Structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6446284
  • Patent Number
    6,446,284
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, May 24, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 10, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Grosz; Alexander
    Agents
    • Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Abstract
An improved structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly comprises a top cover, a comforter, a frame cover, a bottom cover and fastening means that connect the top cover, the comforter, the frame cover and the bottom cover together. The structure allows one to readily replace any of the top cover, the comforter, the frame cover and the bottom cover.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a comforter and its covers, and in particular to an improved structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




It is known that when a conventional comforter is packed into a bag-typed cover, the result may be an unevenness of the comforter in the cover. Further, it is also an undesirable experience that the comforter is pulled out of and put into the cover when replacing the cover. Furthermore, a conventional cover often accumulates cotton fibers therein that are difficult to remove, and after the cover is washed, drying can take a long time.




Comforter covers are one of the best home textiles and their beautiful patterns are good for brightening a bedroom or changing the ambience. Also, a comforter with its covers is one of the most common personal commodities. New-tech cloth aimed at improving human health is continuously being developed, and it will be beneficial for people if the new-tech cloth is well utilized.




There is a need for an improved structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly, preferably one allowing the top cover for the comforter to be readily replaced with a top cover having an aesthetic pattern, for example an Indian-weave pattern. Further there is a need for a comforter assembly that enables ready replacement of the comforter with a comforter having a different fill material, down or a wool blanket, for example. Further there is a need for a comforter assembly in which the bottom cover is readily replaced, for example with a cover finished by a special process such as anti-mycotoxin or anti-bacterial.




The present invention provides such a comforter assembly.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides an improved structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly comprising a top cover, a comforter, a frame cover, a bottom cover and fastening means, whereby the fastening means are used to connect the top cover, the comforter, the frame cover and the bottom cover together.




In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly is constructed such that:




a top cover in rectangular form includes four slots arranged respectively in four corners thereof;




a comforter in rectangular form includes four outward loops, the outward loops being arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the comforter;




a frame cover in a hollow, rectangular form having a C-shaped cross-section of an inward concave includes an outer edge and two inner edges, the outer edge being provided with four through holes and four inward loops, the through holes being arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the frame cover, each of the inward loops being provided respectively across one of the through holes in the concave of the frame cover, and each of the inner edges of the frame cover being provided with tube-shaped and flat extensions having slots;




a bottom cover in rectangular form includes four outward loops and four fasteners, the outward loops being arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover, and each of the fasteners being provided correspondingly adjacent to one of the outward loops; and




the fastening means includes four fastening elements;




whereby the comforter is edged by the frame cover and laid on the bottom cover, each side of the top cover is inserted between the tube-shaped extension and the flat extension of one of the inner edges of the frame cover, and the upper portion including the two outward loops, of the bottom cover and the lower portion including the other two outward loops, of the bottom cover are folded up respectively against the upper and lower portions of the frame cover such that one end of each of the fastening elements is used correspondingly to hold one of the outward loops of the comforter, one of the inner loops of the frame cover, and one of the outward loops and one of the fasteners of the bottom cover together, and the other end of each of the fastening elements is used correspondingly to hold one of the slots of the top cover and the slots included in the tube-shaped and flat extensions of the frame cover.




The bottom cover includes two first connecting sections each located substantially between the two fasteners on one of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover, and the frame cover includes two second connecting sections each located substantially on the outer edge between the two through holes on one of two longitudinal sides of the frame cover such that each of the first connecting sections is attached correspondingly to one of the second connecting sections.




The top cover includes a plurality of first holes located along the circumference thereof, and the frame cover includes a plurality of second holes arranged in the tube-shaped and flat extensions of each of the inner edges thereof such that each of the first holes and at least one of the second holes corresponding thereto are held together by one of fastening parts.




Each of the fastening elements includes a solid attaching portion at one end and a hollow attaching portion at the other end, the hollow attaching portion including a tongue having a female button such that the female button can be fixed correspondingly to a male button arranged in an intermediate portion of each of the fastening elements.




Additionally, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an improved structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly is constructed by that




a top cover in rectangular form includes a plurality of first holes arranged along each of two longitudinal sides thereof;




a frame cover in hollow, rectangular form and with a C-shaped cross-section of an inward concave includes an outer edge and two inner edges, the outer edge being provided with a flat extension on each of two longitudinal sides thereof, having a plurality of second holes corresponding respectively to a plurality of third holes located on the area adjacent to the flat extension;




a bottom cover in rectangular form includes four outward loops, four fasteners and a plurality of fourth holes, the outward loops being arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover, each of the fasteners being provided correspondingly adjacent to one of the outward loops, and the fourth holes being provided between the two fasteners on each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover; and




the fastening means includes a plurality of fastening parts linked by two strings respectively in two series;




whereby a comforter is edged by the frame cover, laid on the bottom cover, and covered atop by the top cover such that one of the first holes, one of the second holes, one of the third holes and one of the fourth holes correspondingly to each other are fastened by one of the fastening parts, and the upper portion including the two outward loops, of the bottom cover and the lower portion including the other two outward loops, of the bottom cover are folded up respectively against the upper and lower portions of the frame cover such that each of the outward loops is secured correspondingly by one of the fasteners.




Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in detail, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a comforter assembly according to an preferred embodiment of the present invention before assembling.





FIG. 2



a


shows a top view of one of fastening elements according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 2



b


shows a bottom view of one of the fastening elements in

FIG. 2



a.







FIG. 2



c


shows a side-sectional view of one of the fastening elements in

FIG. 2



a.







FIG. 3

shows a partially cut away, top view of the comforter assembly in

FIG. 1

before the upper and lower portions of a bottom cover are folded up.





FIG. 4

shows a partially cut away, perspective view of the comforter assembly in

FIG. 1

before the upper and lower portions of the bottom cover are folded up.





FIG. 5

shows a partially cut away, top view of the comforter assembly in

FIG. 1

after the upper and lower portions of the bottom cover are folded up.





FIG. 6

shows a partially cut away, sectional view taken along a line across one longitudinal side of the comforter assembly in

FIG. 1

after assembling.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view showing fasteners used in

FIG. 6

, linked by a string.





FIG. 8

is a partially cut away, perspective view of an improved structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved structure for a comforter assembly comprises a top cover


1


, a comforter


2


, a frame cover


3


, a bottom cover


4


and four fastening elements


5


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, illustrating one quadrant of the comforter assembly, and

FIG. 2



a.






The top cover


1


, in rectangular form, includes four slots


11


arranged respectively in four corners of the top cover. The top cover


1


further includes a plurality of first holes


12


located along the circumference thereof.




The comforter


2


, in rectangular form, includes four outward loops


21


. The outward loops


21


are arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the comforter


2


.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the frame cover


3


, in hollow, rectangular form and with a C-shaped cross-section of an inward concave, includes an outer edge


35


and two inner edges


39


. The outer edge


35


is provided with four through holes


33


and four inward loops


34


. The through holes


33


are arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the frame cover


3


. Each of the inward loops


34


is provided respectively across one of the through holes


33


in the concave region of the frame cover


3


. As shown in

FIG. 1

, each of the inner edges


39


is provided with a tube-shaped extension


36


having slots


361


and


362


each located at both end of each of two longitudinal sides of one of the inner edges


39


, and a flat extension


37


having slots


371


and


372


each located at both end of each of two longitudinal sides of one of the inner edges


39


. The frame cover


3


further includes a plurality of button holes


363


and


373


arranged respectively in the tube-shaped extension


36


and the flat extension


37


of each of the inner edges thereof. Location of each of the button holes


363


corresponds to one of the button holes


373


. Both the surfaces of the frame cover can be used alternatively, and can be made of different materials for different seasons and in different patterns, thereby matching with different top covers. Further, the frame cover can vary in hollow form, such as circular, elliptic and diamond.




The bottom cover


4


, in rectangular form, includes four outward loops


44


and four fasteners


42


. The outward loops


44


are arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover


4


. Each of the fasteners


42


corresponds to one of the outward loops


44


adjacent thereto.





FIGS. 2



a,




2




b


and


2




c


depict respectively the top, bottom and side-sectional views of one of the fastening elements


5


. As shown in these figures, each of the fastening elements


5


includes a solid attaching portion


51


at one end and a hollow attaching portion


56


at the other end. The solid attaching portion


51


is provided with a loop tape


513


at one end and a hook tape


511


at the other end wherein the loop tape


513


and the hook tape


511


are respectively on opposite sides. As shown in

FIG. 2



b,


the hollow attaching portion


56


is provided with a loop tape


57


at one end and a hook tape


58


at the other end. The hollow attaching portion


56


further includes a tongue


55


having a female button


54


. The female button


54


can be fixed correspondingly to a male button


53


arranged in an intermediate portion of the fastening elements


5


. The intermediate portion is provided with a slot


52


next to the solid attaching portion


51


.




In order to obtain the comforter assembly of the present invention, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the comforter


2


is edged by the frame cover


3


and laid on the bottom cover


4


. Each side of the top cover


1


is inserted between the tube-shaped extension


36


and the flat extension


37


of one of the inner edges


39


of the frame cover


3


, and the upper portion


43


including the two outward loops


44


, of the bottom cover


4


and the lower portion


45


including the other two outward loops


44


, of the bottom cover


4


are folded up respectively against the upper and lower portions of the frame cover


3


.




Thereafter, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, from the inward concave region of the frame cover


3


, the outward loops


21


of the comforter


2


are respectively inserted upwards into the inward loops


33


of the frame cover


3


from the underneath. The hollow attaching portion


56


of each of the fastening elements


5


is inserted downwards into one of the inward loops


33


of the frame cover


3


such that the loop tape


57


is attached to the hook tape


58


, and the tongue


55


is correspondingly inserted upwards into one of the inward loops


21


of the comforter


2


from the underneath. As a result, the female button


54


is fastened onto the male button


53


. The solid attaching portion


51


is inserted into the slots in sequence of


371


,


361


,


362


,


11


and


372


when the male button


53


faces up, such that the loop tape


513


is attached to the hook tape


511


. If the male button


53


faces down, the inserting sequence is


371


,


361


,


362


,


11


,


372


and


52


(not shown).




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the bottom cover


4


further includes two first connecting sections


41


each located substantially between two of the fasteners


42


on one of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover


4


. The frame cover


3


further includes two second connecting sections


351


each located on the outer edge


35


substantially between the two through holes


34


on one of two longitudinal sides of the frame cover


3


such that each of the first connecting sections


41


is attached correspondingly to one of the second connecting sections


351


. Thereafter, the upper portion


43


and the lower portion


45


of the bottom cover


4


are folded up respectively against the upper and lower portions of the frame cover


3


. The result is that each of the fasteners


42


having hook and loop tapes respectively disposed at opposite ends on one side thereof is inserted correspondingly into one of the inward loops


33


and one of the outward loops


44


from the underneath such that the hook and loop tapes on each of the fasteners


42


are attached to each other.




As shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

, the top cover


1


further includes a plurality of button holes


12


located along the circumference thereof and each of the button holes


12


corresponds to one of the button holes


363


and one of the button holes


373


such that each of the button holes


12


is fastened correspondingly to one of the button holes


363


and one of the button holes


373


by one of buttons


13


respectively linked by strings


15


. Thereby, the comforter assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is obtained.




Further, the improved structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly in accordance with the above preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used for a comforter without the outward loops.





FIG. 8

shows one quadrant of an improved structure for 4-in-1 comforter assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in

FIG. 8

, the comforter assembly is constructed with a top cover


100


in rectangular form that includes a plurality of button holes


120


arranged along each of two longitudinal sides thereof. The assembly further includes a frame cover


300


in hollow, rectangular form having a C-shaped cross-section of an inward concave region that includes an outer edge and two inner edges. The outer edge is provided with a flat extension


370


on each of two longitudinal sides thereof, and has a plurality of button holes (not shown) whose locations correspond respectively to a plurality of button holes (not shown) located on the area adjacent to the flat extension


370


. The assembly further includes a bottom cover


400


in rectangular form having four outward loops


440


, four fasteners


420


and a plurality of button holes (not shown). The outward loops


440


are arranged respectively at both ends of each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover


400


. Each of the fasteners


420


is provided correspondingly adjacent to one of the outward loops


440


, and the button holes are provided between the two fasteners


420


on each of two longitudinal sides of the bottom cover


400


. The fastening means includes a plurality of buttons


13


linked by two strings


15


respectively in two series.




As shown in

FIG. 8

, a comforter


200


is edged by the frame cover


300


, laid on the bottom cover


400


. On the top, the comforter is covered by the top cover


100


such that there is alignment between one of the button holes


120


, one of the button holes of the flat extension


370


, one of the button holes located on the area adjacent to the flat extension


370


and one of the button holes of the bottom cover


400


. Fastening occurs using one of the buttons. The upper portion


430


includes the two outward loops


440


, of the bottom cover


400


, and the lower portion


450


includes the other two outward loops


440


. Upward folding, of the bottom cover


400


against the upper and lower portions of the frame cover


300


is such that each of the outward loops


440


is secured correspondingly by one of the fasteners


420


. Each of the fasteners


420


of the bottom cover


400


is provided with loop tape and hook tape respectively at opposite ends on one surface thereof.




Various features of the present invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the figures. However, it must be understood that these particular arrangements are merely exemplary, and that the present invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly, comprising:a top cover (1) having a rectangular form with four corners, each of said corners defining a slot (11); a comforter (2) having a rectangular form having two longitudinal edges and including four outwardly-extending loops (21), two of said outwardly-extending loops being disposed on each end of said two longitudinal edges; a frame cover (3) having a hollow rectangular form with two longitudinal sides and a C-shaped cross-section that includes an inward concave region, two inner edges (39) that each include a tube-shaped extension (36) and a flat extension (37) defining slots (361, 362, 371, 372), and an outer edge (35) that defines four through holes (33) disposed respectively at each end of said two longitudinal sides of the frame cover (3), said frame cover further including four inwardly-extending loops (34) provided respectively across one of said through holes (33) in said concave region; a bottom cover (4) having a rectangular form with two longitudinal sides and including four outwardly-extending loops (44) disposed respectively at each end of said two longitudinal sides of said bottom cover (4), and including four fasteners (42), each of said fasteners (42) disposed correspondingly adjacent one of said outwardly-extending loops (44); and means for fastening together said top cover (1), said comforter (2), said frame cover (3) and said bottom cover (4), said means for fastening including four fastening elements (5); wherein said comforter (2) is edged by said frame cover (3) and laid-on said bottom cover (4), each side of said top cover (1) is inserted between said tube-shaped extension (36) and the flat extension (37) of one of said inner edges (39), and said upper portion including said two outwardly-extending loops (44), and said lower portion including remaining said outwardly-extending loops (44) are folded-up respectively against upper and lower portions of said frame cover (3) such that one end of each of said fastening elements (5) is used correspondingly to hold one of said outward loops (21) of the comforter (2), one of said inner loops (34) of the frame cover (3), and one of said outwardly-extending loops (44) and one of said fasteners (42) of said bottom cover (4) together, and a remaining end of each of said fastening elements (5) is used correspondingly to hold one of said slots (11) of said top cover (1) and slots (361, 362; 371, 372) defined in said tube-shaped extension (36) and in said flat extension (37) of said frame cover (3).
  • 2. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:said bottom cover (4) includes two first connecting sections (41) each disposed substantially between said two fasteners (42) disposed on one of said two longitudinal sides of said bottom cover (4); and said frame cover (3) includes two second connecting sections (351) each disposed substantially between said two through holes (33) on one of said two longitudinal sides of said frame cover (3); wherein each of said first connecting sections (41) is attached correspondingly to one of said second connecting sections (351).
  • 3. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:said first connecting sections (41) include loop tape; and said second connecting sections (351) includes hook tape.
  • 4. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:each of said fasteners (42) of said bottom cover (4) includes loop tape and hook tape respectively at opposite ends on one surface thereof.
  • 5. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:said top cover (1) defines a plurality of first holes (12) disposed along a circumference thereof; said inner edges (39) of said frame cover (3) includes a tube-shaped extension (36) and a flat extension (37); and said frame cover (3) defines a plurality of second holes (363; 373) disposed in said tube-shaped extension (36) and in said flat extension (37) such that each of said first holes (12) and at least one of said second holes (363, 373) corresponding thereto is retained together by one of said fastening parts (13).
  • 6. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:each of said fastening elements (5) includes a first end having a solid attaching portion (51), and includes a second end having a hollow attaching portion (52) that includes a tongue (55) with a female button (54); wherein said female button (54) can be fixed correspondingly to a male button (53) disposed in an intermediate portion of each of said fastening elements (5).
  • 7. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:each of said fastening elements (5) includes a first end having a solid attaching portion (51) that includes one of loop tape and hook tape, and further includes a second end that includes, respectively, one of hook tape and loop tape.
  • 8. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, wherein:each of said fastening elements (5) includes a first end having a hollow attaching portion (52) that includes one of loop tape and hook tape, and further includes a second end that includes, respectively, one of hook tape and loop tape.
  • 9. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 1, further including lengths of string linking said fastening parts (13).
  • 10. A structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly comprising:a top cover (100) having a rectangular form including two longitudinal sides and defining a plurality of first holes (120) disposed along each of said two longitudinal sides; a comforter (200); a frame cover (300) having a hollow rectangular form and a C-shaped cross-section that includes an inward concave region, two inner edges (39), and an outer edge (35), said outer edge including a flat extension (370) on each of two longitudinal sides thereof, and defining a plurality of second holes corresponding respectively to a plurality of third holes disposed on an area adjacent said flat extension (370); a bottom cover (400) having a rectangular form with two longitudinal sides and including two pair of outwardly-extending loops (440) disposed one pair respectively at each end of said two longitudinal sides of said bottom cover, four fasteners (420), and defining a plurality of fourth holes, each of said fasteners (420) disposed correspondingly adjacent one of said outwardly-extending loops (440), and said fourth holes being defined between two said fasteners (420) on each of said two longitudinal sides of said bottom cover (400); and means for fastening, including a plurality of fastening parts (13) linked by two strings (15) respectively in two series; wherein said comforter (200) is edged by said frame cover (300), and laid-on said bottom cover (400), and is covered atop by said top cover (100) such that one of said first holes (120), one of said second holes, one of said third hole and one of said fourth holes correspondingly to one another are fastened by one of said fastening parts (13), and said upper portion (430) including two of said outwardly-extending loops (440) and said lower portion (450) including a remaining two of said outwardly-extending loops (440) are folded-up respectively against upper and lower portions (430, 450) of said frame cover (400) such that each outwardly-extending loop (440) is secured correspondingly by one of said fasteners (420).
  • 11. The structure for a 4-in-1 comforter assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said fasteners (420) of said bottom cover (400) is provided with loop tape and hook tape respectively at opposite ends on one surface thereof.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
88219785 U Nov 1999 TW
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number Name Date Kind
5070561 Keidser Dec 1991 A
5321862 Campbell Jun 1994 A