Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to an improved duvet cover system. The duvet cover system comprises a duvet cover which is washable, reversible, and which may include one or more clips for attaching to and detaching from a duvet or comforter. The one or more clips minimize slippage of the duvet or comforter, prevent uncomfortable bunching, and facilitate keeping the duvet or comforter and duvet cover in a relatively fixed position while duvet cover is opened and closed, while the edges of the duvet cover are at least partially sealed, and while the duvet or comforter is removed from or placed within the cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,681, filed on Apr. 8, 2014. 
     
    
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0002]    The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,681, filed on Apr. 8, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their entireties. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present disclosure relates to an improved duvet cover system and a method of using the improved duvet cover system, and is particularly related to duvet cover systems having clips for attaching to and detaching from a duvet or comforter. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Duvets and comforters are a common form of bedding used both in the United States and abroad. Often, duvets and comforters are not washable or are inconvenient to wash. To keep a duvet or comforter from becoming soiled, a duvet cover is often used. Such covers contain the duvet or comforter therein and may be washed or changed. In this way, a user can prevent soiling of a duvet or comforter. 
         [0005]    Duvet covers can often be time consuming and/or difficult to use and wash. Often, placing a duvet or comforter inside a duvet cover is complicated by slipping or relative movement between the duvet or comforter and the duvet cover. Further, the duvet or comforter can bunch while inside a duvet cover, causing a decrease in comfort level for the user. 
         [0006]    In general, there exists a need for a duvet cover that is capable of being quickly and easily deployed to contain a duvet or comforter and is also capable of being washed, changed, or removed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    The duvet cover system of the present disclosure may include a duvet cover having a top layer of material and a bottom layer of material that can be joined along a seam. The duvet cover may be adapted to receive a duvet or comforter between the top and bottom layer such that the duvet or comforter is contained within the duvet cover. 
         [0008]    The duvet cover can be adapted to be opened and closed. Opening the cover consists of folding back the top layer so that a duvet or comforter can be placed upon the bottom layer and contained within the two layers when the top layer is folded back down. 
         [0009]    The duvet cover may also include a means of attaching the top and bottom layers to form at least partially sealed edges around a duvet or comforter contained therein. 
         [0010]    The duvet cover can include clips or fasteners that can attach to and detach from the duvet or comforter. The clips may also be detached and reattached so that top and bottom layers of material can be washed. 
         [0011]    The top layer can include a first outer surface and an inner surface, and the bottom layer can include a second outer surface and an inner surface. The first outer and second outer surfaces may have a different appearance, such that the duvet cover may be flipped to obtain a different look or style. 
         [0012]    The method of using the duvet cover system can include detaching the top and bottom layers from one another, folding back the top layer, placing a duvet or comforter on the bottom layer, folding the top layer back so that the duvet or comforter is contained between the top and bottom layers, attaching the clips or fasteners to the duvet or comforter, and reattaching the top and bottom layers to form at least partially sealed edges. 
         [0013]    The method of using the duvet cover system can also include detaching the clips or fasteners from the duvet or comforter, detaching the clips or fasteners from the duvet cover, removing the duvet or comforter from the interior of the duvet cover, and washing the duvet cover without the clips or fasteners attached. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the duvet cover system disclosed herein showing the duvet cover in an open configuration before and after receiving a duvet or comforter, and in a closed configuration after receiving the duvet or comforter. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective partial view of the duvet cover disclosed herein according to one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows components of one embodiment of the duvet cover system disclosed herein with the clip or fastener detached. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows components of one embodiment of the duvet cover system disclosed herein with the at least one strip of material threaded through the loop of the clip or fastener. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows components of one embodiment of the duvet cover system disclosed herein with the clip or fastener attached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    According to some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an improved duvet cover system including a duvet cover  10 . The duvet cover  10  can include a top layer  14  having a first outer surface  30 , a bottom layer  16  having a second outer surface  32 , and an inner surface  34 . The top and bottom layers are joined together along a seam  18 . 
         [0020]    References to top and bottom in this disclosure are not intended to be limiting, but rather are exemplary, and are for convenience of reference only. The orientation of the cover may be flipped or rotated such that the top and bottom are reversed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, the duvet cover  10  is adapted to have an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the top layer  14  overlies the bottom layer  16  such that at least a portion of the inner surface  34  partially faces another portion of the inner surface  34 . In this configuration, the cover has a first side edge  20  formed by the seam  18 , a second side edge  22 , a third side edge  24 , and a fourth side edge  26 . 
         [0022]    In the open configuration illustrated in the left image of  FIG. 1 , the top layer  14  is folded back so that at least a portion of the inner surface  34  is exposed. In this configuration, the top layer  14  of the cover  10  may be bounded by the first side edge  20 , as well as a first open top edge  36 , a second open top edge  37 , and a third open top edge  38 . 
         [0023]    Also in the open configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bottom layer  16  of the cover  10  is bounded by the first side edge  20 , as well as a first open bottom edge  46 , a second open bottom edge  47 , and a third open bottom edge  48 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the top layer  14  and the bottom layer  16  further comprise a first sealed edge portion  42  and a second sealed edge portion  43 . The first edge portion  42  and second edge portion  43  each comprise a seam connecting the top layer  14  and the bottom layer  16 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first sealed edge portion  42  originates proximate the first side edge  20 , extends towards the third side edge  24  along the second side edge  22 , and terminates between the first side edge  20  and the third side edge  24 . The second sealed edge portion  43  originates proximate the first side edge  20 , extends towards the third side edge  24  along the fourth side edge  26 , and terminates between the first side edge  20  and the third side edge  24 . In some embodiments, the top and bottom layers may be attached along the first side edge  20  and also may be partially attached along part of the adjoining sides. 
         [0026]    Referring now to the middle image of  FIG. 1 , the duvet cover  10  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is used in combination with a duvet or comforter  60  having a first duvet edge  62 , a second duvet edge  64 , a third duvet edge  66 , and a fourth duvet edge  68 . 
         [0027]    Still with reference to the embodiment shown by  FIG. 1 , when the duvet cover  10  is in the open configuration, a duvet or comforter  60  is be placed on the bottom layer  16 . When so placed, the duvet or comforter  60  is at least partially in a face-to-face relationship with the inner surface  34  of the duvet cover  10 . Further, the first duvet edge  62  is proximate the first side edge  20 , a portion of the second duvet edge  64  is proximate the first sealed edge portion  42 , the remainder of the second duvet edge  64  is proximate the first open bottom edge  46 , the third duvet edge is proximate the second open bottom edge  47 , a portion of the fourth duvet edge  68  is proximate the second sealed edge portion  43 , and the remainder of the fourth duvet edge  68  is proximate the third open bottom edge  48 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the duvet cover  10  according to one embodiment includes at least one clip or fastener attachment means  72  located proximate at least one edge  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 , and least one clip or fastener  70 . The at least one clip or fastener  70  is be adapted to attach to and detach from both the duvet or comforter  60  and the at least one clip or fastener attachment means  72 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the cover includes a pair of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and a pair of clips or fasteners  70 , two pairs of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and two pairs of clips or fasteners  70 , three pairs of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and three pairs of clips or fasteners  70 , or any other number of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and clips or fasteners  70 . The pairs of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and the pairs of clips or fasteners  70  may be configured symmetrically such that they are received adjacent opposite sides of the duvet cover  10 , or they may be otherwise configured. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the duvet cover  10  includes three pairs of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and three pairs of clips or fasteners  70 . In some embodiments, one pair of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and one pair of clips or fasteners  70  are each in a symmetrical configuration located proximate respective first and second sealed edge portions  42 ,  43 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, two pairs of clip or fastener attachment means  72  and two pairs of clips or fasteners  70  are spaced apart in a symmetrical configuration and are located proximate respective first and third open bottom edges  46 ,  48 . However, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the clip or fastener attachment means  72  and the clips or fasteners  70  could be otherwise numbered or configured without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0032]    The at least one clip or fastener  70  includes a duvet attachment means  74 , and a receiving means  72  capable of receiving the at least one clip or fastener attachment means  50 . 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the clip or fastener attachment means comprises a strip of material  52  that is sown into the cover proximate at least one edge  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 . However, it will be apparent that the clip or fastener may be otherwise attached. 
         [0034]    Referring again to  FIG. 3  the duvet attachment means  74  of some embodiments comprises a snap clip, alligator clip, or other type of clip, spring-loaded or otherwise. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the receiving means  72  comprises a loop  73 . 
         [0036]    As is perhaps best illustrated by  FIG. 5  the strip of material  52  according to some embodiments is threaded through the loop  73  and tied such that a clip or fastener  70  is attached to a clip or fastener attachment means  72  proximate at least one edge  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  42 ,  43 ,  46 ,  47 ,  48 . 
         [0037]    However, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the choices of clip or fastener attachment means  50 , duvet attachment means  74 , and receiving means  72  are not limited by the examples contained in this disclosure. Rather, the clip or fastener attachment means  50 , the duvet attachment means  74 , and the receiving means  72  could include buttons, clasps, ties, magnets, or other types of mechanisms, or could be otherwise configured without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the duvet cover includes an edge closing means  80 . In the embodiment shown by  FIG. 2 , the edge closing means  80  includes a zipper slider  82 , a first zipper chain  86 , a second zipper chain  88 , and a zipper slider pull tab  84 . However, it will be appreciated that additional zipper sliders, chains, or pull tabs could be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0039]    According to some embodiments, the first zipper chain  86  is received continuously proximate to and along the first open top edge  36 , the second open top edge  37 , and the third open top edge  38 . The second zipper chain  88  is received continuously proximate to and along the first open bottom edge  46 , the second open bottom edge  47 , and the third open bottom edge  48 . 
         [0040]    When the edge closing means  80  is engaged, the first open top edge  36  and first open bottom edge  46  are at least partially joined and, together with the first sealed edge portion  42 , form the second side edge  22 , the second open top edge  37  and the second open bottom edge  47  are at least partially joined to form the third side edge  24 , and the third open top edge  38  and the third open bottom edge  39  are at least partially joined and, together with the second sealed edge portion  43 , form the fourth side edge  26 . 
         [0041]    According to some embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the duvet cover system is used by partially detaching the top and bottom layers  14 ,  16  from one another, folding back the top layer  14  to cause the system to be in an open configuration, placing a duvet or comforter  60  on the bottom layer  16 , unfolding the top layer  14  so that the duvet or comforter is contained between the top and bottom layers  14 ,  16 , attaching the at least one clip or fastener  70  to the duvet or comforter  60 , and at least partially reattaching the top and bottom layers  14 ,  16  using the edge closing means  80  to form at least partially sealed edges  22 ,  24 ,  26 . 
         [0042]    According to some embodiments, using the duvet cover system further includes disengaging the edge closing means  80 , detaching the at least one clip or fastener  70  from the duvet or comforter  60 , detaching the at least one clip or fastener  70  from the clip or fastener attachment means  50 , removing the duvet or comforter  60  from the interior of the duvet cover  10 , and washing the duvet cover  10  without the at least one clip or fastener  70  attached. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, the first outer surface  30  and the second outer surface  32  can have a different appearance such that the duvet cover  10  can be flipped or rotated to obtain two unique looks or styles. 
         [0044]    The embodiments described by this disclosure are exemplary only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other functional modifications and embodiments of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and are hereby included in this disclosure.