GB2270256A

GB2270256A - Bed cover retaining strap & clip device

Info

Publication number: GB2270256A
Application number: GB9218802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-09-04
Filing date: 1992-09-04
Publication date: 1994-03-09
Also published as: GB9218802D0

Abstract

A device for retaining the covers of a bed comprises an elasticated strap (10) which is adapted to be located beneath the mattress (12) of a bed and clip means (15) provided at opposite ends of the strap (10) for attachment to the bed cover (40), each of said clip means (15) having a plastic body formation defining a pair of flexible limbs (25) interconnected adjacent one end, the limbs (25) diverging away from said interconnected end, the clips being attached to the strap (10) adjacent the interconnected end, each limb (25) defining a jaw formation (20) adjacent its free end and a washer (30) engaging about the limbs (25) between a neck formation (26) and the jaws (20), the outer surface (27) of the limbs (25) diverging from the neck formation (26) towards the jaws (20) so that movement of the washer from the neck formation (26) towards the jaw formation (20) will move the jaw formations (20) from an open to a closed position, detent means (32) being provided for engagement of the washer (30) when the jaws (20) are in their closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

BED COVER RETAINING DEVICE The present invention relates to a device for retaining the covers, for example a duvet, on a bed.

US Patent Specification 4199830 and UK Patent Specification GB 2163046 A disclose devices for retaining the covers on a bed, said devices including elasticated straps which are located beneath the bed mattress, clip means being provided at the ends of the straps for attachment to the bed covering.

One problem with devices of this type is that when the clips are released from the bed covering at one end of the strap, the tension in the strap will cause the clip to be dragged beneath the mattress. Also when attaching the clip at one end of the strap to the cover, when the clip at the other end of the strap is free will cause the clip at the free end to be drawn beneath the mattress and may also result in displacement of the strap.

The present invention provides an improved clip design which overcomes these problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention a device for retaining the covers on a bed comprises an elasticated strap which is adapted to be located beneath the mattress of the bed, clip means being provided at opposite ends of the strap for attachment to a bed cover, each of said clip means having a plastic body formation defining a pair of flexible limbs interconnected adjacent one end the limbs diverging away from said interconnected end, means being provided for attachment of the clip to the elasticated strap adjacent the interconnected end, each limb defining a jaw formation at its free end, the outer surfaces of the limb being profiled to define a neck formation adjacent the jaw formations, and a washer being located about the limbs adjacent the neck formation to engage the outer surfaces of the limbs and cause the limbs to be flexed towards one another, the outer surface of each limb between the neck formation and the jaw formation diverging outwardly so that movement of the washer towards the jaw formations will move the jaw formations together, the diverging portions of the outer surface of the limbs being provided with detent formations which may be engaged by the washer.

With the arrangement described above, to attach the clips to the bed cover, the cover is located between the jaw formations of the clip and the washer is pushed towards the jaw formations to clamp the cover. The detent formations on the diverging surfaces of the limbs of the clip retain the washer in position. When the clips are released from the cover, the washer will abut the edge of the mattress preventing the clip from being drawn beneath the mattress and retaining the strap in its correct position An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a bed with bed cover retaining device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a clip used in the device illustrated in Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a device for retaining a duvet on a bed comprises an elasticated strap 10 which is located between the bed base 11 and a mattress 12. The strap 10 may be adjustable in length so that it may be adjusted to the appropriate width of the bed.

Plastic clips 15 as illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2, are provided at each end of the elasticated strap 10. The clips 15 each have a pair of flexible limbs 16 which are interconnected at one end 17, the limbs 16 diverging away from end 17. An aperture 18 is provided at end 17 by which the clip 15 may be connected to one end of the elasticated strap 10.

The free ends of limbs 16 define jaw formations 20 with clamping faces 21 which are substantially parallel to one another when the limbs 16 are flexed together to bring the faces 21 into engagement. The clamping faces 21 have transverse ribs 22 to improve the grip thereof.

The outer surfaces 25 of limbs 16 are profiled to provide a necked formation 26 adjacent the jaw formations 20.

The portions 27 of surfaces 25 between the necked formation 26 and jaw formations 20 diverge towards the jaw formations 20. A washer 30 with rectangular aperture 31 is located over the limbs 16, so that it engages the outer surfaces 25 of limbs 16 at the necked formation 26 and causes the limbs 16 to be flexed towards one another.

The aperture 31 of washer 30 is dimensioned so that when the washer 30 is located at the bottom of the necked formation 26, the faces 21 of jaw formations 20 will be spaced apart. The faces 21 of jaw formations 20 may however be drawn together by moving the washer 30 towards the jaw formations 20 and up the diverging portions 27 of surfaces 25. The portions 27 of surfaces 25 are provided with transverse ribs 32, which will be engaged by opposite parallel edges of the aperture 31, to act as detents and retain the washer 30 in position when the faces 21 of the jaw formations 20 are clamped together.

In use, clips at opposite ends of the elasticated strap 10 are clamped to the edges of a duvet 40. The edge of the duvet 40 is located between the faces 21 of jaw formations 20 when the washer 30 is located at the bottom of the necked formation 26. The washer 30 is then pushed up the diverging portions 27 of surfaces 25 to clamp the duvet 40 between the faces 21 of the jaw formations 20.

The duvet 40 will thereby be retained in place on the mattress by means of the elasticated straps 10. When the clips are released from the duvet by moving the washers 30 back down to the lower most point of the necked formations 26, the washers 31 will engage the edges of the bed base 11 and mattress 12 to prevent the clips 15 from being drawn beneath the mattress 12 and the elasticated strips 10 from being displaced.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, while in the above embodiment the elasticated strap 10 is in the form of an elastic cord, a flat elasticated strap may alternatively be used, the aperture 18 in the clip 15 being shaped appropriately to accommodate the strap 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, a pair of devices in accordance with the present invention may be used to locate the duvet 40 on the bed. Alternatively, a T-shaped elasticated strap may be used to engage the duvet 40 on either side and at the bottom of the bed.

Claims

1. A device for retaining the covers on a bed comprising an elasticated strap which is adapted to be located beneath the mattress of the bed, clip means being provided at opposite ends of the strap for attachment to a bed cover, each of said clip means having a plastic body formation defining a pair of flexible limbs interconnected adjacent one end, the limbs diverging away from said interconnected ends, means being provided for attachment of the clips to the elasticated strap adjacent to the interconnected end, each limb defining a jaw formation at its free end, the outer surfaces of the limb being profiled to define a neck formation adjacent the jaw formations and a washer being located about the limbs adjacent the neck formation to engage the outer surfaces of the limbs and cause the limbs to be flexed towards one another, the outer surface of each limb between the neck formation and the jaw formation diverging outwardly so that movement of the washer towards the jaw formation will move the jaw formations together, the diverging portions of the outer surfaces of the limbs being provided with detent formations which may be engaged by the washer.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the washer has a square or rectangular aperture opposite sides of the aperture engaging the outer surfaces of the limbs at the neck formation.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which a plurality of ribs are provided on the outwardly diverging outer surfaces of each limb adjacent the neck formation, to provide a series of detent formations so that the jaws may be clamped with varying separation therebetween.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the length of the elasticated strap is adjustable.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the elasticated strap is of T-shaped configuration.

6. A device for retaining the covers on a bed substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.