AU2017100387B4 - Child comforter sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A child comforter sheet 10 is a fitted sheet sized for a cot bed, single bed, bassinet or other size as desired. The sheet 10 comprises a top surface 12 having securely attached thereto a plurality of spaced comforter strips 20. The embodiment shown has four comforter strips 20 positioned adjacent but spaced from corners of the top surface 12. Each comforter strip 20 comprises a series of five contiguous texture bands 22a to 22e.

Description

Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to a child comforter sheet.

Background of the Invention [2] The theory behind a traditional child comforter such as a blanket, toy, or stuffed animal is that it provides psychological comfort when a child is experiencing separation anxiety, situational anxiety, and/or bedtime anxiety (from approximately 7 months of age). Supporting research conducted by SIDS and Kids however maintains that there are significant risk factors surrounding the use of a traditional comforter to relieve bedtime anxiety, including strangulation and suffocation.

[3] The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[4] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention [5] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a child comforter sheet comprising a top surface having at least one comforter strip thereon, the comforter strip having a profile property being at least one of texture, feel, contour, shape, size, scent and colour.

[6] Preferably, each comforter strip comprises at least two material bands having different profile properties, the profile properties being at least one of texture, feel, contour, shape, size, scent and colour.

[7] Alternatively, the sheet comprises at least two comfort strips having different profile properties, the profile properties being at least one of texture, feel, contour, shape, size, scent and colour.

[8] Preferably, each comforter strip is securely attached to the top surface.

[9] Preferably, the sheet is a fitted sheet.

[10] Preferably, the sheet of comprises a plurality of spaced comforter strips.

[11 ] Preferably, the sheet of comprises four comforter strips positioned adjacent corners of the top surface.

[12] Preferably, each comforter strip comprises a series of contiguous bands.

2017100387 05 Apr 2017 [13] Preferably, each comforter strip comprises a series of at least five bands.

[14] In another embodiment, each comforter strip comprises spaced profile bands having gaps therebetween.

[15] In another embodiment, the profile bands within a comforter strip have different dimensions and/or shapes.

[16] In another embodiment, two or more profile bands within a comforter strip are the same.

[17] In another embodiment, the profile bands within a comforter strip provide a texture or feel pattern.

[18] In another embodiment the profile bands are of increasing softness or increasing height.

[19] In another embodiment each comforter strip is interchangeable and replaceable in the sheet.

[20] In another embodiment, the comforter strips are printed or formed with the sheet.

[21 ] In another embodiment, the material bands are arranged to create a picture, character, pattern, orword/s.

[22] In another embodiment, the entire perimeter of the sheet comprises a comforter strip, comprising of either a single material band, or multiple material bands.

[23] In another embodiment, each comforter strip is padded and either raised or flat.

[24] In another embodiment, the sheet further comprises additional comforter strips attachable to the sheet.

[25] In another embodiment, sheet of further comprises a perimeter trim extending around the perimeter of each comforter strip.

[26] The present invention also provides a comforter strip attachable to a sheet.

[27] In another embodiment, each comforter strip comprises at least two material bands having different profile properties, the profile properties being at least one of texture, feel, contour, shape, size, scent and colour [28] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

2017100387 05 Apr 2017

Brief Description of the Drawings [29] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[30] Figure 1 is a top view of a child comforter sheet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[31 ] Figure 2 (a) to (d) show examples of comforter strips for the sheet of Figure 1.

Description of Embodiments [32] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[33] Figure 1 shows a child comforter sheet 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The child comforter sheet 10 is a fitted sheet sized for a cot bed, single bed, bassinet or other size as desired.

[34] The sheet 10 comprises a top surface 12 having securely attached thereto a plurality of spaced comforter strips 20. The embodiment shown has four comforter strips 20 positioned adjacent but spaced from corners of the top surface 12. The comforter strips 20 are thus disposed generally adjacent the respective hands and feet of a child 100 in use.

[35] In the embodiment for example, each comforter strip 20 is spaced 70 mm from a side edge 14 of the top surface 12 in use and 200 mm from a top edge or bottom edge 16.

[36] Each comforter strip 20 in the embodiment shown comprises a series of five contiguous texture bands 22a to 22e each being 100 mm wide and 50 mm in height. Each comforter strip 20 is thus is 100 mm wide and 250 mm in length in total.

[37] Alternatively, the texture bands 22 within a comforter strip 20 can be spaced from each other via gaps therebetween, and the texture bands 22 within a comforter strip 20 can have different dimensions and/or shapes. For example, the comforter strips 20 can be shaped as a circular disc with the texture bands 22 being shaped as sectors of a circle, or the texture bands 22 can be increased in quantity to run the length of the child comforter sheet 10. The comforter strips 20 can also be wider to cover a wider area of the top surface 12.

[38] Each texture band 22 comprises a texture different to the texture of the other texture bands 22 in a comforter strip 20. The texture for example can comprise dots, bumps, ridges, swirls, ratchet, short fur, long fur, spiky, etc. The different textures are provided via five different fabrics which allows a child to determine their own textile preferences.

2017100387 05 Apr 2017 [39] Each texture band 22 can also comprise a colour different to the colour of the other bands 22 in the strip 20. Each texture band 22 can also comprise a scent different to the scent of the other bands 22 in the strip 20. Each texture band 22 can also comprise a threedimensional shape or image different to the three-dimensional shape or image of the other bands 22 in the strip 20. Each texture band 22 can also comprise a feel different to the feel of the other bands 22 in the strip 20. Each texture band can also be padded such that the texture bands sit either raised or flat.

[40] As a further alternative, two or more texture bands 22 within a comforter strip 20 can be the same. For example, the second and fourth texture bands 22 can be the same.

[41] The texture bands 22 within a comforter strip 20 can also be adapted to provide a texture or feel pattern. For example, the texture bands 22 can be of increasing softness or increasing height profile.

[42] The example of Figure 1 shows four identical comforter strips 20 spaced along the top surface 12. It is however possible to have different comforter strips 20 in the top surface 12 (such as those shown in Figure 2), or to have the top two comforter strips 20 being the same and bottom two comforter strips 20 being the same. Alternatively, the left side comforter strips 20 can be the same and the right side comforter strips 20 can be the same.

[43] The present comforter sheet aims to assist both child and parent in successfully achieving a restful sleep through the minimisation of bedtime separation anxiety. The child comforter sheet works by offering the child a variety of textured comfort fabrics, permanently attached to the fitted cot/bed sheet, designed to safely aid their ability to self-settle and soothe themselves to sleep, and thus relieving bedtime anxiety. By permanently attaching the comforter fabrics to the fitted sheet, the strangulation/suffocation risk is mitigated.

[44] To enable the child to experience a consistent sense of comfort and satisfaction, the present invention also provides separate comforter strips 20 for the child to have when ‘on the go’. This allows the child to be familiar and comfortable with the comforter strips 20.

[45] The textured comforter strips are securely stitched onto the fitted sheet of a cot/bed, essentially creating an all-in-one comforting system, to allow the child to safely experience the texture/comfort of a traditional comforter, without risk of strangulation.

[46] The four comforter strips, positioned adjacent each corner of the cot sheet, allow for movement of the child, as well as allowing the sheet to be reversible use by the parent enabling ease of bed-making and longevity of use.

[47] The comfort sheet acts as a self-settling/soothing tool, designed to aid in alleviating bedtime anxiety and sleeplessness for both child and parent. The securely attached comforter

2017100387 05 Apr 2017 strips eliminates the risk of strangulation or suffocation associated with traditional comforter items [48] The example shown uses high quality 300T cotton sheet, with polyester and poly/cotton fabric strips.

[49] Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiments described. For example, it is possible for the comforter strips to be adapted for interchangeability or being replaceable in the sheet 10. Each comforter strip 20 for example can be attached to the sheet 10 via hook and look fasteners (VELCRO) along their back surface as well as zippers along their perimeter edges to provide the secure attachment. Other possible forms of attachment include iron-on adhesive, permanent-stick adhesive, and embroidery.

[50] In another possible modification, the sheet can be created by having texture bands or comforter strips sold separately with iron-adhesive pre-attached thereto, or sold separately on their own for the parent/buyer to attach themselves via a chosen method of attachment. The texture bands or comforter strips could be sold with, or without the sheet, and could come in a range of colours/shapes/sizes/patterns/images so the buyer could mix and match to design own pattern/textures. The texture bands and comforter strips for example can come in kit form where the user will choose a set of texture bands to form the comforter strip which is then attached to the sheet.

[51] It is also possible to have each comforter strip 20 have a single large texture band 22 only, or only have two texture bands 22. The sheet for example can have spaced single texture bands 22, with the texture bands 22 being of different profile properties.

[52] It is also possible to provide a perimeter trim similar to a texture band 22, the perimeter extending around the perimeter of each comforter strip 20. The perimeter trim acts to make the panel more secure to the sheet, improves the aesthetic, and gives the child an additional sensory stimulant to twiddle with.

2017100387 17 Apr 2018

Claims (5)

1. Claims:

   1. A fitted sheet for a bed, the fitted sheet comprising:

   a top surface having a flat central section and at least one child comforter strip spaced from the central section, wherein each child comforter strip comprises at least two material bands having different profile properties, the profile properties being at least one of texture, feel, contour, shape, size, scent and colour.
2. 2. The fitted sheet of claim 1 wherein the at least one child comforter strip is disposed adjacent a corner of the top surface.
3. 3. The fitted sheet of claim 1 comprising four child comforter strips positioned adjacent respective corners of the top surface.
4. 4. The fitted sheet of claim 1 wherein each child comforter strip is interchangeable and replaceable in the sheet.
5. 5. The fitted sheet of claim 1 wherein the entire perimeter of the sheet comprises a child comforter strip, comprising of either a single material band, or multiple material bands.

   1/2

   2017100387 05 Apr 2017

   FIGURE 1

   2/2

   2017100387 05 Apr 2017

   22a

   22d