COMFORTER WITH DUAL WARMTH CHARACTERISTICS DESIGNED FOR CONVENIENT RE-ORIENTING IN ANY DIRECTION

Abstract

A comforter having dual warmth characteristics is provided. An internal median line of the comforter creates a division of two halves, both resembling its counterpart in appearance but differing in warmth retentiveness, providing either a greater warmth for the lower extremities of its occupant(s) than for their upper body or when oriented differently, a portion for a second occupant which is warmer than the portion for the first.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Comforters have been altered in many ways, different embodiments providing for different levels of warmth for the lower extremities, and others providing different warmth for multiple occupants. But none unto now have provided for both.

[0002] In addition to not being previously disclosed, said invention has gained an increasingly wide market, as the measurements of the various sizes of mattresses across the nation are not only being shaved or added to in surface measurements, but also varying greatly in depth. Thus, comforters and sheets which are intended to be specific in their longitudinal and lateral draping over the sides of the mattress, are now often unable to fit just as intended for any size rating of bed. For example, a Double bed, generally measuring 54″ in width by 75″ in length from most manufacturers, may be 57″ by 74″ from another, each with different mattress depths as well! So, a more universal square comforter, such as that disclosed herein, is increasingly viable.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,995 to Wu provides a comforter with different warmth characteristics for two occupants with a light side, a warm side, and a transitional area between, with specific stacked layers.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,125 to Owenby details a comforter which provides a warmer lower portion than the upper portion.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,284 to Marquette describes a comforter using a one-weave manufacturing process with two halves of different warmth characteristics for two occupants.

[0006] None of these, nor other patents, however, provide all that the disclosed invention offers, nor the versatility of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a comforter which has dual warmth characteristics, which may be oriented in any direction without loss of comfort or coverage, thus providing extra warmth for the lower extremities or for a second occupant according to user's preference

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a comforter which is aesthetically pleasing, having the appearance of a “normal” comforter by having a similar thickness and appearance across the exterior of the comforter, the evidence of the two halves being only the chosen method used to indicate them.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a comforter which more universally fits bed sizes that are slightly different in measurements than what is typical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention as set forth in the appended claims is regarded as the invention. A better understanding of said invention may be had when taken in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the comforter in its preferred embodiment, as it would appear covering a standard Queen mattress, with dimensions equivalent to actual measurements, with comforter oriented so as to provide differing thermal characteristics to the left and right halves.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the comforter in its preferred embodiment, as it would appear covering a standard Queen mattress, with dimensions equivalent to actual measurements, with comforter oriented so as to provide differing thermal characteristics to the upper and lower halves.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the centerline of the comforter portraying the partitioning of the two halves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The following is a description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in specifically detailed form, not intending to limit the scope of the claims, but rather as a means of expressing the invention in its most practical and preferred form.

[0015] The present invention in its preferred embodiment is comprised most generally of a comforter 10, which is square so as to be easily oriented in any of four directions comfortably and with equal coverage, and is comprised most generally of a sheet fabric casing 20 illustrated best in the cross-sectional diagram in FIG. 3; internal stitching 11 partitioning the comforter into two distinct halves 12 and 13 (visibility of dotted line referring to stitching 11 in FIGS. 1 and 2 for illustrative purposes only); and each of said halves 12 and 13 filled with two distinct fillers 21 and 22, which are different in heat retention but not in thickness or appearance.

[0016] Said side 12 is filled with any highly heat retentive thermofill 21, while the other side 13, is filled with a less heat retentive thermofill 22. These said fillers 21 and 22 may be the same material but in a denser and lighter state for said two halves 12 and 13, or may consist of different materials, or may consist of any other suitable combination for providing different thermal characteristics for said two sides 12 and 13. At the joining edge of said two halves 12 and 13, said fillers 21 and 22 are stitched together 11 so as to prevent the shifting of each said filler 21 and 22 to opposite said halves 12 and 13. The method for separating said two halves 12 and 13 is internal within said sheet casing 20 so as to not be visible from the outside of the comforter, and does not noticeably increase or decrease the thickness along said joining line 11. An example of such a method is the feathering of one said filler 21 or 22 and the overlapping underneath and above the other said filler 21 or 22, and stitching 11 both joining and separating said two halves 12 and 13.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment, said comforter 10 is stitched in a somewhat loose design pattern 14 such as that which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Said stitching 14 secures the top and bottom cloths of said sheet casing 20 together with said fillers 21 and 22 so that they are altogether prevented from shifting.

[0018] Said sheet casing 20 is sewn around its perimeter 15 in a suitable method such as that which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, so as to retain the fillers 21 and 22 from escaping said comforter 10. In the preferred embodiment, tags 16 and 17 would indicate the warmer and the less warm side. Said tags 16 and 17 would be preferably small so as to avert having attention drawn to them, and would consist of indicative colors as well as words, such as a dark blue tag 16 indicating the side which retains heat to a higher degree, and a lighter blue tag 17 on the side which retains heat to a lesser degree.

Claims

1. A comforter of generally square shape, comprising:

an internal median line dividing the filler batting into two distinct halves, each half being filled with a filler material different than the other half, the compositions of which yield similar thickness but provide different warmth retentive qualities, said comforter being easily oriented with any of the four edges being parallel to the bottom edge of the bed, also comprising a method of indication as to which portion provides greater heat retentive qualities and which provides less

2. A comforter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the form of indicating halves is comprised of a tag or label on the outer cover of each half, the two labels being darker and lighter than the other, the darker color indicating the warmer portion and the lighter color indicating the side of less warmth

3. A comforter as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is alternatively any other suitable method for differentiating the two separate portions

4. A comforter of generally square shape, comprising:

an internal median line dividing the filler batting into two distinct halves, each half being filled with a filler material different than the other half, the compositions of which provide different warmth retentive qualities, said comforter being easily oriented with any of the four edges being parallel to the bottom edge of the bed, also comprising a method of indication as to which portion provides greater heat retentive qualities and which provides less

5. A comforter as set forth in claim 4, wherein the form of indicating halves is comprised of a tag or label on the outer cover of each half, the two labels being darker and lighter than the other, the darker color indicating the warmer portion and the lighter color indicating the side of less warmth

6. A comforter as set forth in claim 4, wherein there is alternatively any other suitable method for differentiating the two separate portions

7. A blanket of generally square shape, comprising:

a median line dividing the blanket into two distinct halves, the two halves consisting of a different weave resulting in different warmth retentive qualities, said blanket being easily oriented with any of the four edges being parallel to the bottom edge of the bed, also comprising a method of indication as to which portion provides the warmer and which provides less warmth

8. A blanket as set forth in claim 7, wherein the form of indicating halves is comprised of a tag or label on the outer cover of each half, the two labels being darker and lighter than the other, the darker color indicating the warmer portion and the lighter color indicating the side of less warmth

9. A blanket as set forth in claim 7, wherein there is alternatively any other suitable method for differentiating the two separate portions

Comforter with dual warmth characteristics designed for convenient re-orienting in any direction