AU2005100901A5

AU2005100901A5 - Bed bracket system

Info

Publication number: AU2005100901A5
Application number: AU2005100901A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Fealy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-11
Filing date: 2005-10-26
Publication date: 2005-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-11
Also published as: AU2005100901B4; AU2007231610A1; AU2007231609A1

Description

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c Kl BED BRACKET SYSTEM

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bed bracket system for supporting a bed base in a planar configuration. It is particularly suitable for use on slat beds wherein a plurality of slats O must be supported in a planar manner to support a mattress but is not limited to such.

BACKGROUND ART o Generally in the field of bedding, slat beds are formed with two elongated beams. Each 10 has their own special formations on opposing internal surfaces to hold respective ends of the bed slats. Usually this is achieved by the formations comprising ledges being specially moulded into the beam. This means that the beams must be specially formed and must directly correspond with the opposing specially formed beam. If any damage occurs to one of the special beams it could result in the need to replace the entire bedding structure.

Another problem is that a continuous ledge or a groove formed along the length of the supporting beams allows the bed slats to move. It is necessary for the user of the bed to reposition the bed slats at regular intervals. Although this may be an inconvenience it can also jeopardise the construction of the bed.

Another difficulty with self-assembled beds is that it is important for the slats of the bed to be spaced evenly and for the spacing to comply with the spacing that is required by mattress manufacturers to avoid the mattress guarantee being void. This spacing is typically seventy millimetres. By incorrect spacing of bed slats undue weight can be placed on a slat resulting in breakage or weakening of the slat. In order to avoid such problems the usual approach has been to supply more substantially sized slats. This lessens the flexibility and resulting comfort of slat beds.

Ct) o There are a number of ways in which this spacing is currently achieved. For example, a IND series of slats can be connected to strips of material with the spacing between each slat on the strip of material being set to the required distance. The slats typically sit on a cleat on the rail and can be screwed into place at two or three locations along the cleat.

SAn alternative method is to provide a castellated cleat with the castellations spaced to meet the spacing requirements.

10 A further alternative is to screw the slats into place, however this is not usually appropriate for a self-assembled bed. The section of the side rail must usually be quite large to support the weight of the slats and hence the weight of the users of the bed.

Furthermore, it is usually necessary to provide a supporting beam from the centre of the bed head to the foot of the bed to provide further support for the mattress. Typically, this is necessary in double or queen-sized beds. If using such a longitudinal member can be avoided, the cost of constructing the bed can be reduced.

With the slats to be attached between the side rails further particular problems are the ease of construction of the solid outer frame and the variation of depths of mattresses.

The development of the do it yourself market means that the constructional methods need to be simplified for non-technical users this includes the final purchasers as well as the retailers.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a slat bed bracket system that can be used for slat beds and provides an improved bedding product.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bed bracket of that can readily be used by non-technical users, while still providing strong and adjustable fittings.

O SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION IND In accordance with the invention there is provided a bracket system for connecting a side rail to an end post of a bed system the bracket system including a fitting plate able to be connected to a said end post and a side plate able to be connected to or be integral with an O end portion of one of the side rail support beams, the fitting plate having a fascia portion Swith a plurality of holes extending therethrough and a leg portion extending from the fascia portion, wherein the leg portion allows the fascia portion to sit at a predetermined Snon-rectilinear angle to the end post to which it is attached by fastening means extending 10 threw the holes; the side plate having a portion extending at a predetermined nonrectilinear angle to the side rail and having a plurality of spaced slots corresponding to the spacing and size of the fastening means holding the fitting plate, wherein in use the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate can be held in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post.

The fitting plate can be substantially V-shaped with the angle therebetween forming a first predetermined non-rectilinear angle, and the side plate comprising a connecting section that can be connected to the inner side of the side rail at a spaced distance from the end relative to the proudness of the fitting plate from the end post and the wing extending from the connecting section at a second predetermined non-rectilinear angle such that in use the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate can be held in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post Therefore in one form the invention provides a support means for a slat bed system, said support means having an elongated structure including: four end posts and two opposing side rail support beams; a bracket system for connecting the side rail support beams to the four end posts; a plurality of receiving portions on opposing parts of the support beams ofor receiving an end of a bed slat; and one or more spacing means spacing the receiving 0 IN portions to allow spacing of a plurality of said bed slats each able to be received respectively in one of said plurality of receiving portions; wherein the bracket system includes a fitting plate able to be connected to a said end post and a side plate able to be connected to or be integral with an end portion of one of the side rail support beams, the fitting plate having a fascia portion with a plurality of holes extending therethrough and a leg portion extending from the fascia portion, the leg portion allowing the fascia portion to sit at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle to the end post to which it is attached by fastening means extending threw the holes; the side plate having a wing extending at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle to the side rail and having a plurality of spaced slots corresponding to the spacing and size of the fastening means holding the fitting plate, such that the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate are held in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post.

The support means can have one or more ledge means attached to one side of said elongated structure adjacent each of the plurality of receiving portions.

The support means can have an elongated strip attached to an elongated beam in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions to extend along the beam and the one or more ledges to support a plurality of bed slats each in a respectively spaced receiving portion.

The elongated support means can be formed as an integral article. The article can be a continuous strip that is cut to the appropriate length and can be attached to a support beam to form a bed support means.

It can therefore be seen that the invention of the bracket system provides the benefits of: a) improved strength by allowing the fastening means to enter the end post at ID an angle such that the linear pull of the side rail will require a greater mass of end rail to be required to give way.

b) Improved ease of construction by allowing ready angular fitting of the side O rail to the end post due to the use of predetermined non rectilinear angular 0 structures;

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c) Improved access to construct and assemble and disassemble the bed system due to the angular fitting of the bracket system; 10 d) An improved fitting of the side rail to the end post without the need for technical precision due to the predetermined angular shapes of the bracket system plates and the planar abutting of each of the side plate wing and the fitting plate fascia over a distance; e) An improved adjustability means by allowing for ready height adjustment of the side rail to the end post by merely selecting different screws to mount the slots of the side plate, which allows the same bed system to be used for a range of mattress thicknesses.

The slat bed system can have an elongated structure being roll formed to provide a substantially consistent lateral cross section including a support portion forming a strength basis able to be attached to side rails or the like of a slat bed system and further including a protruding portion forming a ledge means able to extend inwards from the side rails and allowing a planar part of a bed base to be supported.

The slat bed system can have one or more spacing means spacing a plurality of beams each able to be received respectively in one of formed plurality of receiving portions between said spacing means. In one form the spacing means can be pegs formed of metal, wood, synthetic rubber or other sturdy material. In another form the spacing means can be formed integral with the ledge of the slat bed system such as by stamping o or welding or other deformation of the material or attachment of material.

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In one particularly improved form there is a slat retainer with a receiving structure having a first open side shaped for receiving a slat for a slat bed and the receiving structure O having a second opposing side with at least part of an attachment means for positioning Sthe receiving structure on a side rail of the bed base. The receiving structure can include a substantially U shape first side with a first part attachment means protruding from the opposing side of the receiving structure and able to engage with a second part attachment 10 on the side rail of the slat bed. In one form the receiving structure is a rectangular U shaped with a central part the width of the slats and a height sufficient to extend up the sides of the slats to hold the slat in a relative fixed position but removable. The receiving structure has on the opposing side to the central part of the U shape a projection, which can be received in an opening in a side rail of the slat bed. The receiving part can be on an internal shelf of the side rail formed simply by an elongated ledge rail to a more substantial side rail structure. By this means, the slats are not seen. The receiving structure also removes the need for a castellated side rail or other complex structure. The removable receiving structure can also be retrofitted to other slat beds or used on wooden or metal side rail structures.

The slat bed system can have an elongated strip attached to an elongated beam in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions to extend along the beam and the one or more ledges to support a plurality of bed slats each in a respectively spaced receiving portion.

The elongated slat bed system can be formed as an integral article. The article can be a continuous form that is cut to the appropriate length and can be attached to a support beam to form a bed base.

OThe slat bed system, for supporting bed slats to form a bedding base, the elongated slat 0 Ibed system can have a first and second elongated slat bed system spaced apart and extending the length of the bed; one or more ledge means formed by roll forming of a metal sheet as said first and second elongated slat bed systems; a plurality of spacing O means each spaced along said first and second elongated slat bed systems and spaced O along the length of the slat bed system to form a plurality of receiving portions

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therebetween; wherein an elongated slat bed systems can be attached to an elongated beam in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions to extend along the beam 10 and the one or more ledges to support a plurality of bed slats each in a respectively spaced receiving portion and form a substantially planar bed base.

The elongated slat bed system can be formed as an integral article.

Also there is provided an elongated slat bed system which can in one form be made from a single piece of metal by the steps of: selecting a metal strip of suitable length and width (ii) roll forming the elongated means along its length through a central portion so as to form a bent ledge means between upper and lower support portions that add to the overall strength of the elongated slat bed system The invention can also provide an elongated slat bed system including the steps of (iii) adding spacing means at spaced locations as required to form predetermined spaced receiving portions for receiving the ends of the bed slats; (iv) attaching connectors to the roll formed elongated means for engaging and fixing along the length of side rails.

The roll forming of the metal strip can be a simple V shaped protrusion so as to form a substantially omega shaped profile. The roll forming though may include a further roll in the V shaped protrusion that extends along its length so as to form a consistent profile.

That profile can be a saw tooth V shaped structure with a rectilinear extension connected o to the flat base by a U shape. A straight angle part extends from the tip of the rectilinear IN extension back to the base. Such a deviation from the plain V shaped structure substantially and unexpectedly adds strength to the structure.

The side rail may include cut-outs to form spacing means for slats or may have holes for receiving protrusions of slat retainers, which can be positioned and held on the side rails to hold the slats in position.

In one form there is provided an elongated support means which can in one form be made from a single piece of metal by the steps of: selecting a metal strip of suitable length and width (ii) cutting out openings at spaced locations as required forming the predetermined spaced receiving portions for receiving the ends of the bed slats, the openings having the required width to receive the width of the bed slat but a height greater than the height of the bed slat; (iii) bending the elongated means along its length through the cut out openings so as to form a bent spacing means that adds to the overall strength of the elongated support means as well as forming a ledge means along the length of each spaced receiving portion.

The elongated slat bed system when particularly in the form of a steel cleat has many advantages for a furniture manufacturer. The one form can be used on all bed sizes (single, double, king single, queen or king). In situations with single bed construction, the slat bed system will replace the need to either produce expensive and time-consuming construction of castellated timber cleats or it will replace the specially sized and constructed cloth tape holding system. The bedding manufacturer can produce all side rails for beds as a common item rather than have special rails for single beds and other 9 rails for double beds.

c, 0 IN A consideration in the design of this support member is in the strength of the section of the steel cleat. This will allow manufacturers to use thinner material for the side rails rather than the usual 35 millimetre timber lengths. The design and strength of the slat O bed system will eliminate the problem of slats bowing and causing the side rails to push 0 out resulting in the slats falling to the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS C, 10 In order that the invention can be more readily understood an embodiment will be described by way of illustration with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed using the slat bed system in use in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective inside view of a first embodiment of the side structure of the slat bed system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective inside view of the slat bed system shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the slat bed system shown in Figure 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a vertical cross section of the support means of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fourth side rail system able to be used in combination with the supporting means of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a slat bed system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of a side support of the invention with a slat retainer system able to be used in combination; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second end support system of the slat bed system of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a third end support system of the slat bed system of Figure 7.

c¢K DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Sa) General Structure

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In a first structure as shown in figures 1 to 5 there is included four end posts 1 which by Cmeans of a bracket system 2 are respectively connected to the end post at the farther end of the bed by intermediate elongated side rails 21. A headboard 27 extending between 0 the end posts 1 at the top of the bed and a footboard 29 extending between the end posts I O at the foot of the bed complete the rectangular outer structure of the bed base.

8 Between the side rails can extend a plurality of slats 41, which are spaced by spacing means 33, fitted to the inner side of the side rails 21. However instead of the side rails there can extend a solid rectangular base all there can be fitted a sprung mattress base.

If the slat bed system 11 is to include slats extending between the side rail or have a continuous board extending between these side rails then the slat bed system can include an elongated structure. This in one form can be roll formed to provide a substantially consistent lateral cross section including a support portion 12, 13 forming a strength basis able to be attached to side rails of the slat bed system and further including a protruding portion forming a ledge means 17 able to extend inwards from the support portion 12, 13 allowing a planar part of a bed base to be supported.

b) End structure The end structure is the important fitting of the side rails 21 to the end posts 1 by means of the bracket system 2. The bracket system 2 includes a substantially V- shaped fitting plate 5 and a side plate 7.

The fitting plate 5 has an angle which allows it to sit proud of the end post 1 and is connected thereto by screws 9 extending through the plurality of vertically aligned holes 17 in one face of the V- shape. The angle of the V shaped fitting plate 5 ensures that the

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CK1 screws 9 are extending at an angle into the rectangular cross section end post 1. This O strengthens of the group of the screws into the end post.

The side plate 7 connects to an inner end portion of the side rail 21 and includes a flat planar portion and a relatively angled connecting portion having a plurality of downwardly extending slots 19. The relative angle of the connecting portion to the planar Sportion of the side plate 7 correlates to the angle of the V shaped fitting plate 5 so as to Sallow for accurate 90 degrees positioning of the side rail 21 to the end post 1. The screws Sconnecting the V- shaped fitting plate 5 to the end post 1 sit proud and has screws heads 10 25 so that the slots 19 of the side plate 7 can be fitted on to the stems of the screws 9 and be retained in position by the screw heads Thereby in use there is provided a support means for a slat bed system or for any other bedding system having a substantially rectangular surround formed of four end posts 1 and two opposing side rail support beams 21. The bracket system 2 is for connecting the side rail support beams to the four end posts.

The bracket system 2 includes a fitting plate 5 able to be connected to an end post 1 at a selected position along the end post to correspond to the required height of the mattress.

A side plate 7 can be connected to or as shown in Figure 6 can be integral with an end portion of one of the side rail support beams 21.

The fitting plate has a fascia portion which is substantially rectangular and planar and with a plurality of holes extending therethrough and substantially aligned along its length.

The fitting plate as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 5 is fundamentally sheet metal folded to have a triangular cross section. However in particular detail of Figure 5 it can be seen to have a further lip fold such that the fascia has two different length legs extending from either side such that the leg portion allows the fascia plate to sit at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle to the end post 1 to which it is attached by fastening O means in the form of screws 9 extending threw the holes 17. O The side plate 7 comprises a flat planar connecting section that can be connected to the inner side of the side rail 21 at a spaced distance from the end relative to the proudness of O the fitting plate from the end post 1. The wing extends from the connecting section at a Spredetermined non-rectilinear angle and therefore extends from the side rail 21 at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle. The wing as shown in Figure 3 has 2 spaced Sparallel downward leading slots 19 that correspond to the spacing and size of the screws C' 10 9 holding the fitting plate 5. Thereby the side rail is connected to the end post 1 by sliding the slots onto the screws 9 and are retained there due to the downward angle of the slots and due to the larger screw heads 25 preventing longitudinal movement. By this fitting the outer surface 15 of the fascia portion 7 and outer surface 13 of the fitting plate 5 are held in abutting position so that the side rail 21 is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post 1.

The fitting plate can therefore be substantially V-shaped with the angle therebetween forming a first predetermined non-rectilinear angle. However this angle can be provided by other shaped projections extending from the edge or back of the fascia plate.

The side plate 7 can include two slots as in Figure 3 that can selectively be positioned on selected 2 screws in the selected hole positions to provide a variation in height of the mattress without disassembling the entire bed structure. Instead of downward leading slots as shown in Figures 7 and 8 there can be keyholes having slot opening for mounting onto the screw and an opening for resting on the screw at a level above the opening to prevent release. As in Figure 7 here can be two keyholes to allow fitting on a selected two screws or as in Figure 8 here can be three keyholes to allow for selective mounting of two keyholes on the required two screws. This allows for standard two depths of

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mattresses without the need for any deconstruction or construction but simply odisassembly and reassembly into the required position.

c) Side Structure An elongated support means 111 can be used which is attachable to side rails 121 and O having a plurality of receiving portions 131 for receiving an end 142 of a beam 141 such Sas a bed slat. One or more spacing means 135 spacing the receiving portions 131 to allow spacing of a plurality of beams 141 each able to be received in one of the plurality of receiving portions 131.

c, The support means 111 has a ledge 147 fixed to side of the elongated support means 111 adjacent each of the plurality of receiving portions 131. The support means 111 is formed in as an integral article and has a first and second elongated strips 125, 126 spaced apart and extending the length of the support means 111. A plurality of spacing means 135 each extend between the first and second elongated strips 125, 126 and are spaced along the length of the support means 111 to form the plurality of receiving portions 131 therebetween. The ledge 147 is attached to the first lower elongated strip 125 and extends adjacent to the lower edge of each of the plurality of receiving portions 131.

In use the elongated strip 111 can be attached to an elongated side rail 121 in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions 131 to extend along the side rail 121 and the one or more ledges 147 to support a plurality of bed slats 141 each in a respectively spaced receiving portion 131.

The elongated support means 111 is formed as an integral article from a single piece of metal by selecting a metal strip of suitable length and width, cutting out openings at spaced locations as required to form the predetermined spaced receiving portions 131 for receiving the ends of the bed slats, the openings 131 having the required width to receive O the width of the bed slat 141 but a height greater than the height of the bed slat and I bending the elongated means 111 along its length through the cut out openings 131 so as to form a bent spacing means that adds to the overall strength of the elongated support means as well as forming a ledge 147 means along the length of each spaced receiving portion.

A dampening sleeve can be attachable around the end of the bed slats and insertable into the plurality of receiving portions. Movement and noise and vibrations are dampened.

Further there is an improved fitting of the bed slats into the receiving portions. The dampening sleeve is formed of rubber. Other variations of the dampening sleeve can be used and other shapes such an end stopper, which not only covers the side, ends but also the very end of the slats.

The slat bed system 11 can have one or more spacing means spacing a plurality of beams each able to be received respectively in one of formed plurality of receiving portions between said spacing means.

However as shown in Figure 6 side rails are not required as the elongated slat bed systems 11 can be formed from a single piece of metal roll forming the elongated means along its length through a central portion so as to form the bent ledge means 17 between upper and lower support portion 12, 13 that add to the overall strength of the elongated slat bed system 11 adding spacing means 35 at spaced locations as required to form predetermined spaced receiving portions for receiving the ends of the bed slats and attaching connectors to the ends of the roll formed elongated means for engaging and fixing to end posts or legs of the bed base.

The elongated slat bed system 11 when particularly in the form of a steel cleat has many advantages for a furniture manufacturer. The one form can be used on all bed sizes o(single, double, king single, queen or king). In situations with single bed construction, IN the slat bed system 11 will replace the need to either produce expensive and timeconsuming construction of castellated timber cleats or it will replace the specially sized and constructed cloth tape holding system. The bedding manufacturer can produce all side rails for beds as a common item rather than have special rails for single beds and other rails for double beds.

A consideration in the design of this support member is in the strength of the section of 10 the steel cleat. This will allow manufacturers to use thinner material for the side rails rather than the usual 35 millimetre timber lengths. The design and strength of the slat bed system 11 will eliminate the problem of slats bowing and causing the side rails to push out resulting in the slats falling to the floor.

A roll formed metal strip 211 can be a simple V shaped protrusion or form a substantially omega shaped profile. The roll forming may have the metal strip 211 IA including a further roll in the V shaped protrusion that extends along its length so as to form a consistent profile. That profile can be a saw tooth V shaped structure with a rectilinear extension connected to the flat base by a U shape. A straight angle part extends from the tip of the rectilinear extension back to the base. Such a deviation from the plain V shaped structure substantially and unexpectedly adds strength to the structure.

Referring to Figure 7 there is shown a bed base system having an elongated structure of a wooden support beam 321 to which is attached a steel cleat 311 being roll formed to provide a substantially planar strip with a longitudinal top rolled edge. A ridge 322 is cut out of the wooden support beam and the bottom flat edge of the steel cleat is positioned within the ridge so that the top roll formed edge forms a protruding portion forming a ledge means able to extend inwards from the support portion allowing a planar part of a bed base to be supported. The steel cleat is held in position by spaced cleat locators 391 ohaving part which hooks over the top roll form of the steel cleat and second part fitting 0 Ibetween the top surface of the angled inward steel cleat and the inner surface of the wooden support beam 321 above the cut-out ridge 322. The second part includes a screw receiving hole at a non perpendicular angle to the wooden support beam so a screw 392 can be inserted at an angle to hold the steel cleat attached to the side wooden support.

The cleat locator does not need to hold the weight put on the slats resting on the top rolled part of the steel cleat as this is transferred to the ridge of the side wooden support along its entire length. The structure and arrangement allows substantial reductions in the required thickness of the side wooden support.

Also the slats can be received in a spine or slat divider so as to provide a sheet of bed slats. Only some of the bed slats 341 need to be located relative to the side support beam 321 in order to prevent sliding of the slats. This can be achieved by a centre slat key 360 looping over the top rolled edge of the steel cleat 311 and having an upwards facing protrusion which fits into a hole 342 near the end of the slat 341. The side support 321 is fitted by mounting bracket 370 to the end cross members and legs of the bed.

The bed base component 11 can have one or more spacing means 21 spacing a plurality of beams 25 each able to be received respectively in one of formed plurality of receiving portions 26 between said spacing means 21. In one form the spacing means 21 can be pegs formed of metal, wood, synthetic rubber or other sturdy material. In another form the spacing means 21 can be formed integral with the ledge of the bed base component I 1I such as by stamping or welding or other deformation of the material or attachment of material. The bed base component 11 therefore provides an elongated beam in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions 26 to extend along the beam and the ledgel7 to support a plurality of bed slats each in a respectively spaced receiving portion.

,I The elongated bed base component 11 is formed as an integral article by roll forming to O provide an article with a continuous form that is cut to the appropriate length and can be

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attached to a support rail or end post to form a bed base. The vertical cross section is a vertical planar shape with a triangular indent forming a flat planar surface normal to the vertical planar shape so as to form a ledge 17 providing a planar horizontal base for the bed base. Such bed base is preferably in the form of slats as shown in Figurel but can be 0a joined slat structure which will not require the spacing means or other planar bed base means.

CI 10 The elongated bed base formed for supporting bed slats has a first and second elongated bed base component 11 spaced apart and extending the length of the bed, a ledge means 17 formed by roll forming of a metal sheet as said first and second elongated bed base component 11, a plurality of spacing means 21 each spaced along said first and second elongated bed base component 11 and spaced along the length of the bed base component 11 to form a plurality of receiving portions therebetween. The elongated bed base component 11 can be attached to an elongated side rail in a manner allowing the plurality of receiving portions to extend along the beam and the one or more ledges to support a plurality of bed slats each in a respectively spaced receiving portion and form a substantially planar bed base.

However side rails are not required as the elongated bed base components 11 can be formed from a single piece of metal roll forming the elongated means along its length through a central portion so as to form the bent ledge means 17 between upper and lower support portion 12, 13 that add to the overall strength of the elongated bed base component 11 adding spacing means 21 at spaced locations as required to form predetermined spaced receiving portions for receiving the ends of the bed slats and attaching connectors to the ends of the roll formed elongated means for engaging and fixing to end posts or legs of the bed base.

o It should be understood that the above embodiment is by way of illustration only. Clearly \there are modifications and variations, which would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventive effort, and these are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

2. A support means in accordance with claim I wherein the bracket system includes the fitting plate being substantially V-shaped with the angle therebetween forming a first predetermined non-rectilinear angle, and the side plate comprising a connecting section that can be connected to the inner side of the side rail at a spaced distance from the end relative to the proudness of the fitting plate from the end post and the wing extending from the connecting section at a second predetermined non-rectilinear angle such that in .)a O use the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate can be held INO in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post O 3. A bracket system for connecting a side rail to an end post of a bed system the Sbracket system including: a fitting plate able to be connected to a said end post and a side plate able to be Sconnected to or be integral with an end portion of one of the side rail support beams, C 10 the fitting plate having a fascia portion with a plurality of holes extending therethrough and a leg portion extending from the fascia portion, wherein the leg portion allows the fascia portion to sit at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle to the end post to which it is attached by fastening means extending threw the holes; the side plate having a portion extending at a predetermined non-rectilinear angle to the side rail and having a plurality of spaced slots corresponding in size and relative position to attachment means associated with the fitting plate, wherein in use the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate can be held in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post.
4. A bracket system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the fitting plate is substantially V-shaped with the angle therebetween forming a first predetermined non- rectilinear angle, and the side plate comprising a connecting section that can be connected to the inner side of the side rail at a spaced distance from the end relative to the proudness of the fitting plate from the end post and the wing extending from the connecting section at a second predetermined non-rectilinear angle such that in use the outer surface of the fascia portion and outer surface of the side plate can be held in abutting position so that the side rail is held at substantially rectilinear angle to the end post. O O o 5. A bracket system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the O IN drawings. (N