Abstract:
A duvet cover ( 10 ) including an envelope portion ( 20 ) substantially closable for enveloping a duvet to shield the duvet from soiling. The envelope portion ( 120 ) is removable from the duvet for laundering. The duvet cover further includes a sheet portion ( 30 ) attachable to the envelope portion ( 20 ) to underlie the envelope portion ( 20 ) to shield the underside ( 21 ) of the envelope portion ( 20 ) from soiling. The sheet portion ( 30 ) is removable from the envelope portion ( 20 ) for laundering. There is also provided a method of minimising duvet cover laundering requirements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The invention relates to a duvet cover for shielding a duvet from soiling. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Traditional western style bedding includes a bottom sheet overlying a mattress. The bottom sheet is typically tightly fitted about the periphery of the mattress. A top sheet then overlies the bottom sheet and is in turn overlaid by one or more blankets. The head end of the sheet (the portion of the sheet towards the head of the bed) is then commonly folded back over the blankets to define a fold back portion protecting the blankets from soiling. The top sheet and blankets are then tucked under the periphery of the mattress about the two sides and the foot end of the bed so that the top sheet and the blankets are tightly held in place. 
         [0003]    The daily task of arranging the sheets and blankets on the bed is a tiresome chore. Additionally, many people do not like the ‘tight’ feeling of being tucked in. A popular alternative to such conventional bedding is the use of a duvet. A duvet (as used herein) is a closed envelope of fabric containing an insulating material such as wool or goose down. The duvet, which is typically rectangular, can be placed over the top of the bed to quickly and easily present a reasonably attractive appearance. The duvet also provides a looser feel that many people prefer. 
         [0004]    Laundering a duvet is difficult in that the insulating material is not readily removable. To minimise the requirement for laundering of the duvet often a duvet cover is provided. Typically, duvet covers include two rectangular panels permanently fastened (e.g. by stitching) about their 2 sides and along the head end to define an envelope. The foot end is left open to define an opening for inserting and removing the duvet. The opening is typically held closed by some form of releasable fastener such as a zipper or hook and loop fastening so that the duvet cover is substantially closed and the duvet is retained within the duvet cover. 
         [0005]    Inserting and removing the duvet from such a cover can be problematic. It is sometimes difficult to align the corners of the duvet with the inside corners of the cover and, particularly in the case of larger sized duvets, frequently requires two people to locate all four corners and shake out the duvet and duvet cover so that the duvet is evenly spread out within the duvet cover. 
         [0006]    UK Patent Application GB 2142233 describes providing a protective sheet attachable to the underside of the duvet to separate the duvet from the occupant of the bed. This approach is thought to provide inadequate protection for the duvet from soiling. 
         [0007]    Australian Petty Patent 698265 describes the provision of a protective cover which overlies the top surface of the duvet and includes perimeter edges folded back towards each other to underlie a peripheral margin of the underside of the duvet. These fold back portions frame an opening through which the duvet may be inserted. The opening is closed by a top sheet attachable to the fold back portions. This is thought to be only an incremental advance on the conventional duvet cover in that inserting the duvet requires the protective cover to be laid out and then for the edges of the duvet to be aligned within the fold back portions. This alignment is thought to be troublesome and difficult. 
         [0008]    It is not admitted that any of the information in this specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to have ascertained, understood, regarded it as relevant or combined it in anyway at the priority date. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved duvet cover, or at least to provide an alternative in the market. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    In one aspect of the invention there is provided a duvet cover including: 
         [0011]    an envelope portion substantially closable for enveloping a duvet to shield the duvet from soiling, the envelope portion being removable from the duvet for laundering; and 
         [0012]    a sheet portion attachable to the envelope portion to underlie the envelope portion to shield the underside of the envelope portion from soiling, the sheet portion being removable from the envelope portion for laundering. 
         [0013]    The envelope portion and the sheet portion may each include complementary fastening means for releasably fastening the sheet portion and the envelope portion at least about a peripheral margin of an underside of the envelope portion. Preferably the fastening means is a plurality of press studs spaced about the peripheral margin. 
         [0014]    The sheet portion may be dimensioned to in use lie within at least 3 edges of the envelope portion. Advantageously, the sheet portion may include a portion that in use extends beyond a head edge of the envelope portion and is folded to define a fold back portion to shield a head portion of an upper surface of the envelope portion adjacent to the head edge from soiling. The fold back portion and the head portion of the upper surface of the envelope portion may each include complementary fold back portion fastening means for fastening the fold back portion to the head portion of the upper surface. The fold back fastening means is preferably a plurality of press studs. An opening may extend transversely across the upper surface of the envelope portion for inserting and removing the duvet from the envelope portion. The opening may be proximal and substantially parallel to an edge of the fold back portion. Opening fastening means for releasably closing the opening may be provided. The opening fastening means is preferably a plurality of press studs. 
         [0015]    Advantageously, the sheet portion may be of a contrasting colour and/or pattern to the envelope portion. 
         [0016]    In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of minimising duvet cover laundering requirements including the step of releasably fastening a sheet portion to an underside of a substantially closed envelope portion of a duvet cover. Preferably this includes the use of a duvet cover according to the invention. 
         [0017]    It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0018]    The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the envelope portion of a duvet cover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a sheet portion of a duvet cover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates the attachment of the sheet portion of  FIG. 2  to the envelope portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates the attachment of the fold back portion of the sheet portion of  FIG. 2  to the envelope portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the assembled duvet cover including the envelope portion of  FIG. 1  and the sheet portion of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the assembled duvet cover of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the duvet cover of  FIG. 5  in situ. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    As illustrated, the duvet cover  10  includes two principal components: an envelope portion  20  and a sheet portion  30 . The envelope portion  20  is configured to receive a duvet (not shown). The sheet portion  30  is attachable to the envelope portion  20  to shield the envelope portion  20  from soiling. 
         [0027]    The envelope portion  20  includes a rectangular lower surface  21  and a rectangular upper surface  22  fastened about their  4  edges respectively to define a rectangular envelope dimensioned to receive a duvet (not shown). An opening  50 , in the form of a slit extends transversely across the upper surface  22  of the envelope portion  20  and provides an access point for inserting and removing the duvet. Releasable fasteners (not shown) are used to hold the opening  50  closed. In this embodiment, press studs (not shown) are spaced along the length of the opening  50 . Of course, other fasteners, such as zippers or hook and loop fastening, may be used. 
         [0028]    The envelope portion  20  is preferably formed by a single strip of fabric folded at a foot edge  29  of the envelope portion  20  and at a head edge  41  of the envelope portion  20 . The ends  24 ,  25  of the strip meet at the opening  50 . Stitching  23  along the sides  27 ,  28  and the foot edge  29  of the envelope portion  20  assist in maintaining the shape of the envelope portion  20 . The end portions  24 ,  25  of the strip forming opening  50  are suitably hemmed. 
         [0029]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the envelope portion  20  includes press studs  90  spaced around peripheral margins of the lower surface  21  of the envelope portion  20  adjacent to the foot edge  29  and side edges  27 ,  28 . In this embodiment, the press studs  90  are each positioned about  50 mm from the nearest edge  27 ,  28 ,  29 . 
         [0030]    The sheet portion  30  is a suitably dimensioned rectangular web of fabric. Each edge  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  is suitably hemmed. Spaced about peripheral margins adjacent the foot edge  34  and the side edges  31 ,  33  of the sheet portion  30  are press studs  80  which are complementary to the press studs  90 . The press studs  80  are positioned within about 15 mm of the nearest edge  31 ,  33 ,  34  of the sheet portion  30 . 
         [0031]    In use the press studs along the opening  50  are released and the duvet (not shown) is inserted into the envelope portion  20 . The press studs along the opening  50  are subsequently fastened to hold closed the envelope portion  20 . Then, as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the press studs  80  and  90  are aligned and fastened so that the sheet portion  30  is attached to the envelope portion  20 . 
         [0032]    The sheet portion  30  is preferably longer than the envelope portion  20 . The additional length provides an end portion  60  foldable back over the head edge  41  of the envelope portion  20  to overlie a head portion  42  of the upper surface  22  of the envelope portion  20 . The head portion  42  is preferably about 300 mm wide. This protects the head portion  42  of the upper surface  22  from soiling and creates an attractive appearance more in line with conventional bedding. 
         [0033]    The upper surface  22  of the envelope portion  20  includes a series of spaced press studs  40  along the length of and adjacent to the opening  50 . The press studs  40  are spaced about 20 mm from the opening  50  towards the head edge  41  of the envelope portion  20 . The sheet portion  30  includes press studs  70  complementary to the press studs  40  spaced along an end edge  32  of the fold back portion  60 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the press studs  40  and  70  are engagable to hold the fold back portion  60  in position on the upper surface  22  of the duvet cover  20 . 
         [0034]    As best illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the sheet portion  30  is dimensioned to lie within the edges  27 ,  28 ,  29  of the envelope portion  20  so that the duvet and duvet cover  10  in use can be easily thrown over the bed, as per a conventional duvet cover, without presenting an untidy edge of the sheet portion  30 . Of course, other variations are possible. For example, the edges  31 ,  33 ,  34  of the sheet portion  30  may extend beyond the edges  27 ,  28 ,  29  of the envelope portion  20  to create the appearance of valance. Alternatively, these extended edges could be tucked into the mattress to create a tight feel, like conventional bedding, that is preferred by some people. 
         [0035]    This construction allows for the duvet to be fully protected from soiling by the envelope portion  20  and for the envelope portion  20  to be protected from soiling via direct contact with a person by the sheet portion  30 . The sheet portion  30  can be readily removed, by releasing the press studs,  80 ,  90  and  40 ,  70 , for more frequent laundering. This construction means that hygiene is maintained by regular washing of the sheet portion  30  and that the difficulties of inserting the duvet into the envelope portion  20  occur less frequently. A further advantage of this construction is the ability to mix and match colours—having an envelope portion  20  and a sheet portion  30  of differing contrasting colours has been found to be particularly attractive, and of course a variety of sheet portions  30  of differing colours may be separately used with an envelope portion  20 .