CA1152237A

CA1152237A - Means for restraining blankets from slipping off a bed

Info

Publication number: CA1152237A
Application number: CA000393681A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert K. Lee; Helena M. Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-07
Filing date: 1982-01-07
Publication date: 1983-08-16

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Because most beds are now sold without a footboard many people find that their blankets tend to slip off the foot of the bed during the night. Awaking feeling chilled, they have to get out of bed to retrieve the blankets, a chore particularly difficult for arthritic and elderly people.
The invention consists of a method and apparatus for preventing blankets from slipping off a bed during the night. The method comprises fastening a length of elastic material across the foot of the bed such that the elastic material maintains pressure on the blankets. The apparatus comprises a length of elastic material and adjustable means for holding it taut across the foot of the bed. By preventing the blankets from falling, the invention helps the person to stay warmer, which may allow reduction of the heat in the house at night.

1.

Description

~52Z3~7 SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to means for preventing blankets from slipping off a bed onto the floor.
Twenty years ago beds were commonly sold with a headboard and a footboard. The footboard was important because it served to prevent blankets from slipping off the foot of the bed onto the floor. ~oday, however, most beds are sold without a headboard or a footboard, and, consequently, people have more trouble with blankets and expensive comforters slipping off the foot of the bed onto the floor during the night. This problem with blankets slipping off is particularly troublesome for those people who toss and turn a lot during the night, and for those people who like to begin the night with a couple of blankets pulled down, intending to pull 1~ the blankets up later when they need them. In the middle of the night, feeling chilled, these people awake hoping to pull up some blankets. Instead, they find to their dismay that their blankets have slipped off the foot of the bed onto the floor. Too sleepy to want to do anything about it, these people drift back to uneasy sleep, not really feeling warm again that night. In the mornin~ th~y wake re~ling unrested, their bedding in disarray, Our invention i9 a method and apparatus for restraining one or more blankets on a bed from slipping off the foot of

2~ the bed, The method comprises fa~tening a length of elastic r,~

~52Z3~

material across the foot of the bed such that the length of elastic material maintains pressure on the blanket or blankets.
The apparatus comprises a length of elastic material which is stretchable across the foot of a bed, and anchoring means attached to each end of the length of elastic material. The anchoring means are insertable between the box spring and the mattress of a conventional bed and serve to hold the length of elastic material taut across the foot of the bed by anchoring the ends of the length of elastic material between the box spring and the mattress of the bed. Advantageously, the anchoring means could comprise thin plates of plastic,~6~}~ jor other material. Preferably, the anchoring plates would have one or more curled elements depending from them to help prevent the anchoring plates from pulling out from between the box spring and the mattress of the bedO
Advantageously, at least one anchoring means is releasably attached to the length of elastic material and is movable therealong. ~y repositioning the movable anchoring means along the length of elastic material, the tautness of the length o~ elastic material acro5s the ~oot Or the bed can be ad~u~ted.
Preferably, the length o~ elastic material is colourful and attractive.
Our method and apparatus serve to keep one or more .~

~l~Z23~7 blankets on a bed throughout the night by preventing the foot of the blankets from becoming too loosened. When blankets on a bed become very loosened at the foot, they begin to sag downwards at the end of the bed, and soon this weight pulls the blankets entirely onto the floor. By contrast, our invention keeps blankets comfortably snug at the foot. Thus as an added benefit, one's feet stay warmer during the night. The tautness of the length of elastic material can be adjusted to suit the width of the -o bed and the comfort of the person.
Our invention prevents fancy bedspreads, blankets, co~forters, and throw-ons from ending up on the floor during the night and getting dusty. The invention also helps to keep the sleeper warmer and more comfortable because his blankets stay where he can easily reach for them. This is especially important to arthritic and elderly individuals who have a hard time getting up. People may even be able to reduce the heat in their house at night. The invention also helps to keep the bed from be~oming messy and untucked during the night. Thus, in the morning, the bed is more easy to make. If desired, a deoorative throw-on or bedspread whioh cover~ the bed durin~ the day can be folded neatly beneath the len~th of elastic material in the evening, where it is held, then pulled up again the next morning.
Similarly, blankets can be neatly folded beneath the length of elastio material, then quickly pulled up when needed during the night. The invention is useful with any bed not 4.
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~5ZZ37 having a footboard, In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 shows a length of elastic material and, attached to the ends thereof, two anchoring plates possessing curled elements.
Figure 1 shows a length of elastic material 1. The type of elastic material illustrated is elastic cord. When stretched, the elastic cord 1 can span a queen or king size bed, The two ends of the length of elastic cord 1 are each attached to a plastic anchoring plate 2 The ends of the elastic cord 1 are attached to the anchoring plates 2 by lacing them through five or six holes 3 in the anchoring plates 2, The elastic cord 1 cannot be pulled from the anchoring plates 2 unless the elastic cord 1 is loosened at its points of insertion 3 through the anchoring plates 2, If the cord 1 is thus loosened, it is possible to move the anchoring plates 2 along the length of elàstio cord 1 and increase or decrease the amount of cord 1 between the two anchoring plates 2, The anchoring plates 2 serve to hold the length of elastic cord 1 taut across a conventional bed consisting of a box spring and mattress, and are used by inserting them between the bo~ spring and the mattress of the bed, one anchoring plate 2 on each side of the bed, The length of elastic cord 1~ thus fastened, should extend 2~ across the foot of the bed and over any blankets on the bed.
While the elastic cord 1 should travel over the blankets, 5.
.;, ., ~52237 the elastic cord 1 can be hidden under a bedspread if desired Preferably, the anchoring plates 2 each have one or more stiff curls 4 sticking out from them. These curled elements 4 help to keep the anchoring plates 2 from pulling out from between the mattress and the box spring.
The length of elastic cord 1, when in place on the bed, must have sufficient tautness to apply light pressure to the blankets and restrain the blankets from slipping onto the floor. If it is desired that the elastic cord 1 be made tauter across the bed, the anchoring plates 2 should be removed from the bed and one or both of the anchoring plates 2 moved inwards along the length of cord 1. This adjustment may be necessary if the bed is a single or a double size. However, if the bed is queen or king width, it may be necessary to move one or both of the anchoring plates 2 outwards along the length of elastic cord 1 to reduce the tautness of the cord 1. The apparatu~ should be adjusted so that there is a sufficient amount of elastic cord 1 between the anchoring plates 2 to span the bed with enough tautness to restrain the blankets, yet feel comfortable to the sleeper, 6.
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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privelege is claimed are defined as follows:

1, An apparatus for restraining one or more blankets on a bed from slipping off the foot of the bed, comprising:
(a) a length of elastic material which is stretchable across the foot of the bed;
(b) a pair of plates having undulated surfaces, said plates being attached to said length of elastic material: and (c) means for changing the tautness of said length of elastic material across the foot of the bed.