GB2445411A

GB2445411A - Arrangement for strapping a mattress elevator to a bed base and a mattress to the elevator

Info

Publication number: GB2445411A
Application number: GB0700050A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Dale; Ivor Ponting
Original assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-03
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2008-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-03
Also published as: GB2445411B; GB0700050D0

Abstract

An arrangement for attaching a mattress elevator 3 to a bed base [2, Fig. 1] and securing a mattress [1, Fig. 1] to the elevator 3 at the hinge point between the base of the elevator and the elevating section of the elevator comprises a single strap 36 and two strap restraints 6,7 located at either side of the elevator 3. In use, the strap 36 is looped tinder the bed base and over the mattress and is attached to the elevator 3 via the strap restraints 6.7. Strap length adjustment means [4, Fig. 1] may form part of the strap 36 or the strap restraints 6,7. The strap restraints 6,7 preferably take the form of clamps comprising a support bar 34 and a pivotal clamp arm 32. The clamp arm 32 is restrained by a stop 31. The clamps are mounted to support arms 8,9 which extend from the side of the elevator. The arrangement allows a single strap to be used to both secure the elevator to a bed base and a mattress to the elevator.

Description

2445411

MATTRESS ELEVATOR SINGLE STRAP ATTACHMENT MEANS

The use of a mattress elevator is well known. These devices are commonly electrically operated and are attached to the bed base and under the mattress. The attachment means commonly comprises several straps including one or more straps to hold the device to the bed base and another to hold the mattress 5 in place. The strap that holds the mattress in place is normally placed around the mattress and bed base at the point of the mattress elevator hinge. This ensures that the mattress bends when the mattress end is raised.

The present invention seeks to replace at least one of the mattress elevator straps and the maiircss sirap with one strap requiring only one length adjuster. 10 In order that the invention may be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying figures.

Figure #1 shows a section through a bed (1) and bed base (2) taken just in front of the hinge of the mattress elevator (3) and shows the single strap (5)

with a length adjuster (4).

15 The strap (5) is arranged to go once around the outside of the bed base (2) and mattress (1) and also to be attached to the mattress elevator at two strap restraints (6) and (7).

Figure #2 shows a typical electrically operated mattress elevator (3) with support tubes (8) and (9). Added to the end of the support tubes (8) and (9) are 20 strap restraints (6) and (7).

Figure #3 shows the strap restraint (7) in more detail. A support bar (34) is attached to the support tube (9). A wrap (35) is formed from a piece of metal

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or similar and is arranged to cover part of the top, front and bottom surface of the support bar (34). A clamp (32) is pivotally attached to the support bar (34) 25 at pivot (33). The clamp (32) is restrained by a stop (31).

Figure #4 shows the strap restraint (7) with the clamp in an open position. Figure #5 shows the strap restraint (7) with the clamp in an open position and with a strap (36) in position.

Figure #6 shows the strap restraint (7) with the clamp in the closed position 30 and with the strap (36) in its operating position.

In order to attach a strap to the strap restraint (6), (7) the clamp (32) is opened as shown in Fig #4, a loop of the strap (5) is then passed over the support bar (34) as shewn in Fig U5 and ihe damp (32) closed as shown in Fig #6. A typical method of using the invention will now be explained. 35 The mattress elevator (3) is placed on the bed base (2) with the mattress (1) on top.

The strap (5) is then placed under the bed base (2) and over the mattress (1). The ends of the strap (5) are attached together at the length adjuster (4) leaving the strap (5) slack.

40 The strap (5) is then inserted in the strap restraint (6) and the clamp (32)

closed to lock the strap (5) within the strap restraint (6).

The strap (5) is then placed in the strap restraint (7) and the clamp (32) left open.

The strap (5) is then pulled tight over the mattress (1) and the clamp (32) 45 locked in place to restrain the strap and maintain the tightness over the mattress (1).

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Finally the length adjuster (4) is pulled to tighten the strap around the bed base (2).

This invention relates to the use of a single strap that is attached to the 50 mattress elevator at strap restraints (6) and (7). The form and operation of the strap restraints (6) and (7) may take on any other design.

In a further embodiment of the invention a second length adjuster is added to the strap to allow independent tightening of the strap over the mattress (1). The description of the invention does not specifically mention any additional 55 straps that may be used, for example to retain the mattress and/or the mattress elevator from movement up or down the bed base. It is taken as common practice that such straps may be required in addition to the strap used in the invention.

Accordingly the present invention comprises a means of attaching a mattress 60 elevator (3) to a bed base (2) and to restrain a mattress substantially at the hinge point of the mattress elevator (1) using one strap and comprising a single strap (5) and two strap restraints (6) and (7), said strap restraints being attached to the mattress elevator (3) one at each side of the bed, said strap being arranged to pass under the bed base (2) be attached to the mattress 65 elevator (3) at strap restraints (6) and (7) and to pass over the mattress (1) and said single strap having at least one length adjustment means that may be independent or incorporated within one or both of the strap restraints 6,7.

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Claims

1) A means of attaching a mattress elevator (3) to a bed base (2) and to restrain a mattress substantially at the hinge point of the mattress elevator (1) using one strap and comprising a single strap (5) and two strap restraints (6) and (7) said strap restraints being attached to the mattress elevator (3) one at 5 each side of the bed, said strap being arranged to pass under the bed base (2) be attached to the mattress elevator (3) at strap restraints (6) and (7) and to pass over the mattress (1) and said single strap having at least one length adjustment means that may be independent or incorporated within one or both of the strap restraints 6,7.

10 2) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where a iength adjuster (4) is included in the strap (5) and said length adjuster (4) is positioned in the length of strap below the mattress elevator (3).

3) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where a length adjuster is included in the strap (5) and said length adjuster is positioned in the length of strap above the

15 mattress elevator (3).

4) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where two length adjusters are included in the strap (5) and said length adjusters are positioned, one in the length of strap below the mattress elevator (3) and one above the mattress elevator (3).

5) A claim as claimed in claims 1 -4 where the strap restraints (6) and (7) 20 are generally as shown.

6) A claim as claimed in claims 1 -4 where the strap restraints (6) and (7) are of any other design.

7) A claim as in any of the proceeding claims where one or two strap length adjusters are incorporated in the strap restraints 6 and or 7.

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8) An arrangement as in any of the proceeding claims where any number of additional straps are utilised to restrain the mattress and/or the mattress elevator from other movements such as up and down the bed base.

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8) A claim as in any of the proceeding claims where any number of additional straps are utilised to restrain the mattress andyor the mattress elevator from other movements such as up and down the bed base.

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Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows

1) An arrangement for attaching a mattress elevator (3) to a bed base (2) and to a mattress (1) substantially at the hinge point of the mattress elevator (1) using one strap, wherein the arrangement comprises a single strap (S) and two strap restraints (6) and (7), said strap restraint being attached to the mattress elevator (3), one at each side of the bed, said strap being arranged to pass under the bed base (2), be attached to the mattress elevator (3) at strap restraints (6) and (7) and to pass over the mattress (1), said strap having at least one length adjustment means (4) and said strap restraints (6) (7) being arranged such that the strap can be clamped in the restraints by forming a loop in the strap, such that it is not necessary to thread a free end of the strap through the restraint.

2) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 where a length adjuster (4) is included in the strap (5) in use and said length adjustment means (4) is positioned in the length of strap below the mattress elevator (3).

3) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 where a length adjustment means is included in the strap (5) in use and said length adjuster is positioned in the length of strap above the mattress elevator (3).

4) An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 where two length adjustment means are included in the strap (5) in use and said length adjusters are positioned, one in the length of strap below the mattress elevator (3) and one above the mattress elevator (3).

5) An arrangement as claimed in claims 1 -4 where the strap restraints (6) and (7) are generally as shown in figure #6 and comprising a clamp (32) to restrain the strap against a stop (31).

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6) An arrangement as claimed in claims 1 -4 where the strap restraints (6) and (7) are of any other design that can retain the strap.

7) An arrangement as in any of the proceeding claims where one or two strap length adjustment means are incorporated in the strap restraints (6) and or (7).