Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G9/00—Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
  • A47G9/02—Bed linen; Blankets; Counterpanes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G9/00—Bed-covers; Counterpanes; Travelling rugs; Sleeping rugs; Sleeping bags; Pillows
  • A47G9/02—Bed linen; Blankets; Counterpanes
  • A47G9/0238—Bed linen
  • A47G9/0246—Fitted sheets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a bed sheet comprising a lying zone of a woven, at least substantially inelastic textile.
• Such a bed sheet is known.
• the known bed sheet is a rectangular piece of cloth, which is intended for being laid over a mattress, with the bed sheet extending beyond the edges of the mattress on all four sides and being tucked under the mattress.
• the known bed sheet can be manually pulled tight over the upper side of the mattress, to be true, but as soon as a person lies down on the mattress there is a risk of creasing of the bed sheet at the upper side of the mattress.
• a fitted sheet made of an elastic, knitted textile in which an elastic is provided in a hem at the circumferential edge of the bed sheet.
• the bed sheet can be easily fitted over a bed by arranging a short side of the bed sheet over a short end of a mattress and subsequently pulling the bed sheet over the opposite end of the mattress on the opposite side.
• the elastic present at the bottom side of the mattress smooths out the bed sheet at the upper side of the mattress.
• the bed sheet comprises stretching means designed for smoothing out the bed sheet over a mattress in use and maintaining said smoothed-out condition at least in the lying zone of the bed sheet.
• the bed sheet will remain substantially smooth on the user side, at least in the lying zone, when a person is present on the bed sheet, whilst preventing or at least partially reducing the risk of creasing of in the bed sheet in comparison with the known bed sheet.
• the lying zone has a circumferential edge which is bounded by a strip of an elastic material.
• said strip of elastic material When used around a mattress, said strip of elastic material may be located substantially on the edge of the mattress and continue to the underside of the mattress.
• the use of the combination of a lying zone of inelastic material and a strip of elastic material bounding the lying zone prevents creasing of the bed sheet at the edges of and/or under the mattress. Such creases can continue into the lying zone. By preventing the aforesaid creasing at the edges of a mattress, the risk of creases being formed in the lying zone is reduced as well.
• the strip of elastic material preferably comprises a textile. Textile is an attractive material for use in bedclothes, so that several properties of the bed sheet correspond to those of traditional bedclothes.
• the elastic textile is a knitted textile.
• a bed sheet comprising a combination of a woven lying zone and a knitted strip of textile surrounding the lying zone is obtained.
• the woven and the knitted part may be stitched together or be joined together in a different manner.
• the side of the strip of elastic material located opposite the boundary with the lying zone is trimmed with a band.
• the stretching means are designed for fixing the lying zone of the bed sheet at least substantially in place with respect to the mattress. If the lying zone is fixed in place with respect to a mattress, creasing of the lying zone is also prevented, or the risk thereof is at least reduced in comparison with the known bed sheets.
• the dimensions of the lying zone correspond at least substantially to the dimensions of the upper side of a mattress to be made up with the bed sheet. If the lying zone is smaller than the upper side of the mattress, there is a risk of creasing and a risk of decubitus when a bedridden patient lies on the edge of the mattress. This risk increases as the lying zone is located further away from the circumferential edge of the mattress. If the lying zone is significantly larger than the upper side of the mattress, there is a risk that creases which may form in the lying zone at the edges of the mattress will extend to the upper side of the mattress.
• the fabric of the bed sheet has a density of at least 75 yarns per square centimetre. This number concerns the total number of yarns in the warp and weft directions. Such a density leads to a relatively smooth fabric surface, so that there will be little friction between the fabric and a person lying in the bed.
• the density of the yarns is furthermore preferably at least 100, or even higher than 125 per square centimetre.
• the stretching means comprise fixation means designed for fixing the bed sheet to a circumferential edge of the mattress.
• fixation means designed for fixing the bed sheet to a circumferential edge of the mattress.
• the bed sheet cannot be pulled towards the lying zone by a person lying on a mattress and the bed sheet, so that creases cannot develop.
• the bed sheet can be fixed to the underside of the mattress, which will have the same effect, since such an orientation also prevents the bed sheet from being pulled towards the upper side of the mattress.
• An insertion part may be provided at one end of the bed sheet, into which insertion part an end of a mattress corresponding to the dimensions of the insertion part can be inserted.
• the end of the sheet can be stitched in such a manner as to envelope the short side of the mattress.
• a bed sheet according to the present invention may also be provided with a Velcro loop side at or at least near at least one end of the bed sheet, which loop side is to be fastened to a Velcro hook side provided at or at least near an end of a mattress.
• Velcro is an excellent material for fixing a bed sheet and a mattress, for example, in place with respect to each other.
• the bed sheet may be provided with Velcro on both sides for fixing the bed sheet to two opposite ends of a mattress.
• the bed sheet is provided with an insertion part, for example a head cover, at one end and with Velcro at the other end.
• a bed sheet provided with the insertion part can be arranged over one end of the mattress, after which the other end is pulled tight and subsequently fixed in place by means of Velcro.
• a bed sheet may also be provided with a Velcro hook side to engage with a Velcro loop side on a mattress.
• the Velcro is provided in strips and if at least one strip of the loop side extends at an angle relative to at least one strip of the hook side. Said angle is furthermore preferably an at least substantially right angle. Since the two strips extend perpendicularly to each other, the bed sheet can be pulled tight over a mattress also in the case of (small) differences in dimension and be fixed at a position a little further away by means of the strips oriented at an angle to each other.
• the bed sheet is easiest to place if the stretching means are provided for stretching the bed sheet in the longitudinal direction of a mattress. A bed sheet can be easily arranged over a small end of the mattress by one person. If it is fixed in place at that location, the person in question can subsequently pull the sheet tight at the other short end, using stretching means or fixation means. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to stretch a bed sheet in the transverse direction of the mattress.
• the present invention relates to a combination of a mattress and a bed sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which the lying zone of the bed sheet at least substantially overlaps the upper side of the mattress.
• an existing mattress can be adapted to eliminate or at least reduce the risk of decubitus with bedridden patients, using the bed sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention.
• a bed sheet comprising Velcro
• the circumferential edge of the mattress is provided with a Velcro side that mates with the Velcro side on the bed sheet.
• At least one Velcro strip extends over the circumferential edge of at least one end of the mattress.
• the circumferential side of the mattress is excellently suitable for fixing a bed sheet in place.
• the two sides of the Velcro can be fixed more firmly in place with respect to each other than in the situation in which the Velcro would be provided on the upper side of the mattress.
• the circumferential edge of a mattress can be reached more easily than the underside of the mattress when making a bed. If the Velcro is provided at some distance from the respective end of the bed sheet, at least part of the bed sheet that extends beyond the Velcro strip can be folded under the mattress.
• the at least one strip of Velcro on the mattress preferably extends in the direction of the underside of the mattress towards the upper side of the mattress. If the Velcro on the bed sheet is provided as a strip extending in the transverse direction relative to the mattress, it can be fastened to a desired part of the strip of Velcro on the mattress, depending on the length of the bed sheet and the pulling force exerted on the bed sheet when the bed is being made. When such an orientation is used, the sheet need not be correctly oriented relative to the mattress as would be the case with Velcro strips on a mattress and a bed sheet extending in the same direction, because the Velcro strips extending crosswise relative to each other will overlap at all times during normal use.
• the sheet can be fixed in place at a number of positions where the Velcro strip of the bed sheet overlaps the two or more Velcro strips on the mattress.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bed sheet according to the present invention, which is stretched over a mattress;
• Figure 1 a is a cross-sectional view along the plane I of figure 1 ;
• Figure 2a is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a bed sheet according to the present invention.
• Figure 2b is a perspective view of a mattress with the bed sheet of figure 2a;
• Figure 2c is a perspective view of the bed sheet of figure 1a partially placed on the mattress of figure 2b; and Figure 2d is a longitudinal sectional view of the bed sheet along the plane Il of figure 2c.
• Figures 1 and 1a are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a fitted sheet 2 placed on a mattress 1.
• the fitted sheet 2 has a woven lying zone 3 which is bounded by an elastic, knitted stretching zone 4.
• the stretching zone 4 is attached to the lying zone 3 by stitching 5, being provided with a hem 6 at the other circumferential edge, through which an endless elastic band 7 extends.
• the directions in which the lying zone 3 is pulled tight by the stretching zone 4 are indicated by arrows in figure 1.
• Figures 2a-2d show an alternative embodiment of a mattress 21 and a sheet 22 according to the present invention.
• the mattress 21 is provided with two Velcro strips 28 at one end 27, which are to mate with two Velcro strips 29 at an end of the sheet 22.
• the sheet 22 is provided with one head cover 30.
• the mattress 1 is conventionally enveloped by a fitted sheet 2.
• the fitted sheet 2 comprises a lying zone 3, which covers the upper surface of the mattress 1.
• the circumferential edge of the lying zone 3 is stitched to the stretching zone 4 of the fitted sheet 2, using stitching 5.
• the seam between the lying zone 3 and the stretching zone 4 is located at the edge of the lying area of the mattress 1 , but it might also be a little further removed from the edge of the lying area of the mattress 1 or at the top of the sides of the mattress 1.
• the elastic knitted stretching zone 4 is provided with a hem 6 at the circumferential edge remote from the stitching 5, in which an endless elastic band 7 extends.
• the elastic band 7 pulls the stretching zone 4 in the direction of the centre of the underside of the mattress.
• the lying zone 3 is pulled outwards omnilaterally, as is visualised by means of the arrows in figure 1.
• Each arrow indicates the direction in which the lying zone 3 is pulled over the entire respective edge by the stretching zone 4.
• the lying zone 3 comprises a fine fabric with 78 yards per square centimetre (the total number of warp yarns and weft yarns), a very smooth lying area is provided, resulting in less friction than is the case with a "normal" fitted sheet of a woven material comprising about 48 yarns per square centimetre.
• Figures 2a-2d show an alternative embodiment of a sheet 22 according to the present invention, which can be placed over a mattress 21.
• the sheet 22 is entirely made of a woven textile, also in this case comprising about 78 yarns per square centimetre, similar to the lying zone 3 of the above-described fitted sheet 2.
• a so-called head cover 30 is stitched in the sheet 22, using stitching 25, such that the sheet, when placed on a mattress, tightly fits the respective short side of the mattress, in this case the mattress 21.
• the purpose of said tight fit is to prevent creasing of the sheet on the upper side of the mattress.
• a person ordinary skilled in the art will know how to stitch a head cover in order to achieve such an effect. Only one manner of stitching is shown in figures 2a-2d.
• the sheet 22 is provided with two Velcro strips 29 extending across the width of the sheet, said strips in this case forming the loop side of the Velcro.
• the mattress 21 is provided with two Velcro strips 28, in this case forming the hook side of the Velcro, on at least one short side 27. It is possible to provide the opposite short side of the mattress with such Velcro strips as well, so that the sheet 22 can be placed over the mattress 21 in the two possible directions and be fixed in place with Velcro.
• Figures 2c and 2d show how the head cover 30 of the sheet 22 is arranged over a short side of the mattress 22. The respective end of the sheet 22 is thus pulled firmly over the mattress 21 with a tight fit.
• the sheet 22 provided with the Velcro strips 22 When the sheet 22 provided with the Velcro strips 22 is pulled tight towards the opposite short sides 27 of the mattress 21 , the sheet 22 provided with the Velcro strips 21 can be fastened to the Velcro strips 28 of the mattress 21.
• the part of the sheet 22 that extends beyond the Velcro strips 21 can subsequently be folded under the mattress 21 in a conventional manner (see figure 2b). Since the sheet 22 is on the one hand pulled firmly over one short side of the mattress 21 and held in place thereon, the sheet 22 is on the other hand held firmly in place as a result of the interaction between the Velcro strips 28 and 29, respectively. Also the part of the sheet 22 that is folded under the mattress 21 offers resistance against the sheet 22 being pulled towards the lying area of the mattress 21.
• the sheet 22 is thus pulled tight at all times, and because it is made of a woven and substantially inelastic material, no creases will form in the sheet 22 or the upper side (the lying area) of the mattress 21. Also in this case any creases that have formed temporarily as a result of a movement made by a user of the mattress will be pulled tight by the stretching means obtained by the cooperation between the head cover 30 and the respective short sides of the mattress on the one hand and by the Velcro strips 28, 29 on the opposite short sides of the mattress 21 on the other hand.
• the sheet 22 of the embodiment is relatively wide and relatively long, so that a relatively large part of the sheet can be folded under the mattress 21 on the long sides and on the short side opposite the head cover 30. Because a patient will be present on the mattress in use, the patient will clamp the part of the sheet that is folded under the mattress between the mattress and the bed, as it were. This provides additional resistance against the sheet being pulled towards the (centre of the) lying area of the mattress.
• the Velcro strips may be arranged in a different orientation on the sheet and the mattress, for example parallel to each other or turned 90° relative to the orientation shown in figures 2.
• the loop side and the hook side of the Velcro might be exchanged.
• the head cover of the sheet of the second embodiment may be made of an elastic material, like the stretching zone in the other embodiment.
• countless stretching means suitable for stretching a sheet flat on the upper surface of the mattress are conceivable.
• the scope of the invention is not limited to the stretching means discussed and shown in the exemplary embodiments.

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• Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=42342625

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2009
  • 2009-05-12 NL NL1036951A patent/NL1036951C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2010
  • 2010-03-16 WO PCT/NL2010/000042 patent/WO2010131947A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

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