BEDDING LOCATION IDENTIFICATION DEVICES, SYSTEMS, KITS, AND ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

Bedding location identification devices, systems, kits, and assemblies, and methods of using the same. In at least one embodiment of a device for orienting bedding relative to a bed, the device comprises a first portion comprising at least one first piercing element and/or at least one first receiver extending therefrom or defined therein, and a second portion comprising at least one second piercing element and/or at least one second receiver extending therefrom or defined therein, wherein when the first portion and/or the second portion are positioned through a portion of bedding, the at least one first piercing element and the at least one second piercing element are engaged by the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver, respectively, to secure the device to the bedding.

Claims

1. A device for orienting bedding relative to a bed, comprising: first portion comprising at least one first piercing element and/or at least one first receiver extending therefrom or defined therein; and a second portion comprising at least one second piercing element and/or at least one second receiver extending therefrom or defined therein; wherein when the first portion and/or the second portion are positioned through a portion of bedding, the at least one first piercing element and the at least one second piercing element are engaged by the at least one first receiver and the at least one second receiver, respectively, to secure the device to the bedding.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first piercing element is at least two first piercing elements, and wherein the at least one first receiver is at least two first receivers.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one first piercing element and/or the at least one second piercing element comprises a grip feature selected from the group consisting of a barb, a flange, a protrusion, and an indentation.

4. The device of claim 1, configured so that when it is secured to the bedding, it resists separation due to pulling one part of the device away from another part of the device.

5. The device of claim 1, configured so that when it is secured to the bedding, it remains secured to the bedding during and after being washed in a washing machine.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a first lateral component, wherein the second portion comprises a second lateral component.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first lateral component and the second lateral component has a coating thereon.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are identical and configured to engage one another to secure the device to the bedding.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one grommet positioned around the at least one first piercing element and/or the at least one second piercing element.

10. The device of claim 1, forming part of a system, the system further comprising a second device, the second device comprising: a second device first portion comprising at least one second device first piercing element and/or at least one second device first receiver extending therefrom or defined therein; and a second device second portion comprising at least one second device second piercing element and/or at least one second device second receiver extending therefrom or defined therein.

11. The device of claim 1, having indicia present upon or within at least one of the first portion and the second portion, the indicia indicative of a location of the bedding the device is intended to be secured thereto.

12. The device of claim 1, configured as a clamp.

13. A device for orienting bedding relative to a bed, comprising: a first portion comprising at least one first grip feature; and a second portion comprising at least one second grip feature; wherein the first grip feature and the second grip feature are selected from the group consisting of a barb and a flange; and wherein when the first portion and/or the second portion are positioned adjacent to a portion of bedding, the first portion and the second portion can hingedly move toward one another to secure the device to the bedding.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first portion further comprises at least one first piercing element and/or at least one first receiver extending therefrom or defined therein, and wherein the second portion further comprises at least one second piercing element and/or at least one second receiver extending therefrom or defined therein.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first portion is configured as a first clamp, wherein the second portion is configured as a second clamp, and wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are positioned adjacent to one another such that a direction of opening the first clamp and the second clamp are the same.

16. The device of claim 13, having indicia present upon or within at least one of the first portion and the second portion, the indicia indicative of a location of the bedding the device is intended to be secured thereto.

17. The device of claim 13, configured so that when it is secured to the bedding, it resists separation due to pulling one part of the device away from another part of the device.

18. The device of claim 13, configured so that when it is secured to the bedding, it remains secured to the bedding during and after being washed in a washing machine.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion has a coating thereon.

20. The device of claim 13, forming part of a system, the system further comprising a second device, the second device comprising: a second device first portion comprising at least one second device first grip feature; and a second device second portion comprising at least one second device second grip feature; wherein the second device first grip feature and the second device second grip feature are selected from the group consisting of a barb and a flange; and wherein when the second device first portion and/or the second device second portion are positioned adjacent to a second portion of the bedding, the second device first portion and the second device second portion can hingedly move toward one another to secure the second device to the bedding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 show side views of exemplary devices and/or systems, kits, or assemblies, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a top view of bedding having two devices positioned therein/thereon, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 9 shows various device embodiments having indicia thereon, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIGS. 11 and 12 show side views of devices configured as clamps, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 show various photographic views of devices configured as clamps, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0032] FIGS. 25 and 26 show embodiments of devices comprising or configured as clamps, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] As such, an overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described and some of these non-discussed features (as well as discussed features) are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration. Furthermore, wherever feasible and convenient, like reference numerals are used in the figures and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The figures are in a simplified form and not to precise scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

[0035] The present disclosure includes disclosure of devices configured to attach to bed linens (flat sheets, fitted sheets, blankets, comforters, duvets, duvet covers, etc.) so to provide guidance to a user of the device as to the orientation of said linens.

[0036] An exemplary device of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, device 100 comprises a first portion 102 and a second portion 110. First portion 102, such as shown in FIG. 1, comprises one, two, or more piercing elements 104, said piercing elements 104 configured to pierce bed linens, such as to pierce a bed sheet. Piercing elements 104 can comprise at least one grip feature 106, such as one or more barbs, protrusions, indentions, etc., configured to be received by and engaged within at least one receiver 108 of second portion 110, whereby said receiver 108 includes a corresponding barb element, protrusion element, indentation, etc. In at least one embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1, first portion 102 can comprises two piercing elements 104, and second portion 110 can comprise two receivers 108, such that when the piercing elements of first portion 102 pierce a bed sheet or other linens, the two pierced piercing elements 104 can be engaged within two receivers 108 of second portion 110 and permanently retained therein. The term permanently is used herein to describe an engagement of first portion 102 and second portion 110 that resists separation, such as by pulling first portion 102 away from second portion 110, or by washing and/or drying linens having first portion 102 and second portion 110 engaged with one another through said linens. Devices 100 of the present disclosure are intended to resist separation once first portion 102 and second portion 110 engage one another, so that said devices 100 remain attached to sheets or other bedding.

[0037] First portion 102 and second portion 110 can each comprise a lateral component 112, comprising metal, rubber, and/or plastic for example, acting as an effective substrate for piercing elements 104 and/or receivers 108. In at least one embodiment, lateral components 112, piercing elements 104, and/or receivers 108 comprise metal or plastic. Lateral components 112 may be rigid or relatively rigid, for example, so to provide strength and durability to device 100.

[0038] Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 1, exemplary devices 100 of the present disclosure can have a coating 114 at least partially (if not fully) surrounding lateral component(s) 112. Such a coating 114, comprising resin/epoxy, rubber, plastic (rigid or soft), etc., can protect lateral components 112, such as to protect lateral components 112 from corrosion, and/or can protect a user by offering the user a softer, smoother, less sharp, etc., portion of device 100 to grip, such as instead of lateral components 112, which could comprise metal or hard plastic, for example, and which could cause potential injury/cuts to the user. Coating 114 may also be used to generally provide a smooth and/or soft outer portion of device 100 so that, for example, if device 100 was positioned on a bed sheet that is laundered, other clothes being laundered with said sheet would not be damaged, such as by potential snags or punctures, in the washer and/or dryer.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a device 100 of the present disclosure, whereby first portion 102 and second portion 110 each have at least one piercing element 104 and at least one receiver 108.

[0040] Devices 100 of the present disclosure can comprise two, three, four, five, or more piercing elements 104 and receivers 108, as may be desired. For example, and as shown in FIG. 3, and exemplary device 100 of the present disclosure may comprise four piercing elements 104 and four receivers 108. Devices 100 of the present disclosure may also comprise one piercing element 104 and one receiver 108, although an advantage of having at least two piercing elements 104 and receivers 108 is for device 100 to maintain its position relative to a bed sheet, for example, and an advantage to having more (versus fewer) piercing elements 104 and receivers 108 is that more punctures of a bed sheet, for example, would increase the likelihood of device 100 remaining secured to a bed sheet when coupled thereto.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a device 100 of the present disclosure. As shown therein, device 100 comprises two lateral elements 112, each having at least one piercing element 104 and/or at least one receiver 108 coupled thereto and/or defined therein. Such an embodiment would therefore have fewer components than other device 100 embodiments, as, for example, lateral elements 112 can be relatively smooth/rounded over to provide a more comfortable grip, such as if device 100 also had a coating 114.

[0042] The device 100 embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is configured such that, for example, both relative portions (first portion 102 and second portion 110) effectively mirror one another, such that only one component design can be manufactured, and whereby two of the same components can couple to each other. In view of the same, an exemplary device 100 of the present disclosure may comprise a first component 120, said first component 120 comprising at least one piercing element 104 and at least one receiver 108 coupled thereto and/or defined therein.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows an additional exemplary embodiment of a device 100 of the present disclosure. As shown therein, device 100 comprises a first portion 102 and a second portion 110, whereby one of the portions (first portion 102, for example) has/comprises a plurality of piercing elements 104 (or at least just one piercing element, as in other embodiments), having at least one grip feature 106 (a flange, a notch, a protrusion, etc., configured to engage a receiver 108). As shown in FIG. 5, receivers 108 can, instead of protruding from a first portion 102 and/or a second portion 110 as shown in FIGS. 1-4, can be defined within first portion 102 and/or second portion 110, so that when piercing element 104 engages receiver 108, there is less of a gap between first portion 102 and second portion 110 as compared to, for example, device 100 embodiments having a protruding receiver 108.

[0044] In at least some embodiments, and such as shown in FIG. 7, devices 100 of the present disclosure comprise a grommet 150 around at least one of the piercing elements 104 of device 100, said grommet configured for positioning around piercing element 104 to prevent sheets from tearing when a device 100 is positioned within said sheet or other linens. FIG. 7 also shows an alternative embodiment of piercing elements 104, having a grip feature 106 that engages receiver 108, which is defined within one or both lateral elements. As in all embodiments disclosed herein, piercing elements 104 are configured to pierce linens and engage receivers 108, whereby the engagement resists separation. Piercing elements 104 can comprise barbs (such as shown in FIGS. 1-6), notches (such as shown in FIG. 7), spikes, etc., so to engage receivers 108 configured to receive the same and be securely coupled thereto. Also as shown in FIG. 7, two or more exemplary devices 100 of the present disclosure can be considered as an exemplary system, kit, or assembly 200 of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows a top view of exemplary bedding 300, such as a flat sheet or other bedding referenced herein, wherein a first device 100 is positioned at a relative top of the bedding 300, and wherein a second device 100 is positioned at a relative bottom of the bedding 300. In at least one embodiment, one device 100 can be used, such as positioned at a relative top 302, bottom 304, left side 306, or right side 308 of bedding 300, or two or more devices 100 can be used, such as positioned at two of a relative top 302, bottom 304, left side 306, and/or right side 308 of bedding, to identify orientation. In at least one embodiment, devices 100 have indicia 160 printed thereon or defined therein (as noted below and shown in FIG. 9), identifying the location of the bedding 300 where the device 100 is positioned in/on. As noted herein, bedding 300 can include flat sheets, fitted sheets, blankets, comforters, duvets, duvet covers, etc.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows top views of exemplary devices 100 of the present disclosure. As shown therein, devices 100 can comprise indicia 160, which can include one or more letters, one or more words, one or more colors, one or more shapes, etc., so to signify relative portions of bed linens, such as a flat sheets, fitted sheets, blankets, comforters, duvets, duvet covers, etc. Two or more devices 100, or portions thereof, can also be considered as an exemplary system, kit, or assembly 200 of the present disclosure. Indicia 160, for example, can be applied by a user of device 100, such as by, for example, writing on said device 100, or indicia can be pre-printed, such as with the words top or bottom or other words as may be desired. Also as shown therein, devices 100 can comprise elements with various shapes, such as round, oval, rectangular racetrack, rounded triangle, or other shapes not shown, such as square, hexagonal, octagonal, triangular, and the like.

[0047] The device 100 embodiments shown in FIG. 9 could also be considered as iron-on embodiments, whereby said embodiments are configured to adhere to linens when applied thereto with an iron.

[0048] Other device 100 embodiments of the present disclosure could be configured using a piercing element 104 comprising a spike or pin, and a receiver 108 configured to engage the piercing element 104, such as shown in FIG. 10. As shown therein, receiver 108 is configured as a security mechanism configured to engage and retain piercing element 104, with release of piercing element from receiver 108 facilitated by placing a magnet at or near receiver 108.

[0049] FIGS. 11 and 12 show device 100 embodiments configured as clamps. Said devices 100 have one or more elements as referenced herein, such as a first portion 102, piercing elements 104 configured to engage receivers 109 (as shown in FIG. 11), or two piercing elements 104 configured to engage one another, such as those comprising barbs or flanges. Said devices 100 can be positioned at a relative edge of linens to that the relative hinge portion of the device 100 is outside of the linens.

[0050] In at least another embodiment of a device 100 of the present disclosure, the devices comprise one or more grip features 106, but do not require piercing elements 104 or other portions of device 100 that operate to pierce bedding 300. For example, and as shown in FIG. 17, an exemplary device 100 of the present disclosure comprises a first clamp 500 and a second clamp 502 positioned adjacent to one another such that a direction of opening clamps 500, 502 are the same. Clamps 500, 502 can comprise any number of different clamps, such as self-closing clamps, manual opening and closing clamps, etc., including but not limited to suspender clamps. A first portion 102 is coupled to, or formed as part of, first clamp 500 and second clamp 502, such as, for example, being coupled to a first side 510 of first clamp 500 and a first side 512 of second clamp 502. A second portion 110 is coupled to, or formed as part of, first clamp 500 and second clamp 502, such as, for example, being coupled to a second side 520 of first clamp 500 and a second side 522 of second clamp 502, whereby first sides 510, 512 face outward in one direction, and whereby second sides 520, 522 face outward in another direction. First portion 102 and/or second portion 110 can be coupled to first clamp 500 and second clamp 502 using a bonding element 550, such as glue, epoxy, tape, metal or plastic fasteners, etc.

[0051] In some device 100 embodiments, first portion 102 and second portion 110 can be engaged by a user and pressed toward one another to facilitate opening of clamps 500, 502, so that, for example, clamps 500, 502 can receive and engage bedding 300 when first portion 102 and second portion 110 are released (so to allow clamps 500, 502 to close). In other embodiments, such as wherein the clamps 500, 502 are manually opened and manually closed, a user would manually open and close clamps 500, 502 to receive and engage bedding 300 therein. Bedding 300 is completely or substantially prevented from unintentionally becoming separated from device 100 once device 100 is positioned thereon, such as by way of one or more grip features 106 present within each clamp 500, 502. Grip features 106, as shown in FIG. 15, can be or comprise one or more teeth.

[0052] It is noted that devices having two (or more) clamps 500, 502, and/or two or more piercing elements 104 and receivers 108, or an elongated clamp 500 or 502, for example, would result in an overall larger device that can be readily seen and/or felt when laundering and/or positioning bedding 300. This is an advantage of any relative small device, such as one that only has one element that is used to couple the device to bedding 300, as such a device would not be readily seen/and/or felt when laundering and/or positioning bedding 300, and should that one element become detached, the device would no longer be coupled to bedding 300.

[0053] In at least one embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 25, an exemplary device 100 of the present disclosure can comprise one elongated width clamp 500 or 502, whereby first portion 102 and second portion 110 are coupled thereto. A relatively wide clamp 500, 502 also provides for an overall larger surface and/or three-dimensional area, allowing device 100 to be readily seen and/or felt when laundering and/or positioning bedding.

[0054] In at least another embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 26, an exemplary device 100 of the present disclosure can comprise one elongated width clamp 500 or 502, having indicia 160 printed thereon or defined therein on the relative outsides of said clamp 500 or 502. An optional coating 114 may be used to cover at least part of one or both of the relative outsides of said clamp 500 or 502, whereby indicia 160 is either printed on or defined in the relative outsides of said clamp 500 or 502 or is printed on or defined in coating 114.

[0055] Furthermore, devices 100 of the present disclosure can be used for other purposes, such as to label towels. For example, devices 100 can have indicia 160 such as kitchen, bathroom, toilet, car, etc., so that when coupled to various towels or washcloths, for example, said towels or washcloths can be identified by the indicia 160 and used for their corresponding purposes. Devices 100 could be relatively smaller than other device 100 embodiments referenced herein.

[0056] Indicia 160 may also comprise one or more colors or designs instead of letters or words. For example, one device 100 with green indicia 160 could indicate the top of a sheet, and another device 100 with red indicia 160 could indicate the bottom of a sheet, and so forth (using various colors, for example).

[0057] While various embodiments of bedding location identification devices, systems, kits, and assemblies, and methods of using the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.

[0058] Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.