WO2014093236A1

WO2014093236A1 - Safety sheet

Info

Publication number: WO2014093236A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/073907
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Kenny; Annette KENNY
Original assignee: Swiss-Am Innovation, Inc.
Priority date: 2012-12-10
Filing date: 2013-12-09
Publication date: 2014-06-19

Abstract

Safety sheets, and methods for making and using them, are described. The safety sheets can be used to provide comfortable restraint to users while they sleep, preventing them from falling out of the bed, while providing for certain freedom of movement. The sheet includes a jacket part that can be releasably attached to a user, and the sheet is attached to a mattress so that the sheet does not move. This eliminates the possibility of sleepwalking, or of babies, toddlers, the elderly, or the infirm, from becoming injured falling out of the bed.

Description

Safety Sheet

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a safety sheet for babies, toddlers, and adults, such as elderly, bedridden, and/or disabled adults. The sheet can be attached to a mattress, and provides a safe sleeping environment by preventing the user from falling out of bed or getting out of bed by themselves.

Background of the Invention

When certain individuals, such as infants, toddlers, the elderly, and the infirm, are asleep, there are certain risks associated with their movement on a bed. If they move in certain ways, they can injure themselves. Accordingly, there is often a benefit to physically restraining such individuals while they sleep, so as to minimize the harm they might cause to themselves. However, it is desirable that when such individuals are physically restrained, it is done so in a comfortable manner.

Security blankets have been designed, in particular, for small children. One type of security (or safety) blanket/sheet has been sold by Bebe Jou under the name "Zewi Fix Decke." The security blankets have a portion into which a user is inserted, and held in place, for example, with a zipper, so that their movement is constrained. The blankets look essentially like a shirt or sweater integrally woven into the center portion of a regular blanket. Examples of such safety blankets can be seen, for example, in Swiss Application No. CH 618 332, CH678593, and CH703011.

There are several limitations associated with these blankets. One is that the blankets are not designed for the type of bedding and mattresses sold in the U.S., so that they are not easily attached to such bedding. Another is that children are prone to bedwetting, and are susceptible to bacterial infections, and the blanket itself does not have any anti-bacterial properties.

It would be useful to have an alternative approach for comfortably restraining individuals while they sleep, which overcomes these limitations. The present invention provides such an approach. Summary of the Invention

Safety sheets, and methods for making and using them, are described herein. In one embodiment, the safety sheet described herein is a safety sheet intended for babies and toddlers from about three months to three years of age. In another embodiment, the safety sheet described herein is intended for use by elderly/bedridden/disabled persons of any age, including adults.

The safety sheet described herein allows for great freedom of movement (sitting up or lying in any position desired) without the danger of the individual wearer falling or climbing out of bed. In addition, the safety sheet described herein keeps the person using it warm at all times as kicking off the sheet becomes impossible.

The sheet is ideally a fitted sheet, with an elastic band that enables the sheet to be placed over a mattress. However, in some embodiments, the sheet can alternatively be a flat sheet.

The sheet includes a jacket part, positioned away from the edges of the sheet, and, ideally, positioned at or near the center of the sheet when considering the left and right sides of the sheet, and positioned at or near the top of the sheet when considering the top and bottom sides of the sheet, where right, left, top, and bottom refer to how the sheet is positioned (directly or indirectly) on a mattress or other suitable apparatus used for sleeping. The jacket can be releasably attached to a user, and the sheet attached to the mattress so that the sheet does not move. In use, the safety sheets allow the user to be positioned inside the jacket portion of the sheet, with their arms extending through arm holes, and their head extending through a neck hole, so that they have relative freedom of movement of their head, arms and legs, and comfortably sleep in any position, but have limited movement towards the ends of the mattress. This eliminates the possibility of sleepwalking, or of babies, toddlers, the elderly, or the infirm, from becoming injured falling out of the bed.

The safety sheets include a sheet part to cover a mattress or other article on which an individual sleeps (hereinafter, "mattress"), in particular, the surface of the mattress on which the user lies down, and a jacket part integrated in the sheet part. The jacket part includes a chest section and a back section, and has a neck opening and two arm openings. In one embodiment, the jacket is similar to a vest, in that the arms extend through the openings, and in another embodiment, all or a portion of the arms are covered by the jacket part when the arms are inserted into the jacket part. The chest section includes a first part and a second part, whereby both parts have connection means which serve to releasably connect the two parts together, and allow for the parts to be separated. Representative connection means include a zipper, Velcro attachment means, snaps, clips, or other means to removably attach the jacket parts so as to restrain an individual (baby, child, or adult) within the jacket part.

In one embodiment, integrated in the jacket part, there is a holding section which crosses over the chest section and comprises two side panels. One of these side panels is fixed to the jacket part, and the other one can be opened and closed. When used, this holding section crosses over the chest of the baby, toddler, child or adult, and ensures that they cannot slip into the jacket part.

In one aspect of this embodiment, these releasable connection means are located down the middle of the jacket and extend to at or near where the feet of the user would be if the user were positioned in the sheet such that their arms extend out of the arm openings and their head extends out of the neck opening.

Additionally, the sheet includes one or more safety straps which are present on opposite sides of the sheet, and sized, and positioned, to connect underneath, or on one or more sides and/or or the top, of the mattress. Using these straps, the safety sheet can be removably attached to a mattress. The mattress can be any size, including twin, double, queen, and king sized mattresses.

In some embodiments, the safety sheet can include a means for preventing a person from slipping too far into the sheet, such that there might be a risk of suffocation. In one aspect of this embodiment, the means is a holding cup, which can, for example, be made of a sheer material, much like a boxer short or a brief. The holding cup can be attached to the sheet, for example, by means of a zipper, Velcro, snaps, or other suitable attachment means. When the attachment means is a zipper, it can be, for example, relatively small and unobtrusive, and can be made from a plastic material, such as nylon, rather than metal.

In one embodiment, a safety strap is attached to the sheet at or near where the jacket part is attached to the sheet.

The sheet is removably attached to a mattress, for example, using one or a plurality of safety straps, for example, 1, 2, 3, or 4 straps, which go under the mattress, and which link together using a releasable mechanism, such as Velcro, quick release clips, snaps, ties, buttons, and the like. The straps can be positioned at various positions along the length and/or width of the mattress to which the sheet is attached, for example, near the ends, near the middle, and the like.

The safety sheet described herein essentially works like a fixed sheet, which is held in place by strong elastic strings sewn into the edges underneath the mattress, and by the weight of the mattress. The strap(s) provide additional security, aiding in holding the user in place and comfortably restraining the user.

The safety sheet described herein provides a safe sleeping environment and keeps the person using it warm. It prevents the user from falling out of bed or getting out of bed by themselves. As the safety sheet described herein can be used for babies, for example, those as young as three months old, it eliminates the need for a crib. Rather, the baby can sleep on a mattress of any size, for example, a twin sized mattress, then as the child grows up, can still use the same bed. The safety sheet described herein also fits hotel beds, and, accordingly, is easier to transport than a crib or playpen.

In one embodiment, the material used to prepare the safety sheet described herein is treated so that it has antimicrobial properties, is fire-resistant, and/or is prepared, at least in part, using recycled fibers.

In another embodiment, the material used to prepare the safety sheet described herein is a stretchy, soft cotton or cotton blend.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following Detailed Description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figures 1A-C are schematic illustrations of one embodiment of a safety sheet described herein. Figure 1A is a front view, and Figure IB is a back view, showing a child strapped inside the sheet, and sitting upright in a bed. Figure 1C is a view of the underside of a mattress to which the safety sheet is attached similar in manner to how a fixed sheet is attached.

Figures 2A and B and 3 are schematic illustrations of one embodiment of the safety sheet described herein. Figures 2A and 2B show the front (A) view, and Figure 3 shows the back view (B), of one embodiment of the safety sheet described herein, wherein the sheet includes an additional element, a holding cup, to prevent the person using the sheet from slipping all the way into it.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration shows the same version of the Safety sheet described herein as Figures 2A, 2B, and 3 in a close-up front view and the zipper 1.2 opened for entry.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration showing another embodiment of the safety sheet described herein, which includes a detachable body bag.

Fig. 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations showing another embodiment of the safety sheet described herein, wherein the safety sheet includes a second type of body bag, which is sewn completely into a jacket part on the inside, with seams.

Detailed Description

A safety sheet is described herein. As discussed above, the safety sheet includes an integrated jacket part, positioned away from the edges of the sheet, and, ideally, positioned at or near the center of the sheet when considering the left and right sides of the sheet, and positioned at or near the top of the sheet when considering the top and bottom sides of the sheet, where right, left, top, and bottom refer to how the sheet is positioned (directly or indirectly) on a mattress or other suitable apparatus used for sleeping. In one embodiment, the integrated jacket part is located anywhere from the bottom quarter to the top quarter of the sheet. In one embodiment, the integrated jacket part is located anywhere from the bottom third to the top third of the sheet.

The jacket can be releasably attached to a user, and the sheet attached to the mattress so that the sheet does not move. In use, the safety sheets allow the user to be positioned inside the jacket portion of the sheet, with their arms extending through arm holes, and their head extending through a neck hole, so that they have relative freedom of movement of their head, arms and legs, but limited movement towards the ends of the mattress. This eliminates the possibility of sleepwalking, or of babies, toddlers, the elderly, or the infirm, from becoming injured falling out of the bed.

In one embodiment, the material used to prepare the safety sheet described herein is treated so that it has antimicrobial properties, is fire-resistant, and/or prepared, at least in part, using recycled fibers. In another embodiment, the material used to prepare the safety sheet described herein is a stretchy, soft cotton or cotton blend.

The various components of the safety sheet are described in more detail below.

I. Types of Materials Used to Form the Safety Sheet

Before discussing the components of the safety sheet, it is relevant to describe the types of materials that can be used to prepare the sheet.

The sheets include a sheet portion and a jacket portion, and the sheet and jacket portions can be formed from any suitable materials for their intended purposes, as such are known to those of skill in the art. The term "sheet" is intended to include sheets, blankets, and other coverings. The sheet can vary in composition, from a thin sheet, to a flannel sheet, to a fleece sheet, to a blanket, depending on the desired use, and the ambient temperature to which the user might be exposed. In one embodiment, the sheet is a thin, single ply sheet, but the sheet includes means for connecting a blanket to the sheet at appropriate positions so that the blanket will cover the appropriate parts of the user once the user is strapped into the jacket part. For example, if a blanket is to be attached to the sheet at a height below the chest of the user, the sheet can include two or more Velcro attachments on which to adhere a blanket, and the blanket can include corresponding Velcro attachments such that when the Velcro attachments are positioned on each other, the blanket is restrained in its movement along the sheet. In place of Velcro, snaps, ties, buttons, quick-release tabs, and the like can be used. A combination kit including a sheet and matching blanket with these connection means is also intended to be within the scope of the invention.

The fabric used to prepare the safety sheet, or one or more of its selected parts, can be one or more of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics or providing a textile fabric comprising yarns containing fibers selected from the group consisting of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, inorganic fibers, and any blends thereof.

In one embodiment, the sheets are prepared using natural fibers, in whole or in part, such as cotton or cotton blends, wool or wool blends, and mixtures thereof. The sheets can include synthetic textiles, in whole or in part. For example, the sheets can include polyester fibers, aramid fibers (e.g. Twaron) which can provide flame-retardant properties, polyolefin fibers, such as polypropylene, which in some embodiments wick moisture, acrylic fibers, which can be used to imitate wools, and are often used in replacement of them, spandex (trade name Lycra), a polyurethane product that can be made tight- fitting without impeding movement, and Ingeo, a polylactide fiber blended with other fibers such as cotton, which is more hydrophilic than most other synthetics, allowing it to wick away perspiration. Silver threads can be included in the materials to help impart antibacterial properties.

II. Antimicrobial Treatments

The sheets can be prepared from threads, yarns, and the like that are treated to as to have anti-microbial properties.

Some antimicrobial treatments are applied to the fibers, thread, yarn, or fabric, by spraying, soaking, and the like. Such treatments tend to be relatively transient, and are subject to being washed away. For example, antimicrobial textiles can include natural, synthetic or blends of fibers manufactured from nonwoven or woven fabrics, and specific biocidal agents can added during the melt spinning of the synthetic fibers or during the finishing process of the fabric. While adding biocidal agents to the fibers during melt spinning may be a viable technique, the added agents tend to have a low wash fastness to repeated washing.

Other antimicrobial treatments are applied in a manner in which the antimicrobial agent is covalently bound to the fibers, thread, yarn, and/or fabric. These embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention described herein, though temporary (transient) antimicrobial properties are not as desirable as those that are longer lived.

In surface modification, various techniques are commonly used including wet chemical methods, radio frequency (RF) vacuum plasmas, ion beam irradiation, and corona and flame treatments. In wet chemical processing, chemicals activate the fabric surface by pure chemical interactions.

Still other embodiments involve providing more lasting antimicrobial properties to the fibers, thread, yarns, and/or fabrics used to prepare the sheet.

Research in plasma treatment of textile materials and surface modifications has been conducted as a technique to process biocidal textiles. Material surfaces immersed in atmospheric pressure plasmas may be subject to various forms of interactions including, but not limited to, electron and ion impact, radicals-surface interactions, ultraviolet and photon transport, etching, implantation, deposition and redeposition. For textile materials, these interactions may result in surface etching, chain scission, polymerization, cross -linking, development of functional groups, surface roughness, etc.

For example, United States Patent Application Publication No. 20070161308, entitled "Atmospheric pressure plasma-aided antimicrobial finishes of textiles," discloses a longer-lasting approach for treating these materials to provide antimicrobial finishes that survive at least 100 washes. Representative plasmas include helium (He), oxygenated-helium (He/0₂), and helium/CF₄ (He/CF₄) plasmas wherein the plasma provides a gas temperature in the range of 40-70 degrees Celsius.

This plasma-aided process involves providing a textile fabric having a fabric surface, and providing an antimicrobial agent for inclusion on the fabric surface. The textile fabric is exposed to atmospheric pressure plasma, which activates the fabric surface, and the antimicrobial agent is grafted onto the fabric surface during activation of the fabric surface. The antimicrobial agent can be copolymerized to form a permanent inclusion on the fabric surface, or, can be physically entrapped within the fabric. Various embodiments of this process are either continuous or batch treatment processes.

Although United States Patent Application Publication No. 20070161308 discloses using chitosan as an antimicrobial agent, some percentage of the population is allergic to chitosan. Chitosan comes from crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster and clams, foods with a high potential for allergic reaction. Individuals with seafood allergies may develop an allergic reaction to the treated fabric if it is treated with chitosan.

Chitosan is used, in part, because it can be made with a relatively small particle size, which particles can be incorporated into the fabric without adversely affecting the "hand" or feel, of the fabric. Other suitably small sized antimicrobial materials can be used in addition to or in place of chitosan. Examples include antimicrobial polymers, such as the cationic latex particles disclosed in United States Patent Application 20070149694 by Venkataram Krishnan, entitled "Cationic latex as a carrier for bioactive ingredients and methods for making and using the same." The antimicrobial ingredients can be incorporated into a latex, for example, during the emulsion polymerization process, or added to a latex after the polymerization process. When incorporated into the polymerization process, the antimicrobial agents are an integral part of the latex particles. Regardless of what type of antimicrobial agent is applied to the fabric surface, it can be applied, for example, with an aerosol solution wherein the aerosol solution is applied immediately prior to, during, or immediately after exposing the textile fabric to plasma.

III. Recycled Fibers

In some embodiments, the fabrics can include some percentage of recycled fibers, ranging from as little as 1 percent to as much as 100 percent by weight of the fabrics. Representative methods for recycling fibers are disclosed in United States Patent Application 20110094691.

The use of recycled fibers can adds characteristics to the fabric that could not be otherwise afforded using traditional virgin components, and which are aesthetically pleasing and offer value to a quality consumer product.

The recycling process can use traditional fiber-handling equipment, but in a way that provides environmentally- sustaining products. The fibers can be derived from post-industrial or post-consumer waste streams. The fibers can then be efficiently processed through traditional or modified woven or non-woven processes into finished roll goods, which are then converted into fabric used to prepare one or more of the sheet parts.

Fabrics can be made with regenerated cotton from knits and wovens, where the cotton is already white, so no bleaching or optical brighteners are needed to provide a white fabric. Alternatively, the fabric can be prepared using fibers obtained from a colored fiber waste stream, such as denim, which can provide a color to the fabric without the need for additional dyes or colorants. For example, the trim from a t- shirt manufacturer can be regenerated and upcycled to create fabrics that go into making the sheets described herein.

These materials typically include fibers that are either 100% cotton, or blends of cotton and various other fibers, such as polyester, viscose, rayon, lyocel, nylon, bamboo, polyolefins, and the like.

The process can also incorporate other fibers, including natural and synthetic fibers, such as fibers from seeds, stalks, basts, stems, leaves, or fruits, fibers derived from animal hair, and silk fibers or other protein based fibers. The other fibers can be transformed natural fibers (i.e., cellulose derivatives), and wholly-synthetic fibers. The other fibers can also include inorganic fibers, such as glass fibers and metal fibers.

In use when making the sheets described herein, at least a portion, typically from 1 to 100 percent by weight, of the fibers can be isolated from post-industrial or post-consumer waste. To isolate fibers from these materials, which are previously woven, knitted, or bonded together by a non-wovens process, it is desirable to un-weave or un-twist the threads. This can be accomplished, for example, by removing post-treatments from the threads, which thins the threads and loosens the knots or twists. In the case of cellulosic fibers, a portion of the cellulosic fiber can be degraded, for example, using a cellulose enzyme. Once the threads are unwoven/untwisted, the fibers can be obtained, for example, by combing the thread, which produces fibers that have maintained the length and the strength necessary to go back to textiles, in this embodiment, the sheets described herein, or one or more of their component parts.

Before going into woven materials, it can be advantageous to blend the fibers so that their fiber distribution is relatively homogeneous. The term "relatively homogeneous" is used to mean that the average fiber size and density varies by 20% or less throughout the fiber. This process also can provide color uniformity, which can otherwise be difficult to attain when different batches of fibers are used to produce a single fabric.

In some embodiments, the fibers can be humidified or treated, which strengthens the fibers, if they are organic fibers such as cotton, cotton blends or fibers such as rayon or ramie, reduces dust particles for better product performance, protects the fibers from tensile elongation, and reduces neps. The fibers can be humidified, for example, by exposing them to steam, contacting them with a hydrophilic compound such as glycerol, a surfactant, water, and the like. Ideally, the humidified fibers have a moisture content of between 8 and 20% moisture, more ideally, between about 8 and about 12% moisture. The fibers can be passed through one or more blending stages, for example, where samples from multiple hoppers are blended together to reduce variation between the fibers, where samples from a single hopper are blended to ensure consistency, or blended using a traditional cotton/fiber laydown where bales are staged for blending. Multiple hoppers can be used, for example, where blends of different fibers are intended. Examples include using regenerated cotton fibers in combination with one or more virgin or regenerated plant fibers, such as wood, kenaf, and the like, or synthetic fibers, such as polyester or polyolefin fibers. However, the regenerated cotton fibers can be used by themselves, without adding other fibers. The fibers at this stage in the process are randomly oriented, but can optionally be oriented using a non- woven or textile carding process. The fibers can be subjected to one or more chemical treatments, as described herein.

Representative treatments include the application of antimicrobial treatments, such as cationic polymers/cationic latex, as discussed herein, the application of fire retardant treatments, as described herein, and treatment with silicones, fluorinated agents and the like which provide the fibers and resulting materials formed from the fibers with anti-stain protection, and the like. These treatments can occur after the fabric has been formed, or before the fibers are formed into thread and knitted, and/or mechanically/thermally/chemically bonded in non-woven processes. Both woven and non-woven techniques can be used. Felt is a representative non-woven material often used to prepare sheets, and the sheets can be prepared from wool or other materials, including recycled materials.

In one embodiment, the fibers are subjected to a carding process to form a uniform fiber web. Such a uniform fiber web is typically passed, over a conveyor belt or a web, where it can optionally be combined with one or more layers of fibers or webs of fibers. The regenerated fibers can be layered with one or more layers of fibers that are different fibers than the regenerated fibers. The additional one or more layers can comprise randomly- oriented fibers, for example, laid down in an air-laid process over the top of the oriented fiber web, and, optionally, a further oriented fiber web can be laid on top of the randomly- oriented fibers.

In other embodiments, the regenerated fibers can be combined with polyolefin or other thermoplastic fibers, so that the fibers can be bonded in a thermal fashion, rather than a chemical or mechanical fashion, when used in non-woven applications. In this embodiment, the thermoplastic fibers are typically present in a concentration of at least around 5% w/w.

IV. Fire-Resistance

Various means can be used to impart fire retardance to the safety sheets described herein. Particularly when the sheets are prepared from fibers including cotton, fire retardancy can be produced by covalently bonding various fire retardant materials to the fibers, thread, yarn, or fabrics. For example, U.S. Patent 6,491,727 by Rearick et al. discloses methods for reducing the flammability of cellulosic substrates. The '727 patent teaches that cellulosic materials can be rendered flame resistant by applying compositions that include one or more crosslinking agents, and, optionally, one or more phosphorus-based compounds, to the cellulosic materials. Dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea, imidazole, imidazolidinones, dialdehydes, and dichlorotriazines are preferred crosslinking agents.

Other fire resistant treatments are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,488,718 to Rearick. In the '718 patent, the fire retardant treatment compositions include an amino acid, protein and/or peptide and optionally include one or more crosslinking and/or coupling agents. Enzymes are a preferred protein. The composition is applied to the material, and optionally involve covalently linking the amino acid, protein and/or peptide to the material, either directly or via a crosslinking agent.

In both of these patents, the treatment methods involve applying the composition to the material, and covalently linking the crosslinking agent to the material. An advantage of covalently linking the crosslinking agent to the cellulosic material is the lack of any potential toxicity associated with uncrosslinked fire retardants on the cellulosic material and the stability of the bonds between the material and the crosslinking agent to conventional cleaning methods.

V. The Components of the Safety Sheet

The safety sheet described herein includes a sheet part, a jacket part, and attachment means. The attachment means include means for attaching the sheet to the mattress, such as safety straps as defined herein, and connecting means for opening and closing the jacket parts so as to fit around a user. Also, there is a means for attaching the jacket parts to the sheet, but this is typically in the form of a seam, which can be produced, for example, by sewing the jacket part to the sheet part.

In use, the sheet is removably attached to a mattress, for example, using an elastic ribbon along the periphery, as well as one or a plurality of safety straps, for example, 1, 2, 3, or 4 straps, which strap(s) go under the mattress, and which link together using a releasable mechanism, such as Velcro, quick release clips, snaps, ties, buttons, and the like. The straps can be positioned at various positions along the length and/or width of the mattress to which the sheet is attached, for example, near the ends, near the middle, and the like. The one or more safety straps which are present on opposite sides of the sheet, and sized, and positioned, to connect underneath, or on one or more sides and/or or the top, of the mattress. Using the elastic ribbon, and these straps, the safety sheet can be removably attached to a mattress. The mattress can be any size, including twin, double, queen, and king sized mattresses.

Representative attachment means for connecting the jacket parts around a user include a zipper, Velcro attachment means, snaps, clips, or other means to removably attach the jacket parts so as to restrain an individual (baby, child, or adult) within the jacket part.

In some embodiments, in addition to a jacket part, the sheet also includes a "body bag" part. As used herein, a "body bag" is an element in which the user can place their legs and lower body, for example, like a pair of pants, whereas the jacket is intended for the upper body, for example, like a shirt. These are intended to be relative terms, so the body bag may include more or less of the body than a pair of pants, and the jacket may extend to cover more or less than a shirt.

The safety sheet described herein will be better understood with reference to the figures.

Figures 1A-C are schematic illustrations of one embodiment of a safety sheet described herein. Figure 1A is a front view, and Figure IB is a back view, showing a child strapped inside the sheet, and sitting upright in a bed. Figure 1C is a view of the underside of a mattress to which the safety sheet is attached similar in manner to how a fixed sheet is attached. The strap can be secured, for example, clipped together, on the top, bottom, or side of the mattress.

These figures show the safety sheet described herein as it is attached on the mattress. In Figure 1A, a child is shown sitting upright in bed, inside the safety sheet. Figure IB shows a back view, without a child being present in the jacket portion of the sheet. Figure 1C shows the underside of the mattress, with the safety sheet described herein attached in the manner of a fixed sheet, via an elastic ribbon running along the periphery of the fitted sheet, as such is known in the art.

In Figure 1A, part 1.1 is the jacket part which is sewn or otherwise attached onto the safety sheet described herein, for example, using seams. Part 1.2 is a zipper which extends from the neck opening 1.7 to the foot section 1.3 of the safety sheet, although the zipper could in other embodiments be replaced with other means for reversibly closing the jacket portion and securing a user inside the jacket, for example, a Velcro attachment.

Figure 1A also shows that the top of the zipper 1.2 by the neck opening 1.7 is covered with a piece of fabric that can be fastened by a button, so the zipper won't be uncomfortable against the user's throat and can't be opened by a small child. This is not a mandatory element of the safety sheet, but can provide additional comfort to the user.

Parts 1.8 are arm openings, through which the arms of the user are passed when the user is secured in the safety sheet. Part 1.4 is a buckle attached to a safety strap that can be opened, closed, and tightened. This buckle can be present on one or both sides of the mattress, and allows for easy removal and reattachment of the safety sheet described herein. Removal and reattachment allows for the sheet to be periodically washed.

It is also possible to only have the buckle 1.4 on one side of the mattress and to make it in such a way that it can be slipped under the mattress, in order to avoid allowing the user of the safety sheet to open the buckle. The buckle (1.4) is connected to safety strap 1.5 which, in this embodiment, is sewn into the safety sheet described herein behind the back section of the jacket part 1.1. Part 1.9 of Figure IB shows the mattress underneath the safety sheet described herein, if that corner were to be cut open. Part shown in Figure 1C 1.6 is a strong elastic ribbon, sewn into the seam of the safety sheet described herein at the underside of the mattress, in a manner analogous to a regular fitted sheet.

Figures 2A and B and 3 are schematic illustrations of one embodiment of the safety sheet described herein.

Figures 2A and B show the front (A) view, and Figure 3 shows the back view (B), of a version of the Safety sheet described herein with an additional holding cup (Part AB1) that prevents the person using the Safety sheet described herein from slipping all the way into it. This reduces the potential risk of suffocating. In this embodiment, holding cup AB1 is prepared of a sheer material, much like a boxer short or a brief, and can be attached by means of a small, unintrusive nylon zipper or similar attachment means (Part 1.9 of Figure 2B) to the inside of the back of the jacket part 1.1, at around hip height, and connected to the safety strap 1.5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2B, Part AB1 also includes leg portions for the user to insert their legs. These leg portions can be holes through which the legs can be passed, can cover the full length of the user's legs, can extend to cover the user's feet, and any length in between. In one embodiment, the leg portions allow passage of the user's legs, but do not otherwise cover the legs.

Figure 3 shows the safety sheet attached to a mattress, showing the jacket portion (Part 1.1), the holding cup (Part AB1), the safety strap (Part 1.5), which includes a buckle (Part 1.4), the attachment means to attach the jacket to the sheet (Part 1.9), and the zipper which helps to secure the user inside the jacket (Part 1.2).

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration showing the same version of the safety sheet described herein in Figures 2A, 2B, and 3, but in a close-up front view with the zipper 1.2 opened for entry, and not showing the sheet as it is attached to a mattress. The parts shown in this figure are consistent with the similarly numbered parts from the previous figures.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration showing another embodiment of the safety sheet described herein, which includes a detachable body bag (Part 2). In this embodiment, a unitary body bag includes arm holes, neck holes, and leg holes, so that the user can be slipped inside, and closure means (Part 2.3) used to secure the user inside the bag. The bag can be attached to the safety sheet via the same attachment means (Part 1.9).

This body bag 2 is attached to the inside of the shoulder section of the jacket part (Part 1.1) by means of push buttons or similar closure means (Part 2.1). It is furthermore attached to the back of the jacket part 1.1 by means of a small, unintrusive nylon zipper or similar (Part 1.9) to the inside of the back of the jacket part 1.1, at around hip height, and connected to the safety strap (Part 1.5). The body bag (Part 2) is also secured to the side sections of the jacket part (Part 1.1), on the inside, by means of push buttons or similar closure means (Part 2.2). The body bag 2 has its own zipper or closure means (Part 2.3).

Fig. 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations showing another embodiment of the safety sheet described herein, wherein the safety sheet includes a second type of body bag, which is sewn completely into a jacket part (Part 1.1) on the inside, with seams. A zipper (Part 1.2.3) in Figures 6 and 7 is a combined zipper which closes the safety sheet, its jacket part 1.1 and the body bag (Part 3), all at the same time. Figure 7 is a view of the jacket part and the insewn body bag opened.

VI. Methods of Making the Safety Sheet

The safety sheet can be manufactured using means known to those of skill in the textile arts. For example, a fitted sheet can be cut so as to prepare an opening for a jacket part, which can be attached using a seam. Safety straps can also be attached to the sheet, for example, via seams. The straps can be positioned at predetermined locations. Zipper means can be attached to desired locations, for example, by cutting the sheet where the zipper is intended to be attached to the sheet at the end of the jacket part to which it is attached, and the zipper attached to the sheet (and to the jacket part). The jacket part can be produced using any known means for producing shirts.

In those embodiments where the fabric used to prepare the sheet and/or jacket part are intended to be antimicrobial, fire resistant/fire retardant, the fabrics (or associated fibers, threads, or yarns) can be treated before the sheet and/or jacket part are prepared, or the sheet can be treated after it is assembled, using the treatment methods described herein. Where the sheet and/or jacket are intended to be prepared so as to include recycled fibers, the methods for producing recycled fibers, threads, yarns, and/or fabrics described herein can be used.

VII. Methods of Using the Safety Sheet

In use, the safety sheet is applied to a bed, using the elastic band to hold it to an appropriately sized mattress (i.e., the sheet is a twin-sized sheet when it is intended to be applied to a twin-sized mattress, and the like). The sheet can be more strongly attached to the mattress using the safety straps, which can be attached before or after the user is positioned inside the jacket part, the body bag part, and/or the holding cup part, of the sheet.

The user is positioned inside the jacket part, the body bag part, and/or the holding cup part, of the sheet by first opening the zipper or other closure means, positioning the user inside, and then closing the zipper or other closure means so that the inside the jacket part, the body bag part, and/or the holding cup part, of the sheet surrounds a part of the user, providing the comfortable restraint that is desired. In some embodiments, users that are able to undo the closure means can do so when awake, and can exit the safety sheet.

All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described safety sheet of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the textile field or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A safety sheet comprising: a) a sheet part of substantially rectangular shape, with an elastic band around the periphery and a hole at or near the center of the sheet part adapted to receive a jacket part, b) a jacket part with two holes positioned in such a way as to receive and allow passage of the arms of a user, and a hole positioned in such a way as to receive and allow passage of the head of a user, wherein the jacket part includes two sides that are releasably attached to each other in such a way as to releasably restrain a user, wherein the sheet part and jacket part are affixed together, and c) one or a plurality of straps comprising releasable connection means, wherein the strap(s) include two parts that connect together, wherein the two parts are affixed to the sheet in two or more predetermined positions along the length or width of the sheet, with each of the parts on opposite sides of the jacket part, wherein the straps have an appropriate length such that they can be connected to each other after one or both of the parts is passed underneath a mattress to which the safety sheet is applied.

2. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the jacket part includes arm portions attached to the holes positioned in such a way as to receive and allow passage of the arms of a user, wherein the arm portions cover all or part of a user's legs and, optionally, feet.

3. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein a user releasably attached to the jacket has a portion of his or her body above the sheet part and a portion of his or her body below the sheet part when the sheet is affixed to a mattress

4. The safety sheet of Claim 1, further comprising a holding cup part, wherein the holding cup is prepared from fabric, and includes two holes at predetermined positions, through which a user's legs can be passed.

5. The safety sheet of Claim 4, wherein the holding cup part includes leg portions to cover all or part of a user's legs and, optionally, feet.

6. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the sheet is prepared using fibers, thread, and/or yarn that comprise recycled fibers.

7. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the sheet is prepared using fibers, thread, and/or yarn that has been treated with an antimicrobial treatment.

8. The safety sheet of Claim 7, wherein the antimicrobial treatment is a permanent or semi-permanent treatment that is able to survive at least 100 washes.

9. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the sheet is prepared using fibers, thread, and/or yarn that has been treated to provide fire resistance and/or fire retardancy.

10. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the sheet is of an appropriate size to cover a mattress to which it is applied, when the elastic band is stretched around the corners of the mattress.

11. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the two sides of the jacket part are releasably attached to each other using connection means selected from the group consisting of a zipper, Velcro, snaps, buttons, releasable clips, and ties.

12. The safety sheet of Claim 1, wherein the strap(s) comprise releasable connection selected from the group consisting of a zipper, Velcro, snaps, buttons, releasable clips, and ties.