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.

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.

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.