Patent Application
20090070932
The invention is directed to a crib sheet that can be easily attached and removed from a crib or other support. More particularly the crib sheet has soft material upper and lower surface and a moisture proof inner layer with a moisture absorbent layer on each side of the moisture proof layer.
The problem that is presented is a crib sheet that will absorb wetness from an infant or accidents from a toddler and to be reusable. As much as possible it should protect the bed pads and/or a sheet that usually is form fitted to a crib bed. In addition it also is useful to have a type of crib sheet that can be used as a pad when the child sleeps outside of the crib on another surface. This can be for use at home or away from home. This problem has been addressed by others in the past in various ways. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,565 there is disclosed a crib sheet that is comprised of a moisture proof top panel and a lower panel that is attached to the mattress. The top panel and the lower panel are separable. Hook and loop fasteners can attach the panels, one to the other. Usually only the top moisture panel needs to removed and washed on a more frequent basis. The top panel consists of an upper soft layer over a moisture proof layer of a plastic or an equivalent. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,296 discloses a pillow or crib sheet having an inner moisture storing layer that consists of a foam material or equivalent with both horizontal and vertical channels over an absorbent layer which in turn is over a plastic or equivalent moisture proof layer. The absorbent layer will absorb liquids that seep down through foam material. The moisture proof layer will protect the lower parts of the bed. U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,344 discloses an infant sleeping system. This consists of a crib sheet that attaches to the crib at least at the corners with an infant sleep garment attachable to the crib sheet. If the sleep garment becomes soiled it can be removed from the crib sheet and washed. These are interesting structures for crib sheets. However they do not fully address the problem of a crib sheet that can be used in various environments.
The crib sheet of the present invention solves many problems. It is a reversible easy-change crib sheet that offers moisture proof protection, along with a soft comfortable outer layer. It also is in a convenient functional design for use in cribs, toddler beds, and other size beds and upholstery, as well as a napping pad for use at home or away from home. In addition it will protect nursery bedding from spit-ups and diaper leaks, while providing an infant with a comfortable surface to sleep on throughout the year by virtue of two different surfaces for contact with the infant. It is easy to attach to detach from a crib or bed using existing components of the crib or bed or other securing mechanisms designed to work with the crib sheet, and can be laundered and reused. It solves many problems for parents. It particularly conserves a parent's time and allows for more time to be spent in various activities with the child.
The invention comprises an easily removed sheet for a crib comprising a layer of a moisture proof material having on an upper side and on a lower side adjacent moisture proof absorbent layers. Adjacent each absorbent layer, opposite the moisture proof layer, there is a fabric material layer. On one side there is a soft fabric material and on the other side there is a less soft fabric material. Depending on the season of the year and the preference of the infant either side will be used. The upper absorbent layer, the moisture proof layer and the lower absorbent layer are attached to form at least a three layer structure at a peripheral edge of the moisture proof layer, lower absorbent layer and the upper absorbent layer. On each side then is a fabric layer to yield at least a five layer structure. The at least five layer structure has at least one means emanating from the peripheral edge thereof to attach the easily removed sheet to a crib. As a part of the at least five layer structure additionally there will be can be outer fabric layers of differing properties adjacent to the absorbent layers.
The moisture proof layer can be a plastic sheet of a plastic and can be selected from the group consisting of ethylene polymers and copolymers, propylene polymers and copolymers, vinyl polymers and copolymers, urethane polymers and copolymers, and polyester polymers.
There are at least two absorbent layers, one on each side of the moisture impervious layer. The absorbent layer can comprise a synthetic polymeric material or a cellulosic material or a combination of a synthetic polymeric layer and a cellulosic layer. The fabric materials are at least partially comprised of a cotton material or a wool material. Synthetic materials also can be used as well as blends of synthetic and cotton or wool materials. The means for attaching the at least three layer structure to a crib is at least one tie strip, a loop or an equivalent of either.
The invention will be described in detail in its preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. However, the concepts described in the preferred embodiments can be modified but yet be within the bounds of the disclosed concepts.
In a second embodiment the top surface to contact the infant will be a less soft material. Thus in
The layers 26 and 30 are absorbent layers. The absorbent material can be a natural or a synthetic material. Natural absorbent materials include various cellulosic materials. Synthetic materials include polyfleece materials, polyurethanes and absorbent polyesters. In addition mixtures of natural absorbent and synthetic absorbent materials can be used. The absorbent layers will have a thickness of about 0.1 cm to about 0.5 cm.
The layer 28 is a moisture proof layer. This will be a sheet of a moisture impervious material, usually a synthetic material. However, rubber based natural materials can be used. The useful synthetic materials include plastics based on ethylene polymers and copolymers, propylene polymers and copolymers, vinyl polymers and copolymers, urethane polymers and copolymers and polyester polymers. These include polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene-propylene copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene terephthalate. The moisture proof layer will have a thickness of about 150 microns to about 250 microns.
At least the moisture proof layer 28 and the adjacent absorbent layer 26 and the absorbent layer 30 are attached together. This attaching will be performed throughout the crib sheet using ultrasonic sewing technology or through the use of adhesives which can withstand being cycled through a washer and a dryer to ensure that the function of the moisture proof layer 28 is not compromised. The layers will be of substantially the same dimensions. The crib sheet can be of a square shape but since most cribs are rectangular the crib sheet preferably is rectangular. However, it can be of essentially any shape. When rectangular the minor dimension will be about 50 cm to about 195 cm and the major will be about 90 cm to about 300 cm. A very useful minor dimension is about 71 cm and a very useful major dimension of about 132 cm. The attaching can be mechanically through a stitching or riveting or adhesively through an adhesive bonding or a heat bonding. Heat activated adhesives such as hot melt adhesives can be used. These can be on the periphery of one or more of the layers and activated by a heated surface. The periphery of the soft material outer layers 12 and 32 also can be bonded to the moisture proof layer 28 and the absorbent layers 26 and 30 at the same time. Further it is desirable for the integrity of the peripheral bonding and for aesthetic purposes to have a fabric edging around the periphery of the crib sheet covering the exposed edges of the layers 12, 26, 28, 30 and 32. The edging usually will be U-shaped to fully cover the exposed edges. The fabric edging can be attached mechanically by stitching or riveting or adhesively through an adhesive bonding. If an adhesive is used a heat activated adhesive is preferred. Also in each of the above described instances a combined mechanical and adhesive attaching can be used.
Optionally there can be additional layers in the crib sheet structure for particular uses. For instance there can be a perforated plastic layer between layer 12 and 26 and layers 32 and 30 to control the flow of liquid to and from absorbent layer 26 and absorbent layer 30. In addition waterproof layer 28 can be perforated so that when there is a soft surface on one side and a less soft surface on the other side the same surface can be used a multiple number of times with both absorbent layer 26 and absorbent layer 30 being used for absorbing liquids. Otherwise only one of the absorbent layers would be used.
In use the crib sheet can be used in conjunction with a standard infant crib or bed, or it can be used alone as a sleeping pad. It would be used as a sleeping pad primarily when away from home. When used in conjunction with a crib, the ties 16, 18, 20 and 22 or their equivalent can be used to attach the crib sheet to the crib. Equivalents are shown in
As noted either the soft material layer 12 of the first embodiment or less soft material 32 of the second embodiment can be in contact with the infant. In use one side can be used until the adjacent absorbent layer has been saturated. After use the crib sheet can be laundered and reused. A regular washing cycle can be used. Drying can be by line drying or drying in an automatic dryer. A gentle cycle in such a dryer is useful.
The crib sheet provides a convenience to the infant and to the person caring for the infant. Either side may be used depending on the desired comfort level or temperature for the infant or the person who will be using the crib sheet as the reversible feature may provide two different materials that may offer different levels of comfort, softness, and temperature.
