Abstract:
A multi-layered covering system for a bed comprised of at least two covering members. Each of the covering members contains corresponding fasteners. The covering members are temporarily fastened together generally along the outermost perimeter with the fasteners. The covering system forms a moldable cover for use by a user when the user is lying down sleeping on the bed and provides warmth due to the layers of covering members having or acting as insulation for heat. To make the bed, the covering system is simply smoothed over the bed in one single motion. In an alternative embodiment, a longer covering member may be folded over and fastened to another covering member. When the user is ready to wash the bedding, the fasteners allow for quick detachment of the various covering members so they may be laundered.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This original non-provisional application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/141,312, filed Apr. 1, 2015, and entitled “System and Method for Making a Covering Apparatus for a Bed,” which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to bedding. More specifically, the present invention relates to a covering system for beds. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    In the United States, there is a sense of urgency in getting things done quicker so that one may move on to the next order of business. One of those things is making the bed. While many Americans do find time to make their own bed, there are also many who do not. Given the plethora of responsibilities they may have, unfortunately, many individuals end up going to bed much later than desired. Many also experience restlessness throughout the night which can affect the amount of much needed sleep they ultimately end up getting. 
         [0007]    Sleep is vital to proper physical, mental and emotional functioning of individuals. A recent study found that 86% of people between the ages of 18 and 55+ explained that they woke up in the middle of the night due to a temperature related issue, i.e., it was too hot or too cold in their bedroom or they pulled up or kicked off the sheets to adjust for temperature. 
         [0008]    However, if a person moves around in bed while they are sleeping, they may unwittingly kick off the covers or separate them so that they are only covered by the thinner flat sheet and not the thicker blanket or bedspread. In cold weather, this can lead to the person being cold while asleep. Additionally, the individual may wake up multiple times during the night to “fix” the blankets, interrupting their sleeping pattern, and, thus not be able to take full advantage of a good night&#39;s rest. This is further exacerbated by possibly several attempts to “snooze” the alarm to extend one&#39;s sleep time to the point where there may not be sufficient time to do everything one desires or needs to do in the morning after one ultimately does get out of bed. This may result in sleep deprivation, fatigue, frustration and irritability the next day. 
         [0009]    Notwithstanding how one feels in the morning, e.g., sleepy, irritable, there are still a number of tasks that must be accomplished before one leaves home to go to school or work or other pending event. Such tasks may include exercising (in some cases), taking a shower, getting dressed, preparing and having breakfast, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and supervising kids (in some cases). Making the bed is one of those tasks and should be done every morning. However, mornings are usually the busiest moments of the day. All of these tasks are to be completed in a very short time frame and often result in the unnecessary rise in the level of stress experienced by an individual. 
         [0010]    It is estimated that the average time it takes to make the bed is approximately 4-5 minutes assuming the bed consists simply of the bed, a flat sheet, a blanket and a comforter. As one may simply have too many morning activities or responsibilities to complete in such a short period of time—and as one may also be suffering from sleep deprivation, fatigue, frustration or irritability depending on how much sleep they got the night before—in many cases, the bed is often left unmade. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is a need for a covering system that can assist in reducing the time necessary to making the bed down to a matter of seconds yet minimize separation of the covering members that may occur by a restless sleeper and still provides the insulating warmth provided by the various layers of beddings to which one is accustom and allowing the individual to obtain a full night&#39;s rest. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is directed to a covering system that can be used to sleep in and then, very quickly, allow for the bed using the covering system to be made up in the morning in about 10 seconds. The present invention is a multi-layered covering system for a bed (or other similar sleeping device) comprised of at least two covering members, such as a thin covering member, such as a sheet, and a thicker covering member, such as a blanket. The present invention may also include an even thicker covering member, such as a comforter. 
         [0013]    Each of the covering members contains corresponding fasteners. The covering members are temporarily fastened together generally along the outermost perimeter with the fasteners. The sheet is temporarily fastened to the blanket on one side. The other side of the blanket is temporarily fastened to the comforter. In one embodiment, fasteners can be snaps. However, other comparable fastening means, such as hook and loop material, buttons and adhesive fabrics, may be utilized. 
         [0014]    The covering system forms a moldable multi-layered cover for use by a user when the user is in a supine or horizontal position on the bed, i.e., lying down sleeping on the bed. The covering system of the present invention further provides warmth due to the layers of covering members having or acting as insulation for heat without the risk that the covering members will get separated or slide off the bed during the night. However, when it comes time to making the bed in the morning, as the present invention has all covering members attached together, the covering system is simply smoothed over the bed in one single motion and the bed is made. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the sheet may be smaller than the blanket which may be smaller than the comforter. However, many times the sheet may be longer than the blanket and comforter such that the end of the sheet by the head of the bed folds over the blanket and comforter. An alternative embodiment then would be to have fasteners on the outside of the comforter near the head of the bed and have the sheet go over the blanket and the outside comforter with the sheet fastened to the outside (topside) of the comforter at the head of the bed. This will have approximately 12 inches of the sheet showing when the bed is made. The exposed portion of the sheet is the bottom side of the sheet. When the bedding is ready to be laundered, the fasteners allow for quick detachment of the various covering members from each other. 
         [0016]    While the present described herein generally describes the use of three covering members or layers one would normally use in a bed (e.g., sheet, blanket and comforter), it is understood that as few as two covering members can be used. Further, additional covering members may also be used and still remain within the contemplation of the present invention. 
         [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide for a covering system for quickly making a bed. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a covering system that makes it more difficult to separate the covers of a bed during the night, e.g., by being kicked off by the user while asleep. 
         [0019]    The covering system of the present invention may also be in a kit. The present invention is also available in a kit such that the user will have all components available in one location. The kit includes a flat sheet, a blanket and a bedspread and may come in various sizes to accommodate different sizes of mattresses (e.g., crib sized, full, queen or king size, etc . . . ). The kit also includes fastening means (e.g., snaps, buttons, hook and loop material, zippers, etc . . . ) already attached to the covering system depending on the user&#39;s preference. Spare fastening means are also included in the kit should the user damage, break or lose any of the original fasteners during use. 
         [0020]    Application of the present invention includes but is not limited to residential use as well as service oriented uses such as hospitals, clinics, hotels, and the like where the need to rapidly change bedding may occur. The covering system of the present invention may also have application on daybeds, futons, sofa-sleepers, cots, and other sleeping devices and still be within the contemplation of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of an embodiment of the present invention with covering members attached. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a partial close up of an embodiment of the present invention with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  shows a partial close up of an embodiment of the present invention with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a partial close up of an embodiment of the present invention with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the present invention showing attachment of covering members. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  depicts a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  depicts shows a perspective exploded view of covering system  10  of the present invention. Covering system  10  is comprised of covering member  12 , covering member  14  and covering member  16 . Covering member  12  may be a flat sheet. Covering member  14  may be a thicker cover such as a blanket, coverlet or throw. Covering member  16  may be an even thicker cover such as bedspread, quilt or comforter. Generally, covering members  12 ,  14  and  16  are approximately the same size and dimension and sized to provide adequate bedding coverage to bed  18 . 
         [0031]    Covering members  12 ,  14  and  16  are removably attached to each other. Covering member  12  has a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side of covering member  12  faces bed  18 . Bed  18  can be of various sizes ranging from as small as a crib or toddler bed to as large as a queen or king size bed. Snaps  20  are attached along the perimeter of the top side of covering member  12 . Snaps  20  are of a female configuration. Covering member  14  also has a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side of covering member  14  faces the top side of covering member  12 . The top side of covering member  14  has hook and loop corners  24  and hook and loop strips  28  that traverse the perimeter thereof. Snaps  22  are attached along the perimeter of the bottom side of covering member  14 . Snaps  22  are of a male configuration. 
         [0032]    Covering member  16  also has a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side of covering member  16  faces the top side of covering member  14 . Corresponding hook and loop corners  26  and hook and loop strips  30  traverse the perimeter of the bottom side of covering member  16 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , covering members  12 ,  14  and  16  of covering system  10  are aligned with respect to each other. As shown in  FIG. 2 , covering system  10  appears oriented correctly relative to a bed (not shown) such that covering member  12  would be the bottom layer directly on the bed mattress during use. Covering member  16  is the top most layer on the bed. Covering member  14  is disposed between covering member  12  and covering member  16 . Once each covering member  12 ,  14  and  16  has been attached together in accordance with their respective fasteners, covering system  10  is placed on top of bed  18  (see  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a corner portion of covering system  10  is shown. In one embodiment, covering member  12  is pulled away with respect to covering member  14  showing the strip of snaps  20  and  22  used to removably attach covering members  12  and  14  together. Covering member  14  remains, however, fastened to covering member  16 , as described in more detail below. 
         [0035]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , snaps  20  (female) along the perimeter of covering member  12  mate with corresponding snaps  22  (male) located on the perimeter of covering member  14  to temporarily join covering members  12  and  14  together (see  FIG. 2 ). A sufficient quantity of snaps is used on both covering members  12  and  14  such that covering members  12  and  14  do not become detached without sufficient human force to do so. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, covering member  14  is pulled away with respect to covering member  16  of covering system  10  showing hook and loop material used to removably attach covering members  14  and  16 . In particular, hook and loop corner  24  (which can be in a square patch or quadrilateral configuration) is attached at the corner of covering member  14 . In addition, hook and loop strip  28  is attached along the side of covering member  14 . Similarly, corresponding hook and loop corner  26  (which can be in a square patch or quadrilateral configuration) and hook and loop strip  30  are attached along the opposing corresponding side of covering member  16 . Hook and loop corners  24  and  26  and hook and loop strips  28  and  30  may be attached to covering members  14  and  16 , respectively, via stitching or other comparable fastening means. The present invention uses a combination of hook and loop corners and strips along the perimeters of the covering members. However, the present invention may also use just hook and loop strips at spaced intervals along the perimeters of the covering members (see  FIG. 1 ) and still remain within the contemplation of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a close-up of snaps  20  and  22  of covering members  12  and  14 , respectively, are shown. While the present invention currently uses a female configuration for snaps  20  and a male configuration for snaps  22 , these configurations are interchangeable (i.e., snaps  20  may be male and snaps  22  female) so long as each opposing snap is of different configuration.  FIG. 6  shows covering system  10  of the present invention with covering members  12 ,  14  and  16  attached together and ready for use.  FIG. 7  illustrates covering system  10  as used on a bed (see also  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0038]    In an alternative embodiment, other fasteners, such as zippers, may be used in lieu of snaps or hook and loop material to removably attach the covering members. The zipper has a pull tab that pulls a slider body over two sets of teeth such that when the teeth come together fasten one side to the other. One set of teeth is attached along the perimeter of one covering member. The other set of teeth is attached along the perimeter of the covering member to be attached. To attach the two covering members, the zipper slider body traverses the perimeter of both covering members such that the slider body goes over and brings together the sets of teeth on each covering member thus connecting the covering members together. 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIG. 8 , zipper teeth  32  are attached along the perimeter of covering member  12 . Zipper teeth  34  are attached along the perimeter of covering member  14 . Zipper teeth may be attached by stitching (i.e., sewing), fabric adhesive or other comparable attaching mechanism. To attach covering member  12  to covering member  14 , zipper  44  has pull tab  46  that pulls zipper slider body  48  over zipper teeth  32  and  34  traversing the perimeter of both covering members such that zipper slider body  48  goes over and brings together zipper teeth  32  and  34  on each covering member  12  and  14 , thus, connecting the covering members together. 
         [0040]    To separate the zippered covering members  12  and  14  from each other, the user may hold onto each covering member and pull them apart from each other with sufficient human force to separate them such that zipper sliding body  48  moves away from the area being pulled apart by the user. As zipper sliding body  48  moves away from the user, zipper sliding body  48  also releases zipper teeth  32  and  34  on zipper  44  which separate and go in opposing direction, thus freeing one covering member from the other. Alternatively, the user may pull the pull tab  46  of zipper slider body  48  in a direction allowing zipper teeth  32  and  34  to separate from each other (i.e., the opposite direction) thereby detaching and separating covering members  12  and  14 . 
         [0041]    Still referring to  FIG. 8 , a second zipper  50  and a second set of zipper teeth  36  are attached along the perimeter of the other side of covering member  14 . In this embodiment, covering member  14  contains a zipper and a set of zipper teeth on each side of covering member  14  for a total of two zippers and two sets of zipper teeth. A corresponding set of zipper teeth  38  are attached along the perimeter of the opposing side of covering member  16 . 
         [0042]    Attaching covering member  14  to covering member  16  is performed similar to attaching covering member  12  to covering member  14 . To attach covering member  14  to covering member  16  using zipper  50 , zipper slider body  52  of zipper  50  traverses the perimeter of both covering members  14  and  16  such that zipper slider body  52  goes over and brings together zipper teeth  36  and  38  on each covering member  14  and  16 , thus, connecting the covering members together. Separating covering members  14  and  16  is performed similarly to separating covering members  12  and  14 , as described above. 
         [0043]    While the present invention discloses the use of hook and loop material, zippers and snaps, these are simply non-limiting examples of various fastening means that can be used. However, the use of other comparable fastening means, such as buttons, are contemplated and considered within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0044]    Generally, and with respect to how covers are generally placed on a bed, the first or bottom covering member may be the same dimension or smaller than the second or middle covering member which in turn may be the same dimension or smaller than the third or top covering member. However, many times the first (bottom) covering member may be longer than both the second (middle) and the third (top) covering members such that the end of the first (bottom) covering member by the head of the bed folds over both of them, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates covering system  100  of an alternative embodiment of the present invention as described above. Covering member  112  goes over the middle covering member  114  and top covering members  114  and  116 . Fasteners, such as correspondingly mateable snaps  118 , are placed along the top edge of covering member  112  and the outside of covering member  116 . As covering member  112  extends past covering member  116 , the top edge of covering member  112  is folded over covering members  114  and  116 . Snaps  118  on covering member  112  then fasten covering member  112  to corresponding snaps (not shown) on covering member  116 . This will have approximately  12  inches of covering member  112  showing when bed  18  is made, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The exposed portion of covering member  112  is the bottom or inside of covering member  112 . The edges of covering members  112 ,  114  and  116  may either be allowed to hang over the frame of the bed or tucked in between the mattress and bedspring, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0046]    The covering members of the present invention are made of cotton and have dimensions of coverings which accommodate the mattress and bed to which the covering system is used. However, other soft materials, such as cotton blends, silk, satin, flannel, wool or other comparable materials, and other dimensions (such as would accommodate various sized mattresses) may be used for the covering members and still be within the contemplation of the present invention. 
         [0047]    The number of covering members in a covering system of the present invention that may be used is determined by user preference. For example, during the summer months or in particularly warm climates, the user may only desire to use two covering members, e.g., a sheet and a blanket, in the covering system. These covering members may be used together to produce the desired effect for the user, i.e., light covers during a warm night. Alternatively, during the winter months or when the climate is colder, the user may desire to include more than two covering members, e.g., a bedspread, two blankets and a sheet. The additional covering members provide the necessary insulating effect produced by using layers to maintain the user warm during an otherwise cold night. 
         [0048]    The present invention is described using covering systems in quadrilateral configurations. However, covering systems with other configurations, such as circular or oval, may also be used and still be within the contemplation of the present invention. 
         [0049]    To make the covering system of the present invention, and referring back now to  FIG. 1 , fasteners (such as snaps, buttons, hook and loop material or the like) are attached along the perimeter of one side of covering member  12 . Corresponding fasteners are similarly attached along the perimeter of an opposing side of covering member  14 . The attachment of the fasteners to the covering members may be accomplished through stitching. Additionally, other comparable methods of attachment, such as adhesive, may be used. The fasteners on each covering member  12  and  14  face toward each other. Fasteners are also attached along the perimeter of the opposite side of covering member  14 . Corresponding fasteners are similarly attached along the perimeter of covering member  16 . 
         [0050]    To attach covering member  12  to covering member  14 , the fasteners of each are aligned and mated together. Aligning and mating fasteners of covering members  14  and  16  further allow them to similarly be attached. Once all corresponding fasteners between covering members  12  and  14  and between covering member  14  and  16  are engaged, the covering system is ready for use and the user then simply smooths covering system  10  over bed  18  in one single motion and bed  18  is made. 
         [0051]    Importantly, though the present invention describes the attachment of covering member  12  to covering member  14  and covering member  14  to covering member  16 , these may be varied such that covering member  12  be attached directly to covering member  16 . In addition, other covering members may be included to increase the total number of covering members used, depending on user preference so long as the fasteners on the additional covering members are compatible with the fasteners of the covering members to which they will attached (e.g., snaps with snaps, buttons with corresponding button holes, corresponding hook and loop material, etc.). 
         [0052]    The various embodiments described herein may be used singularly or in conjunction with other similar devices. The present disclosure includes preferred or illustrative embodiments of specifically described systems, apparatuses, assemblies and methods. Alternative embodiments of such systems, apparatuses, assemblies and methods can be used in carrying out the invention as claimed and such alternative embodiments are limited only by the claims themselves. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings, along with the appended claims.