GB2547920A

GB2547920A - A bed cover retaining device

Info

Publication number: GB2547920A
Application number: GB1603674.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sher Deborah; White Gemma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-02
Filing date: 2016-03-02
Publication date: 2017-09-06
Also published as: GB201603674D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for retaining bed covers or sheets on a bed during sleep. The device comprises an inner retaining portion 2, an outer retaining portion, and a connection means 4a,4b. The inner retaining portion rests substantially flat against a first side of a bed cover in use. The outer retaining portion comprises a first part 3a that rests substantially flat against a second side of a bed cover in use, and a thin, flexible second part 3b extending from the first part. The connection means releasably connects the inner and outer retaining portions such that, in use, a bed cover 5 is sandwiched between and gripped by the retaining portions. The connection means may comprise at least one pair of opposed magnets; one half of the pair being located on the inner retaining portion, and the other half being located on the outer retaining portion. The inner and outer retaining portions may be substantially equally sized elongate strips. The thin, flexible second part may comprise a section of cloth to be tucked under a mattress.

Description

A bed cover retaining device

FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for retaining bed covers on a bed during sleep. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for retaining a duvet on a bed during sleep.

BACKGROUND

At a suitable stage of development, infant children make the transition from sleeping in a cot (with side walls or barriers) to a normal bed. However, many children are restless and fidgety sleepers and move frequently during sleep. It is not uncommon for a sleeping child to move so as to push or pull the covers off themselves, or to move out from under the covers while still asleep. In some cases, a child can move themselves so as to fall out of bed from under the covers. Adults can also be restless sleepers, and can push or pull the covers off during sleep, and move so as to fall out of bed, n a similar fashion to that described above.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bed cover retaining device which goes some way to overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public or industry with a useful choice.

The term “comprising” as used in this specification and indicative independent claims means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting each statement in this specification and indicative independent claims that includes the term “comprising”, features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” are to be interpreted in the same manner.

As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.

As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Accordingly, in an aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a bed cover retaining device, comprising: an inner retaining portion configured to in use rest substantially flat against a first side of a bed cover, and to extend along at least a section of the first side; an outer retaining portion comprising a first part configured to in use rest substantially flat against the opposite side of the bed cover and to extend along at least a section of the opposite side, and a thin, flexible second part that in use extends from the first part, and; a connection means configured to releasably connect the inner and outer retaining portions so that in use the section of the bed cover along which the inner and outer retaining portions extend is sandwiched and gripped between at least part of the inner and outer retaining portions.

In an embodiment, the connection means comprises at least one pair of opposed magnets, one half of the at least one pair located on the inner retaining portion and the other located on the outer retaining portion so that in use the pair magnetically connect through the bed cover.

In an embodiment, the inner and outer retaining portions are substantially equally sized elongate strips.

In an embodiment, the thin, flexible second part comprises a section of cloth material configured to in use tuck under a mattress or similar.

In an embodiment, the section of cloth material is shaped and sized so as to extend outwards further from the first part at one end when laid flat.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the device by way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a series of perspective views of a restless sleeper, the sleeper moving during their sleep so as to push or pull the covers off themselves, and eventually falling out of bed.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the bed cover retaining device of the present invention, the retaining device having an inner retaining portion configured to in use rest substantially flat against an inner side of a duvet cover so that it extends along at the inner side, and a separate outer retaining portion having a first part configured to in use rest substantially flat against and extend along the outer side of the duvet cover opposite the inner retaining portion, and a thin, flexible cloth section that extends from the first part of the outer retaining portion and which can be tucked under a mattress in use to help retain the duvet cover in position, the inner and outer retaining portions connected to one another and sandwiching a section of the duvet cover between them via a row of magnets along the inner retaining portion and the first part of the outer retaining portion.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a child's bed with a duvet cover shown flat over the bed, the embodiment of the bed cover retaining device of figure 1 fitted to each side of the duvet, and tucked under the duvet so that the thin, flexible cloth section extends inwards towards the centre from the edge.

Figures 4a and 4b show perspective side views of the top corner of a duvet cover and a mattress, the duvet cover retaining device of figures 2 and 3 connected to the duvet cover, the cloth section shown hanging loose in figure 4a, and shown tucked under the mattress in figure 4b.

Figure 5 shows the bed cover retaining position in position on a bed, showing detail of the cover moving between a 'sleep' position on the bed, with the magnets engaged with one another, to a position away from the bed with the magnets moved apart, that allows a user access to the bed so as to get in and out of the bed.

Figure 6 shows a series of perspective views of a restless sleeper sleeping under covers fitted with an embodiment of the retaining device of the present invention, the sleeper prevented from excessive movement that would remove the covers from over them, and also prevented from falling out of bed, the sleeper resting more comfortably as a result.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the bed cover retaining device of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures. A bed cover retaining device 1 is shown in figures 2 to 6. The bed cover retaining device 1 has two main parts: an inner retainer 2 and an outer retainer 3.

The inner retainer 2 in this embodiment has the form of an elongate rectangular cloth strip. In use, the strip rests substantially flat inside a bed cover 5 such as the inside of a duvet cover, close to the side seam of a duvet in the cover, so that the strip extends along the inner face of the cover 5, inside the cover 5. Encased magnets 4a are embedded at intervals along the length of the strip (note that in this embodiment, the cloth strip has two layers, with the magnets 4a sandwiched between the layers. Additional padding could also be included to assist with preventing the hard magnets from contacting and disturbing a user).

The outer retainer 3 has two parts: a first retainer part 3a very similar or substantially identical to the inner retainer 2, and a thin, flexible second cloth panel 3b connected to the first retainer part 3a, and which in use extends from the first part 3a. The first retainer part 3a essentially mirrors the inner retainer 2, and is configured to in use rest substantially flat against the side of a mattress or similar, as shown in figures 4 and 5. In a similar manner to that described above for the inner retainer 2, magnets 4b are embedded at intervals along the length of the strip that forms the first retainer part 3a.

The second part 3b is formed as a thin, flexible panel from cloth material. The second part 3b extends in use from the first part 3a and tucks under the mattress, as shown in figures 4 and 5. In the most preferred embodiment, the second part 3b is shaped so as to have the appearance of a stylised wing when viewed in plan view.

In use, as outlined above, the inner retainer 2 is positioned inside a duvet cover 5, or on the inner face of a bed cover. The first retainer part 3a of the outer retainer 3 is then positioned in alignment with the inner retainer 2, on the inner side of the duvet, as shown in figure 5. Specifically, the inner retainer 2 in the duvet cover 5 is brought into alignment with the first retainer part 3a, so that the magnets 4a, 4b connect with one another or snap together so that the inner and outer retainer portions 2, 3 are releasably connected, with a portion of the cover 5 sandwiched between them. The magnets 4a, 4b are powerful enough to retain the connection in normal use, and to keep the bed cover retaining device 1 in position during normal use, which includes accidental tugging and jarring. However, as shown in figure 5, the magnets can be pulled apart with fairly minimal directly applied effort by a normal person - e.g. a person pulling back the covers to create enough room to swing their legs out of bed. In this manner, the cover 5 is retained in position during sleep by the magnetic connection at the side(s) of the cover 5, and by the friction between the mattress and the thin, flexible second part 3b due to the tucking. This assists with preventing a restless sleeper from kicking or otherwise moving the cover away from themselves, and also helps to prevent them from falling out of bed, by retaining the covers 5 in position.

In use, a pair of the bed cover retaining devices 1 will normally be used, one on each side of the cover 5 (and the bed with which it is being used). However, one could be used in some circumstances, on one side of the cover only - e.g. if a wall or similar is present, which will act to retain the other side of the cover 5 and to prevent the sleeper from falling out of the bed on that side.

Although in the embodiments described above, a child's bed and sleep have been described, it can be seen that this invention could also be used on adult-sized single and shared beds without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bed cover retaining device, comprising: an inner retaining portion configured to in use rest substantially flat against a first side of a bed cover, and to extend along at least a section of the first side; an outer retaining portion comprising a first part configured to in use rest substantially flat against the opposite side of the bed cover and to extend along at least a section of the opposite side, and a thin, flexible second part that in use extends from the first part; a connection means configured to releasably connect the inner and outer retaining portions so that in use the section of the bed cover along which the inner and outer retaining portions extend is sandwiched and gripped between at least part of the inner and outer retaining portions.

2. A bed cover retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection means comprises at least one pair of opposed magnets, one half of the at least one pair located on the inner retaining portion and the other located on the outer retaining portion so that in use the pair magnetically connect through the bed cover.

3. A bed cover retaining device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inner and outer retaining portions are substantially equally sized elongate strips.

4. A bed cover retaining device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the thin, flexible second part comprises a section of cloth material configured to in use tuck under a mattress or similar.

5. A bed cover retaining device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the section of cloth material is shaped and sized so as to extend outwards further from the first part at one end when laid flat.

6. A bed cover retaining device substantially as herein described with reference to the figures.