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EP-4740797-A1 - ACCESSORIES FOR USE WITH BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS

EP4740797A1EP 4740797 A1EP4740797 A1EP 4740797A1EP-4740797-A1

Abstract

Accessories that can be used with bed sheet retention devices are disclosed. Methods of making and using accessories that can be used with bed sheet retention devices are also disclosed.

Inventors

  • LEWIS, Travis, R.

Assignees

  • Lewis, Travis, R.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251111

Claims (15)

  1. An accessory capable of connecting to a surface proximate to or on a bed mattress, said accessory comprising: (a) at least one accessory connecting member, and (b) an accessory body connected to and extending from the at least one accessory connecting member, wherein the at least one accessory connecting member is (1) designed to connect to one or more sheet-engaging channels of a bed sheet retention device, and (2) comprises an upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and a downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member opposite the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and the downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member both being within a vertically-extending plane P, said accessory body comprises an accessory channel having an accessory channel track profile that extends (i) along a length L AB of the accessory body from a first outer edge surface of said accessory body to a second surface of said accessory body, and (ii) parallel with the vertically-extending plane P, said accessory channel being sized and designed to accept a scented component or scent-generating component therethrough.
  2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said at least one accessory connecting member comprises two accessory connecting members with one accessory connecting member providing the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and the other accessory connecting member providing the downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member.
  3. The accessory of claim 1 or 2, wherein said accessory channel extends within said accessory body from a first outer side edge surface of said accessory body to an opposite second outer side edge surface of said accessory body (i.e., across a length of the accessory body).
  4. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said accessory body comprises an outer surface opposite said at least one accessory connecting member, said outer surface having one or more holes therein, and wherein said one or more holes extend from said outer surface to an inner surface of said accessory channel.
  5. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said accessory channel comprises one or more channel surface undulations along one or both opposing inner surfaces of said accessory channel.
  6. The accessory of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein each of the two accessory connecting members comprises a curved connecting member having an arc of curvature along the curved connecting member of about 90 degrees.
  7. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an upper edge end of the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and a lower edge end of the downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member are separated from one another by a distance Wcsc, and the distance Wcsc is less than an overall height of a channel track profile within a sheet-engaging channel.
  8. The accessory of claim 7, wherein distance W CSC ranges from about 0.1 in to about 1.5 in, and each of the two accessory connecting members has a thickness Tcsc of from about 0.05 in to about 3.0 in, and an accessory connecting member length Lcsc of from about 2.0 in to about 18.0 in.
  9. The accessory of claim 7 or 8, wherein distance W CSC ranges from about 0.8 in to about 1.2 in, and each of the two accessory connecting members has a thickness Tcsc of from about 0.05 in to about 0.08 in, and an accessory connecting member length Lcsc of from about 4.0 in to about 12.0 in.
  10. The accessory of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein distance W CSC is about 1.0 in, and each of the two accessory connecting members has a thickness Tcsc of about 0.0625 in, and an accessory connecting member length Lcsc of about 5.5 in.
  11. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a scented strip that is sized and designed to extend within said accessory channel.
  12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein said scented strip is (i) coated with a scent-producing or scent-providing material, (ii) impregnated with the scent-producing or the scent-providing material, or (iii) coated and impregnated with the scent-producing or the scent-providing material.
  13. The accessory of claim 12, wherein said scent-producing or scent-providing material comprises lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, vanilla, jasmine, cedarwood, bergamot, ylang-ylang, frankincense, clary sage, patchouli, rose, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, clove, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, rosemary, pine, camphor, oregano, thyme, citronella, lemongrass, bay leaves, lemon, basil, myrrh, ammonia, or any combination thereof.
  14. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 13, in combination with the bed sheet retention device, said bed sheet retention device comprising (1) a corner bracket, (2) a side bracket, (3) a mattress covering component, (4) a mattress cover, (5) a mattress, (6) a mattress band, or (7) a mattress covering strip portion.
  15. The accessory of any one of claims 1 to 13, attached to the bed sheet retention device, said bed sheet retention device comprising (1) a corner bracket, (2) a side bracket, (3) a mattress covering component, (4) a mattress cover, (5) a mattress, (6) a mattress band, or (7) a mattress covering strip portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to accessories that can be used with bed sheet retention devices, methods of making accessories that can be used with bed sheet retention devices, and, and methods of using accessories that can be used with bed sheet retention devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Applicant has invented the bed sheet retention systems disclosed in (1) International Patent Application No. PCT/US2023/079473 filed on November 13, 2023 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," (2) International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/055545 filed on November 12, 2024 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," (3) U.S. Patent Application No. 18/945,224 filed on November 12, 2024 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," (4) U.S. Patent Application No. 18/986,848 filed on December 19, 2024 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," (5) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/072,092 filed on March 06, 2025, and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," (6) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/086,324 filed on March 21, 2025, and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME" now U.S. Patent No. 12,390,016, (7) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/087,761, filed on March 24, 2025 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," now U.S. Patent No. 12,433,419, and (8) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/242,793 filed on June 18, 2025 and entitled "BED SHEET RETENTION SYSTEMS, SYSTEM COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME," the subject matter of all of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Each of these disclosures describe bed sheet retention systems and devices that provide a number of advantages over prior sheet retention systems. There is a need in the art for continued improvements in the art of (i) bed sheet retention systems, as well as (ii) accessories suitable for use with the bed sheet retention systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to accessories that can be used with and connected to bed sheet retention devices, and systems that prevent bed sheets from slipping off of a bed, such as in the corners of a bed mattress and/or along a side edge of the bed. Each accessory of the present invention may comprise: (a) at least one accessory connecting member, and (b) an accessory body connected to and extending from the at least one accessory connecting member, wherein the at least one accessory connecting member is configured to extend within and connect to (a)(i) one or more corner brackets, and/or (a)(ii) one or more side brackets of a bed sheet retention system, and/or (b) one or more sheet-engaging channels along an outer surface of (i) a mattress, and/or (ii) a mattress cover, and/or a mattress covering component. The attachable accessories can be used to provide one or more features to a given bed sheet retention system including, but not limited to, a shelf for placement of keys, phone, or any other object; a cup holder; a basket; a pouch; an electric cord holder; an electric fan support; a charging pad; a light support; an open net support; a closed net support; a jointed arm device that has a distal arm end that is movable and is designed to hold an object, e.g., a book, a phone, a computer pad, etc., a guardrail extending along a side edge of a bed, a scented or scent-producing accessory designed to provide a scent within an area surrounding the accessory, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments of the present invention, the accessory is capable of connecting to a surface proximate to or on a bed mattress, and comprises: (a) at least one accessory connecting member, and (b) an accessory body connected to and extending from the at least one accessory connecting member, wherein the at least one accessory connecting member is (1) designed to connect to one or more sheet-engaging channels of a bed sheet retention device, and (2) comprises an upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and a downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member opposite the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, the upwardly-extending upper-edge connecting member, and the downwardly-extending lower-edge connecting member both being within a vertically-extending plane P, and the accessory body comprises an accessory channel having an accessory channel track profile that extends (i) along a length LAB of the accessory body from a first outer edge surface of the accessory body to a second surface of the accessory body, and (ii) parallel with the vertically-extending plane P, the accessory channel being sized and designed to accept a scented component