US2737667A - End clip for blankets and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1956 M. PICON END CLIP F OR BLANKETS AND THE LIKE Filed July 16, 1953 INVENTQR. MARY PICON ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,737,667 END CLIP FOR BLANKETS AND THE' LIKE Mary Picon, Newark, N. J. Application July 16, 1953, Serial No. 368,245 7 Claims. (Cl. S`335) The present invention is directed to bed clothes, more particularly to means for retaining blankets, quilts, comforters and the like in proper position when enclosed in a suitable protective cover.

Blankets, quilts and the like are rather dicult and expensive to clean or wash, as the case may be, and therefore the practice has arisen to provide a cover for such bed clothes which is of a material that is readily cleaned or washed. Such a cover isv rectangular, of a size equal to that of the bed clothes and consists of a pocket with an opening at one end whereby the bed clothes may be inserted therein. Usually some fastening means for the opening of the cover is provided such as snap fasteners, zippers, buttons and the like. While such covers accomplished the purpose of keeping the bed clothes clean, there were certain disadvantages inherent therein. The bed clothes were loosely held within the pocket so that the bed clothes were relatively removable and as a result of even a short time of use there was wrinkling of the bed clothes and often a bunching of the material thereof, forming ridges which were uncomfortable to the user. As far as applicant is aware, no device for preventing this has been on the market.

Various devices for holding bed clothes have been proposed but these were generally for the purpose of attaching the bed clothes to the bed itself. For instance, one such device consisted of an elastic strap having clips on opposite ends thereof, one of the clips being attached to a side of the bed clothes and the other being attached to a seam in the mattress. Another device previously proposed for the same purpose consisted of an arcuate spring, one end of which was attached to the frame of the bed and the other end had a clip which was secured to a central portion of the bed clothes. Still another device which had been proposed consisted of a clip of a suicientrsize so as to enable it to be clamped over the edge seam of a mattress. The edge of the bed clothes was wrapped around the same and the clip was placed over the bed clothes and snapped into position onto the seam of the mattress. v v

None of these devices was capable of accomplishing the result of holding bed clothes smooth and even within a cover. They had a very serious disadvantage that they held the blanket or the like in a relatively rigid position so that the blanket pressed upon the sleeper. Also they had the disadvantage of holding the blanket in position so that if the sleeper moved during the night,

it caused considerable discomfort and disruption to the y sleeper.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the diiculties and disadvantages inherent in prior devices of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a combination vof bed clothes contained in a washable cover and a clip or clamp arrangement, whereby said cover and bed clothes are held in proper position in a manner to be comfortable for the sleeper.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a clip arrangement which is adapted to be slipped onto the corners of a cover and which is firmly held in position while being capable of ready removal from the cover.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a construction of a clip adapted for the present purpose, which is simple in construction, which is low in cost, which may be produced in large quantities and which is decorative and attractive in appearance.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a suitable cover in which bed clothes are held and there is applied usually to all four corners thereof a clip or clamp `of special construction to hold the cover and bed clothes in proper relationship so that there cannot be any wrinkling of one relative to the other.

The clip comprises a pair of jaws usually of the same configuration and design and spaced apart a suitable distance equal to the thickness of the cover and bed clothes. Each of the jaws is arcuate and is bowed convexly relative to the cover and bed clothes. Finger holds are usually provided on each of the jaws so as to enable a person to grasp the clip for purposes of removal. Each of the jaws is provided with a series of inclined teeth which face towards the corner of the cover and are intended to prevent the clip from accidentally slipping olf of said cover.

The clip is made of suitable material which is elastic to such an extent as to permit distortion thereof during manipulations, and suiciently elastic so that it returns to itsoriginal position when it is released. When used, the clip is slipped over the corner of the cover to such a point that a substantial part of the corner extends beyond the outer edge of the clip.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. l is a top elevational view of a cover and bed clothes provided with clips in accordance with the present invention, some parts being broken away for clear-ness;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view thereof fragmentary in nature and taken along line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is-a perspective view of the clip shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modied form of clip bearing a close relationship to that shown in Fig, 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of clip showing the same from the inside and in fully open position; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the form shown in Fig. 6, as applied to a bed cover.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a blanket, quilt or the like 1 is enclosed in a Washable cover 2 of approximately the same size and having an open end 3 which is usually closed by suitable fastening devices. Over each of the corners 4 of the cover is placed a clip consisting of a pair of jaws 5 and 6 in superposed relation and joined by ends 7, which are integral therewith. The clip is composed of suitable elastic material. Formed in the faces of jaws 5 and 6 are a series of teeth 8 and 9, respectively, which extend downwardly towards the interior of the clip. They also extend towards the corner 4. Projections lil are formed on the convex forward edge of each of jaws 5 and 6 and serve as finger holds. A i

In the operation the clip is grasped by the thumb and foretnger along sides 7. Pressure is exerted to cause jaws 5 and 6 to bow slightly and the clip is then slipped over corner 4. The lingers are released, permitting jaws 5 and 6 to lie in parallel position with teeth 3 and 9 pressing lightly into cover 2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably the teeth are blunt so that they do not cut into the fabric, although they press into the surface thereof.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 consists of a pair of arcuate jaws 11 and 12, which are preferably bowed outwardly. Side 13 is integral with one end of jaws 11 and 12, leaving ends 14 thereof free. Double rows of teeth 15 and 16 are formed in jaws 11 and 12, respectively, 'and they are formed as previously described. ln placing the device on a cover, ends 14 are grasped by the fingers and pulled slightly apart, after which the clip is slipped over the corner of the cover and released.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 6 consists of a pair of arcuate jaws 17 equivalent to jaws 5 and 6 and containing one or more sets of teeth 18 and 19. Finger holds 20 are provided on the convex edges of jaws 17.

There is provided a coil spring 21 having ends 22 and 23 extending therefrom. Sockets 24 are provided on the adjacent ends of jaws 17 and the free ends 22 and 23 of coil spring 21 are inserted therein. This arrangement is provided at both ends of jaws 17. The tension of the spring causes the jaws to approa h each other and to be firmly held in the corner of the cover. Because of the arrangement, a single size of clip is adapted to be used on a considerable number of thicknesses of bed clothes and cover combinations.

Although the invention has been described setting forth several specific embodiments thereof, various changes in the details of the invention may be made within the principles herein set forth. For instance, the clips may be made of such materials as metal, plastics, synthetic rubber or combinations of metals and non-metals. While the jaws of the clip are shown as being practically identical, they need not be of exactly the same form or shape. Various decorative effects may be applied to the clip and various colors or combinations of colors may be used. The number of teeth and the arrangement thereof may be considerably varied.

These and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended here.

I claim:

1. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

2. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, a spring means biasing said jaws toward each other, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

3. in substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, said jaws being spring hinged at one end only of said jaws, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

4. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, said jaws being interconnected at both ends thereof by a springy connection, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

5. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws and towards said corner, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

6. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, the outer faces of said jaws being convex, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

7. In substantially rectangular bed clothes, a cover having a pocket therein of a size about equal to the size of said bed clothes, said bed clothes being within said pocket with the corners thereof in the corners of said pocket, the improvement which comprises a clip adapted to be fitted over a corner of said cover, said clip being elongated and extending diagonally of said cover, said clip having a pair of jaws in superposed relation and teeth extending inwardly from the inner faces of said jaws, and a finger hold extending from the central portion of each said jaw, said jaws being connected at at least one end thereof and being unattached in the central portions, whereby the corner of said bed clothes is adapted to extend beyond said clip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,071 Simpson Apr. ll, 1911 1,948,965 Hart Feb. 27, 1934 2,088,208 Kassap July 27, 1937 2,505,027 Belsky Apr. 25, 1950

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