BED COVERING SYSTEM

Abstract

A bedding system invention makes it easier to make and maintain a bed. The system includes a fitted sheet attached to a top sheet with an elastomeric panel of material disposed in a foot portion of the fitted sheet. The top sheet is attached along a seam proximate the elastomeric portion of the fitted sheet and the remainder of the fitted sheet thus preventing a bed user from pulling the fitted sheet off the mattress and providing a more natural feel to the bedding system. The system can further include added attachable components including a blanket, comforter and other top coverings. The system eases the placement of the bedding components on the bed and provides a quick and effective was to make the bed and have it appear neatly made.

Claims

1. A bedding system for a mattress, but not including the mattress, the bedding system comprising: a fitted sheet adapted to cover a mattress's top, sides, including a head side and a foot side of the mattress, and a portion of a bottom of the mattress, wherein said fitted sheet includes an elastomeric panel disposed in a portion of the fitted sheet adapted to cover a foot-side of the mattress; and a top sheet connected to said fitted sheet at least partially along a seam between said elastomeric panel and a remainder of said fitted sheet.

2. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein the connection between said fitted sheet and said top sheet extends to sides of said fitted sheet as seen when said fitted sheet is on the mattress, wherein said top sheet forms mitered corners near the foot-side of the mattress.

3. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein said top sheet further comprises a fastener adapted to couple a bed covering to said top sheet, wherein said fastener is disposed on said top sheet near the foot-side of the mattress.

4. The bedding system of claim 3, further comprising said bed covering, wherein said bed covering has a second fastener on a top surface of said bed covering and is adapted to connect to a second bed covering.

5. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein said top sheet includes an alignment indicator disposed proximate a top middle of said top sheet.

6. A bedding system, comprising: a fitted sheet comprising a flat panel, said flat panel connected to a head side panel, a left side panel, a right side panel and a foot side panel, a head under panel generally extends from said head side panel, a left under panel generally extends from said left side panel, a right under panel generally extends from said right side panel and an elongatable under panel extends from said foot side panel, said under panels adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress, and a top sheet comprising a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, said top sheet attached to said fitted sheet in proximity to said elongatable under panel.

7. The bedding system of claim 6, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet is attached to said foot panel of said fitted sheet, forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.

8. The bedding system of claim 7, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said foot panel of said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable under panel.

9. The bedding system of claim 8, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet is at least partially attached to said left side panel of said fitted sheet thereby forming a left side mitered corner and said foot edge of said top sheet is at least partially attached to said left right panel of said fitted sheet, thereby forming a right side mitered corner.

10. The bedding system of claim 8, wherein said top sheet further comprises a fastener, said fastener disposed on said flat panel adjacent to said foot edge.

11. The bedding system of claim 10, further comprising a blanket, said blanket having fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said blanket, said blanket fastener adapted to connect to said fastener disposed on said flat panel of said top sheet.

12. The bedding system of claim 11, further comprising a coverlet, said coverlet having a fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said coverlet, said blanket further comprising a fastener adapted to connect to said fastener disposed on said coverlet.

13. A bedding system, comprising: a fitted sheet having an elongatable underpanel adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress; and a top sheet comprising a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, said top sheet attached to said fitted sheet.

14. The bedding system of claim 13, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable underpanel.

15. The bedding system of claim 14, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable underpanel forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.

16. The bedding system of claim 15, wherein said top sheet further comprises fastenings, said fastenings disposed on said flat panel adjacent to said foot edge.

17. The bedding system of claim 16, further comprising a blanket, said blanket having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said blanket, said blanket fastenings adapted to connect to said fastenings disposed on said flat panel of said top sheet.

18. The bedding system of claim 17, further comprising a coverlet, said coverlet having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said coverlet, said blanket further comprising fastenings adapted to connect to said fastenings disposed on said coverlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing a nonlimiting embodiment of the bedding system of the invention including a fitted sheet and a top sheet;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the top sheet pulled back to better reveal the fitted sheet and connection therebetween;

[0047] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the bedding system of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0048] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are schematic-type views of the fitted sheet and top sheet of FIGS. 1-3;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of the bedding system of the invention including a first covering;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of the bedding system of the invention including a first covering and a second covering; and

[0051] FIG. 7 is a cutout top perspective view of a portion of a head of a bed showing detail of an alignment system of the invention for aligning a top sheet, first covering and second covering.

[0052] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the embodiments, 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 the embodiments is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the embodiments as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the embodiment relates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] In nonlimiting embodiments, the subject invention relates to a bedding system for use on a mattress. The system, including at least the fitted sheet and the top sheet is particularly suitable for mattresses of any shape and size. Although more attention is devoted to describing the system in relation to a mattress the invention has application to other mattress-like beds such as a cot, crib or futon.

[0054] For those who wake up early for work, parents who have busy schedules in the mornings, hotel cleaning personnel who have to work quickly to prepare hotel rooms each morning, and anyone else who may not have a lot of time in the morning to make a bed, the present invention provides a system for locating and applying layers to the bed after the underlying fitted sheet and attached top sheet is secured to the mattress. The seams in the layers allow the user to rapidly locate the successive layers over the fitted sheet, while the underlying fitted sheet and top sheet combination provides connector elements to secure additional layers into place for firmly securing the layers without wrinkles. A first side of the layer can be secured, then the opposing side is pulled across the bed and secured, eliminating any movement of the layer relative to the fitted sheet that would otherwise misalign the layer with respect to the mattress and the fitted sheet.

[0055] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the bedding system 10 of the invention includes at least a fitted sheet 12 and a top sheet 14. The fitted sheet 12 is of the type that can be securely fitted over a mattress 16. It should be appreciated that the mattress 16 is not a part of the invention but is depicted in the drawings and discussed as an environment in which the bedding system 10 can be used. Further, the bedding system 10 has potential application with king, queen, full, twin XL, twin and/or any other size, shape, or style bed. The bedding system 10 can be made to accommodate different mattresses thicknesses, including for example, standard mattresses, thin mattresses, and thick mattresses such as pillow top mattresses.

[0056] The fitted sheet 12 includes a head portion 18, and a foot portion 20 corresponding to a head and feet of a person using a bed. The fitted sheet 12 further includes a top 24, sides 26 (not all sides are visible) and an underside 28 that covers part of the bottom of the mattress 16. The top 24, sides 26 and underside 28 can be separate panels or they can be formed from a single panel and include, for example seams where necessary, to create a fit of the fitted sheet 12 that matches the shape of the mattress 16. The underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 is gathered towards a middle of the mattress 16 with an elastic band 30. The elastic band 30 follows along a periphery 32 of the underside 28 of fitted sheet 12. Thus, the elastic band 30 allows the fitted sheet 12 to be pulled onto and cover the mattress 16. The elastic band 30 helps hold the fitted sheet 12 in place on the mattress 16. The elastic band 30 can be any form of elastic band material known to someone of skill in the art and suitable for the intended purpose. Further, the elastic band 30 may, or may not extend around the full periphery 32 of the underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 and could include more than one elastic band. Other forms of gathering the underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 towards the middle of the mattress 16 are contemplated. This includes, but is not limited to, a cord that is routed through a channel in the fitted sheet 12 around the periphery 32 of the underside 28 of fitted sheet 12 and synched tight at some location around the periphery 32. Again, this may be done in a manner well known to someone of skill in the art and includes other variations of how to hold the fitted sheet 12 in place on the mattress 16.

[0057] The foot portion 20 of the fitted sheet 12 includes an elastomeric panel 34. The elastomeric panel 34 is made of an elastomeric material that will stretch and elongate. Suitable materials are known to someone of skill in the art and include Lycra, spandex, nylon, polyester, elastane and combinations of materials offering elastomeric properties. As a working example, the elastomeric panel 34 could be made out of 65% rayon, 30% nylon and 5% spandex. The elastomeric panel 34 includes in its manufacture at least some different materials than the top 24 and remaining sides 26 of the fitted sheet 12. The top 24 and sides of the fitted sheet 12, and the top sheet 14 may be made of a variety of materials commonly used in bedding applications. For example, cotton or a cotton blend are suitable for the top 24 and sides of the fitted sheet 12, and the top sheet 14.

[0058] The top sheet 14 is attached to the fitted sheet 12 at least partially along a seam 36 between the elastomeric panel 34 and remainder of the fitted sheet 12. Due to the positioning of the seam 36, the top sheet 14 can be pulled by a person lying in bed and the elastomeric panel 34 will elongate thus allowing the pulling force without pulling the fitted sheet 12 off the foot portion 20 of the mattress 16. In this way the elastomeric panel 34 provides a more natural feel of the fitted sheet 12 being separate from the top sheet 14 while offering the benefit of the fitted sheet 12 actually being attached to the top sheet 14. Further, the top sheet 14 is attached to the fitted sheet 12 along the seam 36 below a top surface 38 of the bed. This allows a person lying in the bed to have their feet extended over the end of the bed without restriction. This includes a stomach sleeper having their toes not being restricted while their feet hang over the foot portion of the bed.

[0059] At a first and second corners 40a, 40b of the bedding system, an extended seam 36a between the fitted sheet 12 and the top sheet 14 extends from the seam 36 onto a first and second side 42a, 42b of the fitted sheet 14. This allows for creating a mitered corner 44, also known as a hospital corner out of the top sheet 14 when the top sheet 14 is pulled onto the top of the bed. This preformed mitered corner 44 is a significant benefit to the bedding system 10 as it allows a user to quickly make the bed by simply pulling the top sheet 14 over the fitted sheet 12 and have the bed appear well made. It also allows the user to kick one or both feet out from under the top sheet 14. This is beneficial if for example, the user feels warm. The bedding system 10 allows for less restriction due to the elastomeric panel 34, while not allowing drafts to reach the user because the fitted sheet 12 and top sheet 14 are connected and cannot pull apart, meanwhile the bed is easily made and always looks good with mitered corners.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, in a nonlimiting embodiment the fitted sheet 12, including the elastomeric panel 34, and the top sheet 14 are shown in component parts suitable for combining together to form the bedding system 10 for use with a rectangular mattress. The fitted sheet 12 includes a top panel 50, a head-side panel 52, a right-side panel 54, a left-side panel 56, a foot-side panel 58, an under-head panel 60, a right under-panel 62, a left under-panel 64, and an elongatable under-panel 66. In FIGS. 4B and 4C, the panels are represented as separated by dashed lines corresponding to approximate areas where the fitted sheet 12 would fold around the mattress. A first seam location 68 is where the foot-side panel 58 connects to the elastomeric panel 34 and the top sheet 14. A second seam location 70 and third seam location 72 are where the top sheet 14 connects to the left-side panel 56 and right-side panel 54 respectively. Corner seam locations 74 come together to form corners of the fitted sheet 12.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, in a nonlimiting embodiment the bedding system 10 includes a first covering 80 such as a blanket that is attached to the top sheet 14 with a zipper 82. The first covering 80 can include any suitable blanket, and including for example, a heating blanket. The zipper 82 includes a first zipper tape and teeth 84 attached on the foot portion 20 of the top sheet 14 and a second zipper tape and teeth 86 attached on the underside of the top covering 80. The zipper 82 allows for easily zipping together or unzipping the first covering 80 which allows for adding or removing layers to the bedding system. Having the first covering 80 attached to the top sheet 14 also allows for easing the making of the bed. Simply pulling the first covering up to the head of the bed will allow the bed to be evenly and neatly made. Alternatives to a zipper are contemplated such as a hook and loop attachment commonly referred to as Velcro. Other attachment schemes known to someone of skill in the art are appropriate.

[0062] With added reference to FIG. 6, in a further nonlimiting embodiment, the bedding system 10 includes a second covering 90 such as a second blanket or a comforter or other suitable bed covering. The second covering 90 is attached to the first covering 80 with a second zipper 92 with the first zipper tape and teeth 84 on a top of the first covering 80 and the second zipper tape and teeth 86 on a bottom side of the second covering 90. Thus, it is easy to make the bed using the system of the invention by pulling each of the layers of the bedding system towards the head of the bed.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 7, in a nonlimiting embodiment the bedding system 10 can also include an alignment system 100 to align at the head of the bed the top sheet 14, the first covering 80, and the second covering 90. The alignment system 100 includes a first alignment patch 104 on the top sheet 14 located at approximately the top middle of the top sheet 14, relative to the head of the bed. The first alignment patch 102 may also include a first reference marker 104. The alignment system 100 also includes a second alignment patch 106 on the first covering 80 and a second reference marker 108 located at approximately the top middle of the first covering 80. The alignment system 100 may also include a third alignment patch 110 on the second covering 90, and a third alignment marker 111 located at approximately the top middle of the second covering 90. In use the first, second, and third alignment patches 102, 106, 110 are patches of material that will provide an easy reference for a bedmaker to grab onto and pull the top sheet 14, first cover 80 and second cover 90 into alignment with each other and with the head of the bed. The patches are also a suitable location for a company name and/or logo.

[0064] During normal sleep, the user moves around in the bed and the bed coverings become disorganized and may hang too far off the bed on the left or right side. When it is time to make the bed, the user is able to grab the patches and including the alignment markers to quickly align all of the coverings at the head of the bed. In an alternative embodiment, the patches and alignment markers could be substituted with a fastener system (snap or button) at the head of the bed. However, the proposed alignment system 100 with the patches and alignment markers provides a more “normal bedding feel” and will not hinder the ability to throw off a covering such as a blanket if the user becomes too warm. In another alternative embodiment the alignment system 100 may only include the first alignment patch 102 and first reference marker 104. Even if the bedding system isn't being used (just the sheet combination and not the zippered in blankets), the flat sheet can still utilize the “alignment system” and be centered on the bed easily.

[0065] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.