Title: Top bed sheet with fitted foot end
Abstract: A top sheet having a fitted foot end and method of assembling a fitted sheet to a mattress are disclosed. The foot pocket has a foot end face panel that extends over a foot end of the mattress and a foot tuck panel that is tucked beneath the bottom surface of the mattress. The foot pocket further comprises right and left side corner panels that adjoin to both the foot end face panel and a top portion of the sheet to define a three sided corner that locates the sheet on the foot end of the mattress. According to the method the top sheet is spread over the mattress with the right and left side corners located on the right and left top corners of the foot end of the mattress and a foot tuck panel is tucked under the mattress to secure the sheet to the mattress.
Patent Number: 6,892,404 Issued on 05/17/2005 to Harbin, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Harbin; Keith E. (8107 Sorrento, Detroit, MI 48228);
Harbin; Deborah A. (8107 Sorrento, Detroit, MI 48228)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
819396 |
| Filed:
|
April 7, 2004 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
5/497; 5/485; 5/499 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A47G 009/02 |
| Field of Search: |
5/482,485,497-500,502,737,738
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
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| 2789292 | Apr., 1957 | Budinquest.
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| 3654646 | Apr., 1972 | McMahon, Jr.
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| 4245365 | Jan., 1981 | Large.
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| 4386439 | Jun., 1983 | Roccograndi.
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| 4402098 | Sep., 1983 | McClam.
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| 4546508 | Oct., 1985 | Ison.
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| 4841588 | Jun., 1989 | Harbin et al.
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| 5027460 | Jul., 1991 | Honig.
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| D324971 | Mar., 1992 | Blocker.
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| 5165128 | Nov., 1992 | Honig.
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| 5442822 | Aug., 1995 | Diaz.
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| 6134730 | Oct., 2000 | Evanson.
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| 6353947 | Mar., 2002 | McCain et al.
| |
| 6499157 | Dec., 2002 | McCain et al.
| |
| 6502258 | Jan., 2003 | Mitchell.
| |
| 2004/0200000 | Oct., 2004 | Harbin et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Santos; Robert G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brooks Kushman P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
60/461,568 filed Apr. 9, 2003.
Claims
1. A top sheet for a mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface, a head
end, a foot end, a right side and a left side, the sheet comprising:
a top portion that extends over the top surface of the mattress;
a right side flap extending from the top surface of the mattress downwardly over
the right side of the mattress;
a left side flap extending from the top surface of the mattress downwardly over
the left side of the mattress;
a foot pocket further comprising a foot end face panel extending downwardly from
the top surface of the mattress over the foot end of the mattress, a foot tuck
panel that is tucked beneath the bottom surface of the mattress, a right side corner
panel being joined to the foot end face panel at a vertical edge and the top portion
at a horizontal edge to thereby define a three sided corner covering portions of
the top surface of the mattress, the right side of the mattress and the foot end
of the mattress, and a left side corner panel being joined to the foot end face
panel at a vertical edge and the top portion at a horizontal edge to thereby define
a three sided corner covering portions of the top surface of the mattress, the
left side of the mattress, and the foot end of the mattress, wherein the right
and left side corner panels locate the sheet on the foot end of the mattress; and
a right edge reinforcement and a left edge reinforcement, wherein the right edge
reinforcement is an L-shaped member that is attached to the top portion of the
sheet near the foot end of the mattress and is also attached to a foot end edge
of the right side flap, and the left edge reinforcement is an L-shaped member that
is attached to the top portion of the sheet near the foot end of the mattress and
is also attached to a foot end edge of the left side flap.
2. The top sheet of claim 1 wherein the right and left side corner panels are
spaced from the right and left side flaps, respectively.
3. The top sheet of claim 1 wherein the right and left edge reinforcements are
pieces of fabric that have a first portion disposed in a horizontal plane corresponding
to the top surface of the mattress, and a second portion disposed in a vertical
plane corresponding to the right and left sides of the mattress, respectively.
4. A top sheet for a mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface, a head
end, a foot end, a right side and a left side, the sheet comprising:
a top portion that extends over the top surface of the mattress;
a right side flap extending from the top surface of the mattress downwardly over
the right side of the mattress;
a left side flap extending from the top surface of the mattress downwardly over
the left side of the mattress;
a foot pocket further comprising a foot end face panel extending downwardly from
the top surface of the mattress over the foot end of the mattress, a foot tuck
panel that is tucked beneath the bottom surface of the mattress, a right side corner
panel being joined to the foot end face panel at a vertical edge and the top portion
at a horizontal edge to thereby define a three sided corner covering portions of
the top surface of the mattress, the right side of the mattress and the foot end
of the mattress, and a left side corner panel being joined to the foot end face
panel at a vertical edge and the top portion at a horizontal edge to thereby define
a three sided corner covering portions of the top surface of the mattress, the
left side of the mattress, and the foot end of the mattress, wherein the right
and left side corner panels locate the sheet on the foot end of the mattress; and
a right lower side corner panel reinforcement and a left lower side corner panel
reinforcement, wherein the lower side corner panel reinforcements are L-shaped
members that have a first leg secured to the foot tuck panel and a second leg secured
to a lower edge of the right and left side corner panels, respectively.
5. A sheet for a bed including a mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface,
a head end, a foot end, a right side, and a left side, the top surface and right
side forming a right edge, the top surface and left side forming a left edge, the
foot end and bottom surface forming a bottom foot edge, the sheet comprising:
a main portion that lies on the top surface of the bed, the main portion having
a head end, a right side, a foot end, and a left side;
a right side flap extending from the right side main portion over the right edge
of the bed;
a left side flap extending from the left side main portion over the left edge
of the bed;
a foot pocket having a foot end face panel, a right side corner, and a left side
corner, the foot end face panel extending between the right side corner and the
left side corner, the foot end face panel having a top portion, a right portion,
a lower portion, and a left portion, the foot end face panel covering the foot
end of the mattress, a foot tuck panel extending from the lower portion of the
foot end face panel and is tucked under the bottom surface of the mattress, a right
foot end side panel extending from the foot end face panel toward the right side
flap and a left foot end side panel extending from the foot end face panel toward
the left side flap, the right side corner being formed by a portion of the right
side of the main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel, and the right foot
end side panel, the left side corner being formed by a portion of the left side
of the main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel, and the left foot end
side panel, wherein the right side corner and left side corner locate the sheet
on the foot end of the mattress; and
a right edge reinforcement attached to the right side flap and the main portion,
and a left edge reinforcement attached to the left side flay and the main portion,
wherein the right and left edge reinforcements are L-shaped fabric pieces.
6. The sheet of claim 5 wherein the main portion includes a trim facing attached
to the head end of the sheet.
7. A method for fitting a sheet to a mattress, the mattress having a top surface,
a bottom surface, a head end, a foot end, a right side, and a left side, the top
surface and right side forming a right edge, the top surface and left side forming
a left edge, the foot end and bottom surface forming a bottom foot edge, the top
surface, right side, and foot end forming a top right foot corner, the top surface,
left side, and foot end forming a top left foot corner, the sheet having a main
portion that lies on the top surface of the bed, a right side flap extending from
the main portion over the right side of the bed and a left side flap extending
from the main portion over the left side of the bed, a foot pocket having a foot
end face panel covering the foot end of the mattress, a foot tuck panel extending
from a lower portion of the foot end face panel, the foot tuck panel covering the
bottom foot edge of the mattress and being tucked under the mattress, a right foot
end side panel extending from the foot end face panel in the same plane as the
right side flap and a left foot end side panel extending from the foot end face
panel in the same plane as the left side flap, the right side corner being formed
by a portion of the right side main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel
and a portion of the right foot end side panel, the left side corner being formed
by a portion of the left side main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel
and a portion of the left foot end side panel, a right edge reinforcement and a
left edge reinforcement, wherein the right edge reinforcement is an L-shaped member
that is attached to the main portion of the sheet near the foot end of the mattress
and is also attached to a foot end edge of the right side flap, and the left edge
reinforcement is an L-shaped member that is attached to the main portion of the
sheet near the foot end of the mattress and is also attached to a foot end edge
of the left side flap wherein the right side corner and left side corner locate
the sheet on the mattress, the method comprising:
spreading the sheet over the mattress such that the right and left side flaps
at least partially cover the right and left sides of the mattress;
locating the right side and left side corners of the sheet on the right and left
top foot corners of the mattress with the right and left edge reinforcements functioning
to reinforce the main portion of the sheet and the right and left side flaps, respectively;
and
tucking the foot tuck panel under the mattress to secure the sheet to the mattress.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bed linens, and in particular to a top sheet
for a bed.
2. Background Art
Children and adults alike have long struggled with the daily chore of making
their beds. Generally a set of bed sheets includes a fitted bottom sheet and a
flat top sheet that are provided under a decorative and insulative blanket. Conventional
top sheets are generally folded into a hospital corner or may be simply tucked
in around the base of the bed. A hospital corner is formed by initially folding
the bottom portion of the blanket under the mattress and lifting the side portions
vertically upwardly while tucking the portion of the sheet that extends below the
mattress under the mattress preferably forming a diagonal fold extending from the
top corner of the foot end of the bed downwardly toward the head of the bed as
the side portion of the sheet hangs downwardly from the side edge of the mattress.
Depending upon the skill of the bed maker, the top sheet may have an untidy appearance.
With training and practice a bed may be made with good results, however, if the
top sheet is not correctly folded the top sheet may be pulled from beneath the
mattress or may be too tight. If the top sheet becomes loose it may result in cold
feet but if it is too tight it may restrict foot movement in an unacceptable manner.
A top sheet may also be secured to the bed in the wrong position. If too much
of
the top sheet is folded underneath the mattress the portion of the top sheet on
top of the mattress may be insufficient to cover a person's shoulders when lying
in the bed. If an insufficient amount of the sheet is folded under the mattress
the top sheet becomes too long and is more likely to work loose and not be retained
by the weight of the mattress. The person making the bed may have to repeat the
process, wasting time and effort if the top sheet is not correctly positioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,588 was issued to the applicants and provides a solution
in the form of a specialized "bed maker's blanket" that improves the bed making
process. However, the blanket disclosed proposes a top sheet that is sewn on its
lower end to a fitted sheet and is buttoned to the lower surface of the bed makers
blanket. It has been found that providing a combined top/bottom sheet that may
be buttoned to the blanket is not the best solution because of the added expense
of a combined top and bottom sheet. Also, additional time is necessary to install
the combined top/bottom sheet and button it to the blanket.
Another proposed solution to the problem of providing an improved bed linen
product is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,730. In the '730 patent, the solution
proposed is to provide a blanket and top and bottom sheet that are buttoned together
in a three layer construction. The three layers are then secured to a separate
pocket and a pocket support panel. This proposed solution would be expensive to
manufacture and is not useable with conventional blankets or conventional fitted
bottom sheets.
There is a need for a fast and easy way to make a bed that results in a bed
being perfectly made every time and that stays in place while providing minimum
restrictiveness to normal movement of a person lying in the bed. In particular,
there is a need for a top sheet that facilitates bed making by a child or an adult
that may be accomplished easily without training or extensive practice.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention a partially fitted top sheet having
a fitted foot pocket with the remainder of the sheet being a flat sheet is provided.
The fitted foot pocket stabilizes the sheet and provides a sheet that is installed
in the optimum position every time. The partially fitted top sheet eliminates the
need to repeat the bed making process that occurs with conventional top sheets
when they are not placed on the bed in the proper position.
According to another aspect of the present invention a partially fitted
top sheet is provided that may be used with traditional bedding products such as
fitted bottom sheets and conventional blankets that are widely available.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a partially fitted top
sheet is provided that greatly improves the process of initially attaching the
top sheet to a bed and also facilitates maintaining the bed in its made up condition.
A partially fitted top sheet as disclosed can be made to fit any bed or mattress
size such as a twin, full, queen or king size mattress and may be used with a mattress
and box spring set or platform bed.
This unique design for a top sheet may be strategically cut from flat material
and simply sewn. The unique design can be manufactured from the same size fabric
blank as a conventional flat top sheet and, in fact, can be manufactured from a
commercially available standard flat top sheet. Only a minimum additional amount
of labor is required to manufacture the unique partially fitted top sheet of the
present invention when compared to the labor required to manufacture a conventional
flat top sheet.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a top sheet for a mattress
is provided. The mattress has a top surface, a bottom surface, a head end, a right
side and a left side. The sheet comprises a top portion that extends over the top
surface of the mattress. The sheet also has right and left side flaps that extend
from the top surface of the mattress downwardly over the right and left sides of
the mattress, respectively. The sheet additionally has a flip pocket that further
comprises a foot end face panel extending downwardly from the top surface of the
mattress over the foot end of the mattress, a foot tuck panel that is tucked beneath
the bottom surface of the mattress, and right and left side corner panels. The
right and left side corner panels are joined to the foot end face panel at a vertical
edge and are joined to the top portion at a horizontal edge to define a three sided
corner covering portions of the top surface of the mattress, the right side of
the mattress and the foot end of the mattress. A left side corner panel is joined
to the foot end face panel at a vertical edge and the top portion at a horizontal
edge. The left side corner panel covers portions of the top surface of the mattress,
the left side of the mattress and the foot end of the mattress. The right and left
side corner panels locate the sheet on the foot end of the mattress. According
to other aspects of the invention, the right and left side corner panels of the
top sheet are spaced from the right and left side flap, respectively. A right edge
reinforcement and a left edge reinforcement comprising L-shaped members are attached
to the top portion of the sheet near the foot end of the mattress and a foot end
edge of the right and left side flaps, respectively. The right and left edge reinforcers
are pieces of fabric having a first portion disposed in a horizontal plane corresponding
to the top surface of the mattress and a second portion disposed in a vertical
plane corresponding to the right and left sides of the mattress, respectively.
Right and left lower side corner panel reinforcements may be provided that comprise
L-shaped members that have a first leg secured to the foot tuck panel and a second
leg secured to a lower edge of the right and left side corner panels, respectively.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a sheet for bedding
including a mattress having a top surface, bottom surface, a head end, a foot end,
a right side, and a left side is provided. The top surface and right side form
a right edge of the mattress while the top surface and left side form a left edge
of the mattress. The foot end and bottom surface form a bottom foot edge of the
mattress. The sheet comprises the main portion that lies at the top surface of
the bed. A right side flap extends from the right side main portion over the right
edge of the bed. A left side flap extends from the left side main portion over
the left edge of the bed. A foot pocket having a foot end face panel, a right side
corner and a left side corner is also provided. The foot end face panel extends
between the right side corner and the left side corner. The foot end face panel
has a top portion, a right portion, a lower portion, and a left portion. The foot
end face panel covers the foot end of the mattress. A foot tuck panel extends from
the lower portion of the foot end face panel and is tucked under the bottom surface
of the mattress. A right foot end side panel extends from the foot end face panel
toward the right side flap. A left foot end side panel extends from the foot end
face panel toward the left side flap. The right side corner is formed by a portion
of the right side of the main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel, and
the right foot end side panel. Similarly, the left side corner is formed by a portion
of the left side of the main portion, a portion of the foot end face panel and
the left foot end side panel. The right and left side corners locate the sheet
on the foot end of the mattress.
According to another aspect of the invention as it relates to the method
of fitting a sheet to a mattress, a mattress and sheet as described above are assembled
by a method comprising spreading the sheet over the mattress so that the right
and left side flaps at least partially cover the right and left sides of the mattress.
The right and left side corners of the sheet are located on right and left top
foot corners of the mattress. The foot tuck panel is then tucked under the mattress
to secure the sheet to the mattress.
Finally, the present invention provides a cost effective solution that may
be easily manufactured and readily implemented by bed makers everywhere without
training or extensive practice.
The above problems associated with prior art bed linen and previously proposed
solutions are addressed by Applicant's invention as shown in the attached drawings
and described in the following detailed description of the invention. The above
noted aspects of the invention are not exclusive of other aspects as will be understood
by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the attached drawings and following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partially fitted top sheet made in accordance
with the present invention attached to a bed;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the partially fitted top sheet
suspended above a mattress.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the foot end of the partially fitted
top sheet.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the partially fitted top sheet unfolded and unattached
to a bed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a partially fitted top sheet generally referred to
by reference numeral
10 is shown attached to a bed generally indicated by
reference numeral
12. The top sheet
10 includes a main, or top, portion
14 that lies on the top surface of the bed
12. A right side flap
16 extends over the right edge of the bed
12. As used herein, the
terms right and left refer to the sides of the bed when viewed from the foot of
the bed. Referring now to FIG. 1, a left side flap
18 is provided on the
opposite side of the main portion
14 from the right side flap
16.
Referring to FIGS. 1,
2 and
3, a foot end pocket
20
encompasses the foot end of the bed
12. The foot end pocket
20 has
a right side corner
22 and a left side corner
24 on the right and
left sides of the bed
12, respectively. A foot end face panel
26
extends between the right side corner
22 and left side corner
24
and downwardly over the foot end of the bed
12. The right side corner is
formed in part by a right foot end side panel
28. The left side corner
24
is partially formed by the left foot end side panel
30.
A foot tuck panel
34 extending from the lower portion of the foot end
face
panel
26 is provided and is normally tucked under the mattress of the bed
12 to secure the foot end pocket
20 to the bed
12. A right
edge reinforcement
36 and left edge reinforcement
38 are provided
to reinforce the side flap
16 and
18 to prevent tearing of the top
sheet
10. The edge reinforcements
36 and
38 may be L-shaped
fabric pieces that are sewn to the side flaps
16 and
18 and also
to the main portion
14 of the sheet
10. The edge reinforcements may
also be of different shapes, for example, in the shape of a square with its corner
missing. The edge reinforcements may also be attached by methods other than sewing
including riveting or adhering. The edge reinforcements may be cut from the gap
between the rights and left foot end side panels
28,
30 and the side
flaps
16 and
18 and then attached to the top sheet
10 as illustrated.
The right and left edge reinforcements
36 and
38 are shown secured
to the side flaps
16,
18 and main portion
14 of the sheet
10.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a trim facing
40 is shown at the head end
of the sheet
10. The trim facing
40 may be provided for decorative
purposes. The top sheet
10, as shown in FIG. 4, is separate from a bed in
an unfolded condition. The right and left side flaps
16 and
18 are
shown in the same plane as the main portion
14. The foot end pocket
20
is shown without folds wherein the foot end tuck flap
34 and foot end face
panel
26 are also in the same plane as the main portion
14. The right
and left foot end side panels
28,
30 are shown extending in the same
plane as the other portions of the top sheet
10.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a right lower side corner reinforcement
42
and a left lower side reinforcement
44 may be provided to reinforce the
side corner panels
28 and
30 and foot tuck panel
34. The reinforcements
42 and
44 also function to hold the panels
28,
30 and
34 which improves the appearance of the foot pocket.
The partially fitted top sheet
10 is secured to a bed
12 after
the fitted bottom sheet is placed on the mattress. The top sheet
10 is initially
spread over the fitted bottom sheet and across the surface of the bed allowing
the side flaps
16 and
18 to fall over the edges of the mattress.
The side corners
22 and
24 provide a reference location so that the
side flaps are evenly deployed on opposite sides of the bed
12. The foot
end face panel
26 and foot tuck flap
34 initially extend downwardly
from the foot end of the bed
12. The foot tuck flap
34 is then tucked
beneath the mattress of the bed with the length of the sheet
10 being controlled
by the location of the side corners
22 and
24.
As will be readily appreciated, the top sheet is stabilized by virtue of the
foot
end pocket
20 being secured to the foot end of the bed
12. Since
the foot end of the top sheet
10 is securely attached to the bed
12,
making the bed is simplified because the top portion
14 is automatically
positioned perfectly on the bed
12.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it
is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms
of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description
rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
*
