A blanket

Abstract

 A blanket 10 for a bed 16, the blanket 10 having means 12, 14 for attaching at least part of one side of the blanket 10 to at least one vertical post 18 of a bed 16 to allow, in use, movement of the blanket 10 relative to the or each post 18 to which it is attached.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a blanket and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a blanket for a cot.

[0002] Young children and babies are commonly awoken in the night when a covering blanket is removed or pushed to one side during sleep. Without the blanket the child will often wake up feeling cold or unprotected in the night. The blanket may be tucked into the sides of the cot to avoid it being displaced during the child's sleep but this can often restrict movement of the child and may cause problems if the child gets caught up underneath the blanket.

[0003] The present invention seeks to alleviate the problem described above by providing a blanket having means to attach the blanket to a cot while allowing vertical movement of the blanket in relation to the cot.

[0004] The term "blanket" is meant to encompass any form of bed-linen and includes, for example, duvets and sheets of any material.

[0005] According to one aspect, there is provided a blanket for a bed, the blanket having means for attaching at least part of one side of the blanket to at least one vertical post of a bed to allow, in use, movement of the blanket relative to the or each post to which it is attached.

[0006] Preferably the bed is a cot.

[0007] Preferably, the attachment means comprises at least one aperture formed in a side of the blanket. Preferably still, the blanket has a plurality of side by side apertures formed in one, more preferably two, or preferably still three sides of the blanket.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means includes a hoop member linked to each aperture. Preferably still, each hoop member is made of resilient plastics material and, in use is designed to fit around the respective rails of a cot. Alternatively, each hoop members is formed from an elastomeric material.

[0009] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blanket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blanket of Figure 1 incorporating hoop members;

Figure 3 is a side view of a cot incorporating the blanket of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the cot and blanket of Figure 3 taken through A-A; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the connection means of one embodiment.

[0010] Referring first to Figure 1, the present invention comprises a blanket 10 or other bed cover such as a duvet or sheet. The blanket 10 has a plurality of side by side apertures 12 along three of its sides.

[0011] Referring now to Figure 2, each aperture 12 has a hoop member 14 extending through the aperture 12. Each hoop member 14 is made from a resilient plastics material and is divided at one point to enable the hoop member 14 to be manipulated so be located through its associated aperture 12.

[0012] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate how the apertured blanket 10 can be attached to a cot 16.

[0013] Each hoop member 14 is located around a respective rail 18 of the cot 16. The divide in the hoop member 14 allows for the hoop member 14 to be located around the rail 18. In an alternative embodiment, the rails 18 of the cot 16 are formed with hoop members already located around them.

[0014] The hoop members 14 may not necessarily be circular but must be sufficiently large to allow each hoop member 14 to be located around a rail 18 of the cot 16 while providing a spacing 20 between the inner face 22 of the hoop member 14 and the rail 18. The resilience of the hoop member 14 means that the hoop member 14 is able to deform resiliently to some extent to allow for different rail profiles. The hoops members may be formed of an elastomeric material.

[0015] Each hoop member 14 has a smooth inner face to allow the hoop member 14, and thus the blanket 10 to which the hoop 14 is connected via the aperture 12 in the blanket 10, to travel along the vertical length of the rail 18 of the cot 16 to which that hoop member 14 is attached. The spacing 20 between the inner face 22 of the hoop member 14 and the rail 16 ensures that friction does not hinder movement of the hoop member 14 along the length of the rail 22. Consequently, in use, the blanket 10 may be pushed upwards by the child during sleep, away from the child's body, but returns in time to a resting position covering the child.

[0016] In the embodiment of Figure 5, the hoop members are semicircular.

[0017] Sound generating devices, such as bells, may be attached to the hoop members 14 such that a sound is generated when the blanket 10 is pushed upwards to provide entertainment to the child while they are awake in the cot 16.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the rails 18 of the cot 16 extend through the apertures 12 formed in the sides of the blanket 10, in which case the hoop members 14 are not required.

[0019] In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) the blanket 10 is designed for use with a bed having at least one post (for example, a four-poster bed). Here, the blanket may only need an aperture in each corner and the hoop members 14 are located around the posts of the bed allowing the blanket to move along the vertical length of the posts while retaining the blanket on the bed covering the user when the blanket returns to it rest position.

[0020] The above described embodiments have been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A blanket 10 for a bed, the blanket 10 having means for attaching 12, 14 at least part of one side of the blanket to at least one vertical post 18 of the bed 16 characterised in that in use, movement of the blanket 10 is allowed relative to the or each post 18 to which it is attached.

2. A blanket 10 according to claim 1 wherein the bed 16 is a cot.

3. A blanket 10 according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the attachment means 12, 14 includes at least one aperture 12 formed in a side of the blanket 10.

4. A blanket 10 according to claim 3 wherein a plurality of side by side apertures 12 are formed in at least one side of the blanket 10.

5. A blanket 10 according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the attachment means 12, 14 further includes a hoop member 14 linked to each aperture 12.

6. A blanket 10 according to claim 5 wherein each hoop member 14 is made of resilient plastics material.

7. A blanket 10 according to claim 5 wherein each hoop member 14 is made of an elastomeric material.

8. A blanket 10 according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein each hoop member 14, in use, fits around the respective rails 18 of a cot 16.

Drawing