Facts About Bed Rails

Bed rails are an important part of any bed. They are typically attached to the bed post through the use of knock-down fittings. This type of fitting allows the bed to be easily put together or taken apart.

Knock-down fittings for bed rails often fall into one of the following categories:

Pin-and-hook fastener
A slot is cut vertically into the post. Pins are placed horizontally into the post to allow the pins to perpendicularly intersect the slot. For instance, if you peeked into the slot, you might see part of one horizontal pin near the bottom of the slot and part of a second pin near the top of the slot. Hooks are installed at the rail's end. Often, the hooks are part of a plate that is affixed to the rail. The hooks are then put into the bed post slot and hook on the pins.

Plate-and-hook fastener
In the place of pins being put horizontally into the bedpost, an eye plate is installed on the post. The hooks are placed on the rail. The bedpost may need a slot to let the hooks fasten on the plate. This is also called a keyhole fastener.

Bed bolts are a unique type of knock-down connection. A hole is often drilled clear through the post. The bolt head is then inset and covered with a plug. For the rail, a dowel nut or some kind of nut gets the bolt. The springs are constructed with metal and are swirled which helps to achieve as high of comfort as possible.

Safety rails can be affixed to the sides of a bed for the purpose of preventing someone, such as a child, from falling out. A safety rail is often a piece of wood that affixes to the side rails on either one or both sides of the bed. The rails are constructed in a manner that allow them to be easily taken off when no longer needed.

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