COMFORTER BLANKET

Embodiments are directed toward preventing misalignment of a comforter relative to a mattress. The comforter has a foot-end portion that defines a pouch. The foot-end portion of a mattress can be inserted into the foot-end portion of the pouch, thereby preventing misalignment of the comforter relative to the mattress while providing draft protection to the feet of a person sleeping on the mattress.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to comforters and, more particularly, to comforters that promote alignment with a corresponding mattress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Comforters are typically used as bedding on mattresses. When laid out on a mattress, a comforter can easily slide off the mattress or be pulled to one side of the bed by one of the occupants, thereby leaving an occupant of the bed without sufficient coverage. Many attempts have been made to solve this long-standing problem, but none of those proposed solutions prevent misalignment of the comforter to the mattress in a manner that provides draft protection while simultaneously supporting thermoregulation by enabling prevention of overheating of the occupants.

In one attempt, a strap similar to a belt is wrapped around the foot end of the mattress, and the strap has clips that grasp the comforter to secure it in position relative to the mattress (see JP 3044615). This approach, however, has several deficiencies. In particular, the strap fails to provide draft protection and instead enables cold air to flow under the mattress. This approach also subjects the occupants to feeling the belt-like strap while they sleep.

In another attempt, couplers secured to a fitted sheet couple a comforter to the perimeter of the fitted sheet (see U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2010/0058537). This approach, however, requires orienting the fitted sheet in a single manner relative to the mattress. It also requires having a special fitted sheet to enable use of the comforter in this way.

Another approach has been to make a comforter that is usable as a sleeping bag by providing a draw cord in the quilt (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2020/0022512). This approach, however, requires a sleeping bag liner to keep it clean. This approach also fails to prevent an occupant from pulling the comforter to one side of the bed while the other occupant is not in the bed.

In a further approach, a band surrounds the peripheral sides of the mattress, and the comforter is then secured to the band (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2022/0133052). This approach, however, is difficult to transfer from one bed to another because the band is not easily removed and reinstalled. This approach also makes it difficult to use, replace, or clean the sheets on the bed.

In other environments, a sleeping pad can be slipped into a sleeping bag or a sleeve integrated in the sleeping bag. This approach, however, requires a sleeping bag liner to keep it clean. This approach also requires a sleeping pad designed for sleeping bags.

For these reasons, there is a need for solving the above long-standing problems, including preventing misalignment of a comforter with respect to a mattress. There is also a need for providing draft protection while enabling thermoregulation. There is a further need to enable use of the comforter with any mattress or sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a comforter system that provides for preventing misalignment of a comforter relative to a mattress.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a comforter system that achieves the above object and that also provides draft protection to the feet of a person sleeping on the mattress.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a comforter system that achieves the above objects and that also provides enables thermoregulation of the person sleeping on the mattress.

The invention achieves the above objects, as well as other objects and advantages that will become apparent from the description that follows, by providing a comforter system and use thereof. The system has a comforter sheet. In some embodiments, the comforter sheet includes a shell containing insulative filling. The comforter sheet has a foot-end portion that defines a pouch. In some embodiments, the pouch is elastic. The pouch is configured to receive a foot-end portion of a mattress and thus selectively couple the comforter to the mattress. Accordingly, the pouch facilitates preventing misalignment of the comforter relative to the mattress while providing draft protection to feet of a person sleeping on the mattress.

In some embodiments, the pouch is defined by only the foot-end portion of the comforter sheet. In some embodiments, the comforter has a head-end portion that is not configured to couple to the mattress.

In some embodiments, the pouch is configured to selectively transition between a comforter extension configuration and a mattress coupling configuration. In the comforter extension configuration, the pouch does not couple the comforter to the mattress. In the mattress coupling configuration, the pouch is able to couple the comforter to the mattress.

In some embodiments, a tensioner is coupled to a portion the comforter sheet, such as the foot-end portion. A tension adjuster is preferably coupled to the tensioner. In some embodiments, increasing the tension along the tensioner transitions the pouch from the comforter extension configuration to the mattress coupling configuration, while decreasing the tension along the tensioner transitions the pouch from the mattress coupling configuration to the comforter extension configuration.

In some embodiments, the foot-end portion of the comforter sheet defines a channel, and the tensioner resides in the channel. The channel preferably extends along a perimeter of the foot-end portion of the comforter sheet. In some embodiments, the head-end portion of the comforter sheet is devoid of the tensioner.

In some embodiments, the system includes a top sheet that is configured to couple to a comforter, such as the comforter sheet. Accordingly, the top sheet coupling to the comforter facilitates preventing misalignment of the top sheet relative to the comforter.

In some embodiments, one or both of the head-end portion or the foot-end portion of the top sheet defines a respective comforter-retention pouch. Such pouch is preferably configured to selectively receive the corresponding end portion of a comforter.

In some embodiments, the comforter has an upper surface that faces away from the mattress when properly placed on the mattress, and the top sheet has a top surface that also faces away from the mattress properly placed on the mattress. The upper surface of the comforter preferably has a coupler, and the top surface of the top sheet also preferably has a coupler that is configured to couple to the coupler of the comforter. In some embodiments, one of the couplers includes a toggle button, and the other of the couplers includes a loop that is configured to receive the toggle button

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A comforter system in accordance with the principles of the invention is generally indicated at reference number22in the Figures of the attached drawings, wherein numbered elements in the Figures correspond to like numbered elements herein.

As shown inFIG.1, the comforter system22includes a comforter24and, in some embodiments, a top sheet26. As shown inFIGS.2-4, the foot-end portion28of the comforter24defines an elastic pouch30that is configured to receive a foot-end portion (not shown) of a mattress, such as the mattress32inFIG.1, to couple the comforter24to the mattress. As shown inFIG.1, the top sheet26is configured to couple to the comforter24. Accordingly, the comforter system22facilitates preventing misalignment of the comforter24relative to the mattress32, as well as preventing misalignment of the top sheet26relative to the comforter24.

As seen by contrastingFIG.2withFIG.3, the foot-end portion28of the comforter24is disposed opposite from a head-end portion34of the comforter24(seeFIG.1) and is configured to transition between functioning as a normal comforter (i.e., a comforter extension configuration as shown inFIG.2) and engaging with the foot-end portion of a mattress with a cinched footbox36(i.e., a mattress coupling configuration as shown inFIG.3, the comforter shown upside-down) provided by the pouch30nesting over the top of the mattress. In the mattress coupling configuration, the comforter24is configured to receive a mattress in the pouch30as shown inFIG.4.

As shown inFIGS.2-4, the pouch30is limited to the foot-end portion28of the comforter24. The head-end portion34of the comforter24, in contrast, is free to move relative to the mattress regardless of whether the pouch is in the comforter extension configuration or the mattress coupling configuration. Accordingly, when coupled to a mattress, the comforter24provides the footbox36that provides draft protection to the feet of the occupants of the bed while the pouch30wraps around the mattress to reduce drafts at the feet while holding the comforter24in place during use. Also when coupled to the mattress, the comforter24permits thermoregulation of the occupants sleeping on the mattress by enabling the head-end portion34of the comforter24to be pushed down or folded back as shown inFIG.1or otherwise allowing glabrous skin (e.g., hands and feet) to be extended out from under the comforter24to be exposed to external environmental air and thereby reduce body temperature as desired for the occupants, without the mattress from the pouch30in the mattress coupling configuration.

In some embodiments, a tensioning system enables transitioning the pouch30between the comforter extension configuration and the mattress coupling configuration. The tensioning system includes at least one tensioner, such as the tensioner38, and a tension adjuster, such as the tension adjuster40, as shown inFIG.5. In some embodiments, the tensioner38includes a single elastic cord that attaches to the foot-end portion28of the comforter34at two locations. In other embodiments, the tensioner38includes two elastic cords that each attach to the foot-end portion28of the comforter34at a respective one of the locations. As shown inFIG.6, one attachment location52is disposed at a forward end portion of the perimeter of the foot-end portion28of the comforter24. In some embodiments, the comforter24is symmetric about its longitudinal axis54, and the other of such attachment locations56is therefore disposed at the other forward end portion28of the comforter24, as shown inFIG.3.

The tension adjuster40enables increasing the tension between the anchor locations52,56and the tension adjuster40along the tensioner38, thereby transitioning the pouch30from the comforter extension configuration to the mattress coupling configuration. The tension adjuster40also preferably enables decreasing the tension between the anchor locations52,56and the tension adjuster40along the tensioner38, thereby transitioning the pouch30from the mattress coupling configuration to the comforter extension configuration. The middle portion of the tensioner38in embodiments having a single elastic cord (or the opposite from nonattached end portions of the tensioner38in embodiments having multiple elastic cords) extends through the tension adjuster40, as shown inFIGS.2,3, and5. The foot-end portion28of the comforter24preferably defines a channel58that, in some embodiments, extends along the perimeter of the foot-end portion28, as shown inFIG.2. In some embodiments, the channel is defined by a tubular sleeve structure, and the tensioner38extends from the anchor locations52,56through the channel58to the tension adjuster40. In some embodiments, the tension adjuster40is disposed substantially in or within the proximity of an opening60in the channel defined by the foot-end portion28of the comforter24. In some embodiments, the tension adjuster40includes a cord lock adjuster, such as a spring-loaded cord lock adjuster. Accordingly, pulling the tensioner38through the tension adjuster40increases the tension along the tensioner38and reduces the effective length of the tensioner38, thereby transitioning the pouch30from the extended comforter configuration to the mattress coupling configuration. Conversely, releasing the lock by the tension adjuster40on the tensioner38(such as by depressing a button on the tension adjuster40) decreases the tension along the tensioner38and increases the effective length of the tensioner38, thereby transitioning the pouch30from the mattress coupling configuration to the extended comforter configuration.

As shown inFIG.6, the length62of the foot-end portion28of the comforter24is preferably approximately 50 cm. Accordingly, the length62creates the pouch30to hold the comforter24on the mattress while also allowing thermoregulation by pulling the comforter back from the top or allowing a foot to exit the comforter during the night while the occupants sleep because the pouch30does not extend along the entire length of the comforter24and preferably along only a minority of the length of the comforter24, such as approximately 22% of the length of the comforter24. The length of the comforter24is preferably approximately 88 inches. In embodiments where the comforter24is configured as a single occupant comforter, the width64of the foot-end portion28of the comforter24is preferably approximately 58 inches. In embodiments where the comforter24is configured as a double occupant comforter, the width64is preferably approximately 80 inches. The diameter66of the channel58is preferably approximately 3.25 cm. The width68of the opening60in the channel58is preferably approximately 7 cm. The comforter24preferably includes a comforter sheet70that preferably has a comforter shell containing insulative filling, such as down.

In other embodiments, the tensioner38is not anchored at one or more of the locations52,56and is instead anchored at another location such as the middle of the channel58with the tension adjuster40being disposed substantially at one or more of the locations52,56, thereby enabling an occupant of the bed to adjust the tension along the tensioner38while lying between the comforter24and the mattress. In other embodiments, an extension strap or lead line may extend from the tensioner38to promote ease of tightening without reaching the tension adjuster40.

As shown inFIG.1, the top sheet26is configured to couple to the comforter24to prevent misalignment of the top sheet26relative to the comforter24. As shown inFIG.7, the top sheet26has a head-end portion82and a foot-end portion84disposed opposite from the head-end portion82. In some embodiments, one or more of the head-end portion82or the foot-end portion84of the top sheet26defines a respective comforter-retention pouch, such as the comforter-retention pouch86defined by the head-end portion82or the comforter-retention pouch88defined by the foot-end portion84. At least one of the retention pouches86,88is configured to receive a portion of the comforter24, thereby selectively coupling the top sheet26to the comforter24. As shown inFIG.1, the head-end portion34of the comforter24can be selectively inserted into the pouch86at the head-end portion82of the top sheet26, and in some embodiments, the foot-end portion28of the comforter24can be selectively inserted into the pouch88at the foot-end portion84of the top sheet26before or after transitioning the comforter24into the mattress coupling configuration. In particular, the cinched footbox36of the comforter24cooperatively26to tuck a portion of foot-end portions84,28of the top sheet26and the comforter24alone the mattress, regardless of whether further coupling mechanisms are utilized.

In some embodiments, the top sheet26has further mechanisms for coupling to the comforter24. As shown inFIG.7, the top surface90of the top sheet26has one or more couplers, such as male couplers such as the toggle buttons92,94,96, and98, that are configured to couple to the upper surface100of the comforter94. The couplers on the top surface of the top sheet26are preferably disposed along the edges of the comforter-retention pouches86,88to facilitate coupling to the upper surface100of the comforter94after the comforter94is received in those pouches86,88. In particular, the upper surface100of the comforter24preferably has a coupler for each of the couplers on the top surface90of the top sheet26at a respective location on the upper surface100of the comforter24that substantially matches the location of a respective one of the couplers on the top surface90of the top sheet26when the top sheet26is coupled to the comforter24.

As shown inFIG.8, the couplers on the upper surface100of the comforter24preferably include female couplers, such as loops such as the loop112(only one shown), that are configured to receive a respective1of the toggle buttons92-98. Accordingly, after the head-end portion34of the comforter24is inserted into the comforter-retention pouch86of the top sheet26, the toggle buttons92,94can be inserted through the respective loops on the upper surface100of the head-end portion34of the comforter24, thereby securing the head-end portion34of the comforter24in the comforter-retention pouch86of the top sheet26, as shown inFIG.9. After the foot-end portion28of the comforter24is inserted into the comforter retention pouch88of the top sheet26, the toggle buttons96,98can be inserted through the respective loops on the upper surface100of the foot-end portion28of the comforter, thereby securing the foot-end portion28of the comforter24and the comforter-retention pouch88of the top sheet26, including when the pouch30of the comforter24is coupled to the mattress in the mattress coupling configuration, as shown inFIG.1. Accordingly, the couplers are disposed opposite the comforter24from the occupants of the bed, thereby preventing the couplers from disrupting the sleep or comfort of the occupants.

The couplers on the top surface90of the top sheet26and the upper surface100of the comforter24are positioned so as to allow the top sheet26to wrap around the head and foot edges of the comforter24and thereby maintain the top sheet26positioned between the occupants of the bed and the comforter24for cleanliness and comfort. Accordingly, coupling the top sheet26maintains the cleanliness of the comforter24, including from limbs that extend over the edges of the comforter24, while enabling simple detachment of the top sheet26from the comforter24to promote washing the top sheet26. The top sheet26thus provides the functions of a duvet cover that is easier to use than a standard duvet cover because it is easier to clean and remove from the comforter24. The top sheet26may also be used with other types of comforters that lack pouches or tensioners that facilitate coupling the comforter to a mattress, such a standard comforters.

In some embodiments, the toggle buttons92-98are each coupled to the top sheet26with respective attachment cords, as shown inFIG.7. In other embodiments, the couplers on the upper surface100of the comforter24include male couplers such as toggle buttons while the couplers on the top surface90of the top sheet26include female couplers such as loops.

As shown inFIG.10, each coupler on the top surface90of the top sheet26is disposed a distance114from the closer of the widthwise edges (i.e., the head edge or the foot edge) of the top sheet26of approximately 12 inches. Each coupler on the top surface90of the top sheet26is disposed a distance116from the closer of the lengthwise edges (i.e., the edges that connect the head-end portion82and the foot-end portion84to each other) of the top sheet26of approximately 47 cm. As shown inFIG.6, the couplers disposed on the upper surface100of the comforter24are disposed a distance from the closer of the widthwise edges (i.e., the head edge or the foot edge) of the comforter24of approximately 24 cm. The couplers disposed on the upper surface100of the comforter24are disposed at distance from the closer of the lengthwise edges (i.e. the edges that connect the head-end portion34and the foot-end portion28to each other) of the comforter24of approximately 17.4 inches.

In some embodiments, the top wall of one of the comforter-retention pouches of the top sheet26, such as the top wall122of the comforter-retention pouch88, defines a stow pocket124. In some embodiments, the top sheet26is configured to be folded into or otherwise collapsed into the stow pouch124for convenient stowage, such as in the container shown inFIG.11.

As shown inFIG.12, the comforter system22may include a duvet142. In some embodiments, the duvet142has a top portion144and a bottom portion146between which the comforter24may be received through an opening148. Once the comforter24is fully received in the duvet142and the corners of the comforter24extended to the corners of the duvet142, the comforter24and duvet142may be placed on a mattress while the comforter24is utilized as discussed above. In particular, the comforter24inside the duvet142may transition between functioning as a normal comforter (i.e., a comforter extension configuration as shown inFIG.2) and engaging with the foot-end portion of a mattress with a cinched footbox36(i.e., a mattress coupling configuration as shown inFIG.3, the comforter shown upside-down) provided by the pouch30nesting over the top of the mattress. In such circumstances, the comforter24may therefore transition the duvet142between such configurations as well by operating as a normal duvet in the extension configuration or by being cinched between the foot-end portion of the comforter24and the mattress in the mattress coupling configuration. The duvet142may therefore be used with or without the top sheet26or any other sheet. The duvet may also be used without the comforter and may include a pouch at the foot-end thereof to engage with the foot end of the mattress for retention therewith. The duvet pouch may include an elastic (or non-elastic) tensioning member similar to that described above with regard to the comforter.

As shown inFIG.13, the opening148has a plurality of couplers that enable transitioning the opening148between an open configuration in which the comforter24may be inserted into or removed from the duvet142(seeFIG.13) and a closed configuration in which the comforter24is retained in the duvet142(seeFIG.12). The couplers are preferably arranged to prevent them from contacting a user's skin while sleeping, as shown inFIG.13. In particular, the upper fasteners, such as the fastener150, may be disposed in a region of the foot-end portion of the top portion144of the duvet142that is folded under other regions of the top portion144. Similarly, the lower fasteners, such as the fastener152, may be disposed in a region of the foot-end portion of the bottom portion146of the duvet142that is folded over other regions of the bottom portion146. Accordingly, the upper fasteners and lower fasteners face each other but, in the closed configuration, are shielded from a sleeper's skin by the outer regions of the top portion144and the bottom portion146of the duvet142.

As shown inFIG.13, a forward seam, such as the upper forward seam154(the lower forward seam not shown), holds the folded regions in place, such as the lower folded layers156. Those regions include upper intermediate region158, upper fastener region160, lower intermediate region162, and lower fastener region164. In some embodiments, before the regions are folded and the seams created to hold the folded regions in place, the fasteners are coupled to the fastener regions160,164, which are disposed opposite the intermediate regions158,162from the foot-end edges of the top and bottom portion144,146. After the regions are folded, two layers are disposed outside of the fastener regions160,164, as shown inFIG.13, thereby increasing comfort of the sleeper. In some embodiments, rearward seams, such as the upper rearward seam166and the lower rearward seam168, are also stitched in the respective upper and lower folded layers, as shown inFIG.13in addition to the forward seams, such as the upper forward seam154.

As shown inFIG.12, the length182of the duvet142is approximately 88 inches, in some embodiments. The width184of the opening148is preferably approximately 40 inches and preferably has approximately four upper fasteners and four lower fasteners that are equally spaced along the opening148. In some embodiments, the outermost fasteners are spaced approximately 8 inches from the outermost edges of the opening148and the fasteners are each spaced approximately 8 inches from each other. In some embodiments, the width186of the duvet142is approximately 80 inches. The corners of the duvet142are preferably radiused with 11.5 inch radiuses in the corners in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the fasteners include snaps. In other embodiments, the fasteners include buttons and slots or loops, such as toggle buttons and loops. In some embodiments, an interior stow pocket (not shown) similar to that discussed above regarding the top sheet26is disposed between the top and bottom portions144,146and stitched to one of such portions144,146. The pocket is preferably accessed through the opening148, such that the duvet142may be stored in the pocket by turning it inside out.

As used herein, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “top,” “bottom,” “topmost,” and “bottom-most” are defined relative to vertical axis of a mattress laid out on a horizontal surface while an occupant lays on the mattress and the comforter24and the top sheet26are installed on such mattress as described herein. The vertical axis is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis and is defined as parallel to the direction of the earth's gravity force on the mattress when the mattress is on horizontal ground. The term “width” or “lateral” is defined relative to the lateral axis of the mattress with the mattress, comforter24, and the top sheet26in such configuration. The lateral axis is non-parallel to the longitudinal and vertical axes. The length is measured along the longitudinal axis.

The term “foot-end portion” as used herein refers to the portion of the mattress, comforter, or top sheet disposed closest to the widthwise edge nearest to the occupant's feet when laying on the mattress with the comforter and top sheet installed thereon as described herein. The term “head-end portion” as used herein refers to the portion of the mattress, comforter, or top sheet disposed closest to the widthwise edge nearest to the occupant's head when laying on the mattress with the comforter and top sheet installed thereon as described herein. The foot and head-end portions are separated from each other by a middle portion that extends along the entire width of the mattress, comforter24, or top sheet26. The middle portion preferably defines a majority of the area and length of the mattress, comforter24, or top sheet26.

The term “configured” as used herein means an element being one or more of sized, dimensioned, positioned, or oriented to achieve or provide the recited function or result. The term “directly coupled” as used herein means that a component contacts (for example, when stitched) or is welded to another component. The term “indirectly coupled” as used herein means that a first component is coupled to a second component by way of one or more intervening components that are directly coupled to the first and second components. A first component that is indirectly coupled to a second component is directly coupled to a third component, which may be directly coupled to the second component or to a fourth component that is directly coupled to the second component. The term “coupled” should therefore be understood to disclose both direct and indirect coupling of components or elements that are described as being coupled to each other.

The term “substantially parallel” refers to parallel or within 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees of parallel. The term “substantially orthogonal” refers to orthogonal or within 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees of orthogonal. The term “substantially horizontal” or “substantially horizontally” refers to horizontal or within 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees of horizontal. The term “substantially vertical” or “substantially vertically” refers to vertical or within 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees of vertical. The term “approximately” or “substantially” refers to within 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 percent of the identified value or range. The term “substantially in” or “within the proximity of” refers to being in or within 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 lengths of the identified subject from the referenced object, such as the tension adjuster40being within that many of its own lengths from the opening60in the channel58of the comforter24.

The term “or” is an inclusive grammatical conjunction to indicate that one or more of the connected terms may be employed. For example, the phrase “one or more A, B, or C” or the phrase “one or more As, Bs, or Cs” is employed to discretely disclose each of the following: i) one or more As, ii) one or more Bs, iii) one or more Cs, iv) one or more As and one or more Bs, v) one or more As and one or more Cs, vi) one or more Bs and one or more Cs, and vii) one or more As, one or more Bs, and one or more Cs. The term “based on” as used herein is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. Plural references are intended to also disclose the singular.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Each disclosure of a component preferably having a feature or characteristic is intended to also disclose the component as being devoid of that feature or characteristic unless the principles of the invention clearly dictate otherwise. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. It should also be noted that the claim dependencies or combinations of elements recited in the claims do not reflect an intention to forgo claiming other subject matter disclosed herein. Instead, this disclosure is intended to also disclose the subject matter of any combination of any two or more of the claims, such that subsequent claim sets may recite that any one of the dependent claims depends from any other one or more claims, up to and including all other claims in the alternative (such as “The apparatus or method of any one of the preceding or subsequent claims . . . ”). This disclosure is also intended to disclose the subject matter of any one of the dependent claims, as if it were an independent claim, with or without all or a portion of the subject matter of the original independent claim(s) or any other subject matter disclosed herein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will conceive of other alternate embodiments of the invention upon reviewing this disclosure. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to the above description but is to be determined in scope by the claims that follow.