GB2477950A

GB2477950A - Apparatus for securing bed linen to bedware with detachable clamps

Info

Publication number: GB2477950A
Application number: GB1002836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Michael Greenhall
Original assignee: STAY MADE Ltd
Current assignee: STAY MADE Ltd
Priority date: 2010-02-19
Filing date: 2010-02-19
Publication date: 2011-08-24
Also published as: GB201002836D0

Abstract

Apparatus for securing bed linen, such as sheets, to bedware, such as a mattress, comprising first 202 and second attachment 201 elements each with a clamping portion 310 and 314 and a connecting portion wherein the connecting portions 301 and 303 can provide a releasable engagement with each other. The first clamping portion 314 can be connected to the first connecting portion 303 by a resilient material 305 such as rubber. The clamping portions 310 and 314 may utilise a thread member 313 and 316 with a head to receive a tool for turning to facilitate closure of the clamps 310 and 314. The connecting portions 301 and 303 may connect through the use of cooperating hook 317 and 318 and catch members 306 and 307 wherein the hook elements 317 and 318 are biased toward catching apertures 306 and 307 and can be depressed to facilitate release.

Description

Apparatus For Securing Bed Linen

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for securing bed linen to bedware.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bed linen such as sheets and duvets are sometimes difficult to locate to their respective bedware. For example, after a bed is made, use of the bed can cause the sheet to pull away from its designated place on the mattress.

Further, duvets often slip down within duvet covers and need relocating, often by vigorous shaking.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for securing bed linen to bedware according to claim 1. This apparatus ensures that the bed linen is attached to the bedware and does not move around.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making a bed according to claim 8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a bed; Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a sheet being secured to a mattress; Figure 3 illustrates two attachment elements shown in Figures 2A and 2B; Figures 4A and 4B illustrate how a duvet is secured to a duvet cover; Figure 5 illustrates attachment elements shown in Figures 4A and 4B; and Figure 6 details a method of making a bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 A bed 101 is shown in Figure 1. It includes bedware such as mattress 102 and a duvet (not shown). Mattress 102 includes piping 106 around its perimeter. Bed 101 further includes bed linen such as sheet 103 and duvet cover 104, which contains the duvet.

As can be seen in Figure 1, sheet 103 is placed on top of mattress 102 and folded around the corners. However, when the bed is in use, sheet 103 is likely to slip off sheet 102. Sheet 103 is therefore secured to mattress 102 by clip 105, which is an example of apparatus for securing bed linen to bedware according to the invention herein described.

Figures 2A and 2B Clip 105 is shown in more detail in Figures 2A and 2B. It comprises a first attachment element 201 and a second attachment element 202. First attachment element 201 is secured to sheet 103, while second attachment element 202 is secured to mattress 102. In this embodiment, the method of securing is by clamping the attachment elements to the sheet and mattress respectively, but other methods of securing could be used.

As shown in Figure 2B, when the two attachment elements are clipped together sheet 103 is pulled tight over mattress 102. By affixing one of these clips at each corner of mattress 102, sheet 103 is secured in place and will not move when bed 101 is used.

Figure 3 Clip 105 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. First attachment element 201 comprises a connecting portion 301 and a clamping portion 302. In this embodiment, portions 301 and 302 are integral. Second attachment element 202 also includes a connecting portion 303 and a clamping portion 304. In this embodiment, portions 303 and 304 are joined by a loop 305 of resilient material, which in this example is rubber, although it could be any suitable resilient material. Loop 305 passes through an aperture in each of portions 303 and 304.

Connecting portion 301 of first attachment element 201 defines two apertures 306 and 307. Connecting portion 303 of second attachment element 202 includes Iwo forwardly extending spring arms 308 and 309, each including a tapered retaining block 317 and 318 respectively.

Clamping portion 302 of first attachment 201 includes a jaw defined by an upper jaw 310 and lower jaw 311. Both are attached perpendicularly to connecting portion 301. Upper jaw 310 defines an aperture 312 throughwith, which is threaded to receive a threaded fastener, which in this example is threaded bolt 313. Clamping portion 304 of second attachment element 202 similarly includes an upper jaw 314, a lower jaw 315 and a threaded bolt 313.

In use, as shown in Figure 2A, first attachment element is secured to sheet 103. This is achieved by placing sheet 103 between upper jaw 310 and lower jaw 311 and turning threaded bolt 313 such that it moves towards lower jaw 311, clamping sheet 103 between lower jaw 311 and threaded bolt 313.

Similarly, second attachment element 202 is secured to mattress 102 by securing the piping 106 of mattress 102 between threaded bolt 316 and lower jaw 315.

Once the first attachment element is secured to the bed linen, in this example sheet 103, and the second attachment element is secured to the bedware, in this example mattress 102, the two connecting portions are engaged with each other. In this embodiment, this is achieved by simultaneously passing arm 308 through aperture 306 and arm 309 through aperture 307. This causes arms 308 and 309 to be urged towards one another due to the tapering of retaining blocks 317 and 318. Once the retaining blocks 317 and 318 have passed through the apertures, the arms spring away from each other again. The connecting portions 301 and 303 are then held together, and can be released by manual pressure on retaining blocks 317 and 318 to urge them towards each other and thus allow spring arms 308 and 309 to be removed, from apertures 307 and 308.

During the process of clipping the attachment elements together, loop 305 of resilient material may stretch, but once released it resiles to an equilibrium position, pulling the sheet 103 into position.

In other embodiments of the clip, the clamping portions could fix to the bed linen or bedware respectively in other ways, for example using a spring clip. Further, the attachment elements could connect together in other ways.

Thus, for example, the connecting portions could comprise magnets, hook and loop fasteners, or any other form of connecting means.

Figures 4A and 4B A further embodiment of the apparatus herein described is shown in Figures 4A and 4B. This apparatus is configured to secure a duvet 401 to duvet cover 104. Clip 402 comprises first attachment element 403 and second attachment element 404, which clip together as shown in Figure 4B. By attaching a clip at two adjacent corners of the duvet 401 and corresponding inside corners of duvet cover 104, it is possible to align the duvet 401 and duvet cover 104 with ease, simply by turning duvet cover 104 inside out.

Figure 5 The clip 402 shown in Figures 4A and 4B is shown in greater detail in Figure 5. First attachment element 403 is similar to attachment element 201, comprising a connecting portion 501 integral with a clamping portion 502.

Second attachment element 404 is similar to attachment element 202, but the clamping portion 503 and connecting portion 504 are integral, rather than being connected by a piece of resilient material.

In much the same way as described with respect to Figure 3, clamping portion 502 is secured to duvet 401, and cJamping portion 503 is secured to duvet cover 104, before the connecting portions 501 and 504 are releasably engaged. Again, other types of clamping portion and connecting portion are possible.

In other embodiments, the clamping and connecting portions of either or both attachment elements are joined together in another way, for example by a resilient, a flexible or a rigid material. Exact details of embodiments will be suitable to the type of bed linen and bedware they are used to secure.

Also shown in Figure 5 is tool 505 comprising a grip 506 and a bit 507, which is configured to engage with hole 508 in the head of threaded bolt 509.

A user turns tool 505 in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow 510 in order to move bolt 509 in a downwards direction as shown by arrow 511. Similarly, by turning it in the anticlockwise direction bolt 509 is moved upwards.

Tool 505 is configured to engage with threaded bolts suitable for use in all the attachment elements shown in Figure 3 and Figure 5.

Figure 6 Thus, a method of making a bed such as bed 101 can be described. At step 601 mattress clips, such as clip 105, are secured to a mattress, such as mattress 102. At step 602, the mattress clips are secured to a sheet, such as sheet 103. At step 603, the two mattress clips are secured to one another.

Thus the sheet is secured to the mattress.

At step 604 duvet clips, such as clip 402 are secured to a duvet, such as duvet 401. At step 605 the duvet clips are secured to a duvet cover, such as cover 104. At step 606 the duvet clips are secured to one another. Thus the duvet and duvet cover are aligned.

Following the end of these steps, bed linen has been secured to bedwa re.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for securing bed linen to bedware, comprising: a first attachment element including a first connecting portion and a first clamping portion, and a second attachment element including a second connecting portion and a second clamping portion; wherein: said first connecting portion is configured to releasably engage with said second connecting portion, said first clamping portion is configured to secure said first attachment to said bed linen, and said second clamping portion is configured to secure said second attachment to said bedware.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first clamping portion is connected to said first connecting portion with a resilient material.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said resilient material is rubber.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first clamping portion and said second clamping portion each comprise a jaw including a threaded portion, and a threaded element for threading in said threaded portion.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein each of said threaded elements includes a head configured to receive a tool for turning said threaded element within said threaded portion.
6. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said first connecting portion forms a hook member, and said second connecting portion forms a catch member, wherein: said first connecting portion includes two forwardly extending spring arms, wherein each of said spring arms is terminated by a retaining block, and said second connecting portion defines an aperture for receiving said spring and retaining said retaining blocks.
7. The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein said second connecting portion defines one aperture per spring arm for receiving said spring arms.
8. A method of making a bed, comprising the steps of: securing a first attachment element to an item of bedware, securing a second attachment element to an item of bed linen, and securing said first attachment element to said second attachment element.
9. An apparatus for securing bed linen to bedware substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.
10. A method of making a bed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.