Abstract:
A duvet clamp is disclosed which enables a duvet to be readily fitted within a duvet cover. The clamp includes a frame that is configurable to receive a portion of a mattress, and at least one clamping arm for clamping the duvet and the duvet cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority form GB Application No. 0820527.0, filed on Nov. 11, 2008, and GB Application No. 0915512.8, filed on Sep. 7, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a clamp and particularly, but not exclusively, to a clamp for clamping a duvet to enable a duvet to be positioned within a duvet cover. 
         [0004]    2. State of the Art 
         [0005]    When replacing a duvet cover upon a duvet, it is often difficult to suitably arrange the duvet within the cover, so that the corners of the duvet extend to the respective corners within the duvet cover. This task is particularly difficult to perform single-handedly and for the elderly. 
         [0006]    It is known to position a pair of clamps at the top of a door for clamping a duvet and cover thereto. The clamps hold the duvet and cover in place at one end thereof while allowing a person to manipulate the opposite free end of the duvet and cover and thus suitably position the cover upon the duvet. However, it can often be difficult to reach near the top of a door to clamp a duvet. Moreover, it is found to be a strenuous a task, particularly for the elderly, to hold the duvet and cover near the top of a door, while simultaneously attempting to clamp the cover and duvet thereto. 
         [0007]    Additionally, duvets for double and even single beds are generally wider than the width of a door, and so it can be difficult to suitably arrange the clamps, such that the duvet extends unfolded. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    I have now devised a duvet clamp and clamping arrangement which alleviates the above-mentioned problems. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a duvet clamp, the clamp comprising a frame that is arranged to receive an edge of a mattress, the clamp further comprising at least one clamping arm that is arranged to clamp a duvet and duvet cover. 
         [0010]    By positioning a pair of duvet clamps at a spaced apart location along a side edge of a mattress and clamping a duvet and duvet cover thereto, it is thus possible to readily arrange the duvet cover over the duvet. Since the clamps are arranged upon the bed, then there is no requirement to substantially lift the duvet. Moreover, the width a duvet is generally less than the length of a bed, and so by positioning the duvet clamps along a long side edge of the mattress, the duvet and duvet cover can extend unfolded over the bed. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the frame comprises a base and a support that are held in spaced relation by a leg, such that the base, support and leg form a substantially C-shape. The base and support may preferably be hingedly coupled to the leg so that the clamp can be folded for storage. 
         [0012]    The length of the leg is preferably adjustable to vary the separation of the base from the support to substantially match the thickness of the mattress. Preferably, the leg is telescopic. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the base of the frame is arranged to pass under a mattress and the support is arranged to pass over the mattress. 
         [0014]    The at least one clamping arm is preferably pivotally coupled to the support such that the arm can pivot with respect to the support to clamp a duvet and duvet cover between the arm and the support. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the at least one arm comprises a handle section and a clamping section. The arm is preferably arranged to pivot with respect to the support about a pivot point that is disposed at a position along the arm that is intermediate the handle section and clamping section. Preferably, the arm is resiliently biased to pivot about the pivot point to bias the clamping section onto the support. The arm is preferably resiliently biased to rotate about the pivot point by a torsion spring. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the clamping section comprises a gripper for gripping the duvet and duvet cover. The gripper preferably comprises a serrated rubber section. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a duvet clamping arrangement for fitting a duvet within a duvet cover, the arrangement comprising at least two duvet clamps of the first aspect. 
         [0018]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the duvet clamp according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the duvet clamp of  FIG. 1  as viewed along the direction of arrow A shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the clamping arrangement according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, there is shown a duvet clamp  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The clamp  10  comprises a frame  11  and a clamping arm  12  disposed upon the frame  11 . 
         [0023]    The frame comprises a base  13  and a clamp support  14  which extend in substantially parallel planes, with the clamp support  14  being arranged substantially above the base  13 . The base  13  and clamp support  14  are held in spaced relation by a leg  15  which may comprise adjustment means  15   a  which permit the length of the leg to be extended and refracted to vary the separation of the clamp support from the base. 
         [0024]    The leg  15  extends between a proximal end of the base  13  and a proximal end of the clamp support  14 , such that the base  13 , leg  15  and clamp support  14  form a substantially C-shape. The base  13 , leg  15  and clamp support  14  may be formed as an integral unit or may be formed separately and fastened together using fastening means (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the base  13  and clamp support  14  are hingedly coupled to the leg  15  about pivot points  15   b,    15   c  respectively, disposed upon the leg  15  such that the base  13  and clamp support  14  can fold upon the leg  15  for storage for example. The base  13  and clamp support  14  each comprise a flange  13   a,    14   a  respectively, which extend substantially transverse to the respective base  13  and clamp support  14 , from the proximal end of the base  13  and clamp support  14 , respectively. Each flange  13   a,    14   a  is arranged to extend along the leg  15  to couple with the leg  15  at the respective pivot point  15   b,    15   c.    
         [0025]    The pivot point  15   b  is disposed at a distance from the base of the leg  15  which substantially corresponds to the thickness of the leg  15  and the pivot point  15   c  is disposed at a distance from the top of the leg  15  which substantially corresponds to the combined thickness of the base  13  and leg  15 , such that the frame  11  can be folded in a flattened configuration in which the base  13 , clamp support  14  and leg  15  extend in a substantially parallel arrangement. 
         [0026]    The clamping arm  12  comprises a handle section  12   a  and a clamping section  12   b  disposed at opposite sides of a pivot point  16  arranged upon the arm  12 . The pivot point  16  comprises an aperture (not shown) that extends through the arm  12 . The upper surface  14   a  of the clamp support  14  comprises a bracket  17 , which may be formed integrally therewith that extends upwardly from the clamp support  14 , and which comprises a first and second bracket wall  17   a ,  17   b  formed with an aperture (not shown) therein. The arm  12  is pivotally coupled to the bracket  17  by aligning the aperture (not shown) in the arm  12  between the apertures (not shown) formed within the bracket walls  17   a,    17   b  and passing a bolt  18  or rod or similar between the aligned apertures. The bolt  18  or similar is then secured in place by screwing a nut (not shown), for example, upon the bolt  18 . 
         [0027]    The arm  12  is resiliently biased to clamp the clamping section  12   b  against the clamp support  14  by a torsion spring (not shown) that is positioned around the bolt  18  or similar. Accordingly, upon pushing the handle section  12   a  downwardly toward the clamp support  14 , the clamping section  12   b  is caused to move in an anticlockwise direction to lift the clamping section  12   b  away from the clamp support  14 . Upon releasing the handle section  12   a  however, the bias on the torsion spring (not shown) causes the arm  12  to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 1 , to cause the clamping section  12   b  to clamp against the upper surface  14   a  of the clamp support  14 . 
         [0028]    The clamping section  12   b  comprises a gripper  19  in the form of a rubber block, for example, that is bonded or otherwise secured to the part of the clamping section  12   b  that faces the upper surface  14   a  of the clamp support  14 . The gripper  19  comprises a series of teeth of serrations (not shown) which serve to securely grip a duvet  20  and duvet cover  21 . To further facilitate the clamping of the duvet  20  and cover  21 , it is envisaged that the section of the upper surface  14   a  of the clamp support  14  against which the clamping section  12   b  is arranged to abut, also comprises a gripper  19 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, in use the frame  11  of a first duvet clamp  10   a  is positioned along a long side edge  22  of a mattress  23 , such that the base  13  of the frame  11  extends under the mattress  23  and the clamp support  14  extends over the top of the mattress  23 . The frame leg  15  is then suitably adjusted using the adjustment means  15   a  so that the length of the leg  15  substantially matches the thickness of the mattress. This ensures that the clamp support  14  extends in close proximity over an upper surface of the mattress  23 . 
         [0030]    A second duvet clamp  10   b  is then similarly positioned at a position along the long side edge  22  of the mattress  23 , at a position that is spaced from the first clamp  10   a  by a distance that substantially corresponds to the width of the duvet  20 . 
         [0031]    A duvet cover  21  is then laid upon the mattress  23  and the corners of the duvet cover  21  that are opposite an open side edge  21   a  of the cover  21  are then separately clamped within the first  10   a  and second clamp  10   b.  This is achieved by first pushing down on the handle section  12   a  of the respective clamp arm  12  to open the clamp, positioning the corner of the cover  21  between the clamping section  12   b  of the respective arm  12  and the respective clamp support  14 , and then releasing the handle section  12   a  to cause the arm  12  to rotate under the bias of the torsion spring (not shown) to close the clamp and thus clamp the cover  21  in place. The cover  21  is then folded back toward the long side edge  22  of the mattress  23 . 
         [0032]    A duvet  20  is then laid upon the mattress  23  such that the corners of the duvet  20  that are arranged either side of one short edge of the duvet  20 , are separately arranged adjacent the first  10   a  and second clamps  10   b.  The first clamp  10   a  is then opened by pushing down on the handle  12   a  and the corner of the duvet  20  that is arranged adjacent the first duvet clamp  10   a  is then positioned within the respective corner of the duvet cover  21  within the clamp  10   a.  The handle  12   a  is then released to clamp the duvet  20  and cover  21  to the clamp support  14 . The corner of the duvet  20  that is arranged adjacent the second clamp  10   b  is then similarly clamped within the duvet cover  21  to the clamp support  14  of the second clamp  10   b.    
         [0033]    The open side edge  21   a  of the cover  21  can then be pulled along the duvet  20  to enclose the duvet  20  therein. The clamps  10   a,    10   b  are held in place by their intimate fit around the side edge  22  of the mattress  23 . The C-shaped frame  11  of the first and second clamps  10   a ,  10   b  thus serve to hold the clamps in place and thus hold one side edge of the duvet  20  and cover  21  to enable the open side edge  21   a  of the cover  21  to be pulled along the duvet  20  without the duvet  20  folding within the cover  21 . 
         [0034]    Once the cover  21  has been fitted over the duvet  20 , the cover  21  and duvet  20  can be released from the clamps  10   a,    10   b  and the frame  11  of each clamp  10   a,    10   b  can be folded so that the clamps  10   a,    10   b  can be stored easily within a drawer (not shown), for example. 
         [0035]    From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the duvet clamp and clamping arrangement provide a simple yet effective means of positioning a duvet cover upon a duvet.