CA1330124C - Device for attaching a sheet to a mattress - Google Patents

Device for attaching a sheet to a mattress

Info

Publication number
CA1330124C
CA1330124C CA000599428A CA599428A CA1330124C CA 1330124 C CA1330124 C CA 1330124C CA 000599428 A CA000599428 A CA 000599428A CA 599428 A CA599428 A CA 599428A CA 1330124 C CA1330124 C CA 1330124C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
strap
mattress
region
opening
sheet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000599428A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William B. Hutton
Deanice B. Hutton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1330124C publication Critical patent/CA1330124C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C21/00Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders, bed-cover holders; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
    • A47C21/02Holders for loose bed elements, e.g. sheet holders; bed cover holders
    • A47C21/022Sheet holders; Bed cover holders
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47GHOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G9/00Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
    • A47G9/02Bed linen; Blankets; Counterpanes
    • A47G9/0238Bed linen

Abstract

Abstract A device for attaching a sheet to a mattress comprises an elongate, inextensible strap having first and second opposite ends. The strap is posi-tionable under the mattress across a corner thereof with the first and second opposite ends projecting beyond the two edges respectively. A first fastener is attachable to the strap at the first end thereof and comprises a plate member and a stud. The plate member has two opposite sides and is formed with an elongate opening extending there-through. The opening has two regions, one of which is narrower than the other. The stud has a base portion, a head portion and a neck portion. The neck portion connects the base portion and the head portion. The base portion is sized to pass through the wider region of the opening, but both the head portion and the base portion are too large to pass through the narrower region. The neck portion is sufficiently narrow to enter the narrower region of the opening. A second fastener is attachable to the strap at the second end thereof.

Description

-~ 1 1 3 3 0 1 2 4 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A SHEET TO A MA.TRESS

Background of the Invention This invention relates to a device for attaching a sheet to a mattress.
A conventional bed comprises a generally rec-tangular mattress, which rests on a support struc-ture. When the bed is made, a bottom sheet is placed on the mattress and is tucked in between the mattress and the support structure around all four edges of the mattress, a top sheet is placed over the bottom shee'~ and is tucked in at the foot of `~
the bed and along most of two sides of the bed, and ~`
blankets or other bedcovers are placed over the top -sheet.
The top sheet that is used with conventional mattresses is flat, i.e., it will lie flat, without ;~
folding, when spread out on a flat surface. How-ever, it is conventional to employ a fitted sheet as the bottom sheet. A fitted sheet is not flat but is formed with pockets at the corners so that --it will fit snugly about the mattress. The advan-tage of a fitted b~ottom sheet is that it normally stays securely in position. One difficulty with fitted sheets is that a fitted sheet for one size mattress cannot be fitted to a larger sized mat-tress, and the advantage of a fitted sheet is largely lost if it is fitted to a smaller sized mattres8. Also, in recent years many mattress manufacturers have made mattresses that are thicker than those that they previously made, and sheepskin ;~
and so-called egg box mattress pads, which are thicker than the mattress pads that were previously used, have been introduced. Fitted sheets that ;
have been made to fit a previously-conventional ` `i~

'..` ..~ '``.."., 2 1330124 . .

mattress, provided with a previously-conventional mattress pad, will not fit easily over a thick mattress ~ -~
that is provided with a thick pad.
U.S. Patent No. 4,660,240 discloses a device for attaching sheets to a waterbed. A waterbed mattress contains water, and the support structure of a waterbed is normally in the form of a box-like frame in which the mattress is disposed. One attachment device is provided at each corner of the mattress. The attachment device comprises a short length of elastic tape, which is attached at one end to the frame, e.g.
by means of a screw At its other end, the elastic ~ -tape is attached to a two-part fastener. The two-part fastener is able to grip releasably one or two bed sheets. The two fasteners at the foot of the bed grip -both the top and bottom sheets, while the fasteners at the head of the bed grip only the bottom sheet. The sheets are thus kept in position on the bed, without need for using fitted sheets.
U.S. Patent No. 4,782,543 issued November 8, 1988 shows another attachment device for use with waterbeds.
The device shown in that patent application comprises a generally flat retainer portion which is placed under -~
the mattress, adjacent its corner. The weight of the mattress at its corner keeps the retainer portions in position. A strap extends from the retainer portion, and a two-piece fastener, similar to that shown in `
Patent No. 4,660,240, is attached to the strap at its outer end. The strap is long enough that the retainer portion can remain under the mattress while the two-piece fastener is positioned close to the top of the -~
mattress.
Neither of the sheet attachment devices re-ferred to above is suitable for use with a bed having a spring or foam mattress. With regard to - ~ -Patent No. 4,660,240, conventional beds having spring or foam mattresses do not have the type of frame that is ~sed in a conventional waterbed, and it is not convenient to attach the elastic tape to ~ -the support structure of a conventional bed. With regard to the pending application, a spring or foam mattress often does not lie firmly on its support ~ -structure at its corners, and accordingly the re~
tainer portion is not held in position sufficiently firmly.
It is known to attach a bed sheet to a spring or foam mattress by use of an attachment device -~
comprising two garter clips secured to opposite ends of an elastically-extensible strap. A garter clip is not satisfactory for attachment of a bed sheet because stresses are concentrated over a very small area of the fabric of the sheet, and the -~;
tension in the sheet when the bed is in use often ~ -results in the garter clip tearing the fabric of ~ ;
the sheet. Moreover, because the strap is elasti- - u- :
~ cally extensible, the sheet is not held firmly in ;~
;~ 25 position. Furthermore, the attachment device cannot be used for attachment of both a top sheet and a bottom sheet, because the garter clip is only ; ~-able to accommodate a single sheet.

-Summary of the Invention A preferred embodiment of the present inven-tion is a device for attaching a sheet to a mat~
tress having at least one corner defined between `- -~
two edges of the mattress. The device comprises an ~` `` ~-~:~ ~
elongate, inextensible strap having first and second opposite ends. The strap is positionable under the mattress across the corner thereof with the first and second opposite ends projecting beyond the two edges respectively. A first fastener is attachable to the strap at the first end thereof and comprises a plate member and a stud. The plate member has two opposite sides and is formed with an elongate opening extending therethrough. The opening has two regions, one of which is narrower than the other. The stud has a base ~ -portion, a head portion and a neck portion. The neck portion connects the base portion and the head portion.
The base portion is sized to pass through the wider ;
region of the opening, but both the head portion and the base portion are too large to pass through the narrower region. The neck portion is sufficiently -narrow to enter the narrower region of the opening. A -second fastener is attachable to the strap at the -second end thereof.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention ~
there is provided a bed comprising: a mattress having ~ -at least one corner defined between first and second edges of the mattress, a support structure on which the mattress is positioned, a substantially inextensible elongate strap having first and second opposite ends, the strap extending between the mattress and the support st NCtUre across the corner of the mattress with the first and second opposite ends of the strap projecting beyond the first and second edges ~ `
respectively, a sheet positioned over the mattress and having first and second edge regions, a first fastener which is attached to the strap at the first end thereof and is attached to the sheet at the first edge region thereof, and a second fastener which is attached to the strap at the second end thereof and is attached to the ;- ;~
sheet at the second edge region thereof.

'~ ~

4a 1 3301 24 , . :,- -. , Brief Description of the Drawinas For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the strap of a sheet attachment device embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is an end view of the strap shown in ;~
FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of part of a fastener of a ;~
sheet attachment device embodying the present ;- :
invention, FIG. 4 is a side elevation of another part of the ~ - ;
fastener, and - , ,'' .

~: I.: i ~ ' .`'~. " ''.`':' . ' ' .~ . ~ .
- ~- ,~ ,~.,, .. . ::,~'' ,;,:..
" : .' ~ - ':. :: -~ ; 5 1 330 1 24 FIGS. 5 and 6 show use of the attachment device to attach a bed sheet to a mattress ~:
Detailed Description The illustrated sheet attachment device com- -prises a strap 2 ~FIGS. 1 and 2) and two two-part fasteners (FIGS. 3 and 4). The strap 2 comprises two rods 4 and 6 and a web 8 which connects the two -rods together. The rod 4 is formed with a knob 10 at each end, and similarly the rod 6 is formed with a knob 12 at each end. When the strap lies flat as shown, the centers of the two knobs at one end of the strap lie on a line that is at approximately 90 to the line on which the centers of the knobs at the other end of the strap lie. A loop 14 projects from each of the knobs 10. The strap 2 is flexible but is substantially inextensible, and is formed by injection molding of synthetic polymer material, e.g. the material sold under the desig- `
nation Shell KRATON 78 20 G. -Each fastener is simllar to the fastener shown -in Patent No. 4,660,240 and comprises a plate 16 (FIG. 3) and a stud 18 (FIG. 4). The plate 16 is symmetrical about an axis 20 and has an upper end ~-22 and an opposite lower end 24. The plate 16 has two major faces 26 and is formed with a keyhole- -~
like opening 28. The plate 16 is about 0.32 cm thick and the edges that bound the opening 28 are smoothly rounded. The opening 28 has a slot-form region 30 and a circular region 32. The diameter D
of the circular region 32 is greater than the width ~ of the slot-form region 30. The sides of the slot-form region 30 may converge slightly towards the end farther from the circular region 32. The plate 16 is formed near its lower end 24 with two *trade mark ~"`
.~, ~ .

6 1330124 ~ ~
notches 34. The notches 34 each have two sides which converge slightly and lead through a throat 36 into a region 38 that is part-circular in form.
The faces 26 of the plate 16 are slightly recessed surrounding each of the part-circular regions 38, as shown at 40. Each notch 34 is sized to receive the rod 4 or 6. The rod must be deformed slight-ly in order to pass through the throat 36 into the part-circular region 38,,and therefore the rod is retained securely in the notch. When the rod 4 or 6 is fitted in one of the notches, the knob 10 or 12 can be seated in the recess 40.
The stud ~8 comprises a base portion 42, a head portion 4g and a neck portion 46. The stud is `~
circularly symmetrical, with the diameter of the base portion (about 1.82 cm) being larger than that -of the neck portion (about 0.81 cm) and smaller - -than that of the head portion (about 3.18 cm). The - ~ -diameter of the base portion 42 is slightly smaller than the diameter D of the circular region 32 of the opening 28, and the diameter of the neck por- -; -tion 46 is slightly smailer than the width W of the slot-form region 30 of the opening 28. The diame- -- `
ter of the head portion 44 of the stud is larger --~
than the diameter D of the circular region 32.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sheet at-tachment device is used to attach a bottom sheet 48 -to a mattress 50 which is resting on a box spring 52 or other support structure. The strap 2 is placed diagonally under a corner region of the mattress, ; ~;
with the rods 4 and 6 at about 45 to the two edges 54 and 56 of the mattress and the shorter rod 4 closer to the corner. The ends of the strap project beyond the edges !i4 and 56 of the mattress. The strap is positioned so that when the fasteners are ~

:,".',.~';~' i 1 330 1 24 attached to the two ends of the strap and the two ends are bent upwards, as shown in FIG. 5, the fasteners lie somewhat below the top surface of the mattress. In this position, the centers of the two knobs 10 and 12 at each end of the strap lie on a horizontal line, and accordingly the slot-form region 30 is disposed substantially vertically. The bottom sheet 48 is placed over the mattress so that its edge regions lie over the two fasteners respec- ~ --tively. The sheet is attached to one of the fasteners by holding the plate 16 in position with the edge region of the flat sheet draped over it, ~-and inserting the base portion 42 of the stud through the circular region 32 of the opening 28. A
small part of the sheet is forced through the circu-lar region 32 of the opening. The stud is then slid into the slot-form region 30 with the sheet surrounding the neck portion 46 of the stud. This operation is repeated for the other fastener of the attachment device, and other attachment devices are installed in similar fashion at the other three corners of the mattress. Because the strap 2 does not stretch longitudinally, the fasteners are not able to move upwards relative to the mattress when tension is applied to the sheet. Moreover, provided the longitudinal margins of the sheet, between the corners of the mattress, are taut when the attach-ment devices are installed, the fasteners cannot move closer to the corners, such as to create slack in the strap 2. It will therefore be seen that by use of an attachment device at each corner of the mattress, the bottom sheet is firmly attached to the mattress. Of course, in the case of the two corners at the f~ot of the bed, the top sheet is attached simultaneously with the bottom sheet.

When the stud is not fitted in the opening 28, it can be kept convenient to hand by fitting its base portion through one of the loops 14.
The illustrated attachment device may be used to attach flat sheets securely to a bed. The attachment device may also be used in conjunction with fitted sheets, particularly if the fitted sheets do not fit the mattress properly. For example, if a fitted ~or flat) sheet is not large enough that its margin hangs down to the level of the fasteners shown in FIG. 5, e.g., because the -mattress is thicXer than usual or a thick mattress pad is used, by moving the attachment device closer to the corner of the mattress the fasteners will be raised, allowing them to receive a portion of the smaller sheet. `~
It will be appreciated that the present inven- `~
tion is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described and illustrated, and that variations may be made therein without departing from -~ ;
the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof. For example, the invention is not limited to the use of knobs and ., " - : ~
notches to secure the fasteners to the strap.

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::: . ' .

Claims (10)

1. A device for attaching a sheet to a mattress having at least one corner defined between first and second edges of the mattress, comprising:
an elongate strap having first and second opposite ends, the strap being positionable under the mattress across the corner thereof with the first and second opposite ends projecting beyond the first and second edges respectively, a first fastener which is attachable to the strap at the first end thereof, for positioning at the first edge of the mattress and for attach-ment to the sheet, the first fastener comprising:
(i) a plate member formed with an elongate opening extending there-through, the opening having a first length region and a second length region and the second length region being narrower than the first length region, and (ii) a stud having a base por-tion, a head portion, and a neck por-tion which connects the base portion and the head portion, the head and base portions each being too large to pass through the second region of the opening but the base portion being sized to pass through the first re-gion of the opening, and the neck portion being sufficiently narrow to enter the second region of the opening, and a second fastener which is attachable to the strap at the second end thereof, for positioning at the second edge of the mattress and for attachment to the sheet.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the strap comprises two rod portions ending in an enlarged knob at the first end of the strap, and wherein the plate member is formed with notches for receiving the rod portions, the notches being sufficiently small that the knobs cannot pass therethrough.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the knobs have centers and the rod portions have central axes, and the lengths of the rod portions are unequal and are such that when the central axes are straight and lie in a common plane with the centers of the knobs, the centers of the knobs at the first end of the strap lie on a line at 45° to the central axes of the rod portions.
4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the strap further comprises a web which joins the two rod portions.
5. A device according to claim 2, wherein each notch has a throat portion of which the width is slightly less than the thickness of the rod portions, whereby the rod portions must be deformed in order to be received in the notches.
6. A bed comprising:
a mattress having at least one corner defined between first and second edges of the mattress, a support structure on which the mattress is positioned, a substantially inextensible elongate strap having first and second opposite ends, the strap extending between the mattress and the sup-port structure across the corner of the mattress with the first and second opposite ends of the strap projecting beyond the first and second edges respectively, a sheet positioned over the mattress and having first and second edge regions, a first fastener which is attached to the strap at the first end thereof and is attached to the sheet at the first edge region thereof, and a second fastener which is attached to the strap at the second end thereof and is attached to the sheet at the second edge region thereof.
7. A bed according to claim 6, wherein the first fastener comprises:
(i) a plate member formed with an elongate opening extending there-through, the opening having a first length region and a second length region and the second length region being narrower than the first length region, and (ii) a stud having a base por-tion, a head portion, and a neck por-tion which connects the base portion and the head portion, the head and base portions each being too large to pass through the second region of the opening but the base portion being sized to pass through the first region of the opening, and the neck portion being sufficiently narrow to enter the second region of the opening.
8. A bed according to claim 7, wherein the first length region of the opening is a circular region and the second length region of the opening is a slot-form region.
9. A bed according to claim 7, wherein the strap comprises two rod portions each ending in an enlarged knob at the first end of the strap, and wherein the plate member is formed with notches for receiving the rod portions, the notches being sufficiently small that the knobs cannot pass therethrough.
10. A bed according to claim 9, wherein the knobs have centers and the rod portions have central axes, and the lengths of the rod portions are unequal and are such that when the central axes are straight and lie in a common plane with the centers of the knobs, the centers of the knobs at the first end of the strap lie on a line at 45° to the central axes of the rod portions.
CA000599428A 1988-05-12 1989-05-11 Device for attaching a sheet to a mattress Expired - Fee Related CA1330124C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/193,817 US4862541A (en) 1988-05-12 1988-05-12 Device for attaching a sheet to a mattress
US193,817 1988-05-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1330124C true CA1330124C (en) 1994-06-07

Family

ID=22715134

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000599428A Expired - Fee Related CA1330124C (en) 1988-05-12 1989-05-11 Device for attaching a sheet to a mattress

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4862541A (en)
CA (1) CA1330124C (en)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5072470A (en) * 1989-11-11 1991-12-17 Lysiak Phillip J Device for holding bedclothes in a fixed position on a bed
US5168605A (en) * 1991-02-15 1992-12-08 Russell Bartlett Method and apparatus for securing a tarp
US5221273A (en) * 1991-03-28 1993-06-22 Medical Disposables Company Underpad
US5161276A (en) * 1992-04-10 1992-11-10 Hutton William B Bed sheet attachment device for a mattress
US5632054A (en) * 1996-07-12 1997-05-27 Hutton; William B. Mattress handle structure
US5642547A (en) * 1996-07-12 1997-07-01 Hutton; William B. Bed sheet attachment device for a mattress, and method
US6557194B1 (en) * 2000-10-03 2003-05-06 Deidra B. Jeffries Method for securing bed coverings and apparatus therefor
US7152260B2 (en) * 2004-06-30 2006-12-26 Ota Kosan Corporation Holding means for use in blanket or coverlet and the like
US7325263B2 (en) * 2006-05-22 2008-02-05 Stribling Hal D Fitted bed covering
US7546649B1 (en) 2008-11-07 2009-06-16 David A Fleming Sheet securing apparatus
US9289074B1 (en) 2011-04-20 2016-03-22 David R. Corbin Sleeping system and method for adjusting the same
IL217555A0 (en) * 2012-01-16 2012-06-28 Eli Tzur Accessory for strengthening and stretching of sheets to mattress
USD680895S1 (en) * 2012-09-08 2013-04-30 Apple Inc. Lanyard
US9603771B1 (en) * 2013-06-03 2017-03-28 Miguel Alvarez Chest compression device and linen attachment assembly for chest compression device
US9027750B1 (en) * 2013-09-25 2015-05-12 Robert Ehrlich Phone support device
USD773209S1 (en) 2015-11-11 2016-12-06 Jagdeo Jaigobin Interlocking bedding
USD886470S1 (en) * 2016-08-25 2020-06-09 Monika Norkova Modular holder of textile fabrics

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US557456A (en) * 1896-03-31 utter
US1602305A (en) * 1926-10-05 Bed-covering holder
US1156740A (en) * 1915-01-08 1915-10-12 Charles M Berdan Blanket-holder.
US2630588A (en) * 1951-08-01 1953-03-10 Levin Max Bed sheet
GB727270A (en) * 1952-09-02 1955-03-30 Thomas Kenworthy An improved means of retaining bedding in position on an overlay mattress
US2791784A (en) * 1954-08-16 1957-05-14 Tomsic Guy Sheets for mattresses
US2857643A (en) * 1956-05-28 1958-10-28 Tomsic Guy Contour sheets
US3092848A (en) * 1960-09-08 1963-06-11 George B Gronvold Bed sheet holder
US3765040A (en) * 1972-05-26 1973-10-16 S Holstein Disposable cot sheet
US4624022A (en) * 1985-05-10 1986-11-25 Dolan Donald G Device for holding a sheet or cover in position on the surface of a water bed mattress
US4660240A (en) * 1985-05-13 1987-04-28 Hutton William B Device for attaching sheets to a waterbed
US4782543A (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-11-08 Hutton William B Attachment of flat sheets to waterbeds

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4862541A (en) 1989-09-05

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