GB2277024A

GB2277024A - A bedspread with pocket convertible into a toy

Info

Publication number: GB2277024A
Application number: GB9307850A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leni Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-15
Filing date: 1993-04-15
Publication date: 1994-10-19
Also published as: GB9307850D0

Abstract

A child's bedspread (1) that can be converted into a soft toy (19; see figure 3) when not in use comprises a blanket (2), a flexible pocket such as a "patch pocket" (a pocket formed by attaching a patch of fabric (3) to the outside surface of the blanket) attached to an upper surface of the blanket and retaining means. Preferably the retaining means comprises flaps (5, 6) and fastening means such as complementary strips of thistle cloth or velcro (RTM) (9, 10). In use the flexible pocket is turned inside-out to form a pouch (23; see figure 5) and at least a part of the blanket is stuffed into the pouch and retained there by the retaining means (5; see figure 5) thereby converting the bedspread into soft toy. The bedspread (1) may further comprise decorative features such as stuffed arms (13), legs (14) or ears (15) attached to the blanket (2). <IMAGE>

Description

A BEDSPREAD The present invention relates to a child's bedspread that can be converted into a soft toy when not in use.

The invention provides a bedspread comprising a blanket, a flexible pocket attached to a first surface of the blanket and retaining means, whereby the bedspread may be converted into a soft toy by turning the flexible pocket inside-out to form a pouch, inserting at least a part of the blanket into the pouch and retaining it there with the retaining means.

The flexible pocket is attached to a first surface of the blanket, preferably in a central region of the first surface of the blanket. The first surface of the blanket will normally be the upper, i.e. outer, surface when the bedspread is in use. This configuration means that the flexible pocket is not in contact with the sleeping child when the bedspread is in use and therefore does not cause discomfort to the child. In addition, the flexible pocket can be provided with an attractive design reflecting the design of the soft toy and the said attractive design will be clearly displayed when the bedspread is in use.

Furthermore, bedmaking and "tucking in" are made easier if the flexible pocket is positioned in a central region of the said first surface of the blanket, preferably at least 25cm away from the edges of the blanket.

The flexible pocket may, for example, be an inset pocket in a quilted blanket, having a pocket mouth opening in the first surface of the blanket. Preferably, the flexible pocket is a patch pocket formed on the first surface of the blanket. That is to say, the flexible pocket is preferably formed between the first surface of the blanket and a patch of flexible material attached around part of its perimeter to the first surface of the blanket.

The patch pocket is preferred because the patch is securely attached and lies flat when the bedspread is in use. The patch pocket is very economical of material and very easy to launder and press. The term "patch pocket" used here and elsewhere in the description and claims encompasses all flexible pockets wherein the pocket is formed by attaching flexible fabric to the outside of the first surface of the blanket to provide a pocket that, when empty, lies flat and superimposed on a part of the first surface of the blanket.

Preferably, a decorative pattern corresponding to features of the soft toy is provided on an internal surface of the flexible pocket e.g. by embroidery. The decorative pattern is displayed when the flexible pocket is turned inside out to convert the bedspread into the soft toy. More preferably, a second decorative pattern is also provided on an external surface of the flexible pocket and the second decorative pattern is displayed when the bedspread is in use.

Preferably, the retaining means comprises fastening means such as thistle cloth, pop fastenings, zip fastenings or buttons. Thistle cloth is most preferred on account of its robustness, low cost, and harmlessness to very young children.

In preferred embodiments the retaining means comprises one or more flaps of flexible material, the one or more flaps being attached to the blanket and able to wrap around part of the blanket to form a surface of the soft toy when the bedspread is converted into the soft toy. The flaps preferably have at least part of the fastening means such as thistle cloth, buttons, pop fasteners or a zip attached to them so as to secure the flaps in place in the soft toy.

Preferably the fastening means can also be used to secure the flaps in a position flat contiguous with the first surface of the blanket when the bedspread is in use.

Preferably the flaps are attached to the first surface of the blanket in like fashion to the flexible pocket so as not to encumber the other surface of the blanket that is in contact with the sleeping child.

Preferably, all parts of the retaining means are associated with the first surface of the blanket so as not to encumber the other surface of the blanket that is in contact with the sleeping child. That is to say, all parts of the retaining means are preferably either attached directly to the first surface of the blanket or else are attached to a flap or patch or the like that is itself attached directly to the first surface of the blanket.

The bedspread may further comprise decorative features of the soft toy such as stuffed paws, legs or ears. These features are preferably associated with the said first surface of the blanket so as not to encumber the other surface of the blanket that is in contact with the sleeping child. In preferred embodiments one or more such decorative features are hidden inside the flexible pocket and only become visible when the flexible pocket is turned insideout to convert the bedspread into the soft toy. There may also be decorative features that are visible outside the flexible pocket when the bedspread is in use and that are hidden inside the pouch after the flexible pocket has been turned inside-out to convert the bedspread into the soft toy.

In preferred embodiments the flexible pocket, retaining means and decorative features are so arranged and ornamented that when the bedspread is in use a decorative figure is displayed on the first surface of the blanket.

Preferably, the decorative figure is related in appearance to the appearance of the soft toy. For example, if the soft toy represents a particular animal then the decorative figure may represent the same animal sleeping.

Preferably, the blanket, flexible pocket and flaps etc. are all formed of textile materials and assembled into the bedspread by stitching. The textile materials may comprise quilted materials, elasticated materials or stretch materials as appropriate.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the bedspread in its open configuration ready for use as a bedspread; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the bedspread with the flaps folded back preparatory to converting the bedspread into a soft toy; Figure 3 shows a front plan view of the bedspread after it has been converted into a soft toy; Figure 4 shows a rear plan view of the bedspread after it has been converted into a soft toy; and Figure 5 shows a side view in elevation of the bedspread after it has been converted into a soft toy.

Referring to Figure 1, the bedspread 1 comprises a blanket 2 which is of quilted cotton fabric. Onto an upper surface of the blanket is sewn a patch 3 forming a patch pocket having a pocket opening along edge 4. The upper surface of the patch 3 is embroidered to represent a sleeping cat.

Two flaps 5, 6 of textile material are sewn onto the blanket along opposing edges 7, 8. The two flaps 5, 6 are folded towards one another so that they lie flat and overlapping and they are secured in this position by complementary strips of thistle cloth 9, 10 provided parallel to the outside edges of the two flaps 5, 6. A top part of the flaps 5, 6 is tucked under the edge 4 of patch 3 and secured there by fastening small discs of thistle cloth 11, 12 provided on the underside of patch 3 to complementary small discs of thistle cloth provided on the upper surface of the flaps 5, 6.

The bedspread is also provided with decorative arms 13, legs 14 and ears 15. These decorative members are formed from stuffed textile material and are attached to the blanket by sewing along their base seams only, with the result that the members are capable of rotational movement out of the plane of the blanket 2.

The arms 13 protrude from armholes 16 formed by a break in the stitching between flaps 5, 6 and edges 7, 8.

A second pair of ears 17 of similar construction to the ears 15 is concealed inside the patch pocket formed by patch 3. When the bedspread is converted into the soft toy the patch pocket is turned inside out, and the second pair of ears 17 becomes the ears of the soft toy whereas the ears 15 are concealed as described further below.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen that the bedspread further comprises a panel 18 of fabric that is embroidered to represent a wide-awake cat. The panel 18 is sewn flat onto the blanket 2. The panel 18 is concealed in the arrangement of Figure 1, being located underneath the patch 3 and the flaps 5, 6. In Figure 2 the flaps 5, 6 are folded back and the lower part of the panel 18 can be seen, but the upper part of the panel 18 is still concealed behind patch 3. In Figure 3 the panel 18 is fully visible. It forms the front of the body of the soft toy 19.

It can be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3 that the patch pocket is formed between an upper surface of the panel 18 and the patch 3 by sewing the patch 3 to the blanket around edge 20 corresponding to the upper edge of the panel 18.

Likewise, it can be seen that the opposing edges 7, 8 correspond to edges of the panel 18. Likewise, the seams between the arms 13 and ears 15, 17 and the blanket 2 are formed along edges of the panel 18. However, the legs 14 are attached slightly above the bottom edge of panel 18.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the soft toy 19 comprises panel 18 representing a wide-awake cat, arms 13, legs 14 and ears 17. The other pair of ears 15 is concealed beneath patch 3, which has been turned inside out to form pouch 4. The arms 13 protrude through the armholes 16.

Part of the blanket 2 is folded and stuffed into the pouch 4 formed by the inside-our patch pocket. The flaps 5, 6 are folded back over the remainder of folded blanket 2 and fastened in this position by the strips of thistle cloth 9, 10.

The tops of the flaps 5, 6 in the soft toy overlap the bottom of panel 18 just below where legs 14 are joined to panel 18. The bottoms of the flaps 5, 6 are secured there by means of two further small discs of thistle cloth 21, 22 fastened to two further complementary small discs of thistle cloth provided on the panel 18 just below the seams of attachment between the legs 14 and the panel 18.

The flaps 5, 6, patch 3 and panel 18 are all formed from cotton poplin textile fabric and joined together, and to the blanket by stitching. The thistle cloth strips 9, 10 and discs 11, 12, 21, 22 are attached to the bedspread by stitching. The arms 13, legs 14 and ears 15, 17 are formed from quilted cotton material and are attached to the bedspread by stitching. The thistle cloth is of a kind well known in the art and sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO.

In use, the bedspread 1 as shown in Figure 1 is converted into soft toy 19 as follows. First, the thistle cloth strips 9, 10 and discs 11, 12 are detached and the flaps 5, 6 are folded back about seam edges 7, 8 by about 180 degrees so that the flaps 5, 6 lie facing outwardly, away from panel 18. The arms 13 are tucked through the armholes 16 so that they lie on top of the folded-back flaps 5, 6. The resulting intermediate configuration is shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, the blanket 2 is then folded in three lengthways and the top and bottom portions of the blanket are folded down so that the blanket 2 is folded into a neat bundle located immediately behind panel 18 and substantially conforming to the shape of panel 18.

Next, the patch 3 is folded back over the top of the folded blanket bundle, thereby turning the patch pocket inside out and simultaneously packing the top of the folded blanket bundle into the pouch 23 formed by the inside-out patch pocket. As the patch 3 is folded back the ears 15 become hidden within the pouch 23 formed by the inside-out patch pocket. Likewise, the sleeping cat's face embroidered design becomes hidden within the pouch 23. At the same time, the previously hidden second pair of ears 17 emerge to become the ears of soft toy 19. Likewise, the previously hidden wide-awake cat's face embroidered on panel 18 is revealed and becomes the face of soft toy 19.

Next, the flaps 5, 6 are folded back around the middle and lower parts of the folded blanket bundle until the distal edges of the flaps 5, 6 meet at the back of the folded blanket bundle, where they are fastened together by means of the complementary thistle cloth strips 9, 10. The tops of the flaps 5, 6 are then fastened to the folded-back patch 3 by means of the thistle cloth discs 11, 12 and the complementary discs provided on patch 3. Finally, the thistle cloth discs 21, 22 are fastened to the further complementary discs provided at the bottom of panel 18.

The above procedure to convert bedspread 1 into soft toy 19 takes no more than a few seconds to perform. The resulting soft toy is ideally suited for young children as it is completely safe and resists pulling apart by virtue of the thistle cloth strips 9, 10. The soft toy can be converted back into the bedspread in a matter of seconds by simply reversing the sequence of steps described above. The bedspread is machine-washable.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings and described above is intended by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.

Claims

1. A bedspread comprising a blanket, a flexible pocket attached to a first surface of the blanket and retaining means, whereby the bedspread may be converted into a soft toy by turning the pocket inside-out to form a pouch, inserting at least part of the blanket into the pouch and retaining it there with the retaining means.

2. A bedspread according to claim 1 wherein the pocket is attached to the surface of the blanket in a central region of the surface of the blanket.

3. A bedspread according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the pocket is a patch pocket or an inset pocket.

4. A bedspread according to any preceding claim wherein the retaining means comprises fastening means such as a zip fastener, a pop fastener, a button or thistle cloth.

5. A bedspread according to claim 4 wherein the retaining means comprises one or more flaps of flexible material having at least a part of the fastening means attached thereto, said flaps being attached to the blanket and able to wrap around part of the blanket to form a surface of the soft toy.

6. A bedspread according to any preceding claim wherein the retaining means is associated with the said first surface of the blanket.

7. A bedspread according to any preceding claim further comprising decorative features of the soft toy such as paws, legs or ears, and wherein the decorative features are associated with the said first surface of the blanket.

8. A bedspread according to claim 7 wherein one or more of the decorative features is hidden inside the flexible pocket and is revealed when the flexible pocket is turned inside-out.

9. A bedspread according to claim 7 to 8 wherein one or more of the decorative features is visible outside the flexible pocket and is concealed when the flexible pocket is turned inside-out.

10. A bedspread substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.