U.S. patent application number 12/600958 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for bed sheet system.
Invention is credited to Kym Shuttleworth.
Application Number | 20100154119 12/600958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38255747 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100154119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shuttleworth; Kym |
June 24, 2010 |
Bed Sheet System
Abstract
A bed sheet, comprising in combination, a top panel for covering
a mattress top, a surrounding side panel adapted to surround the
side edges of the mattress, the top panel removably attachable to
the side panel to form a bed sheet for the mattress wherein in use,
the top panel can be detached and removed from the side panel when
the bed sheet is covering the mattress whereby the side panels are
left in position on the side edges of the mattress.
Inventors: |
Shuttleworth; Kym;
(Cornubia, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHOEMAKER AND MATTARE, LTD
10 POST OFFICE ROAD - SUITE 100
SILVER SPRING
MD
20910
US
|
Family ID: |
38255747 |
Appl. No.: |
12/600958 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
July 26, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU07/01037 |
371 Date: |
November 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/484 ;
5/488 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 21/06 20130101;
A47G 9/0246 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/484 ;
5/488 |
International
Class: |
A47G 9/02 20060101
A47G009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 22, 2007 |
AU |
2007100415 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A bed sheet, comprising in combination, a top panel for
covering a mattress top, a surrounding side panel adapted to
surround the side edges of the mattress, the top panel removably
attachable to the side panel by a continuous peripheral fastener to
form a bed sheet for the mattress having a peripherally closed edge
between the top panel and the side panel, wherein in use, an infant
or young sleeper cannot become entangled with or trapped between
the top panel and the mattress and wherein, the top panel can be
detached and removed from the side panel when the bed sheet is
covering the mattress whereby the side panels are left in position
on the side edges of the mattress and wherein, the complete bed
sheet system can be removed from the mattress without having to
lift the mattress.
12. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
continuous peripheral fastener is a continuous zipper fastener.
13. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
continuous peripheral fastener is a hook and loop fastening
strip.
14. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top
panel is removably attached to the side panel by means of a
continuous strip of press studs or snap fasteners or other
equivalent readily detachable fasteners.
15. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, where the top panel
incorporates a waterproof layer.
16. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top
panel incorporates a waterproof layer that is also hypoallergenic
and has anti-fungal, anti-asthmatic and dust-mite inhibition
properties.
17. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the side
panel extends over the sides and the bottom peripheral edge of the
mattress and partially covers the base of the mattress.
18. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top
panel incorporates a waterproof layer that is also hypoallergenic
and has anti-fungal and anti-mite inhibition properties.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to bedding and bed sheets and in
particular but not exclusively to a bed sheet with a removable and
replaceable panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Bedding and bed linen is known prior art. The changing of
sheets is a routine and often time consuming task especially where
there are several beds to be made. Where the bed has a heavy
mattress under which bed sheets have to be tucked, the effort of
lifting such mattresses can also require great physical effort.
[0003] The process of placing a standard sheet on any mattress is a
skilled task since the corners of the sheet have to be securely
tucked under the four corners of the mattress. Access to the under
side of the mattress is often restricted by the construction and
design of the bed itself such as where there are bed ends, panels
and rails. These structures are often coupled with the sheer weight
of many prior art mattresses such as those of the latex type
construction making the task ever more difficult.
[0004] The typical and prior art method of changing a standard bed
sheet set is to either lift or entirely remove the mattress from
the bed and then to remove the sheets by pulling the sheet out from
beneath the mattress. The process is then basically reversed to
re-make the bed.
[0005] Prior art in relation to standard bed sheets has mainly
concentrated on simplifying the often cumbersome process of
changing the sheets without a need to remove the mattress. Such
prior art sheets commonly disclose the use of elastic around the
peripheral edge of the sheet commonly referred to as a fitted sheet
adapted to keep the bed sheet in place on the mattress. There is
also prior art relating to standard sheets which disclose the use
of a mattress protector and/or the use a waterproofing sheet
underlying the fitted sheet. Such prior art includes U.S. Pat. No.
7,047,580 (Finn) which discloses a multi-layer mattress protector
which utilises a least two moisture proof layers with the top
moisture proof layer being releasably attached to and removable
from the bottom moisture proof layer. The top moisture proof layer
can also be removed from the mattress protector while someone is in
the bed.
[0006] Common disadvantages or limitations of the prior art include
the problem where the depth of the elasticised sides of fitted
sheets often do not extend far enough beneath the mattress to
ensure that the sheet remains firmly in place. Prior art disclosing
the use of mattress protectors beneath fitted sheets have the
disadvantage that there is an extra cost as well as an increase in
labour and time to remove the separate mattress protector beneath
the sheets when they have to be washed. The same problems also
apply to the use of waterproof sheets beneath fitted sheets which
also require frequent washing.
[0007] In the case of bedding used by infant occupants, there is
also a problem wherein the arms and legs of the infant can become
entangled especially where there is a gap between the top and
bottom of the sheet. The problem with the use of mattress
protectors and waterproof sheets underlying bed sheets is also more
acute where used with young children or the infirm where the
constant supply of mattress protectors and moisture proof sheeting
is an important limitation especially in commercial and
institutional application.
[0008] In the case of infant use, safety is a priority and there
have been numerous cases of injury and even death from suffocation
and/or strangulation especially where sheets have become loose and
the infant has become entangled in them. In the case of infant
application, the process of placing a standard sheet on a cot or
crib mattress is often made difficult because the corners of the
sheet have to be tucked very securely under the four corners of the
mattress. Access to the corners of a cot or crib mattress is often
restricted by bars, panels, slats or rails which are inherent in
the design of most prior art cots and cribs. Mattress access can be
further restricted by the presence of bumpers which are often used
to prevent the child from injuring itself. Current mattress
designs, whether of inner spring or foam construction often have
squared off corners which are designed to limit the ability of an
infant to access areas between the mattress and the insides of the
cot or crib. Such designs further impede the ease or speed with
which a prior art cot or crib sheet can be changed.
[0009] A typical method of changing a cot or crib sheet set is to
remove the bumpers, if present, lift or entirely remove the
mattress from the cot or crib and then remove the standard sheet by
pulling the sheet from beneath the mattress. The process is
reversed to remake the bedding of the cot or crib.
[0010] Naturally, prior art inventions relating to cot or crib
sheets have concentrated on simplifying the cumbersome process of
changing the sheets without the need to remove the mattress or
bumpers from the cot or crib.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved bed sheet system which seeks to overcome or
ameliorate the disadvantages or limitations of the prior art or to
at least provide the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly in one aspect therefore the invention resides in
a bed sheet, comprising in combination,
a top panel for covering a mattress top, a surrounding side panel
adapted to surround the side edges of the mattress, the top panel
removably attachable to the side panel to form a bed sheet for the
mattress wherein in use, the top panel can be detached and removed
from the side panel when the bed sheet is covering the mattress
whereby the side panels are left in position on the side edges of
the mattress.
[0013] Preferably the top panel is removably attached to the side
panel by fastening means in the form of a continuous zipper
fastener. In the alternative the top panel can be removably
attached to the side panel by means of hook and loop fasteners such
as Velcro.TM..
[0014] The top panel can also be removably attached to the side
panel by means of press studs or other equivalent readily
detachable fasteners.
[0015] Preferably a flap of material can be used to hide or protect
the fastening means from inadvertent release.
[0016] Preferably the top panel incorporates a waterproof
layer.
[0017] More preferably the top panel is lined with a waterproof
layer that is also hypoallergenic and has anti-fungal,
anti-asthmatic and dust-mite inhibition properties.
[0018] In a preferred example of the invention, for typically
infant application, the invention resides in a bed sheet,
comprising in combination.
a mattress case adapted to fully enclose a mattress, the case
comprising top and bottom panels joined together to form the
mattress case, the top panel of which is removable when the
mattress case is covering the mattress whereby the bottom panel is
left in position on the mattress.
[0019] Preferably in one version the top and bottom panels of the
mattress case are joined together by a surrounding side panel to
accommodate the thickness of the mattress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] In order for the invention to be better understood and put
into practical effect, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings wherein
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention
according to Example 1, and
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment invention according to
Example 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Example 1
[0023] Referring now to the accompanying drawings an initially to
FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred bed sheet system 10 according to
Example 1. The sheet system includes a side panel 12 and a
removable top panel 14 which are securely attached together by the
use of a detachable fastener 16, in this case, preferably by a
continuous zipper fastener 16. The sheet has no bottom panel shown
by broken line 12a representing the edges of the side panel 12
underneath the mattress 18. This system provides for the ease of
changing the sheets by removing or attaching the top panel to the
surrounding side panels while still covering the mattress 18. The
system in combination creates a safe sleeping environment for young
children and the physically and mentally handicapped for whom the
accidental removal of the top panel could cause a safety issue. The
attachment means in the form of the continuous zipper fastener 16
is positioned in such a manner that it cannot be easily accessed by
the infirm, child or adult occupant. Preferably while the fastener
is a zipper fastener, other attaching and detaching means can also
be utilised such as hook and eye fasteners, for example Velcro.TM.,
clasps, press studs, buttons and plurality of prior art snap
fasteners. In this embodiment where the removable attachable means
is a zipper, the slide of the zipper is preferably located on the
base or side panel of the sheet system. The zipper can be made of
any appropriate material but is preferably a continuous moulded
plastic separating zipper. In addition, the zipper can be attached
in such a way that the pull of the zipper can be hidden under the
base of the zipper when the zipper is fully closed. The slide of
the zipper preferably remains with the base or side of panel of the
sheet system. The zipper is attached in such a way that the zipper
pull can be completely hidden from view and is not accessible to
the infirm, child and adult occupant when covered by a flap of
material 14a. The zipper 16 preferably surrounds the entire
perimeter of the top surface of the mattress and extends where the
base of the zipper or where the zipper is inserted is located. The
teeth of the zipper preferable extend under the zipper insert and
the zipper pull can be pushed under the insert. The side panel and
removable top panel can be made of any material suitable for
sheeting and bedding. A waterproof, hypo-allergenic, dust mite
resistant, anti-asthmatic and mould resistant lining can be
incorporated into the top panel to provide added protection to the
mattress. In preferred embodiments the sheet system is made of
polyester/-cotton fabrics.
[0024] It is expected that the removable top panel and
corresponding half of the zipper attachment means will be laundered
much more frequently than the base or side panel. The preferred
embodiment with the plastic moulded separating zipper has been
shown to withstand a significant number of washing and tumble
dryings without affecting the integrity and continuous function of
the zipper and top panel.
[0025] The side panel or base of the sheet system is substantially
identical to the length of the mattress plus twice the depth of the
mattress. Preferably a number of elasticised strips 20, 22 are
placed on either side panel and end panel 23 or on each 26, 28, 30
end where on all four vertical corners or seams allow for improved
adjustability of fit for a multitude of sizes of mattresses as well
as to maintain the integrity of the removable top panel. Preferably
the removable top panel of the preferred sheet system is
substantially almost identical in dimension to the top surface of
the mattress. The half of the moulded plastic zipper that does not
contain the slide is attached to the removable top panel 14 in such
a manner that a fabric flap 14a can be used to provide a cover for
the zip when the top panel is attached to the side panel. A
waterproof, hypo-allergenic, dust mite resistant, anti-asthmatic,
mould resistant lining is incorporated into the removable top panel
to prevent damage to the mattress in the event of an accident. This
lining also aides in maintaining the integrity of the top panel
through numerous washings and dryings.
Example 2
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a preferred
embodiment of the invention according to Example 2. Example 2 shows
a pediatric or infant application of the invention. As with Example
1, the paediatric or infant application uses a safety sheet system
40 which includes a bottom panel 42 and removable top panel 44
which are securely attached by means of a continuous zipper
fastener 46. The design of the preferred embodiment eliminates the
possibility of an infant removing the sheet and wrapping or
entangling itself in the fabric of the sheet. The top panel is
completely removable and attachable to the bottom panel by use of
the continuous zipper means. This system provides for the ease of
changing of the sheets by using the zipper to either remove or
attach a top panel to the bottom panel. This system also creates a
safer sleeping environment for the infant as the preferred zipper
fastener is positioned in such a manner that the infant or child
cannot access it. While the preferred attachment means is a
continuous zipper fastener, other attachment means such as hook and
eye fasteners for example Velcro.TM., clasp, press studs, buttons
and a plurality of snap fasteners can also be used. In a most
preferred embodiment, the use of the zip provides a simple means of
attaching the top panel 44 to the bottom panel 42 wherein the slide
of the zipper can be located on the bottom panel of the sheet
system. The zipper may be made out of any appropriate material but
the preferred version is of a moulded plastic construction. In
addition the zipper can be attached in such a way that the pull of
the zipper can be hidden under the base of the zipper when the
zipper is completely closed. The pull or slide of the zipper is
also preferably located in an inaccessible portion of the sheet
system. The removable top panel is designed in such a manner that
the simple attaching means can be covered by a flap of material 44a
that extends beyond the attaching site. The zipper in this
embodiment is attached in such a way that the zipper pull or slide
can be completely hidden from view and inaccessible from an infant
occupant. The zipper surrounds the entire perimeter of the surface
of the mattress 46 and extends to where the base of the zipper or a
zipper insert is located. The teeth of the zipper extend under the
zipper insert and the zipper pull can pushed under the insert out
of view. The bottom panel and the removable top panel of the sheet
system can be made of any material suitable for sheeting or
bedding. A waterproof, hypo-allergenic, dust mite resistant,
anti-asthmatic, mould resistant lining has been incorporated into
the under-surface of the top panel to provide protection to the
mattress. In preferred embodiments, the sheet system is preferably
made from polyester/-cotton fabrics.
[0027] It is expected that the removable top panel and the
corresponding half of the zipper attachment means will be laundered
much more frequently than the rest of the mattress case. The
preferred embodiment with the moulded plastic zipper fastener has
been shown to withstand a significant number of washings and tumble
dryings yet still maintain its integrity and function as initially
designed.
[0028] The bottom portion or bottom panel 42 of the mattress case
is almost identical in length to the length of the cot or crib
mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress 46 to allow for
the base of the sheet system to completely cover the bottom and
four sides of the cot or crib mattress.
[0029] In the alternative, a side panel 48 equal in width to the
thickness of the mattress may be used between the top and bottom
panels.
[0030] A number of strips 52, 54, 56, 58 or wide elastic have been
strategically placed across the bottom panel and the sides 60, 62,
64 to allow for improved adjustability of fit to mattresses of
different makes and sizes as well as to maintain the positional
integrity of the removable top panel. The section of the moulded
plastic zipper fastener that incorporates the zipper slide is
attached to the bottom side of the sheet system with the slide at
an inaccessible end of the bottom panel.
[0031] The removable top panel of the sheet system is also almost
identical in dimensions to the top surface of the mattress. The
half of the moulded plastic zipper fastener that does not contain
the slide is attached to the removable top panel in such a manner
that a fabric flap can be used to cover zipper when it is attached
to the bottom of the mattress case. A waterproof, hypo-allergenic,
dust mite resistant, anti-asthmatic, mould resistant lining has
also been incorporated into the removable top panel to prevent
damage to the mattress in the event of an accident. The lining also
aides in maintaining the integrity of top panel through numerous
washing and dryings.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0032] The examples of the preferred embodiments hereinbefore
described have several advantages over the prior art. In the case
of the infant or paediatric application, safe sleeping
recommendations with a simple bed sheet system are recommended and
endorsed by various organisations concerned with sudden infant
death syndrome and other child safety bodies. The sheet systems
allow for the saving in time and physical effort required to change
a prior art standard or cot or crib sheet set wherein only the top
panel has to be removed as opposed to changing the complete
sheet.
[0033] In terms of cost savings, where only a removable top panel
is required to be laundered there is both a financial as well as a
resource saving of both water, electricity and laundry detergent.
Furthermore as the top panels can include a mattress protection
lining, there is no need to purchase a separate mattress protector.
The removal of a top panel caters to tired or sleeping infants when
having to change the sheets due to an accident. Importantly the
ability to change simply the top panel of a sheet or mattress case
without having to lift a mattress or bend over a cot or crib, bars,
panels, slates or rails limits the potential for lower back or
abdominal strain of the user.
[0034] The present sheet system is also able to be utilised in any
situation both on a private, commercial or institutional basis
where numerous sheets have to be changed.
VARIATIONS
[0035] It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has
been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all
such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be
apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within
the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set
forth.
[0036] Throughout the description and claims this specification the
word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and
"comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives,
components, integers or steps.
* * * * *