Blanket elevating device

Abstract

Provided herein is a blanket elevating device, including a telescoping spinal handle assembly, a structural support portion attached to the telescoping spinal handle assembly, the structural support portion for elevating a blanket above a surface of a bed; and an anchor portion connected to the telescoping spinal handle assembly, wherein the blanket elevating device is actuatable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by the telescoping handle assembly.

Claims

1. A blanket elevating device, said blanket elevating device comprising: i) a telescoping spinal handle assembly, said telescoping spinal handle assembly comprising at least one pair of channels arranged in parallel orientation with each other; and at least one pair of inserts arranged in parallel orientation with each other, said at least one pair of inserts are slidably engaged within said at least one pair of channels, wherein said telescoping handle assembly has an upper portion having a handle grip and said at least one pair of channels and said at least one pair of inserts each have mated latching means for locking said channels and inserts in a collapsed position or an extended position, said latching means actuatable by a trigger in said handle grip; ii) a structural support portion attached to said telescoping spinal handle assembly, said structural support portion for elevating a blanket above a surface of a bed; and iii) an anchor portion connected to said telescoping spinal handle assembly, wherein said blanket elevating device is actuatable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by said telescoping handle assembly.

2. The blanket elevating device of claim 1 wherein said latching means is a push button locking system.

3. The blanket elevating device of claim 1 wherein said structural support portion and said anchor portion are scaffolds extending horizontally with respect to the vertically oriented telescoping spinal handle assembly.

4. The blanked elevating device of claim 3 wherein said anchor portion is positioned under a mattress to support said blanket elevating device in working engagement with a bed.

5. The blanket elevating device of claim 3 wherein said structural support portion comprises 2 horizontally projecting bars or brackets attached to said telescoping spinal handle, and said anchor portion comprises 2 horizontally projecting bars or brackets also attached to said telescoping spinal handle, said structural support portion and said anchor portion being in parallel orientation with each other.

6. A method of making a blanket elevating device comprising: i) assembling a telescoping spinal handle assembly, said telescoping spinal handle assembly including at least one pair of channels arranged in parallel orientation with each other, and at least one pair of inserts arranged in parallel orientation with each other, said at least one pair of inserts are slidably engaged within said at least one pair of channels, wherein said telescoping handle assembly has an upper portion having a handle grip and said at least one pair of channels and said at least one pair of inserts each have mated latching means for locking said channels and inserts in a collapsed position or an extended position, said latching means actuatable by a trigger in said handle grip; ii) appending a structural support portion to said telescoping spinal handle assembly; and iii) appending an anchor portion to said telescoping spinal handle assembly, wherein said blanket elevating device is actuatable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by said telescoping handle assembly.

7. A method of using a blanket elevating device to elevate a blanket over a bed comprising: i) placing a blanket elevating device of claim 1 on a bed such that an anchor portion secures said blanket elevating device under a mattress of said bed; and ii) extending a telescoping spinal handle assembly to an activated position such that a structural support portion provides a scaffold for elevating a blanket over said bed.

8. A blanket elevating device, said blanket elevating device comprising: i) a telescoping spinal handle assembly, said telescoping spinal handle assembly comprising at least one pair of channels arranged in parallel orientation with each other; and at least one pair of inserts arranged in parallel orientation with each other, said at least one pair of inserts are slidably engaged within said at least one pair of channels, wherein said telescoping handle assembly has an upper portion having a handle grip and said at least one pair of channels and said at least one pair of inserts each have mated latching devices including a movable button for locking said channels and inserts in a collapsed position or an extended position, said button being actuatable by a trigger in said handle grip; ii) a structural support portion attached to said telescoping spinal handle assembly, said structural support portion for elevating a blanket above a surface of a bed; and iii) an anchor portion connected to said telescoping spinal handle assembly, wherein said blanket elevating device is actuatable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by said telescoping handle assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a blanket elevating device of the present invention in use on a bed.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a blanket elevating device of the present invention from a different perspective view.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of a blanket elevating device of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows another side view of a blanket elevating device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The present invention is directed to a blanket elevating device which uses a support structure to elevate a blanket off of a bed so that the blanket does not come in contact with a body of a person positioned in the bed. The blanket elevating device is easily collapsible and transportable, using a telescoping spinal assembly which can be retracted to a compact position.

(6) With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side view of a blanket elevating device 10 positioned in use on a bed 12. The bed includes a mattress 14 positioned on top of a box spring 16. Blanket elevating device 10 includes a handle grip 18 positioned at the top of telescoping spinal handle assembly 20. Spinal handle assembly 20 includes at least one pair of inserts 22, which are slidably engaged within at least one pair of channels 24. Only 1 of the at least one pair of inserts 22 can be seen in FIG. 1 because FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of device 10 where a second insert of the pair is hidden from view. Only 1 of the at least one pair of channels 24 can be seen in FIG. 1 because FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of device 10 where a second channel of the pair is hidden from view. Inserts 22 and channels 24 have a mated cross-section to ensure easy motion of inserts 22 in and out of channels 24. The cross-section of inserts 22 and channels 24 can be tubular or rectangular, for example. If the inserts 22 and channels 24 are tubular, for example, inserts 22 have diameter less than the diameter of channels 24 to insure inserts therein.

(7) Structural support 26 is also shown in FIG. 1, and is horizontally oriented with regard to a vertically oriented spinal handle assembly 20. Structural support 26 is designed to support a blanket over, but not in contact with a person in bed 12, so that the person can have a blanket on them for warmth, but not touching a part of the body over which the blanket is elevated. This is particularly useful for a person with a medical or skin condition, for example, that the blanket might irritate if it came in contact with the person's body. Anchor portion 28 is also shown in FIG. 1, and is horizontally oriented with regard to a vertically oriented spinal handle assembly 20. Anchor portion 28 and structural support 26 are both substantially horizontally oriented with regard to spinal handle assembly 20. Anchor portion 28 is designed to be inserted under mattress 14 of bed 12 such that the weight of mattress 12 (and the person in the bed) holds device 10 in stable position; e.g. where the spinal handle assembly 20 is positioned such that structural support 26 can properly support a blanket off of bed 12.

(8) With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings, blanket elevating device 10 is viewed from a different perspective; e.g., viewed as looking up from the foot of the bed as assembled on the foot of bed 12. Grip 18 is shown as part of upper portion 30 of spinal handle assembly 20. Upper portion 30 is a bar which is perpendicularly attached to two inserts 32 and 34. Structural support portion 26 (not shown in FIG. 2) projects outward from upper portion 30 over bed 12, but cannot be viewed from this perspective. Inserts 32 and 34 are slidably engaged in channels 36 and 38. While one pair of inserts and channels are shown in the figures, it is understood that telescoping spinal handle assembly 20 can include further inserts and/or channels in the assembly. A channel can also act as an insert, and an insert can also act as a channel in such an assembly with multiple channels and inserts.

(9) The present invention is illustrated with a pair of parellelly oriented inserts 32 and 34 and channels 36 and 38, but it is also contemplated within the present invention that a single insert and channel may us instead of a pair of parallel oriented inserts and channels. Telescoping spinal handle assembly 20 further includes a latching means 40 to secure spinal handle assembly in either an extended, operational configuration, or a compact configuration. The spinal handle assembly retracts and extends similar to a luggage handle, and may be operated by a multitude of different mechanisms well known to one of skill in the art. For example, the latching means may utilize a frictional coupling between each of the adjacent sections of each insert and channel, which provides for ease of operation. Each coupling is between a pair of cylindrical or rectangular sections having a common longitudinal axes. The intersection is adapted to be received within the cavity of the larger channel. At the coupling, the terminus of the larger section is flared inwardly, the diameter of the flared terminus of the larger section approximating the outer diameter of the smaller section. The terminus of the smaller insert section flares outwardly within the cavity formed by the larger section and is adapted to slidingly engage the inner surface of the larger section. A frictional engagement is used to maintain the position of the coupled section irrespective of whether the sections are fully extended or in the collapsed position. A push button system may be used where a loaded button 42 is released in a cavity 44 of channels 38 and 36 to lock button 44 in place. The latching means may be actuatable by pressing button 42 directly or may be actuatable by a trigger in grip 18.

(10) Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a view of blanket elevating device 10 from a top view perspective is shown. Structural support portion 26 is shown, and includes horizontally projecting arms 50 and 52 extending from spinal handle assembly 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, arms 50 and 52 are connected to form a rectangle 56 by crossbar 54 and upper portion 30 of spinal handle assembly 20. With reference now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, another side view of blanket elevating device 10 is shown. Structural support portion 26 is shown as a rectangular shape 56, connected by spinal assembly 20 to anchor portion 28, which is also shown as a rectangular shaped structure 58. Anchor portion 28 includes horizontally projecting arms 60 and 62 extending from spinal handle assembly 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, arms 60 and 62 are connected to form a rectangle 58 by crossbar 64 and mated crossbar 66.

(11) Thus while there have been described what are presently believed to be preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.