Abstract:
A dual function bed cover for a bed comprising an overlapping left section and right section, and a flap attached to the bottom edge or proximate the bottom thereof. Each section may be at least partially separated from the other during use and removed from atop a user without causing undue disruption to the placement of the remaining section of the bed cover atop a different user. The flap can be tucked beneath the mattress during use for stability and may be constructed to avoid unnecessary restriction of foot movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A common source of tension between couples sharing a bed is the use of bed covers. Some people prefer to bundle up while in the bed, while others favor sleeping without much covering their body. Generally, those who prefer not to use bed covers and the like will take their portion of the bed cover, comforter, or other linen and place it atop their mate who is already bundled up. The mate is then uncomfortable due to excess warmth and restricted movement caused by the bulkiness of the excess bed linens, and their placement. 
         [0002]    As such, a need exists for a bed cover that gives those sharing a bed the ability to independently use the bed cover as they see fit, without inconveniencing each other, and that provides enhanced comfort. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A dual function bed cover for a bed set is provided that allows two individuals to more easily share a bed when they have different preferences for bed covers. The bed cover includes a left section, a right section, and a flap attached to a bottom edge of those sections. The sections overlap about their proximal edges to create an overlap that makes it easier when one party removes one section of the bed cover. The other section will remain relatively in the same position, preventing discomfort to the party continuing to use the bed cover. In one embodiment, the two sections are removably attached about their proximal edges by at least one means for attachment. The flap is of a length sufficient to permit tucking the flap beneath the mattress in order to maintain placement of the bed cover. In one embodiment, the flap is narrower, at the point of attachment to the two sections of the bed cover, than the width of the mattress so as to permit freer movement of the users&#39; feet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  depicts bed cover  10  on a bed with a headboard, footboard, and pillows; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of bed cover  10 ; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  depicts bed cover  10  on a bed with a headboard, footboard, and pillows with left section  12  of bed cover  10  partially separated from right section  14  and turned down to reveal the placement of snaps as the means for attachment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternative embodiment of the bed cover  10  from a top view; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment of the bed cover  10  as used on a bed; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative embodiment of the bed cover  10  as used on a bed with a bottom edge  34  of right section  14  turned back to show a flap  16  tucked under a mattress; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  depicts an alternative embodiment of the bed cover  10  from a top view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    A novel bed cover  10  is described herein and depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 . Bed cover  10  comprises a left section  12 , a right section  14 , and a flap  16 . Left section  12  and right section  14  overlap about overlapping edges  20 ,  22 , which are the proximal edges of the corresponding sections  12 ,  14 . The sections  12 ,  14  are removably attached to each other by means for attachment  18  for at least fifty percent of the length of sections  12 ,  14 . In embodiments in which sections  12 ,  14  are not removably attached for their entire length, the lower portions of the sections  12 ,  14  may be permanently secured to each other, for example by sewing together the edges  20 ,  22 . The ability to detach sections of the bed cover allows one person to use the bed cover for warmth or cover, while another person in the same bed does not use the bed cover for those purposes. In situations where two people share a bed and one person gets hot, instead of throwing the bed cover onto another person in the same bed, which makes the second person uncomfortable, the person who is hot may simply detach his section of the bed cover  10  from the other section and turn it down away from his body. 
         [0012]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , overlapping edges  20 ,  22  are those edges that are proximal to the respective opposite section  12  or section  14 . The overlap is approximately six inches in certain embodiments. It should be noted that either section  12  or  14  may overlap, so that either section  12  or  14  may be on the top or on the bottom. Both arrangements are contemplated and are not outside the scope of the invention. Right section  14  and left section  12  each also include a top edge  24 ,  26 , distal edge  28 ,  30  and bottom edge  32 ,  34 . The overlapping of sections  12  and  14  adds stability to the construction of bed cover  10  and, during use, reduces movement of bed cover  10  when one section has been separated and pushed away. When one person removes his section, the other half generally remains in the same position. Without the overlap, the remaining section would be repositioned during removal of the other section of bed cover  10 . Indeed, it is possible to manufacture the sections  12 ,  14  without attachment means; the overlapping of the sections can provide sufficient connection to render attachment means unnecessary. 
         [0013]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , flap  16  is attached about its top edge  40  to bottom edges  32  and  34  of left section  12  and right section  14 . Approximately half of top edge  40  is attached to each of bottom edge  32  and bottom edge  34 , respectively. Flap  16  may be attached to part but not all of sections  12 ,  14 . For example, with reference to  FIG. 2 , flap  16  is attached only to a central portion of bottom edges  32 ,  34 . Moreover, still with reference to  FIG. 2 , at the center of bottom edges  32 ,  24 , where overlapping section  22  laps above overlapping section  20 , flap  16  may be attached to bottom edges  32 ,  34  in a manner that includes the bottom edge of overlapping section  20  but does not include the bottom edge of overlapping section  22 . Any methods for permanent attachment may be used, including sewing or gluing. In particular embodiments, flap  16  is removably attached by any known means for removable attachment. 
         [0014]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , flap  16  is attached only to sections  12 ,  14  about overlapping sections  20  and  22 . Flap  16  should be of a sufficient length to tuck at least in part beneath the mattress, for example, between the mattress and a box spring or platform. In specific embodiments, flap  16  is of a length that allows it to be entirely tucked underneath the bed, between the mattress and box spring or platform. In other embodiments, a portion of flap  16  is tucked underneath the bed. Flap  16  acts to stabilize bed cover  10  during use by reducing movement of bed cover  10 . During use, sections  12  and  14  remain generally on the top of the bed, optionally with some overhanging depending on how the bed is made, with flap  16  being tucked under the mattress about the lower edge of the mattress  36 , where a user&#39;s feet would normally be placed. When sections  12  and  14  are detachable along their full length, then when those sections are detached, flap  16  holds bed cover  10  together. As such, the top edge  40  of flap  16 , which attaches to the sections  12 ,  14 , may be about the same width as the mattress and box spring it will be used on. It should be noted that flap  16  may be of any width and shape that is sufficient to hold the bed cover  10  in place during use. Flap  16  may be used to retain not only bed cover  10  but also additional bed coverings in place and thus speed making of the bed without the need to tuck in the additional bed coverings at the sides or to separately tuck in the additional bed coverings at the bottom of the bed. In some embodiments, flap  16  is narrower than the width of the mattress. In those embodiments, flap  16  may hold bed cover  10  (which may, for example, be a blanket) and all or a portion of the remaining bed coverings (for example, a top sheet) in place while allowing the sides and a portion of the bottom edge of those bed coverings to remain untucked, thus providing less restriction above the feet at the foot area of the bed. 
         [0015]    In a specific embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , the bed cover is a comforter, or a blanket, for a bed that lacks a footboard or that otherwise allows the lower edge of the mattress  36  to be seen. It is desirable in such situations to conceal the lower edge of the mattress  36  and box springs from view, and typically a comforter and quilt is spread over the bed and allowed to drape over the lower edge  36  in order to provide such concealment. The embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 4-6  permits such decorative placement of the bed covering while retaining the stability previously discussed. In the embodiment depicted, the flap  16  may be about the same width as the mattress that it will be used on. However, unlike embodiments discussed previously, flap  16  is not attached to bottom edges  32 ,  34  of sections  12 ,  14 . Instead it is attached to sections  12 ,  14  at a distance above bottom edges  32 ,  34  that allows bottom edges  32 ,  34  to hang freely over the mattress and box spring or platform. During use, flap  16  is tucked beneath the mattress, for example between the mattress and box spring or platform, while bottom edges  32 ,  34  remain free to hang over the mattress and/or box spring or platform, which permits them, if desired, to conceal the lower end of the mattress and/or box spring from view. As such, flap  16  serves the same stabilizing purpose as previously discussed in other embodiments of the invention. 
         [0016]    Sections  12  and  14  are attached to each other by any known means of removable attachment, including snaps  50  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), magnets, buttons, a zipper, hook and loop attachments, or combinations thereof. In embodiments comprising snaps or magnets, the snaps or magnets would be permanently attached to sections  12  and  14 . For example, magnets could be sewn into the overlapping edges  20 ,  22  such that oppositely polarized magnets would be in alignment with each other when sections  12  and  14  are in the overlapped position depicted in  FIG. 1 . The order of the placement of the magnets is of no consequence. In embodiments comprising snaps as the means for attachment, the snaps are sewn onto overlapping sections  22  and  20  in a manner that allows both portions of the snaps to come into contact in the overlapped position depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    The bed cover may be any product suitable for covering a bed, including a comforter, sheet, or blanket and may be made out of any material that is suitable for use as a covering device. Examples include silk, cotton, canvas, linen, or synthetic materials such as rayon and polyester. Sections  12  and  14  may be made of different materials in certain embodiments. Flap  16  may be made of a material that is distinctive or otherwise different from the material used to make sections  12  and  14  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In one embodiment of the invention, flap  16  is made of doubled-thickness sheets. In another embodiment of the invention, flap  16  is made of canvas. When flap  16  is of a different material, it may be sturdier than the more decorative material used to construct all or part of sections  12 ,  14 , thus permitting use of fabrics for sections  12 ,  14  that, if themselves tucked beneath a mattress, might suffer undue wear. 
         [0018]    In particular embodiments, such as one depicted in  FIG. 7 , the flap  16  of bed cover  10  may be attached to a bed skirt  60  in a manner that allows the bed skirt  60  to conceal a bed frame and, when one is in use, a box spring. The bed skirt  60  is permanently or removably secured to the flap  16  at some distance from the point of attachment of flap  16  to sections  12  and  14 , either somewhere in the mid- or lower portion of flap  16 , for example at the end opposite the point of attachment to sections  12 ,  14 . The means for securing bed skirt  60  to flap  16  may be by any means known to those of skill in the art, or as described herein. 
         [0019]    In an alternate embodiment (not shown), one or more flaps  16  of bed cover  10  may be employed, with each flap  16  attached only to one of the sections  12  and  14 . 
         [0020]    The foregoing details are exemplary only. Other modifications that might be contemplated by those of skill in the art are within the scope of this invention, and are not limited by the examples illustrated herein.