Abstract:
A sleeping sheet, for detachably coupling to a sleeping apparatus, including a top portion ( 8 ) a bottom portion ( 7 ) including an attachment means ( 10 ), wherein the top portion ( 8 ) is coupled to said bottom portion ( 7 ), wherein the attachment means ( 10 ) may be coupled to said sleeping apparatus in a detachable arrangement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a sheet for fitting to a sleeping apparatus and in particular a sheet which attaches to a temporary bed arrangement via an attachment means.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Alternative or temporary bedding arrangements or sleeping apparatus other than permanent fixed beds are often used when people are away from their usual sleeping quarters, for example when people go camping or bunk on the floor at a someone else&#39;s residence.  
           [0003]    An instance where-temporary beds, cots or mattresses are frequently used is at preschools and primary schools where the infants or young school children partake in a sleep or siesta during the daytime whilst they are at the institution. In these instances, small mattresses or temporary cots tailored to the size of the children are set up so that the children can sleep in relative comfort. Some typical examples of these types of temporary sleeping apparatus are shown in FIG. 1 and as can be seen they can be easily stored away to conserve space as is often required.  
           [0004]    In these modern times parents are often requested to provide bedding for their children to use with the sleeping apparatus provided at various institutions, however, conventional sheets or bedding does not fit the size of the cots or the way in which they are constructed particularly well. Therefore there exists a need for an alternative bedding arrangement which is more practical in these circumstances.  
         DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to provide an alternative sleeping sheet. The present invention also seeks to provide an alternative sleeping sheet which is specifically adapted to fit a sleeping apparatus such as a cot or stretcher or collapsible bed or mattress.  
           [0006]    According to the present invention there is a sleeping sheet, for detachably coupling to a sleeping apparatus, including:  
           [0007]    a top portion,  
           [0008]    a bottom portion including an attachment means, wherein the top portion is coupled to said bottom portion, and,  
           [0009]    wherein the attachment means may be coupled to said sleeping apparatus in a detachable arrangement.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the attachment means includes a loop which may be detachably coupled to a portion of the sleeping apparatus. More preferably, the portion is a leg of the sleeping apparatus and the loop may be positioned whereby the loop surrounds the leg.  
           [0011]    Preferably, the attachment means includes a two member arrangement which may be attachably coupled to a portion of the sleeping apparatus. The attachment, means may attachably couple to said portion of the sleeping apparatus by tying the two member arrangement to said portion. Alternatively, the two member arrangement may be coupled to said portion of the sleeping apparatus using hoop and hook means. More preferably, the portion is a leg of said sleeping apparatus and the two member arrangement may be positioned wherein the two member arrangement surrounds the leg.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the attachment means is made from a suitable material such as elastic material.  
           [0013]    In a preferred form, the corners of the bottom portion include an elasticised section such that the bottom section may be detachably coupled to the sleeping apparatus.  
           [0014]    Preferably, the bottom portion is substantially rectangular in shape and/or the bottom portion includes a plurality of attachment means and preferably four attachment means each located adjacent to a corner of the bottom portion.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the top portion is attachably coupled along one edge to said bottom portion whereby said top portion may foldably lie adjacent or on top of said bottom portion. More preferably, the top portion also substantially rectangular in shape and is preferably wider than the bottom portion and more preferably still the bottom portion is longer than the top portion.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the top portion is detachably coupled to an additional two sides of the bottom portion. More preferably, the top portion is detachably coupled to an additional two sides by means of a zipper or hoop and hook technology.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the bottom portion includes a pillow slip attachably coupled thereon, and wherein, said pillow slip, may receive a pillow, wherein a human sleeping, and in particular a child or infant sleeping, is not able to position their head between the pillow slip and the bottom portion whereby they would not be able to breath normally.  
           [0018]    Preferably said sleeping apparatus is a mattress designed for children, however, the present invention may be equally applicable to other types of sleeping apparatus such as for example bunk beds or stand alone mattresses designed for any sized person.  
           [0019]    Preferably the bottom portion and/or the top portion may be composed of material chosen for example from suitable textiles for bed sheets including flannelette cotton or cotton polyester, terry towelling, quilted material, thermo-insulating material or material used in sleeping bags. More preferably, the material is hypoallergenic.  
           [0020]    Preferably, there is a bag which is attachably coupled to the sleep sheet whereby when the sleep sheet is not attached to a sleeping apparatus, it maybe transported in side said bag.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The present invention will become better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, where in:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1. illustrates several types of sleeping apparatus which are commonly used in preschools.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2. illustrates a sleeping sheet in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3. illustrates another sleep sheet which is also in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4. illustrates a further sleep sheet which is also in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5. illustrates a further sleep sheet which is also in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows several types of sleeping apparatus for which the present invention maybe suitable for. Each apparatus is designed for toddlers or young school children and for easy storage when not in use. As can be seen from stretcher  1  and toddler cot  2  there are protrusions  4  or legs  5  which may facilitate attachment of the present invention.  
         [0028]    A preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The sleep sheet  6  consists of a bottom portion  7  and a top portion  8  which are joined together down one side. The bottom portion  7  is longer than the top portion  8  and the top portion  8  is wider than the bottom portion  7 . There is a pillow slip  9  which is attached onto the bottom portion  7  and which may receive a pillow. The attachment means are in the form of loops  10  which are located at the four corners of the bottom sheet  7  and are typically made out of an elastic material.  
         [0029]    The sleep sheet is fitted to say for example the toddler cot  2  whereby the loops  10  are fitted under the legs  5  of the toddler cot  2  and a child or infant lies on the bottom portion  7  and covers themselves with the top portion  8 .  
         [0030]    Another preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. In this case there is shown a sleep sheet  11  similar in construction to that shown in FIG. 2 except that the attachment means consists of elastic means attached to the bottom portion  13 . The elastic means provides that the sleep sheet  11  may be fitted to a sleep mat  3  such as that shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    Another preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this case the sleep sheet  13  is fitted with a zipper  12  which allows the bottom sheet  7  to be detachably arranged with the top sheet  8 . This embodiment would typically be made out of a quilted material more suitable for the winter months or in cold conditions.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 depicts another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention wherein the attachment means consists of a two member arrangement  16 . Upon attaching the sleeping sheet  15  to a sleeping apparatus, the two member arrangement may be tied on to a portion of the sleeping apparatus, such as for example the legs  5  or the protrusions  4  depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the two member arrangement  16  may be tied on to a portion of the sleeping apparatus using hoop and hook technology or velcro™.  
         [0033]    Although measurement specifications have been included in FIGS.  2  to  5  which indicate a preferred size for use in conjunction with a typical infants sleeping apparatus, it should be understood that these measurements are in no way limiting to the size or shape of the present invention and that the present invention may be suitable for any type of sleeping apparatus without limitation as to size or shape.  
         [0034]    Although several preferred embodiments have been described in detail, it should also be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein by one ordinarily skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.