US20120233777A1

US20120233777A1 - Magnetic bedding securing system

Info

Publication number: US20120233777A1
Application number: US13/052,091
Authority: US
Inventors: Todd C. Hare
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-20
Filing date: 2011-03-20
Publication date: 2012-09-20

Abstract

A magnetic bedding securing system is disclosed that may releasably secure a blanket or other piece of bedding in a desired position on a bed, while allowing an individual to enter or leave the bed easily. The magnetic bedding securing system may include a first piece of bedding and a second piece of bedding. A first magnet may be disposed in the first piece bedding. A second magnet may be attached to the second piece of bedding. The second piece of bedding may be configured to be disposed atop the bed and to receive the first piece of bedding. Once the first magnet is aligned over the second magnet an attraction force between the first magnet and the second magnet may maintain the first piece of the bedding in the desired position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a bed covering, and more particularly, a bedding securing system.
It is an important part of maintaining ones health to ensure that a proper amount of sleep is achieved on a daily basis. One of the factors that can prevent an individual from achieving a proper amount of sleep is that the individual may be engaged in a consistent motion while attempting to sleep and this motion may result in the individual becoming uncovered while the bed covering is being displaced. This usually prevents one from attaining a restful sleep.
Some presently available devices to secure coverage during sleep may comprise mechanical means such as clamps or elastic straps on the edges of the covering to prevent it from slipping. These devices may be difficult to attach and may prevent one from entering or leaving a bed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bed covering that has the ability to be releasably secured to the desired position, while allowing the individual to enter or leave the bed easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention provides for a magnetic bedding securing system. The magnetic bedding securing system includes a first piece of bedding and a second piece of bedding. A first magnet is disposed in the first piece of bedding. A second magnet is attached to the second piece of bedding. The second piece of bedding is configured to receive the first piece of bedding with the first magnet aligned over the second magnet
In another aspect of the present invention provides a piece of bedding. The bedding includes a fabric body and a magnet attached to the fabric body. The fabric body is configured to be disposed atop the bed.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bed showing a bedding securing system with a shawl-like device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bed with the bedding securing system of FIG. 1 with the shawl-like device in place;

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-section view of the bedding securing system along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the bedding securing system along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide for a bedding securing system.
Bedding used in this disclosure refers to objects laid on a surface of a bed for comfort and decorative effect. Bedding can sometimes refer to blankets, bed sheets, comforters, mattress toppers, shawls or vice versa where items that may be considered bedding may include a fabric body that users may lay over a bed.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, different views of the bedding securing system 10 disposed over a bed 12 are shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The bedding securing system 10 may include a first piece of bedding 19 and a second piece of bedding 21. A first magnet 15 may be attached to any layer of or item serving as the bedding 19. Exemplary articles of bedding that may serve as the bedding 19 may include a bed covering 16 or a shawl-like device 14. Items that can serve as exemplary embodiments of bed covering 16 may include a blanket 17, a top bed sheet 28 and a bottom bed sheet 30. In one exemplary embodiment, the first magnet 15 may be attached to the shawl-like device 14, which may be a long rectangular shaped piece of fabric or other flexible material. A pocket 20 may be formed between an upper layer 24 and a lower layer 26 of the shawl-like device 14. The layers 24 and 26 may comprise any soft flexible material, including but not limited to textiles or sheet plastic material. A first magnet 15 may be disposed inside the pocket 20. The shawl-like device 14 may be made long enough to run the entire length of a bed 12 like a scarf. The shawl-like device 14 may lie alongside the occupant of the bed 12 and may be relatively narrow. In one exemplary embodiment the shawl-like device 14 may be from about 6 to 96 inches long, from about 2 to 12 inches wide, and less than about 2 inches in thickness. In alternate exemplary embodiments, the shawl-like device 14 may take different forms, i.e. a stuffed animal, a flower shape, or a team logo to which the pocket 20 may be fastened.
The second piece of bedding 21 may include items of bedding laying under the first piece of bedding 19. For example, the bedding 21 may include one or more of a mattress pad 32 or a mattress 34. In an exemplary embodiment an adhesive patch 22 may be used to attach the second magnet 18 to a top surface of the mattress 34. According to another exemplary embodiment, the adhesive patch 22 may be used to attach the second magnet 18 to an underside of a mattress pad 32. The adhesive patch 22 may have a pressure sensitive adhesive applied on one side or around the edges of one side.
The first magnet 15 and the second magnet 18 may comprise any magnetic material, for example, any rare earth element known in the art, including but not limited to, neodymium. The first magnet 15 and the second magnet 18 may have an attraction force between them from about 10 to 50 pounds.
Both the first magnet 15 and the second magnet 18 may have a diameter of from about 0.5 to 3 inches and a thickness from about 0.125 to 0.750 inches.
The pocket 20 and the shawl-like device 14 together may hide the first magnet 15. The pocket 20 with the first magnet inside of it may be used as a handle by a user pulling the first magnet 15 away from the second magnet 18 to release the bed covering 16 from the bed 12.
In an alternate embodiment the first magnets 15 and the second magnet 18 may hold the bedding 19 in the desired position on the bed 12 by incorporating the pocket 20 and the first magnet directly inside of the bed covering 16. Yet in another alternate embodiment the first magnet 15 might be attached to the bed covering 16 by a metal clip or retainer.
During use, the bedding securing system 10 the magnet 15 may be attracted to or clamp to the magnet 18 thus helping to prevent the bedding 19 from shifting about over the bedding 21 and by clamping any other intervening layers, such as the bed covering 16 to the mattress 34 between the first magnet 15 and the second magnet 18.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A magnetic bedding securing system, comprising:

a first piece of bedding a bottom surface;

a first magnet disposed in said bottom surface of said first piece of bedding;

a second piece of bedding having a top surface; and

a second magnet disposed in said top surface of said second piece of bedding wherein said second piece of bedding is configured for disposition atop a bed, and

wherein said second piece of bedding is configured to receive said first piece of bedding with said first magnet aligned over said second magnet.

2. (canceled)

3. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1 wherein said first piece of bedding comprises a shawl-like device wherein said shawl-like device is a long rectangular shaped piece of material.

4. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 3 wherein said shawl-like device further comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, said shawl-like device having a pocket formed between the upper and the lower layers configured to receive said first magnet.

5. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1, wherein said first magnet said second magnet comprise a rare earth metal.

6. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1, wherein said second piece of bedding further comprises a patch having a top side and a bottom side, wherein pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied around the edges of said top side, wherein said patch is bonded to said second piece of bedding by said pressure-sensitive adhesive forming a pocket, and wherein said second magnet is located in said pocket.

7. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1, wherein said second piece of bedding is a mattress further comprising a patch having a top side and a bottom side, wherein pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied around the edges of said bottom side of said patch, wherein said patch is bonded to said second piece of bedding by said pressure-sensitive adhesive forming a pocket, and wherein said second magnet is located in said pocket.

8. (canceled)

9. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1, wherein said first magnet is disposed substantially in the center of said bottom surface of said first piece of bedding, and said second magnet is disposed substantially in the center of said top surface of second piece of bedding.

10. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 1 wherein said first piece of bedding comprises a shawl-like device wherein said shawl-like device is configured in a decorative shape.

11. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 10 wherein said decorative shape is selected from the group consisting of a stuffed animal, a flower shape, or a team logo.

12. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 10 wherein said shawl-like device further comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, said shawl-like device having a pocket formed between the upper and the lower layers configured to receive said first magnet.

13. The magnetic bedding securing system of claim 11 wherein said shawl-like device further comprises an upper layer and a lower layer, said shawl-like device having a pocket formed between the upper and the lower layers configured to receive said first magnet.