THIS INVENTION relates generally to a bed valance for fitting on the base of a bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant has proposed in PCT International Patent Application Number PCT/AU 2005/001304 (Publication Number WO/2006/024079) a cover device for covering the base unit of a bed ensemble. The cover device is configured for covering, the head end, sides and foot end of the base unit and is formed with an opening so that the device can slip over the mattress on the base unit. The cover device has a top surrounding flange for retention between the mattress and base unit. An elastic band extending around the flange is provided for maintaining the flange in position. The cover device can thus be placed on the base unit without having to remove the mattress.

But, the cover device is not suitable for a bed with an attached bed head and/or a raised foot end, or a bed with a metal or timber base frame as it does not fit over these types of beds.

OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to alleviate or to reduce to a certain level one or more of the above prior art disadvantages.

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a bed cover device for a bed having a mattress support unit with a top surface, a bottom surface, opposed sides, head end and foot end, and a mattress for positioning on the top surface of said support unit. The device comprises a cover member configured for positioning to substantially cover the opposed sides, or the opposed sides and said foot end, and a retention arrangement adapted for retaining the cover member on said top surface. The cover member has opposed side panel portions adapted for covering said opposite sides, an upper edge or flange configured to extend inwardly from each of the side panel portions, and a lower edge or flange. The upper edge or flange has a foot end part and opposed side parts, said parts being configured for positioning between the mattress and the support unit and for retaining thereat by engagement with the support unit and the mattress. The retention arrangement has a first stretchable corner bridging element extending between one of said opposed side parts and the foot end part, and a second stretchable corner bridging element extending between the other of said opposed side parts and the foot end part.. The lower edge or flange is configured to engage the bottom surface of the support unit or extend downwardly towards the floor level.

The retention arrangement may have a stretchable element arrange at the lower edge or flange for elastically retaining said lower edge or flange on the bottom surface.

The cover device may be configured to form an opening for the cover member to slip over the mattress and to be positioned about the support unit.

Preferably, the retention arrangement further includes a third stretchable bridging element extending between the opposed side parts at or adjacent to said head end. Each said bridging elements being stretchable allows the cover member to be stretched while being slipped over the mattress and retract to retain the opposed side parts and end part on the top surface. The bridging elements may be in the form of elastic bands or cords.

The bed cover device can thus be used on a mattress support unit with or without a. bed head attached, or a raised foot end, and can be fitted without having to remove the mattress or bedding. The support unit can be a metal or timber bed frame, or an ensemble base.

The stretchable corner bridge elements assist in keeping the side parts and the foot end part from slipping out from under the mattress. The stretchable bridging element at or adjacent to the head end assists in holding the side parts from slipping out under the mattress. The bridging elements work cooperatively and would automatically adjust after being placed over the mattress and positioned between the mattress and the support unit.

The bed cover device may have mitred corners at respective positions between the opposed side parts and the foot end part. The mitred corners may be formed of folds or fixed by fastening means such as stitching or removable fastening means such as Velcro or other form of loop and hook fastening, studs, etc. When fixed, the side parts and the foot end parts can be pulled up for adjusting height of the lower edge or flange from the floor level. If they are not fixed, the side parts and the foot end part can be pulled towards the floor level for adjusting height thereof. Hook and loop fastening devices, studs and similar devices provide height adjustability as the fixing positions of the mitre corners are selective.

The bed cover device may be formed with one or more pleats. Preferably, the bed cover device is formed with corner pleats and/or side pleats and/or one or more pleats at its foot end portion.

The pleats may be positioned to cover certain parts of the support unit. Accordingly, such bed cover devices may be made of lighter fabric.

The bed cover device may be arranged to have a certain flexibility in fit so that it is suitable for use with the base units of ensemble beds of various sizes. The support units may have different depths, or widths or lengths. The cover device may have a width allowing it to fit over and under the support unit with a varying amount of fabric allowance depending on the depth, width and length of the base unit. The elasticised upper and/or lower edges/flanges retains the wrap device fitted on the base unit of the bed ensembles of various sizes.

Preferably, the cover member has a foot end portion extending from said foot end part. The foot end portion is adapted to substantially cover said foot end of the mattress support unit. The foot end portion may include an adjustment arrangement for adjusting width thereof. More preferably, the foot end portion is formed with one or more gaps each bridged by one or more adjustment means which may be elastics, Velcro, etc.

In another aspect therefore the present invention resides in a bed cover device for a bed having a mattress support unit with a top surface, a bottom surface, opposed sides, head end and foot end, and a mattress for positioning on the top surface of said support unit. The device comprises a cover member configured for positioning to substantially cover the opposed sides, and a retention arrangement adapted for retaining the cover member on said top surface. The cover member has opposed side panel portions adapted for covering said opposite sides, an upper edge or flange configured to extend inwardly from each of the side panel portions, and a lower edge or flange. The upper edge or flange has opposed side parts, said parts being configured for positioning between the mattress and the support unit and for retaining thereat by engagement with the support unit and the mattress. The retention arrangement has a stretchable head end element extending between and fixed to said opposed side parts at or adjacent to said head end, and a stretchable foot end element extending between and fixed to said opposed side parts at or adjacent to the foot end. The lower edge or flange is configured to engage the bottom surface of the support unit or extend downwardly towards the floor level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of a bed cover device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the cover device shown in Figure

1 ;

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the cover device according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the cover device according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the cover device according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 shows an example of a bed with an attached bedhead, the support of which can be covered with the bed cover device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to the bed 100 shown in Figure 6. The bed 100 as shown has a mattress support unit or frame 102 with a bedhead 104 at head end 105, legs 106, opposed sides 108 and 110, foot end 112, top surface 114 and bottom surface 116. The top and bottom surfaces may be respective surface of a mattress support member (not shown) formed by slats or springs. A mattress 118 is supported on the top surface 114.

Turning to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a bed cover device 10 according to the present invention. The wrap device 10 has a cover member 12 formed with opposed side panels 14 and 16, and foot end panel 18 which in this case is a piece of fabric configured to form said side panels and foot end panel. Alternatively, said panels may be pieces of fabric that are joined or sewn to provide said configuration. The cover device 10 in this embodiment also has side parts 20 and 22 extending inwardly from respective top edges of the side panels 14 and 16. Similarly, a foot end part 24 is arranged to extend inwardly from the top edge of the foot end panel 18. A retention arrangement 25 formed of stretchable corner bridging elements 26 and 28 which are fixed to the foot end part 24 and respective side parts 20 and 22, and a stretchable head end bridging element 30 fixed to the side parts 20 and 22. An opening 32 is thus formed between the side parts 20, 22 and the end part 24. The size of this opening expands when the stretchable elements are being stretched. When stretched, the cover device 10 with its expanded opening 32 can be slipped over the mattress 118 for positioning on the support unit 102. To retain the cover member on the base unit 102, the side parts 20 and 22, and the end part 24 of the cover member 12 are positioned in between the top surface 114 and the mattress 118. The bridging elements 26, 28 and 28 automatically adjust the position of the cover member 12.

While not shown, it is understood that an alternative wrap device 10 may have a cover member 12 formed with only opposed side panels 14 and 16. The cover device 10 in this alternative also has side parts 20 and 22 extending inwardly from respective top edges of the side panels 14 and 16. A retention arrangement for this alternative is formed of a stretchable head end bridging element 30 and a stretchable foot end bridging elements 3OA fixed to the side parts 20 and 22 at or adjacent to respective head end and foot end.

The cover device 10 can thus be able to be stretched for slipping over the mattress 118 and positioning it about the support unit 102. The side parts 20 and 22, and the foot end part 24 are then positioned between the mattress 118 and the top surface 114 of the support unit 102. The comer bridging elements 26 and 28 assist in keeping the side parts and the foot end part from slipping out from under the mattress. The bridging element 30 adjacent to the head end assists in holding the side parts from slipping out under the mattress. When held in that position, the side panels 14 and 16, and the foot end panel 18 will cover the respective sides 108 and 110, and the foot end 112 of the support unit 102. Accordingly, the bridging elements automatically retain the device 10 on the support unit 12 and there Js minimal slippage when making bed or changing sheets.

The embodiment of the bed cover device 10 shown in Figure 3 is also configured to cover the sides 108 and 110, and the foot end 112 of the mattress support unit 102 as shown in Figure 6. This embodiment has an adjustment arrangement 34 configured so that the cover device 10 can be use with beds of different sizes. The adjustment arrangement 34 in this case has a gap 36 formed in the foot end panel 18 and the foot end part 24 and foot end stretchable elements 38 and 40 extending horizontally in the gap 36. The elements 38 and 40 will stretch for the cover device 10 to fit beds with different width.

The retention arrangement for the cover device shown in Figure 3 has an elastic band 3OA which extends around the opening 32. The band 3OA assists in retaining the side parts 20 and 22 in position on the top surface 114. The wrap panel 12 has an upper edge flange 14 and a lower edge flange16.

The embodiment of the bed cover device 10 shown in Figure 4 is substantially similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The same numeral references are employed for the same or similar features. This device 10 has corner pleats 42 and 44 formed in respective corners between the side panels 14 and 16, and the foot end panel 18. The corner pleats 42 and 44 are arranged to accommodate the legs 106 at the foot end 112.

The embodiment of the cover device 10 shown in Figure 5 has a foot end pleat 46, as well as side panel pleats 48 and 50. The cover device 10 with pleats can be made of light or heavy fabric. In this embodiment, the legs 106 are hidden behind the pleats 42 and 44.

The cover device 10 shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 has mitred corners 52 formed between each of side parts 20 and 22 and the foot end part 24. The mitred corners 52 may be fixed by stitching or with releaseable fixing means such as hook and loop fasteners or studs. They may simply be folded. When fixed, the mitred corners 52 are held ¹ in place, and they can be pulled up when adjusting the level of the lower edge 54 of the side panels 14 and 16, and the foot end panel 18. By pulling up, more fabric is placed under the mattress 118. If they are not fixed, the lower edge 54 can be extended towards the ground level.

The cover device 10 uses less fabric than a traditional valance and is much easier to place on a mattress support unit and remove therefrom. The cover device 10 is made from just one piece of fabric and not gathered. As such, it is less likely to be caught up in the sheets when making the bed. Also the lack of gathers gives it a more contemporary appearance.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative examples of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth in the following claims.