MATTRESS SHEET SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to an easy-change mattress sheet system for a crib, toddler bed, bunk bed, or similar bed employing side panels or rails. Side panels or rails limit the ability to secure a standard sheet onto the mattress without completely removing it from the bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that to function correctly, fitted sheets must engage mattress corners. Replacing a standard sheet on a crib mattress, a toddler bed mattress, or a bunk bed mattress is very difficult because these beds often employ slats, rails, or walls about the mattress. More specifically, slats, rails, or walls limit access to mattress corners, making it difficult to tuck the sheet under the mattress to provide a snug sheet-to-mattress fit, maximizing safety. New mattress designs often have squared corners to limit a child's ability to access the area between the mattress sides and the insides of the crib slats or walls, which further impedes the ease and speed at which a sheet can be changed. Mattress corner access can be further limited by the presence of bumpers used in some cribs.

The typical method by which a crib sheet, toddler bed sheet, or bunk bed sheet is removed is to remove the bumpers, lift or entirely remove the mattress from the bed or crib, and remove the standard or bunk bed crib sheet from the mattress by pulling the sheet from beneath the mattress's four corners. The process is then reversed to remake the bed. The four corners of the bed sheet are then secured to the mattress. The mattress is placed into the bed, and, if required, bumpers or rails are secured around the bed's perimeter.

The contemplated easy-change mattress sheet described herein concerns ease of change and child safety. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's records (CPSC Document #5127), several infants have died from strangulation or suffocation from crib sheets that have disengaged from the mattress. Incidents not involving death have also been reported where a child has been wrapped about a sheet that has been freed from the mattress.

Previous attempts to improve sheet design in this area have focused on simplifying sheet changing without the need to remove the mattress or bumpers from the crib but do not emphasize child safety. Embodiments of the present invention described below address safety problems by employing an attaching device that fully encompasses a removable sheet and provides a base that surrounds the mattress, thereby providing a sheet system that a child cannot dislodge.

Prior art that discloses the use of a zipper or hook and loop fasteners for securing a top sheet generally relies on using a fitted mattress pad to secure the sheet. These types of fitted pads are often ill-fitting and not secure enough to hold the sheet in place.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,565 to Blake, discloses the use of a composite sheet secured by hook and loop fasteners to a fitted mattress pad. An elastic band extending underneath the mattress is used to tension the mattress pad in place. The installation of the elastic band is not described and could prove difficult without stretching the band excessively, which would cause it to lose its elasticity. The band only secures the middle of the pad, resulting in the sheet slipping from the mattress. In addition, the hook and loop fasteners secure the sides of the top sheet only, allowing the entrapment of a child along the top and bottom of the sheet.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,875 to Zipf describes a disposable mattress cover that fully encircles the mattress; however, the mattress must be slid into the cover. In the modified construction described, the corners of the mattress must be lifted and inserted into slots, a cumbersome process due to the tight fit of crib mattresses against the crib slats or walls and the presence of bumpers.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,099 to Brenner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,530 to Blake and U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,026 to Allison all employ an unsecured fitted mattress pad to hold a sheet or protective pad in place, and they all use a zipper or hook and loop fasteners to secure only a portion of the sheet/protective pad into place. These arrangements do not ensure the removable sheet or the fitted mattress pad will not become dislodged and allow the entanglement of a child. Thus, it is a long hyper felt need to provide a sheet configured for use with a crib, a toddler bed, or a bunk bed that is easy to change and provides a safe environment for the baby or child. Embodiments of the present invention satisfies this need by providing an easy-change mattress safety system Having a removable top sheet that is selectively interconnected to base and/or side sheets by a simple attaching mechanism. In some embodiments, the simple attaching mechanism is a zipper (e.g., a YKK #5 Vislon).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide an easy-change mattress safety sheet. The contemplated sheet improves the safety of the standard crib, toddler bed, or bunk bed sheet and reduces the labor involved in changing a standard sheet.

Embodiments of the present invention facilitate securing a sheet to a crib, toddler bed, bunk bed, or other bed surrounded by rails or bumpers. The contemplated system greatly reduces or eliminates the possibility of a child removing the corners and wrapping themselves in the fabric. One embodiment employs a removable top sheet interconnected to a base with a simple attaching device. Access to the attaching device can also be limited, thereby increasing safety. For example, the attaching device may be covered by a fabric flap and located inside the perimeter of a top plane of the mattress. In some embodiments, the attachment device is a zipper, and the zipper pull is completely hidden and inaccessible. These features allow an adult to access the attaching device to make crib sheet changing easy but prevent child access to the attaching means, resulting in a safe environment for the child. Elastic can also be used to allow for adjustability of fit for different-sized mattresses.

As mentioned above, the easy-change mattress sheet system of embodiments of the present invention comprises a bottom base sheet and a removable top sheet attached by simple attaching means, wherein the base sheet covers the bottom and the four sides of the mattress and the top sheet covers the top surface of the mattress. The base may be made from 200 thread count percale regardless of the top fabric. The simple attaching device can be any type of attaching means and in some embodiments, is selected from the group consisting of a zipper, Velcro®, or a plurality of buttons/snaps. When the attaching device is a zipper, the slide of the zipper can be located on the base sheet. The zipper may be attached to the removable top sheet using a double-needle so that there are two lines of stitching for durability and the desired look. The zipper may be sewn with a quarter-inch (about 0.635 cm) allowance from the end of zipper teeth, so zipper pull is not impeded. Additionally, the zipper can be attached so that the zipper pull can be hidden beneath the base of the zipper when fully closed. The zipper may extend 95%-97% of the mattress circumference.

The top and base sheets of the easy-change mattress sheet system can be made of any fabric suitable for use as a sheet. In some embodiments, the sheets are made of cotton fabric. When the sheets are made of cotton, either the top sheet, the base sheet, or both have been pre-shrunk before attaching the simple attaching means. In still other embodiments, elastic can be used in the vertical seams and the bottom of the sheet base to allow for adjustability of the fit. In some embodiments, the attaching device can be identical in length to the perimeter of the mattress. Additionally, after securely attaching the top sheet and the base sheet, the attaching means is located on the mattress perimeter and is hidden under the bumper. The attaching device can be covered by a flap in other embodiments of the present invention. It is, thus, an aspect of the present invention to provide an easy-change mattress safety system that provides both ease sheet changing without removing either the bumpers or the mattress and a safe environment for a child in the bed. This aspect is achieved by the specific design of the system that comprises an attaching device to attach a removable top sheet to a base sheet, wherein the attaching device can be easily accessed by adults, while at the same time, the attaching device is inaccessible to the child in the crib or bunk bed.

In the easy-change mattress sheet system of one embodiment of the present invention, the mattress can be used in a bed of any type and is more preferably used in a bed which has some type of side railings, including bed types such as a crib, a toddler bed, or a bunk bed.

Sheet labels may be located outside the base and the removable top sheet at the zipper start location. The labels may include size information and align the zip sheet and base to begin zipping, an easy reference helping the user identify the correct start corner.

It is one aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of a mattress bottom surface; a lateral sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the mattress, the lateral sheet having corner segments consisting of an upper angled overhanging portion, a vertical portion, and lower angled portion integrated into the bottom base sheet; and a removable top sheet adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and selectively attached to the lateral sheet by a zipper having a zipper pull.

It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of a mattress bottom surface; a lateral sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the mattress, the lateral sheet having corner segments consisting of an upper angled overhanging portion, a vertical portion, and lower angled portion integrated into the bottom base sheet; a removable top sheet adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and selectively attached to the lateral sheet by a zipper having a zipper pull; and wherein the top sheet includes an overhang configured to conceal at least a portion of the upper angled overhanging portions.

It is still yet another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of a mattress bottom surface; a lateral sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the mattress, the lateral sheet having corner segments consisting of an upper angled overhanging portion, a vertical portion, and lower angled portion integrated into the bottom base sheet; a removable top sheet adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and selectively attached to the lateral sheet by a zipper having a zipper pull; and wherein zipper teeth extend at a distal end of the zipper beyond a zipper start point associated with a zipper slider head.

It is another aspect of embodiments of the present invention to provide a sheet system for a mattress, comprising: a bottom base sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of a mattress bottom surface; a lateral sheet adapted to cover at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the mattress, the lateral sheet having corner segments consisting of an upper angled overhanging portion, a vertical portion, and lower angled portion integrated into the bottom base sheet; a removable top sheet adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and selectively attached to the lateral sheet by a zipper having a zipper pull; and wherein zipper teeth end at a distal end of the zipper before a zipper start point associated with a zipper slider head, wherein zipper tape associated with the distal end extends past the teeth and is attached to zipper tape associated with a slider head of the zipper.

The invention's other features and advantages will be apparent from the following drawings, detailed description, and claims.

The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. That is, these and other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention(s) described herein. Further, the above-described embodiments, aspects, objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible using, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described below. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings.

The above-described benefits, embodiments, and/or characterizations are not necessarily complete or exhaustive, and in particular, as to the patentable subject matter disclosed herein. Other benefits, embodiments, and/or characterizations of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, as set forth above and/or described in the accompanying figures and/or in the description herein below.

The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or,” as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, dimensions, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and drawing figures are to be understood as being approximations which may be modified in all instances as required for a particular application of the novel assembly and method described herein.

The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.

The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof can be used interchangeably herein.

It shall be understood that the term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112(f). Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials, or acts and the equivalents thereof shall include all those described in the Summary, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description and in the appended drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crib. It shows the relative positions of the rails, slats, mattress, and sheet. It illustrates how the crib sides restrict the user of a standard sheet from installing it without actually removing it from the crib.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mattress base or sleeve, the top sheet, and separating zipper, and how the sheet is fitted on the mattress.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the features of some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view showing features of some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing a super configuration employed by one embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention feature an easy-change mattress sheet system. The system includes a bottom base sheet and a removable top sheet attached by simple attaching means. The bottom base sheet covers the bottom and the four sides of the mattress, and the top sheet covers the top surface of the mattress.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crib showing the mattress position in relation to the end panels 1 and 2 and sides 3 and 4, which, in this drawing, are comprised of slats and rails. The sides and ends enclose the mattress 5, which is supported by a platform 6. The bumper 7 sits on the perimeter of the mattress surface and is attached at intervals to the rails.

The easy-change mattress sheet system of one embodiment includes a mattress sleeve or base 8 and a top sheet 9. The base and top sheet are attached and become an integral unit with a simple attaching device 10. The attaching device is approximately identical in length to the perimeter of the mattress and, when fully attached, is located on the top surface of the mattress approximately 5 cm from the outer edge. The attaching device can be any device that can securely fasten the top sheet to the base, including a zipper, Velcro®, or a plurality of snaps. A fabric flap can also cover the attaching device.

In one embodiment, the attaching device is a zipper. The zipper can be made out of any suitable material, e.g., a molded plastic, separating zipper. The top sheet and corresponding half of the simple attaching device is expected to be washed much more frequently than the base. Indeed, a zipper has been shown to withstand a significant number of washings on only one half and still function as initially designed. In another embodiment, the zipper slide can be located on the base of the sheet for this reason. The zipper is attached so that the zipper pull can be completely hidden from view and inaccessible for children. The zipper surrounds the entire perimeter of the mattress and ends where the base of the zipper or zipper insert is located. The pull can be hidden by extending the zipper teeth at the end of the zipper approximately 5 cm beyond the point of the zipper beginning, where the zipper insert is attached. The teeth extend under the zipper insert and the zipper pull can be pushed under the insert.

The top sheet 9 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as the same width and length as the mattress 5. This is critical to one embodiment so the attaching device will be located on the mattress perimeter and can be hidden under the bumper. In embodiments, when the simple attaching device is a zipper, the zipper is that the half of the separating zipper not containing the slide is affixed to the top sheet. To maintain the integrity of the top sheet through numerous washings, there are various possible embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the fabric is pre-shrunk before cutting and/or attaching the simple attaching device to maintain integrity.

The sleeve or base 8 is approximately identical in length to the length of the mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress. This allows it to cover the bottom of the mattress and the two ends. The width of the base is approximately identical to the width of the mattress plus twice the thickness of the mattress. Similarly, this allows it to cover the bottom of the mattress and the two sides. Elastic is attached to the vertical seams of the sheet base and in several locations in the bottom of the sheet base to allow for adjustability of fit for mattresses of different thicknesses. The attaching device is attached to the top of the base sheet, where it will be securely fastened to the attaching device on the top sheet. The attaching device can be any device that can securely fasten the top sheet to the base, including such means as a zipper, Velcro®, or a plurality of snaps. In one embodiment, the simple attaching device is a zipper. The half of the separating zipper containing the slide can be affixed to the base sheet in a different embodiment.

To maintain the integrity of the base sheet, there are a variety of possible embodiments of the base sheet. In one embodiment, the length of the base sheet is cut on the length of the fabric to maintain the integrity of the base sheet. In another embodiment, as indicated for the top sheet, the base sheet fabric can also be pre-shrunk before cutting and/or attaching the simple attaching device to maintain integrity.

This design results in an easy-change sheet that allows removing the top sheet without disturbing the mattress, base sheet or bumpers. The top sheet can be washed and returned to the bed or a second top sheet can be readily attached. The base sheet, which receives much less direct contact with the child, can be removed and washed or replaced less frequently in the conventional manner in which a standard sheet is installed.

The easy-change mattress sheet system of the present invention can be used with any mattress and is especially well-suited for mattresses used in beds with support surrounding the mattress, such as cribs, toddler beds with protective railings, or bunk beds.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a sheet 20 comprised of a top panel 24, a bottom panel (not shown) opposite the top panel 24, and lateral side panels 28 interconnecting the top panel to the bottom panel. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the bottom panel may be of a continuous construction or comprise an opening bounded by an elastic edge, common on many fitted sheets. A top sheet 32 is selectively interconnected to the top panel 24 by an attachment device 36, e.g., a zipper. The attachment device 36 moves in the direction of Arrow A to separate the top sheet 32 from the top panel 24. One primary difference with this embodiment of the present invention is that the zipper start 40 and zipper end 44 are adjacent to a corner 48 of the top sheet 32. This feature makes it easier to zip and overlap the zipper end, as the safety features described above are not necessarily required in sheets for older children or adults.

FIG. 4 shows features of another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the embodiment described above with respect to FIG. 3, this embodiment includes a top sheet 32 interconnected to a top panel 24, lateral side panels 28, and a bottom panel 50. Here, the bottom panel 50 is of a common construction comprising an opening 54 bounded by an elastic member 58. The elastic member of one embodiment is about 3.8 cm and occupies most of the bottom panel 50.

This embodiment of the present invention also features an elastic drop seam 62 located between adjacent lateral side panels 28 comprising about 1.3 cm woven elastic. The drop seams may comprise two or more segments, e.g., a vertical drop seam bounded by upper and lower 45-degree seams, wherein the length of the vertical drop seam varies by mattress thickness. In one embodiment, the upper 45-degree seam 60 is about 5 cm long and comprises 1.3 cm elastic, and the lower 45 degree seam 64 is about 8-9 cm long and comprises 1.3 cm elastic.

FIG. 4 also shows an optional overhang 70 interconnected to at least one edge of the top sheet 32. Although only a portion of the overhang 70 is shown, one of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the overhang can extend about the entire perimeter of the top sheet 32 and is designed to cover at least a portion of the top panel 24. In one embodiment, the overhang 70 is about 3.175 cm wide and covers the top 45-degree seam 60. Interfacing/fusing is used inside the overhang 70 on certain fabrics (e.g., percale, 25 gsm) to prevent wrinkling. Further, the overhang 70 may also include a 45-degree seam. The bottom panel 50 may be thought of as a bottom overhang, which may be about 7.6 cm wide (about 8-9 cm at the lower 45-degree seam 64.

FIG. 5 shows a radius corner 74 when the top sheet is removed. In one embodiment, the corner seam associated with the interconnection of adjacent lateral side panels 28 must align with the tolerance of three zipper teeth 78. This feature allows top sheets to be received by bases of the same size, offering a truly interchangeable sheet system.

FIG. 6 shows a zipper configuration of one embodiment of the present invention comprised of a zipper pull 80 interconnected to a slider head 84 interconnected to zipper tape 86. A bottom stop 92 is also interconnected to the zipper tape 86. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the stop 92 is the insert box for the zipper start associated with mating teeth that correspond to those shown. The zipper comprises a plurality of teeth 78 that ends in a stop 94. The stop 94 is associated with an extended portion of the zipper tape 96. In some embodiments described above, the extended portion 96 is used to reinforce seam construction. Further, the extended portion 96 was often folded back on itself. Here, the extended portion 96 is located beneath the stop 92 and sewn to the adjacent zipper tape.

Exemplary characteristics of embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the present invention, the preceding description may omit several known apparatus, methods, systems, structures, and/or devices one of ordinary skill in the art would understand are commonly included with the embodiments of the present invention. Such omissions are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed invention. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. It should, however, be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

Modifications and alterations of the various embodiments of the present invention described herein will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, it is to be understood that the invention(s) described herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. That is, the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The scope of the various embodiments described herein is indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. And all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed inventions require more features than expressly recited. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention described herein include components, methods, processes, systems, and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various sub-combinations and subsets thereof. Accordingly, one of skill in the art will appreciate that would be possible to provide for some features of the embodiments of the present invention without providing others. Stated differently, any one or more of the aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein may be combined with any one or more other aspects, features, elements, means, or embodiments as disclosed herein.

MATTRESS SHEET SYSTEM

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