Leg assembly

• US 9,629,473 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascion LLC
• Original Assignee: Ascion LLC
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B., Gong, Andrew Z., Nagelkirk, Kyle Allen, Vera, Leandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G
• Application Number:
  US15/004,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 5310, 5285, 52791, 52001, 5201, 5202, 5114, 55091, 5658, 5660, 2481882, 2481884, 2481888
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/024 Legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/045 with entire frame height or inclination adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/026 Pillow holders; Mattress holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/012 raising or lowering of the whole mattress frame A61G7/005, A61G7/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0755 for the legs or feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0165 Damping, vibration related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 : Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 : substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0078 : with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776

Abstract

A leg assembly includes a first leg member and second leg member each having side-to-side width that is greater at the top end than the bottom end and a tapered outer surface. The second leg member has top-to-bottom length different than the top-to-bottom length of the first leg member. The leg members are adapted to connect individually or in combination to a support system such that at least three leg heights are selectably provided. The side-to-side width of the top end of the second leg member is approximately equal to the side-to-side width of the bottom end of the first leg member such that when the top end of the second leg members is connected to the bottom end of the first leg member, the combined leg members have a generally continuously tapered outer surface.

Claims

1. A support system, comprising:

a support frame, comprising a substantially horizontal bottom surface defining a length and a width of the support frame; and

at least one modular leg assembly mounted to and supporting the support frame, each of the at least one leg assembly comprising;

a first leg member having a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the first leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion of the first leg member having a first top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface; and

a second leg member having a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the second leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion having a second top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface, the second top-to-bottom length being different than the first top-to-bottom length;

wherein the first and second leg members are connected individually or in combination to the support frame such that at least three leg heights are selectably provided, such that each of the leg heights extending from the bottom surface of the support frame to a bottom surface of a leg member is substantially less than the length of the support frame; and

wherein the side-to-side width of the top end of each second leg member is approximately equal to the side-to-side width of the bottom end of each first leg member such that when the top end of one of the second leg members is connected to the bottom end of one of the first leg members, the top surface of the one of the second leg members is disposed against the bottom surface of the one of the first leg members and the combined leg members have a generally continuously tapered outer surface.

2. The support system of claim 1, wherein the first and second leg members each have a connecting element extending from the top surface thereof for connecting the leg member to another leg member or to the support frame.

3. The support system of claim 2, wherein the body of each of the leg members is formed substantially from wood and the connecting elements are formed of metal.

4. The support system of claim 2, wherein:

the first leg member has a receiving opening defined in the bottom surface for receiving the connecting element of the second leg member; and

the second leg member does not have a receiving opening defined in the bottom surface.

5. The support system of claim 2, wherein the connecting elements are threaded elements.

6. The support system of claim 1, wherein the top-to-bottom length of the first leg member is less than the top-to-bottom length of the second leg member.

7. The support system of claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second leg members are circular in side-to-side cross section.

8. The support system of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a base frame and an articulating frame supported by the base frame, the leg members being connectable to the base frame.

9. The support system of claim 1, wherein the support frame is a mattress support frame.

10. The support system of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular leg assembly comprises a plurality of modular leg assemblies.

11. A bed foundation, comprising:

a mattress support frame having a base frame and an articulating frame supported on the base frame, the base frame comprising a substantially horizontal bottom surface defining a length and a width of the base frame; and

a plurality of modular leg assemblies, each of the at least one leg assembly comprising;

a first leg member having a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the first leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion of the first leg member having a first top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface; and

a second leg member having a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the second leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion having a second top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface, the second top-to-bottom length being different than the first top-to-bottom length;

wherein a plurality of the first leg members are each connected to the base frame to provide a first leg length for the bed foundation, a plurality of the second leg members are each connected to the base frame to provide a second leg length for the bed foundation, and a plurality of threaded together first and second leg members are connected to the base frame to provide a third leg length greater than the first or second leg length, such that each of the leg lengths extending from the bottom surface of the base frame to a bottom surface of a leg member is substantially less than the length of the base frame; and

wherein the side-to-side width of the top end of each of the second leg members is approximately equal to the side-to-side width of the bottom end of each of the first leg members such that when the top end of one of the second leg members is connected to the bottom end of one of the first leg members, the top surface of the one of the second leg members is disposed against the bottom surface of the one of the first leg members and the combined leg members have a generally continuously tapered outer surface.

12. A modular leg kit for a bed foundation having a base frame comprising a substantially horizontal bottom surface defining a length and a width of the base frame, the modular leg kit comprising;

a plurality of first leg members each a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the first leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion of the first leg member having a first top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface; and

a plurality of second leg members each having a body portion with a top end having a top surface and an opposite bottom end having a bottom surface, the top end having a side-to-side width greater than a side-to-side width of the bottom end, the second leg member further having a tapered outer surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the body portion having a second top-to-bottom length defined between the top surface and bottom surface, the second top-to-bottom length being different than the first top-to-bottom length;

wherein a plurality of the first leg members are each connected to the base frame to provide a first leg length for the adjustable bed foundation, a plurality of the second leg members are each connected to the base frame to provide a second leg length for the adjustable bed foundation, and a plurality of connected together first and second leg members are connected to the base frame to provide a third leg length greater than the first or second leg length, such that each of the leg lengths extending from the bottom surface of the base frame to a bottom surface of a leg member is substantially less than the length of the base frame; and

wherein the side-to-side width of the top end of each of the second leg members is approximately equal to the side-to-side width of the bottom end of each of the first leg members such that when the top end of one of the second leg members is connected to the bottom end of one of the first leg members, the top surface of the one of the second leg members is disposed against the bottom surface of the one of the first leg members and the combined leg members have a generally continuously tapered outer surface.

13. The modular leg kit of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second leg members have a connecting element extending therefrom for connecting the leg member to another leg member or to the base frame.

14. The modular leg kit of claim 13, wherein the body of each of the leg members is formed substantially from wood and the connecting elements are formed of metal.

15. The modular leg kit of claim 13, wherein:

each of the first leg members has a receiving opening defined in the bottom surface for receiving the connecting element of one of the second leg members; and

each of the second leg members does not have a receiving opening defined in the bottom surface.

16. The modular leg kit of claim 13, wherein the connecting elements are threaded elements.

17. The modular leg kit of claim 12, wherein the top-to-bottom length of each of the the first leg members is less than the top-to-bottom length of each of the second leg members.

18. The modular leg kit of claim 12, wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second leg members are circular in side-to-side cross section.