DUVET AND DUVET COVER COMBINATION

Abstract

An improved duvet and duvet cover combination having a two piece strap attached to the duvet that extends through slits in the duvet cover to encircle a mattress when connected to each other. The duvet cover comprises tie fasteners that correspond to loops located on the duvet, such that, when the ties are releasably fastened to the loops, the duvet is constrained within the duvet cover.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 12/762,193 for IMPROVED BED COVERING, filed Apr. 16, 2010, the complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bed coverings, specifically duvets typically used in households. More particularly, it relates to an improved duvet that keeps both the duvet and duvet cover combination and any sheets and/or covers beneath the duvet and duvet cover combination tucked underneath a mattress and in place, while also keeping the duvet from shifting inside the duvet cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As customary in our culture, beds are usually made with a fitted sheet and a top sheet tucked under the mattress, and a comforter or duvet loosely placed on top of the top sheet. With a loose duvet, or even one that is tucked under the mattress along with the top sheet, the duvet may be pulled free from the bed. A restless sleeper can accidentally kick the covers out of the desired position, thus causing the bed to have to be completely re-made after each use. This is frustrating for the person making the bed, because it takes extra time and effort to tuck the sheet in under the mattress again, reposition the bed covering(s) and duvet, and re-make the bed. During sleep, not only are bed coverings typically mangled, but the sheets and covers beneath them can also be kicked out of place. This is frustrating for the bed occupant, because throughout the night the bed occupant can often become uncovered, cold and uncomfortable.

There have been numerous attempts to solve the problems associated with bed-making and disorderly bedding. These devices and methods have not solved the problem, either because they are too cumbersome or complicated, or because they lack effectiveness. Specifically, most related art disclose devices or appliances, not an actual bed covering, that the user must attach to any given bed covering after they have purchased the bed covering. The problem with such an attachment is that the user risks damaging their bed covering by attaching the required connecting means. This is undesirable because most people would not want to alter, puncture, or damage a bed covering that they have already purchased by applying some kind of clamp, device or attachment.

A more effective way to secure the duvet in position is needed as is an easy and simple method for securing the duvet to the mattress. A cover specifically designed for the improved duvet is also needed, to preserve and protect the duvet and allow for easier cleaning and laundering.

Gertz U.S. Pat. No. 2,223,412 uses two plate-like anchors attached to narrow straps on each side. The anchors and straps are placed underneath a mattress, and the straps are then connected to a bed covering with a connecting means that the user must attach to a bed covering. Hanes U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,428 is a device that uses an elongated clamping member to secure a bed cover upon a bed. Herdon U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,783 is constructed of a mattress band that is removably securable to a mattress along at least two opposite sides of a mattress. Removably securable to the mattress band is a top cover that connects to the mattress band with securing connections. May U.S. Pat. No. 2,024,050 uses a device with a narrow strap. The strap is attached to a bed covering with a connecting means that the user must attach to a bed covering. Trimble U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,163 is a bed sheet construction including a main panel having mattress encompassing pouches at opposite ends that fittingly engages a mattress.

While the above mentioned patents contemplate various systems for retaining bedding, these systems are distinguishable in both form and function from the present invention. The structural arrangements of the above mentioned art differ in material: respects to the present invention and do not address the problem sufficiently. In addition there is the risk of damaging the user's bed covering. These differences are essential for the functional use of the present invention and will be described in more detail herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problems associated with prior art. It is an improved duvet and duvet cover combination, with an integral securing means, not an appliance or separate device. The object of the duvet and duvet cover combination is to facilitate bed-making and maximize comfort by keeping the duvet in place under the foot end of the mattress. One objective of the improved duvet cover is to facilitate laundering and preserve the duvet, and also minimize the frequency that the duvet and its attached elastic members need to be laundered. A common complaint among duvet users is that the duvet shifts inside the duvet cover. The improved duvet and duvet cover combination offers a new and improved means to keep the duvet in place inside the cover. An additional objective of the duvet and duvet cover combination is to keep any sheets and/or blankets beneath it in place under the foot end of the mattress.

The improved duvet comprises an elongated stretchable, flexible strap or member permanently attached to the under-side of the duvet piece, near the bottom corners of the duvet piece. When positioned on a bed, the flexible member is located near the foot end of the mattress. The member is permanently attached to the duvet at the time of manufacture to ensure durability and also to ensure proper placement of the member relative to the seams and dimensions of the duvet. The method of permanent attachment is preferred because, with the detachable means there is the possibility of the member coming unsnapped, unhooked or ripping the detachable connecting means from the duvet.

The improved duvet and duvet cover combination has a means to detachably fasten the duvet to the duvet cover inside the duvet cover. The duvet is removably securable to the duvet cover preferably with loop/tie fasteners along the bottom, top, and/or sides of the inside of the duvet cover. The fastening means inside the cover may also include hook and loop fasters, hooks, buttons, or any other detachable fastening means. There may be any number of fastening sites along the top bottom and/or side seams of the duvet cover to fasten the improved duvet to the inside of the duvet cover. This keeps the duvet from shifting inside the duvet cover.

The duvet shell is manufactured from cotton, polyester, any combination of these fabrics or fibers, or other suitable fabric conducive for a duvet. The duvet is filled with natural duck or goose down feathers or any synthetic down alternative fill commonly used in bedding.

The duvet cover is made of cotton, polyester, microfiber, suede or any combination of these fabrics or fibers, or other similar fabric suitable for a duvet cover.

The loops are preferably made from bias tape, lace string, plastic and the like, but may be any type of material suitable for loops.

The ties are preferably made from bias tape, lace, string, plastic and the like, but may be any other material suitable for ties.

The elastic members also serve the dual purpose of keeping the duvet from shifting inside the cover, while also providing a means to keep the duvet and duvet cover combination in place on the bed during restless sleep and allow for faster, easier bed making. The duvet is designed to be placed inside the improved duvet cover. The improved duvet cover has two slits at each underside foot-end corner of the cover. The openings are approximately 5½″-15½″ wide by ¼″ to 1″ deep, preferably 6½″ wide and ¼″ deep. These openings allow for the elastic members of the improved duvet to be pulled through the openings and then placed underneath the mattress. Therefore, the body of the duvet can be protected by the duvet cover, while still allowing the elastic members to function in holding the duvet and duvet cover combination on place in the bed.

The improved duvet cover also opens along the top seam and/or bottom seam, and/or side seams with a zipper, fold, or buttons, so that the improved duvet may be placed inside the duvet cover. The duvet is easily put into position inside the duvet cover by i) placing the duvet inside the duvet cover ii) exposing the loops and ties or other fastening means along the inner seams of the duvet and duvet cover, iii) attaching the duvet to the duvet cover with the provided loop and tie fasteners or similar detachable fastening means along the inner seams of the duvet cover, iv) lastly, the elastic members are pulled through the slits in the duvet cover.

The permanently attached elastic member is wider than existing straps disclosed in prior art. The member is about 5-15 inches wide, preferably about 6 inches wide, and is composed of a flexible material, such as but not limited to fabric, elastic, rubber, and the like. The width of the member elongates the area where pulling force exists, thus preventing puckering and keeping the duvet in place more effectively than a narrow strap, while also preventing the duvet from shifting inside the duvet cover.

When it is time to make the bed after a restless night of sleep, the duvet is on top of the mattress, with each foot end corner in place. The duvet's member(s) attach underneath the mattress and remain out-of-sight, and the bed maker can make the bed with much less work, effort, and in less time while the elastic and adjustable length member ensures that the sleepers can move comfortably beneath the covers without feeling confined.

Unlike any other bed covering, it is designed with an integral permanently attached member that gives it the unique ability to stay in place on the bed during restless sleep, and therefore it facilitates bed-making and also keeps the bed occupant comfortable and covered. The duvet cover easily detaches from the duvet and protects the duvet from getting dirty, and minimizes how frequently the duvet itself needs to be laundered.

Mattresses are sold in all different thicknesses, and recently pillow top mattresses have become popular. Another advantage of the improved duvet is that the member may be adjusted to accommodate mattresses of different thicknesses, or adjusted to the desired tightness or comfort level of the bed occupant. The member has an adjusting means, such as, but not limited to, sets of snaps or hooks in rows, hook and loop fasteners etc., that the user can adjust accordingly before putting the duvet in place.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is simpler to put into place than devices disclosed in prior art. In order for a method to be desirable to a user, it must be simple and easy to apply. In many instances, prior art bed cover attaching means involve cumbersome and complicated hardware, anchors, fasteners, clamps, and clips. The present invention is simply put into place by: i.) placing the improved duvet and duvet cover combination on top of the bed and on top of any sheets/blankets beneath it, ii.) stretching the flexible elastic member around one corner of the foot end of the mattress, (similar to the method used to place a fitted sheet around and underneath the mattress corner) and, iii.) repeating the motion described in (ii) on the remaining opposite mattress corner.

Another advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that it offers a new means to protect and preserve the duvet because the duvet cover can easily be removed and laundered. Therefore, although the improved duvet and its attached members can be laundered when needed, they will need to be laundered much less frequently with the addition of the duvet cover. Prior art does not offer a cover nor a convenient solution to the facilitate laundering. Another advantage of the duvet cover is that it gives the user the ability to switch or replace the cover as they wish, perhaps with a duvet cover of a different fabric for the season, or a different color or pattern, therefore allowing the user to change the décor and/or function of the duvet cover.

Once in place, the elastic composition of the member allows the bed occupant to move and turn comfortably underneath the duvet. The duvet is held in a position proximate to the mattress, thus reducing the tendency for an occupant to completely or partially remove the covering piece from another bed occupant, or become uncovered themselves. The person making the bed no longer has to completely re-organize a heap of mangled bed covers and re-make the bed, because the present invention provides a bed covering and bedding that is secured in place during sleep.

As used herein, “approximately” means within plus or minus 25% of the term it qualifies. The term “about” means between ½ and 2 times the term it qualifies. The compositions of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the invention described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein or otherwise useful in compositions and methods of the general type as described herein.

Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number and subset of numbers contained within that range, whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any number or subset of numbers in that range or to be limited to the exact conversion to a different measuring system, such, but not limited to, as between inches and millimeters.

All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present invention shall include the corresponding plural characteristic or limitation, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

All combinations as used herein can be assembled in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made. Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “above”, “under”, “side” “front” and “back” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the under side of the preferred embodiment showing the duvet with the member pieces and loops.

FIG. 2 is a prospective, partially cross-sectional, bottom view of the preferred embodiment secured to a mattress.

FIG. 3 is a prospective top view see through view of the preferred embodiment secured to a mattress. The mattress is on top of a box spring or bed frame.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the duvet where it intersects the member.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the duvet cover showing the slits for the member and the location of the ties (see through).

FIG. 6 is a folded view of the bottom of the duvet cover showing the slits and the top of the duvet cover showing the tie fasteners (see through).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1, the invention comprises a duvet 10 having a member 16 to secure the duvet to a mattress and loops 5a-x to secure a duvet cover 30 (see FIG. 5) to the duvet. The duvet cover 30 comprises a) two slits 31a 31b for each part of the member to extend outside of the duvet cover when the duvet is placed inside, and b) tie fasteners 32 a-x located at inside ends of the duvet cover. The tie fasteners correspond to the loops 5, such that, when the ties are releasably fastened to the loops, the duvet is constrained within the duvet cover.

The duvet 10 is shown with its top side facing down and the member 16 shown with adjustable means 18 disconnected. The member 16 is flexible and stretchable. In an embodiment, the member 16 is permanently attached to the duvet 10 by attachment means 14a, 14b. The member is attached by well-known permanent attachment means, such as but not limited to, stitching, adhesive, grommets, heat bonding, and the like. Duvet 10 also has means to fasten it to the duvet cover, shown as loops, along the top bottom and/or side seams of duvet 10.

The adjustable means 18 allows the member 16 to be adjusted to the desired length. The adjustable means 18 is shown in FIG. 1 at the center, however, the adjustable means 18 may be located at any point along the member, such as but not limited to adjacent to the side of the mattress so that the user may adjust the member without moving the mattress.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom cross-sectional, prospective view of the duvet with the duvet 10 in place and secured to a mattress without a bed frame or box spring. The member intersects or attaches to the duvet 10 at a point of the covering piece 10 near both foot corners of the mattress 12 when the bed covering is on a bed. The area of attachment 14 a, b is approximately 5-15 inches wide. The area of attachment 14 a, b where the duvet 10 and the member are joined is about 2-5 inches deep across the width of the member.

The method for placing the present invention in place on a mattress involves first placing the duvet into the duvet cover. The duvet cover has opening (not shown) along the entire length of one of the seams, preferably the top or bottom seam, via zipper, fold or buttons, to allow the user access to the inside of the duvet cover and ties 5a-x. Once the user opens the re-closeable seam area, the duvet 10 can be placed inside duvet cover 30. The loop/tie fasteners can then be lined up and tied. The permanently attached ties 32a-x are secured to the loops 5a-x by placing one of the two ties through the loop, and then tying the two ties into a bow around the loop, similar to tying shoe laces. After loop/tie fasteners are tied, the straps 16a and 16b are then pulled through the slits one at a time, so that straps 16a and 16b are exposed on the outside of the duvet cover. Then, the duvet 10 and now attached duvet cover 30 are placed on top of the mattress 12, with members 16a, and 16b unattached. Members 16a and 16b are then attached at attachment area 18 at the desirable length. A first side 16a of the member 16 is stretched around a corner of the foot of the mattress 12, placing the member partially in position. Next, the remaining and opposite side of the member 16b is stretched around the remaining and opposite corner of the foot of the mattress 12, while the first side remains in place. The connecting member 16 is out of sight under the duvet 10 when in place.

FIG. 3 is a top, cross sectional, partial prospective view of the duvet 10 secured to a mattress 12. The member 16 is positioned underneath the mattress 12 and on top of box spring or bed frame 13.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the under-side of the duvet 10 with the member 16 permanently attached at the area of attachment 14 a, b. The area of attachment 14 is shown sewn on to duvet 10 at stitching area 21. Stitching area 21 represents one means of attaching member 16 to duvet 10. The member 16 may be attached at area of attachment 14 with other permanent means, such as but not limited to, stitching, adhesive, grommets, heat bonding, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a bottom, cross-sectional view of the duvet cover, with openings/slits for members to be pulled through. Duvet cover also fastening means (shown as tie fasteners) that can be tied to loops shown on duvet piece 10 in FIG. 1. There are at least 4 loops on each corner of the duvet, each about 1-3 inches long and 1/10″-½″ wide. There are at least 4 corresponding ties on the inside corners of the duvet cover, each about 2″-6″ long and 1/10″-½″ wide, to keep the corners of the duvet secured to the inside corners of the duvet cover. In an effort to further limit shifting of the duvet, there may be up to 10 loop/tie fasteners along each the top, bottom, or side seams.

FIG. 6 is a top cross sectional view of the duvet cover, with the bottom portion of the duvet cover folded up and back to show slits.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments and examples of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It will be understood that the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. An improved bed covering comprising:

a duvet having a) a member to secure the duvet to a mattress and b) multiple loops, the member comprising two pieces each secured to a bottom of the duvet;

a duvet cover, the cover comprising a) two openings each forming a slit located on a bottom of the duvet cover, and b) multiple tie fasteners located at an inside of the duvet cover;

wherein, a) each piece of the member extends through one of the slits when the duvet is placed inside the duvet cover, fastened to each other and placed under the mattress, and b) each tie fastener is releasably fastened to each loop such that the duvet is constrained within the duvet cover.