BED COVERING SYSTEM
A bedding system invention makes it easier to make and maintain a bed. The system includes a fitted sheet attached to a top sheet with an elastomeric panel of material disposed in a foot portion of the fitted sheet. The top sheet is attached along a seam proximate the elastomeric portion of the fitted sheet and the remainder of the fitted sheet thus preventing a bed user from pulling the fitted sheet off the mattress and providing a more natural feel to the bedding system. The system can further include added attachable components including a blanket, comforter and other top coverings. The system eases the placement of the bedding components on the bed and provides a quick and effective was to make the bed and have it appear neatly made.
The invention generally relates to bed coverings such as coverings for a mattress. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved fitted sheet and integrated bed covering system.
BACKGROUNDMaking a bed with fresh linens or remaking a bed after use is a tedious chore that involves gathering the sheets and blankets, positioning them on a mattress and aligning them in an orderly and structured manner. The process of aligning the sheets and making sure each is evenly placed over the mattress requires the bedmaker to walk around the sides of the bed and repeatedly reposition the sheets and blankets. Notwithstanding the amount of effort by the bedmaker, it is easy to have the bedding not align properly.
Most modern bedding linens include a fitted sheet that has substantially the same dimensions as the mattress. The fitted sheet fits over the mattress's top, ends and sides, sometimes also covering a portion of the bottom of the mattress. It is common for the elastic cord to traverse the outer perimeter of the fitted sheet. Sometimes the elastic cord is only sewn into the corners or part of the fitted sheet in order to fit the mattress.
Above the fitted sheet it is common to have a flat sheet, otherwise known as a top sheet. The flat sheet is evenly laid over the fitted sheet and tucked under the foot of the bed, typically between the mattress and a foundation such as a box spring. Formal bedmaking involves making a mitered corner of where the flat sheet tucks under the foot of the bed. A mitered corner adds a pleasing aesthetic appearance to a made bed. Finally, a blanket, comforter, coverlet, or other top cover is then positioned on top of the flat sheet. The top cover may or may not be tucked under the foot of the bed between the mattress and the foundation.
On top of the flat sheet is typically a top cover. Factors like room temperature and sleeping preference decides how much insulation the sleeper desires. A sleeper may have a blanket on top of the flat sheet, then a quilt, or coverlet, or comforter on top of the blanket. There are typically three components to bedding including a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and top covering.
The process of making a bed including placement of the fitted sheet, flat sheet, and top cover is a time-consuming task requiring attention to detail to uniformly make the bed without wrinkles. The challenge of making a bed is exacerbated when the bed is directly against a wall or a bunkbed, thus elevated above the floor. After waking up, a person occupying the bed may be in a hurry with little time to make a bed and consequently may leave an unmade and unsightly bed. Even if the person has time to make the bed, adjusting the lower coverings and top coverings may prove too burdensome and time-consuming for daily bedmaking.
Depending on the environment, there may be a higher standard for the bed's appearance. Environments such as hotel bedrooms and military barracks are examples where careful attention to detail is a requirement. The amount of time and effort involved is problematic for institutions such as hospitals where bed making is an ongoing everyday requirement. Hotel staff are also burdened with the time-consuming task of making multiple beds daily. Time inefficiencies translate into additional costs to institutions, hotels and the consumers of their services. The bed linens must be neatly and uniformly applied to the bed and must be free of wrinkles and ruffled areas. Completing this task quickly is not an option because the high degree of scrutiny given to a bed in these environments often requires that the minor details be afforded greater attention, including how taught the sheets are applied, their alignment relative to the bed, and any required tucking of the sheets under the mattress such as mitering of the corners.
While a person is sleeping, he or she may unintentionally kick the top coverings (flat sheet, comforter, and/or blanket) partially or fully off the bed, resulting in an uncomfortable chill. Also, when sharing a bed one person may pull the covers from their bedmate thus resulting in an unpleasant night of rest or lack thereof. If a bed is made so that the bed linens are too tightly bound to the mattress, it may restrict foot movement and result in an uncomfortable night's rest. Some people may characterize foot confinement as causing a feeling of claustrophobia. It may also frustrate the sleeper by requiring effort to free their feet if the bed becomes too warm. The fitted sheet also tends to not fit the mattress securely and frequently comes loose from one or more corners of the bed. This often happens while a person is sleeping in the bed.
Further, making a bed properly is not always a top priority for many people. Children are particularly disenchanted with making the necessary effort to make a bed. According to a 2018 YouGov Omnibus poll, just over a third of Americans (37%) always make their beds. The rest say they sometimes, rarely, or never do. See A Third of Americans Habitually Make Their Beds by Hoang Nguyen, Jan. 23, 2018 at www.YouGove.com. It is a common problem to not want to make a bed. However, getting into the habit of bedmaking has its advantages. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, says, “Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget.” According to Mr. Duhigg, making your bed is a “keystone habit,” that kickstarts a pattern of other good behaviors that triggers better decisions the rest of the day. See The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, Feb. 28, 2012.
Various proposed solutions to making bedmaking easier have been disclosed in the prior art. This includes proposed combinations of a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. However, opportunities for improvement remain as will become clear through the disclosure of the invention.
Thus, there remains a need for an improved bedding system that is adaptable for multiple users, may be used with conventional mattresses, allows a user freedom from foot confinement, and also allows a user to easily and efficiently make the bed, while made to look like conventional bedding is being used, thereby enhancing the appearance of the bed when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present embodiments include a bedding system for a mattress, but not including the mattress, the bedding system including a fitted sheet adapted to cover a mattress's top, sides, including a head side and a foot side of the mattress, and a portion of a bottom of the mattress. The fitted sheet includes an elastomeric panel disposed in a portion of the fitted sheet adapted to cover a foot-side of the mattress. The bedding system also includes a top sheet connected to the fitted sheet at least partially along a seam between the elastomeric panel and a remainder of the fitted sheet.
The bedding system may also include a connection between the fitted sheet and the top sheet extending to sides of the fitted sheet as seen when the fitted sheet is on the mattress, where the top sheet forms mitered corners near the foot-side of the mattress.
The bedding system may also include where the top sheet further includes a fastener adapted to couple a bed covering to the top sheet, where the fastener is disposed on the top sheet near the foot-side of the mattress.
The bedding system may also include a bed covering, where the bed covering has a second fastener on a top surface of the bed covering and is adapted to connect to a second bed covering.
The bedding system of may also include where the top sheet includes an alignment indicator disposed proximate a top middle of said top sheet.
In another nonlimiting embodiments, the bedding system of the invention includes a fitted sheet having a flat panel, the flat panel connected to a head side panel, a left side panel, a right side panel and a foot side panel, a head under panel generally extends from said head side panel, a left under panel generally extends from said left side panel, a right under panel generally extends from said right side panel and an elongatable under panel extends from the foot side panel, the under panels are adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress. The bedding system further includes a top sheet including a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, the top sheet is attached to the fitted sheet in proximity to the elongatable under panel.
The bedding system may also include where the bottom edge of the top sheet is attached to the foot panel of the fitted sheet, forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.
The bedding system may also include where the bottom edge of the top sheet connects to the foot panel of the fitted sheet adjacent to the elongatable under panel.
The bedding system may also include where the bottom edge of the top sheet is at least partially attached to the left side panel of the fitted sheet thereby forming a left side mitered corner and the foot edge of the top sheet is at least partially attached to the left right panel of the fitted sheet, thereby forming a right side mitered corner.
The bedding system of may also include where the top sheet further includes a fastener, the fastener is disposed on the flat panel adjacent to the foot edge.
The bedding system of may also include a blanket, the blanket having a fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of the blanket, the blanket fastener is adapted to connect to the fastener disposed on the flat panel of the top sheet.
The bedding system may also include a coverlet, the coverlet having a fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of the coverlet, the blanket further comprising a fastener adapted to connect to the fastener disposed on the coverlet.
In another nonlimiting embodiment, the bedding system, includes a fitted sheet having an elongatable underpanel adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress and a top sheet including a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, the top sheet attached to the fitted sheet.
The bedding system may also include where the bottom edge of the top sheet connects to the fitted sheet adjacent to the elongatable underpanel.
The bedding system may also include where the bottom edge of the top sheet connects to the fitted sheet adjacent to the elongatable underpanel forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.
The bedding system may also include where the top sheet further comprises fastenings, the fastenings disposed on the flat panel adjacent to the foot edge.
The bedding system may also include a blanket, the blanket having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of the blanket, the blanket fastenings adapted to connect to the fastenings disposed on the flat panel of the top sheet.
The bedding system may also include a coverlet, said coverlet having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of the coverlet, the blanket further comprising fastenings adapted to connect to the fastenings disposed on the coverlet.
The foregoing and other objects of the present bedding apparatus are accomplished by providing a bedding apparatus dimensioned, configured, and arranged to be quickly fitted to a conventional mattress of any size.
The bedding may be made to fit any size bed, such as a California king, king, queen, full, double, twin XL, twin, futon, RV bed, crib, cot, or boat bed, or any other size or style of bed. This allows both adults and children the opportunity to have a simply made bed. The system accommodates different thicknesses of mattresses including thin and thick.
The present invention provides a bedding system having features that allow for locating the bedding onto the mattress, securing the bedding layers thereto, and accelerating the bed making process when changing the sheets or remaking the bed between uses.
An object of the invention is to provide a bedding system that reduces the amount of time and effort required to make and change linens of a bed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system that will overcome the deficiencies found in the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system for assisting in the making of the bed and securing the bedding onto the bed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system that facilitates conveniently, quickly, and easily making the bed.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system where the user's feet are free to hang over the foot of the bed and are not confined by a closure. This includes allowing the user's feet to stay warm because they remain within an enclosed space between the fitted sheet and the flat sheet.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system which stays in place and is secure on a bed during the entire duration of a user's sleeping time. This includes staying in place even when the user pulls on the flat sheet in a manner that would dislodge the flat sheet from where it is tucked under the bed in a conventional bedding system. This also includes the fitted sheet having strategically placed elastic in order to keep it from coming off mattress and working in cooperation with an attached flat sheet.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system, whose top layer may be replaced depending on a user's preference for warmth or style.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system wherein the fastening means between layers of the bedding system are hidden and do not bother the user while the user sleeps.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system that looks good when not fully made because some of the bedding system will always be in alignment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bedding system that makes it easier to arrange bedding since the user doesn't have to lift mattress to tuck in top cover or covers.
These, as well as other components, steps, features, objectives, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the embodiments, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the embodiments is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the embodiments as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the embodiment relates.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn nonlimiting embodiments, the subject invention relates to a bedding system for use on a mattress. The system, including at least the fitted sheet and the top sheet is particularly suitable for mattresses of any shape and size. Although more attention is devoted to describing the system in relation to a mattress the invention has application to other mattress-like beds such as a cot, crib or futon.
For those who wake up early for work, parents who have busy schedules in the mornings, hotel cleaning personnel who have to work quickly to prepare hotel rooms each morning, and anyone else who may not have a lot of time in the morning to make a bed, the present invention provides a system for locating and applying layers to the bed after the underlying fitted sheet and attached top sheet is secured to the mattress. The seams in the layers allow the user to rapidly locate the successive layers over the fitted sheet, while the underlying fitted sheet and top sheet combination provides connector elements to secure additional layers into place for firmly securing the layers without wrinkles. A first side of the layer can be secured, then the opposing side is pulled across the bed and secured, eliminating any movement of the layer relative to the fitted sheet that would otherwise misalign the layer with respect to the mattress and the fitted sheet.
With reference to
The fitted sheet 12 includes a head portion 18, and a foot portion 20 corresponding to a head and feet of a person using a bed. The fitted sheet 12 further includes a top 24, sides 26 (not all sides are visible) and an underside 28 that covers part of the bottom of the mattress 16. The top 24, sides 26 and underside 28 can be separate panels or they can be formed from a single panel and include, for example seams where necessary, to create a fit of the fitted sheet 12 that matches the shape of the mattress 16. The underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 is gathered towards a middle of the mattress 16 with an elastic band 30. The elastic band 30 follows along a periphery 32 of the underside 28 of fitted sheet 12. Thus, the elastic band 30 allows the fitted sheet 12 to be pulled onto and cover the mattress 16. The elastic band 30 helps hold the fitted sheet 12 in place on the mattress 16. The elastic band 30 can be any form of elastic band material known to someone of skill in the art and suitable for the intended purpose. Further, the elastic band 30 may, or may not extend around the full periphery 32 of the underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 and could include more than one elastic band. Other forms of gathering the underside 28 of the fitted sheet 12 towards the middle of the mattress 16 are contemplated. This includes, but is not limited to, a cord that is routed through a channel in the fitted sheet 12 around the periphery 32 of the underside 28 of fitted sheet 12 and synched tight at some location around the periphery 32. Again, this may be done in a manner well known to someone of skill in the art and includes other variations of how to hold the fitted sheet 12 in place on the mattress 16.
The foot portion 20 of the fitted sheet 12 includes an elastomeric panel 34. The elastomeric panel 34 is made of an elastomeric material that will stretch and elongate. Suitable materials are known to someone of skill in the art and include Lycra, spandex, nylon, polyester, elastane and combinations of materials offering elastomeric properties. As a working example, the elastomeric panel 34 could be made out of 65% rayon, 30% nylon and 5% spandex. The elastomeric panel 34 includes in its manufacture at least some different materials than the top 24 and remaining sides 26 of the fitted sheet 12. The top 24 and sides of the fitted sheet 12, and the top sheet 14 may be made of a variety of materials commonly used in bedding applications. For example, cotton or a cotton blend are suitable for the top 24 and sides of the fitted sheet 12, and the top sheet 14.
The top sheet 14 is attached to the fitted sheet 12 at least partially along a seam 36 between the elastomeric panel 34 and remainder of the fitted sheet 12. Due to the positioning of the seam 36, the top sheet 14 can be pulled by a person lying in bed and the elastomeric panel 34 will elongate thus allowing the pulling force without pulling the fitted sheet 12 off the foot portion 20 of the mattress 16. In this way the elastomeric panel 34 provides a more natural feel of the fitted sheet 12 being separate from the top sheet 14 while offering the benefit of the fitted sheet 12 actually being attached to the top sheet 14. Further, the top sheet 14 is attached to the fitted sheet 12 along the seam 36 below a top surface 38 of the bed. This allows a person lying in the bed to have their feet extended over the end of the bed without restriction. This includes a stomach sleeper having their toes not being restricted while their feet hang over the foot portion of the bed.
At a first and second corners 40a, 40b of the bedding system, an extended seam 36a between the fitted sheet 12 and the top sheet 14 extends from the seam 36 onto a first and second side 42a, 42b of the fitted sheet 14. This allows for creating a mitered corner 44, also known as a hospital corner out of the top sheet 14 when the top sheet 14 is pulled onto the top of the bed. This preformed mitered corner 44 is a significant benefit to the bedding system 10 as it allows a user to quickly make the bed by simply pulling the top sheet 14 over the fitted sheet 12 and have the bed appear well made. It also allows the user to kick one or both feet out from under the top sheet 14. This is beneficial if for example, the user feels warm. The bedding system 10 allows for less restriction due to the elastomeric panel 34, while not allowing drafts to reach the user because the fitted sheet 12 and top sheet 14 are connected and cannot pull apart, meanwhile the bed is easily made and always looks good with mitered corners.
Referring to
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During normal sleep, the user moves around in the bed and the bed coverings become disorganized and may hang too far off the bed on the left or right side. When it is time to make the bed, the user is able to grab the patches and including the alignment markers to quickly align all of the coverings at the head of the bed. In an alternative embodiment, the patches and alignment markers could be substituted with a fastener system (snap or button) at the head of the bed. However, the proposed alignment system 100 with the patches and alignment markers provides a more “normal bedding feel” and will not hinder the ability to throw off a covering such as a blanket if the user becomes too warm. In another alternative embodiment the alignment system 100 may only include the first alignment patch 102 and first reference marker 104. Even if the bedding system isn't being used (just the sheet combination and not the zippered in blankets), the flat sheet can still utilize the “alignment system” and be centered on the bed easily.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A bedding system for a mattress, but not including the mattress, the bedding system comprising:
- a fitted sheet adapted to cover a mattress's top, sides, including a head side and a foot side of the mattress, and a portion of a bottom of the mattress,
- wherein said fitted sheet includes an elastomeric panel disposed in a portion of the fitted sheet adapted to cover a foot-side of the mattress; and
- a top sheet connected to said fitted sheet at least partially along a seam between said elastomeric panel and a remainder of said fitted sheet.
2. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein the connection between said fitted sheet and said top sheet extends to sides of said fitted sheet as seen when said fitted sheet is on the mattress, wherein said top sheet forms mitered corners near the foot-side of the mattress.
3. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein said top sheet further comprises a fastener adapted to couple a bed covering to said top sheet, wherein said fastener is disposed on said top sheet near the foot-side of the mattress.
4. The bedding system of claim 3, further comprising said bed covering, wherein said bed covering has a second fastener on a top surface of said bed covering and is adapted to connect to a second bed covering.
5. The bedding system of claim 1, wherein said top sheet includes an alignment indicator disposed proximate a top middle of said top sheet.
6. A bedding system, comprising:
- a fitted sheet comprising a flat panel, said flat panel connected to a head side panel, a left side panel, a right side panel and a foot side panel, a head under panel generally extends from said head side panel, a left under panel generally extends from said left side panel, a right under panel generally extends from said right side panel and an elongatable under panel extends from said foot side panel, said under panels adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress, and
- a top sheet comprising a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, said top sheet attached to said fitted sheet in proximity to said elongatable under panel.
7. The bedding system of claim 6, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet is attached to said foot panel of said fitted sheet, forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.
8. The bedding system of claim 7, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said foot panel of said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable under panel.
9. The bedding system of claim 8, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet is at least partially attached to said left side panel of said fitted sheet thereby forming a left side mitered corner and said foot edge of said top sheet is at least partially attached to said left right panel of said fitted sheet, thereby forming a right side mitered corner.
10. The bedding system of claim 8, wherein said top sheet further comprises a fastener, said fastener disposed on said flat panel adjacent to said foot edge.
11. The bedding system of claim 10, further comprising a blanket, said blanket having fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said blanket, said blanket fastener adapted to connect to said fastener disposed on said flat panel of said top sheet.
12. The bedding system of claim 11, further comprising a coverlet, said coverlet having a fastener disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said coverlet, said blanket further comprising a fastener adapted to connect to said fastener disposed on said coverlet.
13. A bedding system, comprising:
- a fitted sheet having an elongatable underpanel adapted to at least partially cover the bottom side of a mattress; and
- a top sheet comprising a flat panel defined by a top edge, a right edge, a left edge and a bottom edge, said top sheet attached to said fitted sheet.
14. The bedding system of claim 13, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable underpanel.
15. The bedding system of claim 14, wherein said bottom edge of said top sheet connects to said fitted sheet adjacent to said elongatable underpanel forming a foot edge at the intersection of the foot side and top side of the mattress.
16. The bedding system of claim 15, wherein said top sheet further comprises fastenings, said fastenings disposed on said flat panel adjacent to said foot edge.
17. The bedding system of claim 16, further comprising a blanket, said blanket having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said blanket, said blanket fastenings adapted to connect to said fastenings disposed on said flat panel of said top sheet.
18. The bedding system of claim 17, further comprising a coverlet, said coverlet having fastenings disposed adjacent to a foot edge of said coverlet, said blanket further comprising fastenings adapted to connect to said fastenings disposed on said coverlet.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2022
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
Inventor: Joseph Rupert (Montague, MI)
Application Number: 17/672,677