GB2241643A - Bedding - Google Patents

Abstract

Bedding, particularly for elderly infirm or sick persons, comprises a lower sheet (13) removably attached to the base of the bed (11) and an upper sheet (14) which lies over the lower sheet (13) which can be releasably secured to the lower sheet (13) along at least a part of the periphery of the sheets (13, 14). <IMAGE>

Description

BEDDING This invention relates to bedding and in particular bedding for use in hospitals or other institutions.

In order to retain elderly, infirm or sick persons within a bed, it is customary to provide gates at each side of the bed which act to prevent such a person from falling out of the bed.

However, a problem arises with this arrangement insofar as if a person in such a bed moves sufficiently to contact the gate, this can cause injury having regard to the fact the gate is conventionally constructed from wood, metal or solid plastics.

It is an object of the present invention to provide bedding which acts to retain a person within a bed without the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention therefore there is provided bedding comprising a lower part removably attachable to a base of a bed, an upper sheet which is adapted to lie over said lower part and fixing means operable to releasably link said lower part and upper sheet along at least a part of a periphery of each said part and sheet.

With this arrangement it is possible for a person to be retained within a bed without any risk of injury thereto.

Preferably said upper sheet and lower part are releasably linked along a substantial part of the periphery thereof. In particular the upper sheet and lower part may be linked along one or more edges thereof.

In one embodiment the upper sheet and/or lower part may be generally rectangular and in this case the sheet and part may be linked along two adjacent side edges.

The fixing means may comprise one or more zip fasteners and in this case one or more sets of teeth are provided along the part of the periphery of the upper sheet and lower part to be linked. Furthermore locking means may also be provided which is operable to lock the fixing means in a closed position.

Alternatively the fixing means may comprise one or more hook and pile fasteners (e.g. VELCRO (TM) fasteners) or press studs or the like, cooperating parts being provided one on each of the upper sheet and lower part.

The base of the bed may be formed by any structure which is provided beneath said lower part and thus, for example, may comprise a divan base, a framework incorporating springs or any other structure suitable for mounting the bedding relative to a ground surface.

The upper sheet may preferably be substantially the same size and shape as the lower part. Both the upper sheet and lower part may be generally rectangular in shape or may be of any alternative configuration as desired or as appropriate.

The lower part may be substantially the same size and shape as the base of the bed and may be removably attached thereto by way of one or more zip fasteners, hook and pile fasteners or press studs or the like.

The upper sheet may comprise a duvet or alternatively a conventional fabric sheet.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows a schematic representation of a bed incorporating one form of bedding according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a bed 10 with a bed base 11 having a mattress 12 thereon. A bottom sheet 13 is removably attached to the mattress 12 and a top sheet 14 is secured to the periphery of the bottom sheet 13 in such a manner as to be releasable therefrom.

The bottom sheet 13 can be formed from any suitable material such as a textile material. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the bottom sheet 13 is shaped to enclose a large proportion of the mattress 12, with the exclusion of the lower surface (not shown) thereof, and is retained on the mattress 12 by way of retaining strips (not shown) extending across each corner 16 of the sheet 13, which strips engage the lower surface (not shown) of the mattress 12 beneath a respective corner 16.

Alternatively it is possible for the sheet 13 to be substantially the same size and shape as the upper surface 17 of the mattress 12, and in this case the sheet 13 can be removably secured to the mattress 12 by way of one or more peripheral press studs or zip fasteners.

The top sheet 14 comprises a duvet or other type of sheet which can be generally of thicker construction than the bottom sheet 13. In this respect, as an alternative to a duvet, the top sheet 14 can be formed from multiple sheet layers secured together, removably or otherwise, along adjacent edges thereof. If desired, however, the top sheet 14 can comprise a single sheet only. In the case where the top sheet comprises a continental quilt, it is possible to provide a further cover which can overlie or enclose the quilt and can be secured thereto at adjacent corners in any suitable manner.

The top sheet 14 can be of any desired configuration suitable to lie over the mattress 12, and in the embodiment shown is of generally rectangular form and is of a substantially larger size than the mattress 12.

Opposite, parallel long edges 18 of the top sheet 14 and at least a part of the opposite sides 19 of the bottom sheet 13 are adapted to cooperate in a manner whereby the sheets 13, 14 can be releasably secured together to define a sleeping compartment 21 therebetween. In the embodiment shown each long edge 18 of the top sheet 14 and a top edge 22 of each opposite side of the bottom sheet 13 is provided with a set of teeth extending along substantially the entire length thereof whereby the pairs of sheet edges 18, 22 can be joined together by way of single continuous zip fasteners 23 extending along these edges 18, 22.Alternatively of course more than one zip fastener may be used to link each pair of sheet edges 18, 22 or indeed other forms of fasteners may be used, for example press studs or hook and pile fasteners (such as is sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO).

In use, the bottom sheet 13 is fitted to the mattress 12 of a bed 10 and is secured thereto in a conventional manner described above. The bed 10 is thus prepared to receive a person. Once a person is in position on the bed 10, the top sheet 14 is placed over him and the teeth on each opposite edge 18 are brought into a position adjacent the teeth on each side 19 of the bottom sheet 13. The opposite edges 18 of the top sheet 14 and the top edge 22 of each side 19 of the bottom sheet 13 are then secured together by way of the zip fasteners 23. Thus it can be seen that the person will be enclosed within the sleeping compartment 21, and any sideways movement of the person will be restricted by the linked sheets 13, 14. Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange for the zip fasteners to be locked in a closed position by any suitable means as desired or as appropriate. This arrangement is both simple and convenient and furthermore overcomes the problems encountered with conventional arrangements of persons causing injury to themselves by movement within the bed being restrained by solid gates or other similar arrangements.

It will of course be appreciated that this arrangement is ideal for use in hospitals, particularly where elderly or infirm persons or children are concerned. In this respect the arrangement is also of use in old aged peoples' or childrens' homes and furthermore having regard to the simplicity and convenience of the arrangement it will also be of use in the third world in temporary hospitals.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims (14)

1. Bedding comprising a lower part removably attachable to a base of a bed, an upper sheet which is adapted to lie over said lower part and fixing means operable to releasably link said lover part and upper sheet along at least a part of a periphery Or each said part and sheet.

2. Bedding according to claim 1 wherein said upper sheet and lower part are releasably linked along a substant.in part of the periphery thereof.

3. Bedding according to claim 2 wherein the upper sheet and lower part are linked along one or more edges thereof.

4. Bedding according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the upper sheet and'or the lower part are generally rectangular, the sheet and the part being linked along two adjacent side edges.

5. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fixing means comprises one or more zip fasteners,

6. Bedding according to claim 5 wherein one or more sets of teeth of said zip fasteners are provided along the part of the periphery of the upper sheet and lower part to be linked.

7. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein locking means is provided which is operable to lock the fixing moans in a closed position.

8. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fixing means comprises one or more hook and pile fasteners.

9. Bedding according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein said fixing means comprises one or more press studs, co-operating parts of said press studs being provided one on each of the upper sheet and lower part.

10. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the upper sheet is substantially of the same size and shape as the lower part.

11. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said lower part is of substantially the same size and shape as the base of the bed.

12. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said lower part is releasably secured to the base of the bed by way of one or more zip fasteners.

13. Bedding according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said upper sheet comprises a duvet.

14. Bedding subtantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying figure.