A COVER FOR FITTING TO A BED

Abstract: A cover (12) for fitting to a mattress (10) comprises a substantially rectangular sheet with sewn-in corners (20) to enable the sheet to be fitted to a mattress (10). The edge of the cover (12) is elasticated to secure the cover on the mattress (10). Straps (24) are secured across the corners of the cover (12) and are arranged to retain a duvet (14) in place on the mattress (10). The corners of the duvet (14) are retained by the straps (24).

Description: A COVER FOR FITTING TO A BED The invention relates to a cover for fitting to a bed (or duvet) and is primarily concerned with a fabric cover for covering the feet of a user to reduce draughts in the event that a duvet on the bed moves and uncovers the feet while the user sleeps or for retaining the duvet in position on the bed. Over the years, the use of duvets has become fairly commonplace, replacing the more traditional sheet and blanket bed coverings. Whilst the use of duvets is very popular, one long standing problem is that of movement of the duvet during sleep. It is well known that a person may change position several times when asleep in bed and the duvet tends to displace during such movement. Whilst the displacement of the duvet may not be a problem at all times, it is a problem when the duvet moves and uncovers the feet of the user and the feet become subjected to draughts. One object of the present invention is to provide a cover which will help to reduce the above problem. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion, securing means for securing the first portion to the bed and a second portion arranged to extend from the first portion to provide a duvet retaining means for receiving part of the duvet to retain the duvet in position on the bed. In a preferred embodiment, the second portion preferably comprises a strap having two ends, each end being secured to the first portion of the cover, the strap defining the duvet retaining means. 2 One end of the strap may be secured to the first portion of the cover at an end of the cover and the other end of the strap may be secured to the first portion of the cover at a side of the cover, in that way, when the cover is located on a mattress and a duvet is retained by the cover , the corner of the duvet at the foot of the bed is retained. Two such straps may be provided. Where two straps are provided one strap preferably has one end secured to the first portion of the cover at an end of the cover and the other end secured at a side of the cover, the other strap having one end secured to the first portion at said end of the cover and the other end thereof at the opposite side of the cover. In such a way, the corners of the duvet at the foot of the bed can be retained without obstructing access to the rest of the bed. One advantage of the strap arrangement is that the bed can be made and the duvet pulled taut by its corners through the strap without having to tuck the duvet inside a pocket of material. Supplementary duvet retention means may be provided on the cover. The supplementary duvet retention means preferably comprises a third portion of material secured to the first portion which forms a pouch to receive and retain an edge of the duvet adjacent the head of the bed. Alternatively, the second portion may extend from a position adjacent the foot of the bed to a position adjacent the head of the bed. In such a case, the duvet retaining means may comprise a pocket at the head end of the second portion of the cover. In order to inhibit displacement of the duvet 3 at its end adjacent the foot of the bed, securing means such as snap-fasteners may be provided for securing the duvet to the second portion of the cover. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion, securing means for securing the first portion to the bed and a second portion arranged to extend from the first portion to provide a covering for the feet of the user According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion which fits around the foot of a mattress on which the user sleeps, a second portion arranged to extend towards the opposite end of the mattress to provide a covering for the feet of the user, and securing means for holding the cover in position. A cover in accordance with the second or third aspect of the invention is particularly advantageous n that it will remain in position over the feet of the user even if the duvet moves. Preferably, the first portion of the cover has a bottom section which is arranged to lie adjacent to an end wall of the mattress at the foot of the bed and which may also include a retainer section which lies under the foot of the mattress. The first portion may also have side sections which are arranged to lie adjacent to respective side walls of the mattress and which 4 may include respective second retainer sections which lie under the sides of the mattress. Preferably, the retainer sections comprise a continuous part of the cover which may be elasticated over corner portions between the first said retainer section and the respective second retainer sections. Gusset means is preferably arranged between the second portion and the first portion. The gusset means may comprise respective gussets between edges of the second portion and the said side sections of the first portion. The use of gussets is advantageous in that it allows at least part of the second portion of the cover to be lifted away from the mattress in order to enable the user to slip his or her feet beneath the second portion easily. The gussets may taper if desired. In such a case and when the cover is in position on the mattress, the gussets may taper towards or away from the foot of the mattress. The securing means may comprise fastener means which may be arranged between the cover and a sheet on the mattress. Fastener means such as press studs or similar snap fasteners can be used. Where fastener means are used, parts of the fastener means may be positioned on the side sections of the first portion of the cover and co-operable parts may be arranged on the sheet . Alternatively or additionally, the securing means may comprise a section of material which extends from one part of the cover to another and which, in use, passes beneath the mattress. The securing means may extend between the two side sections of the first portion and preferably between the respective second retainer sections. 5 A cover according to the second or third aspect of the invention or any of the consistory clauses relating thereto in position on a mattress, the cover extending from the foot of the mattress to a position less than half way between the foot of the mattress and the head end thereof. The problem of displacement of a duvet is also a problem from the point of view of uncovering the the upper body of the user during sleep. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover which will inhibit such movement of the duvet and, in that respect, the second portion of the cover according to the first or second aspect of the invention may include a pocket for receiving part of the duvet to retain the duvet in position on the bed. The cover may be made from a fabric such as cotton, polycotton or other suitable material and may, if desired, be fleece like, fleece lined or quilted for extra warmth in winter. Covers in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cover in accordance with the invention in position on a mattress-, Fig. 2 is diagrammatic longitudinal cross-section through the mattress showing the cover of Fig. 1 in position, 6 Fig. 3 is a diagramatic side elevation of the mattress showing a person lying on the mattress, Pig. 4 is a perspective plan view of a cover in accordance with the invention in position on a sheet-covered mattress, Fig. 5 is an underside view of the cover in position on the mattress: Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross section through the mattress showing the cover m position: Fig. 7 is a perspective plan view of an alternative cover in position on a mattress and locating a duvet and: Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross section through the mattress of Fig. 4 showing the cover in position. In Figs. 1 to 3 a mattress indicated generally at 10 is covered by a fitted cover sheet 12 and a duvet 14 is arranged over the sheet 12. As shown in Fig. 2, the mattress 10 is supported by a divan base 16 with castors 18, although any suitable mattress support can be used. The cover sheet 12 is substantially rectangular with sewn-in corners 20 and an elasticated peripheral edge 22. The elasticated edge enables the fitted sheet 12 to be located around the mattress and the elasticated edge 22 retains the fitted sheet in place on the mattress. The elasticated edge 22 7 constitutes the aforesaid securing means. The fitted cover sheet 12 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 further includes two duvet retaining straps 24 which are arranged one on each side of the sheet. Each duvet retaining strap 24 is secured preferably by means of sowing to the elasticated peripheral edge of the fitted sheet 12. One end of each strap 24 is secured to a side of the fitted sheet and the other end of each strap is secured to the end of the fitted sheet as shown in Fig. 1. The ends of the straps 24 which are secured to the end of the fitted sheet are secured to a common end of the fitted sheet and the ends which are secured to the sides of the fitted sheet are secured to opposite sides of the fitted sheet 12. In that way, the straps can be arranged, in use, to bridge the corners of the mattress 10 at the foot of the bed. In use, the fitted sheet 12 is arranged on the mattress 10 and the straps 24 are allowed to hang loose at the sides of the mattress 10. The duvet 14 is then arranged on the bed in conventional fashion. The straps 24 are then pulled over respective corners of the mattress 10 at the foot of the bed and the corners of the duvet 14 are retained by the straps against the mattress 10. The duvet can be further secured by pulling the corners of the duvet which extend through the straps 24 so that the duvet is pulled taut m place on the bed. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 a further duvet retaining pouch 26 s provided. The pouch 26 comprises a sheet of material 28 which extends from the end edge of the fitted sheet 12 as shown in Fig. 2. The sheet 28 o has a portion 30 at its free end which is folded back upon itself, the opposite side edges 32 of which are sewn so as to form the pouch 26 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The sheet of material 28 is arranged, m use, over the mattress and beneath the straps 24 and also beneath the duvet 14. The edge of the duvet, in use, adjacent the head of the bed can thus be inserted into the pouch 26 to ensure further retention of the duvet on the mattress. It w ll be appreciated that the duvet retaining pouch 26 is optional and can be omitted from the invention. That feature serves only further to retain the duvet, the proper retention of the duvet already having been effected by the duvet retaining strap 24. In Figures 4 to 6 parts corresponding to parts in Figs. 1 to 3 carry the same reference numerals, A mattress indicated generally at 10 is covered by a sheet 12 which is tucked under the mattress in the usual way between the mattress and a divan 18 or other mattress support shown in part in Fig. 6. At the foot end of the mattress a cover 34 in accordance with the invention is placed in position. The cover 34 comprises a first section generally indicated at 36 which fits around the foot of the mattress and a second section 38 which provides a covering or the feet 40 of a user as shown in Fig. 6. The first portion 36 of the cover 34 has a bottom section 42 which lies adjacent a bottom end wall 44 of the mattress 10 with the sheet 12 sandwiched therebetween. The bottom section 42 also has a retainer section 46 which lies under the mattress 10. The first portion 36 of the cover also 9 has two side sections 48 which lie adjacent respective side walls 49 of the mattress 10 with the sheet 12 sandwiched therebetween. The side sections 48 have retainer sections 50 which lie under the mattress 10. As will be clear from Figs. 4 and 5, the retainer sections 46, 50 are continuous and where they meet at corners of the cover they are elasticated as indicated at 52. The elasticated areas serve to hold the retainer sections in position beneath the mattress 10. It will also be noted that a strip of material 54 extends from one side section 48 to the other. In use, the strip 54 lies between the underside of the mattress 10 and the divan 18 and serves to prevent the cover 34 slipping off the end of the mattress. Instead of using the stnp 54, it would be possible to use one or more fasteners 55 either between each of the side sections 48 and the adjacent surfaces of the sheet 12, or between retainer sections 50 and the adjacent surfaces of sheet 12, such fasteners may be in the form of snap-fasteners such as press studs. The second section (hereinafter referred to as a covering 38) s joined to the side sections 48 by means of two gussets 53. In the embodiment illustrated, the gussets 53 taper towards the foot-end of the cover 34. However, if desired, the gussets 58 may taper m the opposite direction or may be parallel. The primary purpose of the gussets 58 is to enable the feet of the user to be slipped beneath the covering 38 easily. In use, a normal duvet is placed m position over the mattress 10 so as to overlie the cover 34. On climbing into bed, the user pushes his or her feet 40 towards the foot of the bed and slips them beneath the covering 38. Should the duvet become displaced during sleep so as to partially expose 10 the covering 38, the feet 40 of the user remain protected from draughts. It s anticipated that the cover 34 will not extend beyond a point halfway between the foot end of the mattress 10 and the head end. Therefore, the cover 34 is small compared to a conventional bed sheet making it easy to wash and dry. Reference is now made to Figures 7 and 8 which show an alternative type of cover indicated generally at 60. Parts corresponding to parts in Figures 4 to 6 carry the same reference numerals. The cover 60 is of similar construction to the cover 34 shown in Figs. 4 to 6 except that the covering 38 extends for a considerable distance towards the head-end of the mattress 10. The sides of the cover 34 are provided with gussets 62 and the head-end of the covering 18 carries a wide strip of material 64. The strip of material is stitched along an edge 66 to the adjacent free edge of the covering 38 and is stitched at its ends 68 to the adjacent sides of the covering 38. In that way the covering 38 and the strip of material 64 define a pocket 70 for receiving one end of a duvet 72. The duvet 72 is then positively located at its head-end and held against displacement during sleep. At the opposite end of the duvet 72 a cover for the duvet may have snap-fasteners 74 thereon or other suitable fastening means which attach to the covering 38 adjacent the foot of the bed, so as to inhibit displacement of the foot-end of the duvet.

Claims: 11 CLAIMS 1. A cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion, securing means for securing the first portion to the bed and a second portion arranged to extend from the first portion to provide a duvet retaining means for receiving part of the duvet in position on the bed. 2. A cover according to claim 1 in which the second portion comprises a strap having two ends, each end being secured to the first portion of the cover, the strap defining the duvet retaining means. 3. A cover according to claim 2 in which one end of the strap is secured to the fir t portion of the cover at an end of the cover and the other end of the strap is secured to the first portion of the cover at a side of the cover . 4. A cover according to claims 2 or 3 in which two such straps are provided. 5. A cover according to claim 4 in which one strap has one end secured to the first portion of the cover at an end of the cover and the other end secured at a side of the cover and the other strap has one end secured to the first portion at said end of the cover and the other end thereof is secured at the opposite side of the cover. 6. A cover according to claims 2 to 5 in which supplementary duvet retention means is provided on the cover. 12 7. A cover according to claim 6 in which the supplementary duvet retention means comprises a third portion of material secured to the first portion which forms a pouch to receive and retain an edge of the duvet adjacent the head of the bed. 8. A cover according to claim 1 in which the second portion extends from a position adjacent the foot of the bed to a position adjacent the head of the bed. 9. A cover according to claim 8 m which the pocket is provided at the head end of the second portion of the cover. 10. A cover according to claim 1, 8 or 9 in which duvet securing means are provided for securing the duvet to the second portion. 11. A cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion, securing means for securing the first portion to the bed and a second portion arranged to extend from the first portion to provide a covering for the feet of the user. 12. A cover for fitting to a bed comprising a first portion which fits around the foot of a mattress on which the user sleeps, a second portion arranged to extend towards the opposite end of the mattress to provide a covering for the feet of the user, and securing means for holding the cover in position. 13. A cover according to claim 11 or 12 in which the first portion of the 13 cover has a bottom section which is arranged to lie adjacent to an end wall of the mattress at the foot of the bed and which also includes a retainer section which lies under the foot of the mattress. 14. A cover according to claim 13 in which the first portion also has side sections which are arranged to lie adjacent to respective side walls of the mattress and which include respective second retainer sections which lie under the sides of the mattress. 15. A cover according to claim 14 in which the retainer sections comprise a continuous part of the cover which are elasticated over corner portions between the first said retainer section and the respective second retainer sections . 16. A cover according to any of claims 11 to 15 in which gusset means is arranged between the second portion and the first portion. 17. A cover according to claim 16 in which the gusset means comprise respective gussets between edges of the second portion and the said side sections of the first portion. 18. A cover according to claim 12 in which the securing means comprises astener means which may be arranged between the cover and a sheet on the mattress. 19. A cover according to claim 18 in which the fastener means comprises studs or similar snap fasteners. 14 20. A cover according to claims 13 or 19 in which parts of the fastener means are positioned on the side sections of the first portion of the cover and co-operable parts are arranged on the sheet. 21. A cover according to claim 12 or any of claims 13 to 20 when dependent upon claim 12 in which the securing means comprises a section of material which extends from one part of the cover to another and which, in use, passes beneath the mattress. 22. A cover according to claim 21 when dependent upon claim 14 in which the section of material extends between the respective second retainer sections. 23. A cover according to any of claims 11 to 22 in position on a mattress, the cover extending from the foot of the mattress to a position less than half way between the foot of the mattress and the head end thereof .

Inventors: BLACKBURN JULIA REBECCA, BLACKBURN TIMOTHY KEITH, BLACKBURN, JULIA, REBECCA, BLACKBURN, TIMOTHY, KEITH
Applicants: BLACKBURN JULIA REBECCA, BLACKBURN TIMOTHY KEITH, BLACKBURN, JULIA, REBECCA, BLACKBURN, TIMOTHY, KEITH
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47G9
IPC codes: A47G9