U.S. patent number 3,858,256 [Application Number 05/302,881] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for fitted bedclothes.
Invention is credited to Andrew E. Beer.
United States Patent |
3,858,256 |
Beer |
January 7, 1975 |
FITTED BEDCLOTHES
Abstract
In fitted bedclothes, a closable split is formed in a marginal
portion of the bedclothes, spaced from the corners. A strip extends
from the bedclothes adjacent one side of the split for drawing the
sides of the split toward each other and adjusting the fit of the
bedclothes on a mattress. The sides of the split are retained in
position by a piece of a first material having a plurality of
flexible hooks which engages a piece of a second material having a
plurality of hook-engageable loops. One of the pieces of material
is secured to the strip and the other is secured to the bedclothes.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the strip and the
pieces of material are replaced by a zipper that is secured by
elastic material to the bedclothes adjacent the sides of the
split.
Inventors: |
Beer; Andrew E. (New York,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23169612 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/302,881 |
Filed: |
November 1, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/496;
297/225 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
9/0246 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
9/02 (20060101); A47g 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/334,334C,335,336,354,334R ;297/218,219,225
;24/143,204,266,DIG.18,17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Assistant Examiner: Calvert; Andrew M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue &
Raymond
Claims
I claim:
1. In fitted bedclothes, the improvement of a closable split formed
in a marginal portion of the bedclothes and spaced from the corners
thereof, including means for releasably drawing sides of the split
toward each other and adjusting the fit of the bedclothes on a
mattress, the drawing and adjusting means including a band
extending along and coupled to a peripheral edge of the bedclothes,
an end portion of the band extending from the bedclothes adjacent a
first side of the split and having means for releasably engaging
the strip with the bedclothes adjacent a second side of the split
in any selected one of a plurality of longitudinal positions
relative to the bedclothes adjacent the second side of the
split.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the band extends through
loops formed adjacent the peripheral edge of the bedclothes.
3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the engaging means includes
a piece of a first material having a plurality of flexible hook
members and a piece of a second material having a plurality of
hook-engageable loop members, a first of the pieces of materials
being secured to the end portion of the band and a second of the
pieces of materials being secured to the bedclothes adjacent the
second side of the split.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fitted bedclothes, when properly adjusted on a mattress, present a
neat appearance and represent a labor-saving convenience in the
daily chore of making up a bed between the times when the
bedclothes are exchanged for clean bedclothes. In addition, fitted
bedclothes prevent a sleeper from disturbing the bedclothes to an
extent where they are uncomfortable to lie on.
When placing fitted bedclothes on a mattress, however, it is
necessary to lift and bend the corners of the mattress to fit them
into the corners of the bedclothes, at least the final corner. The
lifting and bending is strenuous and may, for example, reduce the
efficiency of a chambermaid or other individual charged with
changing the bed linen in the numerous rooms of a hotel or motel.
If beds are placed near a wall or furniture, the inconvenience and
physical effort in manipulating the mattresses is further
increased.
The advantages of fitted bedclothes are also diminished, when,
after repeated use, the material of the bedclothes shrinks or
stretches and the bedclothes no longer properly fit the mattress
with which they are used. Thus, if the material has stretched
excessively, the bedclothes may no longer effectively be held in
place on the mattress and, if the material of the bedclothes has
shrunk, it may be impossible to place the bedclothes on the
mattress without curling up the corners of the mattress or unduly
straining the material of the bedclothes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises the improvement, in fitted
bedclothes, of a closable split formed in a marginal portion of the
bedclothes and spaced from the corners of the bedclothes. The split
is provided with means for releasably drawing the sides of the
split toward each other and adjusting the fit of the bedclothes on
a mattress. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a
piece of a first material having a plurality of small, flexible
hooks is secured to a strip that extends from the bedclothes
adjacent one side of the split. The piece of first material engages
a piece of a second material having a plurality of hook-engageable
loops, which is secured to the bedclothes adjacent the other side
of the split. Thus, the sides of the split may be drawn toward each
other as much or as little as required to properly fit the
bedclothes on a mattress and then may be retained in the desired
position by pressing the two pieces of material together.
By spacing the split from the corners of the bedclothes, the split
is only subjected to stresses in a single plane rather than in two
planes at right angles to each other, as would be the case if the
split were at a corner. The sides of the split are more easily
drawn together and, in the above described embodiment, it is less
likely that the interlocking pieces of material will come
unfastened.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the strip and the pieces
of material are replaced by a zipper secured by elastic material to
the bedclothes adjacent the sides of the split.
In a third embodiment of the invention, a band is extended along
and coupled to the peripheral edge of the bedclothes, which edge is
underneath a mattress when the bedclothes are placed on the
mattress. The end portions of the band extend from the bedclothes
adjacent the sides of the split and a piece of a first material
having a plurality of small, flexible hooks is secured to each end
portion. The piece of first material on each end portion engages a
piece of a second material having a plurality of hook-engageable
loops, which is secured to the bedclothes adjacent the side of the
split opposite that from which the corresponding end portion
extends. The embodiment permits the peripheral edge of the
bedclothes to be drawn more tightly underneath the mattress, thus
drawing the sides and corners of the bedclothes more securely
around the mattress.
As can be seen from the above description, the present invention
permits fitted bedclothes to be placed on a mattress without having
to lift or bend the corners of the mattress. The present invention
also permits the bedclothes to retain their original neat
appearance and usefulness despite shrinkage or stretching of the
sheet material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made
to the following description of three exemplary embodiments, taken
in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawing, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fitted sheet with a closable
split according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention; and
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the
invention .
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a
fitted sheet, generally designated 10, is formed with a closable
split 12 in its downwardly extending marginal portion 14. The split
12 is spaced from the fitted corners of the sheet 10. In the
illustrated embodiment, the split 12 is formed at the foot end of
the sheet 10, but it is within the scope of the invention to form
the split in the head end or sides of the sheet.
The sides 16 and 18 of the split 12 are faced with reinforcing
material 20 to prevent the sheet 10 from tearing when the sides 16
and 18 are drawn toward each other. A strip 22 extends from the
reinforcing material 20 on the sheet 10 adjacent side 18 of the
split 12. A piece 24 of a material having a plurality of small,
flexible hooks is secured to the strip 22 and it engages a piece 26
of a felt-like material having a plurality of small,
hook-engageable loops, which is secured to the sheet 10 adjacent
the side 16 of the split 12. One form of the above-described
cooperating pieces of material 24 and 26 is available on the market
under the trade name "Velcro" and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
2,717,437, issued to de Mestral. The trade name "Velcro" is used
hereinafter to include all fasteners of the Velcro type and it
should be noted that the relative positions of cooperating pieces
of "Velcro" are freely reversible.
When the sheet 10 is being placed on a mattress (not shown), the
pieces of "Velcro" 24 and 26 are disengaged and the sides 16 and 18
of the split 12 are free to spread apart to facilitate placing the
corners of the mattress in the corners of the sheet 10. The strip
22 is then used to draw the sides 16 and 18 toward each other until
the sheet 10 is properly adjusted to the mattress and the pieces of
"Velcro" 24 and 26 are pressed together to hold the sides 16 and 18
in position. Using "Velcro" permits the sides 16 and 18 of the
split 12 to be held in an unlimited number of positions.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein the
strip 22 and the pieces of "Velcro" 24 and 26 are replaced with a
zipper 28. To permit the fit of the sheet 10 to be adjusted, the
reinforcing material 20 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is
replaced with elastic material 30.
In a third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 3, a band 32
extends along the peripheral edge 33 of the sheet 10. The band 32
may be secured to the edge 33 of sheet 10 or, as shown, may pass
freely through loops 34 adjacent the edge 33. The ends 36 of the
band 32 extend from the sides 16 and 18 of the split 12, each end
36 having a piece of "Velcro" 38 secured to it for engaging a
second piece of "Velcro" 40 secured to the sheet 10. To insure that
the sides 16 and 18 of the split 12 are drawn toward each other,
one end 36 of the band 32 may be sewn or otherwise immovably
secured to a side 16 or 18 of the split 12, or the embodiment of
FIG. 3 may be used in combination with the embodiment of FIG.
1.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are
merely exemplary and that those skilled in the art may make many
variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are
intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
* * * * *