Patent Application
20250221551
The present invention relates to tri-layer bed cover that combines the aesthetic functionality of a decorative top cover or duvet cover and the warming functionality of a filled comforter into one.
Currently in the hotel industry, bed coverings typically comprise a filled comforter between a decorative top sheet above and a flat sheet below, or a filled comforter inserted inside a decorative duvet cover.
The decorative top sheet or decorative duvet cover provides an aesthetic functionality that can be presented through a different texture or ornamental design and can match the decor of a room or theme of the hotel. Guests have grown accustomed to the aesthetic functionality of the decorative top sheet or duvet cover, equating it with luxury.
The filled comforter provides warmth and has fibers such as down feathers, cotton, wool, or synthetic materials wadded into sheets, also known as fiber batting. The shell of the comforter is sewn through the fiber batting to subdivide the fiber batting into subsections, limiting the areas the filling of the middle warming layer can migrate or clump and thus achieving uniformity in the filling.
However, the decorative top sheet and flat sheet, or decorative duvet cover are separate articles from the filled comforter, and their existence as such present certain drawbacks. Changing the bed covering for a new guest can be very time-consuming. It can take several minutes for the housekeeper to remove the filled comforter from in between the decorative top cover and flat sheet or the duvet cover. More time is then needed for the filled comforter to be placed inside a clean decorative duvet cover or between a clean decorative top sheet and flat sheet. It takes even more time and effort to tuck or arrange the articles on the three sides of the bed to give the finished clean look that hotel properties are looking for. The time is multiplied by the number of rooms, and limited windows of time where hotel staff can tidy up the room. Labor is a significant hotel cost.
Also, the separate articles present acquisition and inventory management challenges. Two articles need to be purchased and maintained in the case of a filled comforter and decorative duvet cover, and three items need to be purchased and maintained in the case of a filled comforter and a decorative top sheet and flat sheet.
Furthermore, guests must deal with the hassle of the filled comforter getting misaligned between the top cover and flat sheet or bunched inside the duvet cover.
A typical filled comforter by itself, fails to deliver the aesthetic functionality of a decorative duvet cover or a decorative top sheet. Even when the filled comforter has a decorative shell, the decorative shell will be sewn through the fiber batting, such that the decorative feature will be interrupted by stitching to prevent the fiber batting from experiencing filling migration and clumping, especially after washing. As such, it is not particularly suitable for the hotel industry. Furthermore, a filled comforter is limited to a texture or fabric that is comfortable to the touch over aesthetics.
What is needed in the art is a bed covering that combines the decorative features of a decorative top sheet or decorative duvet cover and the warmth function of a comforter into one. The present invention provides these and other advantages.
Accordingly, the tri-layer bed cover comprises a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer having a fill material disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. A perimeter stitch secures each of the top layer, the middle layer, and the bottom layer substantially about an outer periphery thereof. In some embodiments, the perimeter stitch secures only the top layer to one of the middle layer or bottom layer. A stitch pattern further secures the bottom layer to the middle layer in a manner dividing the fill material in the middle layer into at least two subdivisions, wherein the fill material in one of the subdivisions is unable to cross the stich pattern into the other of the subdivisions.
The upper surface of the top layer can include at least one decorative element comprising a woven design, visible texture, or a printed design. The fill material of the middle layer can comprise at least one of a polyester batting, a down material, a feather material, a wool material, a cotton material, or a synthetic fiber fill. The bottom layer can comprise a soft plain weave fabric comprising a cotton material, a cotton-polyester blend material, or a polyester microfiber material.
In some embodiments, at least 80% of a surface area of the upper face has no stitching. The perimeter stitch can also be less than 1 inch wide. The stitch pattern joining the middle layer and bottom layer can comprise a grid, a box, a weave, or a channel pattern. In some embodiments, each of the subdivisions comprises an area less than 100 square inches.
In another embodiment, the tri layer bed cover comprises a core portion and a border portion. The core portion has selected dimensions, approximately the same as the top of the mattress on which it is to be placed. The core portion comprises a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer having a fill material disposed between the top decorative layer and a bottom layer. A perimeter stitch secures each of the top layer, the middle layer, and the bottom layer substantially about an outer periphery thereof. A stitch pattern further secures the bottom layer to the middle layer in a manner dividing the fill material in the middle layer into at least two subdivisions, wherein the fill material in one of the subdivisions is unable to cross the stich pattern into the other of the subdivisions. The border portion comprises two fabric layers sewn together along their respective outer edges, and permanently closed to the core portion, along the respective inner edges to only three sides of the core portion, including two sides of the core portion and a foot end portion thereof, to form the tri-layer bed cover, The border portion has no fill therein, and is otherwise continuously vacant. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the same perimeter stitch secures the top layer, bottom layer, and middle layer about an outer periphery; and closes the border portion comprising two fabric layers to the core portion along the respective inner edges.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
The tri-layer bed cover is a bed covering that is easy to arrange over the flat sheet, making it easy for housekeeping to make the bed quickly. The housekeeper no longer needs to separately handle and change the filled comforter, duvet cover or double sheets. The tri-layer bed cover can further simplify the laundering and inventory maintenance costs in dealing with one product rather than two for each bed. Meanwhile, guest satisfaction is maintained through the appearance of a decorative top sheet or decorative duvet cover, along with the warmth of the middle warming layer. Guests may further have an enhanced experience in not having to deal with misalignment along separate layers.
As shown in the exemplary drawings for purposes of illustration,
The decorative top layer 12 provides the aesthetic functionality of a typical decorative top sheet or decorative duvet cover. The top face of the decorative top layer will incorporate decorative elements such as woven patterns, printed designs, and additional textures and/or embellishments on either one or both sides. The bottom face of the decorative top layer can, but does not necessarily feature decorative elements. In the embodiment shown, the top decorative layer is seersucker and hence both the top face and bottom feature a light, wrinkled texture and visual pattern.
The middle warming layer 14 provides warmth through insulation. In one embodiment, the middle warming layer includes a fiber batting made from various materials such as polyester, blown polyester fiber fill, down, feather or a combination of these materials.
The bottom backing layer 16 can be any durable, plain weave fabric, such as cotton, cotton blended polyester, or polyester microfiber. Softness may be desired because the bottom backing layer may directly contact the hotel guest if no flat sheet is used, or if the flat sheet becomes misaligned when the guest twists and turns in his or her sleep.
The middle warming layer 14 is above and concentric with the bottom backing layer 16 and sewn to the bottom backing layer 16 by functional stitch pattern 18. The functional stitch pattern 18 is shown to create a uniform box pattern In this particular embodiment, each box is between 6″-10″. In addition to joining the bottom backing layer to the middle warming layer, functional stitch pattern 18 subdivides the fiber batting of the intermediate warming layer into to smaller subsections limiting the areas where the filling can migrate or clump and achieving uniformity in the filling and hence warmth of the intermediate construction. The maximum spacing between functional stitching lines (or maximum area of each subdivision) shall not exceed the recommended or commonly known maximum quilting distance for the chosen filling. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various patterns or combinations of patterns can be used instead of a box pattern.
The top decorative layer 12 is above, concentric with, and joined to the middle warming layer 14 and bottom backing layer 16 at the perimeter of the tri-layer bed cover using a perimeter stitch 20. In one embodiment, the top decorative layer, middle filling layer, and bottom backing layer are the same size, and the perimeter stitch is sewn through all three layers with the middle warming layer between the top decorative layer and the bottom backing layer. In another embodiment, the middle filling layer is smaller than the top decorative layer and the bottom backing layer, and the perimeter stitch is sewn through only the top decorative layer and the bottom backing layer, with the middle warming layer in between the top decorative layer and the bottom backing layer. The perimeter stitch frames a decorative section 22 of the top decorative layer, that is uninterrupted by the functional stitch pattern 18 and resembles a typical hotel top sheet or duvet cover.
The combination of the functional stitch to join the middle warming layer to the bottom backing layer, and the perimeter stitch to join the top decorative layer to the middle warming layer and bottom backing layer, allows the tri-layer bed cover to move with the cohesiveness and uniformity of a single article, provide warmth, and provide the aesthetic functionality of a separate uninterrupted decorative top sheet or duvet cover.
The decorative top layer can be designed specifically for the hotel brand incorporating its theme or trade dress. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize how to implement the perimeter stitch so that is easy to unravel and re-stitch to allow for easy updating of the decorative top layer.
In the embodiment shown, the top decorative layer, middle warming layer, and bottom backing layer have the same dimensions and the perimeter stitch extends through all three layers. However, the uniformity of the middle warming layer may be chosen such that there will be less or no fiber batting between the perimeter stitch in the tri-layer bed cover.
In yet another embodiment, the tri-layer bed cover may be combined with the teachings of a “Comforter With Fitted Border”, as shown and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 9,451,839 (the “'839 Patent”), the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. Incorporating the teachings of the '839 Patent would allow even more ease in making the bed, as well as a reduction in the material required for construction.
In this respect, the tri-layer bed cover is further defined by a core portion and a border member. The core portion has dimensions approximately matching the top of the mattress on which it is to be placed. The border portion is connected to two longitudinal sides and a foot end of the core portion. The border member is further comprised of two layers of fabric sewn together along their respective outer edges and sewn closed at the inner edges where it connects to the core portion such that there is no migration of fill from the core portion into the border member. Accordingly, the border member is structurally defined and fixed relative to the core portion so that it can lay flat against the sides of the mattress when the core portion is positioned on the top of the bed.
A tri-layer bed cover having the core portion and border member allows the bed to be even more convenient to make and with a neater appearance because the housekeeper can quickly and easily feel where to arrange the core portion of the tri-layer bed cover on the top of the bed, and the border member will be automatically positioned.
In one embodiment, the core portion and border member are formed by choosing the size of the middle warming layer to match the size of the dimensions of the top of the mattress on which it is to be placed and the top decorative layer in the bottom backing layer remain the size of the desired tri-layer bed cover. Additionally, the core portion and border member are reinforced by further sewing through the decorative top layer, middle warming layer and/or the bottom backing layer around the perimeter of the middle warming layer.
In an alternative embodiment, the core portion is formed by choosing the size of the bottom backing layer, middle warming layer, and top decorative layer to match the size of the dimensions of the top of the mattress; and joining the bottom backing layer, middle warming layer, and top decorative layer as disclosed herein. The border member is formed by sewing two additional layers of fabric separated initially from the core portion and then sewn to the core portion as taught in the '839 Patent to complete the tri-layer bed cover.
The tri-layer bed cover is useful outside the hotel industry as well, e.g., in other situations where beds are frequently changed, including bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals hospitals, nursing homes, or in the individual home.
Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63618796 | Jan 2024 | US |
