Bed Sheet System
A bed sheet, comprising in combination, a top panel for covering a mattress top, a surrounding side panel adapted to surround the side edges of the mattress, the top panel removably attachable to the side panel to form a bed sheet for the mattress wherein in use, the top panel can be detached and removed from the side panel when the bed sheet is covering the mattress whereby the side panels are left in position on the side edges of the mattress.
This invention relates to bedding and bed sheets and in particular but not exclusively to a bed sheet with a removable and replaceable panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBedding and bed linen is known prior art. The changing of sheets is a routine and often time consuming task especially where there are several beds to be made. Where the bed has a heavy mattress under which bed sheets have to be tucked, the effort of lifting such mattresses can also require great physical effort.
The process of placing a standard sheet on any mattress is a skilled task since the corners of the sheet have to be securely tucked under the four corners of the mattress. Access to the under side of the mattress is often restricted by the construction and design of the bed itself such as where there are bed ends, panels and rails. These structures are often coupled with the sheer weight of many prior art mattresses such as those of the latex type construction making the task ever more difficult.
The typical and prior art method of changing a standard bed sheet set is to either lift or entirely remove the mattress from the bed and then to remove the sheets by pulling the sheet out from beneath the mattress. The process is then basically reversed to re-make the bed.
Prior art in relation to standard bed sheets has mainly concentrated on simplifying the often cumbersome process of changing the sheets without a need to remove the mattress. Such prior art sheets commonly disclose the use of elastic around the peripheral edge of the sheet commonly referred to as a fitted sheet adapted to keep the bed sheet in place on the mattress. There is also prior art relating to standard sheets which disclose the use of a mattress protector and/or the use a waterproofing sheet underlying the fitted sheet. Such prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,580 (Finn) which discloses a multi-layer mattress protector which utilises a least two moisture proof layers with the top moisture proof layer being releasably attached to and removable from the bottom moisture proof layer. The top moisture proof layer can also be removed from the mattress protector while someone is in the bed.
Common disadvantages or limitations of the prior art include the problem where the depth of the elasticised sides of fitted sheets often do not extend far enough beneath the mattress to ensure that the sheet remains firmly in place. Prior art disclosing the use of mattress protectors beneath fitted sheets have the disadvantage that there is an extra cost as well as an increase in labour and time to remove the separate mattress protector beneath the sheets when they have to be washed. The same problems also apply to the use of waterproof sheets beneath fitted sheets which also require frequent washing.
In the case of bedding used by infant occupants, there is also a problem wherein the arms and legs of the infant can become entangled especially where there is a gap between the top and bottom of the sheet. The problem with the use of mattress protectors and waterproof sheets underlying bed sheets is also more acute where used with young children or the infirm where the constant supply of mattress protectors and moisture proof sheeting is an important limitation especially in commercial and institutional application.
In the case of infant use, safety is a priority and there have been numerous cases of injury and even death from suffocation and/or strangulation especially where sheets have become loose and the infant has become entangled in them. In the case of infant application, the process of placing a standard sheet on a cot or crib mattress is often made difficult because the corners of the sheet have to be tucked very securely under the four corners of the mattress. Access to the corners of a cot or crib mattress is often restricted by bars, panels, slats or rails which are inherent in the design of most prior art cots and cribs. Mattress access can be further restricted by the presence of bumpers which are often used to prevent the child from injuring itself. Current mattress designs, whether of inner spring or foam construction often have squared off corners which are designed to limit the ability of an infant to access areas between the mattress and the insides of the cot or crib. Such designs further impede the ease or speed with which a prior art cot or crib sheet can be changed.
A typical method of changing a cot or crib sheet set is to remove the bumpers, if present, lift or entirely remove the mattress from the cot or crib and then remove the standard sheet by pulling the sheet from beneath the mattress. The process is reversed to remake the bedding of the cot or crib.
Naturally, prior art inventions relating to cot or crib sheets have concentrated on simplifying the cumbersome process of changing the sheets without the need to remove the mattress or bumpers from the cot or crib.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved bed sheet system which seeks to overcome or ameliorate the disadvantages or limitations of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
STATEMENT OF INVENTIONAccordingly in one aspect therefore the invention resides in a bed sheet, comprising in combination,
a top panel for covering a mattress top,
a surrounding side panel adapted to surround the side edges of the mattress,
the top panel removably attachable to the side panel to form a bed sheet for the mattress wherein in use,
the top panel can be detached and removed from the side panel when the bed sheet is covering the mattress whereby the side panels are left in position on the side edges of the mattress.
Preferably the top panel is removably attached to the side panel by fastening means in the form of a continuous zipper fastener. In the alternative the top panel can be removably attached to the side panel by means of hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro™.
The top panel can also be removably attached to the side panel by means of press studs or other equivalent readily detachable fasteners.
Preferably a flap of material can be used to hide or protect the fastening means from inadvertent release.
Preferably the top panel incorporates a waterproof layer.
More preferably the top panel is lined with a waterproof layer that is also hypoallergenic and has anti-fungal, anti-asthmatic and dust-mite inhibition properties.
In a preferred example of the invention, for typically infant application, the invention resides in a bed sheet, comprising in combination.
a mattress case adapted to fully enclose a mattress,
the case comprising top and bottom panels joined together to form the mattress case, the top panel of which is removable when the mattress case is covering the mattress whereby the bottom panel is left in position on the mattress.
Preferably in one version the top and bottom panels of the mattress case are joined together by a surrounding side panel to accommodate the thickness of the mattress.
In order for the invention to be better understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein
Referring now to the accompanying drawings an initially to
It is expected that the removable top panel and corresponding half of the zipper attachment means will be laundered much more frequently than the base or side panel. The preferred embodiment with the plastic moulded separating zipper has been shown to withstand a significant number of washing and tumble dryings without affecting the integrity and continuous function of the zipper and top panel.
The side panel or base of the sheet system is substantially identical to the length of the mattress plus twice the depth of the mattress. Preferably a number of elasticised strips 20, 22 are placed on either side panel and end panel 23 or on each 26, 28, 30 end where on all four vertical corners or seams allow for improved adjustability of fit for a multitude of sizes of mattresses as well as to maintain the integrity of the removable top panel. Preferably the removable top panel of the preferred sheet system is substantially almost identical in dimension to the top surface of the mattress. The half of the moulded plastic zipper that does not contain the slide is attached to the removable top panel 14 in such a manner that a fabric flap 14a can be used to provide a cover for the zip when the top panel is attached to the side panel. A waterproof, hypo-allergenic, dust mite resistant, anti-asthmatic, mould resistant lining is incorporated into the removable top panel to prevent damage to the mattress in the event of an accident. This lining also aides in maintaining the integrity of the top panel through numerous washings and dryings.
Example 2Referring now to
It is expected that the removable top panel and the corresponding half of the zipper attachment means will be laundered much more frequently than the rest of the mattress case. The preferred embodiment with the moulded plastic zipper fastener has been shown to withstand a significant number of washings and tumble dryings yet still maintain its integrity and function as initially designed.
The bottom portion or bottom panel 42 of the mattress case is almost identical in length to the length of the cot or crib mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress 46 to allow for the base of the sheet system to completely cover the bottom and four sides of the cot or crib mattress.
In the alternative, a side panel 48 equal in width to the thickness of the mattress may be used between the top and bottom panels.
A number of strips 52, 54, 56, 58 or wide elastic have been strategically placed across the bottom panel and the sides 60, 62, 64 to allow for improved adjustability of fit to mattresses of different makes and sizes as well as to maintain the positional integrity of the removable top panel. The section of the moulded plastic zipper fastener that incorporates the zipper slide is attached to the bottom side of the sheet system with the slide at an inaccessible end of the bottom panel.
The removable top panel of the sheet system is also almost identical in dimensions to the top surface of the mattress. The half of the moulded plastic zipper fastener that does not contain the slide is attached to the removable top panel in such a manner that a fabric flap can be used to cover zipper when it is attached to the bottom of the mattress case. A waterproof, hypo-allergenic, dust mite resistant, anti-asthmatic, mould resistant lining has also been incorporated into the removable top panel to prevent damage to the mattress in the event of an accident. The lining also aides in maintaining the integrity of top panel through numerous washing and dryings.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONThe examples of the preferred embodiments hereinbefore described have several advantages over the prior art. In the case of the infant or paediatric application, safe sleeping recommendations with a simple bed sheet system are recommended and endorsed by various organisations concerned with sudden infant death syndrome and other child safety bodies. The sheet systems allow for the saving in time and physical effort required to change a prior art standard or cot or crib sheet set wherein only the top panel has to be removed as opposed to changing the complete sheet.
In terms of cost savings, where only a removable top panel is required to be laundered there is both a financial as well as a resource saving of both water, electricity and laundry detergent. Furthermore as the top panels can include a mattress protection lining, there is no need to purchase a separate mattress protector. The removal of a top panel caters to tired or sleeping infants when having to change the sheets due to an accident. Importantly the ability to change simply the top panel of a sheet or mattress case without having to lift a mattress or bend over a cot or crib, bars, panels, slates or rails limits the potential for lower back or abdominal strain of the user.
The present sheet system is also able to be utilised in any situation both on a private, commercial or institutional basis where numerous sheets have to be changed.
VARIATIONSIt will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
Throughout the description and claims this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A bed sheet, comprising in combination,
- a top panel for covering a mattress top,
- a surrounding side panel adapted to surround the side edges of the mattress,
- the top panel removably attachable to the side panel by a continuous peripheral fastener to form a bed sheet for the mattress having a peripherally closed edge between the top panel and the side panel, wherein in use,
- an infant or young sleeper cannot become entangled with or trapped between the top panel and the mattress and wherein,
- the top panel can be detached and removed from the side panel when the bed sheet is covering the mattress whereby the side panels are left in position on the side edges of the mattress and wherein,
- the complete bed sheet system can be removed from the mattress without having to lift the mattress.
12. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the continuous peripheral fastener is a continuous zipper fastener.
13. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the continuous peripheral fastener is a hook and loop fastening strip.
14. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top panel is removably attached to the side panel by means of a continuous strip of press studs or snap fasteners or other equivalent readily detachable fasteners.
15. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, where the top panel incorporates a waterproof layer.
16. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top panel incorporates a waterproof layer that is also hypoallergenic and has anti-fungal, anti-asthmatic and dust-mite inhibition properties.
17. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the side panel extends over the sides and the bottom peripheral edge of the mattress and partially covers the base of the mattress.
18. A bed sheet system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the top panel incorporates a waterproof layer that is also hypoallergenic and has anti-fungal and anti-mite inhibition properties.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 26, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 24, 2010
Inventor: Kym Shuttleworth (Cornubia)
Application Number: 12/600,958
International Classification: A47G 9/02 (20060101);