COMBINATION FEATHERBED AND UNITARY FEATHERBED COVER

Abstract

A combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover includes a featherbed having a plurality of first fastening elements and a featherbed cover having a corresponding plurality of second fastening elements allowing the featherbed cover to be releasably attached to the featherbed. The featherbed cover includes a cloth material layer and a backing material layer fixedly attached to the cloth material layer. In view of its compactness and materials of construction, the featherbed cover is well-suited for being cleaned in conventional home washer and dryer appliances.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/945,637 filed Jun. 22, 2007 entitled “Combination Featherbed and Unitary Featherbed Cover”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to bedding and, more particularly, to featherbeds used on conventional beds.

The quality of sleep and the rest and relaxation derived from such sleep are primarily dependent upon the comfort of a sleeping surface. Mattresses are often used as the sleeping surface. Accordingly, attempts to improve the comfort of mattresses have been ongoing for an extended period of time. One form of mattress that has become popular is a pillow-top mattress. Pillow-top mattress sets have many layers of cushioning upholstery on top of a firmer innerspring core. Pillow-top mattresses are formed by inserting soft resilient filling materials into a sleeve or enclosure which is interconnected with a top surface of the mattress. Pillow-top construction serves to essentially cushion the innerspring coils and allows for more independent and unrestrained articulation resulting in improved conformability and interface pressure.

A significant disadvantage of conventional pillow-top mattresses is that the top of the mattress is most prone to damage such as water damage or the like. Pillow-top mattresses are often expensive and replacement of the pillow-top surface requires replacement of the entire mattress.

Mattress covers and feather top comforters for covering a standard mattress are know. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,579 (Pedersen) discloses a featherbed and filled topper combination. The combination of Pedersen comprises a conventional featherbed and a cover top member or topper. The topper includes a tick or case enclosing a light filling. The topper of Pedersen is disclosed to be washable, and functions to protect the underlying featherbed to which it is attachable from becoming soiled during use. Known featherbed covers such as that of Pedersen, while effective to protect the underlying featherbed from becoming soiled, tend to be bulky and expensive to manufacture. It is believed that a featherbed cover which is less bulky and less expensive to manufacture would be desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover comprising a featherbed provided with a plurality of first fastening elements and a featherbed cover having a first side formed from a cloth material layer and a second side formed from a backing material layer. The featherbed cover includes a plurality of second fastening elements. The cloth material layer is permanently joined to the backing material layer to form a unitary structure. The first and second fastening elements are releasably engagable to secure the featherbed cover to the featherbed.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a featherbed that has a top surface provided with a plurality of first fastening elements on the top surface proximate an outer periphery of the top surface. A featherbed cover is sized equal to or smaller than the top surface. The featherbed cover is void of filing material and has a plurality of second fastening elements. The first and second fastening elements are releasably engagable to secure the featherbed cover to the featherbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a combination of a featherbed and a unitary featherbed cover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover in accordance with the present invention, and designated parts thereof. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one”. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring to the single drawing in detail, a preferred embodiment of a combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover, generally designated 10 includes a featherbed 20 and a unitary featherbed cover 30. The featherbed 20 includes a first upper surface 22. The featherbed 20 is provided with a plurality of first fastening elements, such as buttons 24 illustrated to be attached to the first surface 22. The featherbed 20 may be quilted, having quilting seams 26. Except for being adapted to connect to the featherbed cover 30, the featherbed 20 is otherwise conventional.

The featherbed cover 30 has a first side 32 and a second side 34. The featherbed cover 30 is sized and shaped complementarily with the featherbed 20. The first side 32 is formed of a cloth material or fabric layer 36, for example a cotton sheet. Other conventional bedding cloth fabrics, such as cotton-polyester blends or silk, could be substituted. Fixedly and permanently attached to the cloth fabric layer 36, and forming the second side 34 is a backing material layer 38. The backing material layer 38 is preferably felt, but it will be understood that other conventional textile backing materials, such as rubber or plastic, could be substituted. The backing material layer 38 is permanently secured to the cloth fabric layer 36 using conventional techniques, such as a washable adhesive or stitching the cloth fabric layer 36 and the backing material layer 38 together.

The featherbed cover 30 is provided with a plurality of second fastening elements, such as buttonholes 40, adapted for operative engagement with the first fastening elements of the featherbed 20. It will be understood that while buttons 24 and buttonholes 40 have been illustrated as a preferred method of attaching the featherbed cover 30 to the featherbed 20, other methods of fastening, such as interengaging loops and ties, zippers, or mating hook and loop fabric elements (such as those sold under the trademark VELCRO), could also be used.

The materials used to fabricate the featherbed cover 30 are preferably well-suited for being washed and dried in conventional home washer and dryer appliances. Furthermore, the featherbed cover 30 is sufficiently compact so as to easily fit within conventional home clothes washer and dryer appliances. The featherbed cover 30 is preferably void of any fill material.

The featherbed 20 and featherbed cover 30 are fabricated using conventional techniques well known in the art of textile manufacturing.

In use, the unitary featherbed cover 30 is removably attached to the featherbed 20, using the buttons 24 and buttonholes 40, or other first and second fastening elements. After a period of use, the featherbed cover 30 will require cleaning. The user will then remove the featherbed cover 30 from the featherbed 20, and proceed to wash and dry the featherbed cover 30. Once cleaned, the featherbed cover 30 is re-attached to the featherbed 20 for additional use.

A combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover is thus disclosed. The unitary featherbed cover is well-suited for being cleaned in home washer and dryer appliances in view of its compactness and materials of construction. The featherbed cover is of a simple construction, and has a relatively low manufacturing cost.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover comprising:

a featherbed provided with a plurality of first fastening elements;

a featherbed cover having: a first side formed from a cloth material layer; a second side formed from a backing material layer; and a plurality of second fastening elements, wherein

the cloth material layer is permanently joined to the backing material layer to form a unitary structure, and

the first and second fastening elements are releasably engagable to secure the featherbed cover to the featherbed.

2. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the backing material layer is felt.

3. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the first fastening elements are buttons and the second fastening elements are button holes.

4. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the first fastening elements and second fastening elements are mating hook and loop elements.

5. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the cloth material layer is permanently joined to the backing material layer with a washable adhesive.

6. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the cloth material layer is permanently joined to the backing material layer with stitching.

7. The combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover of claim 1, wherein the featherbed cover is washable.

8. A combination featherbed and unitary featherbed cover comprising:

a featherbed having a top surface provided with a plurality of first fastening elements on the top surface proximate an outer periphery of the top surface; and

a featherbed cover being sized equal to or smaller than the top surface, the featherbed cover being void of filing material and having a plurality of second fastening elements, the first and second fastening elements being releasably engagable to secure the featherbed cover to the featherbed.