DEVICE FOR MAKING BED

The present invention relates to a device assisting in the process of making bed.

In accommodation business the beds of the residents and visitors needs typically to be made every day. In hotels, for example, this can easily mean hundreds and even thousands of beds to be made each day. And since this process is typically made with the personnel of the hotel or cleaning services, efficient fulfilling of this process typically means a lot of personnel hours.

Thus, any solutions or devices assisting and/or speeding up this bed making pro cess has significant economic effect for the related costs. The present invention provides a novel device assisting in the in bed making pro cess, which significantly helps and speeds up the process. With the device of the present invention two main phases of the bed making process, namely manually stretching a sheet over mattress and pulling duvet cover over blanket, can be re moved and/or significantly simplified, thus significantly decreasing the time used in the bed making process.

The device of the invention for making bed comprises four parts, which parts are configured to be fixed at the corner areas of a mattress of the bed, wherein each of the parts of the device comprise an upper section with a surface configured to be placed against an upper surface of the mattress and a lower section with a surface configured to be placed against a lower surface of the mattress, and a fixing device for fixing a sheet to the part, which fixing device is connected to the part with a resilient biasing device, which biasing device allows the fixing means to be moved away from the part and to return to the part once released.

By attaching the sheet to the fixing devices of the parts at the corner areas of the mattress the sheet on the mattress is effectively drawn tightly over the mattress with the biasing devices. Thus, the change of the sheet and stretching of the new sheet over mattress can be done quickly and easily. Further, the upper and lower sections of the parts allow easy and secure attachment of the parts of the device to the mat tress of the bed. In an embodiment of the device of the invention the upper section and lower section are connected to each other so that the distance between them is adjustable. In this embodiment the upper section and the lower section of the part of the device may preferably be connected to each other with elastic member or parts. The elastic 2 members or parts allow tensioning of the upper and lower sections of the part at the corners of the mattress against the corresponding upper and lower surface of the mattress, which makes the attachment and fixing of the device of the invention even easier. Alternatively, the elastic member or parts can be replaced with a suitable telescopic part, for example, which allows adjustment of the distance between the upper section and lower section to be suitable for mattresses of different thick nesses.

In the above discussed two-section embodiment of the device of the invention the biasing device is also preferably connected to the lower section of the part of the device. In this embodiment the upper sections are preferably equipped with suitable means for detachably attaching the fixing device to the upper section, such as a hook for example, so that the fixing means are easily accessible during the changing of the sheet.

In the embodiment of the device of the invention two parts of the device, which parts are configured to be fixed to the adjacent corners of the mattress at the head of the bed, comprise additional fixing device attached to the part with further biasing device for temporary fixing of a sheet of a blanket or a blanket. This allows the utilization of the device of the invention also for changing the sheet of the blanket of the bed. The further biasing device are preferably connected to the upper sections of the parts.

In an embodiment of the device of the invention the device comprises guard parts configured to protect the mattress of the bed from the biasing devices. The guard parts can be implemented as a guard plates setting against corner areas of the mattress, or as a guide tubes or channels guiding the movement of the biasing de vices, for example.

In an embodiment of the device of the invention the device the sections of the parts of the device are preferably made from plastic.

In an embodiment of the device of the invention the biasing device comprises a spring reel retractor, and the fixing device comprises a crocodile clip. Alternatively other similar devices, such as springs and/or elastic bands may be used in the bi asing device for example, and hooks, clips and other known fastening means in the fixing device for example. 3

The present invention also provides a mattress comprising a device of the invention. The device of the invention may be integrated to the mattress during the manufac turing of the mattress, for example.

More precisely the features defining a device in accordance with the present inven tion are presented in claim 1 . Dependent claims present advantageous features and embodiments of the invention.

Exemplifying embodiment of the invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of example and with reference to accompanying drawings, where

Figure 1 shows schematically a bed equipped with an embodiment of the de vice of the invention,

Figure 2A and 2B shows schematically embodiments of a piece of the device of the invention, and

Figures 3A and 3B show schematically embodiments of another piece of the device of the invention.

In figure 1 is schematically shown a bed 1 of which mattress 2 is equipped with an embodiment of the device of the invention. The device in this embodiment com prises a four parts 3a, 3a’, 3b and 3b’, which parts are located at the corner areas of the mattress 2.

In this embodiment each of the parts 3a, 3a’, 3b and 3b’ comprises an upper section 4 and lower section 5. The upper sections 4 are set on the upper surface of the mattress 2 and the lower sections 5 are set on the lower surface of the mattress. Both the upper and lower sections 4, 5 also comprises small portions extending on the side surfaces of the mattress 2 for helping in the proper positioning of the sec tions on the corners of the mattress.

The upper sections 4 and the lower sections 5 are connected to each other in this embodiment with an elastic band 6, which keeps the sections pressed against the surface of the mattress 2, and at their places on the corners of the mattress. Alter natively, the elastic band 6 could be replaced for example with a telescopic connec tion allowing the distance between the upper section 4 and lower section 5 to be adjusted based on the thickness of the mattress 2. 4

Figure 2A shows schematically an embodiment of the upper section 4 of the parts 3b, 3b’ of the device of the invention that are located at the foot end of the bed 1 . In this embodiment the upper section 4 comprises a surface 7 setting against the upper surface of the mattress 2, and portions 8 and 9 extending substantially perpendicu larly in relation to the surface 7. The portions 9 are set against the side surfaces of the mattress 2 and the portion 8 is set in the corner of the mattress.

The portions 8 and 9 comprise hooks for allowing the elastic band 6 to be fixed to the upper section 4, which hooks projects inwards towards the mattress 2 when the upper section is at its place. In this embodiment, the ends or the elastic bands 6 are connected to hooks in the portion 8, and the elastic bands extend via hooks in the portions 9 to the lower section 5 discussed in more detail with reference to figures 3A and 3B.

The portion 8 is also equipped with an outward projecting hook 8a. To this hook 8a can be attached a crocodile clip 13 of the lower sections 5 (see 3B) when the sheets of the bed 1 are changed, so that the crocodile clip is easily accessible at least for attaching a new bed sheet to it. After fastening of the new sheet to the crocodile clip 13 (figure 3B), mere sideway push preferably detaches the crocodile clip from the hook 8a.

Figure 2B shows schematically an embodiment of the upper section 4 of the parts 3a, 3a’for the of the device of the invention that are located at the head end of the bed 1 . Similarly than in the upper section of figure 2A, the upper section 4 comprises a surface 7 setting against the upper surface of the mattress 2, and portions 8, 8’ and 9, 9’ extending substantially perpendicularly in relation to the surface 7. The portions 8, 8’ and 9, 9’ are set against the side surfaces of the mattress 2 so that portion 8’ and portion 9’ next to it are located towards the head of the bed 1 , and portions 8 and 9 are located at the side of the mattress 2.

Similarly than in the upper section of figure 2A, the portion 8 comprises an outwardly projecting hook 8a for holding a crocodile clip from the lower section 5 discussed in relation to figure 3A. Further, also the portions 8, 8’ and 9, 9’ comprise hooks for allowing the elastic band 6 to be fixed to the upper section 4, which hooks projects inwards towards the mattress 2 when the lower section is at its place.

In the portion 8’ is also attached a spring reel retractor 12’, to which string is attached a crocodile clip 13’. When a duvet cover of a blanket of the bed 1 is changed, the crocodile clip 13’ is attached either to the blanket or to the duvet cover so that the 5 retractive force of the spring reel retractor 12’ can be used to help to get a new duvet cover on the blanket.

Figure 3A shows schematically an embodiment of the lower section 5 of the parts 3a, 3a’ of the device of the invention located at the head of the bed 1 . In this embod iment the lower section 5 comprises a surface 10 setting against the lower surface of the mattress 2, and portions 11 extending substantially perpendicularly in relation to the surface 10. The portions 11 are set against the side surfaces of the mattress 2. The portions 11 also comprise inward, i.e. towards the mattress 2, projecting hooks for allowing the elastic band 6 to be fixed to the lower section 5. These inward projecting hooks can be used to tighten the elastic bands 6 to proper tension.

To the surface 10 of the lower section 5 is fixed a spring reel retractor 12, to which string is attached a crocodile clip 13. The crocodile clip 13 fixed on a sheet to be set on the mattress 2, and the released so that the retractor 12 will pull the sheet tightly over the mattress and keep it there. With the retractor 12, the detachment of the crocodile clip 13 from the hook 8a of the upper section 4 allows the retractor to pull the sheet at its fixed and tight position on the mattress 2.

The lower section 5 also preferably comprises a guard part 14, through which the string of the spring reel retractor 12 goes. This guard part 14 protects the mattress 2, especially the lower edge of the mattress, from the string of the spring reel retrac tor 12 and guides the string, when the string moves during operation of the device during the changing of the sheets of the bed 1 .

In these lower parts 5 of the parts 3a and 3a’ located at the head of the bed 1 , the spring reel retractor 12 and the guard part 14 are preferably connected to the sur face 10 so, that the crocodile clip 13 is accessible on that side of the mattress 2 which is not against the head of the bed.

Figure 3B shows schematically an embodiment of the lower section 5’ of the parts 3b, 3b’ of the device of the invention which are located on the foot end of the mat tress 2. Similarly than in embodiment of figure 3A, the lower section 5’ comprises a surface 10 setting against the lower surface of the mattress 2, and portions 11 ex tending substantially perpendicularly in relation to the surface 10. The portions 11 are set against the side surfaces of the mattress 2. The portions 11 also comprise holes and/or hooks for allowing the elastic band 6 to be fixed to the lower section 5. 6

In the lower sections 5 of the parts 3b, 3b’, the spring reel retractor 12 together with the guard 14 are preferably connected to the surface 10 so, that the crocodile clip 13 is accessible from the corner of the lower section 5 and of the mattress 2.

In relation to the above embodiment it is to be noted, that the key parts of the device can also be integrated as a part of the mattress itself during the manufacturing of the mattress, for example.

Further, in relation to the embodiment disclosed in the figures the sheet for the mat tress is preferably stitched to the form for the corners of the mattress at the foot of the bed and the edges of the sheet preferably are dimensioned to end substantially at the lower edges of the mattress with the exception of the head end of the bed, where the sheet preferably ends substantially at the top and side surface edges of the mattress. This way the spring reel retractors keep the sheet tensioned over the mattress and there is no need to tuck the edges of the sheet under mattress.

In an embodiment where the upper section and lower section are integrated into a single piece, preferably via a telescopic connecting part, the lower section is prefer ably provided with suitable means for momentarily raising the edge of the mattress, so that the spring reel retractors can pull the edge of the sheet under the mattress. This embodiment allows the use of a normal sheet with the mattress. The means for momentarily raising the edge of the mattress can be implemented with a suitable spring device, for example.

The specific exemplifying embodiment of the invention shown in figures and dis cussed above should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the art can amend and modify the embodiment described in many evident ways within the scope of the attached claims. Thus, the invention is not limited merely to the em bodiment described above.