claimed in Claim 2, in which the side members of the frameworks are in the form of angle-section elements.

5. A bed base as claimed in Claim 2, in which each groundengaging support member includes a lower portion which extends for substantially the full width of the associated framework and an upper portion of minimal width.

6. A bed base as claimed in Claim 5, in which each groundengaging support member is in the form of a right-angled triangle with the hypotenuse inclined to the horizontal.

7. A bed base as claimed in Claim 5, in which the groundengaging support members are so shaped that, when the two units are stacked one on top of the other, each pair of support members forms a generally rectangular structure.

8. A bed base as claimed in Claim 4, in which the width of the framework of one of the units is slightly greater than the width of the framework of the other unit so that, when the one unit is inverted and placed on top of the other unit, the angle-section side members of the two units nest one within the other.

9. A bed base substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.