EP1654964A1 - Duvet Cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The cover has two rectangular fabric flaps (1, 2) attached to each other at their ends by a fixation unit. The sides are partially overlapped on an overlapping surface (3) having closing units e.g. buttons. One flap forming an upper side of the cover has a wide mouth (a) at its center or in a zone closer to the center, for permitting introduction and positioning of a duvet in the cover. The mouth is formed by spacing the flaps. An independent claim is also included for a method for making a cover for a duvet.

Description

The invention is in the field of duvet covers.

• type 1 : les housses avec ouverture sur le bas en forme de bouteille ;
• type 2 : les housses avec ouverture sur le bas avec (a) ou sans (b) moyens de fermeture ;
• type 3 : les housses avec ouverture sur la face supérieure de la housse, proche du bord inférieur ou supérieur de la housse, avec moyen de fermeture.

The duvet covers that exist on the market can be distinguished into three types:

• type 1: covers with opening on the bottom in the shape of a bottle;
• type 2: covers with opening on the bottom with (a) or without (b) means of closure;
• type 3: covers with opening on the upper face of the cover, close to the lower or upper edge of the cover, with closure means.

• Pour les housses de type 1, 2 et 3 :
  • difficulté d'introduire la couette dans la housse et en particulier dans les coins opposés à l'ouverture car il est nécessaire, soit, de soulever puis de secouer la housse et la couette, soit, d'entrer dans la housse pour y placer la couette ;
  • manque d'hygiène lors de l'introduction de la couette dans la housse car il est difficile d'éviter que la couette ne traîne par terre ;
  • difficulté de sortir la couette de la housse car l'ouverture est généralement étroite et/ou située sur une extrémité, ce qui nécessite de tirer la housse d'une main et la couette de l'autre pour les désolidariser et peut entraîner la détérioration de la housse et/ou de la couette.
• Pour les housses de type 1 et 2 (b) :
  • tendance pour la couette à sortir de la housse.
• Pour les housses de type 2 (a) et 3 :
  • perte de temps au niveau des moyens de fermeture de la housse.

These covers have the following disadvantages:

• For type 1, 2 and 3 covers:
  • difficulty in introducing the duvet in the cover and in particular in the corners opposite to the opening because it is necessary either to lift and then shake the cover and the duvet, or to enter the cover to place the quilt;
  • lack of hygiene when introducing the duvet into the cover because it is difficult to prevent the quilt from dropping on the floor;
  • Difficulty removing the quilt from the cover because the opening is generally narrow and / or located on one end, which requires pulling the cover with one hand and the quilt of the other to separate them and may cause the deterioration of the cover and / or the duvet.
• For covers 1 and 2 (b):
  • tendency for the quilt to come out of the cover.
• For covers of type 2 (a) and 3:
  • loss of time at the closing means of the cover.

The invention relates to duvet covers whose opening by which the duvet is introduced is practiced on the upper face of the cover in an area near the center. The upper face of the cover means the face that is placed facing the sky at the time of the introduction of the duvet in the cover.

• réduire le temps nécessaire pour introduire la couette dans la housse ;
• réduire l'effort nécessaire pour introduire la couette dans la housse ;
• réduire le temps nécessaire pour sortir la couette de la housse ;
• réduire l'effort nécessaire pour sortir la couette de la housse ;
• augmenter l'hygiène et la propreté de la literie car la couette s'introduit et se retire de la housse sur le lit et ne traîne plus par terre ;
• augmenter la propreté de la literie car la facilité d'utilisation de la housse n'est plus un frein à son remplacement et à son lavage ;
• éviter que la couette sorte de la housse ;
• faciliter le réajustement de la couette dans la housse dans l'hypothèse où la couette a bougé en cours d'utilisation ;
• réduire la détérioration de la housse et/ou de la couette ;
• prévenir les troubles musculo-squelettiques en évitant des torsions et des flexions exagérées des membres et de la colonne.

The objects of the invention are multiple. The invention makes it possible to:

• reduce the time required to insert the duvet into the cover;
• reduce the effort required to introduce the duvet into the cover;
• reduce the time needed to remove the quilt from the cover;
• reduce the effort required to pull the quilt out of the cover;
• increase the hygiene and cleanliness of the bedding because the duvet is introduced and withdraws from the cover on the bed and no longer hangs on the ground;
• increase the cleanliness of bedding because the ease of use of the cover is no longer a brake to its replacement and its washing;
• avoid that the quilt comes out of the cover;
• facilitate the readjustment of the duvet in the cover in the event that the duvet has moved during use;
• reduce the deterioration of the cover and / or the duvet;
• prevent musculoskeletal disorders by avoiding exaggerated torsion and flexion of the limbs and spine.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a duvet cover composed of two rectangular fabric faces of dimensions D1 x D2 attached to each other at their ends by a fastening system and whose upper face is provided with a wide central opening or near the center by which one introduces the quilt, allowing, on the one hand, an easy access to the four corners of the cover and, on the other hand, to introduce the quilt, to readjust the duvet in progress use and remove the duvet without the need to lift, the opening on the top of the cover allowing the cover and quilt to rest on the bed.

In the present description, the dimension D1 represents the length of the edge of the cover intended to be on the side of the head of the user. Dimension D2 represents the length of the lateral edges relative to the user.

• soit en écartant les deux pans de tissu contigus ou se chevauchant partiellement qui forment la face supérieure de la housse de dimensions D1 x D2;
• soit en pliant, le long d'une charnière, la ou les surfaces de tissu contiguës ou se chevauchant partiellement qui forment la face supérieure de la housse de dimensions D1 x D2 ;
• soit en découvrant une ouverture à deux dimensions préalablement découpée à l'intérieur d'une surface de tissu de dimensions D1 x D2 et recouverte d'une ou plusieurs surfaces de tissu qui ensemble forment la face supérieure de la housse.

The opening is made in the upper face of the cover using three different techniques:

• either by separating the two contiguous or partially overlapping sheets of fabric which form the upper face of the cover of dimensions D1 x D2;
• or by folding, along one hinge, the one or more adjacent or partially overlapping fabric surfaces which form the upper face of the cover of dimensions D1 x D2;
• or by discovering a two-dimensional opening previously cut inside a fabric surface of dimensions D1 x D2 and covered with one or more fabric surfaces which together form the upper face of the cover.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, in conjunction with the examination of the appended figures, presented by way of example only.

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 illustrates the first way to achieve the opening on the upper face of the cover by removing two contiguous or overlapping sections of fabric.

FIG. 2 illustrates the third way of making the opening on the upper face of the cover by discovering a two-dimensional opening previously cut inside a fabric surface of dimensions D1 × D2 and covered with a surface of tissue.

Figure 3 illustrates the second way of making the opening on the upper face of the cover by folding, along a hinge, one or more fabric surfaces contiguous or partially overlapping.

FIG. 4 gives additional examples relating to the second way of making the opening on the upper face of the cover by folding, along a hinge, one or more contiguous or partially overlapping tissue surfaces.

FIG. 5 illustrates the third way of making the opening on the upper face of the cover by discovering a two-dimensional opening previously cut inside a fabric surface of dimensions D1 × D2 and covered with several fabric surfaces. .

FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred mode of making the cover, represented in FIG. 1A, the opening of which is obtained, according to the first way of making the opening, while spreading at the level of the slot (a), two sections of fabric (1) and (2).

FIG. 7 gives a further example relating to the second way of making the opening on the upper face of the cover by folding, along a hinge, a surface of fabric which partially overlaps another surface and illustrates the preferred mode of making this cover.

In the first way of producing the opening, represented by FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the opening is obtained by separating, at a slot (a), two contiguous sections of fabric (1) and (2). or partially overlapping on a surface (3). The slot (a) must be in the surface (4) or in an area close to the diagonals (d) or (e), the surface (4) being such that the length L1 is more or less equal to L3 than L4 is more or less equal to L6 and the length ratios L1 / L2 and L4 / L5 are of the order of 1/2.

Preferably, the slit (a) is rectilinear and lies in an area near the median (b) or the median (c).

In a first example, shown in FIG. 1A, the opening is obtained by spreading at the slit (a), close to the median, two sections of fabric (1) and (2) overlapping on a surface (3). ). The overlapping surface (3) is optionally equipped with a means of closure. In addition, the overlapping surface (3) has a width which varies according to the closure means and its width is between 0 and 40 cm when it is equipped with a closure means or is between 5 and 60 cm when it does not have one. Preferably, the overlapping surface (3) has a width of the order of 8 cm when it is equipped with a closing means and of the order of 20 cm when it is devoid of it. Preferably, the closure means are buttons whose buttonholes are perpendicular to the edge of the overlapping surface.

In a second example, shown in FIG. 1C, the opening is obtained by separating at the level of the slot (a), close to the median, two sections of fabric (1) and (2) contiguous over the entire length of the slot (a). The adjacent edges of the two fabric panels (1) and (2) are equipped with a closure means. Preferably, the closure means is a zipper.

In the second embodiment of opening, represented by FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 7A, the opening is obtained by folding along one hinge (f) the adjacent fabric surface (s) or partially overlapping which form the upper face of the cover of dimensions D1 x D2. The surface or surfaces that are folded are such that at least two of their sides are not assembled or are only partially assembled over a length (k), which makes it possible to produce, after folding, a two-dimensional opening in the face top of the cover. This two-dimensional aperture must be located in a central zone or near the center of the upper face of the cover so that it must intersect with a reference surface consisting of a disc with a radius of at least 50 cm whose center is the center of the cover.

Preferably, the number of surfaces forming the upper face of the cover is between 1 and 4.

In a first example, shown in Figure 3A, the opening is obtained by folding, along the hinges f, f 'and f "the three surfaces of tissue (1c), (2c) and (3c) overlapping partially in pairs, respectively at overlapping surfaces (4c), (5c) and (6c). At the point where they overlap, the fabric surfaces (1c), (2c) and (3c) are not joined to each other or only partially to a length (k). Preferably, the surface (1c) is pentagonal and the surfaces (2c) and (3c) have the shape of a rectangle trapezoid. The overlapping surfaces (4c), (5c) and (6c) have a width of between 1 and 40 cm and are optionally equipped with a closure means. The intersection area of the overlapping surfaces (4c), (5c) and (6c) is equipped with a closure means. Preferably, the closure means is a single button placed at the intersection of the overlapping surfaces (4c), (5c) and (6c) and the latter have a width of the order of 15 cm.

In a second example, shown in Figure 3B, the opening is obtained by folding, along a hinge (f), the surface (1) of dimensions D1 x D2. On its side (b), the surface (1) is not attached to the underside of the duvet and is on its sides (a) and (c) only over a length (k). The sides (a), (b) and (c) are provided with a closure means. Preferably, the closure means is constituted by Velcro strips or by a pull tab.

In a third example, shown in Figure 3C, the opening is obtained by folding, along the hinges (f) and (f), the fabric sections (1) and (2) contiguous. Preferably, a rectangular surface (3) overlaps the surfaces (1) and (2) at the overlapping surface (4). Optionally, the surface (1) or the surface (2) can be assembled to the surface (3) over a length (k). The adjacent edges of the surfaces (1) and (2) are provided with a closure means. Preferably, the closure means consists of a pull tab. Optionally, the overlapping surface (4) is also provided with a closure means.

In a fourth and a fifth example, represented in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the opening is obtained by folding, along the hinges (f), (f '), (f ") and (f'") the four surfaces of wherein the overlapping surfaces (5d), (6d), (7d) diagonals. At these overlapping surfaces, the fabric surfaces (1d), (2d), (3d) and (4d) are not joined to each other or only partly to a length (k). Preferably, the surfaces (1d), (2d), (3d) and (4d) are rectangular and of identical dimensions (FIG. 4A) or have the form of isosceles triangles equal in pairs (FIG. 4B).

In a sixth example, shown in Figure 7A, the opening is obtained by folding, along the hinge (f), the fabric pan (1) pentagonal. The surfaces (1) and (2) overlap on an overlapping surface of width (R) between 1 and 40 cm and provided with closure means. Preferably, the width (R) is of the order of 15 cm and the closure means is constituted by a single button placed at the end of the angle formed by the two sides of the pentagon (1) left free.

In the third way of producing the opening, represented by FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 5A and 5B, the opening is obtained by discovering a two-dimensional opening (8) previously cut inside a surface of fabric of dimensions D1 x D2, covered with one or more fabric surfaces, which together form the upper face of the cover. This two-dimensional aperture must be located in a central zone or near the center of the upper face of the cover so that it must intersect with a reference surface consisting of a disc with a radius of at least 50 cm whose center is the center of the cover.

When the opening (8) is covered by a single surface (6), as in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, the covering surface (6) is of dimensions equal to or greater than the opening (8). Either, it is secured to the surface (5), obtained by removing the surface (8) at the surface D1 x D2, at the hinge (f) around which it pivots, or it is completely removed to discover the opening (8).

When the aperture (8) is covered by two or more surfaces, as in Figs. 5A and 5B, these are contiguous or overlap partially in pairs to form a surface of dimensions equal to or larger than the aperture (8). ) and are secured to the surface (5), obtained by removing the surface (8) at the surface D1 x D2, at the hinges (f) around which they pivot to practice the opening (8).

Preferably, the opening is rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal or parallelogram-shaped, the surface or surfaces covering the opening conform to the shape of the opening and the hinge or hinges are parallel to one side of the opening. The number of surfaces covering the opening is preferably between 1 and 4.

In a first, a second and a third example, shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, the openings (8) are triangular, trapezoidal and rectangular and the covering surface (6) adopts the shape of the opening (8). The covering surface is sewn on the surface (5) at the hinge (f). The overlapping surface (7) between the surface (5) and the surface (6) is provided with a closure means. The hinge (f) is parallel to one side of the opening and the width of the overlapping surface is between 0 and 80 cm and preferably of the order of 15 cm. It is preferably equipped with buttons whose number is two or more for the rectangular and trapezoidal opening and one or more for the triangular opening.

In a fourth and fifth example, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the opening (8) is rectangular of dimensions D3 × D4, with D3 <D1 and D4 <D2. The overlapping 4 fabric surfaces overlap partially in pairs so that together they cover the opening (8) and partially cover the surface (5) to which they are attached by one of their side which will serve hinges, the others being left free. The 4 covering surfaces are 4 isosceles triangles equal in pairs whose overlapping surfaces are represented by (2e), (3e), (4e) and (5e).

In the fifth example, shown in Figure 5B, the hinges of the four triangles along the sides of the opening (8). In this case, the overlapping surfaces (2e), (3e), (4e) and (5e) have a width which is between 1 and 40 cm and which is preferably of the order of 10 cm.

In the fourth example, shown in FIG. 5A, the hinges of the four triangles are located at a distance L2 from the sides of the opening (8). L2 is between 0 and L1. The hinges placed end to end form a rectangle of dimensions D5 x D6, with D1> D5> D3 and D2> D6> D4. This arrangement allows the triangles to overlap one another in any order.

Triangles solidify at their intersection, preferably by a single button.

1. 1) Découpe de la ou des surfaces composant la housse ;
2. 2) Assemblage de la ou des surfaces composant la housse au moyen d'un système de fixation, préférentiellement des coutures, les extrémités des pans de tissu qu'il faut écarter, plier ou découvrir afin de pratiquer l'ouverture étant laissées libres ;
3. 3) Pose des moyens de fermeture au niveau des surfaces de chevauchement ou des bords des pans laissés libres.

The invention also provides a method of making the cover comprising the following steps:

1. 1) Cutting of the surface or surfaces composing the cover;
2. 2) Assembling the surface or surfaces comprising the cover by means of a fastening system, preferably seams, the ends of the sections of fabric that must be spread, fold or discover in order to practice the opening being left free;
3. 3) Laying closure means at the overlapping surfaces or the edges of the flats left free.

As regards the assembly of the surfaces or component parts of the cover, their edges can be fully sewn or can be provided openings, for example, near the corners of the cover to improve, if necessary, the establishment of the duvet.

The means of closure that can be used are, for example, velcro strips, zippers, buttons, snaps, elastics and strings.

Preferably, the ends of the overlapping surfaces are reinforced by hems.

For covers whose opening is obtained by spreading at the level of the slot (a), the sections of fabric (1) and (2), represented in FIG. 1A and for the covers, the opening of which is obtained by folding a tissue surface (1), shown in Figure 7A, the invention provides a preferred embodiment of making the duvet cover shown in Figures 6 and 7B comprising the steps of:

Step 1: Cutting

A piece of rectangular fabric of dimensions (2D2 + R) × D1 (FIG. 6) is cut, or in the form of two parallelograms placed side by side, the long side of which is of dimensions (2D2 + R) x D1 (FIG. 7B).

Step 2: Assembly

This piece of fabric is folded into three parts of length L1, L2 and L3 where the length L2 of the middle part of the piece of fabric is equal to D2 and where the length L1 is of the order of L3. The folds are made around two axes (a) and (b) separated by a distance D2 and perpendicular to the long side of the piece of fabric. The folded portions of length L1 and L3 overlap over a distance R. After folding, the lateral edges of the piece of rectangular fabric or double parallelogram form are secured by means of seams.

Step 3: Installation of closing means

Whatever the way the opening is made in the upper face of the cover, the best accessibility to the corners of the cover during operations to introduce the duvet in the cover, to readjust in use and to the remove from the cover, reduces the time required to perform these operations by more than 25%.

When there is no closure means on the overlapping surface as is optionally the case for covers shown in Figure 1A or when the closure system is limited to one or two buttons or a zipper as is preferably the case for the covers shown in FIGS. 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B and 7A, the reduction in the necessary time is increased to more than 50 %.

Whatever the type of opening of the cover, the best accessibility to the corners of the cover and the fact of being able to put the duvet on the bed and on the cover during operations to introduce the duvet in the cover, to readjust in use and remove it from the cover, reduces the effort and energy required to perform these operations by more than 50%. When the quilt and cover are large, the reduction of effort and energy is increased to more than 75%.

The covers can be made in any desired format but the typical dimensions are 200 x 200 cm, 220 x 240 cm and 220 x 260 cm for two-person beds and 140 x 200 cm for single beds.

Claims (11)

Duvet cover consisting of two rectangular fabric faces of dimensions D1 x D2 attached to each other at their ends by a fixing means and one of whose two faces is capable of having a large central opening or close to the center allowing the introduction and positioning of the duvet in the cover. Cover according to claim 1 characterized in that the opening allows manual access by the user to the four inner corners of the cover by said opening. Duvet cover according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the wide central or near-central opening is obtained (FIG. 1) by separating, at a slot (a), two contiguous sections of fabric (1) and (2). or overlapping partially on a surface (3), the slot (a) being in the surface (4) or in an area near the diagonals (d) or (e) and the surface (4) being such that the lengths L1 and L3 are more or less equal to each other, that the lengths L4 and L6 are more or less equal to each other and that the length ratios L1 / L2 and L4 / L5 are of the order of 1/2. The cover of claim 3 wherein the slot (a) is rectilinear and close to the longitudinal median (b) or the transverse median (c). Duvet cover according to claim 1 or 2 in which the wide central or near-central opening is obtained (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7A) by folding along one hinge (f) the adjoining or overlapping tissue surface (s). partially forming the upper face of the cover D1 x D2 dimensions, the folded surfaces being such that at least two of their sides are not assembled or are only partially assembled over a length (k), which allows to realize, after folding, a two-dimensional opening in the upper face of the cover whose characteristic is to be located in a central zone or near the center of the upper face of the cover so that it must have a intersection with a reference surface consisting of a disc with a radius of at least 50 cm whose center is the center of the cover. Duvet cover of claim 5 wherein the number of surfaces comprising the upper face of the cover is between 1 and 4. Duvet cover of claim 1 or 2, the wide central or near-central opening of which is obtained (FIGS. 2 and 5) by revealing a two-dimensional opening (8) previously cut inside a fabric surface of dimensions D1 x D2, covered with one or more fabric surfaces, which together form the upper face of the cover, the two-dimensional opening (8) having the characteristic of being located in a central zone or near the center of the upper face of the cover so that it must have an intersection with a reference surface consisting of a disc with a radius of at least 50 cm whose center is the center of the cover. The duvet cover of claim 7 wherein the number of surfaces covering the two-dimensional aperture (8) is between 1 and 4. Method for making the duvet cover of one of claims 1 to 8 comprising the steps of: a) cutting of the surface or surfaces composing the cover; b) assembly of the surface or surfaces comprising the cover by means of seams, the ends of the sections of fabric that must be spread, fold or discover in order to practice the opening being left free; c) affixing closure means at the overlapping surfaces or edges of the fabric sheets left free. Cover according to any one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the opening is in the form of a slot whose sides overlap partially. Cover according to any one of claims 1 and 2, the opening of which consists of a slot parallel to the edge of dimension D1 and located more than 85 cm from it.

Images