US3327328A - Mattress extension - Google Patents

Description

Jun@ 27, 1957 W. R. SLIVOSKI MATTRESS EXTENSION Filed April 2, 1965 2 SheeLS-Sheet l 0115071) SETG e MCKhhh.

@frozen/ew June 27, 1967 vv. R. sLlvosKl 327,328

MATTRESS EXTENSION Filed April 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jeunes RSM/05K: BV

United States Patent 3,327,328 MATTRESS EXTENSIUN Wallace R. Slivoski, Taylor, Mich., assigner of fifty percent to Sam Solomon, Huntington Woods, and twentytive percent to Francisco Paletta, Taylor, Mich.

Filed Apr. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 445,140 6 Claims. (Cl. 5-317) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A mattress extension for increasing the surface area of the mattress of a bed. The mattress extension has all the supporting elements including the frame and supporting hinges uniquely concealed to avoid injury or damage to persons and/ or their clothing.

Background of the invention The present invention relates generally to a mattress enlarger and more particularly to a novel method and a unique mattress extension or enlarger for increasing the sleeping surface of any type of existing bed. The present invention affords a convenient, inexpensive, novel way of converting a bed of standard size to a king or queen size bed, of converting a baby crib into a youth bed or the like and may be used in different sizes adjacent any one or all with the foot, the head and the sides of the mattress. The mattress extension or enlarger of the present invention may not only be pivotable between horizontal, vertical and inclined positions and adjustable to different elevations in the horizontal position, but may be constructed to be readily detachable from the bed for use as a separate piece of furniture.

Previous bed extenders and the like have been objectionable since they have one or more of the following disadvantages:

(1) These bed extenders are usually equipped with a frame and hinges which project beyond the exposed periphery of the mattress portion of the extension and, therefore, frequently will cause painful injury to persons, especially to small children, and damage to clothing, and to the bed covers draped over the -bed extension;

(2) These Ibed extenders are not readily adaptable for use with any and all types of existing beds;

(3) They are inordinately expensive to manufacture and costly to ship to the consumer being of relatively complex heavy construction;

(4) They are -diiiicult to install and are not readily vertically adjustable in the horizontal position to exactly match the sleeping surface 0f the extension with that of the mattress per se; and

(5) They are not easily detachable from the bed once installed and are not independently useable as a separate piece of furniture apart from the bed.

Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to overcome the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art by providing a novel mattress extension and a unique method of manufacturing and using the mattress extension to thereby increase the sleeping area of an existing bed.

Another object is the provision of a novel pivotable mattress extension wherein the frame and hinges are uniquely concealed to avoid bodily injury to persons, especially to children, and damage to clothing and to bed covers.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a novel mattress extension which may be readily detached from the bed after installation so as to be useable as a separate piece of furniture apart from the bed.

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Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel mattress extension useable at any one or all of the head, the foot and the sides of an existing bed, which extenion is also readily mountable upon any existing type of ed.

A further and no less important object is the provision of a novel method of increasing the sleeping surface of an existing bed by the manufacture and installation of a unique lightweight pivotable mattress extension These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent as the following description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a conventional bed equipped with a mattress extension at the foot and at one side of the bed, in accordance with the present invention, the foot mattress extension and the side mattress extension being illustrated in their collapsed, essentially vertical orientation;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary schematic perspective representation of a portion of the bed and foot mattress extension of FIGURE l shown in the elevated, essentially horizontal position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective representation similar to FIGURE 2 and further illustrating in greater detail the presently preferred mode of attaching the mattress extension by adjustable brackets to a Hollywood type bed and the provision of telescopic folding legs along the distal edge of the mattress eXtension;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate in exploded perspective three presently preferred embodiments for bracketing the mattress extension of this invention to any standard type of bed construction;

FIGURE '7 is a fragmentary perspective representation and somewhat enlarged over the representation of FIG- URE 3 illustrating the preferred manner in which the folding telescopic legs are attached to the distal edge of the mattress extension;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective representation of another folding telescopic leg embodiment; and

FIGURE 9 depicts the mattress extension of the present invention positioned in an elevated, essentially vertical relationship adjacent the head of the mattress to provide a headboard or the like.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout.

The present invention generally provides a mattress extension for use at the foot, the head and/ or one or both sides of any existing type of bed. The mattress extension of this invention is hinged to the -bed so that the hinges are substantially concealed, for purposes of safety at the underside of the mattress extension in either the horizontal or the vertical position. The mattress extension is made to be vertically adjustable so that the sleeping horizontal surface of the mattress extension may be brought into coincidence with the sleeping surface of the existing mattress. The frame, which rigidies the mattress extension, is internal of the mattress portion of the extension s0 that potential danger, particularly to children, is signicantly minimized. The manipulation from the sleeping horizontal position to the essentially downward vertical position accommodates a saving of space during the daytime when the bed is not being slept upon. Moreover, the extension may be upholstered and readily removable so as to lbe useable as a separate piece of furniture apart from the bed per se. Furthermore, this invention may also be utilized in an upward vertical or in an inclined relation as a back rest at the headboard of a bed or may be used in such a vertical upright position at the foot, head and/or one or both slides of a baby cribto protect the baby against injurious contact with a solid bed frame and to accommodate unfolding of the bed from a crib size to a youth bed size once the infant has grown sutiic'iently in stature.

More specifically, FIGURE 1 illustrates in perspective a standard bed of usual construction, designated generally by the numeral 10, which bed comprises a headboard 12, a footboard 14, a frame 16, a box springs 18 and a mattress 20. In this case, the headboard 12 and the footboard 14 function as supporting legs for the overall mattress construction 16.

The mattress construction is equipped with a side` mattress extension 22, partially broken away for purposes of clarity and a foot mattress extension 24, both constituting part of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. l, the side mattress extension 22 and the foot mattress extension 24 are each depicted as being in their downwardvertical collapsed positions providing a significant saving of space in the bedroom during the daytime hours when the bed 10 is not being utilized.

Each mattress extension is supported yby a pair of bracket-hinge assemblies generally designated 26 in FIG- URES l and 2. In the embodiment depicted in FIGURE l, the base of the bracket-hinge assembly 26 is integrally secured by bolt, clamp or like means to the frame 16 and is similarly integrally secured in hinged relation at its upper end to the internal frame 28 of the mattress extension 24. A vertical adjustment is provided for bringing the sleeping surface 30 into level coincidence with the sleeping surface 32 of the mattress 20` in the manner depicted in FIGURE 2, when the foot mattress extension 24 is in its horizontal position.

The extension 24 is supported at its distal edge by at least a pair of telescopic folding legs 34. Just as the bracket-hinge assemblies 26 accommodate vertical adjustment of the proximal edge of the mattress extension 24, so also do the telescopic folding legs 34 provide for such adjustment at the distal end of the mattress extension 24. Both the structural details and manipulation of the brackets 26 and the telescopic folding legs 34 will be described in greater detail as this specification proceeds.

FIGURE 3 depicts the foot mattress extension 24 secured at the foot of a Hollwood bed also having a framed box spring 42 and a mattress 44. The bracket 26 is, in this case, integrally secured to the box springs as for example by utilization of wood screws passing through apertures in the bracket and into the wooden frame of the box springs. The same folding telescopic legs 34 may be used at the distal edge of the mattress extension 24 of the bed construtcion 40, as depicted in FIGURE 3.

The presently preferred bracket-hinge assembly 26 is depicted in FIGURE 4, with modifications to the hinge portion thereof shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. As clearly seen in exploded perspective in FIGURE 4, the brackethinge assembly 26 comprises four separate structural components, i.e. the L-shaped base 46, preferably constructed of angle iron or the like, an upright adjustable member 48 also of angle iron or the like, a hinge 50 integrally fastened to the upper end of the support 48 as 4by screws or like means and a nut and bolt assembly, the nut being designated 52 and the bolt 54.

The lower L-shaped angle member is preferably equipped with a pair of apertures S6 penetrating the sidewall 5S and with a pair of apertures (not shown) penetrating the basewall 60. Usually, the apertures 56 are used to secure the bracket-hinge assembly 26 to a Hollywood type bed, in the manner depicted in FIGURE 3 and explained previously in conjunction therewith. The apertures in the basewall 60 are preferably used to bolt or otherwise secure the bracket-hinge assembly 26 to the bed frame 16, in the manner depicted in FIGURES l and 2 and described previously in conjunction therewith. The upstanding leg 62 of the L-shaped member 46 is provided with an aperture 64 in the sidewall 66 to receive the bolt 54.

The vertical support 48 is provided with a slot 68 in the sidewall 70 so that when, in the assembled relation, the nut 52 is loosened from its threaded engagement with the bolt S4 the vertical support 48 may be vertically repositioned either up or down to bring the proximal edge of the mattress extension 24 into coincidence at the sleeping surface 30. Thus, the mattress extension 24 accommo-r dates proper mounting relation with any type of existing bed construction.

The hinge 5t) is provided with apertures for screws or like attachment to the concealed interior frame of the mattress extension 24. The hinge 5t) is provided with a pivot pin 72 which may be either integral with one of the two hinge legs 74 or 76 or may be independently removable so that the mattress extension 24 may be used as an independent piece of furniture apart from the bed. This is accomplished by removal of the pin 72 at each bracket-hinge assembly 26 and by providing both the distal edge and the proximal edge of the mattress extension 24 with vertically stable supporting legs, for example, such as the telescopic folding legs 34 provided with adequately lateral support in the vertical position. Thus, the mattress extension 24, properly upholstered with a suitable material such as leather or vinyl, may be independently used as a piece -of furniture, for example, a lounging chair, such as when the number of visitors in a home exceeds the normal seating capacity of that home.

As seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, the hinge S0 may be replaced by either the hinge of FIGURE 5 or the hinge 82 of FIGURE 6. The hinge 80, at the L-shaped leg 84 thereof, is similarly attached to the sidewall 7i) of the support 48 by screws or the like. The hinge 80 also includes a planar leg 86. The leg 86 is apertured to accommodate attachment to the concealed internal frame of the ma1ttress extension 24. The hinge 80I of FIGURE 5 is particularly useful when the mattress extension is to be utilized at the head of a bed as a headboard in the manner depicted in FIGURE 9. Thus, the hinge y80 accommodates movement of the mattress extension 24 from an upright vertical position to the horizontal position, and, if desired, to the downward vertical position without the requirement of significant manipulation of the mattress of the bed. The bed extension 24 may also be hed at an inclined position with respect to both the horizontal and the vertical. This is advantageous when the extension 24 is used as aheadboard and the occupant of the bed is, for example, an invalid or suffers from chronic asthma. The inclined cX- tension thus may substantially elevate the occupants head without the need of several cumbersome pillows.

The hinge S2, at the L-shaped leg 88 thereof, is like-` wise attached by threaded screws or the like to the support 48 at the wall 70. At the end of the horizontal leg 89 of the angular member 88 is disposed a first hinge pin 90 connected to an intermediate planar member 92. The

planar member 92 in turn is hinged by a pivot pin 94 to a distal planar member 96 equipped with apertures or the like to accommodate being secured to the concealed internal frame of the mattress extension 24. The hinge 82 is extremely useful in positioning the mattress extension 24 in the downward vertical position over top of a compara-` tively high footboard or a comparatively low headboard.

One of the folding telescopic legs 34, previously briefly described in conjunction with FIGURES 2 and 3, is shown in enlarged perspective in FIGURE 7. The telescopic leg 34 is secured to the internal concealed frame 100 of the mattress extension 24 away from the normally upholstered surface 102 of the mattress extension. This is accomplished by use of a hinge 194, comprising arms 106 and 108 which allows pivotal movement of the leg 34 to and from the concealed frame of the extension 24. Any suitable means may be used to retain both legs 34 essentially contiguous with the concealed mattress extension frame when the mattress extension 24 is in the vertical position, if desired. Furthermore, any suitable support may be used to retain the legs 34 in their ground engaging position when the mattress extension is horizontal.

The arm 106 of the hinge 104 is secured by screws 110 to the mattress extension frame 100 and the arm 108 is riveted or similarly secured to the upper tubular member 112 at the flattened end 114. The other end of the tube 112 at 116 is equipped with an aperture 118 into which a pin 120 is inserted. The lower tubular member 122, which telescopes into the upper tubular member 112, is equipped with a series of apertures 124 so that 1) the pin 120 may be removed from the aperture 118, (2) the lower tubular member 122 may be telescopically slidably displaced with respect to the upper tubular member 112 until the appropriate aperture 124 is aligned with the aperture 118, and (3) the pin 120 is thereafter replaced. By such manipulation, the elevation of the distal edge of the mattress extension 24'may be varied to correspond with the sleeping surface of the bed mattress, when the mattress extension is in the horizontal position. Secured at the downward end 126 of the inner tubular member 122 is a pivotable support 128 having a oor engaging base 130 of conventional construction.

As an alternative to the construction shown in FIG- URE 7, the folding telescopic leg 34 may be modified so that an upper tubular member 132 is provided with a recess 134 rather than with an aperture. The recess 134 is engageable with the upper surface of a pin 136 which has been appropriately positioned in the desired aperture 124 of the inner tubular member 122 to properly elevate the distal edge of the mattress extension 24. Otherwise, the folding telescopic leg construction of FIGURE 8 is identical with that of FIGURE 7.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 9 which depicts the Hollywood bed 40, previously described in conjunction with FIGURE 3, with the mattress extension 24 positioned in the upright vertical position by use of at least two brackets 26 equipped with the hinge 80 of FIGURE 5. This type of construction, as depicted in FIGURE 9, is useful at the headboard of the bed 40 to provide a convenient upright or inclined support against which a person, while reading in bed or the like, may rest their back. Furthermore, the construction of FIGURE 9 is useful with a baby crib. Thus, one or more vertically upright mattress extensions 24 are situated to surround the head, the foot, and/ or one or both sides of the crib mattress. In this way, danger due to an infant banging his head against a solid upright support or the like at the crib or due to the infant becoming entangled within the spaced bars, which are normally placed at the side of the crib, are substantially alleviated. Furthermore, once the infant has out-grown the crib, it is not necessary to discard the crib and thereafter purchase a youth bed. The one or more mattress extensions 24 used in the vertical upright position to surround all or part of the crib above the baby mattress may be released from their vertical upright positions and each oriented in a horizontal position so that the upper surface of each mattress extension matches the elevation of the sleeping surface of the crib mattress. Thus, the crib is converted into a youth bed without additional cost.

In order to secure the mattress extension 24 in the position depicted in FIGURE 9, whether used in conjunction with an adult size bed or with a baby crib, a latch assembly 140 may be provided at one or more locations. The latch assembly 140 comprises a pair of apertured supports 142 secured by threaded screws or the like to theelongated leg 66 of the L-shaped member 46. The latch assembly 140 also includes a locking bar 144 designed -to be manually inserted through the hoop or aperture 146 of each bracket 142 so that the locking bar 144 abuts the mattress extension at 148 to rigidly hold it in the upright vertical po-si-tion.

It is to be appreciated that by utilization of the present invention a novel mattress extension is provided which is inexpensive for homeowners to purchase in order to modify their standard-size beds, regardless of the type, into king or queen size beds. The mattress extension may also be used to form an attractive headboard or to surround the mattress of the baby crib and to accommodate conversion of the baby crib into a youth bed. The mattress extension may be folded down into a downward vertical position so as to save space during the day hours when the bed is not being utilized. This is a particular advantage when the bedroom in Which the mattress extension is used is relatively small. The telescopic folding legs and the vertically adjustable brackets provide for bringing the sleeping surface of the mattress extension int-o coincidence with the sleeping surface of the standard bed without the requirement of complex procedures or the provision of special tools.

The mattress extension is relatively light so that shipping costs are minimized. The mattress extension frame, the hinged bracket assembly and the telescopic folding legs are all concealed so as to avoid protrusion of dangerous projecting edges and sides thereby substantially eliminating the 'possibility of injury to persons, especially to children as they walk past or fall against the mattress extension, regardless of whether it is oriented in the vertical or horizontal position.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is'.

1. In a bed of any construction having a mattress, a mattress enlarger for placement adjacent any one of the head, the foot and the sides of the mattress, said mattress enlarger comprising: a mattress pad, foldable-extensible means for rigidly supporting the mattress enlarger in a generally horizontal position adjacent said mattress, hinge means disposed inwardly of the outer periphery of said pad to avoid injury land snags and accommodating pivotable movement of the mattress enlarger from said generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position to save space when the mattress enlarger is not being utilized, and bracket means fastened to the bed construction and supporting at least in part the mattress enlarger so as to accommodate vertical adjustment of the mattress enlarger whereby the upper surfaces of the mattress and the mattress enlarger in the horizontal position may be adjusted to coincide.

2. In a bed of any construction having a mattress, -a mattress enlarger for placement adjacent lany one of the head, the foot and the sides of the mattress, said mattress enlarger comprising: la mattress pad, foldable means for rigidly supporting the mattress enlarger in a generally horizontal position adjacent said mattress, hinge means disposed inwardly of the outer periphery of said pad to avoid injury and snags and accommodating pivotable movement of the mattress enlarger from said generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position to save space when the bed is not being utilized, releasable means for detaching the mattress enlarger from a juncture position adjacent the mattress so that the mattress extension may be used as an independent piece of furniture, land bracket means fastened to the bed construction and supporting at least in part the mattress enlarger.

3. In a bed of any construction having a mattress, a mattress enlarger for placement adjacent at least one of the head, the foot and the sides of the mattress, said mattress enlarger comprising: a mattress pad having an internal rigid reinforcing frame to retain the mattress pad as a unitary shape, folding legs fastened to the mattress enlarger frame by concealed leg hinges and positionable to rigidly support the mattress enlarger in a generally horizontal position when said mattress enlarger is adjacent said mattress, mattress enlarger hinges disposed inwardly of the outer periphery `of said 'pad to avoid injury to children, bypassers, clothing, bed covers and the like and accommodating pivotable movement of the mattress enlarger with respect to the mattress from said generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position to save space, and atleast two Ventically adjustable brackets fastened to the bed construction and supponting at least in part the mattress enlarger yat the mattress enlarger hinges and accommodating vertical adjustment of the mattress enlarger so that the upper surfaces of the mattress and mattress enlarger in the horizontal position may be made to coincide.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said folding legs have telescopically eXtensible-contractable means for adjusting the height at which the upper surface of the mattress enlarger is situated.

5. A mattress enlarger for placement adjacent any louter edge of the mattress of a conventional bed, said mattress enlarger comprising: a mattress pad having a frame carried Within the outer periphery of said pad, bracket means secured to said bed, and hinge means secured to said bracket means and to said frame `at a point spaced inwardly from the outer edge of said frame to accommodate pivotal movement of the mattress enlarger from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position with respect to the upper surface of said mattress.

6. A mattress enlarger as defined in claim 5, in which said hinge means includes means for allowing movement of said mattress enlarger from a substantially horizontal position to an upwardly or downwardly directed vertical position with respect to said mattress.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,443 12/1877 Woodward 5-53 966,450 8/1910 Jones et al. 5-183 2,545,891 3/1951 Mehr et al 5-53 X 2,666,213 1/1954 Bash 5-131 2,722,899 11/1955 Brown 16-163 2,958,874 11/ 1960 Emery 5-345 3,064,278 11/1962 Broyles 5-184 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,572 12/ 1922 Great Britain. 363,730 12/1931 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, PrmaryExamner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A BED OF ANY CONSTRUCTION HAVING A MATTRESS, A MATTRESS ENLARGER FOR PLACEMENT ADJACENT ANY ONE OF THE HEAD, THE FOOT AND THE SIDES OF THE MATTRESS, SAID MATTRESS ENLARGER COMPRISING: A MATTRESS PAD, FOLDABLE-EXTENSIBLE MEANS FOR RIGIDLY SUPPORTING THE MATTRESS ENLARGER IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION ADJACENT SAID MATTRESS, HINGE MEANS DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID PAD TO AVOID INJURY AND SNAGS AND ACCOMMODATING PIVOTABLE MOVEMENT OF THE MATTRESS ENLARGER FROM SAID GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION TO SAVE SPACE WHEN THE MATTRESS

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