Patent Application
20170231409
This disclosure relates generally to bed dressings and more particularly to a method and/or system of stitchless bedding.
A bedsheet set may include a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and/or pillowcases. Edges of the bedsheet are folded and stitched together using a sewing needle and/or by thread. Stitched edges of the bedsheet may be unsightly because threads of the bedsheet may be visible and/or occasionally tear apart. Further, stitched edges may cause the bedsheet to wrinkle and/or form uncomfortable lumps and clusters in the bedsheet. In addition, stitches may diminish a visual appearance of the bedsheet by modifying texture, feel, and/or condition of the bedsheet.
Moreover, stitching may lead to puckering (e.g., where the fabric wrinkles and gathers into small folds due to being sewn by thread), leading to unappealing aesthetics and/or user discomfort. Stitched edges may also result in reduced durability. For example, thread may weaken and/or come apart during washing. Stitched edges of the bedsheet may further result in broken needles left in the bedsheet, which may create product liability risk when customers are injured by needles hurting their bodies. Therefore, stitched bedsheets may be unsightly, uncomfortable, and/or dangerous.
Disclosed are a method and/or a system of stitchless bedding. In one aspect, a bedsheet component includes a fabric having an angled corner area. A marginal border is folded to include a top marginal fold and a bottom marginal fold. The top marginal fold is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold. The bedsheet component further includes an adhesive inserted between the top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold. A heat and/or a pressure is applied to the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold to soften the adhesive. The adhesive further permeates a portion of the top marginal fold and a portion of the bottom marginal fold. The top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold are held together as a single, complete flexible unit when the adhesive is cured.
The fabric may have a fabric length and/or a fabric width substantially compatible with a mattress length and/or a mattress width of a conventional mattress. The fabric may be a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and/or a pillowcase. The marginal border of the bedsheet component may be stitchlessly fastened together through the adhesive when the adhesive is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold and/or the portion of the bottom marginal fold and the adhesive may be cured. The adhesive may be a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive.
The folding of the marginal border may be by a customized fusion machine. The customized fusion machine may have a worktable surface. The worktable surface may have a surface length substantially compatible with a border length of the marginal border. The marginal border may fit flatly on the worktable surface. The application of the heat and/or the pressure to the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold may be by a customized fusion machine. The customized fusion machine may have a worktable surface. The worktable surface may have a surface length substantially compatible with a border length of the marginal border.
The marginal border may fit flatly on the worktable surface. The folding of the marginal border and/or the application of the heat and/or the pressure to the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold may be by a customized fusion machine. The customized fusion machine may have a worktable surface. The worktable surface has a surface length substantially compatible with a border length of the marginal border. The marginal border may fit flatly on the worktable surface. The single, complete flexible unit may be an unencumbered continuous smooth texture. The adhesive may permanently bond the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold when the adhesive is cured.
In another aspect, a bedsheet component includes a single uniform, substantially rectangular flat sheet of fabric having a right angle corner area and having a fabric length and a fabric width substantially compatible with a mattress length and a mattress width of a conventional mattress. The bedsheet component further includes a marginal border. The marginal border is folded to further include a top marginal fold and a bottom marginal fold. The top marginal fold is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold.
The bedsheet component further includes a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive inserted between the top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold. A heat and/or a pressure to the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold is applied to soften the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive. The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive further permeates a portion of the top marginal fold and a portion of the bottom marginal fold. The top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold are held together as a single, complete flexible unit when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is cured.
The marginal border of the bedsheet is stitchlessly fastened together through the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold and the portion of the bottom marginal fold and is cured. The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive may permanently bond the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is cured.
In yet another aspect, a method of fabricating a bedsheet component includes cutting a single uniform, substantially rectangular flat sheet of fabric having a right angle corner area and having a fabric length and a fabric width substantially compatible with a mattress length and a mattress width of a conventional mattress. A marginal border of the bedsheet is folded. A top marginal fold and a bottom marginal fold are formed when the marginal border of the bedsheet is folded. The top marginal fold is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold.
A layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is inserted between the top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold. A heat and/or a pressure is applied to the top marginal fold and/or the bottom marginal fold to soften the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive. A portion of the top marginal fold and a portion of the bottom marginal fold are permeated with the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive. The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is cured to stitchlessly fasten the top marginal fold and the bottom marginal fold together as a single, complete flexible unit.
The method of fabricating a bedsheet component may further include stitchlessly fastening together the marginal border of the bedsheet through the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold and/or the portion of the bottom marginal fold and/or the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive may be cured.
Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide a method and/or a system of stitchless bedding. Although, the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.
In one embodiment, a bedsheet component 100 includes a fabric 102 having an angled corner area 104. A marginal border 106 is folded to further include a top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204. The top marginal fold 202 is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold 204. The bedsheet component 100 further includes an adhesive 206 inserted between the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204.
A heat 208 and/or a pressure 210 is applied to the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 to soften the adhesive 206 (e.g., a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive). The adhesive 206 further permeates a portion of the top marginal fold 214 and a portion of the bottom marginal fold 216. The top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 are held together as a single and complete flexible unit 218 when the adhesive 206 (e.g., a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive) is cured, according to one embodiment.
The fabric 102 may have a fabric length 300 and/or a fabric width 302 substantially compatible with a mattress length 304 and/or a mattress width 306 of a conventional mattress 308. The fabric 102 may be a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and/or a pillowcase. The marginal border 106 of the bedsheet component 100 may be stitchlessly fastened together through the adhesive 206 when the adhesive 206 is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold 214 and/or the portion of the bottom marginal fold 216 and the adhesive 206 may be cured. The adhesive 206 may be a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive.
The folding (e.g., fold 400) of the marginal border 106 may be by a customized fusion machine 212. The customized fusion machine 212 may have a worktable surface 402. The worktable surface 402 may have a surface length 404 substantially compatible with a border length 406 of the marginal border 106. The marginal border 106 may fit flatly on the worktable surface 402. The application of the heat 208 and/or the pressure 210 to the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 may be by a customized fusion machine 212. The customized fusion machine 212 may have a worktable surface 402. The worktable surface 402 may have a surface length 404 substantially compatible with a border length 406 of the marginal border 106.
The marginal border 106 may fit flatly on the worktable surface 402. The folding of the marginal border 106 and/or the application of the heat 208 and/or the pressure 210 to the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 may be by a customized fusion machine 212. The customized fusion machine 212 may have a worktable surface 402. The worktable surface 402 has a surface length 404 substantially compatible with a border length 406 of the marginal border 106. The marginal border 106 may fit flatly on the worktable surface 402. The single and complete flexible unit 218 may be an unencumbered continuous smooth texture. The adhesive 206 (e.g., layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive) may permanently bond the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 when the adhesive 206 is cured.
In another embodiment, a bedsheet component 100 includes a single uniform, substantially rectangular flat sheet of fabric 102 having a right angle corner area (e.g., angled corner area 104) and having a fabric length 300 and a fabric width 302 substantially compatible with a mattress length 304 and a mattress width 306 of a conventional mattress 308. The bedsheet component 100 further includes a marginal border 106. The marginal border 106 is folded to further include a top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204. The top marginal fold 202 is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold 204.
The bedsheet component 100 further includes a layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) inserted between the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204. A heat 208 and/or a pressure 210 to the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 is applied to soften the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206). The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) further permeates a portion of the top marginal fold 214 and a portion of the bottom marginal fold 216. The top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 are held together as a single and complete flexible unit 218 when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) is cured.
The marginal border 106 of the bedsheet is stitchlessly fastened together through the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold 214 and the portion of the bottom marginal fold 216 and is cured. The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) may permanently bond the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is cured.
In yet another embodiment, a method of fabricating a bedsheet component 100 includes cutting a single uniform, substantially rectangular flat sheet of fabric 102 having a right angle corner area (e.g., angled corner area 104) and having a fabric length 300 and a fabric width 302 substantially compatible with a mattress length 304 and a mattress width 306 of a conventional mattress 308. A marginal border 106 of the bedsheet is folded. A top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204 are formed when the marginal border 106 of the bedsheet is folded. The top marginal fold 202 is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold 204.
A layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is inserted between the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204. A heat 208 and/or a pressure 210 is applied to the top marginal fold 202 and/or the bottom marginal fold 204 to soften the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206). A portion of the top marginal fold 202 and a portion of the bottom marginal fold 204 is permeated with the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206). The layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is cured to stitchlessly fasten the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 together as a single and complete flexible unit 218.
The method of fabricating a bedsheet component 100 may further include stitchlessly fastening together the marginal border 106 of the bedsheet (e.g., bedsheet component 100) through the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) when the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive is applied in the portion of the top marginal fold 214 and/or the portion of the bottom marginal fold 216 and/or the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) may be cured.
The fabric 102 may be a cloth produced by knitting, weaving, and/or felting natural or synthetic fibers. In another embodiment, the fabric 102 may be a manufactured assembly of interlacing fibers, filaments, and/or yarns. In yet another embodiment, the fabric 102 may be a flexible artificial material that is made by a network of natural and/or artificial fibers. The fabric 102 may be a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and/or a pillow case. The fitted sheet may be a sheet tailored to fit a particular mattress (e.g., the conventional mattress 308). The flat sheet may be an ordinary sheet for a bed and/or may lie over the fitted sheet. The fabric 102 has a fabric length 300 and a fabric width 302 substantially compatible with a mattress length 304 and mattress width 306 of a conventional mattress 308 (as described in
The angled corner area 104 may be a region where two edges (of marginal border(s) 106) of the bedsheet component 100 meet. The marginal border 106 may constitute an edge and/or a boundary of the bedsheet component 100. The marginal border 106 is folded to include a top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204 as described in
A top marginal fold 202 may be an uppermost bend of the bedsheet component 100. A bottom marginal fold 204 may be a lower bend of the bedsheet component 100, according to one embodiment. The top marginal fold 202 may lie over the bottom marginal fold 204. In another embodiment, the top marginal fold 202 is aligned to be substantially parallel with the bottom marginal fold 204, according to one embodiment.
Particularly, section AA further indicates a top marginal border of the marginal border 106, according to one embodiment. In addition, section BB indicates a bottom marginal border of the marginal border 106, according to one embodiment. According to various embodiments, the marginal border 106 may be folded along section BB to create the top marginal fold 202, as further indicated by section AA, and the bottom marginal fold 204, as further indicated by section BB.
The heat 208 and/or pressure 210 is applied sufficiently to the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 to soften the adhesive 206 (e.g., layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive) and fuse the fabric 102 of
The customized fusion machine 212 may be used to bond the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 of the marginal border 106. The marginal border 106 may be bonded flat, clean and less susceptible to wrinkling after pressing by the customized fusion machine 212. In another embodiment, the customized fusion machine 212 may be equipped with a pair of rotating wheels that applies the heat 208 and/or the pressure 210 on the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 as the fabric 102 passes between them. In another embodiment, the customized fusion machine 212 may eliminate any sort of corrugation. In circle ‘1’, the heat 208 and/or the pressure 210 is applied by the customized fusion machine 212 to the top marginal fold 202 and/or bottom marginal fold 204, according to one embodiment.
The fabric length 300 may be an extended dimension, highest measurement, and/or longest dimension of the fabric 102 of
The mattress width 306 may be the linear extent and/or shortest dimension as opposed to the mattress length 304. The conventional mattress 308 may be a rectangular pad of heavy cloth filled with soft materials. In another embodiment, the conventional mattress 308 may be large flat pad with a strong cover, filled with straw, and/or foam rubber. In another embodiment, the conventional mattress 308 may be a part of a bed, made of a strong cloth cover filled with firm material.
The fold 400 may include bending the top marginal fold 202 over the bottom marginal fold 204 of the marginal border 106 of
The surface length 404 is substantially compatible with a border length 406 of the marginal border 106 of
In circle ‘5’, a heat 208 and/or a pressure 210 is applied to the top marginal fold 202 and/or a bottom marginal fold 204 of the marginal border 106, according to one embodiment by the customized fusion machine 212. In circle ‘6’, the marginal border 106 is folded by the customized fusion machine 212 that has a worktable surface 402. The worktable surface 402 has a surface length 404 compatible with the border length 406 of the marginal border 106. In circle ‘7’, the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 are held together as a single and complete flexible unit 218 when the adhesive 206 of
In operation 504, the marginal border 106 may be folded by a customized fusion machine 212, according to one embodiment. In operation 506, an adhesive 206 (e.g., layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive) is inserted between the top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204. In operation 508, a heat 208 and/or a pressure 210 may be applied to the top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204 by the customized fusion machine 212. In operation 510, the adhesive 206 permeates the portion of the top marginal fold 214 and the portion of the bottom marginal fold 216, according to one embodiment.
In operation 604, the marginal border 106 of the bedsheet component 100 is folded. In operation 606, a top marginal fold 202 and a bottom marginal fold 204 are formed when the marginal border 106 of the bedsheet component 100 of
In operation 612, the heat 208 and/or the pressure 210 is applied to the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 to soften the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206). In operation 614, a portion of the top marginal fold 214 and a portion of the bottom marginal fold 216 are permeated with the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206). In operation 616, the layer of freely flexible thermoplastic adhesive (e.g., adhesive 206) is cured to stitchlessly fasten the top marginal fold 202 and the bottom marginal fold 204 together as a single and complete flexible unit 218 of
An example embodiment will now be described. Sofia may be a housewife who manages her household affairs, and carry out the housework. In the spring time, Sofia may follow a practice of thoroughly cleaning her house that may include cleaning, dusting, and/or washing bed clothing. Sofia may find that every time she takes her bedsheet out for cleaning purpose, the threaded portion tears apart due to factors such as: over-exposure of the bedsheets to sunlight for a long time, frequently washing and/or dry-cleaning the bedsheets which may weaken the fibers, and/or daily use of the bedsheets on mattresses in her household. She may find that repairing and/or resewing the heavy bedsheets may be a laborious job. Sofia may realize that even taking the bedsheet to a professional sewer may be burdensome and/or may require high maintenance. Sofia may also find that purchasing new bedsheets on a regular basis requires a high cost.
Sofia may also find that the bedsheets often pucker and form unsightly gathered areas in the sections that are stitched. Sofia may find these areas unsightly and/or uncomfortable to sleep in. Sofia may wish for a more smooth texture in her bedsheets that will be more visually appealing and more comfortable.
Thankfully, Sofia may learn about the new stitchless bedsheets (as described in
Another example embodiment will now be described. Donna may be a maid employed in ‘Hotel Blue’ located in California. As a chambermaid, Donna's duties may include, changing and/or arranging bedding, vacuuming floors, wiping down surfaces, etc. Donna may find it challenging to clean and/or change the stitched bedsheets. While dusting, cleaning and/or changing the bedsheets in the hotel rooms, Donna may realize that the stitched bedsheets rip easily with time in the areas where they are stitched and may cause problem to the hotel guests. Donna may also receive complaints from guests from time to time when a hotel guest finds a portion of a needle in their bedsheets and gets injured as a result. Out of concern, Donna may approach the housekeeper manager of ‘Hotel Blue’. The housekeeper manager may consult a few shopkeepers in the market who sell high quality and/or tear resistant bedsheets.
Thankfully, the housekeeper manager may learn about the new stitchless bedsheets (as described in the
In another example embodiment, ‘International Textiles’ located in Florida may be a leading supplier of bedsheets. The owner of ‘International Textiles’ may experience that consumers often complain about the tearing of the stitched bedsheets, weakening of the fiber due to laundering and/or exposure of the bedsheets over time, and/or being injured by needles left in the bedsheets. The owner may feel that his business may get affected in future because of the increasing complaints received from the consumers. The owner may search for an alternative to solve these problems and/or attract more consumers.
Thankfully, one day the owner of ‘International Textiles’ may learn about the new stitchless bedsheets (as described in
A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
The structures and modules in the figures may be shown as distinct and communicating with only a few specific structures and not others. The structures may be merged with each other, may perform overlapping functions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to be connected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawings may be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
