Bed sheet anchoring system

A sheet anchoring system is provided to restrain the periphery of a fitted sheet on a bed, where the sheet anchoring system includes a plurality of pivotable clips each having a first end and a second end with engaging friction surfaces to grasp between the surfaces a portion of the periphery of the sheet without the need for a spring or other force-biasing mechanism. The second end also has engaging surfaces forced into engagement by the weight of the mattress on top of the second end when the second end is placed between the mattress and a box spring below the mattress.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/622,344 filed on Apr. 10, 2012 which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices that can hold down bed sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of bed sheets being pulled from underneath a mattress is well-known. Movement on the bed causes the bed sheets to collapse toward the movement, pull the bed sheet from under the mattress.

Prior to the disclosed invention devices that held down bed sheets required elaborate systems were ineffective at keeping sheets from moving or risked injuring the user. The present invention solves this problem with a scissor clamp. The prior art includes: U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,759 issued to Frasier; U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,260 issued to Ota; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,137 issued to Murray.

Frasier teaches a bed sheet securing assembly comprising a scissor clamp that locks and unlocks a clamp that secures a bed sheet to a bed post. Here the scissor clamp is not directly holding the bed sheet, rather a spring clamp is. Ota teaches buckle clamp that can be used to hold down a bed sheet but does not teach a scissor clamp. Murray teaches another variety of spring clamp, but does not teach a scissor clamp.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, a sheet anchoring system is provided that is configured to restrain the periphery of a fitted sheet on a bed. The sheet anchoring system may comprise, for example, a plurality of pivotable clips each having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising engaging friction surfaces configured to grasp between the surfaces a portion of the periphery of the sheet, the second end comprising engaging surfaces configured to be forced into engagement when in use by the weight of the mattress on top of the second end when the second end is placed between the mattress and a box spring below the mattress, the pivotable clips configured to securely restrain movement of the sheet periphery during use without the need for a spring or other force-biasing mechanism to maintain the friction surfaces of the first end in engagement with the sheet therebetween, the friction surfaces comprising a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient to restrain movement of the sheet from between the surfaces of the first end when in use. The first end may be configured in any number of possible shapes. For example, the first end surfaces may comprise a generally arcuate shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with holding down bed sheets, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1shows sheet anchor10in use. User38sleeps on a bed that includes mattress28atop box spring30. Mattress28is covered by fitted sheet32. Fitted sheet32can be covered by flat sheet34and blanket36. User34desires to sleep on a bed without pulling fitted sheet32, flat sheet34or blanket36from between mattress28and box spring30. Sheet anchor10can accomplish this.

First anchor plate12comprises first flat end18, where first flat end18is mechanically coupled to first flat end grip material26. First flat end18is mechanically coupled to a first shank offset by first offset section16. The remainder of the first shank is mechanically coupled to first curved end plate20. First curved end plate20is mechanically coupled to first curved end plate outer grip material24and first curved end plate inner grip material24. In some embodiments the curved end plates can be arcuate shaped.

Second anchor plate14comprises second flat end18, where second flat end18is mechanically coupled to second flat end grip material26. Second flat end18is mechanically coupled to a second shank offset by second offset section16. The remainder of the second shank is mechanically coupled to first curved end plate20. Second curved end plate20is mechanically coupled to second curved end plate outer grip material24and second curved end plate inner grip material24.

FIG. 6andFIG. 7show the assembled sheet anchor in motion. As a user separates first flat end18from second flat end18, first curved end plate20moves ultimate second curved end plate20. In one embodiment, first offset section16and second offset section16are slightly proximate first curved end plate20and second curved end plate20while being slightly ultimate first flat end18and second flat end18respectively in order to allow for greater force and leverage to be upon sheet32as shown inFIG. 2, andFIG. 5. In this regard, the first end is configured at an angle from the second end.

Usage of sheet anchor10is shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 5. User38inserts fitted sheet32between first curved end plate20and second curved end plate20. The user then compresses first curved end plate20toward second curved end plate20such that first curved end plate inner grip material24and second curved end plate inner grip material24hold sheet32firmly. Next, the user slides first curved end plate20and second curved end plate20into opening36between mattress28and box spring30such that first flat end grip material26and second flat end grip material26create friction against mattress28and box spring30sufficient to prevent user34from pulling sheet anchor10from opening36.

One of the useful features of sheet anchor10is the ability to utilize a variety of components to high coefficient of static friction (μs) with regard to both moving sheet anchor10from opening36(μsa) and moving flat sheet32from between first curved end plate20and second curved end plate20(μss). In particular μsacan be maximized by using a first material for first flat end grip material26, second flat end grip material26, first curved end plate outer grip material24and second curved end plate outer grip material24where the coefficient of static friction of the first material against the material used to make the outer surface of mattress28and box spring30is at least 0.4. Likewise, μsscan be maximized by using a second material for first curved end plate inner grip material24and second curved end plate inner grip material24where the coefficient of static friction of the second material against the material used to make flat sheet32is at least 0.5. The first material and the second material, do not necessarily have to be the same material, but rubber has been effective for both materials in some embodiments.

A sheet anchoring system can be made by using at least one, and in some cases more sheet anchors10. For instance, a single sheet anchor10can be used at the foot of a bed. In another embodiment a first sheet anchor10can be placed in a first corner at the foot of a bed and a second sheet anchor10can be placed in a second corner at the foot of a bed. In another embodiment a first sheet anchor10can be placed in a first corner at the foot of a bed, a second sheet anchor10can be placed in a second corner at the foot of a bed, a third sheet anchor10can be placed in a third corner at the head of a bed and a fourth sheet anchor can be placed in a fourth corner at the head of a bed.

As shown inFIG. 1, a first sheet anchor10can be placed in a first corner at the foot of a bed, a second sheet anchor10can be placed in a second corner at the foot of a bed, a third sheet anchor10can be placed in a third corner at the head of a bed and a fourth sheet anchor10can be placed in a fourth corner at the head of a bed. Further, fitted sheet34and blanket36are held at a foot of the bed with fifth sheet anchor10and sixth sheet anchor10.

In an alternative embodiment, it may be desired to maintain the periphery of the sheet in a vertical orientation along the side of the bed, rather than tucked in between the mattress and the box-spring. In such an arrangement, the first and second ends of the clips may be oriented at an angle, preferably about or about 90 degrees, but other angles may be acceptable. In such an arrangement, when the second end of the clip is placed between the mattress and the box-spring (or whatever other physical unit is supporting the mattress), the weight of the mattress on the second end of the clip forces the surfaces of the first end to tightly grasp the periphery of the sheet in a generally vertical or other non-horizontal orientation.