The invention disclosed herein relates generally to bedding, and more specifically to bedding for preventing cross contamination of successive bed users from germs left behind from use of the bed.
Currently, beds available for lodging such as in hotels, motels, Air BnB like dwellings, and even cruise ships, are used serially by a number of guests. Often there are just hours before one guest leaves and the next one arrives. Usually in response to local health regulations the sheets are changed between guests, but the covers are not.
However, some of the principal routes for spread of infections include contact with infected persons or contact with articles of bedding or clothing that have been contaminated by an infected source. See MedicineNet, Hotel Hygiene: Is Your Hotel Making You Sick?; Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD; https://www.medicinenet.com/hotelIhygiene_is_your_hotel making_you_sick/views.htm As a result germs from a previous bed user can linger behind even after normal room cleaning. Studies, such as blue light illumination of “clean” covers, show that this happens more often than not. Such lingering germs spread disease to the next unwary traveler using the “clean” bedding.
Accordingly a bedding which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art is desired.
A bedding cover includes a substantially (rectangular) squared sheet formed of a non rigid, malleable, material. A strip of material is disposed across a center of the sheet; the strip of material being more rigid than the sheet. A first fastener is disposed at a first corner of the sheet. A second fastener for engaging the first fastener is disposed at a second corner of the sheet. The first fastener and second fastener being disposed on opposed sides of the strip of material.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the strip of material disposed across the center of the sheet includes a soft filler material contained therein; providing comfort and some rigidity to the strip of material.
The present disclosure is better understood by reading the written description with reference to the accompanying drawings and figures in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to the elements throughout, in which:
The subject matter of aspects of embodiments of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of any patent issuing from this description. Rather, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.
Reference is made to
Reference is now made to
A padded edge 112 is disposed along a widthwise edge of sheet 110. Padded edge 112 is filled and preferably weighted. Padded edge 112, because of its padded structure, is more rigid than sheet 100 and can maintain its own shape until folded upon itself. This structure prevents a top edge of sheet 100 from bunching upon itself during use.
A seam of reinforcing stitching 114 is disposed along the remaining edges of sheet 110; along a first edge length 124 of sheet 110 extending from padded edge 112 to an opposed width edge 126 and continuing along a second edge length 128 from width edge 126 to padded edge 112. Reinforcing stitching 114 (comprised of lengths 124, 126, 128) forms a U substantially about the perimeter of sheet 110, which is closed by padded edge 112.
A padded strip 120 is disposed across sheet 110 at substantially the center (along the length) of sheet 110 so that a centerline 122 of sheet 110 is located within padded strip 120. Centerline 122 divides sheet 110 along a length of sheet 110 into a first section 110a and a second section 110b, the area of section 110a being substantially the same as section 110b. Padded strip 120 is more rigid, less malleable, than sheet 110 so that, as will be described below, padded strip 120 is used as a structure to enable sheet 100 to be folded upon itself for use.
In a preferred non-limiting embodiment, sheet 110 has a width sufficient to be at least coextensive with the width of a bed mattress; and more particularly to be greater than the width of a standard bed mattress; king, queen, twin, etc. In a preferred non limiting embodiment sheet 110 has a width at least substantially coextensive with a cover for the bed type. For reasons described below a length of sheet 100 is designed for use with the intended cover, but is usually between about eighty to one hundred and ten inches.
Reference is now made to
In a next step 808 the bed linens, cover 12 in this example, are then folded back to their original position so that cover 12 now lies on a portion of sheet 100. An upper edge of cover 12, either folded or unfolded according to taste, rests adjacent centerline 122. Sheet 110 is then folded about padded strip 120 at centerline 122 to surround cover 12 between sheet section 110a and sheet section 110b in a step 810. See
To secure bed cover 100 about cover 12, bedcover 100 is provided with fasteners 116 and 118 (not shown). Fasteners 116, 118 secure cover 100 upon itself to maintain the position of cover 100 about cover (and other bedding) 12 in a step 812. In a preferred non limiting embodiment fastener 116 is a zipper having one half of the zipper track 116a disposed upon section 110a of cover 100. A second zipper track 116b, for mating with zipper track 116a is disposed along the same length of cover 100, but on an opposed side of centerline 122 (upon section 110b). In this way when bed cover 100 is folded about itself substantially about centerline 122, zipper track 116a is in a position to engage with zipper track 116b, securing cover 100 upon itself with cover 12 therebetween. Similarly fastener 118 is formed by mating zipper portion 118a and 118b formed along the opposed edge of sheet 100 from zipper 116, and on opposed sides of centerline 122 to engage each other when cover 100 is folded.
Sheet 100 is formed of a non rigid material. In a preferred non limiting embodiment the material is cotton. However it is well within the scope of the invention to form sheet 100 from flannel, fleece, straw, bamboo thread, hemp, nylon or any other natural or artificial material from which bedding is normally made. However, given the use for which the invention will be made, a light plastic may be used as well. Furthermore, fasteners 116, 118 are described in terms of zippers, but may be formed of any simple fastener such as buttons, Velcro® hook and loop fasteners, snaps or the like.
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As a result of a bed cover constructed in accordance with the invention, a bed cover which prevents cross contamination of disease between successive bed users is provided. By providing structure to fasten the cover to itself the bed cover remains in a position enveloping the contaminated surfaces, preventing cross contamination no matter how much the bed cover is moved during a restless sleep. By forming the sheet of the bed cover of non-rigid material, the bed cover lends itself to folding for easy carrying after use.
The foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and process shown as described above. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/172,976, filed Apr. 9, 2021, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63172976 | Apr 2021 | US |