Abstract:
A bedding system for use with a bed that includes at least a base support member. The bedding system includes a base layer of bedding material that is for support on the base support member; an overlying piece of bedding material for positioning on the base layer; first indicia on the base layer; second indicia on the overlying piece; with said first and second indicia defining, when placed adjacent to each other, a predetermined matching contour that indicates an alignment between the base layer and the overlying layer.

Description:
RELATED CASES 
     Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/274,856 filed on Aug. 21, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/318,904 filed on Mar. 30, 2010 and each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a bedding system that is intended to make it easier for a person (especially a child) to make a bed correctly and additionally having storage areas that make it easier for the person to organize personal articles. An additional benefit is that the bed is more comfortable to sleep in because the bed linens do not get twisted or bunched up. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In our lifetime, getting people (especially children) to make their beds can be a trying ordeal. This can be attributed largely to the fact that it can be both difficult to get the bed made correctly because of alignment problems and also because the task is not considered fun. 
     Further, organization of the area around a person&#39;s bed can be problematic. Children like to have personal articles such as favorite toys, books, games and so forth within easy reach of their bed. This plethora of articles can make for a messy area around the bed and can leave the child and parents feeling less than happy with the result. 
     Bedding alignment issues have been attempted to be solved in the prior art by a variety of measures such as alignment buttons at the bottom of the bed. However, this is not a complete solution because the buttons at the bottom of the bed do not necessarily assure alignment of sheets, blankets and comforters at the head of the bed. 
     As for the problem of organizing the bed area, this has been attempted to be solved in the prior art by inventions such as pockets attached to various bedding materials such as pillow cases, comforters, blankets and so forth. This solution is not optimum because the pockets and storage spaces on the bedding material can make the bedding more complicated both to manufacture in the first place and can be uncomfortable for a user while trying to sleep. 
     It would be a significant improvement in the art and technology to enable beds to be made more easily and to have bedding materials that make organization of the bedroom better and neater. Specifically, an improvement in the art would be if there were technology that allowed alignment of both the foot area of the bed and the head of the bed. More specifically, an improvement in the art would be if storage areas for personal items could be included as part of the total bedding system, but that is not necessarily an integral part of the standard sheets, blankets or comforters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is a bedding system including anchor systems (e.g., buttons) at the bottom of the bed attached to the fitted sheet and receiving means (e.g., holes) to receive the fitted sheet anchor through the bedding materials above the fitted sheet (e.g., flat sheet, blankets and/or comforters). 
     Another embodiment of the invention includes an additional alignment means for the bedding materials at the head of the bed. This additional alignment means comprises markings or figures that can be aligned to make sure that the head portion of the bed (where it is not convenient to include additional anchors) is aligned as well as the foot portion of the bed in order to have a complete well made and attractive bed. Alignment graphics (markings, figures or appliques) may also be provided as well (i) on the pillowcase, blanket or comforter (layers), at the head end of these materials, and (ii) and also at or throughout the bottom and middle portions of the respective layers. Thus, alignment graphics permeate the design both at the head and at the foot of the bed. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a “saddle bag” type storage system which is not an integral part of the sheets, blankets or comforter, but instead includes at least two storage areas (e.g., pockets) which are separated by a length of material that is slightly longer than the width of the bed. This saddle bag storage area is intended to be layered and fit underneath the mattress and on top of the box spring [between the two items] so that the material between the two storage areas is underneath the mattress, not visible and not uncomfortable for someone sleeping on the bed. 
     Finally, another embodiment of the invention includes where function, design and comfort would indicate, various storage areas and pockets included in the sham and other areas. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bedding system for use with a bed that includes at least a base support member, said bedding system comprising: a base layer of bedding material that is for support on the base support member; an overlying piece of bedding material for positioning on the base layer; first indicia on the base layer; second indicia on the overlying piece; with said first and second indicia defining, when placed adjacent to each other, a predetermined matching contour that indicates an alignment between the base layer and the overlying layer. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the base layer includes a fitted sheet; the overlying piece includes at least one of a flat sheet, a blanket and a comforter; the indicia includes at least one of a figure, graphic, geometric shape, illustration, and puzzle; the first indicia is on the top side of the base layer; the second indicia is on the top side of the overlying piece or on the bottom side of the overlying piece; the overlying piece includes an overlying sheet that is folded back so that at least a part of the second indicia can be aligned with at least a part of the first indicia; the overlying piece comprises a pillowcase or pillow cover. 
     In accordance with still another version of the invention there is provided a bedding system for use with a bed that includes at least a base support member, said bedding system comprising: a base layer of bedding material that is for support on the base support member; an overlying piece of bedding material for positioning on the base layer; and attachment means connected between the base layer and the overlying piece to enable alignment between the base layer and the overlying piece. 
     In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention the base layer includes a fitted sheet; the overlying layer includes at least one of a flat sheet, a blanket and a comforter; the attachment means comprises an anchor member on one of said layers and an opening on the other of said layers; the anchor member is selected from a strap, rope, string or other flexible member; the overlying piece comprises a pillowcase having attachment loops; the pillowcase has a large opening at one end thereof and a small opening at the other end thereof to assist in inserting a pillow into the pillowcase; the base layer comprises a fitted sheet having at least one attachment anchor, and the overlying piece comprises a pillowcase having at least one attachment loop for engagement with the anchor. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a bedding system for use with a bed that includes at least a box spring and mattress, said bedding system comprising: a material strip that is meant to be disposed between the box spring and mattress; said material strip extending in a direction transverse to the length of the bed; at least one storage member attached with the material strip and for the storage of items therein; said storage member comprising a storage area that is contiguous with the material strip and that is adapted to hang beside the box spring when positioned; wherein the storage area has one or more pockets; and preferably including opposite storage areas on either side of the bed and both contiguous with the material strip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited by the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  illustrates a top view of the bottom portion of a fitted sheet according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates a top view of the top portion of a fitted sheet according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates a top view of the bottom portion of a flat sheet, blanket or comforter which sits over the fitted sheet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates a top view of the top portion of a flat sheet, blanket or comforter which fits over the portion of the fitted sheet in  FIG. 1B   
         FIG. 3   a  illustrates a top view of the head portion (top portion) of the top alignment system of the invention using matching markings or figures on the fitted sheet and pillow case or pillow cover, or the fitted sheet and flat sheet; 
         FIG. 3   b  illustrates a top view of the head portion (top portion) of an alternative embodiment of the top alignment system of the invention using matching markings or figures on the fitted sheet and pillowcase or pillow cover, or the fitted sheet and flat sheet; 
         FIG. 3   c  illustrates the arrangement of  FIG. 3   a  but with the use of a pillowcase; 
         FIG. 4   a  illustrates a top view of the “saddle bag” storage system on top of the box spring of the bed and before the mattress is placed over the system; 
         FIG. 4   b  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the saddle bag storage system that does not include piece  52 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of a fitted sheet that in an alternative embodiment also includes a pillow cover section which may include storage areas; 
         FIG. 6   a  illustrates an alternate embodiment showing just the fitted sheet; 
         FIG. 6   b  illustrates the pillow case that is associated with the fitted sheet of  FIG. 6   a ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a pillow sham that may be used with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   a , there is illustrated a version of the invention showing the bottom portion of fitted bottom sheet  11  and including anchor means  12 . Anchor means  12  can be any of a variety of attaching mechanisms such as a standard button or a strap, rope, string or other flexible member with some type of oversized section to assure that the strap does not easily come back through the holes in the covering sheets (e.g., a knot). 
     Anchor means  12  must be long enough that it can be threaded through the various top covers, such as the flat top sheet  21  shown in  FIG. 2 . Typically this means that anchor means  12  is somewhere between 0.5 inches and 6 inches long. The alignment could be done with one anchor means in the center of the bottom of fitted sheet  11 , but in a preferred embodiment, there would be at least two different anchor means  12  positioned near the bottom of fitted sheet  11  and spaced far enough apart that alignment of the covering sheets is optimized. It is possible that for maximum alignment there could be as many as 4 or even more anchor means  12  but additional anchor means can complicate the bed making process. Anchor means  12  can also or alternatively be placed on the side portion of fitted sheet  11  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or possibly the top of fitted sheet  11  (not expressly shown) or both (not expressly shown). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2   a , it shows a version of the invention showing flat sheet  21  with openings  22 . Openings  22  are sized and placed such that they can accommodate anchor means  12  from fitted sheet  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) which is below the top sheet  21 .  FIG. 2  shows anchor means  12  protruding through openings  22 . The act of putting anchor means  12  through openings  22  assures that flat sheet  21  is aligned at least at the bottom with fitted sheet  11 . Although  FIG. 2  shows flat sheet  21  it is also intended to represent other potential coverings over fitted sheet  11  such as a blanket, comforter and so forth. In fact the invention is intended such that anchor means  12  can be threaded through multiple coverings such as the flat sheet, blanket and/or a comforter. Accordingly, if in  FIG. 2 , covering  21  is a comforter, then one could expect that underneath comforter  21  there is a flat sheet and/or blanket with openings corresponding to openings  22  and through which anchor means  12  has also been threaded through. 
     While anchor means  12  of  FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  assure alignment at the bottom of the bedding system, it does not assure alignment at the top of the bed.  FIGS. 1   b  and  2   b  illustrates an embodiment where anchors  15 ,  19  of the top portion fitted sheet can be inserted into means (openings) in the top portion of the top sheet, blanket and comforter.  FIG. 1   a  shows two top side anchors  19  and respective opposed side anchors  15 .  FIG. 2   b  shows an illustration of one of the side anchors  15  extending through the opening  25  in the top flat sheet  21 . Should the embodiments detailed below in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C be utilized, the anchors and means illustrated by  FIGS. 1   b  and  2   b  will not be necessary for alignment, but an optional device for children to use at their discretion to keep their bed tidy after it is made. Use of this anchor means as a discretionary component, rather than the primary means of aligning the top portion of the bed, is optional as this anchor means may be difficult for some (children in particular) as it adds an extra step and the placement of the bed against a wall would make daily use difficult. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a preferred alignment system for the top of a bedding system that does not require any anchoring means, such as previously illustrated. The alignment for the top of the bedding system comprises visual marking or figures on both bottom fitted sheet  11  and top flat sheet  21  (or blanket or comforter). In  FIG. 3   a  the overall marking  33  is a circle that is to be completed by the person making the bed, usually in teaching a child how to make a neat bed. The circle  33  is comprised of partial circles  33   a ,  33   b  on respective sheet  11 ,  21 . These partial circles are illustrated on the top side of sheets  11 ,  21  but could also appear on the sides of these sheets. The partial circle  33   a  could actually be a full circle but in  FIG. 3   a  one can only see the top half of circle  33   a  since the bottom half is covered by the folded flat sheet  21 . Similarly, the partial circle  33   b  could be a full circle but in  FIG. 3   a  the top sheet has been folded over at  35  showing only the partial circle  33   b  which mates with the circle  33   a  to provide proper alignment of the upper sheet with the bottom sheet. In order to align the upper section of flat sheet  21  with fitted sheet  11 , all a child needs to do is match circle  33   b  on the bottom side of flat sheet  21  (folded over at  35 ) to circle  33   a  on the top side of fitted sheet  11  (alignment at the head of any fitted sheet is essentially automatic since they conform to the shape of the bed). Because often flat sheets are folded over at the top of the bed (see the fold  35  in  FIG. 3 ), circle  33   b  is on the underside of flat sheet  21 . 
     In connection with  FIG. 3 , this alignment of the top (or exposed) part of circle  33   a  to the bottom part of circle  33   b  to form a complete circle assures alignment of flat sheet  21  relative to the fitted sheet  11 . The alignment markings or figures can be any of a vast range of visual clues. It could be as simple as a line or marking but is most preferably something that children will enjoy matching together (like parts of a puzzle in particular would be of interest to a child). One can imagine licensed figures such as Cinderella, Sponge Bob Square Pants and so forth as the matching markings. In such a case a child would know that they have aligned the top portion of flat sheet  21  when they folded over the top portion of flat sheet  21  and have completed an entire picture of Cinderella (for example) by using the top half of Cinderella from fitted sheet  11  and the bottom half of Cinderella from flat sheet  21 . Doing alignment in this way assures that, not only is flat sheet  21  aligned correctly side to side, but also that the child has folded over flat sheet  21  the correct amount so that the vertical alignment and folding over of the flat sheet is correct. The result is a perfect bed each and every time and a child who is having fun completing a picture, graphic or puzzle.  FIG. 3  shows flat sheet  21  but this marking based alignment system is also usable for blankets and/or comforters in the same manner. 
     An alternative embodiment may use a top sheet in which the circle or partial circle is disposed on the upper surface thereof rather than on the underside as show in  FIG. 3   a . In that instance the top sheet is not meant to be folded down, but instead the circle  33   a  (or a part thereof) on the upper surface of the top sheet is to be aligned with the fitted sheet circle  33   b  (or a part thereof) on the upper surface of the fitted sheet. Again other graphics can be used instead of a circle, but the circle is illustrated herein in order to simplify the description.  FIG. 3   b  shows an alignment method in which the top sheet, blanket and/or comforter is placed directly over the fitted sheet or pillowcase and the upper sheet is not folded, but instead the overlying sheet (flat sheet, comforter or blanket) is placed directly on top of the base or fitted sheet.  FIG. 3   b  shows only the circle  33   b  associated with the over material. The circle  33   a  would be underneath on the fitted sheet or pillowcase. The alignment would be made as the top layer is laid over the under-layer. 
     In both  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  markings may be applied, printed or made through some other method. These markings can occur many times throughout the set on the pillowcase, pillow flap, top sheet, blanket and or comforter, in whatever way is deemed most intuitive to the child and pleasing to the eye. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 3   c  which shows, instead of an alignment with a bottom sheet, an alignment between the top sheet  21  and the pillowcase  38 . In  FIG. 3   c  note the fold at  35 ; the aligned circles  33   a  and  33   b ; the circle  33   a  on the pillowcase  38 ; and the circle  33   b  on the sheet  21 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the “saddle bag” storage system of the bedding system of the present invention.  FIG. 4  shows the bed with box spring  51  without any mattress on top. Placed over box spring  51  is attachment means  52  which connect storage areas  53  (attachment means  52  and storage means  53  can be integral parts of the apparatus). Attachment means  52  has a length which is roughly equivalent to the width of the bed such that when the mattress is placed over box spring  51 , the storage areas  53  stick out from between box spring  51  and the mattress. Attachment means  52  may include a means such as buttons or snaps to adjust the length to accommodate different width beds. Attachment means  52  can be any of a large number of different materials and shapes. It could be a rectangular fabric, rope, strap, or any other way of connecting storage areas  53 . Storage areas  53  can also be any of a large number of different ways to store materials. They could be pockets, pouches, boxes, tubes and so forth. Storage areas  53  may be sized to hold things such as a child&#39;s favorite books, toys and so forth. In another embodiment of the invention, the saddle bag storage system can be placed on top of the mattress as opposed to under the mattress. In this embodiment, attachment means  53  must be comfortable enough to be slept on, and thus relatively thin.  FIG. 4  illustrates a series of pockets  55  on both of the respective storage areas  53 . Areas  52  and  53  may be of the same material and the areas  53  are meant to fall by gravity on either side of the box spring. 
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates an embodiment of the saddle bag system that does not include the middle piece  52 , but rather includes separate pads  53  each with one or more openings  54 , to accommodate anchor means  12  and  15  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . In this way the pads  53  can hang from opposite sides of the bed and be supported by anchors attached with, for example, the bottom fitted sheet. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the fitted sheet of the present invention,  FIG. 5  shows fitted sheet  81  with pillow cover  85 . Pillow cover  85  is a flap integral with fitted sheet  81 , and joined thereto along join line  82 . Pillow cover  85  may include storage areas or pockets  88  and is provided with an alignment marking  89 . The illustrated marking semi-circle  89  would be for alignment with a matching semi-circle of the under-sheet such as shown in  FIG. 3   a . Storage areas such as illustrated by pockets  88  may be included on any portion of the bedcovers to improve design or functionality. Pillow cover  85  may also include loop openings  86  which are sized and located to accept anchor means  84  at the top portion of fitted sheet  81 . The anchors means may be cords of a sufficient length to engage with the loops  86 . 
     Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b .  FIG. 6   a  illustrates an alternate embodiment showing just the fitted sheet  81 , while  FIG. 6   b  illustrates the pillowcase  90  that is associated with the fitted sheet  81  of  FIG. 6   a . The fitted sheet  81  is shown in  FIG. 6   a  as having anchors  84 . Two such anchors  84  are shown in  FIG. 6   a , however, more than two may be used. Each of the anchors  84  may be in the form of a button or other fastener means. As illustrated in  FIG. 6   b  the pillowcase  90  is provided with a like number of hooks or loops  91  attached to the pillowcase and corresponding to the number of anchors  84  on the fitted sheet  81 . Each button  84  is engaged with a corresponding hook or loop  91 . In addition to the large opening  97  at one end of the pillowcase for receiving the pillow (not shown), there may also be provided a small opening  92  shown in  FIG. 6   b  at the opposite end of the pillowcase  90 . Alignment cues  89 , may also be on the pillowcase and fitted sheet. The opening  92  enables a small child to more easily pull the pillow through and into the pillowcase  90 . In  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  the circles  89  are located so that alignment of the bedding is possible as previously described.  FIG. 7  illustrates a pillow sham  94  having one or more storage pockets  95 . The sham  94  can be used with the bed set for additional comfort and convenience. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.