GB2273870A - Attached bed cover and bottom sheet combination - Google Patents

Abstract

A bed covering, particularly for use by small children, comprises a bottom sheet (8) (preferably fitted) and a quilt or duvet cover (10) fixedly secured (such as by stitching) to the bottom sheet along lines L1 and L2 lying on the upper face and extending adjacent to the side walls from the bottom wall at least partly towards the top wall. If desired, the quilt may be secured to the bottom sheet (8) along a third securement line L3, extending between said lines L1 and L2 and lying on the upper face adjacent to the bottom wall of the mattress. A bed covering also comprises a fitted bottom sheet and a duvet cover the two components being secured or are adapted to be secured together. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Improvements relating to bed coverings.

Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to bed coverings.

Bed coverings comprise two types, the first being where lower and upper sheets are utilised together with blankets and/or quilts. Commonly both sheets are "fitted" - i.e. comprising peripheral walls which may extend around side walls of the mattress, being e.g. elasticated to enable them to be relatively tightly fitted. Thus the bottom sheet may be completely fitted on all four sides around the mattress, and the top sheet may be fitted at the bottom, and a short distance at least along the side walls extending from the bottom wall, allowing the top sheet to be turned down, for entry.

In the specification of U.K. Patent No. 2219740 there is described a bed covering comprising a lower sheet, conveniently fitted, and an upper sheet secured thereto along securement lines such that, with the sheets in use on a mattress, said lines extend adjacent to side edges of the upper surface of the mattress. Such a bed covering is hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified. If desired, as described in said patent specification, the sheets may be secured together along a further line, extending between said securement lines, which in use extends adjacent to the lower edge of the upper surface of the mattress.

The second type comprises a lower sheet, which also may be flitted, and a duvet cover placed on the lower sheet, the duvet cover containing a duvet, the underside of the duvet cover thus affording the upper sheet and the outer side the covering of the bed.

Problems exist with the second type, in that for small children, there is no containment conventionally provided by tucking in the upper sheet, and for both adults and children, there is a tendency for the duvet to wander. This is particularly prevalent in a shared bed, and surprisingly, on cold nights.

It is one of the various objects of this invention to alleviate these problems.

According to this invention there is provided a bed covering of the kind specified, wherein a quilt or duvet cover is substituted for the upper sheet.

Thus the bed covering comprises a lower sheet, preferably fitted, and a quilt or duvet cover secured thereto along securement lines lying in use adjacent to the side edges of the upper surface of the mattress.

Thus the quilt or duvet is secured along the side edges of the mattress, providing a child with some security, without necessarily providing a complete enclosure which may not be desired.

If desired however, the quilt or duvet cover may be secured to the lower sheet along a securement line extending between said securement lines, and which in use lies adjacent to the lower edge of the upper surface of the mattress, as described in said patent specification.

If desired the quilt or duvet cover may comprise a selvage extending beyond the securement lines, to hang downwardly around the side walls of the mattress.

The bed cover may be laundered as a unitary item, or in the case of the duvet cover, the duvet may be removed from the cover, and the bed covering comprising bottom sheet and duvet cover secured together, may be laundered.

According to this invention there is also provided a bed covering comprising a fitted bottom sheet and a duvet cover, means being provided securing or adapted to secure the duvet cover to the bottom sheet.

Preferably said securing means is releasable, enabling the duvet cover to be removed, and secured in position as desired.

Preferably said securing means comprises, on each side thereof, a first securing device attached to the duvet cover, and a second securing device attached to the bottom sheet. Thus, the first securing devices may each be provided by one or more tabs, preferably of relatively narrow width, for securing the duvet cover to the bottom sheet on both sides thereof, or vice versa.

If desired a single tab may be provided on each side, preferably extending generally midway of the length of the bottom sheet, or perhaps slightly towards the bottom from the mid point, but if desired two or more tabs may be provided on each side at lengthwise spaced locations.

The securing means may be provided by ties, zip (slide in clasp) fasteners, buttons and button holes, velcro or the like.

Preferably the securing means is such as to afford a small amount of movement of the duvet cover in the widthwise direction, allowing limited movement for comfort.

Thus conveniently the securing means is provided in part by a gusset on the bottom sheet, conveniently in the side wall thereof.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of three bed coverings which are preferred embodiments of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the first embodiment; FIGURE 3 is a broken sectional view of part of the second embodiment; FIGURE 4 is a schematic view showing securing means of the third embodiment; and FIGURE 5 is a modified form of the third embodiment.

The bed covering which is the first embodiment of the invention is particularly for use for small children, although it may of course be used wherever desired. For a mattress 6 the bed covering comprises a fitted bottom sheet 8 and a quilt 10. The quilt 10 is fixedly secured such as by stitching to the bottom sheet along lines Li and L2 lying on the upper face and extending adjacent to the side walls from the bottom wall at least partly towards the top wall. In this manner, the advantages of a secure bed covering of the kind described in said patent are combined with the comfort and convenience of the duvet. If desired, the quilt may be secured to the bottom sheet 8 along a third securement line L3, extending between said lines L1 and L2 and lying on the upper face adjacent to the bottom wall of the mattress.

The second embodiment is similar to the first, and similar numerals have been utilised to identify like parts of the those of the first embodiment, and differs therefrom in that the quilt 10 is replaced by a duvet cover 10a, enabling the interior of the duvet cover to be removed, and the bed covering comprising the lower sheet 8a and the duvet cover 10a, providing the upper sheet and the outer surface of the bed covering laundered together.

The bed covering which is the third embodiment of this invention comprises a bottom sheet 26, preferably fitted, and a duvet cover 28. Extending from each side of the duvet cover from the edges thereof are first securing devices, only one of which is shown, adapted to be secured to a second securing device on the bottom sheet itself.

Alternatively the duvet cover may be secured together along a line which in use extends adjacent to the bottom edge only of the mattress, e.g. by sewing.

In the third embodiment the first securing device comprises a tab 32 as shown, provided with a velcro strip 34, and the second securing device is provided by a mating velcro strip 36 secured to a gusset 38 on the bottom sheet on the side wall thereof.

Alternative to the use of mating velcro strips 34 and 36, the first and second securing devices may alternatively be provided with cooperating parts of a sliding clasp fastener. Alternatively, the first securing devices may be provided by buttons on the tabs 32, the second by button holes on the gussets 38.

As another alternative, the first securing devices may be provided by ties extending from the tabs 32, and the second securing devices comprising tabs extending from the gusset 38.

Conventionally the tabs 32, for a bed of 2 metres long may be approximate 100mm wide, being provided generally centrally of the length of the bottom sheet. However if desired two tabs may be provided, e.g. each one third the way from the opposite ends, and these may be narrower if desired.

In Figure 5 a modified form of execution of the third embodiment is shown, illustrating a strip 40 of velcro attached to the lower sheet, conveniently by a flap 41 thereon, and a strip 42 of velcro attached to the duvet cover.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (14)

1. A bed covering of the kind specified, wherein a quilt or duvet cover is substituted for the upper sheet.

2. A bed covering according to Claim 1 comprising a lower sheet and a quilt or duvet cover secured thereto along securement lines lying in use adjacent to the side edges of the upper surface of the mattress.

3. A bed covering according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the quilt or duvet cover is secured to the lower sheet along a securement line extending between said securement lines, and which in use lies adjacent to the lower edge of the upper surface of the mattress.

4. A bed covering according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the quilt or duvet cover comprises a selvage extending beyond the securement lines.

5. A bed covering comprising a fitted bottom sheet and a duvet cover, means being provided securing or adapted to secure the duvet cover to the bottom sheet.

6. A bed covering according to Claim 5 wherein said securing means is releasable.

7. A bed covering according to one of Claims 5 and 6 wherein said securing means comprises, on each side thereof, a first securing device attached to the duvet cover, and a second securing device attached to the bottom sheet.

8. A bed covering according to Claim 7 wherein the first securing device is provided by one or more tabs.

9. A bed covering according to Claim 8 wherein a single tab is provided on each side.

10. A bed covering according to any one of Claims 5, 6 and 7 wherein the securing means is provided by zip fasteners, buttons and button holes, velcro or the like.

11. A bed covering according to any one of Claims 5 to 10 wherein the securing means is such as to afford a small amount of movement of the duvet cover in the widthwise direction.

12. A bed covering according to any one of Claims 5 to 11 wherein the securing means is provided in part by a gusset on the bottom sheet.

13. A bed covering constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.