Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.

Gerald E. Wootten, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11751698
    Abstract: A sleep system includes a ticking for a mattress, a bed cover, and a pillow cover. The ticking for a mattress is made of a first material. The ticking and the mattress together have a first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties associated therewith. The bed cover is made of the first material or of a second material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties. The pillow cover is made of the first material, the second material, or of a third material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first or second set of temperature regulating performance-based properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11547224
    Abstract: A fitted mattress covering includes a body and an elastic strip. The body includes an upper surface and a side portion extending therefrom. The upper surface and the side portion together define a cavity therebetween shaped to receive a mattress. The side portion defines a lower edge of the body. The elastic strip is attached to the lower edge of the body and extends across and/or around a portion of the cavity. The elastic strip includes an inwardly-facing surface facing into the cavity and an outwardly-facing surface facing away from the cavity. At least part of one or both of the inwardly-facing surface and/or the outwardly-facing surface includes a non-slip portion. The non-slip portion is configured to generate a higher coefficient of friction with an adjacent surface than the elastic strip would provide without the non-slip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200397163
    Abstract: A fitted mattress covering includes a body and an elastic strip. The body includes an upper surface and a side portion extending therefrom. The upper surface and the side portion together define a cavity therebetween shaped to receive a mattress. The side portion defines a lower edge of the body. The elastic strip is attached to the lower edge of the body and extends across and/or around a portion of the cavity. The elastic strip includes an inwardly-facing surface facing into the cavity and an outwardly-facing surface facing away from the cavity. At least part of one or both of the inwardly-facing surface and/or the outwardly-facing surface includes a non-slip portion. The non-slip portion is configured to generate a higher coefficient of friction with an adjacent surface than the elastic strip would provide without the non-slip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Patent number: 10856677
    Abstract: An article for use on a mattress includes a bedding article and means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress. The means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress may be hidden from view when the bedding article is installed on a mattress. The means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress may be one or more of color contrasting sections, indicia, labels, or stitching. The bedding article has two sides, a top end, a bottom, an opening for seating around the bed, an edge around the opening, and four corners, with two corners being at the top end and two corners being at the bottom end. An article for use as a cover for an underlying item is also disclosed, with the article including a cover article and means for orienting the cover article on an underlying item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HOMTEX, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10806282
    Abstract: A universal pillow for seating on a base surface includes a top surface having a negative parabolic shape or a convex shape relative to the base surface and a bottom surface having a concave shape relative to the base surface. The pillow includes up to five zones I-V, with a center zone I being designed for side sleepers, the two adjacent zones II, III being designed for back sleepers, and the two adjacent, outer zones IV, V being designed for stomach sleepers. The pillow may have different sections and parts in order to vary the feel of the pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10292509
    Abstract: A universal pillow for seating on a base surface includes a top surface having a negative parabolic shape or a convex shape relative to the base surface and a bottom surface having a convex shape relative to the base surface. The pillow includes up to five zones I-V, with a center zone I being designed for side sleepers, the two adjacent zones II, III being designed for back sleepers, and the two adjacent, outer zones IV, V being designed for stomach sleepers. The pillow may have different sections and parts in order to vary the feel of the pillow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HOMTEX, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190014930
    Abstract: A sheet set packaged together as a set includes at least one flat sheet, at least one fitted sheet, and at least one pillow case. The at least one flat sheet is made of a first material. The at least one fitted sheet is made of a second material that is different from the first material. The at least one pillow case is made of a third material that is one of the same as or different from the first material and that is one of the same as or different from the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190014916
    Abstract: A sleep system includes a ticking for a mattress, a bed cover, and a pillow cover. The ticking for a mattress is made of a first material. The ticking and the mattress together have a first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties associated therewith. The bed cover is made of the first material or of a second material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first set of temperature regulating performance-based properties. The pillow cover is made of the first material, the second material, or of a third material having substantially the same temperature regulating performance-based properties as the first or second set of temperature regulating performance-based properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170127855
    Abstract: A duvet cover for a comforter includes a front panel and a rear panel, with an opening provided in at least one of the front panel and rear panel. The front and rear panel are sized to accommodate the size of a comforter to be installed inside the duvet cover. The opening is disposed in a center third of the respective panel. The opening is oriented in one of a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Patent number: 8813979
    Abstract: A product display unit for providing the consumer with an opportunity to position a major part of the body against the product being displayed includes a stand that has a height, a length, a top, and a bottom. A plurality of products are coupled in the vicinity of the top of the stand. The plurality of products are spaced from one another along the length of the stand. The stand has a height that allows the consumer to position a major part of the body below the top of the stand adjacent the products such that the consumer can feel the products being displayed. A method for providing a consumer with the touch and feel of an article utilizing a display unit includes providing a display unit that includes a stand, hanging a plurality of products from the stand, and allowing the consumer to position a major portion of their body against the products in order to determine what the product would feel like in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140230152
    Abstract: A pillow includes a core of chip foam, at least one fiber layer, and a cover. The chip foam core is positioned in a leak proof liner. The at least one fiber layer is positioned at least in part around the chip foam core. The cover encloses the chip foam core and the at least one fiber layer. Another pillow includes a core of chip foam and a quilted layer positioned at least in part around the core of chip foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Wootten, JR., Gerald E. Wootten, III
  • Publication number: 20130263377
    Abstract: A customizable pillow includes at least a first insert, a second insert, and a third insert and an outer shell for receiving the inserts. The first insert represents a maximum amount, the second insert represents a first intermediate amount and a third insert represents a third amount. One of the inserts has a minimum amount. The combination of inserts provides adjustability in equal increments from the minimum amount to a combined amount equal to the sum of the minimum amount, the maximum amount, and any intermediate amounts and one or more of the inserts may be used at a given time by a user. A method of customizing a pillow includes selecting the inserts and putting them inside the shell. A customizable mattress includes a base portion, topping portion and cover layer. The topping portion has one or more inserts of different thicknesses and/or materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130247297
    Abstract: An article for use on a mattress includes a bedding article and means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress. The means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress may be hidden from view when the bedding article is installed on a mattress. The means for orienting the bedding article on a mattress may be one or more of color contrasting sections, indicia, labels, or stitching. The bedding article has two sides, a top end, a bottom, an opening for seating around the bed, an edge around the opening, and four corners, with two corners being at the top end and two corners being at the bottom end. An article for use as a cover for an underlying item is also disclosed, with the article including a cover article and means for orienting the cover article on an underlying item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HOMTEX, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120066875
    Abstract: A method for grading a bedding fabric comprises selecting at least two grading parameters and assigning a grade to the fabric based upon the selected grading parameters in order to grade the fabric between a minimum grade and a maximum grade. The grade is designed to assist a consumer in making consistent purchases. The grading parameters may include cost, type of fabric, thread count, comfort performance characteristics, ply, weight, fiber density and/or thickness of the fabric, aesthetic appearance of the fabric, durability, weave, bacterial, allergen, and/or fungal resistant properties, and the eco-friendly nature of the fabric. A grading system for a packaged bedding fabric includes a packaged bedding product and a grade coupled to the packaged bedding product such that a consumer can determine the quality of the bedding product based upon the grade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120037577
    Abstract: A product display unit for providing the consumer with an opportunity to position a major part of the body against the product being displayed includes a stand that has a height, a length, a top, and a bottom. A plurality of products are coupled in the vicinity of the top of the stand. The plurality of products are spaced from one another along the length of the stand. The stand has a height that allows the consumer to position a major part of the body below the top of the stand adjacent the products such that the consumer can feel the products being displayed. A method for providing a consumer with the touch and feel of an article utilizing a display unit includes providing a display unit that includes a stand, hanging a plurality of products from the stand, and allowing the consumer to position a major portion of their body against the products in order to determine what the product would feel like in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, JR.
  • Patent number: 7698758
    Abstract: A fitted mattress covering for a mattress includes lower edge portions, which may be inverted J-shaped portions, mirror-image inverted J-shaped portions, portions that terminate at an end, or inverted U-shaped portions. The covering side and end portion lower edges may join one another to form a continuous lower edge of the covering. For the J-shaped portion, an elastic binding may be disposed under a downwards folded portion. The elastic binding may extend at least partially along the length of the lower edge of the covering. An elastic band may be disposed at each corner of the covering and extend diagonally across the associated corner and have opposite ends secured adjacent one of the side portions and adjacent one of the adjacent end portions, respectively. The bands may be secured in place by stitching and/or by supplementary securing means to ensure that the bands do not pull away from the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7565707
    Abstract: A fitted mattress covering for a mattress includes lower edge portions, which may be inverted J-shaped portions, mirror-image inverted J-shaped portions, portions that terminate at an end, or inverted U-shaped portions. The covering side and end portion lower edges may join one another to form a continuous lower edge of the covering. For the J-shaped portion, an elastic binding may be disposed under a downwards folded portion. The elastic binding may extend at least partially along the length of the lower edge of the covering. An elastic band may be disposed at each corner of the covering and extend diagonally across the associated corner and have opposite ends secured adjacent one of the side portions and adjacent one of the adjacent end portions, respectively. The bands may be secured in place by stitching and/or by supplementary securing means to ensure that the bands do not pull away from the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7562404
    Abstract: A fitted mattress covering for a mattress includes lower edge portions, which may be inverted J-shaped portions, mirror-image inverted J-shaped portions, portions that terminate at an end, or inverted U-shaped portions. The covering side and end portion lower edges may join one another to form a continuous lower edge of the covering. For the I-shaped portion, an elastic binding may be disposed under a downwards folded portion. The elastic binding may extend at least partially along the length of the lower edge of the covering. An elastic band may be disposed at each corner of the covering and extend diagonally across the associated corner and have opposite ends secured adjacent one of the side portions and adjacent one of the adjacent end portions, respectively. The bands may be secured in place by stitching and/or by supplementary securing means to ensure that the bands do not pull away from the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: D693141
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Homtex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E. Wootten, Jr.
  • Patent number: D726450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: HomTex, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald E Wootten, Jr.