GB2269990A

GB2269990A - Releasably secured decorative devices for bedding

Info

Publication number: GB2269990A
Application number: GB9218073A
Authority: GB
Inventors: June Patricia Mccalman Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-25
Filing date: 1992-08-25
Publication date: 1994-03-02
Also published as: GB9218073D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a decorative device for bedding, especially a valance or flounce arrangement adapted to hide a mattress-supporting base (6) from sight when in use. The device comprises a panel (8) of sheeting material of the same dimensions as those of the mattress (2). A strip or strips comprising a flounce (10) is/are secured to two, three or four edges (14, 16; 18; see figure 2) of the panel (8) by means of stud or button fasteners (22, 24; see figure 2) or by means of hook and loop tape. Gaps (26; see figure 2) are provided at two or four corners of the panel to accommodate posts of a bed supporting the bedding. The panel is intended for use immediately beneath a mattress, the strip or flounce being readily removable for laundering. <IMAGE>

Description

DECORATIVE DEVICES FOR BEDDING The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to decorative devices for bedding.

Modern beds conveniently comprise a mattress support such as a divan base, upon which a mattress is laid.

Alternatively, the mattress may be laid directly or preferably indirectly upon a wire base supported by a rectangular frame. In both cases, it is desirable from an aesthetic point of view to hide the mattress-supporting base from sight. It is conventional either to provide a flounced or valanced sheet adapted to lie on the top surface of the mattress and to extend in a fitted manner down three vertical edge walls of the mattress and for the flounce to extend below the mattress level towards the floor, or simply provide a flat sheet having the same length and width as the mattress beneath which it lies, so that the gathered flounce extends therefrom to the floor on three sides.

In this situation, it may be difficult to remove and replace the valanced undersheet when laundering is required or replacement desirable to match a seasonal change of colour scheme. This is because the weight and resilience of a mattress makes it very unwieldy for a slightly-built person to handle.

The invention sets out to minimise the above difficulty.

The invention therefore provides a decorative device for bedding comprising a panel of pliable material of a size suitable for use to underlie a mattress, and a strip of flexible material adapted to be releasably secured along a lengthwise extending edge portion thereof to at least selected marginal portions of the panel, there being provided engagement means adapted releasable to secure said edge portion to said marginal portions.

Advantageously, said engagement means may comprise releasable stud or button fastenings, hook and loop fastening tape or similar fastenings as conventional in a soft-furnishing context.

Preferably, the strip of flexible material is a valance or flounce in which the fabric is gathered onto a tape or band along said lengthwise extending edge.

Conveniently, the panel of pliable material may be of the same fabric as the strip, or may be of a more utilitarian or durable nature.

In use, the strip may be securable to the margiral portions on three sides of the panel, corresponding to the foot-end, left-hand side and right-hand side of the bed for which it is intended for use. Alternatively, the strip may be securable also to the fourth side of the panel at the head-board end. In the latter case, the strip may extend outwardly of bed posts of the head-board. It will be further understood that a device according to the invention may also be readily used on a bed having a foot-board.

There will now be described an example of a device according to the invention, including variations thereof.

It will be understood that the description, which is intended to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device in use; and Figure 2 is a composite plan view of various devices according to the invention.

In the example, Figure 1 shows a mattress 2 having a sheet 4 thereon and positioned on a divan base 6. Located between the underside of the mattress 2 and the base 6 is a panel 8 of flexible material which is selected to be of the same length and breadth as the mattress 2.

In the example, the panel is of a sheeting material, but may be of any suitable fabric or plastics material.

Hanging from marginal portions of the panel 8 is a flounce 10 of decorative material gathered on a band 12 which band is releasably secured to the panel 8 as will be described below.

Figure 2 shows the panel 8 in plan view. The panel comprises two side edges 14, a foot edge 16 and a head-board edge 18. A tape 20 is bonded, conveniently by stitching, to the marginal portions at edges 14 and 16, the tape being provided with stud or button fasteners 22.

Alternatively Velcro (R.T.M.) tape ma; ze used. The band 12 of the flounce 10 is provided with co-operating fasteners 24.

If desired, the flounce 10 may be provided with a gap 26 at the corner between edges 14 and 16 of the panel, to accommodate certain designs of foot-board on the bed base or the flounce may be wrapped around a corner post (not shown). If desired, for example, because of the visual position of the bed in a room, a further flounce portion 10' may be similarly attached to the head-board end 18 of the panel 8.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A decorative device for bedding comprising a panel of pliable material of a size suitable for use to underlie a mattress, and at least one strip of flexible material adapted to be releasably secured along a lengthwise extending edge portion thereof to at least selected marginal portions of the panel, there being provided engagement means adapted releasably to secure said edge portion to said marginal portions.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprise releasable stud or button fastenings.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engagement means comprise hook and loop fastening tapes.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprise a sliding fastener.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each strip of flexible material is a valance or flounce of fabric, said fabric being mounted in a gathered condition onto a tape or band along said lengthwise extending edge portion.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the panel of pliable material is formed from a material of increased durable wear characteristics in relation to those of the strip of flexible material.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the strip is releasably secured to the marginal portions of three sides of the panel.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the strip is divided into three portions by the provision of gaps arranged in use to accommodate portions of a bed frame supporting said bedding.

9 A device as claimed in either one of claims 7 and 8, wherein a further strip is releasably secured to the fourth edge portion of said panel.

10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each edge of said panel is provided with a length of said strip having the said lengthwise dimension as that of the associated panel edge.

11. A decorative device for bedding, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.