AU2012101766B4

AU2012101766B4 - Bed Sheet Set

Info

Publication number: AU2012101766B4
Application number: AU2012101766A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Katrina Louise Calder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-05
Filing date: 2012-12-05
Publication date: 2017-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-05
Also published as: AU2012101766A4

Abstract

The present prevention provides sheet set for a bed with a head end, a feet end and sides located therebetween, the sheet set comprising: a) a bottom sheet adapted to fit a mattress or the like, said bottom sheet 5 comprising first attachment means; and b) a top sheet comprising second attachment means arranged to substantially correspond with the first attachment means; wherein the first and second attachment means are arranged so that when attached together, an occupant positioned between the sheets is retained 10 between the sides, the occupant's head being positioned proximal the head end and the occupant's feet being positioned proximal the feet end.

Description

2012101766 05 Dec 2012 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT

Bed Sheet Set

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2012101766 05 Dec 2012 TITLE: BED SHEET SET Field of Invention

The present invention relates to bed sheets, particularly bed sheets for children 5 or other individuals who are unable to attend to their own needs whilst in bed or who are at risk of accidentally falling out of bed.

Background 10 Traditional bedding generally includes a bottom sheet wrapped around a mattress. This is done by tucking all the sheet edges and corners under the mattress. For ease of putting on a bottom sheet, a fitted sheet is often used which has rounded, elasticised corners which fit tightly around the mattress. 15 Over this bottom sheet, a top sheet may be placed which in turn may be overlaid by top covers such as a blanket, quilt, doona.

Alternatively, a popular method is to just use a doona over the bottom sheet. 20 Some people, particularly children, move around in their bed when they are trying to fall asleep and/or when they are asleep. This often causes the bed covers, i.e. the top sheet, blankets, quilt, doona, etc to fall off resulting in the sleeper getting cold and waking. 25 For babies and very small children, a popular product available is a baby sleeping bag which the child wears like an item of clothing. It has poppers or zips to fasten it up and head and arm holes without sleeves. As the child effectively wears the baby sleeping bag in bed, it cannot come off them during the night. 2 2012101766 05 Dec 2012

While a sleeping bag arrangement may be suitable for a baby, as the baby turns into a toddler, the sleeping bag is no longer appropriate and the child is put under a top sheet or other cover such as a doona which easily falls off during the night. 5 A current product available is a doona cover attached to a fitted sheet which keeps the doona on. The doona however is directly against the child and therefore easily soiled.

Another problem with existing bedding arrangements is that a child, who has 10 recently moved from a bed with side rails such as a cot, to a bed without rails, often falls out of bed due to wriggling and rolling during sleep.

There are a number of products on the market to help keep a child who has recently moved from a bed without side rails from falling out. These include blow 15 up tubes to put down the sides of the bed, which prevent the child rolling out. Another popular product is a small collapsible rail that inserts under the mattress, which also stops the child from falling out. These are all extra products that need to be purchased and stored between uses. 20 Yet another problem relates to bedding hygiene. Bed covers such as blankets, quilts and doonas are bulky and often difficult to clean. Children’s bedding often needs more regular changing due to snotty noses, dribbling, bed-wetting, nosebleeds, vomiting, etc. 25 A top sheet may be used to shield the bulky bed covers from soiling. The daily task of arranging the top sheet and bulky covers however can be a tiresome chore. A popular alternative to using a top sheet is to just use a doona protected by a 30 doona cover. Inserting the doona and removing it from the doona cover however is also a tiresome chore. Children often wrap their legs or bodies around the 3 doona and thus during a bed wetting incident will soil not just the doona cover but also the doona itself. 2012101766 14 Dec 2016

The above 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 common general knowledge in the art.

Summary

In a first aspect the invention provides a sheet set for a bed with a head end, a feet end and sides located therebetween, the sheet set comprising: a) a bottom sheet adapted to fit a mattress or the like, said bottom sheet comprising first attachment means; and b) a top sheet comprising second attachment means arranged to substantially correspond with the first attachment means; wherein the first and second attachment means are arranged so that when attached together, an occupant positioned between the sheets is retained between the sides, the occupant’s head being positioned proximal the head end and the occupant’s feet being positioned proximal the feet end and wherein said bottom sheet and top sheet being further joined together by an additional attachment means located in close proximity to the bottom end of the first and second attachment means and being positioned so as to provide for a gap, with no attachment means, between the first and second attachment means and the additional attachment means.

In another aspect the invention relates to a method of providing a sheet set for a bed with a head end, a feet end and sides located therebetween, the method comprising: (a) attaching a bottom sheet adapted to fit a mattress or the like, said bottom sheet comprising first attachment means to a top sheet comprising second attachment means arranged to substantially correspond with the first attachment means; (b) further attaching the bottom sheet to the top sheet with an additional attachment means located in close proximity to the bottom of the first and second attachment means and being positioned so as to provide for a gap, with no 4 2012101766 14 Dec 2016 attachment means, between the first and second attachment means and the additional attachment means; 5 2012101766 05 Dec 2012

Preferably the first and second attachment means are located between the head end and foot end either side of the occupant and each attachment means comprises an open ended zip which form a zip attachment when attached together. 5

Preferably the sheet set comprises a piece of fabric arranged to be attached to the top sheet proximal the head end so that the fabric partially overlaps the top sheet and provides a flap which can be turned down over the top bed covers. Even more preferably the top sheet and the piece of fabric are arranged to 10 receive a blanket, quilt or doona therebetween.

The sheet set and additional fabric may be composed of any suitable material. Preferably the sheets and the piece of fabric are formed from cotton or poly cotton. 15

Preferably the bottom sheet is a fitted sheet.

The sheet set may be of any size suitable to a bed or cot. Preferably the sheets are cot bed size or single bed size. 20

Optionally the first and second sheets comprise additional attachment means. Preferably the additional attachment means is located on either side towards the feet end of both sheets. More preferably the additional attachment means comprises stitching or nylon welding. 25

Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments of the Invention

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non limiting illustrative drawings. 30 5 2012101766 05 Dec 2012

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a mattress fitted with the sheet set in a closed condition and shows optional stitching along the sides between the head end and the feet end. 5 Figure 2 is a perspective view from the head end of the mattress showing an occupant between the sheet set.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a mattress fitted with the sheet set in an open condition without the optional stitching. 10

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non limiting illustrative drawings.

Sheet set 10 is adapted to fit over a mattress and has head end 12, feet end 14 15 and sides 16 running therebetween. Sheet set 10 is comprised of bottom sheet 20 which may be in the form of a fitted sheet and a corresponding sheet, top sheet 40 having flap 45 which may be folded back over the top bedcovers 50 such as a doona or the like. Flap 45 which may be in a contrasting colour and/or pattern may be integral with top sheet 40 or detachable by means of Velcro® 45a 20 or the like.

Bottom sheet 20 and top sheet 40 are joined together by attachment means in the form of two pairs of open ended zips 25a, 25b, and 26a, 26b located at sides 16 close to head end 12. This means that both head end 12 and feet end 14 are 25 open however rolling out of the side of a bed fitted with sheet set 10 is prevented when zips 25 and 26 attach bottom sheet 20 and top sheet 40 together.

Bottom sheet 20 and top sheet 40 may additionally be stitched together, or nylon welded along sides 16 below zips 25 and 26 as shown by the broken lines in 30 Figure 1 or alternatively there is no stitching as shown in Figure 3. 6 2012101766 05 Dec 2012

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 part of top sheet 40 may be folded back in a particularly hot weather or to allow the airing of the bed during the day. Alternatively in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 top sheet 40 may be completely detached to allow for airing. 5

As can be seen from Figure 2 and occupant 60 can sleep securely in sheet set 10 whilst top sheet 40 remains in place with flap 45 protecting the top covers from soiling and without rolling out of the side of the bed. Whilst primarily directed at children sheet set 10 can also be used for invalid or immobile adults. 10

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiment illustrated herein is intended or should be 15 inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover, by the appended claims, all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise the words "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" will be 20 understood to mean the inclusion of the stated integer, step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any of other integer, step or group of integers or steps. 7

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A sheet set for a bed with a head end, a feet end and sides located therebetween, the sheet set comprising: a) a bottom sheet adapted to fit a mattress or the like, said bottom sheet comprising first attachment means; and b) a top sheet comprising second attachment means arranged to substantially correspond with the first attachment means; wherein the first and second attachment means are arranged so that when attached together, an occupant positioned between the sheets is retained between the sides, the occupant’s head being positioned proximal the head end and the occupant’s feet being positioned proximal the feet end and wherein said bottom sheet and top sheet being further joined together by an additional attachment means located in close proximity to the bottom end of the first and second attachment means and being positioned so as to provide for a gap, with no attachment means, between the first and second attachment means and the additional attachment means.
2. The sheet set of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment means are located either side of the occupant between the head end and foot end and each attachment means comprises an open ended zip and form a zip attachment when attached together.
3. The sheet set of claim 1 or claim 2 which comprises an additional piece of fabric attachable to the head end of the top sheet and may be turned down over top bed covers.
4. A method of providing a sheet set for a bed with a head end, a feet end and sides located therebetween, the method comprising: (a) attaching a bottom sheet adapted to fit a mattress or the like, said bottom sheet comprising first attachment means to a top sheet comprising second attachment means arranged to substantially correspond with the first attachment means; (b) further attaching the bottom sheet to the top sheet with an additional attachment means located in close proximity to the bottom of the first and second attachment means and being positioned so as to provide for a gap between the first and second attachment means and the additional attachment means; wherein the first and second attachment means are arranged so that when attached together, an occupant positioned between the sheets is retained between the sides, the occupant’s head being positioned proximal the head end and the occupant’s feet being positioned proximal the feet end.
5. The sheet set of any one of claims 1 to 3 or the method of claim 4 wherein the additional attachment means comprises stitching or nylon welding.