GB2484538A - Frame for positioning bed sheet over mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for fitting a sheet comprises a frame 3 dimensioned to fit over a mattress 2 and to support a sheet 8 fitted across the frame such that in use the frame , with a supported sheet, can be placed over or lowered onto the mattress to thereby position locate the sheet. The frame is preferably constructed of lightweight materials and connected to the sheet using releasable connectors of hook and loop fastener. In use the frame is especially adapted for allowing the bedding on bunk beds to be changed easily and quickly

Description

Fitting of Bed Sheets This invention relates to fitting bed sheets. In particular, it relates to a method and apparatus for fitting or applying bed sheets to a bed. In particular, but not exclusively, the bed may beabunk bed.

Bunk beds are well known and comprise two beds stacked on top of each other via a frame. They are commonly used by children and enable two persons to sleep in a relatively small area where two beds may not fit or may be extremely cramped if set out side by side.

It is often quite tricky to change the bedding of bunk beds, in particular the uppermost one since this is positioned relatively high and can be difficult for a bed changer to be able to reach over to fit the sheet over a mattress.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an improved method of fitting a bed sheet to a mattress on a bunk bed.

In accordance with the invention in a first aspect, there is provided apparatus for fitting a sheet to a mattress, comprising a frame having dimensions such that it can fit over a predetermined size of mattress, the frame being shaped to support a sheet fitted across the frame such that in order to locate the sheet on the mattress, the frame, with a supported sheet, can be placed over the mattress to thereby locate the sheet on the mattress.

The frame preferably has a rectangular frame portion and one or more protruding portions such as legs, panel portions or other parts, adapted to receive edges of the sheet.

The frame may have two or more side edges.

The frame may be provided with clamping or retaining means for clamping or retaining edges of the sheet relative to the frame.

The frame is such that once placed onto the bed with a sheet attached. the frame remains in position until the bedding needs to be changed, whereupon changing of the bedding linen is achieved by simply lifting the frame from the bed and reapplying a clean sheet.

A retaining means may comprise one or more lugs formed in one or more legs or other parts of the frame, the lugs being shaped to receive an edge of a sheet.

The means may comprise one or more grooves.

A clamping means may comprise one or more clamps for attaching a sheet to a frame.

The grooves may each have a portion which, when the frame is located in a position with one or more legs depending downwards, the grooves have a part which extends upwards so as to retain the sheet.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fitting a sheet to a mattress, comprising providing a frame suitable to fit over the top part of a mattress, placing a sheet over the frame and positioning the frame adjacent the mattress so that the sheet lies adjacent to the mattress.

Preferably, the sheet is retained in place on the frame.

Preferably, the frame then stays in place with the sheet attached while the bed is used and the frame, with attached sheet, is removable when it is desired to change the bedding.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematic an exploded view of a bed, frame and sheet; Figure 2 shows an example of a frame; Figure 3 shows an example of another frame; Figure 4 shows an example of sheeting retaining mechanism; and S Figure 5 shows part of a mechanism with a sheet fitted over a mattress.

Referring to the figures, Figure 1 shows broadly the concept of the invention. At the bottom part of the figure, there is shown (very schematically) a bed 1 having a mattress 2 placed upon it. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the bed will be a bunk-type bed and bunk beds are well known of course. However, the invention may also be of use in beds of other style and may be of particular use where a bed is positioned in a position where access is difficult or for use by a person of limited mobility who may have problems fitting sheets over mattresses and tucking them in' in conventional manner. They may also be of use in hospitals or other care environments.

A bunk bed will usually have a rail provided as a safety rail to prevent children or other occupants falling out. This is not shown in Figure 1 for clarity although it is shown schematically in Figure 5.

An apparatus for fitting a bed sheet to the mattress 2 generally comprises a frame 3 shown schematically in Figure 1. The frame is cons tructed to be lightweight and unobtrusive as possible. It is formed by side bars 4, 5 and end bars 6, 7 which are connected together to form a generally rectangular frame and which are sized so that the frame just fits over a mattress. Beds and mattresses normally come in standard sizes and so it will be easy to determine the correct size for such a frame. Typically, in the UK, a single bed is of dimensions approximately 90 cm by 190 cm and thus the length of the side bars 4 will be a little more than 190 cm, say around 190.1 to 195 cm and the length of the end parts 6 and 7 may be just over 90 cm, say 90.1 to 95 cm. Note that these dimensions are approximate and are non-limiting. The length can be greater or less than these. The lengths may be such that the frame fits snugly ie with very little tolerance of may be I mm or less between the frame and the edges of a mattress and/or bed or may be greater.

A standard double bed size in the UK is 135 cm by 190 cm, a standard king size bed is 150 cm by 200 cm and standard super king bed size is 180 cm by 200 cm. A frame will be provided which fits the appropriate bed size. Thus, the frame may be of a wide range of sizes relative to the bed and/or mattress it is to be placed on.

Figure 1 also shows a sheet 8 which may be a standard sheet designed to fit bed/mattress 1/2. Thus, if it is a single bed this will usually be a single size sheet. It may be a standard sheet or a so-called fitted sheet which has elasticated portions 9 at the corner and which is designed to be fitted easier and retained on a mattress.

In one very simple embodiment shown schematically in Figure 1, the frame has four corner legs 10 which extend generally perpendicular to the plane of the frame so as to help to locate the frame over the mattress 2. In use, the sheet 8 is simply placed on top of the frame and then the frame is placed upon the mattress 2. This then positions the sheet upon the mattress. The bed, with sheet positioned, can then be used for sleeping or other purposes. The frame remains in place, with the sheet attached, until the bedding is required to be changed. At this point, the frame is simply lifted off the mattress with the sheet attached to it and then the sheet can be removed and replaced.

In many circumstances, it may be found necessary or desirable to use some method of clamping or otherwise affixing or retaining the sheet to the frame, such that it cannot easily dislodge when in use. Many types of clamping or retaining arrangements will be apparent. This could be simply by pegs or clips which are used to clip one or more parts of the sheet to one or more parts of the frame and many different embodiments of this will be apparent.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the frame 3 has three downwardly projecting side members 11, 12, 13 in the form of side panels (instead of the legs 10 of Figure 1) and the lowermost part of each of these there is provided with a clip 14, 15, 16.

The clips in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 are generally elongate channel section clips and are resilient such that the freed end parts lie naturally together and can be pulled apart with a resilient force tending to push them together. Thus, the edge of a sheet can be held captive by a clip when clamped by it. Clamps, clips or other means can also be used with a corner leg type of frame as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an alternative in which end panels are omitted and thus only the two side plate portions 11 and 13 are included, each with their respective clips 14 and 16. In other embodiments, perhaps only one panel or leg may be used. For example, the two shorter end panels such as panel 12 and another panel at the opposing end of the frame may be used.

Other embodiments may have hollow side panels, railings or many other configurations.

Figure 4 shows an alternative clamping arrangement in which a leg or frame member 15 of the frame 8 includes a groove 16 which most preferably has an upwardly directed recess 17 which can receive a corner 18 of a sheet. If the sheet is of the fitted variety having an elasticated portion at its corners then, if the elasticated corner portion is inserted into the groove the sheet will not be able to easily dislocate from the grooves when it is pulled in a generally upwards manner. The relative dimensions of the figure have been exaggerated for clarity.

The groove or lug may be formed in a leg such as leg 10 of Figure 1 or in elongate panels such as panel 11, 12 or 13 of Figure 2 or in many other ways. The groove may be of any desired shape. Instead of being formed as integral part of a leg or side panel, the groove may be formed by a separate lug member having an appropriate cross-section or portion which form a groove or lug. The arrangement of grooves or lugs serves to in effect clamp a sheet to a frame so that sheet stays in place when the frame is used.

Figure 5 shows a corner of a mattress 2 and a bed rail 20 which will normally be provided for a bunk bed. This is provided for safety and also a ladder may form part of the rail enabling a child to climb onto the topmost bunk. The figure show how the frame 3 can be mounted over the bed and with edges of sheet 8 lying between the frame and rail.

Claims (13)

1. Claims 1. Apparatus for fitting a sheet to a mattress, comprising a frame having dimensions such that it can fit over a predetermined size of mattress, the frame being shaped to support a sheet fitted across the frame such that in order to locate the sheet on the mattress, the frame, with a supported sheet, can be placed relative to mattress to thereby locate the sheet relative to the mattress.
2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the frame has a rectangular frame portion and one or more protruding portions adapted to receive edges of the sheet.
3. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the protruding portions are leg or panel portions.
4. 4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising two or more side edges.
5. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, provided with clamping or retaining means for clamping or retaining edges of a sheet relative to the frame.
6. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted such that, one placed onto a bed with a sheet attached, the frame remains in position until the bedding needs to be changed.
7. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a retaining means comprising one or more grooves or lugs formed in one or more parts of the frame, the grooves or lugs being shaped to receive an edge of a sheet.
8. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising clamping means comprising one or more clamps or pins for attaching a sheet to the frame.
9. 9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the grooves or clamps have a portion which, when the frame is located in the position on a bed, form a recess to retain the sheet.
10. 10. A method of fitting a sheet to a mattress, comprising providing a frame suitable to fit over the top part of a mattress, placing a sheet over the frame and placing the frame adjacent to the mattress to position the sheet on the mattress.
11. 11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the sheet is retained in place on the frame.
12. 12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, any of the accompanying drawings.
13. 13. A method of fitting a sheet to a bed, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.