Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2019903215 filed on 2 September 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure relates, generally, to a bed and, more particularly, to a bed base.

Background

[0003] Bed bases define a platform arranged in an elevated position relative to a floor surface to support a mattress. The platform is dimensioned to support a single mattress, being a mattress for one user, or a double mattress, being a mattress for two users.

[0004] The platform is typically defined by an array of slats, or a solid panel, and is spaced from the floor by a plurality of legs and/or feet. Slat-type platforms usually involve the slats being supported by a frame which includes elongate elements which define a maximum length of the bed base, generally being greater than 2 metres. Panel- type platforms are typically formed from a pair of block-like elements which define half of the maximum length of the bed base. In either scenario, due to the size of the structures involved, delivery of such bed bases to a user’s home and assembly in the home can be inconvenient, difficult and expensive. Furthermore, should an assembled bed base require moving to a different location, disassembly and reassembly can prove difficult and potentially damage the user’s home when moving the bed base to the new location.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary

[0006] In an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a bed base which includes: at least one pair of platforms, the platforms of the, or each, pair being configured to be laid end to end, and the platforms of the, or each, pair being mirror images of each other, each platform defining, proximate an end of the platform, a set of mounting formations for mounting an end board of a bed; and a supporting arrangement configured to be removably mounted to an underside of the at least one pair of platforms, the supporting arrangement configured to arrange the at least one pair of platforms in an elevated position relative to a surface, the supporting arrangement including at least one connector, the, or each, connector being connectable to two platforms to interconnect the platforms.

[0007] The bed base may also include a plurality of the connectors and the supporting arrangement includes a plurality of leg elements, where each leg element includes one of the connectors.

[0008] The bed base may include at least two pairs of platforms with the platforms of the first pair of platforms being the same as the platforms of the second pair of platforms.

[0009] The, or each, connector may be configured to interconnect one of the platforms of the first pair with one of the platforms of the second pair.

[0010] Each platform may have a chamfered edge extending along at least two sides of the platform. [0011] The bed base may also include a decorative strip applicable to a side of at least two of the platforms to at least partially obscure a join between adjacent platforms.

[0012] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed base configured to support a single mattress;

[0015] Figure 2 is a side view of the bed base shown in Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 3 and 4 are underside views of the bed base shown in Figure 1, without and with covers on the platforms of the bed base, respectively;

[0017] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bed base shown in Figure 1 illustrating application of a decorative strip with some detail omitted for the sake of clarity;

[0018] Figure 6 shows the same view as Figure 5 and also shows a single mattress supported on the bed base;

[0019] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a bed base configured to support a double mattress;

[0020] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bed base shown in Figure 7 illustrating application of a decorative strip with some detail omitted for the sake of clarity; [0021] Figures 9 and 10 are underside views of the bed base shown in Figure 7, without and with covers on the platforms of the bed base, respectively;

[0022] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a platform of the bed base;

[0023] Figure 12 is a plan view of the platform shown in Figure 11 ;

[0024] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional side view along line P-P illustrated in Figure 12;

[0025] Figure 14 is a detailed view of region Q delineated in Figure 13; and

[0026] Figures 15 and 16 are side views, and Figure 17 is a top view, of a leg element.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0027] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a bed base 10. The bed base 10 includes: at least one pair of platforms 12, the platforms 12 of the, or each, pair being configured to be laid end to end, and the platforms 12 of the, or each, pair being mirror images of each other, each platform 12 defining, proximate an end of the platform, a set of mounting formations 52 (Figure 11) for mounting an end board 14 of a bed; a supporting arrangement configured to be removably mounted to an underside of the at least one pair of platforms 12, the supporting arrangement configured to arrange the at least one pair of platforms in an elevated position relative to a surface; and at least one connector 16 (Figs. 15 & 16), the, or each, connector 16 being connectable to two platforms 12 to interconnect the platforms 12.

[0028] Figures 1 to 6 show an embodiment of the bed base 10 configured to support a single mattress 18 (Fig. 6). The bed base 10 includes one pair of the platforms 12.

Best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the platforms 12 are mirror-images of each other and are configured to be laid end to end. [0029] Each platform 12 comprises a panel 19 defining a pair of opposed sides. A frame 20 is mounted to the underside of the panel 19 (Fig. 3). Optionally, the frame 20 is removably mounted, via suitable fasteners such as screws, to the underside of the panel 19. An opposed, operatively top, side of each panel defines a planar surface for receiving a part of the mattress 18.

[0030] The supporting arrangement of the bed base 10 comprises a plurality of leg elements 22 (Fig. 15) removably securable to the frames 20. Each leg element 22 defines opposed ends 24, 26 where one end 24 is configured to releasably engage one or more of the frames 20 and the other end 26 is configured to bear on a floor surface, for example, by carrying a resiliently deformable cap to enhance friction between the leg element 22 and the floor and also to reduce damage to the floor. Securing the leg elements 22 to the frames 20 and arranging the floor ends 24 of the leg elements 22 on the floor allows supporting the platforms 12 in an elevated position relative to the floor.

[0031] In other embodiments (not illustrated) the leg elements 22 are configured to directly engage the platforms 12. In further embodiments (not illustrated), the supporting arrangement includes a framework configured to support one or both platforms 12 to be spaced from the floor. For example, the framework may define a box-like structure which is constructed from releasably connectable braces.

[0032] The platforms 12 of the bed base 10 are connected by connectors 16 defined by the leg elements 22. Each connector 16 comprises a pair of pins 28 spaced apart at opposed ends of a bridging portion 30 (Fig. 15). Each leg element 22 defines a longitudinal axis between its opposed ends 24, 26. The pins 28 extend parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis to protrude from the end 24 of the leg element 22 and extending away from the end 26. Best shown in Fig. 3, the platforms 12 are interconnected by engaging the pins 28 of a pair of the leg elements 22 with sockets defined in the frames 20 of the adjacent platforms 12.

[0033] In other embodiments (not illustrated), the platforms 12 are connected by a single connector 16, for example, arranged to extend across the join between the adjacent platforms 12 to engage each platform 12 at a plurality of locations. In further embodiments (not illustrated), the platforms 12 are connected by a plurality of connectors 16 where each connector 16 is arranged to engage adjacent leg elements 22 secured to adjacent platforms 12.

[0034] Best shown in Figure 3, each platform 12 defines a periphery and the associated frame 20 is spaced inwardly of the periphery on three of the sides of the platform 12, and is in register with the periphery along one, operatively inner, side of the platform 12.

[0035] Best shown in Figure 4, each platform 12 and frame 20 is covered by a cover 32, typically being formed from a flexible fabric material. Where the frame 20 is spaced inwardly of the periphery of the platform 12 the cover defines a chamfered edge 34. A non-slip region 15 of the cover 32 covering the operatively top side of each panel 19 contains a non-slip component. At least the chamfered edge 34 and, optionally, a border region 33 bounding the non-slip region 15 is of a tricot material.

[0036] Figures 5 and 6 show a decorative strip 36 applied along an end of one platform 12 and a side of both platforms 12. The strip 36 is releasably securable to the covers 32, typically by a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement, to at least partially conceal the join between the platforms 12. In an embodiment the decorative strip 36 is a fabric material having a backing which forms one component of the hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement, the tricot material of the cover 32 forming the other component of the hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement. In an embodiment, the fabric of the strip 36 may be selected to match a fabric covering the headboard 14.

[0037] As described above, each platform 12 includes the panel 19 formed of a substantially rigid material, for example, MDF. Securing the platforms 12 together, by the supporting arrangement, provides a robust, stable structure to support the mattress [0038] Each platform 12 defines the mounting formations, in the form of sockets 13, proximate one end to allow mounting the end board 14. Each socket 13 is dimensioned to receive a post (not illustrated) extending from a bottom of the end board 14. In the illustrated embodiments the end board 14 is in the form of a head board. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the end board 14 is in the form of a foot board securable at the other end of the bed base 10.

[0039] Figures 7 to 10 show another embodiment of the bed base 40 having two pairs of platforms 42 to accommoda te a double mattress. A reference to a double mattress is to be understood as also including a queen size mattress and a king size mattress. The bed base 40 shares features with the previously described bed base 10. It will be appreciated that common reference numerals indicate common features.

[0040] The bed base 40 includes two identical pairs of the platforms 42. Each platform 42 in a pair is a mirror-image of the other. The platforms 42 in each pair are configured to be laid end to end. To form the base 40, the end to end arranged pairs are positioned adjacent to each other. This means that the bed base 40 has platforms 42 arranged in a mirrored configuration about two perpendicular planes extending through the base 40.

[0041] In other embodiments (not illustrated), the bed base 40 comprises non identical pairs of platforms. For example, the bed base 40 may comprise the two pairs of platforms 40 separated by another, alternatively configured pair of platforms to allow increasing the width of the bed base 40.

[0042] A pair of the end boards 14 is secured to the platforms 42 to form a head board. In other embodiments (not illustrated), a single head board is secured to the platforms to extend across the full width of the bed base 40.

[0043] Each platform includes the planar panel 19. Best shown in Figure 9, each panel 19 defines a periphery and has a frame 44 secured to an underside of the panel 19 and spaced inwardly of the periphery along two sides of the panel 19, and in register with the periphery along the other two, operatively inner, sides. Best shown in Figure 10, each panel 19 and associated frame 44 is covered in a cover 46. The cover 46 defines chamfered edges 48 along the two sides where the frame 44 is spaced inwardly of the periphery.

[0044] Figures 11 to 14 show the platform 42 in isolation. Figure 11 shows the cover 46 includes a slip -resistant portion 50 formed from a material resistant to slip. This portion 50 is arranged to enhance friction between the cover 46 and a mattress. The portion 50 is bounded on two sides by a border region 51 formed from a tricot material. It will be appreciated that the cover 32 applied to the platform 12 of the single bed base 10 is similarly configured to the cover 46 except that the slip-resistant portion is bounded on three sides by the fabric.

[0045] The mounting formations of the platform 42 are in the form of sockets 52 defined adjacent one end of the platform 42. The sockets 52 are configured to receive posts (not shown) extending from the end board 14 to facilitate mounting of the end board 14 on the platform 42.

[0046] Assembly of the single bed base 10 involves arranging the platforms 12 in a mirrored configuration, end to end, and securing six leg elements 22 to the frames 20. Two of the leg elements 22 are arranged across the join between the adjacent platforms 12 to interconnect the platforms 12. The floor ends 26 of the leg elements 22 are placed on a floor surface to elevate the platforms 12 from the floor. The end board 14 is engaged with the mounting formations at the end of one of the platforms 12. The decorative strip 36 is applied around three sides of the bed base 10. The mattress 18 is then placed on the platforms 22.

[0047] Assembly of the double bed base 40 involves arranging the platforms 42 in each pair in a mirrored configuration, end to end, alternating the orientation of each pair and arranging the pairs adjacent to each other. Ten leg elements 22 are secured to the frames 44 where six of the leg elements 22 are arranged across the join between adjacent platforms 42 to interconnect the platforms 42 in the same pair, and interconnect adjacently arranged pairs. The floor ends 26 of the leg elements 22 are placed on a floor surface to elevate the platforms 42 from the floor. The posts of the end boards 14 are received in the sockets 52 of two of the platforms 12. The decorative strip 36 is applied around three sides of the bed base 40. A double mattress (not illustrated) is then placed on the platforms 42.

[0048] The disclosed bed bases 10, 40 are modular structures formed from at least one pair of panel-like platforms 12, 42. This modular configuration of the bed bases 10, 40 minimises a package size of the bed base 10, 40. This enhances efficiency of shipping and delivery of the bed base 10, 40 to the user. Furthermore, the compact dimensions of the bed base 10, 40 components enhance ease of assembly in a user’s home.

[0049] The configuration of the platforms 12, 42 as mirrored pairs, where each platform 12, 42 has mounting formations proximate one end, means that the end board 14 can be mounted at either end of a constructed bed base 10, 40. This further enhances ease of assembly of the bed base 10, 40 as the end board 14 can be mounted regardless of the orientation of the base 10, 40 relative to the user’s home.

[0050] In addition, the platforms 12, 42 are provided to the user fully assembled and covered. The user is thus able to erect the bed base 10, 40 without the need for any tools or specialist skills.

[0051] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.