SECURABLE BED TOP COVERING

A mattress securable top bed covering comprising a flat, planar fabric sheet having a proximal edge, a distal edge, two side edges, a top surface and an underside surface. The proximal edge corresponds with the head section of the mattress. The distal edge corresponds to the foot section of the mattress. The two side edges are separated from each other by a desired width depending on the size of the mattress. Fastened to the underside surface at the distal edge of the flat, planar fabric sheet, is a mattress-receiving pocket having a mouth and means for alternatingly expanding and reducing the volume of said mattress-receiving pocket thereby allowing it to accommodate and envelope within the pocket both the foot section of the mattress and the sleeper's feet without sacrificing comfort or sheet tension and simultaneously allowing for easy, minimal effort bed making.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a new application. Therefore, it claims no priority to any preceding application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to bed coverings for a mattress, and, more particularly, it relates to a securable expandable top sheet capable of receiving a mattress' foot section. Alternatively, it relates to a securable expandable blanket, quilt, comforter, and bedspread used to cover a mattress optionally provided with a fitted sheet.

Prior Art

Traditionally, bed and mattress dressings comprise the following: a bed skirt; a fitted sheet; a top sheet; a blanket, comforter, quilt, or duvet; and pillows and pillowcases or shams. The bed skirt sits underneath the mattress and/or box spring. The fitted sheet goes over the mattress and wraps the mattress such that the sleeper does not come in contact with the bare mattress. The top sheet, also called a flat sheet, lies on top of the fitted sheet and under the blanket, comforter, quilt, or duvet. Typically, its foot end is tucked underneath the foot end of the mattress to keep it in place.

The purpose of the top sheet is to keep the blanket, comforter, quilt, or duvet clean for a longer period of time. The top sheet can be cleaned more frequently and more easily than the blanket, comforter, quilt, or duvet. Furthermore, the top sheet, by minimizing the contact of the sleeper with the blanket, comforter, quilt, or duvet, prevents the transfer of dirt, sweat, bacteria, and/or dust mites.

Despite its useful and even necessary presence, the top sheet can be a source of frustration for many sleepers, especially active ones. The top sheet can shift significantly throughout the night. Sleepers may awaken to find that they have yanked the top sheet out from under the mattress where the end was tucked. Alternatively, they may have kicked or rolled over in the night and awoken to have the top sheet wrapped around them. In extreme situations, sleepers may find that they have thrown the sheet off the mattress entirely. Even relatively still sleepers can awaken to find their top sheet not in the same position or as tightly tucked on their mattress as when they went to sleep. When making or fixing their bed, all of these sleepers will have to adjust their top sheet back into position by lifting the mattress and re-tucking the flat sheet beneath it.

Not everyone finds this task easy or quick. Heavy mattresses, tight quarters, and individual strength and ability can factor into the difficulty of this task. It takes time to fix the bed, once the top sheet has come untucked. For this reason, many individuals, especially children, senior citizens, and the infirm, leave their beds unmade upon waking. It is common knowledge just how unsatisfying it is to come home to an unmade bed. It is also common knowledge just how soothing, relaxing, and conducive to a healthy mental state it is not only to make the bed upon waking but to slip under the covers of a bed that has been made at the end of a long and tiresome day.

Present solutions for putting and keeping a top sheet in place are often complex and don't fully solve the problem at hand. One such solution for keeping a top sheet in place is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,139 by Inventor Robert G. Renfro. Renfro discloses (the “Renfro Disclosure”) a device to secure the top sheet of bedding from being accidently pulsed out at the foot of the bed wherein an elongated piece of plastic material is provided for placement between the mattress and the box springs of a bed. The end of the tucked-in top sheet of the bed is in contact with one side of the elongated piece of material, and the other side of the elongated piece is in contact with the box springs. The top sheet securing device is constructed of materials which have a high coefficient of static friction such that the weight of the mattress pressing down upon the tucked in top sheet is sufficient to provide compression of the plastic material between the top sheet and lower box springs that the top sheet is held in position against the unintentional or accidental pulling out. The top sheet securing device may be alternately made of a thin sheet of vinyl plastic or a thickness of open or closed cell low density polyurethane foam, or a combination of vinyl plastic and polyurethane foam at least one elongated piece of material with high coefficient of static friction is placed between the mattress and the box spring and in contact with the end of the top sheet; the combination of the elongated piece and the weight of the mattress pressing down on the tucked-in top sheet is sufficient to hold the sheet in position.

There are a number of problems with the Renfro disclosure. The Renfro disclosure does not address how the young, the elderly, the physically challenged and the infirm could use this solution. First, they cannot lift the heavy mattress that makes the solution work, because of the reliance on friction forces. The weight of the heavy matters is a deterrent to using this solution. Though the solution may hold the top sheet in place for the most part, the elongated piece and sheet may still need to be readjusted after sleeping, which may require lifting the mattress again. Moreover, where there is more than one elongated piece to provide a more securely tucked sheet, the user will have to thread the top sheet into the system and then align it under the mattress. Second, this solution only provides for one level of tuck tightness. Lastly, though not absolutely necessary to its function, a box spring makes this solution work better because of added friction and compression—bed slats or other bedframe configurations may diminish the success.

Another solution for keeping a top sheet in place is described in Canada Letters Patent No. 2,443,256 by Inventor Bruce A. Bennett. Bennett discloses (“the Bennett Disclosure”) An apparatus and method for securing a bed linen proximate a mattress. The apparatus includes a planar member with at least one tapered portion that is adapted to receive a portion of a bed linen therein. In use, the bed linen is urged into the tapered portion and is secured thereto. The planar member is then rotated approximately 180 degrees and is placed under a corner of the mattress, thereby securing the corner of the linen in position under the mattress. The Bennet Disclosure describes additional alternate embodiments for the planar member and for the tapered portion.

While a heavy mattress is less of a deterrent in the Bennet Disclosure, this solution allows for increased chance of user error based on tucking technique. But, again, this solution only provides for one level of tuck tightness and successful use is relatively dependent on the use of a box spring.

Yet another solution attempting to address the tuck tightness level is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,582 by Inventors Stephen C. Barton, James D. Slaughter, and Charles R. Jordan (“the Barton Invention” or the “Barton Disclosure”).

The Barton disclosure provides top-bedding that has a head-end delimited by a head-end edge; a foot-end opposite the head-end, the foot-end delimited by a foot-end edge substantially parallel to the head-end edge; at least one pair of opposing sides delimited by side-edges; a first head-end corner and a second head-end corner; and a reversible expansion means for reversibly converting the top-bedding from a closed configuration to an open configuration, the closed configuration being approximately rectangular, and the open configuration having the shape of an irregular, simple polygon, whereby the distance between the first head-end corner and the second head-end corner is greater when the top-bedding is in the open configuration than when it is in the closed configuration.

More particular, the Barton disclosure describes an article of top-bedding that has a greater surface area when aligned at the head of a bed than at the foot end of the bed, yet is easily folded and fastened when not in use. But, this solution is better geared to people who “steal the covers” from their bed partners—when in use, it provides the slack needed for more than one person to use the sheets. However, it does nothing to address the need for freedom of motion at the foot end of the bed because the expansion is located at the head of the bed. Also, the solution does not address the fact that a restless sleeper will yank on the top sheet and pull it from its tucked position under the mattress despite the slack.

Still another solution for keeping a top sheet in place is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,495,773 by inventors Thomas Liversage and Monica Ditzler (“The Liversage Invention” or “the Liversage Disclosure”).

The Liversage invention discloses a bed sheet to cover a mattress which may include a top sheet to cooperate with the substantially top surface of the mattress, and a connector sheet to cooperate with the top sheet to stabilize the top sheet with respect to the mattress. The connector sheet and the top sheet may define an aperture to cooperation with a bottom corner of the mattress. The aperture may be substantially a rectangle, and the connector sheet may be substantially T-shaped. The connector sheet may be an inverted T-shaped sheet, and the connector sheet may include a base portion to connect the bottom edge of the top sheet. The connector sheet may include a top portion to connect to a side edge of the top sheet.

Once again the heavy mattress is a deterrent to the use of the Liversage invention. The connector sheet needs to be placed under the mattress. Further, it also only provides for one level of tuck tightness.

Lastly, a solution for keeping a top sheet in place is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,297 by Inventor Dennis Bauer (“the Bauer Invention” or “the Bauer Disclosure”). The Bauer invention is generally directed to bed coverings for a mattress and, more particularly, to a fitted (or semi-fitted) top sheet that may be attached at one end to the mattress and which may be placed between a user and other bedding such as blankets, quilts, comforters, or the like. Allegedly, the Bauer invention provides for ease in changing or making the bed. The fitted bed sheet of the Bauer invention includes a zone of expansion to provide extra room for a sleeper's feet, and offers overhanging side flaps to provide and end-to-end finished look.

More particularly, the Bauer disclosure comprises a top sheet with an attached foot end pocket for receiving the foot end of the mattress to keep the top sheet from getting pulled off the mattress. Its so-called foot zone expansion area lies right above and outside of the pocket. The sleeper's feet are not inserted into the attached foot end pocket. Rather, they lie above it. The Bauer top sheet also comprises overhanging side flaps to provide an end-to-end finished look. While it addresses the issue of preventing the top sheet from getting pulled off the mattress, any room it provides the sleeper's feet at the foot end of the bed is illusory because the feet lie outside the pocket. Further, upon the sleeper's extension of the feet, the sleeper pulls the sheet away from their head and shoulders. Because the weight of the mattress holds the pocket in place, the pocket's elastic band is not enough to adjust the tension on the sleeper's feet, which could result in cramps upon a good stretch during sleeping.

Accordingly, there still exists a need for a top sheet or top bed covering that can stay in place overnight and allows for an actual foot-zone expansion area for the comfort of any sleeper's feet, whether in a single bed or a double bed with a partner. Further, there is still a need for a top sheet or top bed covering, which children, the elderly, the infirm, and all those sleepers who just cannot make the time to make their bed can easily adjust and perfectly straighten with minimum effort and time when making their beds, upon waking. Finally, there is a need for a top sheet that accomplishes all of the above at a reduced cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a securable top sheet or top bed covering that can stay on a mattress overnight and be easily adjusted when making the bed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a securable top sheet or top bed covering that allows for a true foot-zone expansion area for the comfort of any sleeper's feet, whether the sleeper is in a single bed or a double bed with a partner, without disturbing the partner or pulling the top sheet off the partner.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pocketed top bed sheet or a pocketed top bed covering, e.g., blanket, comforter, quilt, bedspread, etc. for use in conjunction with a bottom sheet on a mattress having a head section and a foot section. The pocketed top bed sheet or pocketed top bed covering (hereinafter “pocketed top bed sheet” and “pocketed top bed covering” will be jointly and severally be considered to be equivalent in the present specification, and are used interchangeably) is a flat, planar fabric sheet with a proximal edge that corresponds to the head section of the mattress; a distal edge that corresponds to the end of the foot section of the mattress, and two sides edges that drape over the side of the mattress. The flat planar fabric sheet has a top surface and an underside surface. Attached to the underside surface of the flat planar sheet is an expandable mattress-receiving pocket, such as, by example only, a cargo or an accordion pocket optionally provided with an expandable mattress-receiving mouth. The expandable mattress-receiving pocket is further provided with at least one ruched seam or one ruched canal running along at least one of its walls with at least one optional cord threaded through the at least one canal. The optional cord may have an optional fastener so that a user can tighten or loosen the ruching and thus cause the pocket to tighten or loosen to fit the sheet tightly on the foot section of the mattress. The ruching, together with the cords and the extra material provided by the accordion, pleated, or cargo walls of the expandable pocket, not only allow the top sheet itself to expand vertically in the zone of expansion to provide extra room for the sleeper's feet during sleep without displacement of the top sheet off the mattress, but provide the sleeper with a way to tighten and flatten the sheet to provide a neat, finished, aesthetically pleasing bed, after waking.

These and other objects, advantages, features, and characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which numerals represent identical elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of the inventive pocketed top sheet on a bed-supported mattress;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a three dimensional perspective view of a mattress fitted into the inventive pocketed top sheet, the dotted lines indicating the outline of the mattress as it fits into the expandable pocket of the top sheet;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 5, the dotted lines indicating the mattress outline within the ruched expandable pocket;

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet on a mattress of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet on the mattress of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet on the mattress of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet on a mattress of FIG. 5 and opposite to the front plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inventive pocketed top sheet alone;

FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the inventive pocketed top sheet of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet of FIG. 11, opposite the front plan view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords on a bed;

FIG. 18 is a front side view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a three dimensional perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords on a mattress;

FIG. 21 is a front side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is another side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 20 opposite the front side plan view of FIG. 21, the diagonal-line shading denoting the mattress within the expandable mattress receiving pocket;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords;

FIG. 25 is a front side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is another side plan view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords of FIG. 20 opposite the front side plan view of FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet with cords with Side Ruching on the expandable pocket;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet of FIG. 24 with cords and with support gussets connecting the expandable pocket to the flat sheet;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed top sheet of FIG. 24 with cords and with excess fabric shown on the expandable pocket.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the inventive, pocketed, top sheet of FIG. 24 with cords, side ruching, excess fabric on the expandable pocket, and support gussets connecting the flat, planar fabric sheet to the expandable mattress receiving pocket.

 LIST OF ELEMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE IDENTIFYING NUMERALS ELEMENT NUMBER

ELEMENT NUMBER The inventive pocketed top bed sheet 10 flat, planar fabric sheet 20 Proximal edge of the flat planar fabric sheet 21 Distal edge/end of the flat planar fabric sheet 22 two sides edges of the flat planar fabric sheet 23 top surface of flat planar fabric sheet 24 underside surface of flat planar fabric sheet 25 expandable mattress receiving pocket 30 Foot wall of expandable mattress receiving pocket 31 Bottom edge of foot wall 31A Opposite edges of foot wall 31B two side walls of expandable mattress receiving pocket 32 Top edge of side walls forming part of said two side 32A edges 23 of said flat planar fabric sheet Bottom edge of side walls 32B Proximal edge of side walls 32C Distal edge of side walls also forming 32D opposite edges 31B of foot wall bottom wall of expandable mattress receiving pocket 33 side edges of bottom wall also forming 33A bottom edge 32B of side walls 32 proximal edge of bottom wall 33B distal edge of bottom wall also forming 33C said bottom edge 31A of foot wall 31 mouth of expandable mattress receiving pocket 34 ruching 40 ruched channel 41 cord 50 cord lock 52 support gusset 60 excess fabric 70

In the drawings, some components are not drawn to scale, and some components and/or operations can be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for discussion of some of the implementations of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of examples in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular implementations described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1-31, they generally depict at 10, at least one of the embodiments of the inventive pocketed top bed covering for use with a mattress covered with a bottom fitted sheet. By way of example the inventive pocketed top bed covering shown is a pocketed top bed sheet. Upon its placement on the mattress, the inventive pocketed top bed sheet resists overnight displacement by a sleeper, while simultaneously providing vertical expansion of the foot zone for the sleeper's comfort. Upon waking, the sleeper can easily and quickly fix a perfect bed by adjusting the inventive pocketed top bed sheet and adjusting tension to leave a perfectly made bed.

In the following description for an explanation, numerous specific details are outlined to provide a thorough understanding of the implementations of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that implementations of the present technology can be practiced without some of these specific details. The phrases “in some implementations,” “according to some implementations,” “in the implementations shown,” “in other implementations,” and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one implementation of the present technology and can be included in more than one implementation. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same or different implementations.

The components that make up the various elements of the described embodiment are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or a similar function as the components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other components not described can include, but are not limited to, for example, components that are developed after the time of the development of the invention.

FIGS. 1-31 disclose an embodiment of the inventive pocketed top bed sheet 10 for use in conjunction with a mattress, which optionally has been previously dressed with a bottom fitted sheet. The mattress has a head section and a foot section. The inventive pocketed top bed sheet 10 comprises a flat, planar fabric sheet 20, which has a proximal edge 21, a distal edge 22, two sides edges 23, a top surface 24, and an underside surface 25. The proximal edge 21 corresponds to the head section of the mattress. The distal edge 22 corresponds to the foot section of the mattress. The proximal edge is separated from the distal edge by a desired length. The two side edges are likewise separated from each other by a desired width. Typically, the flat, planar fabric sheet 20 is provided with a width wider than the mattress it is on so that the side edges 23 drape over the edges of the bed.

Fastened to the underside surface 25 of the flat, planar fabric sheet 20, is an expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30. It is an expandable bag-like mattress receptacle or an expandable envelope-like mattress receptacle with four sides and an expandable mattress-receiving mouth 34.

In general, expandable pockets may have tucks, pleats, folds, or gathers to add volume to their size and allow them to hold more. By way of example, an accordion pocket is a well-known expanding pocket. The pleated sides of the accordion pocket give more space to the pocket and allow it to expand to accommodate the size and volume of the contents placed within it.

In the present invention, one of the sides of the expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30 is a foot wall 31. Two sides of the expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30 are two side walls 32. The fourth side of the expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30 is a bottom wall 33.

The foot wall 31 is attached to and drops perpendicular from said distal edge 22 of said flat, planar fabric sheet 20. The distal edge 22 forms the top edge of said foot wall 31. The foot wall 31 has three (3) more edges, i.e., a bottom edge 31A, and two opposite side edges 31B.

Each of the said two side walls 32 also drop perpendicular to the underside surface 25 of said flat planar fabric sheet 20. However, they do not drop from the distal edge 22. Rather, they drop from the said side edges 23 of the said flat planar fabric sheet 20 at its distal end, i.e., the end corresponding to the foot section of the mattress and are fixedly attached at a ninety degree angle to each of the said opposite side edges 31B of the said foot wall 31.

Each of said two side walls 32 have a top edge 32A, a bottom edge 32B, a proximal edge 32C, and a distal edge 32D, respectively. For clarity purposes, because the said side edges 23 of the said flat planar fabric sheet 20 at its distal end form the top edges 32A of each of said two side walls 32, and said two opposite side edges 31B of said food wall 31 form the distal edges 32D of each of said side walls, the distal edges 32D have been omitted from the figures.

As was stated above, the bottom wall 33 forms the fourth side of the expandable mattress receiving pocket 30. It is perpendicularly attached to the bottom edges 31A and 32B of each of the said foot wall 31 and side walls 32, respectively. As a result, it lies on a horizontal plane parallel to and distanced from the plane of said underside surface 25 of said flat, planar fabric sheet 20. The said bottom wall 33 functions as the floor of said expandable mattress receiving pocket 30, having two opposite lying side edges 33A, a proximal edge 33B, and a distal edge 33C. For clarity purposes, because the said bottom edges 32B of the said side walls 32, and said bottom edge 31A of said foot wall 31 form the said two opposite lying side edges 33A and said distal edge 33C of said bottom 33, the said two opposite lying side edges 33A and said distal edge 33C of said bottom 33 have been omitted from the figures.

In light of the foregoing, it is evident that said flat, planar fabric sheet 20, said foot wall 31, said side walls 32 and said bottom wall 33 are arranged and fixedly connected relative to each other to form said expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30. Further, each of said proximal edges 33B of said bottom wall 33, and proximal edges 32C of said side walls 32 define said mouth 34 of said expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30, which drops down from said underside surface 25 of said planar fabric sheet 20 (see FIG. 23).

As shown in FIGS. 20-23 when in use with a mattress, said proximal edge 21 of said flat planar primary fabric sheet 20 is located at the head section of the mattress and the said distal edge 22 of said flat planar fabric sheet 20 is located at the foot section of the mattress, Further, the foot section of the mattress inserted into said expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30 is juxtaposed to said foot wall 31, while said bottom wall 33 of said expandable mattress receiving pocket 30 is trapped underneath the mattress, to keep said inventive pocketed top bed sheet in place at all times.

There is no limitation on how the expandability of the mattress receiving pocket 30 can be achieved. Any one of the components of the expandable mattress receiving pocket 30 can be provided with either ruching, or extra fabric, or both, in the form of folds, pleats and other equivalent textile processes for providing expandability. For example, in one inventive embodiment the foot wall 31 comprises horizontal pleats that can expand during sleep. In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 30-31 both ruching 40 and extra material 70 is being used both on the walls and on the seams of the expandable mattress receiving pocket 30. In yet another embodiment, only ruching can be used, without extra material, anywhere on the walls or seams of the pockets. In still another embodiment, only extra material in the form of pleats or gathers can be used without ruching, anywhere on the walls or the seams of the pocket 30. Even the mouth of expandable mattress receiving pocket 34 can be provided with ruching, or extra material, or an elastic band, or all three or a combination of any to achieve expandability.

While FIGS. 30-31 show said foot wall 31 of said pocket 30 to be provided with three ruched seams 40 running vertically, two of the ruched seams 40 positioned at the edges 318 of said pocket 30, and the third ruched seam 40 positioned at the centerline of the said foot wall 31 of the said expandable mattress-receiving pocket 30, in another embodiment said foot wall 31 may also be provided with just one ruched seam, or two ruched seams, or just one ruched wall or one pleated wall or any combination thereof, the goal being to allow for the vertical expandability of the pocket in the foot zone without pulling on the sheet itself during the night. Further, the ruched seams can run horizontally, although in the preferred embodiment they run vertically.

Optionally, each ruched seam 40 can be provided with a ruching channel 41, through which can be threaded means for tightening the sheet pocket back by collapsing the pleats or tightening the ruching around the mattress. The means for tightening the sheet could be a cord 50. The said cord 50 in turn, can be provided with a cord lock 52, which can be movably disposed. The cord 50 can be pulled by a user to tighten or loosen the ruched seam 40 to cause the pocket 30 to tighten or loosen. The cord lock 52 secures cord 50 at the user's desired tension. Upon waking and fixing the bed, said cord 50 can be pulled through the ruching channel of the ruched seam and secured at total tension to achieve a perfectly made bed.

As another illustration of all of the various expandability modalities for the pocket 30, in the embodiment of the securable top sheet 10 disclosed in FIGS. 28 and 31, a ruched seam 40 runs vertically along at least one of said side walls 32. A cord 50 fitted with a cord lock 52 is threaded through the ruched seam 40. The ruched seam 40 is shown at the centerline of the side wall 32. However, one can understand that the ruched seam could be sewn at any side wall position 32.

In an alternative embodiment of the securable top sheet 10 the cord lock can be chosen from any number of fasteners that can apply and hold tension on the cord. Alternatively, the cord 50 may be a bias tape. The ruched seam 40 may be irregularly bunched or have distinct pleats.

In yet another embodiment of the securable pocketed top sheet 10, as shown in FIG. 31, said top sheet 10 further comprises at least one support gusset 60, connecting the primary fabric sheet and the two side walls of the expandable pocket for added support. In the preferred embodiment, said top sheet 10 may comprise two gussets 60 one on each side of the mattress for a more balanced support.

The process of dressing a mattress with the inventive securable pocketed top sheet 10, comprises the steps of (a) opening and laying said top sheet 10 on the top surface of the mattress such that the underside surface 25 of the top sheet 10 touches the top surface of the mattress, the proximal edge 21 or head end 21 of the top sheet 10 is aligned with the head end of the mattress, and the distal edge 22 or foot end 22 of the top sheet 10 is aligned with the foot end of the mattress; (b) freeing the foot section of the mattress, as for example by sliding it a bit off the bedsprings; (c) without lifting the mattress, inserting the foot of the mattress into said expandable mattress pocket 30 of the top sheet 10, by threading it and sliding through said mouth of pocket 34 and guiding it into said pocket 30. No mattress lifting is necessary; (d) sliding the foot of the mattress all the way into said pocket until said expandable pocket 30 envelops the foot end of the mattress, and the mattress abuts the inner surface of said foot wall 31 of said pocket 30; (e) pulling and tightening said cords 50 through each of the ruched seams 40 to tighten said pocket 30 around the outer perimeter of the foot section of the mattress; and (f) using the cord lock 52 to lock the cord 50, upon achieving the desired tension, to prevent the loosening of the pocket.

The process of removing said inventive securable pocketed top sheet 10, or using it during sleep, includes the steps of (a) releasing said fastener 52 to allow the loosening of the pocket 30 by releasing the tension on the cords 50 and the ruched seams 40 thereby allowing them to expand and the pocket 30 to loosen relative to the mattress. This way the pocket can allow for the comfort of the sleeper by vertically expanding in the foot zone of the sheet to allow the insertion into the expandable pocket of the sleeper's feet on top of the mattress also within the pocket, without the application of tension on the sheet. For removal of the top sheet 10, the foot end of the mattress is unsheathed by simply pulling the pocket 30 off the foot end of the mattress Once again, it is not necessary to lift the mattress. The top sheet 10 can be removed off the mattress with minimal effort and ease for the purpose of cleaning, repair, or maintenance.

It is without question that the inventive pocketed top bed sheet described herein above accomplishes all of its objectives. It provides a securable top sheet that can stay on a mattress overnight and be easily adjusted when making the bed to a perfect finish. And it does so by providing a true foot-zone expansion area for the comfort of any sleeper's feet, whether the sleeper is in a single bed or a double bed with a partner, without disturbing the partner or pulling the top sheet off the partner.

Finally, as stated above, while particular embodiments of the invention are illustrated and descriptions of details provided herein, they are included by way of illustration only and are not meant to be construed to limit the invention. Sine certain revisions may be made with deviations from the scope of the present invention, it is the intent of all matter contained in the above description or as depicted in the accompanying drawings to be interpreted as illustrative and not in the literal sense. Practitioners of the art will realize the sequence of steps and embodiments as depicted in the figures can be revised without deviating from the intent of the present invention and the illustrations contained herein are singular examples of a multitude of possible depictions of the present inventions. Accordingly, I claim:

Claims

1. A mattress securable top bed covering for a sleeper's use in conjunction with a bottom sheet on a mattress having a head section and a foot section, said mattress securable top bed covering comprising

a. a flat, planar fabric sheet having a proximal edge, a distal edge, two sides edges, a top surface, an underside surface; and
b. an expandable mattress receiving pocket fixedly fastened to said underside surface at said distal end of said flat planar fabric sheet
c. such that when in use with a mattress and a sleeper, said proximal edge of said flat planar primary fabric sheet is located at the head section of the mattress, said distal edge of said flat planar primary fabric sheet is located at the foot section of the mattress, and said expandable mattress receiving pocket releases, expands and envelopes both the foot section of the mattress and the feet of the sleeper, without sacrificing the comfort of the sleeper.

2. A mattress securable top bed covering for use on a mattress having a head section and a foot section, said mattress securable top bed covering comprising

a. a flat, planar fabric sheet having a proximal edge, a distal edge, two sides edges, a top surface and an underside surface, said proximal edge corresponding to the head section of the mattress, said distal edge corresponding to the foot section of the mattress, said proximal edge separated from said distal edge by a desired length, said two side edges separated from each other by a desired width;
b. a mattress-receiving pocket fastened to said underside surface at said distal edge of said flat, planar fabric sheet, said mattress-receiving pocket having a mouth; and
c. means for alternatingly expanding and reducing the volume of said mattress-receiving pocket to allow both for the accommodation of the foot section of the mattress together with a sleeper's feet without sacrificing comfort, and easy bed making with minimum effort.

3. The mattress securable top bed covering of claim 2 wherein said means for alternatingly expanding and reducing the volume of said mattress-receiving pocket is selected from the group consisting of ruching, pleats, bunched fabric, ruching channels, cords, biased tapes, cord locks and tape locks.

4. A pocketed top bed sheet for use in conjunction with a bottom sheet on a mattress having a head section and a foot section, said pocketed top bed sheet comprising: whereby when in use with a mattress, said proximal edge of said flat planar primary fabric sheet is located at the head section of the mattress, said distal edge of said flat planar primary fabric sheet is located at the foot section of the mattress, and the mattress inserted into said expandable mattress-receiving pocket reaches the bottom of the mattress' foot section immediately adjacent to said foot wall, and said bottom wall of said expandable mattress receiving pocket being trapped underneath the mattress, to keep said top bed sheet in place at all times.

a. A flat, planar fabric sheet having a proximal edge, a distal edge, two sides edges, a top surface, an underside surface, and an expandable mattress receiving pocket fastened to said underside surface at said distal end of said flat planar fabric sheet;
b. said expandable mattress receiving pocket having a foot wall, two side walls, a bottom wall, and an expandable mattress receiving mouth, i. said foot wall having a bottom edge, and two opposite side edges; ii. each of said two side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge, respectively; iii. said bottom wall having two opposite lying side edges, a proximal edge and a distal edge, and lying on a horizontal plane parallel to and distanced from the plane of said bottom surface of said flat, planar fabric sheet and; iv. said flat, planar fabric sheet, said foot wall, said side walls and said bottom wall being arranged and fixedly connected relative to each other such that said distal edge forms said top edge of said foot wall, said bottom edge of said foot wall forms said distal edge of said bottom wall, each of said side edges of said foot wall forms each of said distal edges of each of said side walls respectively, each of said top edges of said side walls respectively is attached to each of said side edges of said flat, planar fabric sheet respectively, each of said bottom edges of each of said side walls respectively form each of said side edges of said bottom wall, such that said foot wall and side walls extend downward from said flat, planar fabric sheet perpendicular to said bottom surface at said distal end of said flat, planar fabric sheet, to form said expandable mattress-receiving pocket, each of said proximal edges of said bottom wall and of side walls forming said expandable mattress-receiving pocket's mouth,

5. The pocketed top bed sheet of claim 4 further comprising ruching on at least one of each of said bottom wall, foot wall, side walls, and mattress-receiving pocket's mouth to allow expansion of the said expandable mattress-receiving pocket and accommodate a user's feet during sleep, without displacement of said pocketed top bed sheet.

6. The pocketed top sheet of claim 4 further comprising ruching on at least one of said edges of said foot wall, side walls and bottom walls of said expandable mattress-receiving pocket.

7. The pocketed top sheet of claim 5 further comprising ruching on at least one of said edges of said foot wall, side walls, and bottom walls of said expandable mattress-receiving pocket the

8. The pocketed top sheet of claim 4 further comprising ruching at at least one point on the foot wall of the expandable pocket such that the foot wall of the expandable pocket can be further expanded.

9. The pocketed top sheet of claim 5 further comprising ruching at at least one point on the side wall of the expandable pocket such that the side wall of the expandable pocket can be further expanded.

10. The pocketed top sheet of claim 5 further comprising

a. a ruched channel within said ruching and
b. a cord running through said ruched channel being equipped with a cord lock such that the expansion level of expandable pocket can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.

11. The pocketed top sheet of claim 6 further comprising

a. a ruched channel within said ruching and
b. a cord running through said ruched channel being equipped with a cord lock such that the expansion level of expandable pocket can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.

12. The pocketed top sheet of claim 7 further comprising

a. a ruched channel within said ruching and
b. a cord running through said ruched channel being equipped with a cord lock such that the expansion level of expandable pocket can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.

13. The pocketed top sheet of claim 8 further comprising

a. a ruched channel within said ruching and
b. a cord running through said ruched channel being equipped with a cord lock such that the expansion level of expandable pocket can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.

14. The pocketed top sheet of claim 9 further comprising

a. a ruched channel within the ruching at at least one point on the side wall of the expandable pocket and
b. a cord running through said ruched channel being equipped with a cord lock such that the expansion level of expandable pocket can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.

15. The pocketed top sheet of claim 7 further comprising a handle located at the end of the at least one cord.

16. The pocketed top sheet of claim 8 further comprising a handle located at the end of the at least one cord.

17. The pocketed top sheet of claim 9 further comprising a handle located at the end of the at least one cord.

18. The pocketed top sheet of claim 10 further comprising a handle located at the end of the at least one cord.

19. The pocketed top sheet of claim 11 further comprising a handle located at the end of the at least one cord.

20. The pocketed top sheet of claim 4 further comprising two support gussets connecting the primary fabric sheet and the two side walls of the expandable pocket.

Patent History
Publication number: 20240298822
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2023
Publication Date: Sep 12, 2024
Inventor: Cindy Wong (East Setauket, NY)
Application Number: 18/118,748
Classifications
International Classification: A47G 9/02 (20060101);