Patent Application
20140338128
This application claims priority from U.K. Patent Application No. 1308895.0, filed May 17, 2013. The disclosure of that application is incorporated herein by reference.
Valances (also known as bed skirts) generally comprise a piece of fabric that is placed between a mattress and a bed frame, a portion of the fabric being arranged to hang down to cover at least a portion of the bed frame below the mattress. Valances are decorative items that give an aesthetically pleasing appearance to a bed by covering the sides of the bed frame and/or any items that may be stored under the bed.
It is known to provide a valance that is generally rectangular in form with a central solid rectangular portion which has substantially the same footprint as the bed frame to which the valance is installed. A skirt portion is also provided on the valance, which extends outwards from the central portion, hanging towards the floor.
However, installation of such valances require the removal of the mattress from the bed frame because the central solid rectangular portion cannot be installed with the mattress in place.
It is also known to provide a valance that may be installed without the removal of the mattress from the bed frame. Such valances may be substantially U-shaped or may comprise component portions that are attached to the separate sides of the bed and may be installed by inserting the valance between the mattress and the bed frame.
However, it is difficult to install the valance because it is difficult to grip when inserting it between the mattress and the bed frame.
The present invention seeks to address these issues.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valance for a bed, the valance comprising: an attachment portion comprising one or more installation pockets, wherein the attachment portion is configured to lie between a mattress and a bed frame; and a skirt portion, which is attached to an outer periphery of the attachment portion and is configured to hang down from the attachment portion when the valance is installed onto the bed.
The installation pockets may be configured to allow the attachment portion to be pushed between the mattress and the bed frame using a hand and/or a tool. The installation pockets may be provided around the inner periphery of the attachment portion. The installation pockets may be integral to the attachment portion. The installation pockets may be formed in the attachment piece by making a fold from the inner periphery towards the outer periphery of the attachment portion such that an open edge faces the outer periphery of the attachment portion and a closed edge forms the inner periphery of the attachment portion.
The fold in the attachment portion may comprise one or more lines of stitching running between to the edges of the fold, the lines of stitching being configured to form a plurality of installation pockets in the fold. The lines of stitching may be spaced apart by approximately 20 cm to 30 cm. The fold may be approximately 14 cm deep. The attachment portion may be approximately 40 cm wide.
The attachment portion may be substantially U-shaped. The attachment portion may comprise first and second spaced apart parallel side sections, which are joined to each other at their first ends by a third side section, which extends between the first and second side sections and is perpendicular thereto, and wherein the second ends of the first and second side sections are disconnected from one another.
The first ends of the first and second side sections may form mitered corners with the third side section. The first ends of the first and second side sections may overlap or abut against the ends of the third side section. The first, second, and third side sections may each be substantially rectangular.
The attachment portion may be configured such that it has sufficient width that it can be gripped between the mattress and the bed frame without additional fixing means. The attachment portion and/or the skirt portion may be inelastic. The attachment portion and/or skirt portion may be made from an elastic material. The attachment portion may comprise a single piece of fabric. The skirt portion may comprise a single piece of fabric. The skirt portion may comprise pleats and/or vents. The attachment portion may be planar in use. The attachment portion may comprise fabric only.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a valance for a bed, the valance comprising: an attachment portion comprising one or more formations to facilitate tucking in of the attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion is configured to be tucked between a mattress and a bed frame; and a skirt portion, which is attached to an outer periphery of the attachment portion and is configured to hang down from the attachment portion when the valance is installed onto the bed.
The formations may be configured to allow the attachment portion to be tucked between the mattress and the bed frame using a hand and/or a tool. The installation components may comprise eyelets, tabs, straps or any other appropriate feature that may allow the attachment portion to be tucked between the mattress and the bed frame using a hand and/or a tool.
The second aspect of the present invention may be used in conjunction with the first aspect of the present invention and/or any of the optional features described in relation to the first aspect of the present invention as set out above.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
In the examples shown in
In the examples shown in
The fold 8 may comprise one or more lines of stitching 14 running between the edges 10, 12 of the fold 8, the lines of stitching 14 being configured to form a plurality of installation pockets 6 in the fold 8. The installation pockets 6 are configured to allow the attachment portion 2 to be easily pushed between the mattress and the bed frame, using a hand and/or a tool, such that the desired installation is easily and repeatedly achieved. In the examples shown, the lines of stitching 14 are spaced apart by approximately 20 cm to 30 cm and the fold 8 is approximately 14 cm deep, although the installation pockets 6 may be of any general dimensions that allow for the insertion of a hand and/or tool.
In the examples shown in
In another embodiment, not illustrated, the first, second and third side sections 2a, 2b, 2c may be separate components such that they may be installed individually onto the bed. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the attachment portion 2 may be formed from a single piece of material.
In the examples shown in
In the examples shown in
The skirt portion 4 may comprise one or more pleats, which add to the aesthetic of the valance and allow the side sections of the skirt portion to lie parallel to the sides of the bed frame. The skirt portion 4 may comprise one or more vents that allow access to items stored under a bed without the need to lift/remove the valance. Corner pleats may be provided at each of the four outer corners of the valance 1, and one or more side pleats may be provided centrally on each side section. The corner pleats may comprise a triangular section that lies between adjacent rectangular sections that extend along respective peripheral edges of the attachment portion 2. The corner pleats may comprise openings provided of any suitable form to allow for features of the bed frame to be accommodated, such as bed frame head and footer boards.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1308895.0 | May 2013 | GB | national |
