Central rail bed frame with connector assembly

Claim 2

A bed frame assembly comprising: a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated side rails; a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated cross rails extending perpendicularly between the side rails; a central support rail extending parallel to said side rails generally midway between said side rails, said central rail including a horizontal flat leg extending a first given width; and means for connecting said central rail at each end thereof to a respective cross rail, at least one of said connecting means including support means associated with one of said cross rails carrying first and second fingers adjacent said one cross rail each finger having a first generally transversely extending portion, and a second portion extending horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with the ends thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely extending finger portions being horizontally separated by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said central rail and the ends of said second finger portions being separated by a secoNd predetermined spacing less than said first given central rail width, said fingers thereby defining a T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to said associated cross rail, with an end of said central rail being received within said T-shaped space defined by said fingers, said horizontal central rail leg being positioned within said first predetermined spacing over said horizontal elongated finger portions, to thereby complete a positively held connection between said central rail and said associated cross member.

Claim 3

A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, in which said central rail is T-shaped.

Claim 4

A bed frame assembly as in claim 2, in which said T-shaped rail is comprised of two rails each having mutually perpendicular legs joined to place a leg of one rail in opposed abutting relationship with a leg of the other rail.

Claim 5

A bed frame assembly as in claim 3, wherein said two rails comprising said T-shaped rail are joined by means of rivets, and wherein said assembly also includes a pair of supporting legs, at least some of said rivets also joining said leg to said T-shaped rail at points adjacent the ends thereof so that said legs extend downwardly therefrom to support said T-shaped rail.

Claim 6

A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, in which said support means includes a horizontally-disposed mounting plate secured to said one cross rail and carrying said first and second fingers beneath said plate.

Claim 7

A bed frame assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first and second fingers are formed integrally with said flat plate.

Claim 8

A bed frame assembly as in claim 5, wherein said one cross rail is comprised of respective mutually perpendicular horizontal and vertical flat legs, and wherein said mounting plate is secured to said horizontal leg to position said plate so that the outside edge thereof is flush with the plane of said vertical leg.

Claim 9

A connector assembly for joining one bed rail to the end of another bed rail having a T-shape, defining outwardly extending legs together having a first given width, and extending perpendicularly from said one bed rail, comprising: a first finger supported by said one bed rail and having a first portion extending transversely to said one bed rail, said finger having a second portion extending from said first portion generally parallel to said one bed rail; and a second opposed finger supported by said one bed rail in alignment with said first finger and having a first portion extending transversely to said one bed rail, said second finger having a second portion extending from said first portion generally parallel to said one bed rail and in an opposite sense from said second portion of said first finger, the ends of said second portions being in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely extending first portions being separated by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said other rail, and the ends of said second finger portions being separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first given rail width, said fingers thereby defining a T-shpaed space positioned perpendicularly to said one rail to enable an end of said other T-shaped rail to be received therewithin for connection with said one bed rail.

Claim 10

A connector assembly for joining one bed rail to the end of another bed rail having a T-shape, defining outwardly extending legs together having a first given width, and extending perpendicularly from said one bed rail, comprising: a first finger supported by said one bed rail and having a first portion extending transversely to said one bed rail, said finger having a second portion extending from said first portion generally parallel to said one bed rail; and a second opposed finger supported by said one bed rail in alignment with said first finger and having a first portion extending transversely to said one bed rail, said second finger having a second portion extending from said first portion generally parallel to said one bed rail and in an opposite sense from said second portion of said first finger, the ends of said second portions being in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely extending first portions being separated by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said other rail, and the ends of said second finger portions being separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first given rail width, said fingers thereby defining a T-shpaed space positioned perpendicularly to said one rail to enable an end of said other T-shaped rail to be received therewithin for connection with said one bed rail.

Claim 11

A bed frame assembly adapted to support a box spring and mattress comprising: a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated side rails; a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated cross rails extending perpendicularly between the side rails; a central T-shaped support rail extending parallel to said side rails generally midway between said side rails, said central rail having a vertically extending flat leg and two horizontal flat legs extending outwardly from the upper end of said vertical leg on opposite sides thereof, said horizontal legs extending a first given width; and means for connecting said central support at each end thereof to a respective cross rail, at least one of said connecting means including a flat plate Associated with one of said cross rails and carrying first and second fingers, with each finger having a first generally transversely extending portion, and a second portion extending horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with the ends thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely extending finger portions being horizontally separated by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said central rail and the ends of said second finger portions being separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first given central rail width, said fingers together with said plate thereby defining a T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to said associated cross rail, with an end of said central rail being received within said T-shaped space defined by said fingers, said horizontal central rail legs being positioned within said first predetermined spacing so that the ends of each of said horizontal legs is positioned over a respective one of said horizontal elongated finger portions, said vertical leg of said central rail member being positioned within said second predetermined spacing between said opposed finger ends to thereby complete a positively held connection between said central rail and said associated cross member.

Claim 12

A bed frame assembly adapted to support a box spring and mattress comprising: a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated side rails; a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed elongated cross rails extending perpendicularly between the side rails; a central T-shaped support rail extending parallel to said side rails generally midway between said side rails, said central rail having a vertically extending flat leg and two horizontal flat legs extending outwardly from the upper end of said vertical leg on opposite sides thereof, said horizontal legs extending a first given width; and means for connecting said central support at each end thereof to a respective cross rail, at least one of said connecting means including a flat plate Associated with one of said cross rails and carrying first and second fingers, with each finger having a first generally transversely extending portion, and a second portion extending horizontally toward the other horizontal portion, with the ends thereof in spaced opposed facing relationship, said transversely extending finger portions being horizontally separated by a first predetermined spacing greater than said first given width of said central rail and the ends of said second finger portions being separated by a second predetermined spacing less than said first given central rail width, said fingers together with said plate thereby defining a T-shaped space positioned perpendicularly to said associated cross rail, with an end of said central rail being received within said T-shaped space defined by said fingers, said horizontal central rail legs being positioned within said first predetermined spacing so that the ends of each of said horizontal legs is positioned over a respective one of said horizontal elongated finger portions, said vertical leg of said central rail member being positioned within said second predetermined spacing between said opposed finger ends to thereby complete a positively held connection between said central rail and said associated cross member.

Claim 13

A bed frame assembly as in claim 8, wherein said fingers extend in a direction parallel with said cross rail associated with said plate.

Claim 14

A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontal legs of said central rail are of equal width and said vertical leg is positioned midway therebetween.

Claim 15

A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontally extending second finger portions are of equal width, and said first transversely extending portions make equal angles with said flat plate.

Claim 16

A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said fingers are spaced from said flat plate by a vertical spacing greater than the thickness of said horizontal legs of said central rail.

Claim 17

A bed frame assembly as in claim 9, in which said horizontal legs of said central rail are in frictional engagement with the lower surface of said flat plate.