U.S. patent application number 11/557154 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for combination comforter and sheet.
Invention is credited to Laurel Friedland.
Application Number | 20080104751 11/557154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39358405 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080104751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friedland; Laurel |
May 8, 2008 |
COMBINATION COMFORTER AND SHEET
Abstract
A bedding cover and sheet combination includes a bed cover
positionable on a bed to cover a bed, a bed sheet to cover the bed,
and fasteners adapted to removably attach the bed cover and bed
sheet in generally overlying positional relation to each other for
use to cover a bed to facilitate making up a bed without separately
having to align the sheet and the cover and to hold the cover and
sheet in relation to each other while a person sleeping in the bed
is covered by the combination cover and sheet. A kit includes such
bedding cover and bedding sheet with appropriate fasteners and also
includes a fitted sheet of corresponding style to at least one of
the bedding cover and bedding sheet. A method of covering a bed
includes placing on the bed a bed cover and bed sheet combination
having the bed cover and the bed sheet fastened together in
generally parallel overlying relation.
Inventors: |
Friedland; Laurel;
(Cleveland Heights, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RENNER OTTO BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
1621 EUCLID AVENUE, NINETEENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44115
US
|
Family ID: |
39358405 |
Appl. No.: |
11/557154 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/502 ;
5/504.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/502 ;
5/504.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/00 20060101
A47G009/00; A47C 21/02 20060101 A47C021/02 |
Claims
1. A bedding cover and sheet combination, comprising a bed cover
positionable on a bed to cover a bed, a bed sheet to cover the bed,
and fasteners adapted to removably attach the bed cover and bed
sheet in generally overlying positional relation to each other for
use to cover a bed.
2. The combination of claim 1, when the bed cover and bed sheet are
held in generally overlying, superimposed, parallel relation.
3. The combination of claim 1, the bed sheet further comprising a
top flap portion.
4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the area of the cover is
approximately the area of a bed on which the combination is
intended to be placed.
5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the combination is
approximately the same lateral dimension as a bed on which the
combination is to be used and additionally has an overhanging
portion at the foot end to be tucked in or hang loose.
6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the area of the cover is of
a size larger than the area of a bed on which it is to be placed to
provide overhangs at the lateral sides of the bed.
7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the cover is a
comforter.
8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the cover is a blanket or
quilt.
9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the fasteners comprise
buttons and loops.
10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the loops comprise button
holes.
11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the fasteners comprise
resilient snaps.
12. The combination of claim 1, wherein the fasteners comprise
complementary hook and eye fasteners.
13. The combination of claim 1, wherein the fasteners comprise
VELCRO.RTM..
14. The combination of claim 1, wherein the fasteners are at
complementary spaced apart locations along the length of the
respective lateral sides of the cover and sheet, and wherein the
head end of the sheet is folded over the cover to form a flap, and
set fasteners comprising fasteners for attaching a portion of the
flap to the cover.
15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the cover and sheet have
side edges and a number of complementary fasteners are located
along the length of both sides of both the cover and sheet.
16. A kit comprising a bedding cover and bedding sheet combination
for covering a bed, the bedding cover and bedding sheet including
complementary fasteners selectively operable to fasten the bedding
cover and bedding sheet together in relatively overlying relation
and to unfasten the bedding cover and bedding sheet to separated
relation, and, a fitted sheet of corresponding style to at least
one of the bedding cover and bedding sheet.
17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the kit may further include at
least one comforter, sham, bedskirt, sheet and pillowcase of
corresponding style.
18. The kit of claim 16, wherein additional coordinating sheet sets
may be packaged separately for sale in designer sets of
corresponding style.
19. A method of covering a bed, comprising placing on the bed a bed
cover and bed sheet combination having the bed cover and the bed
sheet fastened together in generally parallel overlying
relation.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising fastening together
the bed cover and bed sheet to form the combination.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising tucking in the foot
area beneath a mattress.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising tucking sides of the
combination beneath sides of the mattress.
23. The method of claim 19, further comprising placing portions of
the combination in overhanging relation beyond at least one of the
sides and foot portion of a mattress.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to
combination comforter and sheet, and, more particularly, to a
comforter and sheet used as bedding to cover a bed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Most people cover a bed with a bed sheet to keep the
mattress of the bed relatively clean. The bed sheet easily can be
removed, washed and replaced on the bed, as desired. For
convenience, such sheet may be referred to as an under-sheet, as it
usually is under a person who is sleeping on the bed, although such
under-sheet is on the mattress itself. Many people also use an
over-sheet, which will be referred to below simply as "sheet" for
convenience. Such sheet is used between the person sleeping on the
bed and a comforter, blanket, quilt or the like that usually is
above the sheet. Such sheet may be used, for example, to maintain
the comforter, blanket, quilt, etc. relatively clean, as the sheet
easily may be washed between uses or between several uses. In
contrast it is relatively difficult and sometimes expensive to wash
or dry clean a comforter, blanket or quilt. This sheet also may be
used to provide a comfortable surface resting against the body of a
person lying or sleeping in the bed.
[0003] To provide the above functions, sometimes it has been
practice to place a comforter, blanket or quilt within a sheet-like
case, e.g., as a conventional pillow case but larger, e.g., on the
order of the size of the comforter, blanket or quilt. However, it
is relatively difficult to remove the comforter, blanket or quilt
from the case and it is difficult, too, to neatly insert the
comforter, blanket or quilt in the case without bending, folding,
etc., occurring and, therefore, leaving a volumetric portion of the
case without any comforter, blanket or quilt between the two layers
of the case.
[0004] To neatly make up a bed, a person may remove the sheet and
the comforter (in the description below, reference will be made to
comforter, although it is to be understood that such term includes
blanket, quilt or the like). The sheet then is placed neatly on the
bed and possibly tucked in between the mattress and the support for
the mattress, e.g., the box spring, platform, floor, etc., to
provide a neat, smooth placement on top of the under-sheet and
mattress. Thereafter, the comforter is placed on top of the sheet
and is arranged neatly. These tasks take time. Often people do not
take the time to neatly make up a bed in view of rushed
circumstances, e.g., late for work, late for school, etc. If the
bed is not neatly made up, one may encounter an embarrassing
situation if guests were to notice the unmade bed, and sometimes a
child who has not made up his or her bed, may encounter the anger
of a parent.
[0005] In making up a bed it often is necessary to measure the
sheet so that, on the one hand, it can be tucked in at the foot of
the bed or it can hang over the foot of the bed, while at the same
time being of a suitable length to reach the area of the head of
the bed providing adequate length to be folded over the
forward-most or closest to the head portion of the bed, part of the
comforter; this also takes time and tends to dissuade a person from
making the bed.
[0006] Sometimes a sheet and comforter become misaligned such that
the surface of the comforter engages the body of a sleeping person.
This may lead to soiling the comforter and also may cause
discomfort to the user feeling the fabric of the comforter against
his/her body when he/she awakens.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for facilitating the
covering of a bed and making up a bed.
[0008] There also is a need to facilitate aligning a sheet and
comforter.
[0009] There also is a need to maintain alignment of a sheet and
comforter.
[0010] This is particularly desirable for college students,
families with young children or young, busy professionals that
cannot be bothered with the time consumption of tucking and
measuring sheets yet want a fast, neat self-made bed.
SUMMARY
[0011] An aspect of the invention relates to a bedding cover and
sheet combination, including a bed cover positionable on a bed to
cover a bed, a bed sheet to cover the bed, and fasteners adapted to
removably attach the bed cover and bed sheet in generally overlying
positional relation to each other for use to cover a bed.
[0012] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
bed cover and bed sheet are held in generally overlying,
superimposed, parallel relation.
[0013] Another aspect relates to the above combination, the bed
sheet further comprising a top flap portion.
[0014] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
area of the cover is approximately the area of a bed on which the
combination is intended to be placed.
[0015] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
combination is approximately the same lateral dimension as a bed on
which the combination is to be used and additionally has an
overhanging portion at the foot end to be tucked in or hang
loose.
[0016] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
area of the cover is of a size larger than the area of a bed on
which it is to be placed to provide overhangs at the lateral sides
of the bed.
[0017] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
cover is a comforter.
[0018] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
cover is a blanket or quilt.
[0019] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
fasteners comprise buttons and loops.
[0020] Another aspect relates to the combination immediately above,
wherein the loops comprise button holes.
[0021] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
fasteners comprise resilient snaps.
[0022] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
fasteners comprise complementary hook and eye fasteners.
[0023] Another aspect relates to the above mentioned combination,
wherein fasteners comprise VELCRO.RTM..
[0024] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
fasteners are at complementary spaced apart locations along the
length of the respective lateral sides of the cover and sheet, and
wherein the head end of the sheet is folded over the cover to form
a flap, and at least some of the fasteners comprising fasteners for
attaching a portion of the flap to the cover.
[0025] Another aspect relates to the above combination, wherein the
cover and sheet have side edges and a number of complementary
fasteners are located along the length of both sides of both the
cover and sheet.
[0026] Another aspect relates to a kit including a bedding cover
and bedding sheet combination for covering a bed, the bedding cover
and bedding sheet including complementary fasteners selectively
operable to fasten the bedding cover and bedding sheet together in
relatively overlying relation and to unfasten the bedding cover and
bedding sheet to separated relation, and a fitted sheet of
corresponding style to at least one of the bedding cover and
bedding sheet.
[0027] Another aspect relates to the above kit, wherein the kit may
further include at least one: sheet, comforter, sham, bedskirt or
pillowcase.
[0028] Another aspect relates to the above kit, wherein additional
coordinating sheet sets may be packaged separately for sale in
designer sets of corresponding style.
[0029] Another aspect relates to a method of covering a bed,
comprising placing on the bed a bed cover and bed sheet combination
having the bed cover and the bed sheet fastened together in
generally parallel overlying relation.
[0030] Another aspect relates to the above method, and further
comprising fastening together the bed cover and bed sheet to form
the combination.
[0031] Another aspect relates to the above method, and further
comprising tucking in the foot area beneath a mattress.
[0032] Another aspect relates to the above method, and further
comprising tucking sides of the combination beneath sides of the
mattress.
[0033] Another aspect relates to the above method, and further
comprising placing portions of the combination in overhanging
relation beyond at least one of the sides and foot portion of a
mattress.
[0034] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described
and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following
description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain
illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are
indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the
principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects,
advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description of the invention when
considered in conjunction with the drawings.
[0035] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect
to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way
in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or
instead of the features of the other embodiments.
[0036] It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising"
when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of
stated features, integers, steps or components but does not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,
integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[0037] Although the invention will be shown and described with
respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be obvious that
equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the
art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The
present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications,
and is limited only by the scope of the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a combination
bedding cover and sheet combination in accordance with the
invention;
[0039] FIGS. 2a-2d are schematic fragmentary illustrations of an
exemplary fastener mechanisms for fastening a bed cover and sheet
as examples for use in the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a side elevation section view of a bed having a
bedding cover and sheet combination thereon with the foot portion
of the bedding cover and sheet combination hanging over the foot of
the bed;
[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation section view of the
bedding cover and sheet combination on a bed with the foot portion
of the bedding cover and sheet combination tucked under the
mattress; and
[0042] FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric view of a bedding cover and
sheet combination on a bed.
DESCRIPTION
[0043] Referring, now, to the drawings, which are not to scale, but
are provided to show the invention in schematic form, like
reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the several
drawing figures.
[0044] A bedding cover and sheet combination in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention is generally indicated at 10. The
bedding cover and sheet combination will be referred to below as
cover-sheet combination. The word "cover" includes a comforter,
blanket, quilt, afghan, and the like. The term sheet refers to a
sheet typically used in connection with bedding, e.g., as an
over-sheet used between a cover and a person lying or sleeping in a
bed.
[0045] The cover-sheet combination 10 includes a cover 11,
sometimes referred to as a bed cover, a sheet 12, sometimes
referred to as an over-sheet, and fasteners 13.
[0046] In FIGS. 2a-2d, there are four different exemplary fasteners
that may be used for the fastener 13 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2a
the fastener 13 is composed of a complementary pair of hook 14a and
eye 14b, one being attached to the top sheet 12 and the other being
attached to the cover 11, as is illustrated schematically at 14 in
FIG. 2a.
[0047] In FIG. 2b the fastener 13 is shown as a snap fastener 15.
The snap fastener includes a complementary pair of a male member
15a that may be inserted into a female receptacle 15b, the parts
15a, 15b being resiliently and interferingly connected in a
conventional manner. Snap fasteners are conventional in the
clothing field to hold together two parts of a garment, e.g.,
instead of a button and button hole, etc. The fasteners 13 may be
buttons and button holes, VELCRO.RTM. fastener material (FIG. 2c)
including hook 16a and loop 16b type fasteners, for example,
buttons 17a and loops or button holes 17b (FIG. 2d), etc. The
fasteners 14, 15 are exemplary and it will be appreciated that
other types of fasteners may be used for the fasteners 13 in the
invention.
[0048] It will be appreciated that the cover 11 may be any fabric
or other material, e.g., plastic, metallic material, or other
material, that is suitable for use as a comforter, blanket, quilt,
or the like. The sheet 12 may be any fabric suitable for a top
sheet, as is well known, e.g., cotton, silk, polyester, metallic
material, or other material.
[0049] As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the cover-sheet combination has
a head end 20 and a foot end 21. The head end typically is placed
near the head of the bed and is intended to cover a person near the
head, neck or shoulders, and the foot end 21 is intended to be
located at or near the foot end of the bed near the feet of a
person covered by the cover-sheet combination.
[0050] As is seen in FIG. 1, the sheet 12 of the cover-sheet
combination is mostly at the bottom or below the cover 11. However,
at the head end 20 the sheet may be folded as at 22 over the head
end of the cover to form a flap-like portion 23. In many instances
people make up beds with the head end of the top sheet folded over
the head end of the cover for a number of reasons, including
appearance of neatness and also to facilitate pulling the top sheet
and cover together over the shoulders, neck, etc. of a person as
that person pulls the top sheet and blanket together over themself
to sleep. The flap-like portion (flap) 23 also may help keep the
cover clean at an area where the chin or arm of a person may rest
on top of the cover-sheet combination 10 while the person is
sleeping, for example.
[0051] Complementary portions 14a, 14b or 15a, 15b, etc. of
respective pairs of fasteners may be attached to the cover 11 and
to the top sheet 12 at respective paired locations along the
perimeter of the cover and top sheet, for example, as is
illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The lateral (side-to-side)
dimensions of the cover and top sheet may be approximately the same
so that the complimentary portions of the fasteners are near the
respective edges of the cover and sheet such that they do not
ordinarily rub against the body of a person covered by the
cover-sheet combination. However, if desired, the fasteners may be
located elsewhere in addition to or instead of at the edges. At or
near the head end 20 of the cover-sheet combination 10, a number of
fasteners 13a may be provided to hold the flap 23 of the sheet 12
in engagement with the cover 11 maintaining the fold 22 and flap
23. The fasteners 13a may include only two, one at each lateral
edge area 24 or may include several fasteners across the leading
end of the sheet to engage with complementary fasteners located on
the cover, e.g., as is illustrated in FIG. 1. Similarly, at the
foot end 21 of the cover-sheet combination, there may be two or
more complementary pairs of fasteners 13b, as is illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates the cover-sheet combination 10 positioned
on a bed 30. The bed 30 includes a mattress 31 having head and foot
ends 31h, 31f, a box spring 32 having head and foot ends 32h, 32f
that supports the mattress, and a bed frame 33 that supports the
box spring and mattress in conventional manner. The bed frame 33
may have legs and/or wheels; alternatively legs and/or wheels may
be attached directly to the box spring. As is seen in FIG. 3 a
bottom sheet 34 is on the top of the mattress. The bottom sheet 34
may be a fitted sheet or may be an unfitted sheet that is tucked in
at the edges, head end, and foot end of the mattress, e.g., between
the mattress and box spring. In the illustration of FIG. 3, the bed
30 includes a head board 35 and a foot board 36. The foot end 21 of
the cover-sheet combination 10 is urged down between the mattress
and foot board, and the head end 20 is positioned near the head and
head board 35 of the bed.
[0053] To make up the bed 30 is quite easy. The cover-sheet
combination 10 may be placed on top of the bed, aligned generally
with the mattress 31 to cover the top of the mattress and the
bottom sheet thereon, and the foot end 21 of the cover-sheet
combination may be urged down between the mattress and foot board.
If desired, the cover-sheet combination may be placed over the foot
board in the manner illustrated schematically in dash lines in FIG.
3. Thus, there is no need to align a top sheet and blanket with
each other, to tuck the two in, to readjust the cover and top sheet
relative to each other so that lateral edges of the top sheet do
not stick out from beneath the cover, etc.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 4, the cover-sheet combination 10 may be
tucked in between the foot end of the mattress 31 and the foot end
of the box spring 32. If a box spring is not used, but rather the
mattress is placed on a platform or on the floor, the foot end of
the cover-sheet combination may be tucked in beneath the foot end
of the mattress 31 and the platform or floor, etc.
[0055] The lateral dimension (side-to-side) of the cover-sheet
combination 10 may be the same as the lateral dimension of the
mattress 31 in which case the cover-sheet combination easily may be
placed directly over the mattress and aligned therewith without any
need for separately aligning a top sheet and cover relative to the
mattress. Alternatively, the lateral dimension of the cover-sheet
combination may be larger than the lateral dimension of the
mattress, and in such case, as is illustrated in FIG. 5, the sides
40 of the cover-sheet combination may overlap the sides 31s of the
mattress and if even longer, the sides 32s of the box spring. If
desired, the lateral dimensions of the cover-sheet combination may
be smaller than those of the mattress or may be some other
dimension.
[0056] The cover 11 and sheet 12 may be assembled and separated,
for example, as is described herein. A portion of the sheet 11
extends beyond the length of the cover 11 and is folded at 22 to
cover head end of the cover, thus forming the flap 23. If there is
no flap at the foot end of the sheet 12, then the foot end is
aligned approximately at the foot end of the cover. The fasteners
13, 13a and 13b are fastened together to attach the cover and sheet
together. The cover-sheet combination then can be placed on a bed
in the various manners described above or in some other manner, as
may be desired. A person may cover himself or herself with the
cover-sheet combination 10 in a similar manner to the way a top
sheet and blanket typically are used. However, since the cover and
sheet are attached together, it is unlikely that the cover will
come into direct engagement with the body of the person. Therefore,
the cover would tend not to become somewhat soiled, e.g., from
naturally occurring oils, etc., that may be on the person. Thus,
the covers will be maintained clean for many days. As desired,
though, the sheet 12 may be unfastened from and removed from the
cover and either washed and replaced on the cover or replaced by a
different sheet that is attached to the cover. Furthermore, it will
be appreciated that the sheet 12 may be of a material that is
intended to be discarded after one or more uses, e.g., in a
hospital setting or in some other environment where it is desired
not to re-use the sheet 12, and in such cases the sheet 12 may be
discarded and another sheet used in its place. In such cases, too,
the sheet 12 may be of relatively inexpensive fabric material, may
be of paper or paper-type material, etc. An example of such use may
be in a circumstance where a patient in a hospital has an infection
and it is undesirable to remove the same top sheet for the same
patient or for another patient even with the top sheet were
washed.
* * * * *