Bed covering retention assembly

Abstract

A covering retention assembly including first and second clips. Each clip includes a base plate and a top plate. The base plate extends from a rear end to a forward end with at least one base plate tooth extending from an inner surface thereof proximate the forward end. The top plate extends from a rear end to a forward end with at least one top plate tooth extending from an inner surface thereof proximate the forward end. A hinge assembly interconnects the base plate and top plate such that the forward end of the top plate is biased toward the forward end of the base plate and wherein one of the teeth contacts the inner surface of the other plate and each tooth of the base plate and is laterally and longitudinally spaced from each tooth of the top plate. A strap extends between first and second free ends, with the first free end connected with the first clip and the second free end connected with the second clip.

1 . A covering retention assembly comprising:
 first and second clips, each clip comprising:
 a base plate extending from a rear end to a forward end with at least one base plate tooth extending from an inner surface of the base plate proximate the forward end; 
 a top plate extending from a rear end to a forward end with at least one top plate tooth extending from an inner surface of the top plate proximate the forward end; and 
 a hinge assembly interconnecting the base plate and top plate such that the forward end of the top plate is biased toward the forward end of the base plate and wherein one of the teeth contacts the inner surface of the other plate and each tooth of the base plate and is laterally and longitudinally spaced from each tooth of the top plate; and 
   a strap extending between first and second free ends, with the first free end connected with the first clip and the second free end connected with the second clip.   
     
     
         2 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one base plate tooth and the at least one top plate tooth are defined by a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the inner surface of the base plate and the inner surface of the top plate are defined by a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         4 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one base plate tooth includes a laterally extending tooth proximate the forward end. 
     
     
         5 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the laterally extending tooth includes a free end with a tapered configuration which defines a biting surface. 
     
     
         6 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one base plate tooth further includes a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally extending teeth rearward of the laterally extending tooth. 
     
     
         7 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 6  wherein each of the longitudinally extending teeth has a sloped portion toward a forward end thereof and a flat portion toward a rear end thereof with a tapered biting surface extending along the sloped portion and the flat portion. 
     
     
         8 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one top plate tooth includes at least two rows of teeth with each row including a plurality of laterally spaced apart teeth. 
     
     
         9 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the teeth of a rearmost row of the at least two rows of teeth have a height which is larger than a height of the teeth of a forward most row of the at least two rows of teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one base plate tooth includes a plurality of spaced apart base plate teeth and the at least one top plate tooth includes a plurality of spaced apart top plate teeth wherein the base plate teeth are aligned with spaces between the top plate teeth and the top plate teeth are aligned with spaces between the base plate teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the plurality of spaced apart base plate teeth and the plurality of spaced apart top plate teeth are spaced from one another. 
     
     
         12 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a maximum height of the at least one base plate tooth is larger than a maximum height of the at least one top plate tooth. 
     
     
         13 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the strap has an adjustable length between the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first or second ends of the strap is adjustably connected relative to the respective clip. 
     
     
         15 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the base plate includes a plurality of strap receiving slots proximate the rear end. 
     
     
         16 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 15  wherein each of the slots has a tapered biting edge. 
     
     
         17 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of base plate hinge posts extend from the base plate inner surface rearward of the at least one base plate tooth and a plurality of top plate hinge posts extend from the top plate inner surface rearward of the at least one top plate tooth, each of the base plate hinge posts and top plate hinge posts defining respective shaft receiving bores therethrough, the shaft receiving bores receiving a hinge shaft therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the hinge shaft has a central axis and the central axis is positioned a distance from the base plate inner surface which is larger than a maximum height of the at least one base plate tooth and the central axis is positioned a distance from the top plate inner surface which is larger than a maximum height of the at least one top plate tooth. 
     
     
         19 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 17  wherein at least one biasing element is supported by the hinge shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The covering retention assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the at least one biasing element is at least one coil spring.