US3641599A - Rubber shims for squeaky beds - Google Patents

Abstract

In a bed of the type in which the box spring is supported on a plurality of bed slats, which extend transversely between opposite sides of the bed frame, undesirable squeaking and wear of the box spring cover are eliminated by inserting resilient bed shims over opposite ends of the bed slats. Each shim rests upon one of the side rails of the bed frame, and has a pair of vertically spaced, lateral projections, which embrace one end of a bed slat. The lower projection on such shim extends between a side rail and the lower surface of a slat, and the upper projection extends between the upper surface of the slat and the box spring resting thereon. A vertical lip projects above each upper projection; and these lips embrace opposite sides of the box spring to secure it against lateral movement.

Description

United States Patent Addante s4] RUBBER srnMs FOR SQUEAKY BEDS [72] Inventor: Michael S. Addante, Lakeshore Drive, Ca-

nandaigua,N.Y. 14424 22 Filed: June 22, 1970 [2i] Appl.No.: 48,195

52] us. c1. .5/309 1511 111:. c1 ..A47c 19/00 581 Field ofSearch ..5/236,309,236B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,068 5/1937 Weisman ..s/309 x 2,157,064 5/1939 Wunderlich ..s/309x 2,247,900 6/1941 Wunderlich ..s/309x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 836,761 6/1960 Great Britain ..5/309 Feb. 15, l 972 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attomey-Shlesinger, Fitzsimmons & Shlesinger [571' ABSTRACT In a bed of the type in which the box spring is supported on a plurality of bed slats, which extend transversely between opposite sides of the bed frame, undesirable squeaking and wear of the box spring cover are eliminated by inserting resilient bed shims over opposite ends of the bed slats. Each shim rests upon one of the side rails of the bed frame, and has a pair of vertically spaced, lateral projections, which embrace one end of a bed slat. The lower projection on such shim extends between a side rail and the lower surface of a slat, and the upper projection extends between the upper surface of the slat and the box spring resting thereon. A vertical lip projects above each upper projection; and these lips embrace opposite sides of the box spring to secure it against lateral movement 6Claims,4DrawingFlgures RUBBER SIIIMS FOR SQUEAKY BEDS.

This invention relates to beds, and more particularly to novel means for eliminating noisy squeaks, and the resultant wear, which occur when the box spring of a bed moves relative to its supports. More particularly, this invention is related to beds of the type in which a plurality of wooden bed slats, or the like, are employed for supporting a box spring and mattress on a bed frame.

There are two principal ways of supporting a box spring and its associated mattress on a bed. One way is to support opposite sides of the box spring directly on a pair of ledges or angle irons that extend along opposite sides of the bed frame. This is the typical construction employed with the so-called Hollywood style of bed frame. With this construction the box spring is designed to fit snugly between the opposed angle irons, so that ideally there is no space left for the box spring to shift laterally between opposite sides of the bed.

A different problem, however, is encountered when the second way of supporting the box spring is employed. In this case, instead of supporting the box spring directly on the angle irons or ledges which extend along opposite sides of the bed frame, a plurality of elongate, spaced bed slats (for example 1X4 inch boards or the like) are supported at opposite ends on the angle irons or ledges, and thebox spring is placed on top of the bed slats. With this form of construction the box spring is usually narrower than .the length of the bed slats, so that the box spring is free to slide slightly laterally on the slats relative to the bed frame as well as longitudinally of the bed frame. Periodically, therefore, it is usually necessary to recenter the box spring on the bed slats so that it will be equally spaced from the sides and the ends of the bed frame. Moreover, since the weight of the box spring and its associated mattress is the only force tending to prevent movement of the bed slats themselves relative both to the box spring and bed frame, any undesirable movement of the box spring may produce a corresponding undesirable movement of the bed slats. It is, therefore, often necessary also to readjust the bed slats to prevent one or more thereof from dropping from between the supporting ledges or angle irons on the bed frame.

In addition, a bed of the type described also has the disadvantage that the undesirable shifting of the box spring against one side or the other of the bed frame may accidentally result in the tearing of the fabric in which the box spring normally is enclosed. Moreover, any such movement of the box spring relative to the slats, or the slats relative to the box spring and the bed frame, often produce undesirable squeaks, which may be annoying enough to interfere with the occupant's sleep.

Although efforts have been made to eliminate the problem of squeaking by interposing a flexible cushion between the bed slats and the associated bed frame, such prior efforts have addressed themselves only to a part of the problem, since it is the movement of the box spring, which ultimately produces undesirable movement of the bed slats.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel, resilient shim, which eliminates undesirable movement of both a box spring and its supporting bed slats relative to one another and to the associated bed frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide resilient shims of the type described, which are adapted to embrace opposite sides of a box spring and opposite ends of its supporting bed slats, thereby resiliently to secure both the box spring and the slats against movement relative to the supporting bed frame.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a bed shim made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of this shim taken along the line 22 in FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this shim taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of a bed illustrating the manner in which shims made in accordance with this invention are adapted to be employed.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, denotes generally a one-piece resilient bed shim, which may be made from neoprene sponge or like resilient material. The shim comprises a vertical end section 12, and a pair of parallel, vertically spaced lip sections 13 and 14, which project horizontally from one side of section 12 (the right side as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2). The upper lip section 14 projects at its outer end laterally beyond the outer end of the lower lip section 13; and both lip sections 13 and 14 have their outer comers rounded off as at 13' and 14', respectively. Sections I2, 13 and 14 are of approximately the same thickness, except in the area adjacent the intersection of sections I2 and 14. Here the thickness of section 14 increases abruptly to form on the upper surface of shim 10 a vertical shoulder or step 16, which extends transversely of the shim in a plane that intersects sections 13 and 14.

The shim 10 has an overall width approximately equal to the width of a standard bed slat; and sections 13 and 14 are vertically spaced from one another a distance approximately equal to the thickness of a standard bed slat. The upper lip section 14 projects beyond the vertical section 12 approximately twice the distance of the lower lip section 13; and sections I2. 13 and 14 may be, for example, approximately one-fourth of an inch thick. The section of the shim forming the transverse shoulder 16 may also be approximately a quarter of an inch thick, and extends from adjacent the inner end of section 14 across the upper end of section 12.

The shim 10 is adapted to be employed with a conventional bed of the type which utilizes bed slats for removably supporting the box spring and associated mattress on the bed. As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the frame of such a bed may comprise a pair of spaced side members 21, which have fastened to their inside surfaces a pair of spaced, parallel angle 'brackets 22, which extend horizontally between the head and foot of the bed frame. I-Ieretofore it has been customary in such a bed to place opposite ends of a plurality of parallel bed slats 23 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 4) on the horizontally disposed legs of brackets 22, and then to rest the box spring 24 directly on the slats 23. The mattress 25, is then placed directly on the box spring 24.

To use applicant's invention, one shim I0 is inserted over each end of each bed slat 23, so that the corresponding end of the slat fits snugly into the space between the lower and upper lip sections 13 and 14 of the shim; and so that the end of the slat confronts the vertical section 12 of the shim. The slats 23, now capped with the shims 10, are placed on the bed frame so that the lip sections 13 of the shims rest directly on the horizontal legs of the brackets 22, and the vertical sections 12 rest against the corresponding vertical legs of the brackets. The box spring 24 is then placed centrally on the bed frame so that the marginal side edges thereof rest upon the upper sections 14 of the shims 10 in such manner that the vertical shoulders 16 of the shims snugly embrace opposite sides of the box spring, so that it cannot shift laterally relative to the bed frame. The weight of the box spring 24 and the corresponding mattress 25 compress the shims l0 slightly, so that the slats 23 are also secured frictionally against movement relative to the shims l0 and the supporting brackets 22, respectively.

The result is that the shims 10 provide resilient interfaces between the brackets 22, the bed slats 23 and the box spring 24, so that none of the confronting surfaces of these three sections bear directly one upon the other. Consequently, any strain applied to the bed during use is absorbed by the shims 10, which perform the dual functions of securing the brackets 22, slats 23 and box spring 24 resiliently against undesirable movement relative to one another, and eliminating the consequent squeaking, which heretofore accompanied such movements.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the novel shims disclosed herein provide inexpensive and reliable means for eliminating undesirable squeaking and relative movements between the slats and box spring in beds of the type described. Moreover applicants novel shims have the further advantage that they substantially prolong the overall life of the box springs supported thereon. Such box springs are normally enclosed in a relatively thin layer of fabric, which may be easily torn, or readily worn out, if during repeated use the box spring is allowed to shift laterally or longitudinally relative to the supporting bed slats 23 and associated bed frame. On the other hand, when shims are employed as illustrated in FIG. 4, not only is the box spring 24 precluded from shifting laterally by the shoulders 16, but also its movement longitudinally of the bed is prevented by the frictional forces developed between the underside of the box spring, and the upper surfaces of the supporting lip sections 14. Similar frictional forces which are developed between the lip sections 13 and 14 and the end of the slat 23 enclosed therein, eliminate any longitudinal movement of the bed slats 23 relative to the bed frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A resilient bed shim, for use in beds of the type in which a box spring is supported on a plurality of bed slats, and having a vertical section,

a pair of vertically spaced lateral sections integral with and projecting horizontally from one side of said vertical section to embrace one end of a bed slat along the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and

a further section forming on the upper surface of said shim a vertical shoulder which extends transversely of the shim, and which faces in the direction of said lateral sections to engage the side edge of a box spring, when the shim is in use.

2. A resilient shim as defined in claim 1, wherein said lateral sections project from said vertical section adjacent the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said vertical section, and

the distance separating said lateral sections is approximately equal to the thickness ofa bed slat.

3. A resilient shim as defined in claim 2, wherein the upper of said pair of lateral sections extends laterally beyond the lower of said pair.

4. A resilient shim as defined in claim 3, wherein said further section is integral with said upper lateral section adjacent the intersection thereof with said vertical section, and

said shoulder lies in a vertical plane which intersects said lower lateral section.

5. In a bed having a frame, and a box spring supported on a plurality of parallel slats which are supported at opposite ends on a pair of spaced, parallel ledges that extend along the inside of the bed frame at opposite sides thereof,

a plurality of resilient bed shims releasably mounted over opposite ends of said slats, each of said shims having a first section interposed between the underside of one end of a bed slat and the supporting ledge on said bed frame,

a second section interposed between the upper side of said one end of the last-named slat and the underside of said box spring, and

a third section connecting said first and second sections and extending transversely across said one end of said lastnamed slat,

each of said shims having thereon a further section integral with and projecting above said second section thereof, thereby to form on each shim a transverse shoulder which projects vertically above the second section of the shim, and

at each side of said bed said shoulders being disposed to confront the corresponding longitudinal side edge of said box spring to prevent lateral movement of the latter.

6. In a bed as defined in claim 5, wherein said shims are made of a neoprene sponge material, and

each shim has a width approximately equal to the width of the associated bed slat.

Claims (6)

1. A resilient bed shim, for use in beds of the type in which a box spring is supported on a plurality of bed slats, and having a vertical section, a pair of vertically spaced lateral sections integral with and projecting horizontally from one side of said vertical section to embrace one end of a bed slat along the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a further section forming on the upper surface of said shim a vertical shoulder which extends transversely of the shim, and which faces in the direction of said lateral sections to engage the side edge of a box spring, when the shim is in use.

2. A resilient shim as defined in claim 1, wherein said lateral sections project from said vertical section adjacent the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said vertical section, and the distance separating said lateral sections is approximately equal to the thickness of a bed slat.

3. A resilient shim as defined in claim 2, wherein the upper of said pair of lateral seCtions extends laterally beyond the lower of said pair.

4. A resilient shim as defined in claim 3, wherein said further section is integral with said upper lateral section adjacent the intersection thereof with said vertical section, and said shoulder lies in a vertical plane which intersects said lower lateral section.

5. In a bed having a frame, and a box spring supported on a plurality of parallel slats which are supported at opposite ends on a pair of spaced, parallel ledges that extend along the inside of the bed frame at opposite sides thereof, a plurality of resilient bed shims releasably mounted over opposite ends of said slats, each of said shims having a first section interposed between the underside of one end of a bed slat and the supporting ledge on said bed frame, a second section interposed between the upper side of said one end of the last-named slat and the underside of said box spring, and a third section connecting said first and second sections and extending transversely across said one end of said last-named slat, each of said shims having thereon a further section integral with and projecting above said second section thereof, thereby to form on each shim a transverse shoulder which projects vertically above the second section of the shim, and at each side of said bed said shoulders being disposed to confront the corresponding longitudinal side edge of said box spring to prevent lateral movement of the latter.

6. In a bed as defined in claim 5, wherein said shims are made of a neoprene sponge material, and each shim has a width approximately equal to the width of the associated bed slat.

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