US3808614A

US3808614A - Toe protecting bed clothing rail

Info

Publication number: US3808614A
Application number: US00179138A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Reinhard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-07
Filing date: 1972-02-07
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A support for easing the pressure of sheets and bed clothing on the feet of a sleeping person. A telescopic rod is pivotally connected at each end to a bracket which is positioned between mattress and springs.

Description

United States Patent [1 91 Reinhard [451 May 7,1974

TOE PROTECTING BED CLOTHING RAIL [76] Inventor: Florence Reinhard, 324 W. Main St., Crestline, Ohio 44827 [22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 179,138

[52] US. Cl. 5/319, 5/317 R [51] Int. Cl. A47c 21/00 [58] Field of Search 5/317, 319

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,676,340 4/1954 Garriott et al. 5/319 2,710,414 6/l955 Emery 5/3l9 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg 57 ABSTRACT A support for easing the pressure of sheets and bed clothing on the feet of a sleeping person. A telescopic rod is pivotally connected at each end to a bracket which is positioned between mattress and springs.

Y 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW m4 3,808,614

' SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTED MAY 7 H74 S-LHLET 2 m 3 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

TOE PROTECTING BED CLOTHING RAIL BACKGROUND SUMMARY The invention has a pair of angle brackets each formed'with an upwardly extending support leg and a centrally extending flat leg for insertion of the flat legs between a mattress and springs. A pair of telescopically engaged rods form a cross beam with an approximately right angle bend near each end and pivotally mounted at opposite ends to a different one of said brackets.

DESCRITPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FlG. 1 is a view in perspective'of a bed having a preferred embodiment of the .invention operatively mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating the opera- 7 tion of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view in perspective of a bracket and the end of the cross beam portions of the preferred embodiment of the invention. I

DETAILED DESCRlPTlON The toe rail is basically a metal or plastic rod l elevated above the foot of the bed 2 to hold up the bedding away from the feet. A

bracket

3 and 4 on each side of the bed is placed between the mattress 5 and the spring 6. The bracket is preferably 6 inches high, 6

inches wide at the base and 6 inches deep under the mattress, so as to be firm enough and not slop or wabble during the night; The rod 1 is attached to the

brackets

3 and 4 with a nut 16 and screw 7 extending through a hole 13 so it can be raised to the up position 18 illustrated in FIG. 2 when in use and down or forward when the bed 2 is made up or not in use. A stop tab 8 at the far end of the bracket 3 keeps the rod from falling backwards and a similar tab 9 is provided on bracket 4. This is a precautionary measure only and really not necessary. An indented groove 10 on the bracket matching the bulge of the rod 1 keeps the rod in an upright position, causing a lock which prevents the rod 1 from falling forward or backwards. When not in use you merely push the rod forward forcing the bulge of the rod out of the groove on the bracket and the rod will lie flat on the bed. The bracket will be made out of the same material as the rod. It must be strong and sturdy so it will not bend or give.

The rod as shown in H6. 3 consists of two hollow tubes 11 and 12, one fitting into the other much like an ordinary curtain rod. The rod can be made out of plastic or aluminum or chrome. The thickness of the rod 1 can be of various sizes either thick or thin. lt can be separated at the middlefor easy installation, when changing the bedding, and can fit the varying widths of beds. The height can also be adjusted on the sides of the rod from for example, 8 to 10 inches. The adjustments in heights will be on the deluxe models only. I

feel that a non-adjustable rod will serve just as well and would be used inmost cases. I suggest making four sizes.

l. The single or twin size bed extending from 40 to inches 2. The full size bed extending from 50 to inches.

3. The queen size bed extending from 60 to inches. 4. The king size bed extending from 70 to inches.

These sizes can also be consolidated into two basic sizes, Regular size for the twin and full size bed and extra large size for the queen and king size beds.

The toe rail will be a product that anyone can buy for their own sleeping comfort at home. Before the tow rail makeshift props were used and seen only in hospitals, using anything from pillows to boards. The toe rail will be aimed at the general public as well as to the hospitals.

Consider the many hospital patients that are really sickand bed-ridden, mostly the elderly who must suffer from cramped feet along with their many bed sores andaching bones. What about the paralyzed patients that can not turn over without aid and must lie endlessly on his back? Do they also have to put up with sore toes if they are indeed fortunate enough to have any feeling in their feet at all? Several toe rails can be placed along the bed in the treatment of burn-patients. There are many other hospital cases too numerous to mention that will benefit by this invention. lve mentioned just a few. Then there are the many, many people at home who are fine and healthy but sufferfrom ingrown toenails, corns, bunions, calluses and just plain tired feet. This will be a big relief in that department and will probably be the biggest users of toe rail. Lets not forget the pregnant woman who suffers from leg cramps and varicose veins. Toe rail will benefit those cases that must sleep with their feet elevated.

Toe rail will not cure these many ills but it could make the suffering a little more bearable and a lot less painful. Most heavy people and people with big feet will find this a real comfort.

The toe rail will be convenient, economical, safe and a new revolutionary idea in sleeping comfort.

Convenient because it can easily be installed and removed when changing the bedding. Also convenient because a person can crawl into bed and by pushing the rod up with his foot it will lock into the up position. When making the bed it can easily be pushed forward with the hand to the down position.

Ecomonical because of its simple make and construction it will be sold at an honest price that anyone can afford to pay. it will be sold to the general public as well as to hospitals and nursing homes. Toe rail will be packaged in such a way that all the purchaser has to do is to screw the rods and brackets together.

Toe rail is not recommended for use on childrens beds. Children like to wrestle and jump on the bed which might result in unnecessary head injury and other accidents.

Last but not least, the comfort it will give the toes and feet because of the many aforementioned conditions. The toe rail will pay for itself in comfort alone.

What I claim is:

1. A laterally adjustable bedcover support in an operable position comprising:

a. a pair of angle brackets, each bracket formed with an upwardly extending support leg and a centrally extending, flat leg for insertion of said flat legs on opposite sides of a bed between a mattress and springs wherein each of said support legs comprises a flat sheet of flexible material and is formed with a flexibly, releasable groove indented in said sheet and extending generally radially upwardly from the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining the cross beam in an upright position; and

b. a cross beam comprising a pair of slidably, telescopically engaged rods, said cross beam having an approximately right angle bend near each end and pivotally mounted at its opposite ends to a different one of said support legs.

2. A bedcover support according to claim 1 wherein each of said support legs is formed with a flexibly, releasable notch extending generally radially upwardly from the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining the cross beam in an upright position.

3. A bedcover support according to claim 1 wherein a centrally extending stop tab protrudes from said support leg for limiting the pivotal rotation of said cross beam.

Claims

1. A laterally adjustable bedcover support in an operable position comprising: a. a pair of angle brackets, each bracket formed with an upwardly extending support leg and a centrally extending, flat leg for insertion of said flat legs on opposite sides of a bed between a mattress and springs wherein each of said support legs comprises a flat sheet of flexible material and is formed with a flexibly, releasable groove indented in said sheet and extending generally radially upwardly from the pivot axis of said cross beam for releasably retaining the cross beam in an upright position; and b. a cross beam comprising a pair of slidably, telescopically engaged rods, said cross beam having an approximately right angle bend near each end and pivotally mounted at its opposite ends to a different one of said support legs.