AU2007100837A4 - Improved bedding - Google Patents

Description

31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 03/19

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0 rcl Australian Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2B Complete Specification Innovation Patent Invention Title: Improved bedding Applicant: Janine GILCHRIST The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me: COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 31/0/0071519 61397290046 GHRYSILIOUILAWMELB PG 41 PAGE 04/19 lInnovatio"Spec o Title: Improved BeddinE FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to improved bedding. More particularly, this invention relates to en improved bedding for containing bedclothes on a mattress substantially on the upper surface of the mattress.

en BACKGROUND ART 00 o The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of conmnon o general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not loI relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

The choice of bedclothes has grownt in diversity in the last few decades. A popular choice for bedclothes includes quilts, duvets and doonas. Typically, a doona sits predominately on the upper side of a mattress and is unsecured to the walls or underside of the mattress. In use, the unsecured bedclothes can become messy or disarranged, requiring the bed to be made each morning to maintain a tidy appearance. This is problematic in relation to bunk beds and, particularly, middle or top bunks of such multi-level bed structures- It can be awkward for one to clamber up a multi-level bed structure and to reach across to tuck in the remote edges of disarranged or loose bedclothes.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

STATEMENT OF INVENTON Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a bed covering for a bed including loose bedclothes on a mattress, the bedcover including: a top layer extending the full length of the mattress and securing means for securing the bedcover to the mattress or a bed structure;, an openable head section in the top layer; 3D a main section of the top layer adapted to cover the bed from the openable section to the foot of the bed, COMS ID No: ARCZS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 05/19 InnovationSpec o wherein the bed cover is adapted to contain the bedclothes substantially on the upper surface of the mattress.

;Z The bed may be any number of a range of types and sizes, including single, king-single, double, queen and king size. The bed may be a multi-level structure, such as a bunk cn s bed. A particularly useful application of the present invention is to the top or middle levels of a bunk bed or other multi level bed structures, such as may be found on boats, mobile homes, caravans long distance transport and trains.

ec 00 o The mattress may be any one of a number of different sizes (corresponding to bed sizes) o and thicknesses, and may be made from a variety of materials. Preferably, the mattress includes an underside, four walls and a top surface and is substantially a flat polygon o shape, such as a flat, square or rectangular box. Typically, the mattress walls may range cA in height from 50-300mm, but mattresses outside this range are still within the scope of the present invention. It is noted that mattresses that fit typical bunk beds are of a size of 1500-1800mm in length, 100 200mm deep and 600-1000mm wide, although other sizes are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. In this regard, it is noted that bed covers according to the invention may be used on other supporting surfaces, including futons.

The bedcover may comprise a single sheet layer, may be padded whereby to have an infill and may be otherwise multi layered. The bedcover may include a pair of spaced top and lower layers infilled with standard insulation material, such as feathers, synthetic and natural cotton or wool fibres to provide an insulation layer. The infill may be removable for either separate cleaning or to enable the external bedcover envelope to be separately cleaned. Preferably, however, the bedcover comprises a single sheet layer.

The securing means may include straps, elasticised or not. The securing means may include a skirt. The securing means may attach to one or more bed structures, such as side or end panels or boards or to the base of the bed.

The securing means may include a neatly fitted skirt in which the skirt either depends at least partially down the vertical surfaces of the mattress or depends at least partially beyond the lower edge of the mattress to the floor. The skirt may be made from thick or padded material adapted to hold its form.

The skirt may come in a variety of lengths corresponding to the size and shape of the range of mattresses to which the bedcover is to be applied. For example, where the side walls of a mattress are, for example 200mm in height, the length of the skirt will be preferably greater than 200mm. The skirt may not completely cover the sides and ends of the mattress. For example, the skirt may only extend over particular sections of the 2 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 86/19 InnovationSpec 0 side walls, such as those in proximity to the comers of the mattress. The skirt may extend only partway down the face of the side and/or end walls, particularly if bed Sstructures such as panels or boards surrounding the mattress obscure a lower part of the mattress. Preferably, however, the skirt extends fully over the side walls and end walls s of the mattress for aesthetic as well as functional purposes. For example, if the skirt does not extend over the end walls of the mattress, the bedcover may tend to ride up from the foot and down from the head ends of the bed leading to an untidy result Cc requiring action to make the bed. Therefore, preferably, the bedcover including the top 0 0 surface and skirt completely envelopes top, side and end surfaces of the mattress, with exception of the open section.

o The openable section may correspond to the area at which a user will enter and exit the O bed. For example, the openable section may define an area generally corresponding to that immediately surrounding a pillow. The openable section may include a closable flap. The closable flap may be attachable to the main section of the bedcover by is fastening means. The fastening means may include press-fit studs, hook and loop fastening means, button and hole arrangements, zip means and the like. Preferably, the fastening means includes zip means. The zip means may include tongue and groove slide arrangements or interweavable teeth arrangements. The zip means is preferably not abrasive or uncomfortable on skin so that smooth edged plastic or plastic coated zip means are preferred. The fastening means may extend fully around the periphery of the openable section and/or the main section defining the openable section. Alternatively, the flap may be permanently attached and/or integral with a section of the main section whereby the fastening means is adapted to attach the free flap edge of the openable section to the main section. Preferably, the flap is fixedly attached or integral with the main section along a line corresponding to the typical location of the inner edge of a pillow and the fastening means extends along side and top edges of a rectangular shaped flap having a marginally larger footprint than a pillow (typically about 600 x 400mm).

The openable section may extend along one side of the top layer to the foot end. The openable section may further extend along the foot end of the top layer so that the top so layer is only integral or permanently attached to one side edge of the skirt, not including the head section.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of keeping a bed having a mattress tidy, including the steps of: 1. Covering loose bedclothes with a bedcover having securing means to secure a top layer to the mattress or to bed structures surrounding the side and end walls of the mattress; and 3 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 31/0/0071519 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWVELE AE 71 PAGE 07/19 InnovationSpec o2. Providing an openable section in the top layer to enable a person to climb in and out of the bedeover, ;Z wherein the openable section has a closable flap integral with or permanently attached to a main section extending from the foot of the top layer to a lateral region intermediate the length of the top layer, the method fiurther including the step of: 00 3. fastening the free side and top edges of the closable flap to the top layer.

0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 'ra Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a bedcover according to a first embodiment; 1s Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bedcover of Figure 1 shown in a closed configluration; Figure 3 is a side view of the bedcover according to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the bedcover of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 without an underlying pillow; Figure 5 is a side view of the bedcover of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 with an underlying pillow; Figure 6 is a side view of a bedcover according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a side view of the bedcover of the second embodiment shown in Figure 6 in an open configuration; Figure 8 is a top plan view of a bedcover according to a third embodiment shown in an open configuration; Figure 10 is a top plan view of a bedcover according to a fourth embodiment 4 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time (1Pm) 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 08/19 InnovationSpec similar to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1; Oil) Figure 11 is a side schematic view of a bedcover according to a fifth ;Z embodiment; eq Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a top plan view of a template use to make the bedcover of the first Sembodiment shown in Figure 1; 00 0Figure 14 is a side view of a bedcover according to a sixth embodiment; and Figure 15 is a side view of a bedcover according to a seventh embodiment.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Turning to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, a bedcover 10 includes a single sheet top layer 11, a downwardly depending skirt 12 attached thereto, an openable section 13 and a closable flap 14.

The bedcover 10 is shaped to fit to a particular mattress size, including specific length, width and depth. In the detailed description only single bed sized bedcovers will be exemplified, although the person skilled in the art will appreciate that other sizes applicable to double bed sizes (double, queen or king) and unusual plane-shaped mattress/bed shapes are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The top layer 11 and the skirt side and end walls 12 may generally be made from a single sheet cut out the comers as shown in Figure 13. The comers between side walls and end walls 16 are joined at their opposed cut out edges as indicated by the direction arrows 17 to form the skirt 12. The lower, free edge 18 of the skirt 12 is gathered or otherwise elasticised by passing elastic ribbon through a hem conduit to form a gathered, stretchable edge 19 having a footprint smaller than that of the intended mattress corresponding to the footprint shown in Figure 13 by broken line Accordingly, the bedcover 10 may be made from a single sheet of material. Around the intended head portion 21 corresponding to where a pillow 22 may be located, is provided the openable section 13 joined along a lateral intermediate edge 23 to the closable flap 14 attached to the free edges 24 is a zip fastening 25, preferably comprising plastic coated metal interweavable teeth or solid plastic teeth similar to that used for sleeping bags. The zip fastening may'alternatively include a continuous: tongue-groove slide arrangement and other substitutable fastening arrangements, such COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 09/19 fnnovationSpec o as button-hole and press-fit stud arrangements are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. The top section 11 may be padded for extra insulation in an 0 arrangement similar to that shown in Figures 11 and 12 according to the fifth embodiment.

en s Turning to Figure 2, the bedcover 10 according to the first embodiment is shown whereby the closable flap 14 is secured by fastening means 25 to the head portion 21 of the top section 11, thereby presenting a neat and tidy made bed. Accordingly, in use the oc bedcover 10 may be kept in the closed configuration shown in Figure 2 when the bed is o not in use. If a person wishes to use the bed, the closable flap 14 is simply unzipped by the fastening means 25 to expose the openable section 13. The user may then slide into the bedcover 10 feet first so that the user's feet rest under the top layer 11 in the general o foot region 27. In use, the closable flap 14 simply rests on top of the top layer 11. The bedcover 10 is intended for use in combination with additional bedclothes, such as a lower sheet covering the mattress and blankets or padded bedclothes, such as doonas, under which the user lies in use. Advantageously, if the bedcover 10 requires cleaning, it can be simply removed from the mattress and washed like a normal bed sheet.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the bedcover 10 in various configurations. In Figure 3, the bedcover 10 is shown in the open configuration with the closable flap 14 in the open position and a pillow 22 in the head portion of the bed in which the footprint of the openable section 13 marginally exceeds the footprint of the pillow 22.

In Figure 4, the bedcover 10 is shown in the closed configuration without a pillow in place and in Figure 5 the bedcover 10 is shown with a pillow 22 under the closable flap 14. Where the pillow 22 is used, the skilled person will appreciate that the area to be covered by the closable flap 14 may be greater than that of the openable section 13. For this reason, the closable flap 14 may be made from stretchable material that is optionally attached along the lateral, intermediate line 23 by standard attachment methods, such as sewing. The entire bedcover 10, including the top layer 11, closable flap 14, and skirt 12 may be made from stretchable material. Where only the closable flap 14 is made from stretchable material, the closable flap 14 may be made of a particularly lightweight, light gauge, highly stretchable and naturally retractable material that bunches up close to the line 25 and is substantially weightless. Such an arrangement provides a bedcover 10 with a closable flap 14 that imposes little weight on the user that may be otherwise uncomfortable in hotter climates. Such an elastic, lightweight closable flap 14 is shown in Figure 3.

as In relation to figure 6, there is shown a second embodiment of a bedcover 30 in which the openable section is extended down one side 15a of the top layer 31. This enables a 6 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 61397290046 CHRYSILIOULAWMELB PAGE 10/19 InnovationSpec o user to extend her feet out the side 15a if she should get too hot under the top layer 31.

c(N The top layer 31, furthermore, is shown as padded whereby a doona or additional 4 blankets are not required to keep the user warm. The fastening means 25 is extended along the side 15a, so that the openable length of the fastening means extends from a point intermediate the length of the bedcover 30 on the opposite side to 15a at or around

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c the inside corner of a pillow 22, around the openable section 33 and down the full length of the side 15a. As shown in figure 7, the bedcover 30 top layer 31 may be opened up along a diagonal line stretching across the mattress, as shown in figure 8 00 along line B (shown in figure 8 in relation to the third embodiment), so that a user can dispense with the top layer 31 as a bed clothe cover, for example on a hot night.

Referring to figure 8, there is shown a third embodiment in the form of a bed cover o in which the top layer 41 is fully removable from the top surface of the mattress and is only permanently attached to the skirt along a line C. Accordingly, the bedcover 40 can be variously opened up anywhere along the length of fastening means 45. Indeed, the bedcover 40 can emulate the effect of the bedcover 10 by opening the openable section 43 to a point of intermediate the length of the side 15a so that the closable flap (forming part of top layer 41) folds along line D shown in figure 8. The bedcover 40 may also emulate the extent of openability of the bedcover 30 according to the second embodiment in which the top layer 41 may be folded along line B. Finally, the top layer 2o 41 may be fully opened so that the top layer 41 is folded down and off the bed and off the bed along line C.

In figure 10, there is shown a forth embodiment in the form of bed cover 50 in which the closable flap 54 is permanently attached to a top layer 51 along an edge 53 of the closable flap 54 that is substantially shorter than the width of the top layer 51.

In figure 11, there is shown a bedcover 60 in which the top layer 61 and a small overlapping side portion 62 is padded for the purposes of insulation, so that additional bed clothes may be made redundant. The top layer and overlap section 61, 62 may be in the form of a doona to which a single layered skirt 62a and closable flap 64 are made from single sheet, non-elastic woven material, such as standard bed sheets are made from. The skirt walls 62a may extend beyond the lower side wall edges of the mattress and there free edge may be gathered or otherwise elasticized to enable the lower edge 69 to stretchably fit around a mattress and to secure the bedcover 60 squarely on and around the mattress. Alternatively, the bottom section 67 may be a separate elastic material attached to the bottom edge of the skirt wall 62a and seamed along its free edge to provide a fitted mattress sheet effect.

7 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31 31/08/2007 15:19 31/0/007 1519 61397290046 CHRVSILIOULAWMELB PG 11 PAGE 11/19 InnovationSpec o As shown in figure 12, the padded top layer 61 is continuous with the overhanging sides 62 to provide a good insulating bed clothe cover in which heat does not leak out the sides at the top edge of the mattress 70, whereas the side walls 62a, 67, 69 of the skirt are similar to fitted sheets surrounding the mattress In figure 14 there is shown a bedcover 80 according to a sixth embodiment in which the bedeover includes a skirt 82 that extends fully down to the floor to cover both a bed base 83 and mattress 84, the delineation shown by the broken line 85. The skirt is not gathered at its lower edge 86, but is merely dropped over the mattress and bed base and 0 seated in place. To achieve this, preferably the bedeover 80 and, particularly the skirt io 82, is made from reasonably thick material, optionally padded, that is capable of holding its form when the bed is not in use.

(N Figure 15 shows a bedeo-ver 90 according to a seventh embodiment in which the, bedcover 90 includes a downwardly depending skirt 92 that covers a mattress there under, but not a bed base 93.

is Through-out the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives is intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context requires otherwise.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from 2o the spirit and scope of the invention.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be' considered in a particular orientation, typically with the top layer uppermost 8 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 15:26 Date 2007-08-31

Claims (5)

1. a bed covering for a bed including loose bedclothes on a mattress, the bedcover including; C a top layer extending the full length of the mattress and securing means s for securing the bedcover to the mattress or a bed structure; eC an openable head section in the top layer; 00 0 a main section of the top layer adapted to cover the bed from the openable section to the foot of the bed, 0 O wherein the bed cover is adapted to contain the bedclothes substantially on the upper surface of the mattress.

2. The bedcover of claim 1, wherein the bedcover further includes a closable flap.

3. The bedcover of claim 2, wherein the closable flap is attachable to the top layer by fastening means.

4. The bedcover of claim 3, wherein the fastening means includes zip means.

5. A method of keeping a bed having a mattress tidy, including the steps of: covering loose bedclothes with a bedcover having securing means to secure a top layer to the mattress or to bed structures surrounding the side and end walls of the mattress; and providing an openable section in the top layer to enable a person to climb in and out of the bedcover, wherein the openable section has a closable flap integral with or permanently attached to a main section extending from the foot of the top layer to a lateral region intermediate the length of the top layer, the method further including the step of: fastening the free side and top edges of the closable flap to the top layer. 9 COMS ID No: ARCS-159223 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:26 Date 2007-08-31