Bed frame center beam locking mechanism
First Claim
1. A locking mechanism for affixing a center beam of a bed frame to a cross bar having an external surface and an internal surface, the locking mechanism adapted to be affixed to an end of the center beam, the locking mechanism comprising a frame having an overlapping flange adapted to overlap the external surface of a cross bar, and at least one pawl movable between a locked position wherein the at least one pawl contacts the internal surface of the cross bar to firmly sandwich the cross bar between the overlapping flange and the at least one pawl and an unlocked position wherein the at least one pawl is displaced away from the internal surface of the cross bar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locking mechanism for securing a center beam of a bed frame to the cross bars that enable the assembler to complete the assembly of the bed frame completely without the need for hand tools or securing implements to aid in the assembly. With a queen size bed frame or smaller, the cross bar members are joined together in overlapping manner to form cross bars and the center beam is secured to the cross bars by use of the present locking mechanism. In the case of a king size or a California king size bed frame, a universal extension bar is provided that can be used to join the cross bar members of either size bed frame and a extension cap is also provided that is affixed to the universal extension bar having indicia that instructs the assembler in the proper assembly of the particular bed frame.
36 Citations
43 Claims
- 1. A locking mechanism for affixing a center beam of a bed frame to a cross bar having an external surface and an internal surface, the locking mechanism adapted to be affixed to an end of the center beam, the locking mechanism comprising a frame having an overlapping flange adapted to overlap the external surface of a cross bar, and at least one pawl movable between a locked position wherein the at least one pawl contacts the internal surface of the cross bar to firmly sandwich the cross bar between the overlapping flange and the at least one pawl and an unlocked position wherein the at least one pawl is displaced away from the internal surface of the cross bar.
- 10. A bed frame assembly comprising side rails and having cross bars interconnecting said side rails, each of the cross bars having an external surface and an internal surface, a center beam affixed between the cross bars, the center beam having a locking mechanism at an end of the center beam adapted to affix the center beam to the cross bars, said locking mechanism comprising a flange adapted to contact the external surface of the cross bars, and at least one pawl movably between a locked position wherein said at least one pawl bar contacts the internal surface of the cross bars to firmly sandwich the cross bars between the flange and the at least one pawl bar and an unlocked position where the at least one pawl is displaced away from the internal surface of the cross bars.
- 18. An extension bar for joining two free ends of a cross member together in forming a bed frame, the extension bar having a joining means located at each end of said extension bar to enable the extension bar to be affixed to the free ends of the cross members, the extension bar having an extension cap affixed thereto, the extension cap having indicia provided thereon to provide instructions as to the joining of at least one of the cross members to the extension bar.
- 23. A bed frame assembly, said bed frame assembly comprising a pair of side rails, cross bars joining the side rail to make up a generally rectangular bed frame assembly, and a center beam affixed to the cross members and oriented generally parallel to the side rails, each of the cross bars comprising a pair of cross bar members having one end of each of the cross bar members affixed to the side rails and having a free end, a universal extension bar joining the free ends thereof, the free ends of the cross bar members and the extension bar having mating connector means adapted to interconnect the free ends of the cross bar members with the extension bar, the center beam having a locking mechanism to affix the center beam to each of the cross bars, the locking mechanism comprising a frame having an overlapping flange adapted to overlap the external surface of a cross bar, and at least one pawl movable between a locked position wherein the pawl contacts the internal surface of the cross bar to firmly sandwich the cross bar between the overlapping flange and the at least one and an unlocked position wherein the pawl is displaced away from said the internal surface of the cross bar, the locking mechanism frame further having at least one bent tab extending downwardly from each of said ends of the cross beam and the extension bar having at least one hole for receiving the at least one bent tab, the interconnection of the at least one bent tab and the at least one hole adapted to provide the proper orientation of the center beam with the bed frame assembly.
- 37. A locking mechanism means for affixing a first structural member to a second structural member having an external surface and an internal surface, the locking mechanism comprising a frame affixed to the first structural member, the frame having an overlapping flange adapted to overlap the external surface of the second structural member and at least one pawl movable between a locked position wherein the pawl contacts the internal surface of the second structural member to firmly sandwich the second structural member between the overlapping flange and the atg least one pawl and an unlocked position wherein the at least one pawl is displaced away from the internal surface of the second structural member.
Specification