Patent Application
20170099966
The present invention relates to a multi-pieced bedding cover and a method for operating a multi-pieced bedding cover.
Popular bedding options such as comforters and duvets typically have a removable cover and an inner part. In turn, the traditional bedding covers are typically composed of two layers of fabric enclosing an inner bed filling that is either a comforter, duvet, or blanket of some material. The two outer layers protect the inner bedding from becoming dirty while the cover can be removed for laundering.
However, the traditional bedding cover is difficult to put back onto the inner portion after laundering. This is due to the traditional covers resembling an envelope with an opening slit at one end of the bedding cover. This configuration requires careful alignment of the four corners of the cover with the corners of the inner portion and hence typically requires two persons to put the cover back onto the inner portion.
The U.S. Hollander patent Ser. No. 10/217,844 ('844 patent) describes a two-piece duvet coverlet featuring a removable sheet that may be laundered and a second envelope-like piece with a side opening for the duvet insertion. This approach was thought to simplify the laundering requirements by only removing the sheet for laundering.
The U.S. Tepper patent Ser. No. 12/201,592 ('592 patent) describes a two-piece duvet coverlet formed from two sheets held together by press studs around the perimeter of the sides. This approach was thought to solve the problem of minimizing laundering requirements by unsnapping the press studs in order to release the inner duvet and laundering only the outer sheets.
The current invention solves the difficulty of putting (insert preposition, e.g. “on”) a bedding cover with just one person. The preferred embodiment is allows for ease in both removing and putting on the bedding cover by making a few improvements upon the traditional bedding covers.
The first objective of the present invention is to simplify the bedding laundering process by removing the need for two persons to remove or reinsert the bedding into the bedding cover. The second objective of the present invention is to allow for simplifying the bedding laundering process by allowing for the flexibility of laundering only one piece of the two-piece cover at a time and hence reducing the tangling of the cover with other laundry items. The third objective of the present invention is to allow the user more flexibility in the aesthetics of the bedding with interchangeability of the combinations in designs of Portions A and B.
The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a portion A and a portion B where portion B is comprised of at least two layers of fabric forming an enclosure over the inner bed filling. Portion A is comprised of at least one layer of fabric. The four corners of portion A are substantially aligned with the four corners of portion B. While the preferred embodiment has portion A as configured as the top portion, the preferred variant can include configurations with portion A as the bottom portion. Portions A and B can also have additional layers of fabric in the preferred variant. The fabric can additionally be hypoallergenic, odor-proof, or wrinkle-proof in the preferred variant.
In the preferred embodiment, the portion A and the portion B are attached to each other with at least one pair of complementary removable fasteners. Examples of such fasteners include but are not limited to: press studs, buttons, VELCRO, zippers, snaps, cloth ties. The portion B has a hole at or near the center that allows the inner bed filling to be taken out of the portion B in order to launder the portion B and the portion A independently of the inner bed filling. The hole can be of any shape, including polygonal or circular, in the preferred variant. The inner bed filling can be a comforter, duvet, blanket or the like made of a variety of materials including but not limited to: cotton, down, or wool. Preferred variants can have more pairs of complementary fasteners placed around the perimeter of both portions A and B.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method of minimizing the efforts in removing and put back on the bedding cover by providing the steps of removably fastening a top portion to a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion has a hole at or near the center and is double-layered to enclose the inner bed filling.
Examples of embodiments of the invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:
The illustrations are attached to the back of this application.
As illustrated, the invention consist of at least two portions: a portion A (22) and a portion B (10). Portion B forms a fabric shell that encloses the Inner Bed Filling (not shown). As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
This construction allows for the Inner Bed Filling to be removed and reinserted into the invention. The Inner Bed Filling is protected from soiling, while Portion A (22) or Portion B (10) can be removed for laundering.
The invention can be any desired size, shape and composed of a wide variety of materials such as cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, or a combination of such. The Inner Bed Filling can be any typical bedding, including a duvet, blanket, quilt, or comforter. The Inner Bed Filling can be filled with down, cotton, synthetics, or any other suitable filler material. The releasable attachment pieces may be buttons and buttonholes, press studs, snaps, ties, VELCRO, zippers, and any other suitable materials. Finally, the location of the cutout can be moved around Portion B as long as the invention still facilitates the removal and insertion of the Inner Bed Filling.
The invention's configuration can be flipped upside down, where the Top Portion is on the bottom and hence become the portion that is closest to the human body for sleeping. This allows for the Top Portion to protect the entire duvet, comforter, or the like and be the only portion laundered.
In an exemplary embodiment, Portion A and Portion B are releasably attached to each other using a system of buttons and buttonholes.
In an exemplary embodiment, Portion A and Portion B are releasably attached to each other using VELCRO fasteners.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is at least one additional fabric portion in addition to Portions A and B. The additional portion can be decorative.
In an exemplary embodiment, Portion A is comprised of at least two layers of fabric. The additional layer may be removable for easier cleaning or may be decorative.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cutout in Portion B is polygon-shaped.
In an exemplary embodiment, both Portions A and B are substantially rectangularly shaped.
In an exemplary embodiment, Portions A and B can be made from hypoallergenic materials.
In an exemplary embodiment, the Inner Bed Filling can be a duvet, blanket, or comforter. Additionally, the size of Portions A and B can be scaled to fit different sizes of Inner Bed Fillings such as Twin, Full, Queen, and King.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/148,559 filed on Apr. 16, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
