Fitted blanket with opening and closing mechanism

A fitted blanket fits over a mattress and secures underneath to prevent the blanket from moving off the user while sleeping in bed. The blanket can include an elastic material on at least the underside corner edges thereof. Children and adults alike can stay warm at night as their blankets cannot fall away or off of them while sleeping. The fitted blanket may further include an opening and closing mechanism to allow for easy entry and exit, rather than having to untuck the blanket, as is the case with conventional blankets. The opening and closing mechanism may also provide an easy way to make the bed. The fitted nature of the blanket prevents blanket slippage or movement. The blanket may further include a cut-out region for pillow placement. The blanket can also include glow-in-the-dark elements or illuminated elements to light up the blanket at night.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to articles of bedding and, more particularly, to a fitted blanket with an opening and closing mechanism for child cribs, toddler beds, adult beds, hospital beds, and portable or inflatable mattresses.

Blankets, as currently marketed, are simply laid over the mattress or could be tucked under a mattress. Either way, these methods cannot assure the blanket will stay on the bed and on top of the user. There are currently no blankets on the market that prevent the blanket from coming untucked and loose, or from falling away from the user. There are also no blankets on the market that allow for easy access in order to easily get in or out of the bed.

Conventional blankets often move off a child or adult while sleeping in bed. In addition to not serving their function in covering up a person in bed, these blankets may fall away from the bed during the night, making it even more difficult to cover back up. Parents need to regularly pull up a blanket many times during the course of a night to keep a child covered.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved blanket that may stay on the bed an in its proper position while providing a means of entry and exit from the bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an article of bedding comprises a fitted bedding material adapted to fit on a mattress, the mattress having a head end and a foot end; a pillow cut-out at the head end of the bedding material, the pillow cut-out forming a region for a user's pillow when the fitted bedding material is disposed on the mattress; and a bedding connection disposed from the pillow cut-out, running towards the foot end of the bedding material.

In another aspect of the present invention, an article of bedding comprises a fitted bedding material adapted to fit on a mattress, the mattress having a head end and a foot end; an elastic band region running along at least a portion of an outer periphery of the fitted bedding material; a pillow cut-out at the head end of the bedding material, the pillow cut-out forming a region for a user's pillow when the fitted bedding material is disposed on the mattress; and a zipper disposed along a length of the fitted bedding material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fitted blanket that fits over the mattress and secures underneath to prevent the blanket from moving off the user while sleeping in bed. The blanket can include an elastic material on at least the underside corner edges thereof to help secure the blanket to the mattress. Children and adults alike can stay warm at night as their blankets cannot fall away or off of them while sleeping. The fitted blanket may further include an opening and closing mechanism to allow for easy entry and exit, rather than having to untuck the blanket, as is the case with conventional blankets. The opening and closing mechanism may also provide an easy way to make the bed. The fitted nature of the blanket prevents blanket slippage or movement. The blanket may further include a cut-out region for pillow placement. The blanket can also include glow-in-the-dark elements or illuminated elements to light up the blanket at night.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 5, a fitted blanket10can be disposed over a mattress24. The fitted blanket10may be similar to a conventional fitted sheet, including elastic12disposed about at least a portion of the underside edges of the fitted blanket10, allowing the sides of the fitted blanket10to be resiliently disposed under the mattress24.

On the top side of the mattress24, the fitted blanket10may include a cut-out22for pillow placement. The cut-out22may be stitched or lined with piping, such as flat piping.

The fitted blanket10may include blanket connection14along one side of the fitted blanket10, starting at the pillow cut-out22and running substantially parallel with the length of the mattress24. When the blanket connection14is disconnected (as shown partially disconnected, or partially unzipped, as shown inFIG. 2), a flap16can be formed that can be folded down to allow a user18to get under the flap16. When the blanket connection14is closed, the user can be disposed under the flap16and cannot roll out or kick off the blanket, as shown inFIG. 1.

The blanket connection14may run from about 50 to about 90 percent of the length of the fitted blanket10from the pillow cut-out22. In some embodiments, the blanket connection14may run from the pillow cut-out22until reaching a point that is about 7 to 20 inches, typically about 9 inches, from the edge of the mattress24(when the fitted blanket10is fitted on the mattress24). In some embodiments, the blanket connection14may not be connected with the pillow cut-out22, but instead, may simply form an opening in the fitted blanket10. The blanket connection14is typically a zippered opening. The zippered opening may allow easy entry and exit from the blanket, and also provide a quick way of making the bed. In some embodiments, other blanket connections may be used, such as snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.

While the Figures show the blanket connection14running in an essentially linear manner from the pillow cut-out22toward the foot end of the mattress, the blanket connection14could be formed in various shapes. For example, the blanket connection14could run in a zig-zag or arcuate manner from the pillow cut-out22towards the foot end of the mattress. In some embodiments, the blanket connection14could extend generally parallel with the foot end of the mattress to create a flap16that is more rectangular than triangular (as shown in the Figures).

Typically, the blanket connection is disposed near one side of the blanket, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, but may also be disposed in a central region thereof. For larger blankets, for example, for king or queen sized beds, the blanket connection14may be disposed on each side of the fitted blanket10, allowing two people to use the fitted blanket10and still allow for easy entry and exit. In some embodiments, the blanket connection14may run at an angle, for example, diagonally, down the fitted blanket10from the pillow cut-out area22.

The fitted blanket10may be made from various fabrics, including, but not limited to cotton, silk, wool, polyester, synthetics and various blends. The fitted blanket10may also include an elastic, fitted underside as shown inFIG. 5. The elastic12can be disposed along the entire periphery of the fitted blanket10, as shown inFIG. 5, or may be limited to corner regions of the fitted blanket10or the like.

The fitted blanket10may be designed as a blanket system, including multiple top covers. For example, the blanket system may include a fitted blanket, made of thin sheet material, such as cotton, and may further include a warmer blanket, such as a comforter, attachable thereto. Items or appendages may be attached or detached to the blanket via Velcro® or other similar securing mechanism. The blanket may be reversible and may also include accessories that may be attached to add additional appeal. Such accessories may include, for example, glow in the dark items, such as glow in the dark zippers, borders, or other accessories. The blanket could include illuminating features, such as lights (for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs)) disposed at various locations in the blanket. The blanket may be embossed with various logos, emblems or the like, such as superheroes, sports teams, cartoon characters, and the like.

The blanket may be placed on top of a conventional fitted sheet that is disposed on a mattress. In some embodiments the blanket of the present invention may be a multi-layer blanket, providing a fitted sheet built into the blanket, so that when a user enters the bedding, the user lies on top of the fitted sheet and covers up with a blanket. The fitted sheet portion may be attached to the fitted blanket by various methods. For example, the fitted sheet portion may be attached to the fitted blanket via a hook and loop fastener (such as Velcro®), stitching, zipper, snaps, or the like.

In some embodiments, the blanket may include heating or cooling elements that may be operable via conventional means, such as a battery, or a power source, such as standard household current. The heating or cooling mechanism may be used as desired for the comfort of the user.

To use the present invention, a user may simply apply the blanket to a mattress, similarly to how a fitted sheet is applied, with the pillow cut-out disposed at the head of the mattress. To enter the bed, a user may unzip (or disconnect the blanket connection), get under the blanket, and reattach the blanket connection. This now assures that the blanket will not come off the user if s/he rolls over or tries to kick off the blanket. To exit the bed, the blanket connection may be disconnected and the user may exit. Then, to make the bed, the user needs only to re-connect the blanket connection and the bed is made.