Restraint for bed covers

Abstract

A restraint for bed covers serves to pull an upper bedsheet or cover taut laterally across a bed and person confined therein. The present restraint assists in preventing a confused or restless bedridden patient from dislodging or pulling at dressings, catheters, IV tubes, and the like, thus assuring that proper treatment is provided for the patient. The present restraint comprises a relatively short elastic strap having a bed cover attachment end with a garter-type fastener extending therefrom, i.e., a button and clasp assembly. The opposite end portion of the strap includes complementary portions of hook and loop fastener material (e.g., Velcro®) disposed thereon, with the strap looping about a portion of the bedframe structure and securing back to itself. A preferred embodiment includes a D-ring or the like extending from the button and clasp attachment, through which the strap is drawn for greater leverage before being secured to itself.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A restraint for bed covers, comprising: 
 at least one flat and flexible elastic strap having a bedframe structure contact surface and a non-contact surface opposite said bedframe structure contact surface, and devoid of lateral extensions therefrom;    a bed cover attachment end extending from said strap;    a strap self-attachment end opposite said bed cover attachment end of said strap;    a bed structure attachment portion disposed upon said strap, between said bed cover attachment end and said strap self-attachment end thereof;    a bed cover attachment clasp extending from said bed cover attachment end of said strap; and    complementary, mating first and second portions of hook and loop fastener material disposed upon one said surface of said bed structure attachment portion of said strap.    
     
     
         2 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first of said portions of hook and loop fastener material is disposed upon said non-contact surface of said strap, generally medially therealong;    said second of said portions of hook and loop fastener material is disposed upon said non-contact surface of said strap, adjacent said strap self-attachment end; and    a cinch ring is disposed at said bed cover attachment end of said strap, and facing said bedframe structure contact surface of said strap.    
     
     
         3 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 2 , wherein said cinch ring comprises a D-ring formed of non-metallic material.  
     
     
         4 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 2 , further including: 
 a strap loop formed in said bed cover attachment end extending from said strap; and    said cinch ring and said bed cover attachment clasp captured by and secured to said strap by said strap loop.    
     
     
         5 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first of said portions of hook and loop fastener material is disposed upon said contact surface of said strap, adjacent said bed cover attachment end thereof;    said second of said portions of hook and loop fastener material is disposed upon said contact surface of said strap, adjacent said strap self-attachment end; and    a medial strap area devoid of hook and loop fastener material is disposed between said first and said second portions of hook and loop fastener material.    
     
     
         6 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 1 , wherein said bed cover attachment clasp comprises a loop having an eye with an elongated neck extending therefrom, and a mating resilient button removably disposed therein and selectively capturing the bed covers therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 6 , wherein said loop of said bed cover attachment clasp is formed of a nonmetallic material.  
     
     
         8 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 1 , wherein said strap is formed of a woven fabric elastic material.  
     
     
         9 . A restraint for bed covers, comprising: 
 at least one flat and flexible elastic strap having a bedframe structure contact surface and a non-contact surface opposite said bedframe structure contact surface, and devoid of lateral extensions therefrom;    a bed cover attachment end extending from said strap;    a strap self-attachment end opposite said bed cover attachment end of said strap;    a bed structure attachment portion disposed upon said strap, between said bed cover attachment end and said strap self-attachment end thereof;    a bed cover attachment clasp extending from said bed cover attachment end of said strap;    a first portion of hook and loop fastener material disposed upon said non-contact surface of said strap, generally medially therealong;    a second portion of hook and loop fastener material disposed upon said non-contact surface of said strap, adjacent said strap self-attachment end, mating with and selectively engaging said first portion of hook and loop fastener material; and    a cinch ring disposed at said bed cover attachment end of said strap, and facing said bedframe structure contact surface of said strap.    
     
     
         10 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 9 , wherein said cinch ring comprises a D-ring formed of non-metallic material.  
     
     
         11 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 9 , further including: 
 a strap loop formed in said bed cover attachment end extending from said strap; and    said cinch ring and said bed cover attachment clasp captured by and secured to said strap by said strap loop.    
     
     
         12 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 9 , wherein said bed cover attachment clasp comprises a loop having an eye with an elongated neck extending therefrom, and a mating resilient button removably disposed therein and selectively capturing the bed covers therebetween.  
     
     
         13 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 12 , wherein said loop of said bed cover attachment clasp is formed of a non-metallic material.  
     
     
         14 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 9 , wherein said strap is formed of a woven fabric elastic material.  
     
     
         15 . A restraint for bed covers, comprising: 
 at least one flat and flexible elastic strap having a bedframe structure contact surface and a non-contact surface opposite said bedframe structure contact surface, and devoid of lateral extensions therefrom;    a bed cover attachment end extending from said strap;    a strap self-attachment end opposite said bed cover attachment end of said strap;    a bed structure attachment portion disposed upon said strap, between said bed cover attachment end and said strap self-attachment end thereof;    a bed cover attachment clasp extending from said bed cover attachment end of said strap;    a first portion of hook and loop fastener material disposed upon said contact surface of said strap, adjacent said bed cover attachment end thereof;    a second portion of hook and loop fastener material disposed upon said contact surface of said strap, adjacent said strap self-attachment end, mating with and selectively engaging said first portion of hook and loop fastener material; and    a medial strap area devoid of hook and loop fastener material disposed between said first portion and said second portion of hook and loop fastener material.    
     
     
         16 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 15 , further including: 
 a strap loop formed in said bed cover attachment end extending from said strap; and    said bed cover attachment clasp captured by and secured to said strap by said strap loop.    
     
     
         17 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 15 , wherein said bed cover attachment clasp comprises a loop having an eye with an elongated neck extending therefrom, and a mating resilient button removably disposed therein and selectively capturing the bed covers therebetween.  
     
     
         18 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 17 , wherein said loop of said bed cover attachment clasp is formed of a non-metallic material.  
     
     
         19 . The restraint for bed covers according to  claim 15 , wherein said strap is formed of a woven fabric elastic material.