GB2139492A - Bed quilting - Google Patents

Abstract

A bed quilt formed of a filling (6) trapped between covering material on both sides (2, 4), the sides being held lightly together at a plurality of points by connecting means (10) such that the filling is not compressed more than four times its natural thickness and such that the sides (2, 4) do not touch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bed quilts The present invention relates to bed quilts.

Quilting of the sort used for eiderdowns or continental bed quilts has traditionally been stitched to prevent the filling from moving around relative to the covering material. The problem with such stitching is that along the stitch lines the covering material on both sides converges so that insulation from one side of the covering material to the other is lost resulting in cold "lines" or where stitching crosses in cold "spots". To reduce the loss of insulation quilting covering material is suitably made from thermoplastic man made fibrous material; the covering material is then welded to the opposed material to obtain filling holding spots. This type of quilting used for anoraks and the like overcomes the line problem but still results in cold spots and in any case is only suitable for comparatively thin garment quilting.

A bed quilt according to the present invention comprises natural or synthetic down forming quilt filling, material either side of the filling covering the filling, a plurality of connecting means passing from the material from one side, through the filling to the material on the other side so as to lightly pinch the material on both sides together without the material on either side touching and without compressing the filling more than four times its natural thickness.

Preferably the material on either side is about 3 inches (75 mm) apart between connecting means and about 1 inch (25 mm) apart at the connecting means.

The connecting means may comprise a pair of toggles linked by a flexible link, or else a pair of upholstery buttons linked by twine. In the case of a toggle connecting means this may be formed as a single plastics member such as is used to attach a label to a garment.

Whilst the use of upholstery buttons is well known for chairs and mattresses it will be appreciated that this use is to very tightly hold covering materials together to hold heavy filling whereas the use of buttons in the present invention is only to lightly pinch the covering materials to hold very light down in place.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in plan view a single bed quilt, Figure 2 is a cross-section through the quilt of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a button connecting means for the quilt of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plastics toggle member connecting means for the quilt of Figure 1.

In the drawings a continental single bed quilt 135 cm x 200 cm is shown of a normal thickness of about 3 inches T (75 mm) - see Figure 2 between covering material on one side 2 and covering material on an opposed side 4 between which is trapped filling 6 formed of natural or synthetic down. Spaced at intervals x of about 34 cm across the width of the quilt and intervals y of about 26 cm along the length of the quilt are connecting means 10. The covering material is lightly pinched together at the points of connection by means 10 so that the thickness.t at this point is about 1 inch (25 mm). The relationship between Tand t is therefore normally 3:1, should not be more than 4:1 and preferably in the range 3.5 to 2:1. Thickness Tis taken at points midway between adjacent means 1 0.

The connecting means 10 either comprises a pair of upholstery buttons 1 5 linked with twine 1 7. Alternatively a simple integral plastics toggle member 20 (Figure 4) comprising a pair of parallel arms 22 interconnected by an integral connecting link portion 24 may be used. To insert the member 20 one arm is bent parallel with the portion 24 and the projecting arm end is spiked through the quilt, on passing through the quilt that arm springs back parallel with the opposite arm to hold the covering material sides 2 and 4 together. The material of member 20 is necessarily formed by a resilient plastics material such as nylon.

1. A bed quilt comprising natural or synthetic down forming quilt filling, material either side of the filling covering the filling, a plurality of connecting means passing from the material from one side, through the filling to the material on the other side so as to lightly pinch the material on both sides together without the material on either side touching and without compressing the filling more than four times its natural thickness.

2. A quilt as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the relationship of the thickness 'T' of the quilt at positions midway between adjacent connecting means and the thickness 't' of the quilt at the connecting means positions is such that T:t is in the range 3.5 to 2:1 and preferably 3:1.

3. A quilt as claimed in Claim 2 wherein T is about 75 mm.

4. A quilt as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the connecting means comprises a pair of buttons connected by twine or the like.

5. A quilt as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the connecting means comprises an integral toggle member.

6. A quilt as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the toggle member comprises a pair of opposed normally substantially parallel arms connected by a link portion and formed of a resilient plastics material.

7. A quilt substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings and with the connecting means of Figure 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bed quilts The present invention relates to bed quilts. Quilting of the sort used for eiderdowns or continental bed quilts has traditionally been stitched to prevent the filling from moving around relative to the covering material. The problem with such stitching is that along the stitch lines the covering material on both sides converges so that insulation from one side of the covering material to the other is lost resulting in cold "lines" or where stitching crosses in cold "spots". To reduce the loss of insulation quilting covering material is suitably made from thermoplastic man made fibrous material; the covering material is then welded to the opposed material to obtain filling holding spots. This type of quilting used for anoraks and the like overcomes the line problem but still results in cold spots and in any case is only suitable for comparatively thin garment quilting. A bed quilt according to the present invention comprises natural or synthetic down forming quilt filling, material either side of the filling covering the filling, a plurality of connecting means passing from the material from one side, through the filling to the material on the other side so as to lightly pinch the material on both sides together without the material on either side touching and without compressing the filling more than four times its natural thickness. Preferably the material on either side is about 3 inches (75 mm) apart between connecting means and about 1 inch (25 mm) apart at the connecting means. The connecting means may comprise a pair of toggles linked by a flexible link, or else a pair of upholstery buttons linked by twine. In the case of a toggle connecting means this may be formed as a single plastics member such as is used to attach a label to a garment. Whilst the use of upholstery buttons is well known for chairs and mattresses it will be appreciated that this use is to very tightly hold covering materials together to hold heavy filling whereas the use of buttons in the present invention is only to lightly pinch the covering materials to hold very light down in place. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in plan view a single bed quilt, Figure 2 is a cross-section through the quilt of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a button connecting means for the quilt of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plastics toggle member connecting means for the quilt of Figure 1. In the drawings a continental single bed quilt 135 cm x 200 cm is shown of a normal thickness of about 3 inches T (75 mm) - see Figure 2 between covering material on one side 2 and covering material on an opposed side 4 between which is trapped filling 6 formed of natural or synthetic down. Spaced at intervals x of about 34 cm across the width of the quilt and intervals y of about 26 cm along the length of the quilt are connecting means 10. The covering material is lightly pinched together at the points of connection by means 10 so that the thickness.t at this point is about 1 inch (25 mm). The relationship between Tand t is therefore normally 3:1, should not be more than 4:1 and preferably in the range 3.5 to 2:1. Thickness Tis taken at points midway between adjacent means 1 0. The connecting means 10 either comprises a pair of upholstery buttons 1 5 linked with twine 1 7. Alternatively a simple integral plastics toggle member 20 (Figure 4) comprising a pair of parallel arms 22 interconnected by an integral connecting link portion 24 may be used. To insert the member 20 one arm is bent parallel with the portion 24 and the projecting arm end is spiked through the quilt, on passing through the quilt that arm springs back parallel with the opposite arm to hold the covering material sides 2 and 4 together. The material of member 20 is necessarily formed by a resilient plastics material such as nylon. CLAIMS

1. A bed quilt comprising natural or synthetic down forming quilt filling, material either side of the filling covering the filling, a plurality of connecting means passing from the material from one side, through the filling to the material on the other side so as to lightly pinch the material on both sides together without the material on either side touching and without compressing the filling more than four times its natural thickness.

2. A quilt as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the relationship of the thickness 'T' of the quilt at positions midway between adjacent connecting means and the thickness 't' of the quilt at the connecting means positions is such that T:t is in the range 3.5 to 2:1 and preferably 3:1.

3. A quilt as claimed in Claim 2 wherein T is about 75 mm.

4. A quilt as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the connecting means comprises a pair of buttons connected by twine or the like.

5. A quilt as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the connecting means comprises an integral toggle member.

6. A quilt as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the toggle member comprises a pair of opposed normally substantially parallel arms connected by a link portion and formed of a resilient plastics material.

7. A quilt substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings and with the connecting means of Figure 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.