U.S. patent application number 09/727078 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for crib sheet anchor.
Invention is credited to Deckert, April K..
Application Number | 20020062522 09/727078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26869169 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020062522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deckert, April K. |
May 30, 2002 |
Crib sheet anchor
Abstract
A crib sheet anchor is provided having an octagonal harness pad
having at least four corner edges, with at least two of the four
corner edges being parallel to one another and arranged at about
thirty-five degrees to at least two parallel side edges. In this
way, outwardly directed forces applied to the octagonal harness pad
are evenly distributed so as to prevent bunching or wrinkling of
the crib sheet. Six elastic strips each having two ends with one of
the ends fastened to one each of the side edges and the corner
edges of the harness pad. Four of the six elastic straps are
relatively longer than two of the elastic straps. Six clasps are
fastened one each to the free ends of the six elastic straps. The
clasps include a crib sheet engagement portion that can be locked
in place on a crib sheet and which increases its grip as tension is
applied to the crib sheet and the clasp.
Inventors: |
Deckert, April K.;
(Arendtsville, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
April K. Deckert, President
SLOCB Industries Inc
30 Chambersburg Street
PO Box 206
Arendtsville
PA
17303
US
|
Family ID: |
26869169 |
Appl. No.: |
09/727078 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60173455 |
Dec 29, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/504.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 15/02 20130101;
A47C 21/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/504.1 |
International
Class: |
A47C 021/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A crib sheet anchor comprising: an octagonal harness pad having
at least four corner edges that are arranged at about thirty-five
degrees to at least two parallel side edges; six elastic strips
each having two ends with one of said ends fastened to one each of
said side edges and said corner edges of said harness pad wherein
four of said six elastic straps are relatively longer than two of
said elastic straps; and six clasps fastened one each to free ends
of said six elastic straps.
2. A crib sheet anchor comprising: an octagonal harness pad having
at least four corner edges wherein at least two of said four corner
edges are parallel to one another and are arranged at about
thirty-five degrees to at least two parallel side edges whereby
outwardly directed forces applied to said octagonal harness pad are
evenly distributed; six elastic strips each having two ends with
one of said ends fastened to one each of said side edges and said
corner edges of said harness pad wherein four of said six elastic
straps are relatively longer than two of said elastic straps; and
six clasps fastened one each to free ends of said six elastic
straps wherein said clasps include a crib sheet engagement portion
that can be locked in place on a crib sheet and which increases its
grip as tension is applied to said crib sheet and said clasp.
3. A crib sheet anchor comprising: an octagonal harness pad having
at least four corner edges, a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein
at least two of said four corner edges are parallel to one another
and are arranged at about thirty-five degrees to at least two
parallel side edges whereby outwardly directed forces applied to
said octagonal harness pad are evenly distributed wherein said side
edges are spaced apart by about eight and a half inches and said
top and bottom edges are spaced apart by about ten and a half
inches; six one inch wide elastic strips each having two ends with
one of said ends fastened to one each of said side edges and said
corner edges of said harness pad wherein four of said six elastic
straps are about thirteen inches long and two of said elastic
straps are about four inches long; and six clasps fastened one each
to free ends of said six elastic straps wherein said clasps include
a crib sheet engagement portion that can be locked in place on a
crib sheet and which increases its grip as tension is applied to
said crib sheet and said clasp.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional patent
application Serial No. 60/173,455, filed Dec. 29, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to bed coverings for
infants and in particular to a system for anchoring infant crib
sheets to a crib mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Devices adapted for securing a sheet to a mattress are well
known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,830 discloses a
holding appliance for use on a blanket, mattress pad, or coverlet
of a bed. The device includes a band for fixing the blanket or
coverlet to a bed in such a manner that the blanket or coverlet can
be freely movable relative to the bed, without disturbing a
person's sleep.
[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,617, a bedding attachment device is
disclosed that includes a strip of hook fastening material which is
attachable to a bed frame and a strip of loop fastening material
which is selectively attachable to the bedding. Garter-like
fastening straps are fixedly secured to the loop strip, and these
straps are attached to the bedding at selected positions. The
bedding may then be stretched over the mattress until the hook and
loop fastening strips are engaged.
[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,560, a device for keeping fitted
sheets in place on a mattress is provided. The device includes a
central sheet with substantially the same shape as the mattress but
with smaller dimensions. Elastic members are attached to the
periphery of the central sheet pulling inwardly on a fitted sheet.
The elastic members are permanently affixed to the central sheet on
one end and removably grab the edges of the fitted sheet keeping it
in place.
[0006] Properly securing an infant crib sheet to the crib mattress
can often be difficult. Even a very young infant is capable of
pulling the corners of a crib sheet loose, even if the sheet is
"fitted". Once free from the mattress, the loose sheet poses a very
real threat to the infant inasmuch as the infant may become
entrapped in a portion of the sheet and be suffocated. What is
needed is a simple, yet highly effective system for securing the
corners and sides of an infant crib sheet to standard full size
crib mattress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a crib sheet anchor
comprising an octagonal harness pad having at least four corner
edges, with at least two of the four corner edges being parallel to
one another and arranged at about thirty-five degrees to at least
two parallel side edges. In this way, outwardly directed forces
applied to the octagonal harness pad are evenly distributed so as
to prevent bunching or wrinkling of the crib sheet. Six elastic
strips each having two ends with one of the ends fastened to one
each of the side edges and the corner edges of the harness pad.
Four of the six elastic straps are relatively longer than two of
the elastic straps. Six clasps are fastened one each to the free
ends of the six elastic straps. The clasps include a crib sheet
engagement portion that can be locked in place on a crib sheet and
which increases its grip as tension is applied to the crib sheet
and the clasp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be more fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by,
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of
the invention, which is to be considered together with the
accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts and
further wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a crib sheet anchor formed
in accordance with the invention assembled to a standard infant
crib sheet that has been placed on a standard crib mattress;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a crib sheet anchor shown
in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the garter clasps
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the garter
clasps shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be
read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be
considered part of the entire written description of this
invention. In the description, relative terms such as "horizontal,"
"vertical," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as well as derivatives
thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.)
should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described
or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative
terms are for convenience of description and normally are not
intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including
"inwardly" versus "outwardly," "longitudinal" versus "lateral" and
the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative
to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as
appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like,
such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a relationship
wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either
directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as
both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless
expressly described otherwise. The term "operatively connected" is
such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the
pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that
relationship.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a crib sheet anchor 5 formed in
accordance with the present invention is adapted for maintaining
crib sheet 6 securely to a crib mattress 7, and comprises a harness
pad 10, elastic straps 15 and garter clasps 20. More particularly,
harness pad 10 is octagonally shaped including two pair of corner
edges 22a, 22b and 23a, 23b, side edges 26, and top and bottom
edges 28. Each pair of corner edges 22a, 22b and 23a, 23b are
arranged in parallel relation to one another such that corner edges
22a, 22b are parallel and corner edges 23a, 23b are parallel. Side
edges 26 are parallel to one another as are top and bottom edges
28, with all four being arranged so as to be at about a thirty-five
degree angle to corner edges 22a, 22b and 23a, 23b.
[0015] Harness pad 10 is preferably eight and a half inches wide
and ten and a half inches long, and formed from ten ounce
duck/canvas cloth which is preferred for its strength and
resistance to stretching or tearing. The peripheral edge 27 of
harness pad 10 is folded over upon itself so as to provide about a
one inch wide double layer margin 29. Margin 29 is double stitched
together with upholstery weight thread or nylon for maximum
strength, improved maintenance of overall shape, resistance to dry
rot, mold and mildew. The octagonal shape of harness pad 10 is
particularly efficient for evenly distributing tensile stresses
that result from the application of outwardly directed forces
applied to margin 29 by elastic straps 15 when crib sheet anchor 5
is applied to a crib sheet as shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] There are six elastic straps 15 that are each about one inch
wide, with four being about thirteen inches long and two being
about four inches long. One each of the four thirteen inch long
elastic strips has an end sewn to margin 29 at the center of each
of corner edges 22a, 22b and 23a, 23b. One each of the four inch
long elastic strips is sewn to the center of a side edge 26. A one
inch braided elastic is preferred for its non-roll quality and long
life. Each elastic strip 15 is attached to margin 29 with a double
stitch 31 of upholstery weight thread or nylon for strength,
resistance to dry rot, mold and mildew.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a garter clasp 20 is attached to
one end of each of elastic straps 15. Garter clasps 20 include a
tab 30 and a spring clip 33 which are joined to one another at one
end. Tab 30 is often positioned at the end of a flexible member 36,
such as a strip of canvas, plastic, or the like. Spring clip 33 is
formed from a resilient material such as metal or a stiff polymer,
that is formed so as to provide a tab receptacle portion 40 and a
tab clamp portion 42. Spring clip 33 is often formed so as to
resemble a so called "key-hole" shape, having a single aperture
with a large opening 43 defined by tab receptacle portion 40 and a
smaller opening 45 defined by tab clamp portion 42 into which tab
30 may be locked and held by friction/with and compression tab
clamp 42. Tab receptacle portion 40 is sized so as to accept tab 30
along with a portion of a crib sheet 6 within large opening 43. Tab
clamp portion 42 is narrower than tab receptacle portion 40. In
this way, once tab 30 and a portion of crib sheet 6 are positioned
within tab receptacle portion 40 they may be slid into the smaller
opening 45 of tab clamp 42 where they are securely held.
Advantageously, as crib sheet 6 is pulled against the clamping
action of garter clasp 20, tab clamp 42 operates to increase its
locking hold or grip upon the portion of crib sheet 6 that is
positioned within it by tab 30.
[0018] Crib sheet anchor 5 is attached to a crib sheet 6 in the
following manner. Crib sheet 6 is secured to mattress 7 in the
conventional way. Mattress 7 with crib sheet 6 attached is then
turned over to reveal its underside, and the peripheral edges of
crib sheet 6. Crib sheet anchor 5 is placed in the center of
mattress 7, and each garter clasp 20 is fastened to a confronting
peripheral edge portion of crib sheet 6, so that corner edges 22a,
22b and 23a, 23b and side edges 26 are attached, via elastic strips
15 and garter clasps 20, to the overlapping edges of crib sheet 6.
The length of elastic strips 15 and the octagonal shape of harness
pad 10 are selected so as to allow tension to be applied evenly to
the peripheral edges of crib sheet 6 without pulling the corners of
mattress 7 in from the crib or causing wrinkles in the top side of
crib sheet 6. Thus crib sheet anchor 5 is designed to hold an
infant fitted or flat crib sheet snug to a standard full size crib
mattress without wrinkles and so as to be resistant to the forces
generated by the motions of an infant that cause fitted or flat
crib sheets to otherwise ride up and come free from the mattress
possibly causing an entrapment and suffocation threat to the
child.
[0019] Advantages of the Invention
[0020] Numerous advantages are obtained by employing the present
invention.
[0021] More specifically, a crib sheet anchor is provided which
avoids many problems associated with prior art devices.
[0022] In addition, a crib sheet anchor is provided which
distributes tensile forces across a central harness pad so as to
better prevent wrinkling of a crib sheet.
[0023] Furthermore, a crib sheet anchor is provided which will
secure an infant fitted or flat crib sheet to a crib mattress so as
to be resistant to the normal movements and motions of an infant in
a standard, full size crib.
[0024] Also, a crib sheet anchor is provided which is safe to use
and will not cause, itself, cause injury to infants sleeping in a
crib.
[0025] In addition, a crib sheet anchor is provided which is simple
to operate and easy to use.
[0026] Furthermore, a crib sheet anchor is provided which may be
easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
[0027] It is to be understood that the present invention is by no
means limited only to the particular constructions herein disclosed
and shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or
equivalents within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *