GB2385518A

GB2385518A - A bed and method of changing bedclothes

Info

Publication number: GB2385518A
Application number: GB0304142A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Max Griffith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-22
Filing date: 2003-02-24
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Also published as: GB0304142D0; GB0204244D0

Abstract

A bed, particularly suitable for use in hotels, comprises storage means 11 located at one end 8 of the bed for storing a supply of clean linen 12, 13 and storage means 14, 15 located at the opposite end 9 of the bed for receiving dirty linen. A plurality of bottom sheets joined end to end [figure 2] is provided in the clean linen storage means. To change the bottom sheet after it has been used, the used sheet is drawn by the bed maker from its used position on the bed into the soiled linen storage means, thereby drawing a fresh sheet from the clean linen container. The soiled linen storage means preferably comprises a seal for preventing the egress of smells. Typically, enough clean linen will be supplied to allow for seven changes of bedding whereby dirty linen need be collected from the room only on a once per week basis. Preferably the sheets are wound onto a mandrel (M).

Description

IMPROVED BED AND METHOD OF CHANGING BEDCLOTHES This invention relates to an improved bed, and to improved methods of changing the bedclothes of a bed.

Traditionally, in organisations requiring the frequent changing of bedclothes (for example hotels) the bedclothes is supplied to the business from a laundry as a delivery of individual sheets, pillowcases, and, possibly, duvet covers. Where staff are responsible for changing bedclothes they are provided with a trolley which includes a dirty linen bag for soiled bedclothes removed from the bed, and space for a stack of clean bed clothes. The bedclothes changing process comprises stripping bedclothes from the bed, removing the soiled bedclothes and placing them in the dirty linen bag, applying a new bottom sheet to the bed, tucking this in, applying new pillowcases, applying a new top sheet or duvet cover to the bed, tucking this in as necessary, and, often, applying a cover over the entire bed. The entire process is very time consuming, costly, dusty and requires large amounts of individual items of bedclothes to be transported and accounted for.

The present invention provides a novel design of bed and sheets and novel method of changing the bedclothes of a bed which substantially reduces the inconvenience of the conventional bed making process.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention a bed comprises first storage means located at one end of the bed for storing a multiplicity of clean sheets connected together in an end-to-end sequence ; second storage means located at the other end of the bed for receiving a multiplicity of used sheets; and means for drawing a sheet which has been used from its use position into the second storage means and thereby to

draw a clean sheet which is connected to the used sheet from the first storage means into a use position.

The term"end"as used herein means any of the four straight peripheral edges of a conventional bed, i. e. the term"end"includes the head, the foot, and both lateral edges of the bed. The term"other end"means the end opposite the "one end".

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the storage means both comprise storage spaces provided in the base of the bed. The or each storage means may comprise a storage container located in the storage space. The storage containers may be removable from the storage space to facilitate removal of soiled linen and the insertion of clean linen The second storage means may comprise a mandrel onto which a used sheet can be rolled by rotating the mandrel. Preferably, the sheets are stored in the first storage means in the form of a roll or zig-zag stack from which the sheets are withdrawn to move them into their use configuration.

Drive means may be provided for rotating the mandrel to roll a used sheet thereon.

The drive means may be hand dnven or power driven eg by means of a battery powered hand held rotary driver.

Preferably, means are provided for forming a seal at the entrance of the second storage means so that any smell associated with the used sheets is substantially prevented from leaving the second storage means. This is particularly desirable if it is intended to leave used sheets in a room until a more convenient time to remove them becomes available.

Preferably, a third storage means is located at one end of the bed for stonng a plurality of top sheets or duvet covers. Duvet covers may be joined end-to-end. A fourth storage means may be provided at the other end of the bed for receiving such top sheets or duvet covers after usage. Preferably, the first and second storage means are in the form of cassettes, and preferably the third and fourth storage means are in the form of cassettes The or each sheet may comprise a central rectangular portion the width of which IS substantially equal to the width of the mattress of the bed, and a pair of flaps, one located on each side of the central region, for covering the sides of the mattress and providing a tuck-in region Flaps may optionally be provided on each of the other sides of the central region, also for covering the sides of the mattress and providing a tuck-in region

However, in one embodiment of the invention no significant tuck-in is provided on the other two sides of the central region.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 illustrates a sheet for use in an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 illustrates a sheet of Figure 1 partially rolled onto the mandrel of storage cassette and illustrates how the sheet is, in use, joined to a further identical sheet ; FIGURE 3 illustrates a bed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a bed incorporating a second embodiment of the invention ; FIGURE 5 shows a storage container which forms part of the bed of Figure 4; FIGURE 6 illustrates the configuration of a sheet for use in the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5; FIGURE 7 illustrates the comer of a duvet cover; FIGURE 8 illustrates a hook for retaining a duvet cover; FIGURE 9 illustrates the comer of a quilt; FIGURE 10 illustrates a pole; and FIGURE 11 illustrates a method of applying a duvet cover.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the illustrated sheet I comprises a central rectangular region 2. The size and shape of a mattress 3 with which the sheet is intended to be used is shown in broken line in Figure 1. It will be noted that the width of the central region 2 is substantially identical to the width of the mattress 3 The central region is adjoined on each side by a respective flap 4,5. The flaps have a length substantially equal to the length of the mattress 3 and a width sufficiently large to enable the flaps to cover the side of the mattress 3 and to be tucked between the mattress 3 and the base of a bed The flaps may have a slight dovetail form as illustrated on the right-hand side of Figure 1 in order to provide some overlap at the comers of the bed. The sheet 1 is provided with fastenings 6 at one end, for example in the form of buttons, which can cooperate with fastenings 7 (for example buttonholes) of an identical sheet to allow a plurality of identical sheets to be

joined together in an end-to-end sequence.

In use, when the sheets are laundered the flaps 4,5 are folded to overlie the central portion 2 and the entire laundered sheet is wound onto a mandrel M (Figure 2). A plurality of sheets (typically from 3 to 5) are secured together as an end-to-end sequence by the fastenings 6,7 and are wound as a continuous strip onto the mandrel M. In general, the folding of the flaps 4,5 cover the joining of the sheets, and the winding onto a mandrel will all be completed at a laundry and the complete roll of sheets including the mandrel M will be supplied by the laundry to organizations requiring this type of sheet. Depending on the design of bed with which the sheet is to be used, the roll of sheets may be supplied pre-loaded into a cassette Referring now to Figure 3, a preferred embodiment of bed in accordance with the present invention is shown. The bed has a head end 8, a foot end 9, a base 10 and a mattress 3. Within the head end of the base 10 is storage means 11 for storing two rolls 12, 13. Each of the rolls 12,13 may be identical and may comprise a multiplicity of sheets as illustrated in Figure 2. Alternatively, the roll 12 may be a roll of sheets as illustrated m Figure 2 and the roll 13 may be a roll of duvet covers as shown in Figure 4. The rolls 12,13 may be located directly within a suitable compartment provided in the base 10 or may be housed within a cassette which is itself housed within the base 10. Means are preferably provided for preventing accidental or unauthorized unrolling of the rolls.

At the foot end 9 of the bed are provided mandrels 14,15 onto which used sheets or, as the case may be, duvet covers may be rolled The mandrels may be mounted in a suitable enclosure provided in the base of the bed, or may form parts of cassettes which themselves are mounted within the base of the bed. Preferably, means are provided for sealing the entrance to the space containing the mandrels to prevent the egress of smells associated with the used bedclothes, should this option be employed.

In use, when a bed is to be made for the first time new rolls 12,13 are installed in the bed. Initially, the free end of the first sheet from the cassette 12 is grasped and pulled along the length of the bed and is secured by suitable means to the mandrel 14. A permanent"leader"connection between the reception mandrel and the first new sheet or duvet cover may be attached to the mandrel to allow easy fastening in a position external to the base of the bed. When the first sheet has been suitably lengthwise positioned the

flaps 4,5 unfolded, pulled down over the side of the mattress, and tucked between the mattress and the base. The bottom sheet will then be in place. Thereafter, a top sheet or duvet cover is pulled from the roll 13 and connected by suitable means to the mandrel 15.

If a top sheet is used one or more additional coverings such as blankets, a duvet or bedspread may be placed on the bed and the fasteners 6,7 at the head of the bed will be released to permit the top edge of the sheet to be folded over the blankets. A conventional cover may then be placed over the bed. If a duvet cover is to be used the fastenings 6,7 at the head of the bed will be released to enable a duvet to be inserted into the duvet cover.

When the bedclothes are to be changed any bed cover and blankets are removed and the top sheet or duvet cover is re-connected to the next adjacent sheet or duvet cover on the roll 13. Flaps 4,5 are released and folded back over the central portion 2 of the

bottom sheet and the mandrels 14, 15 are rotated to roll the used top sheet/duvet cover and bottom sheet onto the mandrels. The act of winding the used top sheet/duvet cover at bottom sheet onto the mandrels 14,15 will draw afresh bottom sheet and fresh top sheet or duvet cover from the rolls 12,13.

Preferably, an access way 16 is provided in the side of the bed to enable the rolls (with or without cassettes) to be inserted into their use position and removed therefrom The access way 16 also provides access for storage of one or more further cassettes, e. g. spare sheets or a cassette of duvet covers.

Referring now to Figure 4, a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

The illustrated bed 20 comprises aheadboard 21, afootboard 22, a base 23 and a mattress 24. Storage means 25 are provided along each lateral side of the base. The storage means 25 each comprise a storage space 26 provided in the base and a storage container 27 which is, in normal use, housed within the storage space. The storage container 27 is shown in greater detail in Figure 5. The storage containers 27 located on opposite sides of the bed are preferably substantially identical and each comprises a box 28 mounted on castors or rollers 29. Each box includes a tray 30 supported at the top of the box and a storage compartment 31 located beneath the tray. The storage compartment 31 may be divided into two separate sub-compartments by a dividing wall 32.

In use, the container 27 located on one side of the bed will be charged with clean bedding. The clean bedding will comprise a plurality of bottom sheets joined edge to edge

and stacked in a concertina formation. The bottom sheets will, in general, be formed by a continuous length of sheeting so that the join from one sheet to the adjacent sheet is notional markets can be provided at suitable intervals to indicate the notional junction between adjacent sheets. The concertinaed sheets will be supported in the tray 30. The compartment 31 may be used for spare duvet covers, pillowcases and other items. In use, the sheet 33 will form the profile illustrated in Figure 6. Unused portions 34 of the sheet will reside in the tray 30 of one container 27 and used portions 35 of the sheet will be located in the tray 30 of the opposite container 27.

In use, a person charged with changing the bedclothes on the bed 20 would first remove the duvet and pillows and would then pull the containers 27 from their use position illustrated in Figure 4 to a position in which they are at least partially removed from the storage spaces 26. The person changing the bed will then stand on the side of the bed having the soiled linen container 27 and would drawer the soiled sheet towards them and fold it in a zig-zag fashion in the tray 30 of the container 27 located on that side of the bed. This will have the effect of drawing clean sheeting from the zig-zag heap 34 on the opposite side of the bed. When the correct amount of sheeting has been withdrawn so that the previously used sheeting is contained completely within the container 30 adjacent the person changing the bedclothes they would smooth out the sheet. They would then remove the used duvet cover and pillowcases and place them into the storage compartment (s) 31 The soiled linen contained 27 could then be pushed back into its associated storage space 26 and secured in position by suitable means Preferably, the securing means would prevent unauthorized access to the container 27, would grasp the sheet at the point where it enters the storage space 26, and would seal the soiled linen container against egress of unwanted smells. The person changing the bed would then move to the side of the bed containing the clean linen container 27 and would remove from it one or more clean pillowcases and a clean duvet cover The clean linen container 27 would then be re- positioned within the storage space 26. The act of pushing the container back into position will tend to tighten the new sheet over the mattress. Preferably, means are provided for automatically trapping the edge of the sheet as the clean linen container slides into its final storage position.

The required sealing of the dirty linen container and the retention of the sheet at the

entrance to the clean linen container can be obtained by an appropriate seal arrangement provided on the container for engaging the underside of the mattress support. The seal arrangement may include a spring-loaded plate or rubber seal and may be associated with means for raising the container or lowering the bed to provide the required tight seal.

The clean pillowcases are then placed on the pillows and the pillows returned to the bed A clean duvet cover must then be placed on the duvet This can be done in conventional manner, but in a preferred embodiment of the invention a novel duvet and duvet cover are provided to facilitate this operation. To this end, the duvet cover 40 (Figure 7) has, near both closed corners, holes 41 formed in both thicknesses of the duvet material Preferably, the holes 41 are bound or provided with eyelets The headboard 21, or an adjacent structure or wall is provided with hooks 42 (Figures 8) onto which the duvet cover can be hooked. Each comer (or at least two corners) of the duvet are provided with loops 43 (Figures 8). In order to place the duvet 44 inside the duvet cover 40 two of the loops 43 are fed through the duvet cover, upwardly through the top hole 41, and hooked onto the hook 42. A pole 45 (Figure 10) having a snap-latch 46 may be provided to assist in this operation. When this operation has been completed the duvet and duvet cover will generally be in the configuration illustrated in Figure 11 With the duvet and duvet cover in this configuration and both supported by the hooks 42 it is a simple matter to pull the duvet cover down to cover the duvet and to fasten the duvet cover in a conventional manner. The above described method considerably simplifies the normally difficult task of inserting a duvet into a duvet cover.

The present invention substantially speeds the process of bed changing in any situation, but especially in a commercial institution having many beds requiring changing The number of individual items of laundry which must be handled and accounted for is substantially reduced, as is disruption, noise, smell or damage within the building and the number of Journeys required by the laundry to service the needs of the ongoing operation

Claims

CLAIMS. 1. A bed comprising: first storage means located at one end of the bed for storing a multiplicity of clean sheets connected together in an end-to-end sequence; second storage means located at the other end of the bed for receiving a multiplicity of used sheets; and means for drawing a sheet which has been used from its use position into the second storage means and thereby draw a clean sheet which is connected to the used sheet from the first storage means into a use position.
2. A bed according to Claim 1 wherein the one end is the head or the foot of the bed.

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3. A bed according to Claim 1 wherein the one end is one lateral edge of the bed.
4. A bed according to any preceding claim wherein the storage means both comprise storage spaces provided in the base of the bed.
5. A bed according to Claim 4 wherein the storage means comprises at least one storage container located in the storage space.
6. A bed according to Claim 5 wherein at least one of the storage containers is removable from the storage space to facilitate removal of soiled linen and/or the insertion of clean linen.
7. A bed according to any preceding Claims wherein the storage means comprises a mandrel onto which used sheets can be rolled.
8. A bed according to any preceding Claim wherein the first storage means comprises means for storing a roll of sheets or means for storing a zig-zag stack of sheets.
9. A bed according to any preceding claim including third storage means located at one end of the bed for storing a plurality of top sheets or duvet covers.

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10. A bed according to Claim 9 wherein the third storage means comprises a storage compartment provided in the first storage means.
11. A bed according to any preceding claim including means for forming a seal at the entrance of the second storage means.
12. A method of changing the bottom sheet of a bed comprising: providing a multiplicity of clean sheets connected together in an end to end sequence located in storage means at one end of a bed; and drawing a used sheet from the bed into a second storage means located at the opposite end of the bed from the first storage means, thereby drawing a fresh sheet from the first storage means to replace the soiled sheet on the bed.
13. A method of applying a duvet cover to a duvet comprising providing a duvet cover having fixing means at two adjacent comers thereof, the adjacent comers being located at the opposite end of the duvet from an opening; securing the fixing means to fixed supports so that the portion of the duvet between the fixing means is spread out; providing a duvet having fixing means to adjacent comers thereof ; securing the duvet fixing means adjacent the duvet cover fixing means; drawing the duvet cover over the duvet; closing the open end of the duvet; and removing the duvet cover and duvet from the fixed supports.
14. A method according to Claim 13 wherein the step of fixing the duvet comprises passing the fixing means provided on the duvet outwardly through respective openings in the duvet cover located adjacent the duvet cover fixing means and securing the duvet fixing means to the same fixed support as that to which the duvet cover is secured.