EP4378358A1

EP4378358A1 - Device for stabilizing the position of sheets and blankets of a bed

Info

Publication number: EP4378358A1
Application number: EP23213195.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Sassoli Dé Bianchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-12-01
Filing date: 2023-11-30
Publication date: 2024-06-05

Abstract

The device (1) is aimed at stabilising the position of the flaps (11A, 12A) of sheets and blankets (11, 12) hanging sideways from a bed (L) and comprises: a fixed inner assembly (2), associated with the mattress (M) of said bed (L) and comprising a first slat (20) with first permanent magnets (21) and fastening straps (22), for keeping the first slat (20) adhered to a sidewall (M1) of the mattress (M); a removable outer assembly (3), intended to cooperate with said at least one fixed internal assembly (2) and comprising a second slat (30) and second permanent magnets (31).

The removable outer assembly (3) is manually placed from an inoperative position (N), in which it is separated from the fixed inner assembly (2), to an operating position (W), in which the second slat (30) is magnetically coupled to the first slat (20), resulting in the clamping of the aforementioned flaps (11A, 12A) of upper sheets (11) and blankets (12) interposed between the slats (20, 30).

The device (1) prevents the sleeper in the bed (L) from uncovering due to movements while sleeping.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of bed accessories intended to improve the comfort of use of a bed.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, the bed lower and upper sheets, as well as blankets, need to be well fastened in order to avoid that sleeping people are partially or totally uncovered due to their movements during sleep, as such movements displace the sheets and/or the blankets.
To this end, if special sheets with the corners already formed are not used, it is usual to tuck the four sides of the lower sheet, i.e., the one covering the mattress, under the mattress; whereas, with the upper sheet and possibly the blanket, a bedspread, a duvet or similar, it is usual to tuck under the mattress at least the front edges thereof, at the feet side.
When putting their children to bed, parents sometimes tuck in one or both of the side edges of sheets and blankets also to prevent the children from falling out of bed.
Obviously, it is more difficult with adults, when they are already under the covers, as a prior preparation makes difficult both getting in and getting out of bed.
Single beds, either queen-size or twin-size, in which a predetermined side for getting in and out is established due to the arrangement in the room, for example, against a wall, it is possible to tuck in the bedsheet on the side opposite to the side against the wall during the morning bed making. Obviously, it is not impossible to determine a preferred side of the bed for getting in and out, even if the bed is not against a wall, and then tuck in the bedsheet on the opposite side.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

In any case, it should be borne in mind that when blankets, duvets or similar are thick and the flaps thereof falling sideways are long, folding all of them under the mattress would most likely make the mattress not flat any more, which would worsen the overall comfort of the bed.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to propose a device for stabilising the position of sheets and blankets of a bed, particularly suitable for operating on the flaps of the aforementioned sheets and blankets which fall sideways, without the traditional need to tuck them in.
Another object of the invention is to propose a device that can be made from simple, inexpensive and non-allergenic materials.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device that does not create any disturbance, encumbrance or less comfort that would occur in the bed without the device.
A still further object of the invention is to obtain a device which is easy to install in any type of bed, without impairing any functional and/or aesthetic prerogative of the bed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device, whose characteristics make it possible to realize more than one version during the construction phase, so as to make it suitable for different use situations.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the production costs of the device, so as to propose it at a low price and therefore make it accessible to a wide range of potential purchasers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other purposes are fully achieved by means of a device for stabilising the position of sheets and blankets of a bed, the device being of a type aimed at acting on the flaps of the cited sheets and blankets falling sideways and comprising:

at least one fixed internal assembly, associated to the mattress of the aforementioned bed and comprising: a first slat, positioned horizontally on one side of the mattress; first permanent magnets, fastened along the aforementioned first slat at predetermined distances and with a predetermined polarity facing outwards of the same first slat; fastening means, associated with the aforementioned first slat and aimed at holding the slat in the cited respective position, with the aforementioned fixed internal assembly intended to be positioned underneath a lower sheet placed to cover the same mattress;
at least one removable outer assembly intended to cooperate functionally with the aforementioned at least one fixed internal assembly and in turn comprising a second slat and second permanent magnets, which are fastened along the aforementioned second slat with the same number and arrangement as the aforementioned first permanent magnets of the aforementioned first slat, the aforementioned second permanent magnets being oriented so that the polarity of their side facing the aforementioned first permanent magnets is opposite to that of the latter, with the aforementioned at least one removable outer assembly adapted to be manually moved from an inoperative position in which it is separated from the corresponding aforementioned fixed internal assembly, to an operative position, in which the aforementioned second slat is brought in contact with the respective flaps of the upper sheets and blankets hanging sideways and is substantially aligned with the aforementioned first slat, whereby the magnetic attraction mutually exerted between the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets results in a stable coupling of the second slat with the first slat, thus obtaining a clamping of the aforementioned flaps of upper sheets and blankets interposed between the aforementioned slats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the device for stabilising the position of sheets and blankets of a bed, referred to above, in accordance with the content of the claims and with the aid of the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric view of a bed with a mattress with a fixed internal device assembly associated therewith;
Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, wherein the aforementioned fixed internal assembly is covered by a sheet placed to cover the aforementioned mattress;
Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 1, in which the bed has been completed with sheets, blankets and pillow, with a removable outer assembly of the device detached in an inoperative position;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, in which the aforementioned removable outer assembly of the device is in an operative position, coupled with the aforementioned fixed inner assembly;
Fig. 5 is an axonometric view of a first slat belonging to the aforementioned fixed inner assembly, in a first variant embodiment;
Fig. 6 is an axonometric view of the aforementioned first slat in a second variant embodiment;
Fig. 7 is an axonometric view of the aforementioned first slat in a third variant embodiment;
Fig. 8 is an axonometric view of the aforementioned first slat in a fourth variant embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned figures show the device proposed by the present invention, intended to stabilise the position of sheets and blankets of a bed L, indicated as a whole with reference 1.
In particular, the lower sheet 10 covering the mattress M of the bed L, the upper sheet 11 and, together with the latter, any blanket, bedspread, duvet or the like, generically indicated with reference 12, are considered.
The device 1 includes at least one fixed inner assembly 2 (Figs. 1, 2), associated with the mattress M of the aforementioned bed L and comprising:

a first slat 20, positioned horizontally on one side M1 of the mattress M;
a plurality of first permanent magnets 21, fastened along the aforementioned first slat 20 at predetermined distances and with a predetermined polarity facing outwards of the same first slat 20;
fastening means 22, associated with the aforementioned first slat 20 and aimed at holding the same in the cited respective position, with the aforementioned fixed internal assembly 2 intended to be positioned under the aforementioned lower sheet 10 (see in particular Fig. 2);

For each of the aforementioned fixed inner assemblies 2, the device 1 further comprises a removable outer assembly 3 aimed at cooperating functionally with the aforementioned fixed inner assembly 2.
The removable outer assembly 3 comprises, in turn, a second slat 30 and a plurality of second permanent magnets 31, fixed along the aforementioned second slat 30 with the same number and arrangement with respect to the aforementioned first permanent magnets 21 of the aforementioned first slat 20.
The aforementioned second permanent magnets 31 are oriented in such a way that the polarity of their side facing the aforementioned first permanent magnets 21 opposite to the polarity of the latter.
The number of the aforementioned first permanent magnets 21 and second permanent magnets 31 may be varied according to the length of the corresponding slats 20,30 or other requirements. The enclosed figures illustrate configurations with 4 or 3 magnets, but it is understood that their number is not limiting for the purposes of the present invention.
The aforementioned removable outer assembly 3 is provided to be manually moved from an inoperative position N, in which it is separated from the corresponding aforementioned fixed inner assembly 2 (Fig. 3), to an operative position W, in which the aforementioned second slat 30 is brought into contact with the respective flaps 11A, 12A of the upper sheet 11 and blanket 12 which hang sideways.
The second slat 30 is arranged in such a way as to be substantially aligned with the aforementioned first slat 20 (Fig. 4), so that the magnetic attraction mutually exerted between the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets (21, 31) results in a stable coupling of the second slat (30) with the first slat (20), with the consequent clamping of the aforementioned flaps of sheets and blankets 11A, 12A interposed between the aforementioned slats 20, 30.
In a preferred embodiment of the device 1, the aforementioned first and second slats 20, 30 have substantially equal longitudinal extension, flat shape and are made of semi-rigid plastic material, such as polycarbonate or the like, while the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets 21, 31 have a discoidal shape.
In Figures 1 to 4, the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets 21, 31 are protruding from the respective faces of the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets 20, 30.
In the not limiting example shown in the figures, the aforementioned fastening means 22 of the fixed inner assembly 2 comprise at least two fastening straps, associated with the aforementioned first slat 20 and intended to transversally wrap the aforementioned mattress M in order to hold the aforementioned first slat 20 in the desired position.
The fastening straps 22 are made of synthetic fabric, for example, polymer threads, and each of them is advantageously provided with a buckle for opening and closing, as well as tensioning elements (not illustrated as they are of known and intuitively understood technique), in order to adjust the correct adherence of the same fastening strap 22 to the aforementioned mattress M.
It is understood that any other system of the prior art that may constitute valid fastening means instead of the straps 22 and/or buckles and/or tensioning elements, for example Velcro strips, snap fasteners and the like, falls within the group of embodiments already considered for the present invention.
According to a second embodiment of the device 1, the aforementioned first and second permanent magnets 21, 31 are embedded in corresponding housings (not illustrated in detail) made in the aforementioned first and second slats 20, 30, so as to be flush with the respective faces of the latter; Fig. 5 illustrates only the first slat 20 corresponding to the aforementioned variant, as it is intuitively evident that the second slat 30 is substantially identical.
According to a first variant embodiment (Fig. 6), the upper horizontal edge of the aforementioned first slat 20 is associated with a bumper profile 23 of soft material, aimed at dampening the terminal phase of the aforementioned magnetic coupling of the aforementioned second slate 30 with the first slate 20.
According to a second variant embodiment (Fig. 7), the face 20F turned outwards of the aforementioned first slat 20, intended to receive adherently the aforementioned lower sheet 10 placed to cover the mattress M, presents a surface with a high friction coefficient, for example rough, for better holding the aforementioned sheet 10 in position.
According to a third embodiment variant (Fig. 8), the aforementioned first slat 20 has an "L" profile, in which the horizontal side 20H of the aforementioned "L" is intended to be inserted between the aforementioned mattress M and the underlying base R of the bed L.
The version of the device 1 illustrated in the enclosed figures is suitable for beds L for one person, i.e. twin-size or queen-size, in which a predetermined side A for getting in and out of bed is established due to habits and/or position of the bedside table and/or arrangement in the room, for example with the bed L against a wall, and consequently, an opposite side B is established, which is destined to receive the described device 1; the latter, therefore, comprises a single fixed internal assembly 2 and a respective removable outer assembly 3.
To this end, the aforementioned fixed inner assembly 2 and removable outer assembly 3 present a respective longitudinal extension such as to cover and clamp almost completely, in the direction of their length, the aforementioned flaps 11A, 12A of sheets and blankets 11, 12 falling from the aforementioned opposite side B of the bed (see in particular Fig. 4).
First and second permanent magnets 21, 31 are provided along the slats 20, 30 in a sufficient number, for example three as illustrated, or more.
In addition, the invention also provides devices 1 suitable for double beds, in which, of course, both sides are suitable for getting in and out of bed.
According to this latter application, each side of the bed is advantageously provided with its own fixed internal assembly 2 and a removable outer assembly 3 and each of such assemblies 2, 3 has a respective longitudinal extension which is shorter than the previous one, such as to cover and clamp a portion varying from one half to two thirds, lengthwise, of the respective flaps 11A, 12A of sheets and blankets 11, 12 hanging from the corresponding side of the bed L.
The aforementioned portions of the flaps 11A, 12A, in which the assemblies 2, 3 operate, are located starting from the footboard of the bed L; due to the smaller length extension, it is possible to install only two respective first and second permanent magnets 21, 31 in each of the aforementioned first and second slats 20, 30.
The just indicated construction variant has not been illustrated as it is of obvious understanding.
The peculiar features of the device proposed by the present invention as well as the advantageous aspects arising therefrom become clear from the foregoing description.
In fact, for all persons, adults or children, who wish to hold firmly the flaps of sheets and blankets hanging sideways from the bed, without the traditional need to tuck them in, the proposed device proves to be effective in avoiding partial or total uncovering while sleeping, due to the spontaneous movements; in this way avoiding both discomfort and the risk of illness, due to what has just been said, particularly in cold seasons and for more delicate subjects such as children and the elderly.
The careful study of the components has made it possible to create a device that does not create any disturbance, encumbrance or less comfort for the user of the bed to which it is applied, as the shape and/or characteristics of the mattress are not altered.
The device which is extremely easy to install in any type of bed, without impairing any functional and/or aesthetic prerogative thereof.
As specified, in the construction phase, the proposed device can be obtained in more than one version, in order to make it suitable for different situations of use, i.e., single beds with predetermined getting in and out sides and double beds.
As can be deduced from the description and the enclosed figures, the device can be easily made from simple, inexpensive and non-allergenic materials, without any special and/or expensive production equipment.
It is therefore possible to reduce to a minimum the production costs of the proposed device, so as to offer it at a reasonable price and thus make it accessible to a wide range of potential purchasers.
However, it is understood that what is described above is illustrative and not limiting, therefore any detail variations that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons are considered from now on within the same protection scope defined by the claims below.

Claims

A device for stabilizing the position of sheets and blankets of a bed (L), with said device (1) of the type suitable for acting on the flaps (11A, 12A) of said sheets and blankets (11, 12) falling sideways and characterized by :
- at least one fixed internal assembly (2), associated with the mattress (M) of said bed (L) and comprising: a first slat (20), placed horizontally close to one side (M1) of the same mattress (M); first permanent magnets (21), fastened along said first slat (20) at predetermined distances and with a predetermined polarity facing outwards of the same first slat (20); fastening means (22), associated with said first slat (20) and aimed at holding the same in the relative cited position, with said fixed internal assembly (2) intended to be positioned under a lower sheet (10) placed to cover the same mattress (M);

- at least one removable outer assembly (3), intended to cooperate functionally with said at least one fixed internal assembly (2) and in turn comprising a second slat (30) and second permanent magnets (31), which are fastened to said second slat (30) with the same number and arrangement as said first permanent magnets (21) of said first slat (20), said second permanent magnets (31) being oriented so that their side facing said first permanent magnets (21) has polarity opposite to that of the latter, with said at least one removable outer assembly (3) adapted to be manually moved from an inoperative position (N) in which it is separated from the corresponding aforementioned fixed internal assembly (2), to an operative position (W), in which the aforementioned second slat (30) is brought in contact with the respective flaps (11A, 12A) of the upper sheets (11) and blankets (12) hanging sideways and is substantially aligned with the aforementioned first slat (20), whereby the magnetic attraction mutually exerted between said first and second permanent magnets (21, 31) results in a stable coupling of the second slat (30) with the first slat (20), thus obtaining a clamping of said flaps (11A, 12A) of upper sheets (11) and blankets (12) interposed between said slats (20, 30).
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fixed internal assembly (2) and at least one removable outer assembly (3) have a respective longitudinal extension such that they cover and clamp almost completely, in the direction of their length, said flaps (11A, 12A) of upper sheets (11) and blankets (12) hanging from the corresponding side of the bed (L), and in that at least three first and second permanent magnets (21, 31) are provided in each of said first and second slats (20, 30), respectively.
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fixed internal assembly (2) and at least one removable outer assembly (3) have a respective longitudinal extension such that they cover and clamp a portion varying from one-half to two-thirds, in the direction of their length, of said flaps (11A, 12A) of upper sheets (11) and blankets (12) hanging from the corresponding side of the bed (L), with said portion located starting from the footboard of said bed, and in that at least two respective first and second permanent magnets (21, 31) are provided in each of said first and second slats (20, 30), respectively.
Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said first and second permanent magnets (21, 31) have a discoidal shape and are mounted protruding from the respective faces of said first and second slats (20, 30), or are embedded within corresponding recesses formed in said first and second slats (20, 30) and are flush with the respective faces of said first and second slats.
Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said fastening means (22) of said at least one fixed internal assembly (2) comprise at least two fastening straps, associated with said first slat (20) and intended to transversely wrap said mattress (M) so as to hold said first slat (20) in the respective said position.
Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said fastening straps (22) are made of synthetic fabric and in that a buckle for opening and closing as well as tensioning means are provided in each of the same fastening strap (22) to adjust proper adherence to the aforementioned mattress (M).
Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that a bumper profile (23) of soft material is associated with the upper horizontal edge of said first slat (20) and is aimed at damping the terminal phase of the magnetic coupling of said second slat (30) with the first slat (20).
Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that the outward-turned face (20F) of said first slat (20), intended to receive said lower sheet (10) placed adhering to cover the mattress (M), has a surface with a high coefficient of friction, for better holding in position the same lower sheet (10).
Device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that said first slat (20) has an "L" profile, in which the horizontal side (20H) of said "L" is intended to be inserted between said mattress (M) and the underlying base (R) of the bed (L).