MODULAR USER-ASSEMBLED ADJUSTABLE, AND HIGH-LOW ADJUSTABLE BEDS

Abstract

In an adjustable bed having juxtaposed between a mattress and a floor an articulated frame, and one or more wired motors operating on the articulated frame so that the mattress resting atop the frame is adjusted in contour, the articulated frame is modular, and ships in two or more modular frame sections each of which is sufficiently small so as to fit upon a standard shipping pallet of 48 by 48. Moreover, and further, the two or more modular frame sections semi-permanently engage by sliding protrusionspreferably a steel tubesextending from spaced-parallel frame rails of a one section into a complimentary cavities of the frame railspreferably steel tubes of square cross sectionof a next frame section. This sliding assembly may be done by one adult man, without use of tools. The extensive contact between the telescoping members makes that the connection, and the modular adjustable bed itself, is suitably strong.

Claims

1. An adjustable bed having juxtaposed between a mattress and a floor an articulated frame, and one or more wired motors operating on the articulated frame so that the mattress resting atop the frame is adjusted in contour, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the articulated frame ships in two or more modular frame sections each of which is sufficiently small so as to fit upon a standard shipping pallet of 48 by 48; and the two or more modular frame sections semipermanently engage by sliding a protrusion on one section into a cavity of a next section; wherein the bed is modular, has a modular frame, and is called a modular adjustable bed.

2. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 1 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the protrusion of the one section is a tube; that slides into a tubular cavity of the next section.

3. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 1 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the semipermanent permanent assembly of the two or more frame sections is realizable by a single adult man

4. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 1 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the semipermanent permanent assembly of the two or more frame sections is so realizable by the single adult man without use of tools.

5. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 1 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the permanent assembly of the two or more frame sections by the single adult man is initially from the bottom of these sections as the sections are set inverted upon the floor; the one or more wired motors and wiring therefor are fitted to the inverted assembled sections; and the assembled sections and fitted wired motors are subsequently entirely turned over and set upright by tilting in unison and always safely within the physical limits of the reference single adult man.

6. The modular adjustable bed that, when the frame sections are two in number, called a head section and a foot section; and each frame section contains a pre-wired motor respectively for adjusting the contours of the adjustable bed in its head and foot regions; then the two frame sections are mechanically interlocked, and precluded from loosening or separating during the adjusting.

7. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 6 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT when a third motor is added at and to the foot section so as to realize the elevation thereof then the surface of the bed can assume the Trendelenburg position.

8. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 6 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT when a third motor is added at and to the head section so as to realize the elevation thereof the surface of the bed can assume the anti-Trendelenburg position.

9. The modular adjustable bed according to claim 6 FURTHER CHARACTERIZED IN THAT when a third motor is added at and to the foot section so as to realize the elevation thereof the surface of the bed can assume the Trendelenburg position; while when a fourth motor is added at and to the head section so as to realize the elevation thereof the surface of the bed assume the anti-Trendelenburg position; and wherein both the third motor and the fourth motor acting together suffice selectively to elevate and to depress the entire surface of the adjustable bed, realizing a high-low-adjustable contour-adjustable bed.

10. In an adjustable bed having a frame with major, long, longitudinal frame members, an improvement to the frame where its major, long, longitudinal frame members are partitioned into two separate substantial halves, the partitioned frame for an adjustable bed comprising: a first half frame with two spaced-parallel elongate tubes each defining and presenting a longitudinal cavity; and a second half frame with two spaced-parallel elongate tubes each having and holding an inner tube, complimentary in shape and in size to the longitudinal cavities of the first half frame, extending from one end so that this inner tube may be slid into a corresponding cavity of a juxtaposed elongate tube of the first half frame, thereafter to hold the elongate tubes of the first half frame and of the second half frame in rigid alignment.

11. The partitioned frame for an adjustable bed according to claim 10. wherein the inner tube of each elongate tube of the second half frame is floating.

12. The partitioned frame for an adjustable bed according to claim 11 wherein the floating inner tube of each elongate tube of the second half frame is tipped with a plastic pilot plug to guide its insertion in the corresponding cavity of the juxtaposed elongate tube of the first half frame.

13. The partitioned frame for an adjustable bed according to claim 12 wherein the inner tube of each elongate tube of the second half frame comprises: a bulbous-nose spring pin extending under spring force transversely to the inner tube in a region of the inner tube that is inserted into the corresponding cavity of the juxtaposed elongate tube of the first half frame; and wherein the first half frame comprises: elongate tubes that within their longitudinal cavities define and present a hole complimentary in shape and in size to a tip of the spring pin so that when and only when the inner tube of each first second half frame is slid fully within a corresponding cavity of a juxtaposed elongate tube of the first half frame, then the spring pin will extend under spring force, locking the second-half-frame inner tube within the elongate tube of the first half frame, and thus the first half frame to the second half frame.

14. The partitioned frame for an adjustable bed according to claim 10 wherein each of the elongate tubes of both the first half frame and the second half frame comprises: square cross-sectional steel tubing.

15. A business method of delivering and erecting a home-use adjustable bed to a user of the bed, the method comprising: providing to the user by loading into the user's vehicle at a store, or by shipment to the user, or by both loading and shipment, each of at least (1) a first frame section with at least one motor and associated wiring and controls, (2) a second frame section with at least one motor and associated wiring and controls, and (4) printed assembly directions wherein each of (I)-(3) are of size and weight safely lifted and manipulated by but one single reference adult man; erecting the adjustable bed with and by the reference one single adult man in steps of assembling the first frame section to the second frame section while each sets inverted upon the floor, affixing the one or more motors and associated wiring and controls of each section to the other section, and then inverting the entire assembled frame and its affixed motors and associated wiring and controls by tilting it to upright position upon the floor, all assembly and affixation and inversion steps of the erecting being accomplishable by the reference one single adult man.

16. The business method according to claim 15 wherein the one single reference adult man is the user, and the adjustable bed is thus user-assembled.

17. The business method according to claim 15 wherein the user doing the erecting may specify up to two additional motors, which are provided selectively with the head or the foot of both the head and foot modular sections of the adjustable bed, so as to realize high-low adjustability of the head, or the foot, or both the head and the foot sections of the bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a base portion of a preferred embodiment of the modular adjustable bed of the present invention, the portion shown being without motors and wiring.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the base portion of the preferred embodiment of the modular adjustable bed of the present invention, previously seen in FIG. 1, now split into it head and foot sections that are each boxed and shipped separately, and later assembled together by a purchaser-user without use of tools.

[0057] FIG. 3, consisting of FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, are detailed plan views showing the telescoping attachment mechanism of the heat and foot sections of the partial preferred embodiment of the modular adjustable bed of the present invention, previously seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0058] A diagrammatic perspective view of base portion 1 of a preferred embodiment of a modular adjustable bed of the present invention, this base portion 1 being shown being without associated motors and wiring, is contained in FIG. 1. Another diagrammatic perspective view of this same portion 1, now split into a head section 11 and a foot section 12 (that are each boxed and shipped separately, and later assembled together by a purchaser-user without use of tools) is shown in FIG. 2. The portion 1 is substantially constructed of square cross section steel tube. Various attachment points are presented at which the pivoting bed surfaces, and the motors, of the adjustable bed may be conventionally attached.

[0059] In accordance with the present invention, two bull-nosed inner tubes 121a, 121b (best seen in FIG. 2) extend from spaced-parallel foot frame section 12 towards corresponding cavities in the complimentary spaced-parallel frame rails 112a, 112b of the head frame section 11. The protruding inner tubes 121 a, 121 b slide longitudinally into the opposed cavities of the head frame section frame rails 112a, 112b, semi-permanently joining the two, head and foot, frame sections 11, 12. The fit is snug, and the connection strong, but the union may readily be accomplished under force of the hands and arms of an adult man.

[0060] Detailed plan views showing the telescoping attachment mechanism of the head and foot sections 11, 12 of the partial preferred embodiment of the modular adjustable bed of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. FIG. 3b is a cut-away cross sectional view taken along aspect line 1-1 of FIG. 3a.

[0061] A plastic noseof which nose 121 b of inner tube 121 b is shownon each of the inner tubes 121 a, 121 b serves to guide each tube into the cavity of head section frame rail tubes 112a, 112b. A bolt, of which bolt 123b shown in FIG. 3b is exemplary, may be dropped into holes that become aligned upon sliding connection of the frame rails, therein to strongly hold the sections together. All bolts may be removed from disassembly.

[0062] The head and foot sections 11, 12 of the base of the preferred embodiment of the modular adjustable bed of the present invention are the largest sections of the bed. Other parts and sections, such as the planar sections that comprise the sleeping surface of the bed, the motors for the bed and their wiring harness, and the controls for the bed, are all smaller, and lighter, than are the head and foot sections 11, 12. Moreover, it is the interlocking between the head section 11 and the foot section 12 that, in particular, provides strength, stability, and durability to the adjustable bed. Accordingly, the gravamen of the present invention will be found within the quality affixation and union, achieved without tools, of the head and foot sections 11, 12, and it will be understood that beds and adjustable beds of standard design may readily be affixed to the illustrated modular base by practitioners of the design of mechanical beds.

[0063] According to these variations, and still others within the skill of a practitioner of the art of design of mechanical beds, and adjustable beds, and modular adjustable beds, the present invention should be considered in accordance with the following claims, only, and not solely in accordance with that particular embodiment within which the invention has been taught.