IMPROVED DEVICE FOR FITTING A DUVET COVER

Abstract

A device (10) to assist a user in fitting a duvet cover about a duvet is disclosed. The device (10) has a strap (11) which is adjustable in length and is able to be fitted onto or around a head frame of a bed. Gripping means (17A,B) to grip an edge of a duvet and a duvet cover to facilitate fitment, are provided. One or more portions of the device (10) can be elasticated or formed of resilient material to enable the device (10) to be stretched to sufficient size to pass over the head frame, the tension in the material causing the device to grip the head frame. The gripping means (17A,B) can be mounted on slidable mounts (34A-C) to enable the distance between the gripping means (17A,B) to be varied, enabling the device (10) to handle duvet covers of different sizes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention concerns a device to facilitate insertion of a duvet into a duvet cover. A method of inserting a duvet into a cover is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The difficulties of correctly inserting a duvet into a cover are well known. Firstly difficulties are encountered in correctly aligning the edges of the duvet and the cover. Secondly, physically manipulating the duvet when the duvet is partially or wholly within the cover is usually difficult as the orientation or folding of the duvet is then not readily apparent. Problems are roughly proportional to the size of the duvet; when dealing with large duvets such as king size or emperor size, one person does not have the arm span to hold adjacent corners of the duvet and cover simultaneously. The cover cannot therefore be shaken into place. Difficulties are exacerbated for the elderly or infirm who may not easily be able to properly grip the different elements.

Where speed is important, for example in a large hotel or hospital then the time required and number of people required to change a cover can be important when considering staffing levels.

A number of shortcut methods are known such as turning the cover inside out prior to its fitment about the duvet. However these methods are not always successful and still entail a degree of manual dexterity and physical exertion. Quite often, two people are required to correctly fit the cover.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device to address the above problems. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of inserting a duvet into a cover, which method also addresses these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device to assist a user in fitting a duvet cover about a duvet, the device comprising:

a strap, adjustable in length and fittable about a head frame of a bed, the device further including gripping means operably attached to the strap to grip edges of a duvet and duvet cover and maintain the gripped portions of the duvet and cover in spaced configuration whilst a duvet cover is drawn about a duvet. A duvet cover can be thereby fitted far more quickly and easily.

The device preferably includes one or more retaining means to releasably retain the device stably against a head frame or the like whilst fitment of the duvet cover occurs. Preferably the device includes two or more gripping means. Optionally the retaining means are slidable along the strap enabling the distance between the gripping means to be varied. The device can be used in conjunction with beds of different sizes.

The strap optionally includes a conventional belt-buckle to enable the length of the strap to be varied. Preferably at least a portion of the strap is formed of resilient material to assist in fitment and stability of the strap during fitment of a cover. Further preferably the strap comprises an elasticated endless belt fittable about two bedposts.

The strap optionally includes distance markings to assist in placement of the gripping means. The distance between gripping means can then be quickly set for a particular duvet.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fitting a duvet cover about a duvet, the method comprising the steps of,

locating a fitment device in a horizontal orientation, said fitment device having an elongate strap, the strap being adjustable in length and having two or more gripping means operably attached thereto, securing an edge of a duvet cover in said gripping means,

securing an edge of a duvet in said gripping means, pulling the duvet cover about the duvet.

Preferably, two or more retaining means incorporated in the device are set in engaging contact with a vertical surface, thereby stabling the device in a horizontal orientation.

Optionally, prior to securing the duvet cover, gripping means are slid along the strap thereby altering the horizontal distance between the gripping means and bringing the gripping means to the optimal position for the size of the duvet. Further optionally the gripping means are located against markings on the strap designating the correct location for a duvet of a particular size.

Preferably, the strap includes a resilient portion and is stretched around support elements the tension in the resilient portion maintaining the strap in a horizontal orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only three embodiments of a duvet fitment device. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of fitment device,

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a fitment device;

FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a fitment device; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a device as shown in. FIG. 2, attached to a head frame of a bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The devices as described below are primarily designed to be attached to bedposts (as shown in FIG. 4). However, it will be appreciated that other vertically orientated posts, such as the legs of a chest of drawers could also serve as a support for the device when in use. The devices are capable of being used to assist fitment of covers to duvets of the usual range of widths, such as single, double, king size and emperor.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 an adjustable device 10 is shown. The device 10 has a strap 11 which provides support for other elements of the device 10. The strap 11 is formed from an inextensible material such as leather or a plastics material. The strap 11 is adjustable in length by means of the conventional buckle 12 and hole 13 arrangement well known in standard belts. At either end of the strap 11 is a D-ring 14A,B which is pivotable to a limited extent along its common edge shared with the strap 11.

The device 10 also includes an elasticated strap 15 fixed at a first end to the D-ring 14A. The second end of the strap 15 has a retaining clip 16 to engage, when the strap 15 is stretched, the second D-ring 14B; the device thereby forming a loop. In order to grip a duvet and cover, two clips 17A,B are fixed about the D-rings 14A,B. The clips 17A,B can be of conventional type such as a clothes peg or a bulldog clip in which pressure applied to the clip handles opens the jaws allowing the duvet and cover to be inserted there between. When pressure is released from the handles the jaws close, retaining the duvet and cover. However, other gripping means known in the art can be included.

A second embodiment of device is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the device 20 again has a strap 21 of adjustable length. At either end of the strap 21 a curved rigid support clip 22A,B extends from the strap 21. Each support clip 22 itself supports a duvet-retaining clip 23A,B.

The device 20 is shown in FIG. 4 in position about a bed head prior to fitting a duvet. The clips 22, which can be formed of PVC or similar plastics material, or metal are fitted about the bedposts 41,42 of the head frame. The length of the strap 21 is then adjusted to ensure that the clips 22 do not slip off the posts 41,42. If desired the inner surface of the clips 22 can be covered by rubber or other non-slip material to ensure firm engagement with the bedpost 41,42. The duvet-retaining clips 23A,B are then ready for use.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises a flexible loop of material the circumference of which is adjustable to enable the device 30 to be fitted to different sizes of bed. The device 30 comprises a first portion 31 made of a substantially inextensible material such as leather or a plastic such as PVC or a polyolefin. A second portion 32 joining the ends of the first portion together is formed of an elastomeric material enabling the loop to stretch over the ends of the bedposts.

The device 30 has three duvet retaining clips 33A-C. Each clip 33A-C is slidably attached to the second portion 32 by means of mounting rings 34A-C. The distance between the clips 33A-C can therefore be adjusted to accommodate different widths of duvet and cover. In addition to this, the second portion 32 has a series of markings 35 which correspond to standard widths of duvet. These allow the clips 33A-C to be quickly slid into the correct position.

In use therefore and referring to the first embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1, the length of the strap 11 is adjusted using the buckle 12 and holes 13 so that the strap 11 can pass around the back of the head frame of a bed, and leave sufficient free length for the D-rings 14A,B and clips 17A,B to be in front of the head frame. The loop is then completed by stretching the elasticated strap 15 sufficiently to enable the clip 16 to engage the D-ring 14B. The tension in the strap 15 ensures that the clip 16 remains in the D-ring 14B.

If necessary, further adjustments can be made to the length of the strap 11 to ensure that the device 10 fits correctly.

One edge of the duvet cover to be fitted is secured to the device 10 by means of the cover clips 17A,B. The corresponding edge of the duvet is then also secured to the clips 17A,B with the duvet cover between the clips 17A,B and the duvet. The duvet cover is then simply pulled about the duvet and fastened in the conventional fashion.

The duvet and cover can then simply be removed from the clips 17A,B. The device 10 is now ready for re-use or it can be unclipped and removed for use in a new location or stored. It will be appreciated that if the above operation has been carried out on the bed at which the duvet is to be used then the duvet is now in the correct position with little further adjustment required.

With reference to the third embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the device 30 is simply stretched sufficiently for the device 30 to pass around the outer posts of a head frame of a bed. Once the device 30 is in position the outer clips 33A-C are slid into the correct position indicated by the markings 35. The duvet cover is then fitted about the duvet in the same manner as indicated above.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated, but referring to FIG. 1, the device 10 includes a further strap, which can be adjustable in length, connecting the ends of the strap 11. In use the further strap passes and engages the top of the head frame or the bed posts 41,42. The further strap prevents slippage of the device down the head frame whilst the device 10 is in use, and this stabilisation assists the user in the process of fitting the duvet cover.

In a yet further embodiment, also not illustrated, the device 10 includes a storage container in which the strap 11, or a section thereof can be stored when not in use. The container can be operable in similar position to a conventional tape measure in that, a spool is housed within the container, to windably receive the strap 11. To assist the strap in being wound, a mechanism can also be included to bias the strap to being in the rolled up conformation.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device to assist a user in fitting a duvet cover about a duvet, the device comprising:

a strap, adjustable in length and fittable about a head frame of a bed, the device further including gripping means operably attached to the strap to grip an edge of a duvet and of a duvet cover and maintain the gripped portions of a duvet and cover in spaced configuration whilst a duvet cover is drawn about a duvet.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes one or more retaining means to releasably retain the device stably against a head frame or the like whilst fitment of the duvet cover occurs.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes two or more gripping means.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the gripping means are slidable along the strap enabling the distance between the gripping means to be varied.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the strap includes a conventional buckle to enable the length of the strap to be varied.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the strap is formed of resilient material to assist in fitment and stability of the strap during fitment of a cover.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the strap comprises an elasticated endless belt fittable about two bedposts.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the strap includes distance markings to assist in placement of the gripping means for a particular duvet.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a container, housing, when not in use, the strap.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the container includes a spool to windably retain the strap.

11. A method of fitting a duvet cover about a duvet, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a fitment device in a horizontally orientation, said fitment device having an elongate strap, the strap being adjustable in length and having two or more gripping means operably attached thereto;

securing an edge of a duvet cover in said gripping means;

securing an edge of a duvet cover in said gripping means; and

pulling a duvet cover about a duvet.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein two or more retaining means incorporated in the device are set in engaging contact with a vertical surface, thereby stabling the device in a horizontal orientation.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein prior to securing the duvet cover the gripping means are slid along the strap thereby altering the horizontal distance between the gripping means.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the gripping means are located against markings on the strap designating the correct location for a duvet of a particular size.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the device is selected from those including a resilient portion and is stretched around support elements, the tension in the resilient portion maintaining the strap in a horizontal orientation.