GB2499365A

GB2499365A - A duvet cover fitting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2499365A
Application number: GB1122233.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Wilbert Garvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-23
Filing date: 2011-12-23
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-23
Also published as: GB201122233D0; GB2499365B

Abstract

A duvet cover fitting apparatus 1 comprised an anchoring member 2 for sliding between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface only for sandwiching and supporting the anchoring member 2. A clamping arrangement 3 extends from the anchoring member 2, the clamping arrangement 3 having a biasing member 4 in operable engagement with the clamping arrangement 3 for releasably clamping a portion of a duvet cover (36, fig 5) and a portion of a duvet (37) together for allowing fitting of the duvet cover to the duvet.

Description

1

AN APPARATUS FOR THE FITTING OF A DUVET COVER

The present invention relates to a bed linen fitting apparatus and in particular to an apparatus for fitting a duvet cover onto a duvet.

5 Attempting to fit a duvet cover has been a source of frustration for any individual who has attempted to complete the task. The source of this frustration results from the act of attempting to fit one soft flexible member into another which results in neither member providing any stiffness that would allow it to act as a guide for the other. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of fitting a duvet cover is getting the corners aligned correctly so that the 10 duvet is not only inside the cover, but fills it in a flat and even fashion.

While fitting a duvet cover is a challenge for even the most able bodied individual, for the elderly or infirm it becomes almost impossible. The typical approach involves inserting the duvet into the cover and aligning two of the corners with the innermost corners of the cover. Once this has been accomplished and the user has a firm grip of the aligned corners, 15 the duvet and cover are shaken until the remainder of the duvet spreads out and fills the cover, its remaining corners aligning with their counterparts in the cover. For most people, but particularly for the elderly and those with illnesses or disabilities where physical activity is difficult, it is extremely tiring, or in some cases impossible to utilize this method of fitting. Individuals with arthritis for example find it almost impossible to maintain the grip on the 20 corners with sufficient force to allow the vigorous shaking necessary to coax the duvet into place. Where this typical approach described above is viewed as too difficult or strenuous, some individuals resort to climbing inside the duvet cover in an attempt to correctly insert the duvet. This method raises serious safety concerns, especially if the individual is elderly or infirm and may become disorientated while inside the duvet cover. Moreover, in recent years, 25 manufacturers have been producing larger beds to meet the increasing demand for a more spacious sleeping environment. These larger beds require corresponding larger duvets and duvet covers, and the increase in size further compounds the duvet cover fitting procedure.

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Various devices exist which have been designed to alleviate the need for this physical method of fitting. The most common solution is a clamp type device which is fixed to the bed and allows the user to clamp the two initially aligned corners of the duvet and cover and then pull the cover down over the duvet. While this does eliminate the vigorous shaking, most of 5 these devices involve attaching the clamp devices with belts and straps around the mattress which can pose a challenge in itself in terms of fitting and removal.

It could be argued that the clamp could be fitted to the side of some mattresses where it would be easily slid under without any lifting. However, due to the relatively smaller mattress width, with respect to length, placing the clamp on the side of the mattress leaves 10 much of the duvet and cover hanging over the opposing edge and onto the floor, especially with single beds. While the fitting of the clamp is easier in this case, it raises the issue of having to get to the low overhanging linen in order to pull the cover down over the duvet. Applying the clamp to the side of the mattress also raises an issue where the side of the mattress is located along a wall, fitting the clamp in this case would involve moving the bed 15 away from the wall adding further to the difficulty of the process.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problem of having to fit a duvet cover using overly physical methods or methods not suitable for most people but particularly the elderly, ill, or disabled.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a duvet cover fitting apparatus comprising 20 an anchoring means slidable between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface only for sandwiching and supporting the anchoring means, a clamping arrangement extending from the anchoring means, the clamping arrangement having a biasing means in operable engagement with the clamping arrangement for releasably clamping a portion of a duvet cover and a portion of a duvet together for allowing fitting of the duvet cover to the duvet. 25 Preferably, the anchoring means is slidable between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface only for sandwiching and supporting the anchoring means in an upright configuration.

3

Alternatively the anchoring means is slidable between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface only for sandwiching and supporting the anchoring means in a substantially horizontal configuration.

Advantageously, the duvet cover fitting apparatus is applied easily by an operator 5 sliding the anchoring means between the mattress and adjacent surface without the need for any additional fitting or maneuver of the mattress.

Preferably, at least one duvet cover fitting apparatus is used.

Ideally, two or more duvet cover fitting apparatus are used where the larger size of the bed dictates.

10 Ideally, the anchoring means is provided by an anchoring member.

Preferably, the anchoring means is a thin plate like member.

Ideally, the anchoring member extends between the mattress and adjacent surface to an extent which provides sufficient support to overcome the torque applied during fitting and to anchor the duvet cover fitting apparatus during use.

15 Ideally, the adjacent upright surface is a headboard, or wall.

Preferably the adjacent horizontal surface is a mattress base.

Preferably, the anchoring means has a leading end portion which is initially insertable and then slidable between the mattress and the adjacent surface.

Ideally, the leading end portion is tapered towards the end.

20 Ideally, the anchoring member has a trailing end portion, distal the leading end portion, which extends beyond the mattress when the leading end is inserted between the mattress and the adjacent surface.

Preferably, the clamping arrangement comprises upper and lower clamping members, at least one of which opens and closes in a jaw like manner.

25 Ideally, the upper and lower clamping members are normally compressed together under the influence of the biasing means.

Preferably, one of the clamping members is fixed to the anchoring member and the other clamping member is pivotable via a hinge located at its attachment point to the anchoring member.

Ideally, the clamping arrangement protrudes laterally from a mattress facing surface 5 of the anchoring member in use.

Preferably, the clamping arrangement protrudes laterally from the anchoring member proximal to the trailing end portion of the anchoring member.

Preferably, the upper clamping member has a lower surface which faces the lower clamping member and an upper surface opposite the lower surface.

10 Ideally, the lower clamping member is integrally formed with the anchoring member.

Preferably, the lower clamping member rests against the mattress during use.

Ideally, the lower clamping member limits movement of the anchoring member by engaging a surface of the mattress during insertion of the duvet cover fitting apparatus.

Preferably, the biasing means is operably engaged between the upper clamping 15 member, the hinge and the anchoring member.

Ideally, one end of the biasing means is in contact with the upper surface of the upper clamping member.

Preferably, one end of the biasing means is in contact with the mattress facing surface of the anchoring member.

20 Advantageously, the biasing means forces the upper clamping member into contact with the lower clamping member in a normal operating condition.

Ideally, in the normal operating condition, the upper clamping member is substantially perpendicular to the anchoring member.

Preferably, the lower clamping member is gently inclined towards the upper clamping 25 member.

Alternatively, the lower clamping member is substantially perpendicular to the anchoring member.

5

Preferably, in the normal operating condition, the upper clamping member is inclined towards the lower clamping member.

Alternatively, both the upper and lower clamping members are substantially perpendicular to the anchoring member.

5 Ideally, the biasing means is attachable to the upper clamping member.

Preferably, the biasing means comprises a spring.

Preferably, the upper clamping member is pivotally mounted to the anchoring member via a hinge.

Ideally the hinge is located at or about the end of the upper clamping member

10 proximal to the anchoring member.

Ideally, the upper clamping member has at least one hinge pin receiving means.

Preferably, the upper clamping member has a pair of hinge pin receiving means spaced apart on the lateral edges of the end of the upper clamping member proximal to the anchoring member.

15 Preferably, the hinge pin receiving means are locatable on the upper surface of the upper clamping member.

Ideally, the hinge pin receiving means comprise two raised sections of material with aligned through bores.

Preferably, the anchoring means has at least one hinge pin receiving means.

20 Ideally, the hinge pin receiving means on the anchoring member comprises a raised section of material with a through bore formed for alignment with the through bores of the upper clamping member.

Ideally, the hinge pin receiving means on the anchoring member is located between the hinge pin receiving means of the upper clamping member.

25 Preferably, the through bore defined in the hinge pin receiving means of the anchoring member aligns with the through bores of the hinge pin receiving means on the upper clamping member.

6

Ideally, the hinge pin is mounted in the aligned through bores of the anchoring member and the upper clamping member.

Preferably, the hinge pin is threadable through the aligned bores defined in the hinge pin receiving means of the anchoring member and the upper clamping member.

5 Ideally, the spring is rotatably mounted on the hinge pin.

Preferably, the upper clamping member has an operating lever.

Ideally, the operating lever is attachable to the upper clamping member at or about the end proximal the anchoring member.

Preferably, the operating lever is integratable with the upper clamping member. 10 Ideally, the operating lever extends from the upper clamping member between the upper clamping member and the trailing end of the anchoring member.

Ideally, the operating lever has at least one cut-out for allowing the biasing means to pass there through and make functional contact with the upper clamping member.

Preferably, the operating lever extends from the upper clamping member at an 15 included angle of equal to or less than 90 degrees with respect to the upper clamping member.

Advantageously, the operating lever allows the user to utilize leverage to move the upper clamping member away from the lower clamping member overcoming the biasing force of the biasing member, making the force required to separate the two clamping 20 members easily manageable, even for the elderly or disabled.

Preferably, the upper clamping member has an overhanging strip of material on the underside at the end distal the hinge

Ideally, when the clamp is closed and not in use, the overhanging strip extends over the end of the lower clamping member.

25 Advantageously, the overhanging strip counteracts the horizontal forces involved when pulling the duvet cover over the duvet.

Ideally, the upper clamping member also has a handle.

7

Preferably, the handle is locatable on the upper surface of the upper clamping member.

Ideally, the handle is locatable at or about the end of the upper clamping member distal the hinge.

Preferably, the handle is a strip of material which runs along the edge of the upper clamping member distal the hinge.

Ideally, the handle curves inwardly, towards the hinge.

Preferably, the handle means is integrated with the upper clamping member.

Advantageously, the handle gives the user an alternate method of lifting the upper clamping member to separate it from the lower clamping member.

Preferably, at least one of the upper or lower clamping member has a duvet gripping means locatable on the inner surface.

Preferably, both the upper and lower clamping members have duvet gripping means locatable on their inner surfaces.

Ideally, the duvet gripping means comprises gripping teeth.

Preferably, the gripping teeth of the upper clamping member at least partially interlock with the gripping teeth of the lower clamping member.

Advantageously, the gripping teeth hold the duvet and cover in place when clamped between the upper clamping member and lower clamping member.

Ideally, the anchoring member has a storage hook receiving means.

Alternatively, the duvet cover fitting apparatus can be clamped to a horizontal surface.

Ideally, the horizontal surface is a shelf.

Preferably, the storage hook receiving means is locatable at or about the trailing end portion of the anchoring member, distal the end that is slid between the mattress and adjacent surface.

Alternatively, the storage hook receiving means is locatable at or about the leading end portion of the anchoring member.

Ideally the storage hook receiving means is a bore defined in the anchoring member. Preferably, the trailing end of the anchoring member has a finger receiving portion protruding out of the main plane of the anchoring member towards the clamping arrangement. Advantageously this portion allows an operator to locate one or more fingers between the adjacent upright surface and the portion to assist with applying a force to the operating lever.

Alternatively, an additional protrusion is formed at the top or bottom of the anchoring member in which the bore of the hook receiving means is defined.

Advantageously, the duvet cover fitting apparatus can be easily stored by hanging. Ideally, the duvet cover fitting apparatus is manufactured from a lightweight durable material.

Preferably, the duvet cover fitting apparatus is manufactured from a plastic material. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only two embodiments of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of duvet cover fitting apparatus; Figure 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of duvet cover fitting apparatus; Figure 3 is a side view of the second embodiment of duvet cover fitting apparatus showing the positioning of the operators hand during use;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the duvet cover fitting apparatus in use on a bed;and

Figure 5 is a side view showing the duvet cover fitting apparatus in use in a horizontal arrangement where no wall or headboard is present.

In the drawings, there is shown an apparatus indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for a duvet cover fitting apparatus comprising an anchoring member 2 slidable between a mattress 31 and an adjacent surface such as a headboard 32 (see figure 4) or a mattress base 33 (see figure 5). A clamping arrangement indicated generally by reference numeral 3 extends laterally from the anchoring member 2. The clamping arrangement 3 has

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a biasing mechanism 4 operating on the clamping arrangement 3 for releasably clamping a portion of the duvet cover 36 and duvet 37 (see figure 5) onto the clamping arrangement 3. The duvet cover fitting apparatus 1 is applied easily by an operator inserting and sliding the anchoring member 2 between the mattress 31 and adjacent surface 32,33, without the need 5 for any additional fitting or maneuver of the mattress 31. The anchoring member 2 is a thin plate like member 2 which extends between the mattress 31 and adjacent surface 32,33 to an extent which provides sufficient support to overcome the torque applied during fitting and to anchor the duvet cover fitting apparatus 1 during use. The adjacent surface is typically a headboard 32, mattress base 33 or wall up against which the mattress and base of the bed 10 are pushed.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, the anchoring member 2 has a leading end portion 5 which is slidable between the mattress 33 and the headboard/wall 32 and a trailing end portion 6, distal the leading end portion 5, which remains above mattress level when the leading end 5 is inserted between the mattress and headboard/wall 32. The clamping arrangement 3 15 protrudes laterally from a mattress facing surface 11 of the anchoring member 2 in use proximal to the trailing end portion 6 of the anchoring member 2 and has a lower clamping member 7 and an upper clamping member 8 with a lower surface 9 which faces the lower clamping member 7 and an upper surface 10 opposite the lower surface 9. The lower clamping member 7 is integrated with the anchoring member 2 and rests on the mattress 20 during use preventing further movement of the anchoring member 2 below mattress level.

The upper clamping member 8 has a biasing mechanism 4, one end of which is in contact with the upper surface 10 of the upper clamping member 8 and one end of which is in contact with the mattress facing surface 11 of the anchoring member 2. The biasing mechanism 4 forces the upper clamping member 8 into contact with the lower clamping 25 member 7 in a normal operating condition. In this condition, the lower clamping member 7 is substantially perpendicular to the anchoring member 2 and the upper clamping member 8 is inclined towards the lower clamping member 7.

10

The biasing mechanism 4 is attached to the upper clamping member 8 which has a hinge 14 located about its end 12 nearest the anchoring member 2 while in use and a rotational force applied by the biasing mechanism 4 through the hinge 14 encourages downward movement of the upper clamping member 8 onto the lower clamping member 7.

5 The upper clamping member 8 has two hinge pin receiving members 15 located on the upper clamping member 8 at the two corners of the upper clamping member 8 closest the anchoring member 2. The hinge pin receiving members 15 comprise a raised section of material with a bore 16 defined therein. The anchoring member 2 also has a hinge pin receiving member 17 located between the hinge pin receiving members 15 of the upper 10 clamping member 8. The hinge pin receiving member 17 of the anchoring member 2 also has a raised section of material with a bore defined therein. The bore defined in the hinge pin receiving member 17 of the anchoring member 2 aligns with the bores 16 of the hinge pin receiving members 15 on the upper clamping member 8.

One end of a hinge pin 18 is inserted into one of the hinge pin receiving members 15 15 of the upper clamping member 8 and the pin 18 is threaded through the bore defined in the hinge receiving member 17 of the anchoring member 2 and out through the other hinge pin receiving members 15.

The upper clamping member 8 has an integrated operating lever 19 having a cut-out 20 for allowing the biasing mechanism 4 to pass there through and make functional contact 20 with the upper clamping member 8. The operating lever 19 allows the user to utilize leverage to move the upper clamping member 8 away from the lower clamping member 7, making the force required to separate the two clamping members 7, 8 manageable even for the elderly or disabled.

The upper clamping member 8 has a handle 21 located on the upper surface 10 of 25 the upper clamping member 8 at the end of the upper clamping member 8 distal the hinge. The handle 21 is a strip of material which runs along the edge of the upper clamping member 8 distal the hinge 14 and curves inwardly, towards the hinge 14 giving the user an alternate

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method of lifting the upper clamping member 8 to separate it from the lower clamping member 7.

Both the upper and lower clamping members 7, 8 have duvet gripping teeth 22 located on their mutually opposing surfaces. The gripping teeth 22 of the upper clamping 5 member 8 at least partially interlock with the gripping teeth 22 of the lower clamping member 7 holding the duvet and cover in place when clamped between the upper clamping member 8 and lower clamping member 7.

The trailing end portion 6 of the anchoring member 2 has a finger receiving portion 38 protruding out of the main plane of the anchoring member 2 towards the clamping 10 arrangement 3, see especially Figure 3. Advantageously this portion allows an operator to locate one or more fingers between the adjacent upright surface 32 and the finger receiving portion 38 to assist with applying a force to the operating lever 19 with the palm of the hand. The anchoring member 2 has a storage hook receiving member 23 located at the trailing end portion 6 of the anchoring member 2 allowing easy storage by hanging. 15 The duvet cover fitting apparatus 1 is manufactured from a lightweight and durable plastic material.

In relation to the detailed description of the different embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that one or more technical features of one embodiment can be used in combination with one or more technical features of any other embodiment where the 20 transferred use of the one or more technical features would be immediately apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to carry out a similar function in a similar way on the other embodiment.

In the preceding discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a 25 parameter, coupled with an indication that one of the said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives,

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is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, 5 or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

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Claims

1. A duvet cover fitting apparatus comprising an anchoring means slidable between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface only for sandwiching and supporting

5 the anchoring means, a clamping arrangement extending from the anchoring means,

the clamping arrangement having a biasing means in operable engagement with the clamping arrangement for releasably clamping a portion of a duvet cover and a portion of a duvet together for allowing fitting of the duvet cover to the duvet.

2. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring means is 10 slidable in a substantially vertical or horizontal manner between a surface of a mattress and one adjacent surface such as but not limited to a headboard, wall, or mattress base only for sandwiching and supporting the anchoring means in an upright CM or horizontal configuration.

3. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one

CM

__ 15 duvet cover fitting apparatus is used and preferably two or more duvet cover fitting

CM

apparatus are used where the larger size of the bed dictates.

4. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anchoring means has a leading end portion which is initially insertable and then slidable between the mattress and the adjacent surface, the anchoring means further

20 comprising a trailing end portion, distal the leading end portion, which extends beyond the mattress when the leading end is inserted between the mattress and the adjacent surface.

5. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the leading end portion is tapered towards one end.

25

6. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping arrangement protrudes laterally from a mattress facing surface of the anchoring member and comprises upper and lower clamping members, at least one of which opens and closes in a jaw like manner, the upper and lower clamping

members being normally compressed together under the influence of the biasing means.

7. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the upper or lower clamping members is fixed to or formed integrally with the anchoring member and the other clamping member is pivotable via a hinge located at its attachment point to the anchoring member.

8. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the lower clamping member rests against the mattress during use and limits movement of the anchoring member by engaging a surface of the mattress during insertion of the duvet cover fitting apparatus.

9. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the biasing means is operably engaged between the upper clamping member, the hinge and the anchoring member

10. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein one end of the biasing means is in contact with an upper surface of the upper clamping member, one end of the biasing means is in contact with the mattress facing surface of the anchoring member, and the biasing means forces the upper clamping member into contact with the lower clamping member in a normal operating condition.

11. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the upper clamping member is pivotally mounted to the anchoring means via a hinge located at or about the end of the upper clamping member proximal to the anchoring means, the upper clamping member and anchoring means each having at least one hinge pin receiving means, the hinge pin receiving means on the anchoring means being located between the hinge pin receiving means of the upper clamping member.

12. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a hinge pin is mounted in aligned through bores of the hinge pin receiving means of the anchoring means and the upper clamping member.

15

13. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the duvet cover fitting apparatus has an operating lever attachable to the upper clamping member at or about the end proximal the anchoring means, the operating lever has at least one cut-out for allowing the biasing means to pass there through and make functional contact with the upper clamping member.

14. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the upper clamping member has an overhanging strip of material on the underside at the end distal the hinge so that when the clamp is closed and not in use, the overhanging strip extends over the end of the lower clamping member.

15. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 14, wherein the upper clamping member has a handle locatable on the upper surface of the upper clamping member, the handle is locatable at or about the end of the upper clamping member distal the hinge.

16. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 15, wherein at least one of the upper or lower clamping members have a duvet gripping means locatable on their inner surface.

17. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the duvet gripping means comprises at least partially interlocking gripping teeth.

18. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 17, wherein the trailing end of the anchoring means has a finger receiving portion protruding out of the main plane of the anchoring means towards the clamping arrangement.

19. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the duvet cover fitting apparatus is manufactured from a lightweight durable material such as but not limited to plastic.

20. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

21. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the spring is rotatably mounted on the hinge pin.

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22. A duvet cover fitting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchoring means has a storage hook receiving means.

23. A duvet cover fitting apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.