1 3 2331239 1 CASES, COVERS OR LINERS FOR ARTICLES OF BEDDING OR THE LIKE
The present invention relates to cases, covers or liners for articles of bedding, such as duvets, pillow cases, comforters, quilts or the like, and to articles incorporating or fitted with such articles.
Currently, duvets and pillows are provided with removable cases having upper and lower surfaces which are usually generally rectangular in plan. The upper and lower surfaces are permanently secured together along three sides or edges, and are open along the fourth side or edge to enable the cases to be removed, and cleaned, and/or replaced or refitted.
According to the present invention, there is provided a case, cover or liner for a duvet, pillow, comforter or quilt, or other article of bedding, including a separate sheet-like element forming one side surface of the case or cover, or a substantial part of that side surface, or forming a liner for one side surface of the article or for a substantial part of that side surface, and means for releasably attaching the separate sheet-like element to the remainder of the case or cover, or to the article.
Various embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation, partially in section, of a bed carrying a duvet fitted with a case embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a pillow fitted with a case embodying the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of a bed base carrying a combined comforter, duvet and sheet set embodying the invention; Fig. 3A is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from underneath of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3; Figs. 4A, 413 and 4C show various alternative forms of fastener means; Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Figs. 1 and 2, of the embodiment shown in 1 2 Figs. 3 and 4; and Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 5.
Fig. 1 shows a duvet case or cover assembled from two "PopOn" (T.M.) sheets formed f rom two normally f lat separate sheets 1, 2, which are f astened together by means of releasable fasteners such as continuous or interrupted strips or pieces of velcro, buttons, press studs, zip fasteners, etc., around all four edges, encasing a prefabricated duvet 3, Examples of such fasteners, i.e. zip fasteners 4a, velcro fasteners 4b and press stud or push clip fasteners 4c, are shown in the inset views in Fig. 4B, and 4C respectively. The sheets are simply manually fastened together face-to-face as shown.
Alternatively and preferably, the four edge regions of one of the sheets, for example the upper sheet 1, may be folded under and inwardly adjacent the undersurface of the upper sheet. The overlapping corner areas of the inturned edge regions are then joined, for example stitched together, so that an inwardly opening pocket, lip or panel is formed around and beneath the upper sheet, for receiving and locating at least the edge zones of the duvet. The undersurf ace of the inturned edge regions are provided with the fasteners which cooperate with corresponding fasteners on the lower sheet 2. A pocket or panel of this type is shown at 8c in Fig. 4.
With the foregoing constructions, the sheets 1,2 can be interchanged whenever required to alter the colour scheme of the bedding, or merely to change one sheet more regularly than the other, for example the lower sheet 2 which comes into contact with the user.
Changing the case, i.e. one or both sheets, takes only seconds, and does away with crawling into a conventional duvet cover to change the bed linen.
The upper and lower sheets 1, 2 may be approximately the same size, although the lower sheet 2 could alternatively be extended at the head end to enable it to be folded up over and onto the top of the upper sheet 1 to prevent contact between the user and the upper sheet, at the head end of the latter.
One of the sheets, preferably the upper sheet 1, may be extended by 1 1 1 3 sewing or otherwise providing an extension (possibly a valance or frill for decoration), shown at 1 a in Fig. 1, at the foot end thereof, andlor at the sides thereof.
Fig. 2 shows a "PopOn" (T.M.) pillow case formed from two normally flat pieces or sheets 5, 6 of fabric which are fastened together by releasable fasteners such as velcro, buttons, press studs etc., around all four edges, for example in a manner analogous to that shown in Figs. 4A4C, encasing a prefabricated pillow 7. As described previously, the two pieces 5, 6 may be joined face-to-face, or one of the pieces may be formed with an inturned marginal pocket or panel. The upper piece 5 of fabric can be extended by sewing on an extension (possibly a valance or frill for decoration), or left the same size as the lower piece 6 of fabric. These pillow cases can then be interchanged whenever required to alter the colour scheme of the bed, or just one piece can be changed more regularly than the other. Changing the case, or one or both pieces thereof, takes only seconds.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show a "PopOn" (T.M.) complete bedding set comprising a combined comforter or quilt 8, duvet 9, and sheet 10, incorporating releasabie fasteners 4 as previously discussed. In this embodiment, the comforter 8 takes the place of the upper sheet. The combination or set is cost effective to maintain, labour saving and always looks elegant. Changing the lower sheet 10 (or comforter 8), which is effected as described with reference to the Fig. 1 embodiment, takes only seconds and does away with crawling into a conventional duvet cover to change the bed linen. As shown in Fig. 4, the head end portion 8a of the comforter extends beyond the remainder of the comforter provided with the valence or frill 8b, and the lower sheet 10 is also provided with a head end extension 1 Oa which underlies the comforter extension 8a.
When the bed is not in use, the extensions are jointly folded under and over the pillow 11 as shown in Figs. 3 and 3A, with the comforter extension uppermost, ensuring that the bed looks 'finished'. When the bed is in use, the 1 4 comforter and lower sheet extensions 8a, 10a are folded over towards the foot end of the bed as shown in Fig. 5, so that the extension 1 Oa overlies and protects the comforter.
The comforter 8 can be manufactured, or fitted, with an insulated lining in any appropriate thermally insulating material such as polyester. The duvet 9 (shown in Fig. 4) may be inserted in winter for extra warmth or taken out in the summer months leaving a lightweight cover with the lower sheet 10 attached. A lighter (less insulating) duvet may be used for warmer climates and a denser (more insulating) duvet for colder climates. The comforter 8, and lower sheet 10, can be made in any appropriate material: e.g. man-made or natural fabric. For instance, the comforter can be made up in a synthetic fibre such as nylon or polyester, or a natural fibre such as cotton or silk or a mixture of the two. The duvet can be made up in a synthetic product such as polyester wadding, or a natural product such as duck or goose down, duck or goose feathers, or a mixture of the two.
Fig. 6 shows a "PopOn" (T.M.) complete bed sheet which, for example, may form the lower sheet 10 used in the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 5. The flat sheet 10 is attached to the underside of a quilted or plain bed cover, shown in outline (e.g. comforter which may be a conventional cover), by means of fasteners such as press studs, buttons or velcro as previously described, encasing a duvet and, therefore, securing the duvet in a pre-constructed pocket or panel that runs along the underside of the comforter as shown in Fig. 4. The sheet extends lengthways to the headboard end of the comforter and folds over during use so that the sheet 10, and not the comforter, comes into contact with the head, shoulders or arms of the user.
The lower or base sheet 10 can be replaced inexpensively, changed quickly and easily on a daily basis if desired, whilst the comforter can be washed/dry cleaned (depending on fabric used) whenever required, and less frequently. Thereby, a substantial amount of laundering can be eliminated, since the flat sheet 10 can be laundered daily if required because "popping on" 1 1 and "popping off" is very quick.
It will be apparent that the invention may be applied to advantage to a bed cove r/comf orter/c ounterpane so as to retain a duvet in place assembled thereto. However, the invention, and in particular, a comforter, etc. could be usedladapted for use in combination with a lower sheet 10, without a duvet or equivalent detachable insulation, so as to protect the comforter, etc., from contact with the user.
The complete bedding, for example as shown in Fig. 3 to 6, is constructed andlor assembled as follows:
A quilted/plain/flounced or throwover tailored comforter is made for the bed with side panels that can be gathered/box pleated/pencil pleated or simply thrown over the bed to touch the floor on three sides. At the headboard end of the bed the comforter is extended to fold, for example, under and over the pillows. (See Fig. 3A). This extension folds back along the bed during use. On the reverse side (underside) of the comforter as viewed in Fig. 4 (as the comforter is placed correct side up on the bed) there is a stitched rectangular panel or pocket 8c which may be approximately co-extensive with the top of the mattress e.g. 2W' x 6' or 3' x 6' or 4' x 6' or 4' C x 6' or 5' x 6' regular sized beds, or made to measure for unusual sized or shaped beds). (See also Figs 5 and 6). Into this panellpocket is placed a duvet made of a suitable material either man-made or natural, such as wad ding/polyesterldown/feather or mixture of feather and down, which fits snugly into all four corners of the comforter and is held securely by the pocket/ panel 8c which is recessed to form a hollow. Intermittently stitched or otherwise attached along this panel there are suitable fastenings, Le press studs, buttons or velcro at matching points, to which a separate "PopOn" (T.M.) lower sheet, also provided with associated fastenings, is attached along the sides and foot end of the bed to the panel sewn into the comforter. The lower sheet 10 extends to the end of the comforter at the headboard end so that, when comforter is folded back for use as shown in Fig. 5, only the sheet 10 comes into contact with the I 6 head/neck/shoulders and arms of the user. The sheet 10 can then be removed by merely "popping off' the dirty lower sheet and "popping on" a clean one in seconds.
A throwover comforter would have the panellpocket stitched around the area bounded by three of the sides (from mattress to floor) to form a compartment for insertion of a regular sized duvet. The lower sheet 10 would attach to this panel on three sides and extend beyond the panel at the headboard end of the bed to the edge of the comforter to fold over during use.
The invention may be applied to bedding for different types of bed.
For example the comforter embodying the invention may be adapted for use with beds having footboards by ending the sides of the drop or valances at the footboard, and inserting a plain panel sewn only to the foot end of comforter. This enables the foot end panel to be folded under the mattress.
The comforter may be adapted for use with four poster beds by ending the sides of the drop or valances etc., at the foot posts, and inserting a quilted panel sewn only to the foot end of comforter. This panel would match the comforter, i.e. pleated/plain or panelled, and would fall to the floor between f oot-posts, thereby not interfering with the smooth outline of the comforter and allowing the posts to be seen.
The comforter may be adapted for use with bunk beds. The comforter would be made with a panel or pocket inserted along underside as previously described, allowing insertion of a duvet which f its snugly to the four top edges of the mattress, and the drops or valences on three sides would be plain or quilted panels, sewn together at the corners of the foot end of the bed only (as in fitted sheets). At the headboard end of the bed, both the comforter and the lower sheet would extend to fold under and over the pillows so that, when folded back for use, only the removable lower sheet comes into contact with the body of the user.
Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
7 For example, fastening means other than those specifically described may be used. When using strip-like fastening means, such as velcro or zips, the fastening means may be continuous or intermittent.
The principles of the invention may be applied to articles other than pillows, duvets, comforters, quilts, etc., for example to bolsters, etc.
Although the detach able/se parable components of the duvet cover, pillow case, etc., are preferably pieces of flat sheet material, one or both components may be configured to have a three-dimensional form, such as, for example, to form a base surface and upstanding side and end walls.
Although described with reference to cases or covers which are normally generally rectangular in plan, they could have other outlines, for example to accommodate circular or oval pillows, duvets, etc.
Although the invention is primarily intended to be applied to a duvet, or bedding incorporating a duvet, this is not essential. The detachable lower sheet arrangement may be applied to the underside of the quilt, comforter, bed cover or the like, simply as a removable liner to protect the comforter, etc from contact with the user, without the interposition of a duvet or other insulating layer, etc.
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