Claims
- 1. A method of forming a sheet which comprises: cutting a length of textile material; supporting said length of material at opposite sides thereof and allowing portion intermediate said supported sides to sag, inserting first guide means under said opposite side and then placing second guide means to engage said portion of said material which is saging and inserting said second guide means below said first guide means to form an overlying layer of said material, sewing the outermost edges of said underlying portions of said material.
- 2. The invention of claim 1 including turning the outermost edge of said overlying portion back onto the uppermost portion thereof and sewing lengthwise along said turned back portion to form a channel to receive an elastomeric material.
- 3. A method of forming a sheet which comprises: cutting a length of textile material into a generally rectangular blank having first and second end edges method; attaching elastic means, in extended condition, along a portion of at least one of said end edges, turning said at least one end edge back over a portion of said blank to form an overlying layer to form a fold line and fastening said overlying layer to said rectangular blank along lines extending from said end edge to said fold line.
- 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said angle is 45.degree..
- 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein, said overlying layer is fastened to said blank along lines extending from the outer corners of said end edge.
- 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said lines extend at an angle relative to said fold line.
- 7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said blank has first and second side edges extending in generally parallel spaced relation between said first and second end edges, and inlcuding securing elastic material in stresses condition to at least one of said first and second side edges while said one of said first and second side edges is in substantially straightened condition.
- 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said overlying layer is fastened to said blank along lines extending from the outer corner of said end edge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 051,732, Filed May 19, 1987 and now abandoned.
The present invention relates generally to fitted mattress cover such as bed sheets with rounded corners so that the bed sheet is not easily dislodged by movement of the persons occupying the bed and provides a neater appearance to the bed.
Fitted bed sheets and mattress covers are well known and the prior art recites numerous examples of fitted bed sheets and methods of making same, all of which have been available for a considerable period of time.
One example of a prior art fitted bed sheet is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 245,365 and provides an end pocket to receive an end of a mattress and hooks and eyes to secure the bottom of the pocket to the mattress.
Another example is shown: in U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,068 wherein a regular shaped self tucking sheet is shown which can be utilized with an elastic means to hold the sheet in postion. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,195, a sheet arrangement is taught for use with a mattress having cut away corners where corner pockets are defined by the shape of the blank from which the sheet is fabricated but require extensive cutting and shaping for the blank to accommodate the mattress.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,380 illustrates yet another prior art arrangement where upper and lower sheets are provided to be notched and sewn together to provide double box corners as does U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,865.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,832 teaches a sheet arrangement where "V" shaped segments are cut out of the end of a retangular blank and opposite sides of the "V" in the end are matched in abutting relation and sewn in order to accommodate the corners of a mattress and to provide a fitted sheet. However, the arrangement shown would not, accommodate elastic material at the ends to hold the sheet in position. On the contrary the reference shows a complicated cutting matching and sewing procedure to form an underlying edge to be used to hold the sheet in place on the bed and does not provide for the use of elastic nor does the reference teach a procedure for automated production. Likewise, none of the prior art references teaches or even remotely suggests sttaching stretched elastic to selected edges of the blank and forming the blank into a mattress cover.
Briefly, no prior art of an arrangement is known which provides a method, apparatus and procedure for forming a fitted bed cover from a blank of fabric material where very little, and even no cutting is required and yet where the mattress cover such as a sheet can be produced by automated equipment to provide a product with means to accommodate rounded mattress corners and to provide elastic means to hold the sheet in position on the bed.
The present invention provides a new, useful, and straightforward method for production of a fitted mattress covers such as sheet from a rectangular blank of textile material where a minimum number of operations are required to produce the covers and where the operations are easily adapted to automatic processing so the expense incurred in the production of a fitted sheet is substantially reduced over the expense incurred in producing any known prior art fitted sheet or bedding cover.
The method and apparatus provided in accordance with the present invention can be utilized to produce fitted bed covers which can accommodate mattress with rounded corners. Further methods within the scope of the present invention provide means for inclusion of an elastic strip in the end panels of the sheet so that the end can be turned to form a corner and so that the sheet retains its shape on a bed and is also securely fastened to the bed.
More importantly sheets within the scope of the present invention are fabricated by procedures within the scope of the present invention which are easily automated so that the sheets can be mass produced with virtually no labor required whereby production cost is minimized.
Briefly, the present invention provides method and apparatus to fabricate a fitted bed sheet fabracated from a generally rectangular blank of fabric material of selected dimensions which permits automated operation to provide sheets which accommodate rounded mattress corners and provide intergral elastic ends to prevent movement of the sheet on the mattress.
While various means methods and procedures to accomplish the objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter, the figures illustrate on such method which it will be understood is presented for illustration only and not by way of limitation.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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51732 |
May 1987 |
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Patent Grant
4932344
