PERMANENT BEDDING EXTENDERS FOR SHEETS, BLANKETS AND COMFORTERS

Abstract

A bedding extender configured to be permanently attached to either a side edge or an end edge of a sheet, blanket or comforter. The bedding extender has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. The top edge is provided with an adhesive a bonding film suitable for attaching the bedding extender to the sheet, blanket or comforter.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application no. 61/355,135, filed Jun. 15, 2010, and also to U.S. Provisional patent application no. 61/380,543, filed Sep. 7, 2010.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a bedding extender configured to be permanently attached to either a side or end of a sheet, blanket or comforter so that that sheet, blanket or comforter may be suitably tucked in.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,259, entitled “Top Sheet/Blanket Extenders” discloses an extender sheet for use with a sheet or blanket to help ensure that the sheet or blanket does not become untucked during the night while bed occupants are sleeping. The extender sheet is configured to be removably attached to the sheet or blanket via “hook and loop” fasteners. The extender sheet is configured to be placed between the mattress and box springs. One edge of the extender sheet is provided with a first half of the “hook and loop” fastener while one edge of the sheet or blanket is provided with the second, complementary half of the hook and loop fastener. The extender sheet is also provided with a rubber strip to provide added protection to ensure that the sheet or blanket does not become untucked. One disadvantage of this prior art arrangement is that the extender sheet with its rubber sheet and one-half the “hook and look” fastening arrangement in not conducive to machine washing of bedding.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a bedding extender having an adhesive bonding film attached thereto which is suitable for permanent attachment to an edge of a sheet, blanket or comforter.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to an extended sheet, extended blanket or extended comforter, having an original portion and at least one added extender permanently affixed thereto via an adhesive bonding film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a bedding extender in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bedding extender attached to side of a sheet.

FIG. 3 shows a bedding extender attached to a top end of a blanket.

FIG. 4 shows a bedding extender attached to opposite sides of a comforter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,259 is incorporated by reference to the extent necessary to understand the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a bedding extender 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The bedding extender has a first side 102 and a second side (not shown). The first 102 side may have a pattern. In such case, the pattern may match that of a sheet, blanket or comforter to which the bedding extender is to be attached.

The bedding extender 100 has a generally rectangular shape provided with parallel top and bottom edges 112, 114, respectively, connecting to parallel opposing side edges 116, 118. Thus, the bedding extender 100 has a width W0 defined by the spacing between the top and bottom edges 112, 114 (or by the length of the side edges 116, 118) and a length L0 defined by the spacing between the side edges 116, 118 (or by the length of the top and bottom edges 116, 118).

The length L0 of the bedding extender 100 is selected to match the length of that portion of the sheet, blanket or comforter to which it is attached. Thus, the length L0 of the bedding extender 100 may be chosen to match the width of sheet or blanket, if it is to be bonded to the latter's bottom or top edge. On the other hand, the length L0 of the bedding extender 100 may be chosen to match the length of the sheet, blanket or comforter, if it is to be bonded to one of the latter's side edge. It is understood that sheets, blankets and comforters come in different standard sizes and so a family of bedding extenders having different values for L0 is contemplated.

The width W0 of the bedding extender may depend on whether the bedding extender is to be bonded to only a single edge (such as the top or bottom edge of an original sheet, blanket or comforter) or to two opposing edges (such as the two side edges of an original sheet, blanket or comforter). In the event that bedding extenders are to be bonded to both side edges, the width W0 may be reduced to perhaps one-half the normal value to maintaining consistency in the the total amount by which the original sheet, blanket or comforter is enlarged. Thus, in those embodiments where the bedding extender 100 is designed to be added to only one edge, W0 may be between 20-28 inches, or perhaps more preferably about 24 inches. In contrast, in those embodiments where the bedding extender 100 is designed to be added to opposing side edges W0 may be between 10-14 inches, or perhaps more preferably about 12 inches.

Along its top edge 112, the bedding extender 100 is provided with a strip of heat-activated bonding film 120 having a width t1. The bonding film 120 may be a commercially available flexible, thermoplastic adhesive bonding film which exhibits good adhesion to fabrics and can be used when high bond strength and wash durability are required. One example of a suitable bonding film is the 3M™ Stitchless Bonding Film 7016.

One side of the bonding film can be tacked (lightly bonded) to the top edge 112 of the bedding extender 100 at one point in time, and the bedding extender 110 then packaged, transported and sold. Later on, at a second point in time, a customer may remove a protective layer from the second side of the bonding film and heat bond the bedding extender to a sheet, blanket or comforter, using a heat static press, clothes iron, or the like.

Along its bottom edge 114, the bedding extender is provided with a hemmed finish edge 122, which provides a tidy appearance.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of extended bedding 200, which has an overall length L2 and an overall width W2. The extended bedding 200 comprises an original portion 210, such as an original sheet, blanket or the like, bonded to a bedding extender portion 150.

The original portion 210 is defined by top edge 212, bottom edge 214 and opposing side edges 216, 218 and has an original length L1 and original width W1.

The bedding extender portion 150 is formed from the bedding extender 100 described above having top edge 112, bottom edge 114, width W0 and length L0. It is understood that the original width W1 is substantially similar to the length L0 of the bedding extender portion 150.

The bedding extender portion 150 is bonded proximate the bottom edge 214 of the original portion 210, thereby forming an overlap region 120′ at the location of the bonding film 120 prior to the heat bonding step. Due to this overlap region 120′, the overall length L2 of the extended bedding 200 is less than the combined length L1 of the original portion 210 and the width W0 of the bedding extender portion 150.

In the extended bedding 200, the bedding extender portion 150 is considered ‘sacrificial’ in the sense that it may be liberally tucked under a mattress at the foot of a bed.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of extended bedding 300, which has an overall length L3 and an overall width W3. The extended bedding 300 comprises an original portion 310, such as an original sheet, blanket or the like, bonded to a decorative bedding extender portion 160. The original portion 310 is defined by top edge 312, bottom edge 314 and opposing side edges 316, 318 and has an original length L1 and original width W1.

In this instance, however, the decorative bedding extender portion 160 is bonded to the original portion 310 proximate the latter's top edge 314. Again, this forms the overlap region 120′ at the location of the bonding film 120 prior to the heat bonding step. This time, however, it is a lower section 320 of the original portion 310 that is considered ‘sacrificial’ in the sense that may be liberally tucked under a mattress at the foot of a bed. This allows the added decorative bedding extender portion 160 to be located at the head of the bed, where it can be viewed. The width W′ of the sacrificial lower section 320 is not precisely delineated since it is a portion of the continuous original portion 310. However, since the original length L1 has been increased by slightly less than a length W0, it can be assumed that might be able to sacrifice the lower section 30 up to a length of about W0.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of extended bedding 300, which has an overall length L4 and an overall width W4. The extended bedding 300 comprises an original portion 410 having an original length L1 and an original width W1. The original portion 410 is defined by top and bottom edges 412, 414, respectively and opposing side edges 418a, 418b, respectively.

In this embodiment, two bedding extender portions 170a, 170b are bonded to respective side edges 418a, 418b of the original portion 410. The bedding extender portions 170a, 170b each have a length L0 which is substantially similar to length L1 and a width W0′. Thus, the bedding extender portions 170a, 170b add a total of slightly less (due to overlap) than 2×W0′ to the original width W1.

The original portion 410 in this embodiment may be a comforter. By virtue of the weight of the balanced extender portions 170a, 17b on either side, the extender comforter 400 may be less prone to sliding off the bed.

As can be seen from the foregoing, a bedding extender can be used to permanently extend the length or width of a sheet, blanker or comforter. It can therefore provide added material to more securely tuck in the bedding or allow the bedding to better rest on a bed.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustrative embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It should be understood that modifications of the disclosed embodiments are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention should be construed to encompass such modifications.

Claims

1. A bedding extender suitable for permanently attaching to an edge of sheet, blanket or comforter, comprising:

a generally rectangular portion of material having top and bottom edges and opposing first and second side edges,

the top edge having an attachment length corresponding to a length of the edge of the sheet, blanket or comforter to which the bedding extender is to be permanently attached; and

the top edge being provided with an adhesive bonding film suitable for permanently attaching the bedding extender to the sheet, blanket or comforter, wherein:

the construction of the bedding extender is such that the sheet, blanket or comforter may be washed with the bedding extender attached thereto.

2. The bedding extender according to claim 1, wherein:

the bonding film comprises a thermoplastic adhesive bonding film.

3. The bedding extender according to claim 1, wherein:

the thermoplastic adhesive bonding film is capable of being activated by heat from a conventional clothes iron.

4. The bedding extender according to claim 1, wherein:

the bottom edge comprises a hemmed finish edge.

5. The bedding extender according to claim 1, wherein:

the material has a decorative pattern on at least a first side thereof.

6. An extended sheet, blanket or comforter having an original portion to which a bedding extender portion is permanently attached by an adhesive bonding film, wherein:

the bedding extender portion comprises: a generally rectangular piece of material having top and bottom edges and opposing first and second side edges, and the top edge having an attachment length corresponding to the length of the edge of the sheet, blanket or comforter to which the bedding extender is permanently attached; and

the construction of the bedding extender portion is such that the extended sheet, blanket or comforter may be washed in a washing machine with the bedding extender attached thereto.

7. The extended sheet, blanket or comforter according to claim 6, wherein:

the bedding extender portion is attached by adhesive bonding film to a bottom edge of the sheet, blanket or comforter; and

the bedding extender has a decorative pattern; and

whereby a lower section of the original portion of the sheet, blanket or comforter can be sacrificed for tucking under a mattress, thereby allowing the decorative pattern of the bedding extender to be visible, when in use.

8. The extended sheet, blanket or comforter according to claim 6, wherein:

the bedding extender is attached by adhesive bonding film to a top edge of the sheet, blanket or comforter; and

the bedding extender has a decorative pattern, so that an opposing bottom section of the sheet, blanket or comforter is available for tucking in, thereby allowing the decorative pattern of the bedding extender to be visible, when in use.

9. The extended sheet, blanket or comforter according to claim 6, comprising:

a bedding extender attached by adhesive bonding film to each side edge of the original portion.