Fitted sheet strap device
A sheet strap system is disclosed having a bottom sheet strap with Velcro corner straps that attach to securing band segments located at the inner corners of the fitted sheet. The mattress is tightly secured between the bottom sheet strap and the fitted sheet once the Velcro corner straps are in a folded locking position with the fitted sheet. The sheet strap system is safe, easy to construct, easy to apply and remove without any lifting of the mattress. The sheet strap system is particularly suited for use in conjunction with crib mattresses.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a bed sheet, and more specifically to a sheet strap system that improves the safety of an infant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional bed sheets, and in particular crib sheets, do not adequately address issues of safety. Many infants die each year from strangulation by their own bed sheets. Infants can grasp the fabric of the sheet and roll, and wrap the fabric around their rib cages or necks. In the midst of the struggle, sheets can wind even tighter. Although many young children have the ability to pull the material around them, many do not have the perception necessary to unwrap themselves. The consequences can become fatal, resulting in strangulation or suffocation.
Bed sheets may also be a contributing factor leading to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Although this syndrome is not fully understood, it is shown to be aggravated when babies breathe their own carbon dioxide-rich exhaled air, which can collect under the baby's nose, especially if the baby has become wrapped in an ill-fitted bed sheet. Regardless of the outcomes, many parents have found their own child dangerously entangled in a bed sheet.
Many conventional sheets have single elastic bindings that do not adequately secure and anchor the fitted sheet to the mattress. A child can pull poorly fitted sheets loose and become entrapped. Some conventional sheets, like an open-end pillowcase-type design, are of an impractical construction, requiring lifting and/or complete removal of a mattress from a crib before the sheet can be applied. Additionally, some sheets incorporate zipping devices so that the entire mattress is encased within the sheet. In this case, not only must the mattress be removed, but also the sharp portions of the zipper present a hazard to the child.
It would be beneficial to provide a bed sheet that overcomes the disadvantages of known sheets, including: (a) a loose or improper fit, (b) non-secure binding mechanisms, (c) deformable and non-washable means for securing the sheet to the mattress, (d) difficulty of construction, (e) difficulty in attachment and removal of sheet from mattress without having to remove or lift the mattress from the crib, and (f) sharp or dangerous edges or binding or securing mechanisms. What is needed, therefore, is a sheet strap system for covering the crib mattress that allows for safety of the infant, is cost effective, is easy and simple to use and construct, is resilient and durable, and does not require any lifting of the mattress to assemble. It is to the provision of such a sheet that the present invention is primarily directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a sheet strap system that fits a mattress securely such that a person laying on the surface of the mattress cannot unintentionally remove it. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet strap system is designed to cover a crib mattress for an infant and other mattresses. The sheet strap system has a sheet strap with Velcro corner straps that attach to the securing band segments at the inner corners of a fitted sheet to secure the fitted sheet to the mattress. The safe & easy sheet system is safe, especially for infants, cost effective, easy and simple to use and to construct, resilient and durable, and does not require any lifting of the mattress to assemble.
The sheet strap system has a sheet strap made of fabric material with Velcro corner straps. The Velcro corner straps have the ability to tighten and release to secure the fitted sheet on to the mattress. Other securing means such as cinch, button, and hooks can be used in place of Velcro. The corner straps extend through securing band segments attached inside the corners of the fitted sheet to tightly secure the mattress between the fitted sheet and the sheet strap. Once the fitted sheet is secured by the corner straps the fitted sheet folds over the corner straps and the mattress to prevent unintentionally removed of the sheet by a person laying on the surface of the mattress. Once the sheet strap is in place assemble and removal of the fitted sheet does not require any removal or lifting of the mattress.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet strap system that is safer and easier to assemble than conventional fitted sheets. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet strap system that fits over a mattress snugly and securely such that it cannot be removed by a child or infant. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a sheet strap system that is cost-effective to manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet strap system that can be applied to and removed from a crib mattress and other mattress without any lifting of the mattress.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
For a full understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
2 preferred sheet strap
4 Velcro corner strap
6 fitted sheet
8 securing band segment
10 mattress
12 Velcro
14 alternative sheet strap
16 rectangular strap
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a sheet strap system having a preferred sheet strap with Velcro corner straps and a fitted sheet with inner corner attachments. The sheet strap system is easy to construct, easy to apply and remove without lifting the mattress, and is particularly suited for use in conjunction with crib mattresses. Referring now to the Figures, in which like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described.
The securing band segments 8 can be constructed of either elastic band or washable material such as cotton, cotton blend, or polyester. The securing band segments 8 can be rectangular in shape with dimensions of approximately 1 inch by 5 inches. The shape and dimensions of the securing band segments 8 can take the form of numerous other embodiments such as oval, square, cylindrical and others. The ends of the securing band segments 8 are attached to the upper inside corners of the fitted sheet 6 by a suitable means, such as sewing machine or hand stitching to create a looping device to be attached with the Velcro corner straps 4.
Once the Velcro corner strap 4 is in a folded down locking position the mattress 10 is secured tightly between the fitted sheet 6 and the preferred sheet strap 2. The alternative sheet strap 14 depicted in
Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structure and function. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes can be made without departing from the principle of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, is to be determined only by the following claims.
The Velcro (12) is drawn with black lines and curves instead of gray lines and curves. The gray shading of the preferred sheet strap (2) is deleted.
The gray lines and shading of the alternative sheet strap (14) are converted to black.
The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of gray shading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. The gray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.
The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of gray shading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. The gray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.
The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of gray shading. The gray shading of the Velcro corner strap (4) is deleted. The gray shading of the mattress (10) is deleted.
The fitted sheet (6) is drawn with stripped lines instead of gray shading.
Claims
1. A more secure and no lifting to attach sheet strap device.
2. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 1, wherein said sheet strap device is formed of fabric.
3. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 1, wherein said sheet strap device is generally rectangular with attached corner straps.
4. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 3, wherein said corner straps comprise of fastening means.
5. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 4, wherein said fastening means are formed of Velcro, hook and loop fastener, buttons, or tie strings.
6. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 1, wherein said sheet strap device comprise of rectangular straps attached in a cross formation.
7. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 6, wherein said rectangular straps are formed of fabric.
8. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 6, wherein said rectangular straps comprise of fastening means at each end.
9. A more secure and no lifting to attached sheet strap device in claim 8, wherein said fastening means are formed of Velcro, hook and loop fastener, buttons, or tie strings.
10. A more secure and no lifting to attached fitted sheet with securing band segments.
11. A more secure and no lifting to attached fitted sheet with securing band segments in claim 10, wherein said securing band segments are formed of elastic or fabric.
12. A more secure and no lifting to attached fitted sheet with securing band segments in claim 11, wherein said securing band segments are attached to the inside corners of the said fitted sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2009
Inventor: Maria T. Sack (Kaaawa, HI)
Application Number: 12/079,578
International Classification: A47C 21/02 (20060101);