WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 1 BEDLINEN FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to bedlinen, and in particular, an "all-in-one" sheet set comprising a complete set of sheets. BACKGROUND 10 Many day care centres and other child care organisations require children to provide their own sheets for rest periods, to be used on supplied mattresses, cots, camp-beds etc. There are several products already on the market, but these generally take the form of a 15 bedroll, swag or sleeping-bag being either made substantially of padded materials or having a padded base which serves as the mattress. In situations where a mattress or suitably comfortable alternative is supplied, for example by the day care centre, these products are unnecessarily bulky, heavy and awkward to carry. They are also difficult to wash or clean, and the sheets are readily dislodged by the infant or child during use. 20 In addition, it is ordinarily necessary to transport another bag holding a set of sheets and pillow which can be added to the mattress for use. The sheets and pillow are sometimes forgotten and, in addition, it can be difficult for some children to transport two separate bags. 25 Accordingly, there is a need for a more portable and easy-care product which children will not forget, or which can conveniently be used to transport a pillow (or pillowcase) and sheets. 30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet set including a fitted bottom sheet with a top sheet attached thereto. Preferably, the sheet set will also include a pillowcase or pillow attached to the bottom sheet. Where a pillowcase is WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 2 attached to the bottom sheet, the sheet set may also include a pillow which is insertable into the pillowcase. In a preferred embodiment, a bag for carrying the sheet set is attached thereto. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front/upper view of a sheet set according to the present invention, as laid out on a mattress or similar; 10 FIG. 2 is a right hand side view of the sheet set, as laid out on a mattress or similar of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a rear/under view of the sheet set, as laid out on a mattress of FIG. 1, showing 15 the bottom sheet fitted over the mattress, and with the bag, bag flap and handle partially obscured; FIG. 4 is a rear/under view of the sheet set without the mattress, showing the front of the attached bag, its closure flap and handle, and with the fitted bottom sheet folded 20 inside the bag; FIG. 5 is a front view of the closed bag with the fitted bottom sheet, top sheet, pillowcase and/or pillow packed therein; and 25 FIG. 6 is a rear view of the bag of FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The sheet set will now be described in terms of a preferred embodiment, which is 30 illustrative, but not restrictive, of the present invention. The sheet set 10, as depicted in FIG. 1 to 4, has a fitted bottom sheet 11 to which a top sheet 12 is attached. In this embodiment the sheet set is infant-sized or cot-sized for use with a sleeping or napping infant or young child.
WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 3 For convenience, the base or "foot" end 13 of the top sheet 12, and preferably also a portion of the periphery 14 of each side of the top sheet 12, adjacent the base or "foot" end 13 thereof, is permanently attached (for example by fixing means such as being 5 sewn together) to the corresponding "foot" end and corresponding side portions of the bottom sheet. The remainder of the periphery of each side of the top sheet 12 may be unattached to corresponding side portions of the bottom sheet 11, permanently attached thereto, or 10 removably attached thereto, such as by using Velcro strips, snap-fasteners, press-studs or buttons. The use of the above examples of fastening means makes it easier for an infant or child to move in and out of the bedding, while still keeping the top sheet 12 in place when the 15 infant or child is sleeping or napping. In addition, the fastening means also retains the fitted bottom sheet 11, the top sheet 12, and other components folded away together in their correct position for convenient re-use at a later time. Where the entire length of each side of the top sheet 12 is attached either permanently or removably to the bottom sheet 11, some slack should be allowed so that an infant or child can fit comfortably and 20 move in between the top and bottom sheets, despite them being attached to each other, while sleeping or napping. As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, a pillowcase or pillow 15 may be attached to the "head" end of the bottom sheet 11. These figures, depicting the sheet set 10 as set out on a 25 mattress or similar, also show the top sheet 12 with band 16. The band 16 is included as an overlapping portion of top sheet 12 wherein extra warmth is created for the chest region of the infant or child. Where a pillowcase (rather than pillow) is attached to the bottom sheet 11, the sheet set 30 may also include a pillow which is insertable into the pillowcase. FIG. 3 is a rear or under view of the sheet set 10 defined in FIG. 1 and 2, illustrating the sheet set laid out on a mattress 17. Preferably, the bottom sheet will be of a WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 4 conventional fitted design, for example having a band of elastic material 18 around its periphery so as to fit over a mattress 17 or similar. FIG. 3 and 4 illustrate a bag 19 which, in this embodiment, is attached at its upper rim to 5 the sheet set 10. In FIG. 3, the bag 19 and its closure flap 20 and handle 21 are partially obscured. FIG. 4 is a rear/under view of the sheet set 10, showing the front of the bag 19, its closure flap 20 and handle 21, with the fitted bottom sheet 11 folded away inside the bag 19 and the 10 top sheet 12 still in its extended form for sleeping. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are front and rear views respectively of the bag 19, with the sheet set 10 including the bottom sheet 11, top sheet 12 with band 16 and pillowcase/pillow 15 folded and packed away therein. This is achieved preferably by folding the arrangement 15 several times from the "head" end 11 a of the bottom sheet 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, once the sheet set 10 is stowed within the bag 19, the closure flap 20 is placed over the opening of the bag (not shown) and the sheet set is secured within the bag by fastening the closure flap 20 by interconnecting reversible fastening means 20 such as a button 22 on the closure flap 20 and the buttonhole 23 of the bag 19. Alternative fastening methods, such as a snap-fastener, press-stud or Velcro strips, can be used instead of a button and buttonhole. In this embodiment, the bag 19 is attached by its upper rim to the junction line 13 where 25 the fitted bottom sheet 11 meets the top sheet 12. To unpack the sheet set 10, the bag 19 is unbuttoned, the closure flap 20 is lifted, and the bag is turned inside out to disgorge and reveal its contents. The contents are unfolded in two manoeuvres over the mattress 17 (or similar), and the band of elastic 30 material18 at the periphery of the fitted bottom sheet 11 is fitted over the mattress 17 (or similar), as with a conventional fitted sheet. The bed is now arranged ready for use, with fitted bottom sheet 11 and its attached top sheet 12 and pillowcase or pillow 15 in place.
WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 5 To re-pack the sheet set 10 in its bag 19, the fitted bottom sheet 11 is removed from the mattress 17 (or similar), and its underside with band of elastic material 18 is turned up and over the top sheet 12, so that the bottom sheet 11 has, in essence, been turned 5 "inside-out", with its band of elastic material 18 facing up, and the "inside-out" bottom sheet 11 partially enclosing the top sheet 12. The longest sides of the band 18 are placed parallel to each other. The base or "foot" end of the sheet set 10, distal from the pillowcase or pillow 15, is 10 folded up a first time, and then a second time. The folded sheet set 10 is now roughly the same size as the pillowcase or pillow 15. The front of the bag 19 is then pulled over the folded sheet set 10 so that, simultaneously, the sheet set 10 is packed into the bag 19, and the bag 19 is turned right way out. The closure flap 20 is placed over the front of the bag 19, and fastened using the button 22 and buttonhole 23. The sheet set 10 is 15 now secured within the bag 10 ready for convenient transport using handle 21. The sheet set 10 described above is compact, and has the added convenience of including its own bag for carrying. As it is an "all-in-one" set, there is no need to check that all of the required items of bedlinen have been packed. A number of day care 20 centres specify one sheet per child, and the present invention provides a complete sheet set counted as being a single item. In order to facilitate better understanding of the invention, the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, and with regard to the particular 25 elements and/or features described or depicted therein. It should however be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope. 30 For example, the bag 19 can have one or more internal waterproof pockets (not shown) for carrying children's toiletries, or one or more external pockets for carrying children's toys or other desired items.
WO 2009/079717 PCT/AU2008/001913 6 The bag 19 may, of course, have a different construction or design from that shown in the embodiment described above. For example, instead of having a closure flap, the bag may close by means of a draw-string arrangement (as in a duffle bag) or zipper. Furthermore, the sheet set 10 can be attached to the bag 19 at a different location 5 described in the above embodiment. For example, the bag 19 could instead be attached at the other ("head") end 11 a of the bottom sheet 11. Also, the way in which the bag's contents are folded and packed can be a matter of user preference. The sheet set may also comprise a blanket, quilt or duvet, provided that this added 10 component is sufficiently lightweight and does not add unnecessarily to the bulk of the sheet set. If a blanket, quilt or duvet is included, it may be attached atop the top sheet 12 by buttons (two buttons would, for example, be suitable) or other suitable reversible or permanent fastening arrangements. The top sheet 12 will then be sandwiched between the bottom sheet 11 and the blanket, quilt or duvet. 15 Also, although the sheet set has been specifically described in terms of infant-sized or cot-sized bedlinen for use at day care centres and similar child care organisations, there are many other situations where a portable "all-in-one" sheet set will be useful. For example, the sheet set of the present invention can be used for holiday trips where 20 bedlinen is not provided with the accommodation, and for camping trips. Therefore, the sheet set may be made in adult (single, double, queen or king) sizes, as well as in infant/cot sizes.