Fitted Mattress Cover

Abstract

A mattress cover includes a substantially top panel having a top panel perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the top panel. The top panel has a first panel present therearound. A side panel defines four sides of the mattress cover. The side panel has a side panel perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the side panel. The side panel has a second pattern different than the first pattern. In one advantageous form, an optional intermediate element is attached to both the top panel perimeter edge and the side panel perimeter edge. The mattress cover has a substantially open bottom opposite the top panel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mattress cover and in particular a mattress cover which has a separate top and side and in particular a mattress cover with separate top and side in which a pattern on the top is different from a pattern on the side.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mattresses are often covered with a fitted sheet which completely covers the top of the mattress, its sides, and a small portion of the bottom edge of the mattress, where a bottom edge of the sheet is tucked under the mattress. Otherwise, the sheet has an open bottom. Since most mattresses tend to be rectangular, most mattress covers are rectangular in shape covering five sides of the mattress leaving the bottom substantially uncovered.

Most typically, fitted mattress sheets are formed from a single piece of fabric which may have seems at the corners of the sides in order to form-fit to most conventional rectangular-shaped mattresses. Further, most fitted mattress sheets have a band of elastic at the bottom edge or the perimeter, which fits under the bottom of the mattress in order to tightly cover the mattress. Since the typical fitted sheet is formed from a single piece of fabric, most sheets have a single pattern over the entire top and sides.

What is needed in the art is a new mattress cover which has different designs or patterns on the top and sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mattress cover for a bed including a baby's crib. The fitted sheet includes a first part which is the top of the sheet. The top has a substantially rectangular shape and a first pattern or design. At least one second part forms the sides or skirt of the mattress. The second part has a second pattern which is different from the first pattern of the top. Advantageously, the side extends slightly longer than the thickness of a mattress, allowing a portion of the sides to be tucked under the mattress while leaving most of the mattress uncovered on the bottom. The top (first part) and sides (second part) are joined together using advantageously the technique in the art known as “piping”. The result is a continuous cylindrical perimeter around the sheet, separating the top from the sides.

In alternative embodiments, the sides may be formed from a single continuous rectangular piece of fabric which ends are joined together to form four sides of a rectangular box, to thereby cover the sides of a mattress. Alternatively, two or more rectangular pieces can be sewn together resulting in the formation of the four sides of a rectangular box which define the sides of the sheet to cover a mattress.

The present invention, in one form, is directed to a mattress cover which has a substantially rectangular top panel having a top perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the top panel. The top panel has a first pattern present thereon. A side member defines four sides of a rectangular box. The side member has a side perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the side member. The side member has a second pattern present thereon. The second pattern is different from the first pattern. An intermediate element attaches both the top panel perimeter edge and the side panel perimeter edge together. The mattress cover has a substantially open bottom opposite the top panel.

In alternative further embodiments, the intermediate element has a folded material in which part of the intermediate element extends outwardly from an edge of the rectangular box, defined at an intersection of the top panel and the side panel. The folded material defines a channel through which a cord runs, thereby forming a cylindrical perimeter around the mattress cover between the top panel and the side panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress cover in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a crib with the mattress cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of part of the crib and mattress cover of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mattress cover of FIG. 1 showing a bottom of the mattress cover.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing a prior art technique of binding.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the technique of piping in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing attachment of a top and side of a mattress cover in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present mattress cover will now be described with reference to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1-4 and 6. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, mattress cover 10 has a substantially rectangular top panel 20 and a side panel 30. Side panel 30 is a continuous panel which is folded to form the four sides 30 of the mattress cover, namely sides 31, 32, 33 and 34. The ends of the side panel 30 are sewn together at seam 35 to thereby form the four sides of the rectangular box.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than a single panel, the sides of the mattress cover can be formed of two or more panels sewn together to form the four sides of the mattress cover. For example, each side 31, 32, 33, 34 can be a separate individual panel which are sewn together at the respective corners, e.g., 35, 36, 37, 38.

Referring to FIG. 4 along with FIG. 1, a small portion 30a is tucked under the mattress 60 leaving a substantial portion of the sheet bottom 50 open. An elastic bead 39 is sewn to the side panel part 30a to allow the mattress cover 10 to fit tightly onto a mattress 60.

The technique of piping is used to join the top panel 20 with the side panel 30. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 3, an intermediate element 40 has a loop shape in cross section which is defined by a folded material 41. A cord 42 such as a string or other material passes through a channel 43 thereby forming a cylindrical perimeter separating the top panel 20 from the side panel 30.

In one advantageous form, a top panel perimeter edge 21 is folded under a remaining portion of the top panel 20 which is joined to the intermediate element 40. A side panel perimeter edge 30b is folded under a remaining portion of the side panel 30 and is attached to the intermediate element 40.

One skilled in the art will readily understand the distinction between the present piping technique and the technique of binding shown in FIG. 5 in which a top and sides overlap each other with a binding element attached to the outside of both the top and side. In contrast, in the piping of the present mattress cover 10, an intermediate element 40 is between the top 20 and side 30.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in an alternative form, rather than using piping to attach or join the top panel to the side panel of a mattress cover, mattress cover 110 has a top rectangular panel 120 with top panel perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of top panel 120, which is attached to a side panel 130, where a side panel perimeter edge 130b is at least partially folded under a remaining portion of the side panel 130. The attachment 150, joining the top panel perimeter edge 121 to the side panel perimeter edge 130b can be any conventional attachment known in the art as suitable for joining fabric which include, but are not limited to, stitching and hot glue.

It will now be apparent that the present mattress cover has features and advantages not found in prior fitted sheets. The present sheet allows the top panel to have a different pattern than the sides of the sheet. As a result, one can have different designs on the top from the sides of the sheet. An additional feature of one form of the present mattress cover is a aesthetically pleasing cylindrical-shaped perimeter separating the top of the mattress cover from the sides.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A mattress cover comprising:

a substantial rectangular top panel having a top panel perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the top panel, the top panel having a first pattern present, thereon;

a side panel defining four sides of a rectangular box, the side panel having a side panel perimeter edge folded at least partial under a remain portion of the side panel, the side panel having a second pattern present, thereon, which second pattern is difference than the first pattern;

an intermediate element attached to both the top panel perimeter edge and the side panel perimeter edge; and

a substantially open bottom, opposite the top panel.

2. The mattress cover of claim 1, wherein the intermediate element comprises a folded material in which part of the intermediate element extents outwardly from an edge of the rectangular box, defined by an intersection of the top panel and side panel.

3. The mattress cover of claim 2, further wherein the part of the folded material defines a channel thereby forming a cylindrical perimeter around the mattress cover between the top panel and the side panel.

4. The mattress cover of claim 3, further comprising a cord running through the channel.

5. The mattress cover of claim 1, wherein the top panel perimeter edge and the side member perimeter edge are stitched to the intermediate element.

6. The mattress cover of claim 1, further comprising elastic associate with a bottom edge of the side panel, opposite the side panel perimeter edge, proximate the substantially open bottom.

7. The mattress cover of claim 1, wherein the side panel comprises a substantially rectangular material, in plan view, the side panel folded and ends joined at a seem, thereby forming the rectangular box.

8. The mattress cover of claim 1, wherein the side panel comprises four individual panels, sewn together, wherein the four panels form the four respective side of the rectangular box.

9. A mattress cover comprising:

a substantial rectangular top panel having a top panel perimeter edge folded at least partially under a remaining portion of the top panel, the top panel having a first pattern present, thereon;

a side panel defining four sides of a rectangular box, the side panel having a side panel perimeter edge folded at least partial under a remain portion of the side panel, the side panel having a second pattern present, thereon, which second pattern is difference than the first pattern;

an attachment joining the top panel perimeter edge to the side panel perimeter edge; and

a substantially open bottom, opposite the top panel.

10. The mattress cover of claim 9, wherein the attachment comprises stitching through the top panel perimeter edge and the side panel perimeter edge.

11. The mattress cover of claim 9, wherein the attachment comprises hot glue.

12. The mattress cover of claim 9, further comprising elastic associate with a bottom edge of the side panel, opposite the side panel perimeter edge, proximate the substantially open bottom.

13. The mattress cover of claim 9, wherein the side panel comprises a substantially rectangular material, in plan view, the side panel folded and ends joined at a seem, thereby forming the rectangular box.

14. The mattress cover of claim 9, wherein the side panel comprises four individual panels, sewn together, wherein the four panels form the four respective side of the rectangular box.