Bed

Abstract

A bed is disclosed. The bed has four posts, a plurality of longitudinal members, and at least one support member. Each post has a plurality of key openings arranged vertically along the post. Each of the longitudinal members has a plurality of keys. Each longitudinal member is releasably connected at opposite ends to a pair of the posts. The plurality of keys are removably engageable with the plurality of the key openings of corresponding posts. The at least one support member extends between the plurality of longitudinal members and providing a support surface. End plates can be connected at opposite ends to pairs of the posts.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed, comprising:
 at least four posts;   each post comprising a plurality of key openings arranged vertically along the post;   a plurality of longitudinal members, each of the longitudinal members comprising a plurality of keys, each longitudinal member releasably connected at opposite ends to a pair of the posts wherein the plurality of keys are removably engaged with the plurality of key openings of the pair of posts; and,   at least one support member extending between the plurality of longitudinal members.   
     
     
         2 . The bed of  claim 1 , comprising a first end plate and a second end plate, each plate connected at opposite ends to a second pair of posts of the at least four posts. 
     
     
         3 . The bed of  claim 1 , the plurality of longitudinal members comprising a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, the at least one support member is a mattress support member extending from the first longitudinal member to the second longitudinal member. 
     
     
         4 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one support member is a plurality of panels. 
     
     
         5 . The bed of  claim 4 , comprising a head plate and a foot plate, each plate connected at opposite ends to a second pair of posts of the at least four posts, the plurality of panels extends along a longitudinal length of the plurality of longitudinal members from the head plate to the foot plate. 
     
     
         6 . The bed of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of panels form a worksurface, a bedding surface, or a storage surface. 
     
     
         7 . The bed of  claim 1 , comprising a longitudinal brace extending under the at least one support member and between the plurality of longitudinal members. 
     
     
         8 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the posts comprise an L-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the posts comprise a T-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein each key opening of the plurality of key openings comprises an entry aperture and an engaged aperture below the entry aperture, the entry aperture is larger than the engaged aperture, the entry aperture intersecting with the engaged aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The bed of  claim 10 , wherein each key of the plurality of keys comprises a shaft and a head connected to the shaft, the head is sized to pass through the entry aperture, the head is larger than the engaged aperture, the engaged aperture is sized to receive the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of key openings of each post comprise a first vertical series of key openings and a second vertical series of key openings, the first end plate and the second end plate join to the corresponding second pair of posts between the first vertical series of key openings and the second vertical series of key openings. 
     
     
         13 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein a first longitudinal member of the plurality of longitudinal members is connected to a first pair of posts of the at least four posts, the bed comprising a side rail extending above the first longitudinal member of and connected to each of the first pair of posts. 
     
     
         14 . The bed of  claim 2 , comprising a shelf located above at least one of the first end plate or the second end plate and between two of the posts. 
     
     
         15 . The bed of  claim 1 , comprising an inclinable member extending between the plurality of longitudinal members and moveable between at least one inclined position and a horizontal position. 
     
     
         16 . The bed of  claim 15 , comprising a brace and an incline member support frame supported on the plurality of longitudinal members, the inclinable member pivotally connected to the incline member support frame, the frame comprising a stop aperture, the brace is connected to the inclinable member at a first end and engageable with the stop aperture at a second end to support the inclinable member in the at least one inclined position. 
     
     
         17 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the at least four posts is at least six posts   the at least one support member comprises at least two support members;   the bed comprises a first spanning unit and a second spanning unit;   the plurality of longitudinal members comprise a first longitudinal member, second longitudinal member, third longitudinal member, and fourth longitudinal member;   the first spanning unit comprises the first and second longitudinal members and at least one of the at least two support members extending between the first and second longitudinal members;   the second spanning unit comprises the third and fourth longitudinal members and at least one of the at least two support members extending between the third and fourth longitudinal members; and   the first spanning unit is adjacent to the second spanning unit and a middle two posts of the at least six posts are located between and support the first spanning unit and the second spanning unit.   
     
     
         18 . The bed of  claim 17 , wherein the first spanning unit joins to the middle two posts at a first height and the second spanning unit joins to the middle two posts at a second height, the first height is different from the second height. 
     
     
         19 . The bed of  claim 17 , comprising one or more drawers under the first spanning unit or under the second spanning unit. 
     
     
         20 . The bed of  claim 17 , comprising a cabinet, wherein the cabinet comprises the second spanning unit. 
     
     
         21 . The bed of  claim 20 , wherein the cabinet comprises an electrical power outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The bed of  claim 20 , comprising a clothes rod and a plurality of clothes rod supports, each of the clothes rod supports comprising a plurality of support keys, the clothes rod supports each supporting the clothes rod at opposite ends of the clothes rod, each clothes rod support connected with one or more of the support keys to two of the posts at one or more of the plurality of key openings of each post. 
     
     
         23 . The bed of  claim 1 , comprising an IV stand, the IV stand comprising a plurality of support keys, the IV stand connectable to one of the posts with one or more of the support keys at one or more of the plurality of key openings. 
     
     
         24 . The bed of  claim 1 , comprising a light fixture, the light fixture comprising a plurality of support keys, the light fixture connectable to two of the posts with one or more of the support keys at one or more of the plurality of key openings of each post of the two posts. 
     
     
         25 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of each of the posts comprises a caster. 
     
     
         26 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are removably connectable to the corresponding second pair of posts. 
     
     
         27 . A method of assembling a bed, comprising the steps of:
 aligning an entry aperture of a key opening of a post with a head of a first key of a first end of a first longitudinal member or aligning the head with the entry aperture;   moving the post so that the entry aperture is moved over the head or moving the head into the entry aperture; and,   moving the post up or moving the first longitudinal member down to cause a shaft of the key adjacent the head to move into an engaged aperture of the key opening adjacent the entry aperture.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising the steps of,
 aligning a second entry aperture of a second key opening of a second post with a second head of a second key of a second end of the first longitudinal member or aligning the second head with the second entry aperture;   moving the second post so that the second entry aperture is moved over the second head or moving the second head into the second entry aperture;   moving the second post up or moving the first longitudinal member down to cause a second shaft of the second key adjacent the second head to move into a second engaged aperture of the second key opening adjacent the second entry aperture;   aligning a third entry aperture of a third key opening of a third post with a third head of a third key of a first end of a second longitudinal member or aligning the third head with the third entry aperture;   moving the third post so that the third entry aperture is moved over the third head or moving the third head into the third entry aperture;   moving the third post up or moving the second longitudinal member down to cause a third shaft of the third key adjacent the third head to move into a third engaged aperture of the third key opening adjacent the third entry aperture;   aligning a fourth entry aperture of a fourth key opening of a fourth post with a fourth head of a fourth key of a second end of the second longitudinal member or aligning the fourth head with the fourth entry aperture;   moving the fourth post so that the fourth entry aperture is moved over the fourth head or moving the fourth head into the fourth entry aperture; and,   moving the fourth post up or moving the second longitudinal member down to cause a fourth shaft of the fourth key adjacent the fourth head to move into a fourth engaged aperture of the fourth key opening adjacent the fourth entry aperture.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising the step of placing a plurality of panels on the first and second longitudinal members so that each panel spans a distance between the first and second longitudinal members to create a bed surface. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising the step of placing a crossbar between the first and second longitudinal members. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising the step of placing a longitudinal support on the crossbar and between the first and second longitudinal members. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising the step of placing an incline unit on the first and second longitudinal members so that the incline unit spans a distance between the first and second longitudinal members.