Bed system

Abstract

A bed assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth side rails, first and second slat supports, first and second rail supports, and a slat. The side rails each include an end and a side. The end of the second side rail is coupled to the end of the first side rail. The end of the fourth side rail is coupled to the end of the third side rail such that the sides of the first and second side rails are facing the sides of the third and fourth side rails. The first and second slat supports are configured to engage the first and third side rails, respectively. The first and second rail supports each include a continuous surface coupled to two of the first, second, third, and fourth side rails and configured to inhibit movement of the two of the first, second, third, and fourth side rails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed assembly comprising:
 a first side rail having an end and a side extending from the end;   a second side rail having an end and a side extending from the end of the second side rail, wherein the end of the second side rail is coupled to the end of the first side rail;   a third side rail having an end and a side extending from the end of the third side rail;   a fourth side rail having an end and a side extending from the end of the fourth side rail, wherein the end of the fourth side rail is coupled to the end of the third side rail, and wherein the sides of the first and second side rails are facing the sides of the third and fourth side rails;   a first slat support configured to engage the first side rail;   a second slat support configured to engage the third side rail;   a slat coupled to the first slat support and the second slat support;   a first rail support having a continuous surface coupled to the first side rail and the second side rail and configured to inhibit movement of the first side rail relative to the second side rail; and   a second rail support having a continuous surface coupled to the third side rail and the fourth side rail and configured to inhibit movement of the first side rail relative to the second side rail.   
     
     
         2 . The bed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail support includes a dowel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the dowel configured to engage the end of the first side rail, the second end of the dowel configured to engage the end of the second side rail. 
     
     
         3 . The bed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail support includes a leg configured to engage the first side rail and the second side rail. 
     
     
         4 . The bed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail support includes a bracket having a base configured to engage the side of the first side rail and the side of the second side rail. 
     
     
         5 . The bed assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the bracket includes an upper flange extending from the base in a first direction and configured to engage a bottom of the first side rail and a bottom of the second side rail. 
     
     
         6 . The bed assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the bracket includes a lower flange extending from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The bed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first slat support includes a slat-support portion and a rail-support portion, the rail-support portion including a body portion configured to engage the side of the first side rail, the slat-support portion including a leg portion and a slat-lock portion, the leg portion extending from the body portion in a first direction, the slat-lock portion extending from the leg portion in a second direction transverse to the first direction and configured to engage the slat.   
     
     
         8 . The bed assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the rail-support portion includes an arm portion and a catch portion, the arm portion extending from the body portion in a third direction, and the catch portion extending from the arm portion in a fourth direction transverse to the third direction. 
     
     
         9 . The bed assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the body portion, the arm portion, and the catch portion collectively define a channel configured to receive the first side rail. 
     
     
         10 . The bed assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the third direction is parallel to the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The bed assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the slat-lock portion includes a lip extending from the leg portion in second direction transverse to the first direction, and wherein the slat includes a groove configured to receive the lip. 
     
     
         12 . The bed assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body portion, the leg portion, and the lip collectively define a channel configured to receive the slat. 
     
     
         13 . The bed assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lip defines a notch, a first height extending from the leg portion adjacent the notch, and a second height extending from the leg portion at the notch, the second height being less than the first height. 
     
     
         14 . The bed assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the groove extends through a first side and a second side of the slat, and wherein the lip is configured to abut the first side of the slat. 
     
     
         15 . The bed assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the notch is disposed between the first and second sides of the slat. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a bed, the method comprising:
 coupling an end of a first side rail to an end of a second side rail;   coupling an end of a third side rail to an end of a fourth side rail;   coupling a first slat support to the first side rail;   coupling a second slat support to the third side rail;   coupling a continuous surface of a first rail support to the first side rail and the second side rail to inhibit movement of the first side rail relative to the second side rail;   coupling a continuous surface of a second rail support to the third side rail and the fourth side rail to inhibit movement of the third side rail relative to the fourth side rail; and   coupling a slat to the first slat support and the second slat support.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first slat support includes a lip and the slat includes a groove, and wherein coupling the slat to the first slat support includes positioning the lip within the groove. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first slat support defines a channel, and wherein coupling the slat to the first slat support includes positioning the slat in the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling the slat to the first slat support includes abutting the lip with a side of the slat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling a continuous surface of a first rail support to the first side rail and the second side rail includes at least one of (i) positioning a first end of a dowel in the end of the first side rail and positioning a second end of the dowel in the end of the second side rail, (ii) coupling a leg to the first side rail and the second side rail, or (iii) coupling a bracket to the side of the first side rail and to the side of the second side rail.