Abstract:
A pet cover attached to an item of top bedding for a human and having access for a pet to enter under the pet cover. The pet cover may be permanently or releasably attached to the bed covering. The pet cover may be multi-layered fabric, including a water resistant fabric and/or fabrics impregnated with antibacterial, antimicrobial, pesticidal, or various other special purpose additives. Various shapes, attachments, and configurations are illustrated. The invention may be provided as a first kit with a bed covering for a human and multiple interchangeable pet covers. The invention may be provided as a second kit with user-installable fasteners for a legacy bed covering and one or more pet covers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/589,648 filed Jan. 23, 2012 with two common inventors. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to pet bedding generally and to integrated human bedding and pet bedding for concurrent use by a human and a pet specifically. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pets, especially dogs and cats, sometimes like to sleep on a bed that is designed for and in use by one or more humans. Some pets also sometimes prefer to sleep under a blanket. Humans sometimes enjoy having a pet sleeping on the bed that the humans are using, put have concerns regarding sanitation and infestation. 
       OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is either releasably or fixedly attached to a comforter or similar top bedding for a human bed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is attached to the human top bedding on most of the perimeter of the pet comforter and having an unattached portion of the perimeter by which the pet can enter under the pet comforter. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that includes antimicrobial materials. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that has air vents. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that includes multiple layers of fabric. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that suppresses fleas and ticks. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is washable. It is another object of the present invention to provide pet comforters in various sizes and shapes. 
         [0005]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is either releasably or fixedly attached to a comforter or similar top bedding for a human bed. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is attached to the human top bedding on most of the perimeter of the pet comforter and having an unattached portion of the perimeter by which the pet can enter under the pet comforter. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that includes antimicrobial materials. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that has air vents. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that includes multiple layers of fabric. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that suppresses fleas and ticks. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a pet comforter that is washable. It is another feature of the present invention to provide pet comforters in various sizes and shapes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a first pet comforter kit, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a second pet comforter kit, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary pet comforter  100  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  100  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  106 . Bed  102 , which may be of any useful size, releasably supports top bedding  104 , which includes top portion  118  and skirt portion  116 . Top bedding  104  may be a comforter, blanket, duvet, or other top layer of human bedding. Pet cover  106  is preferably at least one layer of fabric and is attached to top bedding  104  along the bottom edge  110  and side edges  108  and  112 . Top edge  114  of pet cover  106  is not attached to top bedding if pet cover  106  is a single layer of fabric. In embodiments in which pet cover  106  is made of multiple layers of fabric, at least one of the layers is not attached to the top bedding  104  along top edge  114 , thereby allowing entry of a pet under pet cover  106 . Preferably, edges  108 ,  110 , and  112  coincide with edges of the bed  102 . Top bedding  104  and pet cover  106  may be of various fabric materials in various embodiments and may bear decoration, such as colors and/or patterns. Preferably, all materials are ecologically friendly materials. While illustrated as flat, pet cover  106  may have slack to accommodate a pet. The pet comforter  100  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with pet cover  106  attached. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of pet comforter  200  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  200  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  206 . In this embodiment of pet comforter  100 , pet cover  206  includes air vents  202  (one of eight labeled). In various embodiments, air vents  202  may be of various sizes and shapes and may be one or more air vents  202 . The pet comforter  200  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with pet cover  206  attached. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  300  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  300  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  306 . Pet cover  306  has an irregular curved top edge  314  illustrative, without limitation, of the variation in shape that the top edge  314  may have. The pet comforter  300  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with pet cover  306  attached. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment pet comforter  400  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  400  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  406 . Pet cover  406  has edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  attached to top bedding  104 . Edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  do not extend to the respective edges of bed  102 . Top edge  414  is open to permit entry of a pet. In some embodiments, only one or two of edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  do not extend to the respective edges of bed  102 . The pet comforter  400  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with pet cover  406  attached. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  500  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  500  includes top bedding  504  and pet cover  506 . Pet cover  506  has a continuous releasable fastener  502  along edges  510 ,  512 , and  512 . Releasable fastener  502  may be, for non-limiting examples, a zipper, hook and loop fastener, and a press-seal fastener. Top edge  514  is open to permit entry of a pet. Top bedding  504  includes a complimentary part of fastener  502 . The pet comforter  500  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with one or more pet covers  506 . In a particular embodiment, pet cover  506  may be reversible. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter on a bed, in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  600  includes top bedding  604  and pet cover  606 . Pet cover  606  includes spaced-apart releasable fasteners  602  (one of fifteen labeled) along edges  610 ,  612 , and  612 . Releasable fasteners  602  may be, for non-limiting examples, snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, hooks, ties, hook and eye fasteners, and buckles. Top edge  614  is open to permit entry of a pet. Top bedding  604  includes complimentary parts of fasteners  602 . In a particular embodiment, complimentary parts of fasteners  602  are arrayed around the top portion  618  of top bedding  604  to permit variation in the positioning, by the user, of pet cover  606  on top bedding  604 . The pet comforter  600  is preferably sold as the top bedding  104  with one or more pet covers  606 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiments of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the pet comforter  500  or  600  may be sold with a plurality of various pet covers  506  or  606 , respectively, each having a different weight and/or air permeability for various seasons, applications, and pets. Likewise, the plurality of various pet covers  506  or  606  may have various colors, designs, and/or patterns in various embodiments. One or more of the plurality of various pet covers  506  or  606  may be reversible. In a particular embodiment, the combination of the top bedding  504  and the plurality of releasably attachable pet covers  506  or  606  may be sold as a first kit. In another approach, the top bedding  504  or  604  may be sold online with a consumer&#39;s choice of one or more pet covers  506  or  606 , respectively, made in the same online sale. In another particular embodiment, the plurality of releasably attachable pet covers  506  or  606  may be sold as a second kit including a plurality of first parts of complimentary fasteners  502  or  602  operable to be attached to a consumer&#39;s legacy bed covering  504  or  604  by the consumer and second parts of such complimentary fasteners  502  or  602  attached to the pet cover  506  or  606 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  700  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  700  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  706 . Side and bottom edges  712 ,  716 , and  710  of pet cover  706  extend over the edges of bed  102 . The extent of the extended edges  710  and  712  may, in a particular embodiment, extend to the bottom edge of bed  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The side not shown in this illustration also has an extension of the pet cover  706 . Top edge  714  is open to permit entry of a pet. The pet comforter  700  is preferably sold as the top bedding  704  with pet cover  706  attached. In a particular embodiment, edge  716  is open, forming a hammock, with a bottom at edge  712 , along the side of bed  102 , in which a small pet may rest. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  800  on a bed, in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  800  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  806 . Pet cover  806  has an irregular shape to exemplify, without limitation, the range of shapes available for pet cover  806 . Top edge  814  is open to permit entry of a pet. Edges  808 ,  810 , and  812  are releasably or fixedly attached to top bedding  104 . The pet comforter  800  is preferably sold as the top bedding  804  with pet cover  806  attached. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary pet comforter  900  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  900  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  906 . Pet cover  906  has a bottom edge  910  that is not along the bottom edge of bed  102 . Top edge  914  is open to permit entry of a pet. Edges  908 ,  910 , and  912  are releasably or fixedly attached to top bedding  104 . In a particular embodiment, the bottom edge  910  of pet cover  906  may be near the bottom edge of bed  102  to provide for a pet that prefers to sleep on the foot of the bed. The pet comforter  900  is preferably sold as the top bedding  904  with pet cover  906  attached. 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  1000  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  1000  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  1006 . Pet cover  1006  has a divider  1002  that divides pet cover  1006  into two compartments  1020  and  1022 . The compartments  1020  or  1022  may be used for separating two pets or for providing options for positioning one pet. Top edge  1014  is open to permit entry of a pet. Edges  1008 ,  1010 , and  1012  are releasably or fixedly attached to top bedding  104 . In a particular embodiment, compartments  1020  and  1022  may have releasably fastenable top edges  1014  to allow one compartment to be closed off to limit a pet to a particular side of the bed  102 . The pet comforter  1000  is preferably sold as the top bedding  1004  with pet cover  1006  attached. 
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  1100  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  1100  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  1106 . Pet comforter  1100  has attached or releasably attached edges  1108 ,  1110 , and  1112  and unattached edge  1114 , which is arranged straight across bed  102 . The orientation of unattached edge  1114  may vary among various alternate embodiments. The pet comforter  1100  is preferably sold as the top bedding  1104  with pet cover  1106  attached. 
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  1200  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  1200  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  1206 . Pet cover  1206  includes top portion  1222 , side skirt  1212 , bottom skirt  1210 . Pet cover  1206  has attached or releasably attached edges  1216 ,  1218 , and  1220 , and unattached edge  1214 . The pet comforter  1200  is preferably sold as the top bedding  1204  with pet cover  1206  attached. In a particular embodiment, edge  1216  may be an opening, allowing a pet access between the bed covering  104  and the pet cover  1206  along the side of bed  102 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a pet comforter  1300  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pet comforter  1300  includes top bedding  104  and pet cover  1306 . Pet cover  1306  has fasteners  1302  (one of four labeled) at each corner for fastening pet cover  1306  to top bedding  104 . Edges  1308 ,  1310 ,  1312 , and  1314  are not attached, except at the corners, allowing pet access from any side. The pet comforter  1300  is preferably sold as the top bedding  1304  with pet cover  1306  attached. 
         [0036]    Any embodiment of the pet comforter, including illustrated embodiments  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 , and  1300  may be made with antimicrobial or antibacterial materials; moisture barriers as a bottom layer of the pet cover  106 ,  206 ,  306 ,  406 ,  506 ,  606 ,  706 ,  806 ,  906 ,  1006 ,  1106 ,  1206 , and  1306 ; and flea and tick suppressant materials. All materials are preferably environmentally friendly materials. Any embodiment of the pet comforter may bear decorative or functional colors and/or patterns. 
         [0037]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a first pet comforter kit  1400 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Kit  1400  includes bed covering  104  with first parts  1402  (one of four labeled) of complimentary fasteners  1302  attached and a plurality pet covers  1306  and  1406  with second parts  1404  (one of four labeled on each pet cover  1306  and  1406 ) complimentary fasteners  1302  attached. The plurality of pet covers  1306  and  1406  is not intended to be limiting, nor is the type or configuration of fastener parts  1402  and  1404 . While kit  1400  is based on pet comforter  1300 , any embodiment with a releasably fastened pet cover may form a basis for kit  1400 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a second pet comforter kit  1500 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Kit  1500  includes a plurality of pet covers  1306  and  1406  and a plurality of complimentary fastener parts  1402 , preferably in a container  1502 , that the consumer can fasten to the consumer&#39;s legacy bed cover  104 . The plurality of pet covers  1306  and  1406  is not intended to be limiting, nor is the type or configuration of fasteners  1402  and  1404 . While kit  1500  is based on pet comforter  1300 , any embodiment with a releasably fastened pet cover may form a basis for kit  1500 . 
         [0039]    Although applicant has described applicant&#39;s preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes such modifications as diverse shapes and sizes and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims as read in connection with the above specification. 
         [0040]    Further, many other advantages of applicant&#39;s invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims. For example, the invention may be used to hold objects as well as or instead of live pets. For further example, stuffed animals, teddy bears, toys generally, and electronic devices such as remote controls, may be placed under the pet cover.