Abstract:
A bedding system comprising a fitted sheet having two sections, each section made of a different fabric and a flat sheet having two sections each section being of a different fabric such that the different materials cause different warming characteristics.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/577,711 filed Jun. 7, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/658,663 filed Mar. 3, 2005. Each and all of the foregoing applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bedding material. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bedding material particularly sheets applied to beds are made of single composition fabrics. The single composition fabrics have only a specific type of heating characteristics to the bed occupants. The heating characteristics have a rate of heating that may be too rapid to one bed occupant to that of another. There is a need for bedding materials that provide differential warming characteristics or feeling of rate of warming to different bed occupants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred and particular embodiments include bi-sectional sheets that either fit to a bed mattress or are overlaid over the bed mattress wherein each section is made from a different fabric having different warming characteristics. One particular embodiment is a bottom or fitted bed sheet having at least two sections, one section having a fabric that is different from the other section&#39;s fabric. In a particular embodiment of the fitted sheet, one section for example is cotton, the other section is polar fleece. In the fitted sheet embodiment, the cotton and polar fleece sections are sewn together in the middle of the bi-sectional bed sheet. Other particular embodiments of the fitted bed sheet include slits at the depth ends of the fitted sheet, particularly in the head-end and the toe-end. The slits at the head and toe-end of the fitted bi-sectional sheets provide a gap the spacing of which imparts greater flexibility for making or applying the fitted sheet to the mattress. 
     Other embodiments of the multi-sectional bedding material is a top sheet similarly comprising a bi-sectional arrangement of different materials in each section. The top sheet overlays the fitted sheet and is separately applied to the mattress. Embodiments of the top sheet include different arrangements of slits advantageously placed to provide different use options to the bed occupants. In one particular embodiment of the top sheet, partial splits are placed at the head and toe-ends of the sheets to allow for improved flexibility in tucking in at the toe-end as well as to provide the head-end of the sheets may be independently folded as desired by the bed occupants. In a particular embodiment of the top sheet, the one section is cotton and the other section is polar fleece with a pillow or head-end slit of approximately 10% the length of the top sheet and a comparable 10% split at the toe-end of top sheet, leaving approximately 80% of a sewn stitch uniting the cotton and polar fleece bi-sections. 
     Another embodiment of the top sheet includes a middle slit and stitched ends. The stitched ends occupy approximately 20% the length of the top sheet where 10% is stitched at the head-end of the top sheet and 10% stitched at the toe-end of the top sheet, leaving pillow 80% of an open slit between the cotton and polar fleece bi-sections. The slit in the middle of the flat top sheet permits flexibility for the bed occupants to move their arms or legs through the slit opening for cooling or other reasons. 
     Another embodiment of the bi-sectional bedding material includes a bi-sectional flat or top sheet that is sewn to the fitted or bottom bi-sectional sheet. Each fitted, flat, bottom, and top bi-sectional sheets have sections composed of different fabrics. For example, cotton and polar fleece. The combination of stitched flat and fitted bi-sectional sheets advantageously provide for a single bed-making operation. A particular embodiment of the toe-end stitched flat to fitted bi-sectional sheets includes the top sheet having a slit at the head-end of approximately 10% of the length of the top sheet, leaving approximately 90% of the top sheet being seam stitched thereby uniting the cotton and polar fleece fabric sections. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a bi-sectional flat sheet having head and toe slits adjacent to a bi-sectional fitted sheet; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a bi-sectional flat sheet having head and toe stitches adjacent to a bi-sectional fitted sheet; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a bi-sectional flat sheet having head and toe slits adjacent to a bi-sectional fitted sheet having head and toe splits; 
         FIG. 4  is a bi-sectional flat sheet stitched to the toe-end of a bi-sectional fitted sheet; and 
         FIG. 5  is a bi-sectional sheet having a head-end split and the toe-end being stitched to a bi-sectional fitted sheet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a hi-sectional flat sheet having head and toe slits adjacent to a bi-sectional fitted sheet. Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a projected side view of the fitted sheet.  FIG. 1  illustrates a fitted sheet/flat sheet combination  10  where each fitted and flat sheet are comprised of two fabric sections. As shown, the fitted sheet  11  comprises a cotton section  16  and a polar fleece section  18 . Uniting the cotton section  16  and the polar fleece section  18  is a continuous stitch  14  that is continuous along the approximate middle of the fitted sheet  11 . The fitted sheet  11  is applied to the mattress bed. The combination bedding material  10  also includes a fiat sheet  12 . The flat sheet  12  similarly has a cotton  16 A and a polar fleece  18 A. The fabric bi-sections  16 A and  16 B are united together via a partial stitch  19 A. The partial stitch  19 A occupies approximately the middle 80% of the length of the flat sheet  12  and is approximately along the centerline of the flat sheet  12 . On either side of the partial stitch  19 A are partial splits  19 B and  19 C. Partial split  19 B is located along the pillow or head-end of the flat sheet  12  and partial split  19 C is located at the toe-end of the flat sheet  12 . Partial splits  19 B and  19 C are approximately 10% of the length of the flat sheet  12 . The partial splits at each end of the sheet permit flexibility for the top sheet fabric bi-sections  16 A and  18 A to be independently folded over at the pillow end and further provides flexibility for tucking in under the mattress at the toe-end of the flat sheet  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric and side view of a bedding material system  20 . The bedding material system  20  includes the fitted sheet  11  as previously described from  FIG. 1  and a flat sheet  22 . The flat sheet  22  includes a cotton fabric section  16 B and the polar fleece section  18 B. Along the center line of the flat sheet  22  is a series of partial stitches and a partial split. Disposed approximately along the middle 80% section of the centerline of the flat sheet  22  is a partial split  29 A. Bracketing either side of the partial split  29 A are partial stitches  29 B and  29 C. The partial stitches  29 B and  29 C are approximately 10% of the flat sheet length. Partial stitch  29 B is located at the head-end of the flat sheet  22  and partial stitch  29 C is located at the toe-end of the flat sheet  22 . The partial stitches  29 B and  29 C at each end of the flat  22  maintains the attachment of the cotton bi-section  16 B and the polar fleece bi-section  18 B. The partial split  29 A located in the approximate middle 80% of the flat sheet  22  provides flexibility to the bed occupants to extend appendages through or to receive medical devices. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric and side view of a bedding system  30 . The bedding system  30  includes a flat sheet  12  as previously described from  FIG. 1  and a fitted bottom sheet  31 . The fitted bottom sheet  31  includes a cotton fabric bi-section  16 C and a polar fleece fabric bi-section  18 C which are seamed together via a partial stitch  34  along the middle approximate 80% of the center line via a partial stitch  34 . Located on each side of the partial stitch  34 , are partial splits  36 A and  36 B. Partial splits  36 A is located at the toe-end of the mattress and partial split  36 B is located at the head-end of the mattress of the fitted sheet  31 . The partial splits at each end of the fitted sheet  31  provide flexibility for tucking the flat sheet or otherwise fitting the flat sheet around the mattress. 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a bedding system  40 . The bedding system  40  includes a bi-sectional flat sheet  44  stitched to at the toe-end of a fitted sheet  11 . Alternatively, the bi-sectional flat sheet  44  may be stitched the toe-end of a fitted sheet  31 . The bi-sectional flat sheet  44  includes cotton fabric bi-section  16 D and polar fleece fabric bi-section  18 D, each bi-section being seamed together via a continuous stitch  46  that runs the length of the flat bi-section sheet  44 . The bedding system  40  advantageously provides for a single bed-making operation in that the bi-sectional flat sheet  44  is seamed to the fitted sheet  11  via a continuous stitch  48 . Such an arrangement provides for a one bed-making operation to the mattress. Thus, the bedding system  40  is polarized in a sense that, for example, the cotton section is on the left side of the bed and the polar fleece section is on the right side of the bed. Other embodiments would allow for the respective cotton and polar fleece fabric sections  16 D and  18 D to be switched so that the cotton section would be on the right side of the bed and the polar fleece section would be on the left side of the bed. Yet further embodiments would include the fitted sheet  11  to have the cotton bi-section  16 D on the left, the polar fleece fabric section  18 D on the right, and the bi-sectional top sheet  44  having the polar fleece fabric section on the left, and the cotton fabric section  16 D on the right. In the proceeding embodiment, this would mean that the cotton fabric section  16 D of the fitted sheet would be opposing the polar fleece fabric section  18 D of the flat sheet  44 . Similarly, in this switched around arrangement, the polar fleece fabric section  18  of the fitted sheet  11  would be opposing the cotton fabric section  16 D of the flat sheet  44 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric and cross-sectional view of a bi-sectional flat sheet stitched to the toe-end of a bi-sectional fitted sheet.  FIG. 5  shows a bedding system  50  that includes a fitted sheet  11  as described in  FIG. 1 , and a flat sheet  54 . Both the fitted sheet  11  and flat sheet  54  are bi-sectional in that they include a cotton fabric section  16 E and a polar fleece section  18 E. The fitted sheet  54  is similar to the fitted sheet  44  of  FIG. 4  with the exception that the head or pillow end of the flat sheet  54  is a partial stitch  56 A that seams together the cotton fabric section  16 E and the polar fleece section  18 E along approximately 90% of the length of the flat sheet  54 . Adjacent to and at the head-end of the flat sheet  54  is a partial slit or partial split  58 B. The partial slit or partial split  58 B serves the same purpose as the partial split  19 B of  FIG. 1  in that it provides for independent folding over of the respective cotton fabric section  16 E and polar fleece fabric sections  18 E from one another. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the flat sheet  54  is seamed to the fitted sheet  11  by a continuous stitch  59 . As with the bedding material system  40 , the bedding material system  50  advantageously provides for a single bed-making operation in that the flat and fitted sheets  54  and  11  are simultaneously applied to the mattress. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bedding material system  50  results in a cotton section  16 E being located on the left side of the bed and a polar fleece section on the right side of the bed. In this arrangement, bed occupants are cocooned in either a cotton-to-cotton opposing section or polar fleece-to-polar fleece opposing sections of the fitted and flat sheets  11  and  54 . As previously described for  FIG. 4 , the bedding system  50  may be so configured that the polar fleece sections are on the left and the cotton sections are on the right. In addition, as described in  FIG. 4 , similarly for  FIG. 5 , there can be a hybrid combination in which the flat sheet  54  has the polar fleece section opposing the cotton section of fitted sheet  11  and the cotton section of flat sheet  54  opposing the polar fleece section of fitted sheet  11 . 
     Other embodiments for the bedding systems  40  and  50  also would allow for the stitching of the respective flat sheets  44  or  54  to be stitched to other embodiments of the fitted sheet particularly fitted sheet  31 . Yet other embodiments of the flat sheets  44  or  54  may be configured similarly to the flat sheet  22  wherein there is a partial slit as shown in  29 A and a partial stitch at the head as shown in  29 B. 
     The embodiments as described in  FIGS. 1–5  are applied to king size, queen size, and full size beds. The dimensions of a king size bed are approximately for the fitted sheet 78″×80″×18″. For the flat sheet about 108″×102″ wherein 78″ are sewn, 24″ are split roughly 12″ on the head and 12″ on the foot. For the dimensions of the queen size, the fitted sheet has an approximate dimension of 60″×80″×18″ and the flat sheet 90″×102″. For the flat sheet queen size 78″ are sewn and 24″ are split with 12″ on the head and 12″ on the foot. The dimensions for the full size are fitted sheet approximately 60″×80″×18″ and for the flat sheet 88″×102″. For the flat sheet 78″ are sewn, 24″ are split with 12″ of those being for the head and 12″ for the foot. The preceding king, queen, and full sizes are applicable to the preceding FIGURES. 
     Dimensions that are more particular to the preceding embodiments are discussed below. The pillows are constructed of two bi-sections, wherein one bi-section, for example cotton, is located on one side of the pillow, and the other bi-section, for example polar fleece, is located on the other side of the pillow. 
     
       FIG. 1 
     
     Approximate Dimensions of the King-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 108″×102″ (78″ are sewn, 24″ split, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot) Fitted Sheet: 78″×80″×18″ deep 3 Pillowcases: 20″×40″ 
     Approximate Dimensions of the Queen-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 90″×102″ (78″ are sewn, 24″ split, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot) Fitted Sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep 2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     Approximate Dimensions of the Full-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 88″×102″ (78″ are sewn, 24″ split, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot) Fitted sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep 2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     
       FIG. 2 
     
     Approximate Dimensions of the King-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 108″×102″ (24″ are sewn, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot 78″ split) Fitted Sheet: 78″×80″×18″ deep 3 Pillowcases: 20″×40″ 
     Approximate Dimensions of the Queen-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 90″×102″ (24″ are sewn, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot 78″ split) Fitted Sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep 2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     Approximate Dimensions of the Full-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 88″×102″ (24″ are sewn, 12″ on head, 12″ on foot 78″ split) Fitted sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep 2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     
       FIG. 3 
     
     Dimensions of the King-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 108″×102″ 
     Fitted Sheet: 78″×80″×18″ deep (Measuring from the bottom up on the pockets at the head and foot of the fitted sheet is split 12″. The remainder of the 18′ deep pocket is sewn 6″ which continues through to the opposite end 92″) 
     3 Pillowcases: 20″×40″ 
     Dimensions of the Queen-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 90″×102″ 
     Fitted Sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep (Measuring from the bottom up on the pockets at the head and foot of the fitted sheet is split 12″. The remainder of the 18″ deep pocket is sewn 6″ which continues through to the opposite end 92″) 
     2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     Dimensions of the Full-Size 
     Flat Sheet: 88″×102″ 
     Fitted sheet: 60″×80″×18″ deep (Measuring from the bottom up on the pockets at the head and foot of the fitted sheet is split 12″. The remainder of the 18′ deep pocket is sewn 6″ which continues through to the opposite end 92″) 
     2 Pillowcases: 20″×32″ 
     
       FIGS. 4 and 5 
     
     Similar dimensions as  FIGS. 1–3 , head split being approximately 12 inches. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the flat and fitted sheets, either separately or in combination, may be applied to the mattress such that the orientation of the seam between the bi-sections of the sheets is approximately 90 degrees to the head and toe axis of the mattress. Each bi-section occupies approximately 50% the mattress area, for example, the upper or head bi-section region is cotton, and the lower or toe-end bi-section region is polar fleece. Other percent area bi-sectional areas are possible, for example, the lower third bi-section is polar fleece, and the upper two-third bi-section is cotton. Alternate embodiments further include fabric bi-sections other than cotton and polar fleece. For example, bi-sections  16  and  18  may respectively be made from silk and flannel fabrics. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.