Patent Application
20170156517
The disclosed technology relates generally to bedding, and more specifically, to a combination bed sheet with bed skirt.
Bed sheets are generally fabric material used to cover a bed. Fitted bed sheets usually have elastic which help a bed sheet fit more snugly on a bed and move less than unfitted bed sheets which are simply tucked under a mattress. The sheet protects the mattress by covering same; it makes beds more hygienic, since people sleeping there-on are only in contact with a removable and washable covering.
Bed skirts are also devices which are used with beds. Bed skirts extend downwards from over the top-most extremity of a mattress or support structure on which the mattress rests, on at least one side of a bed. The skirt makes the bed more attractive by hiding the sides and extending a pattern or colored décor around the bed.
Combinations of bed skirts and bed coverings of sorts are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,053 to Mangano shows an example of a bed covering with a bed skirt. U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,750 to Shiu shows a separable expansion bed covering and skirt. U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,001 shows a slip cover for a couch which falls over the top of the couch.
While, as shown above, similar technology exists, there is a need for simpler products which are easier to manufacture, less expensive to procure, and carry out the functions of bed sheets, bed covers, and bed skirts.
A bed sheet has a single seam (defined as a line along which two pieces of fabric are sewn together) between a top side of a bed sheet, a lateral side of the bed sheet, and a bed skirt. As such, the bed skirt extends from the edge of the top side of the sheet, as well as the edge of the lateral side of the bed sheet. The bed skirt can extend as such along one side, two adjacent sides, two opposite sides, or three adjacent sides. The bed skirt is continuous (defined as “without a space larger than 10 cm between and two pieces of the material”) along each of the sides in which it is present, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Likewise, the seam, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, is continuous along adjacent sides of the bed skirt (such as continuously wrapping around three lateral sides of the bed sheet/top of the bed skirt).
When the bed skirt is on either opposite lateral side of the bed, mattress, and bed sheet, there are two seams, each connecting a respective side bed skirt to the bed sheet. The seam, in embodiments, is made up of (comprises or consists of) stitching extending through all of the material forming the bed skirt, material forming said top side of said bed sheet, and material forming the lateral side of said bed sheet.
Another way of describing embodiments of the disclosed technology is that on top of a mattress support structure is a mattress which is, in turn, covered by a bed sheet extending over a top side of the mattress and fitted around each lateral side and at least a portion of a bottom of the mattress. A bed skirt extends along at least two lateral sides of the bed sheet (two contiguous or opposite sides), and further extends from a point (seam) where the bed sheet turns from the top side of the mattress to each lateral side. The bed skirt extends from the bed sheet past at least a portion of the mattress support structure (as gravity pulls the bed skirt downwards from the top of the mattress past the mattress support structure).
The seam can be formed at the point or points (along a line) where the bed sheet and bed skirt meet. This can further be an attachment point or line between the top side of the bed sheet and at least two lateral sides of the bed sheet.
A combination bed sheet and bed skirt have a top side of the bed sheet adapted for placement on a top side of a mattress, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. A lateral side of the bed sheet can be adapted for abutment on a lateral side of the mattress. A seam extends between the top side of the bed sheet and the lateral side of the bed sheet, in embodiments thereof. A bed skirt is attached along a length of the seam and abuts the lateral side of the bed sheet in this embodiment. The seam and the bed skirt can extend across two oppositely disposed sides of the bed sheet. Or, the seam and the bed skirt can extend continuously along three adjacent sides of the bed sheet. The bed skirt can extend from the seam to below the mattress (where “below” means in the direction of the ground on which the mattress is supported indirectly) and the lateral side of the bed sheet. The bed sheet can have elastic on the bottom side thereof. The seam can also have elastic.
“Substantially” and “substantially shown,” for purposes of this specification, are defined as “at least 90%,” or as otherwise indicated. “Identical” or “exactly,” for purposes of this specification, is defined as “within an acceptable tolerance level known in the art.” Any device may “comprise,” or “consist of,” the devices mentioned there-in, as limited by the claims. Any element described may be one of “exactly” or “substantially,” as described.
It should be understood that the use of “and/or” is defined inclusively, such that the term “a and/or b” should be read to include the sets: “a and b,” “a or b,” “a,” or “b.”
The disclosed technology described herein is a combination fitted bed sheet and bed skirt, whereby a common seam is formed for both the sides of the bed sheet and the bed skirt. That is, the bed sheet has a top side sized for the top of a mattress, four sides sized for respective sides of a mattress, and four sides with elastic which fit under the bottom of the mattress. A seam situated between the top side and the four lateral sides further is the connection point for a bed skirt which is attached on at least two. or at least three. of the sides. The bed skirt is elongated, generally flat material which extends downward or outward from the connection point or seam. This connection point is actually a line where the top side and lateral sides of the bed sheet, as well as the bed skirt, all meet. This connection line extends around the corners of the mattress between, at, and/or on both of the lateral sides and top side of the sheet/skirt described herein. It should be understood that any number of sides/shape of a bed and corresponding bed sheet are within the scope of the disclosed technology.
Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the forthcoming description of the figures.
Discussing
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.
