Title: Mattress hugging bed rail
Abstract: A bed rail structured to minimize the gap between the mattress and the bed rail and including a leg portion and a rail portion. The rail portion extends upwardly on a first side of the mattress to extend beyond the sleeping surface of the mattress and prevent a person from rolling out of bed. The leg portion is sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring and extends toward a second side of the mattress. In one embodiment, the leg portion includes a distal end that is engaged to the second side of at least one of the mattress and box spring such that the distal end and rail portion hug the mattress. In another embodiment, the bed rail includes a relatively rigid cover depending from an upper portion of the rail portion to the sleeping surface so as to cover a gap that may exist between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In still another embodiment, the rail portion is set at an acute angle relative to the leg portion so as to tend to close off any gap between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion.
Patent Number: 6,952,846 Issued on 10/11/2005 to Flannery, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Flannery; Mark A. (Shorewood, MN);
Dusheck; Nathan A. (Hammond, WI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Regalo International, LLC. (Plymouth, MN)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
652296 |
| Filed:
|
August 29, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
5/425; 426/662 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A47C 021/08 |
| Field of Search: |
5/424-426,503.1,504.1,505.1,658,659,662,663
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2649594 | Aug., 1953 | Herz et al.
| |
| 2722693 | Nov., 1955 | Wolf.
| |
| 2751608 | Jun., 1956 | Lucas.
| |
| 5640726 | Jun., 1997 | Fichner-Rathus.
| |
| 5671490 | Sep., 1997 | Wu.
| |
| 6134731 | Oct., 2000 | Thom et al.
| |
| 6289539 | Sep., 2001 | Alpern.
| |
| 6453490 | Sep., 2002 | Cardinale.
| |
| 6725476 | Apr., 2004 | Macari.
| |
| 2004/0040089 | Mar., 2004 | Flannery et al.
| |
| 2004/0049849 | Mar., 2004 | Macari.
| |
| 2004/0154100 | Aug., 2004 | Macari.
| |
| 2004/0168251 | Sep., 2004 | Waldman et al.
| |
| 2004/0187209 | Sep., 2004 | Flannery et al.
| |
| 2004/0250347 | Dec., 2004 | Brewin et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2070921 | Sep., 1981 | GB.
| |
| 2225716 | Jun., 1990 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Santos; Robert G.
Parent Case Text
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/407,369 filed Aug. 30, 2002.
Claims
1. A bed rail adapted for engagement to a bed having a first side, a second side,
and a sleeping surface, with the first and second sides of the bed being opposite
one another, wherein the bed rail comprises:
a) a pair of leg portions;
b) a rail portion engaged to each of the leg portions and confronting the first
side of the bed;
c) wherein the rail portion extends from the leg portion to and beyond the sleeping
surface to prevent a person on the sleeping surface from rolling off the bed;
d) wherein each of the leg portions extends from the rail portion toward the
second side of the bed;
e) a counter member engaged to the leg portions and adapted for engaging the
second side of the bed to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the bed,
with the rail portion and counter member hugging the bed therebetween;
f) a pair of tether portions, wherein one of the tether portions is engaged between
said counter member and one of the leg portions and wherein the other of the tether
portions is engaged between said counter member and the other of the leg portions
to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the bed;
g) wherein said counter member is relatively drawable to and away from said leg
portions via said tether portions; and
h) wherein each of the tethers extends at an acute angle relative to the leg
portion from which said tether extends.
2. The bed rail according to claim 1, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes a rigid component.
3. The bed rail according to claim 1, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes tubing.
4. The bed rail according to claim 1, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall is rigid along a plane of the sleeping surface.
5. A bed rail according to claim 1, wherein the rail portion and the leg portions
can be relatively drawn to each other and away from each other.
6. A bed rail according to claim 1, with each of the leg portions having a distal
end portion, with one of the tether portions extending between one of the distal
end portions of one of the leg portions and the counter member, and with the other
of the tether portions extending between the distal end portion of the other leg
portion and the counter member.
7. A bed rail adapted for engagement to a bed having a first side, a second side,
and a sleeping surface, with the first and second sides of the bed being opposite
one another, wherein the bed rail comprises:
a) a pair of leg portions;
b) a rail portion engaged to each of the leg portions and confronting the first
side of the bed;
c) wherein the rail portion extends from the leg portion to and beyond the sleeping
surface to prevent a person on the sleeping surface from rolling off the bed;
d) wherein each of the leg portions extends from the rail portion toward the
second side of the bed;
e) a pair of counter members engaged to the leg portions and adapted for engaging
the second side of the bed to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the
bed, with the rail portion and counter members hugging the bed therebetween;
f) a pair of tether portions, wherein one of the tether portions is engaged between
one of the counter members and one of the leg portions and wherein the other of
the tether portions is engaged between the other of the counter members and the
other of the leg portions to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the
bed;
g) wherein the counter members are relatively drawable to and away from said
leg portions via said tether portions; and
h) wherein each of the counter members is collinear with the tether portion to
which said counter member is engaged, and wherein each of the tether portions is
in line with the leg portion from which said tether portion extends.
8. The bed rail according to claim 7, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the, frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes a rigid component.
9. The bed rail according to claim 7, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes tubing.
10. The bed rail according to claim 7, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall is rigid along a plane of the sleeping surface.
11. A bed rail according to claim 7, wherein the rail portion and the leg portions
can be relatively drawn to each other and away from each other.
12. A bed rail according to claim 7, with one of the tether portions extending
between one of the distal end portions of one of the leg portions and one of the
counter members, and with the other of the tether portions extending between the
distal end portion of the other leg portion and the other counter member.
13. A bed rail adapted for engagement to a bed having a first side, a second
side, and a sleeping surface, with the first and second sides of the bed being
opposite one another, wherein the bed rail comprises:
a) a pair of tether portions;
b) a rail portion engaged to each of the tether portions and confronting the
first side of the bed;
c) wherein the rail portion extends from the tether portions to and beyond the
sleeping surface to prevent a person on the sleeping surface from rolling off the
bed;
d) wherein each of the tether portions extends from the rail portion toward the
second side of the bed;
e) a pair of counter members engaged to the tether portions and adapted for engaging
the second side of the bed to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the
bed, with the rail portion and counter members hugging the bed therebetween;
f) wherein one of the tether portions is engaged between one of the counter members
and the rail portion and wherein the other of the tether portions is engaged between
the other of the counter members and the rail portion to keep the rail portion
hugging the first side of the bed;
g) wherein the counter members are relatively drawable to and away from the rail
portion via said tether portions; and
h) wherein each of the counter members is collinear with the tether portion to
which said counter member is engaged.
14. The bed rail according to claim 13, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes a rigid component.
15. The bed rail according to claim 13, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes tubing.
16. The bed rail according to claim 13, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall is rigid along a plane of the sleeping surface.
17. A bed rail adapted for engagement to a bed having a first side, a second
side, and a sleeping surface, with the first and second sides of the bed being
opposite one another, wherein the bed rail comprises:
a) a pair of tether portions;
b) a rail portion engaged to each of the tether portions and confronting the
first side of the bed;
c) wherein the rail portion extends from the tether portions to and beyond the
sleeping surface to prevent a person on the sleeping surface from rolling off the
bed;
d) wherein each of the tether portions extends from the rail portion toward the
second side of the bed;
e) a counter member engaged to each of the tether portions and adapted for engaging
the second side of the bed to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the
bed, with the rail portion and counter member hugging the bed therebetween;
f) wherein one of the tether portions is engaged between said counter member
and the rail portion and wherein the other of the tether portions is engaged between
said counter member and the rail portion to keep the rail portion hugging the first
side of the bed;
g) wherein said counter member is relatively drawable to and away from the rail
portion via said tether portions; and
h) wherein each of the tether portions extends at an acute angle relative to
the rail portion.
18. The bed rail according to claim 17, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes a rigid component.
19. The bed rail according to claim 17, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall includes tubing.
20. The bed rail according to claim 17, wherein the rail portion includes a frame
about a periphery of the rail portion, with the frame being rectangular in shape,
with the frame being a closed frame, and with the frame including a wall, and wherein
the wall is rigid along a plane of the sleeping surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates particularly to a bed rail and specifically to
a bed rail that hugs the mattress to maximize a tight fit between the rail portion
and the side of a mattress and to minimize the chance that a child can fall between
the rail portion of the bed rail and the side of the mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A bed rail is a structure engaged to the side of a bed to prevent a person, especially
a child, from rolling out of bed and falling to the floor. A bed rail includes
a leg portion that is sandwiched between the mattress and box spring. A bed rail
further includes a rail portion that extends from the leg portion and upwardly
to and beyond the sleeping surface of the bed. The rail portion forms the rail
that prevents the child from rolling out of bed.
A bed rail is intended to provide a safe sleeping environment, particularly for
a child. However, the leg portion tends to work its way out from between the mattress
and the box spring. As the leg portion works its way out, a gap is created between
the side of the mattress and the rail portion of the bed rail. Children have rolled
off the bed, have fallen into the gap, and have been entrapped between the bed
rail and side of the mattress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A feature of the present invention is the provision in a bed rail having a rail
portion confronting a first side of a bed and extending upwardly beyond a sleeping
surface of the bed and a leg portion extending from the rail portion and running
toward a second side of a bed, of a member engaged to the leg portion and adapted
for engaging the second side of the bed such that the member and rail portion hug
the bed therebetween to minimize a creation of a gap between the rail portion and
the first side of the bed.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision in a bed rail having
a rail portion confronting a first side of a bed and extending upwardly beyond
a sleeping surface of the bed and a leg portion extending from the rail portion
and running toward a second side of a bed, of a cover depending from an upper portion
of the rail portion and extending over a portion of the sleeping surface of the
bed to cover any gap that may be created between the rail portion and the first
side of the mattress.
A feature of the present invention is the provision in a bed rail having a rail
portion confronting a first side of a bed and extending upwardly beyond a sleeping
surface of the bed and a leg portion extending from the rail portion and running
toward a second side of a bed, of the rail portion being set at an angle relative
to the leg portion so that the rail portion confronts as much as possible the edge
of the mattress where the sleeping surface joins the first side of the mattress.
An advantage of the present bed rail is safety. The embodiments of the invention
have means for minimizing the creation of the gap between the rail portion and
the first side of the mattress.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the bed rail is easy to
set up so as to provide a tight fit between the rail portion and the first side
of the mattress.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the bed rail is difficult
to set up when an attempt is made to create a less tight fit between the rail portion
and the first side of the mattress.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the bed rail includes
a compact configuration for storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a partially section and diagrammatic view of a mattress, box spring,
frame, and a prior art bed rail sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring.
FIG. 1B is a side diagrammatic view of the mattress, box spring, frame and prior
art bed rail of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A is a partially section and diagrammatic view of a hugging bed rail of
the present invention sandwiched between a mattress and a box spring and shows
a position prior to when the bed rail is tightened to hug the bed.
FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a counter member for opposing
or countering the rail portion of the bed rail and for engaging the second side
of the bed.
FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a counter member for
opposing or countering the rail portion of the bed rail and for engaging the second
side of the bed.
FIG. 2D shows a perspective view of still another embodiment of a counter member
for opposing or countering the rail portion of the bed rail and for engaging the
second side of the bed.
FIG. 2E shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a counter member
for opposing or countering the rail portion of the bed rail and for engaging the
second side of the bed.
FIG. 2F is a diagrammatic view of the counter member of FIG. 2E engaging a strap
which in turn engages another portion of the bed rail.
FIG. 3A is a top diagrammatic view of a bed with the mattress removed and shows
a single counter member engaging the second side of the bed.
FIG. 3B is a top diagrammatic view of a bed with the mattress removed and shows
a pair of counter members engaging the second side of the bed.
FIG. 3C is a top diagrammatic view of a bed with the mattress removed and shows
a "leg-less" bed rail with two embodiments of counter members where a rigid portion
of the leg is deleted and where the "leg" may include only a strap running from
the rail portion to the counter member.
FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bed rail of the present invention
wherein the distal ends of the leg portion of the bed rail has apertures for engaging
straps that in turn engage counter members.
FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a distal end for the bed
rail of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a distal end for the
bed rail of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4D is a perspective view of the distal end of FIG. 4C.
FIG. 4E is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a distal end for the
bed rail of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5A is an end diagrammatic view showing a prior art bed rail and shows how
the prior art bed rail may form a gap between the rail portion and the mattress.
FIG. 5B is an end diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the present invention
where such embodiment includes a cover for closing off any gap that may be formed
between the rail portion and the mattress of FIG. 5A.
FIG. 5C is a perspective diagrammatic view of the cover of FIG. 5B where the
cover is engaged to and depends from an uppermost portion of the rail portion of
the bed rail.
FIG. 5D is a perspective diagrammatic view of the cover of FIG. 5B where the
cover is engaged to and depends from a section below the uppermost portion of the
rail portion of the bed rail.
FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic top view of the cover of FIG. 5B showing how the semi-rigid
cover has living hinges or relatively weak sections or relatively less rigid sections
extending lengthwise across the cover.
FIG. 6B is a diagrammatic top view of the cover of FIG. 5B showing how the semi-rigid
cover has living hinges or relatively weak sections or relatively less rigid sections
extending across the width of the cover so as to extend in the direction of the
leg portion of the bed rail.
FIG. 6C is a detail end view of the cover of FIG. 5B showing the living hinges.
FIG. 6D is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cover of FIG. 5B having a
pivoting arm lock that is raised and lowered to raise and lower the cover.
FIG. 7A is a perspective diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the leg portion
for the bed rail of the present invention, where the leg portion includes squared
off telescoping portions between the rail portion and the counter member to draw
the rail portion and counter member to and from each other.
FIG. 7B is a perspective diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the leg
portion for the bed rail of the present invention, where the leg portion includes
rounded telescoping portions between the rail portion and the counter member to
draw the rail portion and counter member to and from each other.
FIG. 7C is a perspective diagrammatic view of the hugging bed rail of the present
invention having one of the telescoping members of FIGS. 7A and 7B and further
shows how the counter members may be turned upwardly to engage the mattress instead
of the box spring.
FIG. 7D is a perspective diagrammatic view of a button feature of the telescoping
leg portions of FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, where the button feature permits
automatic sliding of the telescoping members relative to each other so as to draw
the counter members and rail portion towards each other, and where the button feature
permits sliding of telescoping members relative to each other so as to draw the
counter members and rail portion apart only upon positive pressure upon the button.
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic end view of still another embodiment of the present
invention where the rail portion of the bed rail is locked at an acute angle relative
to the leg portion of the bed rail such that the leg portion of the bed rail does
not run parallel to the first side of the mattress.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bed rail of the
present invention wherein the leg of the bed rail includes a first embodiment of
a counter attachment.
FIG. 10 is a broken apart view of the frame of the bed rail of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a partial, perspective view of the bed rail of FIG. 9 wherein the
leg of the bed rail includes a second embodiment of a counter attachment.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bed rail of FIG. 9 and shows the
base of the leg without attachment of any of the first or second embodiments of
the counter attachment.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bed rail of FIG. 12 in a folded compact position.
FIG. 14A is a side view showing a corner of the frame of the bed rail of FIG.
9 and shows the leg of the bed rail in an operating, folded out position.
FIG. 14B is a view at lines 14B—14B of FIG. 14A.
FIG. 14C is a side view of the corner of the frame of FIG. 14A and shows
the leg of the bed rail in a folded position for storage.
FIG. 14D is a view at lines 14D—14D of FIG. 14A.
FIG. 15A is a section view of the corner of the frame of FIG. 14A and
shows the leg of the bed rail in an operating, folded out position.
FIG. 15B is a section view of the corner of the frame of FIG. 14C and
shows the leg of the bed rail in a folded position for storage.
FIG. 16A is a side view of the hinge mechanism of the bed rail of FIG. 9
and shows top rails of the rail portion of the bed rail in the folded, stored position.
FIG. 16B is a side view of the hinge mechanism of the bed rail of FIG. 9
and shows the top rails of the rail portion of the bed rail in an operating position.
FIG. 17A is a section, partial view of the hinge mechanism of the bed rail of
FIG. 9 and shows the top rails of the rail portion of the bed rail in an
operating position.
FIG. 17B is a section, partial view of the hinge mechanism of the bed rail of
FIG. 9 and shows the top rails of the rail portion of the bed rail in a
folded, stored position.
FIG. 18 shows the preferred embodiment for a lower corner or lower connection
of the bed rail of FIG. 9 so as to position the rail portion of the bed rail at
an acute angle relative to the leg portion of the bed rail.
FIG. 19 shows the preferred lower connection of FIG. 18 and shows how
the rail portion 204 may be swung downwardly relative to the leg portion
202 when use of the rail portion 204 is not desired.
FIG. 20A is a section view of the leg portion of FIG. 9 having the preferred
embodiment of the one directional quick connect.
FIG. 20B is a section view of the leg portion of FIG. 9 having the preferred
embodiment of the one directional quick connect where the one directional quick
connect prevents an increase in the length of one of the legs of the leg portion
of the present bed rail.
FIG. 20C is a section view of the leg portion of FIG. 9 having the preferred
embodiment of the one directional quick connect where the one directional quick
connect permits a decrease in the length of one of the legs of the leg portion
of the present bed rail.
DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1A shows a prior art bed rail
10 having a leg
12 and a rail
portion
14. The leg
12 is sandwiched between a mattress
16
and a box spring
18. The box spring
18 is set on a frame
20
having legs
22. The mattress
16, box spring
18, frame
20
and legs
22 form as a whole a bed
24 having a first side
26
and a second side
28. The prior art bed rail
10 may tend to form
a gap
30 between the rail portion
14 and the first side
26
of the bed
24.
FIG. 1B shows that the prior art rail portion
14 includes a frame
32
and a resilient wall
34 engaged to the frame
32 wherein the resilient
wall
34 is formed of a resilient sheet material. The wall
34 may
alternatively be rigid if desired. The wall
34 may include several rigid
components. The wall
34 may include tubing. The wall
34 may be a
relatively thick plastic sheet or wall or wall-like member.
FIG. 2A shows one embodiment
40 of the inventive hugging bed rail. Such
bed rail
40 includes a rail portion
42 pivotally engaged to a leg
portion
44. The leg portion
44 is sandwiched between mattress
16
and box spring
18. The leg portion
44 is engaged to a strap or tether
46 which in turn is engaged to a counter member or cleat
48. Strap
46 is adjustable in length relative to leg portion
44 and/or relative
to counter member
48 so that the rail portion
42 and counter member
48 can be drawn toward each other such that the bed rail
40 can hug
the mattress
16 to draw the rail portion
42 tightly against the first
side
26 of the mattress
16.
FIG. 2B shows T-shaped counter member
48 having a base
50 that
fits between mattress
16 and box spring
18 and that includes an aperture
52 for engaging strap
46. Counter member
48 further includes
a first upper extension
54 for confronting the second side of the mattress
16 and a second lower extension
56 for confronting the second side
of the box spring
18.
FIG. 2C shows an L-shaped counter member
58 having a base
60 that
digs in like a cleat between the mattress
16 and box spring
18. Base
60 includes an aperture
62 for engaging a strap such as strap
46.
Counter member or counter
58 further includes an extension
64 that
is preferably oriented upwardly so as to confront the second side
28 of
mattress
16 instead of the second side
28 of box spring
18.
FIG. 2D shows another counter member
66 that includes a distal countering
end
68 rounded upwardly to confront the second side
28 of mattress
16. An inner end portion
70 may be engaged to leg portion
44
such as with a strap or tether, telescoping connection members, or with an integral
connection. In the case of an integral connection, the distance between the distal
countering end
68 and the rail portion
42 is fixed and sized for
a particular mattress such as a single, twin, queen or king-sized bed or for some
other fixed size such that the rail portion
42 tightly hugs the first side
26 of the particular mattress.
FIG. 2E shows a counter member
72 having an upper portion
74 for
confronting the second side
28 of mattress
16 and a lower portion
76 for confronting the second side
28 of box spring
18. Counter
member
72 further includes a pair of apertures
78 for receiving a
strap, such as strap
46, in a looped fashion, as shown in FIG.
2F.
FIG. 2F shows the counter member
72 of FIG. 2E engaging strap
46.
It should be noted that counter member
72 is preferably oriented such that
opposing portions of strap
46 lay on top of each other when sandwiched between
mattress
16 and box spring
18. However, if desired, counter member
72 can be oriented sideways such that opposing portions of strap
46
lay side by side when sandwiched between mattress
16 and box spring
18.
FIG. 3A shows that bed rail
40 may include two leg portions
44
sandwiched between the mattress
16 and box spring
18 and that each
of the leg portions
44 may be strapped, such as with strap
46, to
a counter member, such as counter member
48. In such a case, aperture
52
of base
50 may run at 90 degrees relative to the position shown in FIG.
2B and one strap may run from leg portion
44 through aperture
52
to leg portion
44.
FIG. 3B shows that each of the leg portions
46 can be engaged to a respective
strap
46 which in turn is engaged to a respective counter member
48.
FIG. 3C shows a "leg-less" bed rail
40 where the legs
44 (or at
least the rigid portions or tubular portions of the legs
44) have been removed.
Instead, the straps
46 extend directly or substantially directly from the
rail portion
42 to the counter or counters
48. In the embodiment
of FIG. 3C, a single counter
48 or dual counters
48 may be used.
FIG. 4A shows that the bed rail
40 can have the frame
32 and resilient
wall
34 formed of a resilient sheet material. FIG. 4A further shows that
the leg portions
44 have distal ends
80 with apertures
82
for engaging straps or tethers such as straps
46. FIG. 4A shows the strap
engaging apertures
82 running vertically.
FIG. 4B shows a detail view of distal end
80, aperture
82 and
strap
46.
FIG. 4C shows another embodiment for a distal end of leg portion
44 where
a distal end
84 is engaged to leg portion
44 via a pin
86
such as a rivet. Distal end
84 has a slot
88 for engaging strap
46.
Distal end
84 is a piece for modifying a prior art bed rail, such as bed
rail
10. One kit for modifying a prior art bed rail may include a strap,
where the strap is engaged to prior art leg portion
12 and then wound about
the mattress
16 or box spring
18 or tied to a portion of frame
20
or leg
22. Another kit for modifying a prior art bed rail may include a
strap and a counter member, such as for the embodiment shown in FIG.
3A.
Another kit for modifying a prior art bed rail may include a pair of straps and
a pair of counter members, such as for the embodiment shown in FIG.
3B.
These kits may or may not include piece
84.
FIG. 4D shows a detail view of piece
84 that includes a slot
90
for receiving leg portion
44, aperture
92 for receiving pin
86,
and strap receiving slot
88.
FIG. 4E shows that strap
46 may be engaged directly to leg portion
44
with a pin
94 such as a rivet.
FIG. 5A shows in detail gap
30 between rail portion
14 and mattress
16.
FIG. 5B shows another embodiment of the present invention where a cover apparatus
100 is disposed between a rail portion, such as rail portion
42,
and a sleeping surface
102 of mattress
16. Cover apparatus
100
includes a cover
104 depending from an uppermost portion of bed rail
42,
such as an upper horizontally extending portion of frame
32 and being shaped,
such as with living hinges, so as to extend downwardly and inwardly to lie on top
of sleeping surface
102 to close off any gap
30 that may happen to
come into existence.
FIG. 5C shows a perspective view of the cover apparatus
100 of FIG. 5B
where the cover
104 depends from an uppermost portion of rail portion
42.
A Velcro® connection or similar hook and loop connection may provide for connection
between the frame
32, the lock arm
120 and the cover
104 as
well as the sleeping surface
102.
FIG. 5D shows that the cover
104 can depend from a position below the
uppermost portion of rail portion
42.
FIG. 6A shows that the cover
104 may have living hinges
110. The
living hinges
110 are weakened portions of the cover
104 that is
preferably formed of a semi-rigid plastic material. The rigid characteristics of
cover
104 keep the cover
104 in place even with the weight of a person
on the cover
104 and even with the weight of the person being directed on
a line running between rail portion
42 and leg portion
44. The flexible
characteristics of cover
104 permit a bend to the cover
104 to permit
a somewhat comfortable shape to the cover
104. The living hinges
110
provide the curved shape to the cover
104 and further permit the cover
104
to be folded into a compact shape for storage. The living hinges
110 run
the length of the cover
104 so as to run in the same direction as the length
of the rail portion
42. The cover
104 may be formed of PVC or of
a low density plastic. The living hinges may be formed by perforations in the cover
104. If desired, the cover
104 may be formed of a cloth or when the
cover
104 is of a sheet material other than cloth, the cover
104
may be sheathed in cloth for comfort against the skin.
Whether the cover
104 is rigid or whether the cover
104 is
made of a flexible or cloth or sheet material, the cover
104 may include,
such as on its underside, a material that has a high amount of friction with bedding
or a mattress or a mattress covering so as to minimize the chances of the covering
104 falling into any gap
30 that may be created. The material having
a high amount of friction may be provided by a material such as neoprene, silicone,
rubber, or a rubber-based material where such material is nontoxic.
FIG. 6B shows that living hinges
112 running in the direction of the
leg portions
44. Here the living hinges
112 permit a folding of the
cover
104 into a compact shape for storage but do not contribute toward
providing the curved comfortable shape shown in FIGS. 5B,
5C and
5D.
FIG. 6C shows a detail view of the living hinges
110.
FIG. 6D shows a pivot lock arm
120 for the cover apparatus
100.
The pivot lock arm
120 includes a pivot
122 joined to frame
32
of rail portion
42. The pivot lock arm
120 includes a distal end
portion
124 that is joined to a distal edge portion
126 of cover
104. Pivot
122 includes a lock such that a downward operating position
(shown in solid lines in FIG. 6D) of cover
104 may be locked in place on
top of sleeping surface
102. The lock may also be operational when the pivot
lock arm
120 is in an upward open position (shown in phantom in FIG.
6D).
Also shown in FIG. 6D is a pivot structure
130 that may be provided between
rail portion
42 and leg portion
44 to permit the bed rail
40
to be folded for storage. The lock arm
120 may pivot for about 180 degrees
from a position on sleeping surface
102 to a position on the other side
of the rail portion
42.
FIG. 7A shows another embodiment of the invention, where leg portion
44
may include telescoping members
140 and
142 to draw the counter member
and the rail portion
44 to and away from each other. Telescoping members
140 and
142 are squared off to prevent the members
140,
142
from spinning relative to each other.
FIG. 7B shows telescoping members
144 and
146 that are oval or
elliptical in section so as to provide a round shape but yet prevent the members
144 and
146 from spinning relative to each other.
FIG. 7C shows that one telescoping member
140 (or
144) may be
pivotally joined to rail portion
42 and that another telescoping member
142 (or
146) may include counter member
68. Counter member
68 may include cap
148.
FIG. 7D shows a button
150 extending though a hole
152 formed
in member
140 and a hole
154 formed in member
142. Button
150 includes a base
156 affixed to an inner surface of member
142
and further includes an inclined surface
158 and an upright or confronting
surface
160 confronting surfaces of the members
140,
142 that
form the holes
152,
154. The provision of the inclined surface
158
on button
150 permits the counter member
68 and rail portion
42
to be drawn towards each other automatically or with little effort. Accordingly,
it is relatively easy to make the rail portion
42 fit tightly against the
first side
26 of the mattress
16. The provision of the confronting
surface
160 on button
150 permits the counter member
68 to
be drawn apart from the rail portion
42 only with the difficulty associated
with depressing button
150. Accordingly, it is relatively difficult to loosen
the bed rail
40 and therefore the chances of forming a gap
30 are minimized.
FIG. 8 shows that rail portion
42 (or the plane in which the frame
32
of the rail portion
42 lies) is preferably set at an acute angle A relative
to leg portion
44 (or at an acute angle to the plane in which the leg portions
44 lie). A pivot mechanism
170 may permit a swinging between the
rail portion
42 and, in such a case, such pivot mechanism
170 does
not permit a swinging to a right angle arrangement or to a swinging to an obtuse
angle arrangement. Preferably, the angle between rail portion
42 and leg
portion
44 is between 70 and 89 degrees, more preferably between 70 and
88 degrees, even more preferably between 70 and 87 degrees, yet more preferably
between 70 and 86 degrees, and most more preferably between 70 and 85 degrees.
The provision of an acute angle between the rail portion
42 and leg portion
44 works to close off any gap
30 and sets the rail portion
42
as close to the sleeping surface
102 as possible. FIG. 8 shows the most
preferred angle B of five degrees (where angle A is 85 degrees) where angle B defines
the relationship between rail portion
42 and a plane parallel to the first
side
26 of mattress
16. The button
150 and its cooperating
apertures may be referred to as a one directional quick connect.
As to rail portion
42, as to leg portion
44, as to frame
32,
as to wall
34, as to how rail portion
42 and leg portion
44
are swingable to each other and as to how rail portion
42 and leg portion
44 may be foldable or collapsible to a stored position, the Wu U.S. Pat.
No. 5,671,490 issued Sep. 30, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It should be noted that the present bed rail
40 may be engaged to only
a mattress or to only a mattress and a frame. The frame may or may not have slats.
It should be noted that leg
44 may be broad or paddle-shaped so as to rest
upon slats instead of falling through the slats. Slats may be used where no box
spring is used.
FIG. 9 shows a bed rail
200. Bed rail
200 generally includes a
leg portion
202 and a rail portion
204.
As shown in FIG. 10, rail portion
204 includes a frame assembly
206.
Frame assembly
206 includes upper rails or tubes
208,
210,
lower rails or tubes
212 and
214, and side rails or tubes
216
and
218. Upper rails
208 and
210 are interconnected via a
hinge mechanism
220. Frame assembly
206 further includes respective
first and second upper corner two point connections
222,
224 and
first and second lower corner three point connections
226,
228.
Distal ends or distal end portions of upper tubes
208,
210 are
pivotally affixed via respective pins
230,
232 to upper corner connections
222,
224 such that tubes
208,
210 swing relative to
tubes
216,
218. Such relative swinging of tubes
208,
210,
216 and
218 occurs in generally the same plane. An inner portion
234 of each of the corner connections
222,
224 are U-shaped
in cross section to permit the tubes
208 and
210 to swing relative
to corner connections
222,
224 and toward tubes
216 and
218.
Upper ends or upper end portions of side tubes
216,
218 are rigidly
affixed, with no pivotal swinging and no axial sliding, in a cylindrical receptacle
formed in an outer portion
236 of each of the corner connections
222,
224. The cylindrical receptacle is a non-through hole. Each of the upper
end portions of the side tubes
216,
218 are fixed in their respective
cylindrical receptacles with a pin. Such a pin is preferably a spring biased button
which, upon being pushed into its respective side tube
216,
218,
permits the respective side tube
216,
218 to be withdrawn out of
the cylindrical receptacle for disassembly and then snapped back in for reassembly.
Such is preferable because this allows the sheet wall
370 to be easily taken
off and placed back on the frame assembly
206.
Each of the lower corner connections
226,
228 is a three point
connection and includes a molded body
240 that is integral and one-piece.
Body
240 includes a pair of opposing, spaced apart sidewalls
242,
244 where sidewall
242 is an outer sidewall and where sidewall
244
is an inner sidewall. Sidewalls
242,
244 lead integrally into a female
receptor
246 for a distal end or distal end portion
248 of base leg
sections
250 of the leg portion
202 of the bed rail
200. Female
receptor
246 is oblong in section to minimize an axial spinning of base
leg sections
250 relative to the lower connections
226,
228
and thus to minimize an axial spinning of the base leg sections
250 relative
to the rail portion
204. Base leg section
250 is rigidly fixed in
receptor
246 and to body
240 via a pin
252. It should be noted
that molded body
240 is preferably reinforced with a steel bracket having
steel plate portions
253 engaged on the inner sides of sidewalls
242,
244. Steel plate portions
253 are interconnected via an integral
bracket
255.
Body
240 further includes a cradle
254 for engaging the distal
ends or distal end portions
256,
258 of lower tubes
212,
214.
Cradle
254 is one-piece and integral with body
240 such that cradle
254 is one-piece and integral with female receptor
246. Cradle
254
is a semi-circular open end receptor having a pair of aligned through holes
260.
Holes
260 engage opposing ends of an outer two ended button
262 which
is found on distal end portion
256 of lower tube
212 and which is
further found on distal end portion
258 of lower tube
214. Each of
the ends of button
262 extends, in the biased and locked position, beyond
the outer diametrical surface of its respective tube
212,
214 such
that each of the ends of button
262 can engage holes
260. Each of
the ends of button
262 is resiliently depressable or pushable radially into
tube
212 or
214 such that the absolute end of button
262 is
at or within the outer diametrical surface of tube
212,
214 such
that the button
262 can disengage from holes
260. Outer two ended
buttons
262 may be operated directly such as by sliding a fingernail between
cradle
254 and the end of the button
262. More preferably, each of
the outer two ended buttons
262 is operated by a respective inner two ended
button
264 that is not engaged by cradle
254 and that lies at an
accessible location outside of cradle
254 when tubes
212,
214
are engaged by cradles
254. Each of the ends of buttons
262,
264
extends through openings formed in tubes
212,
214. The structural
arrangement for buttons
262,
264 includes a C-shaped flat spring
pinched resiliently within each of the distal end portions
256,
258
of tubes
212,
214. Each of the ends of the C-spring includes one
end of button
262 and one end of button
264 such that a pushing upon
one end of inner button
264 draws the respective, same sided outer button
262 inwardly. Hence a pinching of the ends of inner button
264 radially
inwardly also draws the outer ends of button
262 radially inwardly.
Each of the sidewalls
242,
244 includes an upper open ended slot
or detent
270 for receiving a roller
272 rotatably engaged on a pin
274. Pin
274 in turn is affixed to, and extends at a right angle
to, a spring biased plunger
276 engaged within each of the side tubes
216,
218. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a first end or base
279 of plunger
278 is rigidly fixed to its side tube
216,
218 with a pin
280. A coil spring
282 extends from base
279 to a piece
284
having a portion set within the coil spring
282 and having a disk portion
slidingly engaging the inner diametrical surface of tube
216 or
218.
Piece
284 leads into a projection
286 which has a through hole formed
therein for pin
274. Piece
284 and projection
286 may be molded
as one part so as to be one-piece and integral. A pair of slots
288 are
formed in each of the tubes
216,
218. Slots
288 of tube
216
are aligned with each other and slots
288 of tube
218 are aligned
with each other such that pin
274 can travel the length of slots
288
and in the axial direction of tubes
216,
218.
Body
240 is pivotally fixed to side tubes
216,
218 via
a pin
290 engaged to each of the sidewalls
242,
244. Body
240 is fixed or locked in position to side tubes
216,
218
by the rollers
272 being engaged in the detents
270. In the locked
position, the plunger
278 is biased to its extended position by the coil
spring
282 and keeps the rollers
272 locked into the detents
270.
To unlock the side tubes
216,
218 from the lower corner connections
226,
228 and hence to unlock rail portion
204 from the leg
portion
202, the rollers
272 are drawn by hand axially toward a central
portion of tubes
216,
218 to draw the rollers
272 out of the
detents
270. When the rollers
272 are disengaged from the detents
270, the side tubes
216,
218 are relatively swingable relative
to the leg portions
202. This relative swinging permits: 1) the rail portion
204 to be swung downwardly to a right angle relative to the leg portion
202 to confront side
26 of box spring
18 so that one can have
relatively easy access to get in and out of the bed
24, as shown in FIG.
19; 2) the rail portion
204 to be swung upwardly to an upright position
and right angle position relative to the leg portion
202, whereupon the
rollers
272 snap into the detents
270 under the plunger bias, as
shown in FIG. 18; 3) the side tubes
216,
218 to be swingable relative
to the legs
250 such that the legs
250 can be drawn upward relative
to the side tubes
216,
218 for storage, as shown in FIG. 14C; and
4) the side tubes
216,
218 to be swingable relative to the legs
250
such that the legs
250 and side tubes
216,
218 can be unfolded
from a stored compact arrangement and locked into an operating position.
Sidewalls
242,
244 of body
240 have a partially curved
and partially linear perimeter
292 upon which the rollers
272 roll
when the bed rail
200 is being folded into or from a stored, compact arrangement.
Sidewalls
242,
244 have a partially curved and partially linear perimeter
294 upon which the rollers
272 roll when the rail portion
204
is being dropped against the side
26 of the box spring
18 or when
the rail portion
204 is being swung up from side
26 of box spring
18 to an upright operating position against the side
26 of the mattress
16. FIG. 19 shows the downwardly swung position of the rail portion
204.
Lower tubes
212 and
214 engage each other with a male/female
connection. Lower tube
212 includes an inner female end portion
300
having a hole or button receptor
302. Lower tube
214 includes an
inner male end portion
304 having a button
306 that is biased radially
outwardly so as to snap into hole
302 and lock the tubes
214,
216
relative to each other such that the tubes
214,
216 cannot spin relative
to each other and such that the tubes
214,
216 cannot slide in the
axial direction relative to each other until the button
306 is pressed,
whereupon the tubes
212,
214 can be disengaged from each other.
Lower tubes
212,
214, when fixed to each other and set in cradles
254, provide a rigid lower rail for the rail portion
204; side tubes
216,
218 ,when the rollers
272 are locked in the detents
270,
provide rigid side rails for the rail portion
204; and upper tubes
208,
210, when the hinge mechanism
220 is locked, provide a rigid upper
rail for the rail portion
204, whereby a relatively rigid frame assembly
206 is provided for rail portion
204.
As shown in FIGS. 16A,
16B,
17A and
17B, hinge mechanism
220 includes a housing
308 having a front wall
310 and a rear
wall
312 that are interconnected with a semi-cylindrical top portion
314
such that housing
308 takes generally an inverted U-shape. Proximal end
or proximal end portions
316,
318 of upper tubes
208,
210
are swingably affixed to housing
308 via a pins
320,
322 engaged
between front wall
310 and rear wall
312. Disposed inwardly from
the pins
320,
322 are pins
324,
326 running parallel
to pins
320,
322. Pins
324,
326 are mounted in proximal
end portions
316,
318 and extend at a right angle from the tubes
208,
210 via slots
328,
330 in the proximal end portions
316,
318. Pins
324,
326 are biased in the inwardly
direction toward a locked position (toward the inner axial end of each respective
tube
208,
210) via a coil spring
332 mounted in each respective
proximal end portion
316,
318. Coil spring
332 is fixed under
tension between its respective pin
324,
326 and an end piece
334
fixed in its respective tube
208,
210. End portions of pins
324,
326 ride in respective tracks
336,
338 formed in the front
wall
310 and rear wall
312 of housing
308. In other words,
a track
336 in front wall
310 is aligned with a track
336
formed in the rear wall
312, and these tracks
336 engage outer end
portions of pin
324. Further, a track
338 formed in front wall
310
is aligned with a track
338 formed in rear wall
312, and these tracks
engaged outer end portions of pin
326. Each of the ends of pins
324,
326 has a roller
340 rotatably mounted thereon such that hinge mechanism
220 includes four rollers
340.
Hinge mechanism
220 includes an unlocking mechanism
342 that
unlocks hinge mechanism
220 by bringing pressure to bear on the four rollers
340. Unlocking mechanism
342 is a generally U-shaped piece having
a front wall
344 confronting and sliding upon front wall
310 of housing
308 and further having a rear wall
346 confronting and sliding upon
rear wall
312 of housing
308. A bottom portion
347 interconnects
the front wall
344 and rear wall
346. Bottom portion
347 of
unlocking mechanism
342 opposes top portion
314 of housing
308
of hinge mechanism
220 to provide squeezing surfaces when unlocking mechanism
342 and housing
308 are drawn relatively together. A pin
348
extends between front and rear walls
344,
346 and rides in slots
350 formed in each of the front wall
310,
312 of housing
308.
Pin
348 and hence the unlocking mechanism
342 as a whole is biased
toward a locked position by a coil spring
352 fixed under tension between
pin
348 and an end piece
354 fixed to top
314 of housing
308
via pin
356. Unlocking mechanism
342 further includes guide pins
358 rotatably engaged in holes formed in the front wall
344 and rear
wall
346 of unlocking mechanism
342 for engaging linear portions
360 of a periphery of front wall
344 and rear wall
346. Rollers
340 engage curved or tapering portions
362 of the front wall
344
and rear wall
346.
Each of the tracks
336,
338 of hinge mechanism
220 includes
a curved or arc track portion
364 having as its center or pivot point pin
320 or
322. Pins
324,
326 ride in the arc track portion
364 when the rail portion
204 is being folded or unfolded. Each of
the tracks
336,
338 further includes a linear track portion or detent
366 in communication with the arc track portion
364. Pins
324,
326 snap into the detent
366 when the rail portion
204 is
folded to an operating position. Pins
324,
326 are forced out of
the detent
366 and into the curved track portion
364 by the curved
periphery portion
362 when the unlocking mechanism
342 is squeezed
against the bias of the coil spring
352.
FIGS. 16B and 17A show the hinge mechanism
220 in a locked position.
Pins
324 and
326 are resiliently pressed into the detents
366
by the bias of the coil springs
332. Rollers
340 (on the ends of
the pins
324,
326) confront the curved periphery portions
362
of the unlocking mechanism
342. Pin
348 of the unlocking mechanism
342 is resiliently brought to bear against the root base point of slot
350
by coil spring
352. In such locked position, upper tubes
208,
210
are locked in a straight line relative to each other.
To unlock the hinge mechanism
220 so as to permit the upper tubes
208,
210 to swing relative to each other to
