MATTRESS SHEET SYSTEM

Abstract

An easy-change mattress sheet system having a top panel selectively interconnected to lateral panels covering at least a portion of the four sides of a mattress is provided. The lateral panels may employ an elastic seam comprised of a vertical drop seam bounded by upper and lower 45-degrees seams, wherein the length of the vertical drop seam varies by mattress thickness. The top panel may be secured to the lateral panels with a simple attaching device. The top panel can be completely removed from the lateral panels by unfastening the simple attaching device. Accordingly, removing/replacing the top panel can be easily accomplished without disturbing the mattress.

Claims

1. A sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of a mattress bottom surface; a lateral sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the mattress, the lateral sheet having corner segments consisting of an upper angled overhanging portion, a vertical portion, and lower angled portion integrated into the bottom base sheet (50); and a removable top sheet adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and selectively attached to the lateral sheet by a zipper having a zipper pull.

2. The sheet system of claim 1, wherein the top sheet includes an overhang configured to conceal at least a portion of the upper angled overhanging portions.

3. The sheet system of claim 1, wherein zipper teeth of the zipper extend at a distal end of the zipper beyond a zipper start point associated with a zipper slider head.

4. The sheet system of claim 1, wherein zipper teeth of the zipper end at a distal end of the zipper before a zipper start point associated with a zipper slider head, and wherein zipper tape associated with the distal end extends past the teeth and is attached to zipper tape associated with a slider head of the zipper.

5. A sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet and a removable top sheet which are attached by a zipper having a zipper pull, wherein the base sheet covers the bottom and the four sides of the mattress, and the top sheet covers the top surface of the mattress, wherein zipper teeth of the zipper extend at a distal end of the zipper beyond the point of a zipper start point.

6. The sheet system of claim 5, wherein a slide of the zipper is located on the base sheet.

7. The sheet system of claim 5, wherein a distal end of the zipper extends approximately 5 cm longer than the perimeter of the mattress.

8. The sheet system of claim 5, wherein the zipper, after securely attaching the top sheet and the base sheet, is located on the mattress perimeter and is hidden under a flap associated with the top sheet.

9. The sheet system of claim 5, wherein the bottom base sheet comprises elastic.

10. The sheet system of claim 5, wherein the mattress is used in a bed selected from the group consisting of a crib, a toddler bed, or a bunk bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crib. It shows the relative positions of the rails, slats, mattress, and sheet. It illustrates how the crib sides restrict the user of a standard sheet from installing it without actually removing it from the crib.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mattress base or sleeve, the top sheet, and separating zipper, and how the sheet is fitted on the mattress.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the features of some embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a detailed view showing features of some embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing a super configuration employed by one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention feature an easy-change mattress sheet system. The system includes a bottom base sheet and a removable top sheet attached by simple attaching means. The bottom base sheet covers the bottom and the four sides of the mattress, and the top sheet covers the top surface of the mattress.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crib showing the mattress position in relation to the end panels 1 and 2 and sides 3 and 4, which, in this drawing, are comprised of slats and rails. The sides and ends enclose the mattress 5, which is supported by a platform 6. The bumper 7 sits on the perimeter of the mattress surface and is attached at intervals to the rails.

[0041] The easy-change mattress sheet system of one embodiment includes a mattress sleeve or base 8 and a top sheet 9. The base and top sheet are attached and become an integral unit with a simple attaching device 10. The attaching device is approximately identical in length to the perimeter of the mattress and, when fully attached, is located on the top surface of the mattress approximately 5 cm from the outer edge. The attaching device can be any device that can securely fasten the top sheet to the base, including a zipper, Velcro®, or a plurality of snaps. A fabric flap can also cover the attaching device.

[0042] In one embodiment, the attaching device is a zipper. The zipper can be made out of any suitable material, e.g., a molded plastic, separating zipper. The top sheet and corresponding half of the simple attaching device is expected to be washed much more frequently than the base. Indeed, a zipper has been shown to withstand a significant number of washings on only one half and still function as initially designed. In another embodiment, the zipper slide can be located on the base of the sheet for this reason. The zipper is attached so that the zipper pull can be completely hidden from view and inaccessible for children. The zipper surrounds the entire perimeter of the mattress and ends where the base of the zipper or zipper insert is located. The pull can be hidden by extending the zipper teeth at the end of the zipper approximately 5 cm beyond the point of the zipper beginning, where the zipper insert is attached. The teeth extend under the zipper insert and the zipper pull can be pushed under the insert.

[0043] The top sheet 9 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as the same width and length as the mattress 5. This is critical to one embodiment so the attaching device will be located on the mattress perimeter and can be hidden under the bumper. In embodiments, when the simple attaching device is a zipper, the zipper is that the half of the separating zipper not containing the slide is affixed to the top sheet. To maintain the integrity of the top sheet through numerous washings, there are various possible embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the fabric is pre-shrunk before cutting and/or attaching the simple attaching device to maintain integrity.

[0044] The sleeve or base 8 is approximately identical in length to the length of the mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress. This allows it to cover the bottom of the mattress and the two ends. The width of the base is approximately identical to the width of the mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress. Similarly, this allows it to cover the bottom of the mattress and the two sides. Elastic is attached to the vertical seams of the sheet base and in several locations in the bottom of the sheet base to allow for adjustability of fit for mattresses of different thicknesses. The attaching device is attached to the top of the base sheet, where it will be securely fastened to the attaching device on the top sheet. The attaching device can be any device that can securely fasten the top sheet to the base, including such means as a zipper, Velcro®, or a plurality of snaps. In one embodiment, the simple attaching device is a zipper. The half of the separating zipper containing the slide can be affixed to the base sheet in a different embodiment.

[0045] To maintain the integrity of the base sheet, there are a variety of possible embodiments of the base sheet. In one embodiment, the length of the base sheet is cut on the length of the fabric to maintain the integrity of the base sheet. In another embodiment, as indicated for the top sheet, the base sheet fabric can also be pre-shrunk before cutting and/or attaching the simple attaching device to maintain integrity.

[0046] This design results in an easy-change sheet that allows removing the top sheet without disturbing the mattress, base sheet or bumpers. The top sheet can be washed and returned to the bed or a second top sheet can be readily attached. The base sheet, which receives much less direct contact with the child, can be removed and washed or replaced less frequently in the conventional manner in which a standard sheet is installed.

[0047] The easy-change mattress sheet system of the present invention can be used with any mattress and is especially well-suited for mattresses used in beds with support surrounding the mattress, such as cribs, toddler beds with protective railings, or bunk beds.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a sheet 20 comprised of a top panel 24, a bottom panel (not shown) opposite the top panel 24, and lateral side panels 28 interconnecting the top panel to the bottom panel. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the bottom panel may be of a continuous construction or comprise an opening bounded by an elastic edge, common on many fitted sheets. A top sheet 32 is selectively interconnected to the top panel 24 by an attachment device 36, e.g., a zipper. The attachment device 36 moves in the direction of Arrow A to separate the top sheet 32 from the top panel 24. One primary difference with this embodiment of the present invention is that the zipper start 40 and zipper end 44 are adjacent to a corner 48 of the top sheet 32. This feature makes it easier to zip and overlap the zipper end, as the safety features described above are not necessarily required in sheets for older children or adults.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows features of another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 3, this embodiment includes a top sheet 32 interconnected to a top panel 24, lateral side panels 28, and a bottom panel 50. Here, the bottom panel 50 is of a common construction comprising an opening 54 bounded by an elastic member 58. The elastic member of one embodiment is about 3.8 cm and occupies most of the bottom panel 50.

[0050] This embodiment of the present invention also features an elastic drop seam 62 located between adjacent lateral side panels 28 comprising about 1.3 cm woven elastic. The drop seams may comprise two or more segments, e.g., a vertical drop seam bounded by upper and lower 45-degree seams, wherein the length of the vertical drop seam varies by mattress thickness. In one embodiment, the upper 45-degree seam 60 is about 5 cm long and comprises 1.3 cm elastic, and the lower 45 degree seam 64 is about 8-9 cm long and comprises 1.3 cm elastic.

[0051] FIG. 4 also shows an optional overhang 70 interconnected to at least one edge of the top sheet 32. Although only a portion of the overhang 70 is shown, one of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the overhang can extend about the entire perimeter of the top sheet 32 and is designed to cover at least a portion of the top panel 24. In one embodiment, the overhang 70 is about 3.175 cm wide and covers the top 45-degree seam 60. Interfacing/fusing is used inside the overhang 70 on certain fabrics (e.g., percale, 25 gsm) to prevent wrinkling. Further, the overhang 70 may also include a 45-degree seam. The bottom panel 50 may be thought of as a bottom overhang, which may be about 7.6 cm wide (about 8-9 cm at the lower 45-degree seam 64.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a radius corner 74 when the top sheet is removed. In one embodiment, the corner seam associated with the interconnection of adjacent lateral side panels 28 must align with the tolerance of three zipper teeth 78. This feature allows top sheets to be received by bases of the same size, offering a truly interchangeable sheet system.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a zipper configuration of one embodiment of the present invention comprised of a zipper pull 80 interconnected to a slider head 84 interconnected to zipper tape 86. A bottom stop 92 is also interconnected to the zipper tape 86. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the stop 92 is the insert box for the zipper start associated with mating teeth that correspond to those shown. The zipper comprises a plurality of teeth 78 that ends in a stop 94. The stop 94 is associated with an extended portion of the zipper tape 96. In some embodiments described above, the extended portion 96 is used to reinforce seam construction. Further, the extended portion 96 was often folded back on itself. Here, the extended portion 96 is located beneath the stop 92 and sewn to the adjacent zipper tape.

[0054] Exemplary characteristics of embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the present invention, the preceding description may omit several known apparatus, methods, systems, structures, and/or devices one of ordinary skill in the art would understand are commonly included with the embodiments of the present invention. Such omissions are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed invention. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

[0055] Modifications and alterations of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, it is to be understood that the invention(s) described herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. That is, the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The scope of the various embodiments described herein is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. And all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

[0056] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed inventions require more features than expressly recited. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention described herein include components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various sub-combinations and subsets thereof. Accordingly, one of skill in the art will appreciate that would be possible to provide for some features of the embodiments of the present invention without providing others. Stated differently, any one or more of the aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein may be combined with any one or more other aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein.