Abstract:
A sheet securing apparatus includes an apparatus frame and a plurality of sheet engaging members adapted to detachably engage the apparatus frame.

Description:
FIELD  
     The present disclosure relates to apparatus for securing a sheet on a mattress. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a sheet securing apparatus which secures the corner portions of a sheet on a mattress to prevent the sheet from pulling loose on the mattress. 
     BACKGROUND  
     Conventional bedding typically includes a frame which may have a headboard or both a headboard and footboard. A box springs is placed on the frame and a mattress is placed on the box springs. A fitted sheet is typically placed on the mattress and a bottom sheet is placed over the fitted sheet. A top sheet is typically placed over the bottom sheet. At least one blanket may be placed over the top sheet. Finally, a bedspread may be placed over the top sheet or blanket(s). 
     The fitted sheet may include four corner pockets which receive the respective corners of the mattress. The four corners of each of the bottom sheet, the top sheet and the blanket(s) are typically tucked between the box springs and the mattress at the four corners of the mattress. One of the problems which is frequently encountered in using conventional bedding is that the bottom sheet, the top sheet and/or the blanket(s) tend to be pulled from between the box springs and the mattress. This may require that the sheets and/or blanket(s) be repeatedly and frequently tucked between the box springs and the mattress. 
     Therefore, a sheet securing apparatus which secures the corner portions of a sheet and/or blanket on a mattress to prevent the sheet and/or blanket from pulling loose on the mattress is needed. 
     SUMMARY  
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a sheet securing apparatus which secures the corner portions of a sheet and/or blanket on a mattress to prevent the sheet and/or blanket from pulling loose on the mattress. An illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus includes an apparatus frame and a plurality of sheet engaging members adapted to detachably engage the apparatus frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an apparatus frame of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the apparatus frame of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus, with multiple sheet engaging members inserted in respective engaging member insertion slots (not illustrated) of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a sheet engaging member of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view, partially in section, of a corner section of the apparatus frame, with a sheet engaging member inserted in an engaging member insertion slot provided in the apparatus frame; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus, more particularly illustrating placement of a box springs on the apparatus frame; placement of a mattress on the box springs; and placement of a sheet over the mattress preparatory to securing the sheet to the apparatus frame; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus, with a sheet (illustrated in phantom) secured to the apparatus frame in typical application of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus, with a sheet secured in place in typical application of the sheet securing apparatus; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view illustrating retention of a portion of the sheet in an engaging member insertion slot provided in the apparatus frame in typical application of the sheet securing apparatus; and 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating securing of the sheet to the mattress using the sheet securing apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the sheet securing apparatus, hereinafter apparatus, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The sheet securing apparatus  1  includes an apparatus frame  2 . The apparatus frame  2  of the apparatus  1  may have a generally elongated, rectangular shape, as illustrated, or any suitable alternative shape. The various components of the apparatus frame  2 , which will be hereinafter described, may be wood; metal; plastic; and/or other rigid material. In some embodiments, the apparatus frame  2  may include a bottom frame panel  3 ; a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side frame members  4 ; a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart end fame panels  5  which extend between the side frame members  4 ; and a frame interior  6 . The frame interior  6  may have frame interior corners  7 . 
     Multiple sheet securing posts  10  may extend from the frame interior  6  of the apparatus frame  2 , at the respective frame interior corners  7 . The sheet securing posts  10  may be disposed in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the plane of the bottom frame panel  3  of the apparatus frame  2 . The side frame panels  4  and the end frame panels  5  may be attached to the sheet securing posts  10  using fasteners  8  and/or other suitable technique known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, each sheet securing post  10  may have a generally hexagonal cross-section. Accordingly, three outer post surfaces  11  may face the exterior of the apparatus frame  2  and three inner post surfaces  12  may face the frame interior  6  of the apparatus frame  2 . An elongated engaging member insertion slot  14 , the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, extends into the outer post surfaces  11  of each sheet securing post  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a sheet engaging member  18  is adapted for insertion in the engaging member insertion slot  14  of each sheet securing post  10 . Each sheet engaging member  18  may include a generally elongated connecting member  19  which may be flexible. In some embodiments, the connecting member  19  may be an elastic cord. The connecting member  19  may have a pair of bulbous ends  20 . In some embodiments, a spacer  21  may extend along a portion of the connecting member  19  adjacent to each end  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in typical application of the sheet securing apparatus  1 , the spacers  21  of each sheet engaging member  18  is adapted for lengthwise insertion in the engaging member insertion slot  14  of each sheet securing post  10  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 7-11  of the drawings, in typical application the apparatus  1  is used to secure at least one sheet  28  to a mattress  26  of a bed  30 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a box springs  24  may be placed on the bottom frame panel  3  of the apparatus frame  2 . A mattress  26  may be placed on the box springs  24 . At least one sheet  28 , which may be or include at least one blanket, is placed on the mattress  26 . In some applications, a fitted sheet (not illustrated) may be fitted to the mattress  26  prior to placement of the sheet  28  on the mattress  26 . The sheet edge  28   a  of the sheet  28  may hang downwardly over the sides of the box springs  24 . Alternatively, the edges  28   a  of the sheet  28  may be inserted or tucked between the box springs  24  and the mattress  26 . The sheet  28  hangs over the sheet securing posts  10  of the apparatus  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 11 , each sheet engaging member  18  is inserted in the engaging member insertion slot  14  of each sheet securing post  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the spacers  21  of each sheet engaging member  18  may be sized to friction fit between the interior upper and lower surfaces of each engaging member insertion slot  14 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the sheet  28  is secured between the interior of each engaging member insertion slot  14  and the connecting member  19  of the corresponding sheet engaging member  18 . Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the sheet engaging members  18  secure the respective corner portions of the sheet  28  to the respective sheet securing posts  10 . Additional sheets and/or blankets (not illustrated) may be placed over the sheet  28  in preparation of the bed  30 . The additional sheets and blankets (not illustrated) may lie on the secured sheet  28  or alternatively, may be secured to the sheet securing posts  10  using some or all of the sheet engaging members  18  as was heretofore described with respect to securing of the sheet  28 . During subsequent use of the bed  30 , the sheet engaging members  18  secure the sheet  28  to the sheet securing posts  10  and prevent detachment of the sheet  28  from the mattress  26 . The sheet  28  may be selectively detached and removed from the bed  30  by removing the sheet engaging members  18  from the respective engaging member insertion slots  14  and removing the sheet  28  from the mattress  26 . 
     While the illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.