UNITARY CUSHION COVERING

Abstract

A unitary cushion covering includes a fitted portion for covering a top surface and side surfaces of a cushion. The fitted portion is bonded to a top portion along one end. The top portion may provide a covering element for a person lying on the fitted portion. The fitted portion may include a moisture repellant layer at a top surface of the fitted portion.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to coverings for sleeping furniture and, specifically, to a unitary cushion covering.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various bedding items have been used for covering sleeping furniture. Typically, a bed covering may include a fitted sheet designed to cover and remain attached to a mattress. The bed covering may further include a separate top sheet for covering an individual using the mattress. However, using various individual pieces of bed coverings may be disadvantageous in terms of handling and convenience in many situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of selected elements of an embodiment of a unitary bed covering;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of selected elements of an embodiment of a unitary bed covering; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting selected elements of a method for manufacturing a unitary bed covering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Various bedding items have been used for covering sleeping furniture. Typically, a bed covering may include a fitted sheet designed to cover and remain attached to a mattress. The bed covering may further include a separate top sheet for covering an individual using the mattress. However, using various individual pieces of bed coverings may be disadvantageous in terms of handling and convenience in many situations.

As will be described in further detail herein, a unitary cushion covering may provide convenience and practicality by combining a top sheet with a fitted sheet. The fitted sheet may include a moisture repellant, such as a waterproof barrier. The unitary cushion covering may further reduce complexity of logistics associated with bedding supply management, by reducing a number of articles that are used in preparing bedding, which may be significant in applications such as hotelerie, hospitals, nursing facilities, long-term care, emergency housing, and/or disaster relief.

In one aspect, a disclosed unitary bed covering for a mattress includes a fitted portion covering the mattress, including a moisture resistant layer, and a top portion bonded to the fitted portion at one end of the fitted portion.

In certain embodiments, the fitted portion may cover a top surface of the mattress and four side surfaces of the mattress, while the moisture resistant layer may extend over the top surface of the mattress when the unitary bed covering is installed on the mattress. The fitted portion may extend to at least partially cover a bottom surface of the mattress, while the fitted portion may be held in place on the mattress by elastic elements at edges of the fitted portion. The moisture resistant layer may include a waterproof layer, and a sound absorbent layer. The moisture resistant layer may include a padding material. The fitted portion may include a fabric layer to which the moisture resistant layer is bonded. The top portion may be bonded to the fitted portion using a linear seam at the one end of the fitted portion. The linear seam may extend from one side of the fitted portion to another side of the fitted portion.

In another aspect, a unitary cushion covering includes a fitted sheet for covering a cushion, including a moisture repellant layer, and a top sheet bonded to the fitted sheet at one end of the fitted sheet. The cushion may be a mattress. The moisture repellant layer may include a waterproof layer, and a sound absorbent layer. The top sheet may be bonded to the fitted sheet using a linear seam at the one end of the fitted sheet. The linear seam may extend partially along the one end of the fitted sheet.

In yet another aspect, a method of manufacturing a unitary cushion covering includes bonding a fitted portion of the unitary cushion covering with a moisture repellant layer, and bonding a top portion of the unitary cushion covering to the fitted portion at one end of the fitted portion. The moisture repellant layer may include a waterproof layer, and a sound absorbent layer.

In some embodiments, the cushion may be substantially rectangular in shape. The top portion and the fitted portion may be made of fabric. The method operation of bonding may further include sewing a seam at the one end of the fitted portion. The seam may bond an edge of the top portion to the fitted portion.

In the following description, details are set forth by way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possible embodiments.

Throughout this disclosure, a hyphenated form of a reference numeral refers to a specific instance of an element and the un-hyphenated form of the reference numeral refers to the element generically or collectively. Thus, for example, widget 12-1 refers to an instance of a widget class, which may be referred to collectively as widgets 12 and any one of which may be referred to generically as a widget 12.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of selected elements of unitary covering 100. Although depicted in rectangular form, unitary covering 100 may represent any of a variety of sizes and shapes suitable for covering a cushion and/or a piece of sleep furniture, such as a mattress. In FIG. 1 it will be assumed that unitary covering 100 is formed using a suitable fabric, which may be a natural fabric, a synthetic fabric, or a combination thereof. It is noted that in certain embodiments, unitary covering 100 may be made of a disposable material, such that unitary covering 100 may be discarded after use, either entirely or in part.

As shown in FIG. 1, unitary covering 100 is shown including fitted portion 102 and top portion 104, which are joined at bond 106. For illustrative purposes, top portion 104 is shown in a plane at an angle to top surface 112 of fitted portion 102. A person using unitary covering 100 may rest on top surface 112 of fitted portion 102 and may use top portion 104 as a covering, for example, for warmth or comfort during sleep. Fitted portion 102 is formed with elastic elements 110 that may secure fitted portion 102 around the edges of a mattress, such that fitted portion 102 extends around the sides of the mattress and covers at least a portion of a bottom surface of the mattress (not visible in FIG. 1). It is noted that fitted portion 102 and/or top portion 104 may be made of a fabric suitable for use as a bed sheet. In various embodiments, fitted portion 102 may be made using an elasticized fabric.

As shown in FIG. 1, fitted portion 102 includes moisture repellant 108, which may be formed as a layer at top surface 112 of fitted portion 102. Moisture repellant 108 may be formed as a unitary material layer with desired properties, such as, moisture repelling, soundproofing, waterproofing, odor neutralizing, insulating, etc. As shown in the inset in FIG. 1, moisture repellant 108 may comprise various layers that are bonded to fitted portion 102, such as sound absorbent 108-1 and/or waterproofing 108-2. It is noted that an order and/or thickness of the layers comprising moisture repellant 108 may be varied as desired. For example, in certain embodiments, moisture repellant 108 may reside at least partially on top of fitted portion 102. It is further noted that at least a portion of moisture repellant 108 may be formed on top of top surface 112 of fitted portion 102, in certain embodiments. Also, while moisture repellant 108 is shown in the drawings covering a portion of top surface 112 of fitted portion 102, in other embodiments (not shown), moisture repellant 108 may extend to cover substantially all of top surface 112.

Also depicted in FIG. 1 is bond 106 that joins top portion 104 with fitted portion 102. In various embodiments, bond 106 may be formed using an adhesive, such as a liquid or a tape. In particular embodiments, bond 106 is formed as a seam along an end of top surface 112 of top portion 104. The seam forming bond 106 may be sewn for a desired strength and/or appearance. In certain embodiments, bond 106 may be a removable bond, such that top portion 104 may be removed from fitted portion 102. Bond 106 may also be reattachable, such as a bond formed using a zipper and/or a hook-and-loop type fastening tape or strip. Although shown in FIG. 1 extending linearly across an entire end of top surface 112 of fitted portion 102 corresponding to an end of a cushion on which fitted portion 102 is mounted, in different embodiments (not shown) bond 106 may be formed using a number of individual bonding elements, such as dots, lines, etc., each of which may not extend across the entire end of top surface 112, and which may not be co-linear with each other. In given embodiments, bond 106 may comprise combinations of various types of bonds.

In FIG. 1, top portion 104 is shown with a length corresponding to about a length of top surface 112, but having a width somewhat longer than top surface 112, such that top portion 104 may cover side faces 114 of fitted portion 102. A size of top portion 104 with respect to a size of fitted portion 102 may be selected as desired, in particular embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of selected elements of unitary covering 200 is illustrated. It is noted that like numbered elements in FIG. 2 represent components discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. In particular, unitary covering 200 may represent an embodiment of unitary covering 100 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, unitary covering 200 is shown covering a mattress and comprising fitted portion 102, top portion 104, bond 106, and moisture repellant 108 (obscured from view).

Turning now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of method 300 for manufacturing a unitary bed covering is depicted in flow-chart form. Method 300 may represent a method for assembling unitary covering 100, in various embodiments. It is noted that certain operations described in method 300 may be optional or may be rearranged in different embodiments.

Method 300 may begin by providing (operation 302) a fitted portion of the unitary cushion covering for covering a cushion, including a moisture repellant layer. Then, a top portion of the unitary cushion covering may be provided (operation 304). The top portion may be bonded (operation 306) with the fitted portion, including sewing a seam across one end of the fitted portion.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Claims

1. A unitary bed covering for a mattress, comprising: a fitted portion for covering the mattress, including a moisture resistant layer; anda top portion bonded to the fitted portion at one end of the fitted portion.

2. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the fitted portion is configured to cover a top surface of the mattress and four side surfaces of the mattress, and wherein the moisture resistant layer extends over the top surface of the mattress when the unitary bed covering is installed on the mattress.

3. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the fitted portion is configured to extend to at least partially cover a bottom surface of the mattress, and wherein the fitted portion is held in place on the mattress by elastic elements at edges of the fitted portion when the unitary covering is installed on the mattress.

4. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the moisture resistant layer includes: a waterproof layer; anda sound absorbent layer.

5. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the moisture resistant layer includes a padding material.

6. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the fitted portion includes a fabric layer to which the moisture resistant layer is bonded.

7. The unitary bed covering of claim 1, wherein the top portion is bonded to the fitted portion using a linear seam at the one end of the fitted portion.

8. The unitary bed covering of claim 7, wherein the linear seam extends from one side of the fitted portion to another side of the fitted portion.

9. A unitary cushion covering, comprising: a fitted sheet for covering a cushion, including a moisture repellant layer; anda top sheet bonded to the fitted sheet at one end of the fitted sheet.

10. The unitary cushion covering of claim 9, wherein the moisture repellant layer includes: a waterproof layer; anda sound absorbent layer.

11. The unitary cushion covering of claim 9, wherein the cushion is a mattress.

12. The unitary cushion covering of claim 9, wherein the top sheet is bonded to the fitted sheet using a linear seam at the one end of the fitted sheet.

13. The unitary cushion covering of claim 12, wherein the linear seam extends fully along the one end of the fitted sheet.

14. The unitary cushion covering of claim 12, wherein the linear seam extends partially along the one end of the fitted sheet.

15. A method of manufacturing a unitary cushion covering, comprising: bonding a fitted portion of the unitary cushion covering with a moisture repellant layer; andbonding a top portion of the unitary cushion covering to the fitted portion at one end of the fitted portion.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the moisture repellant layer includes: a waterproof layer; anda sound absorbent layer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fitted portion covers a top surface of the cushion and four side surfaces of the cushion, and wherein the moisture resistant layer extends over the top surface of the cushion when the unitary cushion covering is installed on the cushion.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the cushion is substantially rectangular in shape.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the top portion and the fitted portion are made of fabric, and wherein the bonding further comprises: sewing a seam at the one end of the fitted portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the seam bonds an edge of the top portion to the fitted portion.