Hospital bedding system

A bedding system is provided in which a bottom sheet and optionally a top sheet and/or draw sheet can be attached to a mattress via the agency of hook fasteners on each end of the mattress and each side of the mattress and cooperating loop fasteners on the sheets' ends and sides. In an alternate system, no loop fasteners are used and the sheets are made of a loop-like, waffle weave fabric which can be attached directly to at least part of the hook fasteners on the mattress.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to bedding and more particularly to 
a means for securing hospital sheets and a draw sheet to a hospital 
mattress. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In maintaining a hospital bed in a clean, smooth and comfortable condition, 
it is necessary to make the bed daily and occasionally to change and 
replace the sheets and draw sheets even more frequently. Typically, the 
sheets are first placed on the bed and then tucked under the mattress 
which requires lifting the edges and ends of the mattress. Making beds in 
this manner is time consuming and can cause considerable back strain. It 
is especially difficult for the person making the bed, as well as 
uncomfortable for the patient when an occupied bed must be changed. 
It is known to use various fastening materials, e.g., multiple buttons, 
zippers, hooks or snaps on bedding and on mattresses to secure and 
facilitate positioning of the bedding on the mattress. These systems 
propagate, however, the inconvenience of lifting the mattress to put the 
sheet on and bedding with these fasteners has never proven commercially 
viable. The use of hook and loop fastening material on bedding and on 
mattresses to facilitate the positioning of the bedding is known. See for 
example U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,766 (to Grandy), U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,602 (to 
Fernandes), U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,832 (to Di Forti et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 
4,040,133 (to Gilreath for releasable attachment), U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,504 
(to Ainsworth), U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,958 (to Carris for buttoned down 
sheets), U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,321 (to Kintner), U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,323 (to 
Kintner), U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,743 (to Smith), U.S. Pat. No. 3,243,827 (to 
Kintner), all of which have several disadvantages. See U.S. Pat. No. 
4,979,251 (to Lazar) which circumvents the various disadvantages found in 
the other bedding systems. The Lazar '251 patent is not, however, directed 
to a hospital bedding system. The mattress has attachment points on the 
side surfaces and end surfaces, with the bottom sheet being attached to 
the side surfaces and the top sheet being attached to the foot end 
surface. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,323 (to Colburn) discusses the disadvantages of using 
conventional unfitted or flat bedsheets on beds, i.e., difficulty in 
making the bed, especially with bedridden patients, and wrinkling which 
can cause irritation and promote the formation of bedsores. It also 
discusses the advantages of fitted sheets but points out their 
disadvantages, i.e., tearing at the corners and difficulty in making the 
bed, particularly hospital beds when it is not possible to move a patient 
to change the sheet. The '323 patent discloses, in the preferred 
embodiment, a bedding system which has strips of hook or loop fastening 
material encircling the sides and ends of the mattress or alternatively 
only the sides. The strips are placed one above the other and matching 
strips of loop or hook material attached to underside of the sheets near 
the edges. The bottom sheet is smaller than the top sheet and the strip of 
fastening material on the bottom sheet is attached to the upper strip of 
fastening material on the side of the mattress. The strip of fastening 
material on the top sheet is attached to the lower strip of the fastening 
material on the side of the mattress. This system is both costly and 
impractical. It is costly because the hook or loop material encircles the 
major portion of the mattress. It is impractical. Making beds by mating 
large areas of hook and loop material is both difficult and time consuming 
since whenever the materials inadvertently touch, that area must be 
disengaged and repositioned. 
The draw sheets presently utilized by most hospitals are unsatisfactory. 
Often the practice is to fold and refold a conventional sheet to the 
desired size and shape and then place the folded sheet in the center of 
the bed in order to enhance patient comfort while also serving as a 
protective pad and as a means for transferring a patient from a bed onto a 
gurney. The process of placing a conventional draw sheet on a hospital bed 
requires tucking in a substantial amount of fabric beneath the mattress at 
each side of the bed. This is especially difficult when the bed is 
occupied due to the weight of the patient. In theory, the idea is good and 
quite satisfactory while the patient remains quiet and in a prone 
position. In practice, it is a failure. If the patient is unusually active 
or as soon as the bed is elevated to a sitting position, the draw sheet 
tends to slip and bunch-up, becoming an irritant rather than a comfort, 
possibly causing or aggravating bed sores problems. 
Thus, there exists a substantial need for an improved hospital bed sheet 
mounting system which overcomes the problems and drawbacks discussed 
above. A system is needed which allows a bed to be made quickly, which 
eliminates lifting the mattress along the edges to tuck sheets under the 
mattress, and which still allows the mattress to be turned end for end and 
side to side without affecting the operability of the bed sheet mounting 
system. There also exists a need for a bed sheet mounting system which can 
be used by the physically handicapped and the blind and which eliminates 
the need to lift the mattress or move the bed away from a wall. There also 
exists a need for an improved draw sheet. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a new and convenient bedding system which 
allows a bottom sheet and optionally a top sheet and/or a draw sheet to be 
secured to a mattress, typically a waterproof mattress such as those used 
for hospitals, without introducing the drawbacks associated with the prior 
art bedding systems discussed above. The present invention also provides a 
new and convenient bedding system which allows a bottom sheet and top 
sheet to be secured to the waterproof mattresses of water beds and 
flotation beds. 
In this bedding system, the bottom sheet and optionally the top sheet are 
releasibly connectable to the mattress via the agency of cooperating areas 
of hook material (referred to as hook fasteners) on the mattress and loop 
material on the sheets (referred to as loop fasteners) or the loop-like, 
waffle weave-construction of the sheets themselves. In a preferred 
embodiment for the hospital beds, a draw sheet is releasibly connectable 
to the mattress via the agency of cooperating areas of hook material 
(referred to as hook fasteners) on the underside of the mattress and loop 
material (referred to as loop fasteners) on the ends of the draw sheet. 
As used herein, the term "bedding system" includes the bedding used in 
hospitals, on beds in convalescent homes or in private homes where ill or 
handicapped people may need hospital style adjustable beds, to the bedding 
used in institutions, such as prisons or military establishments, and to 
the bedding used for water beds and flotation beds. 
The mattress has opposite top and bottom major surfaces with opposite side 
edges and end edges. The mattress is bounded by side surfaces and head and 
foot end surfaces normal to the major surfaces. The hospital mattress 
varies from 3 to 6 inches in thickness. The water bed and flotation bed 
mattress are typically 9 inches thick. Both are plastic covered. The 
mattress has a plurality of hook fasteners, at least two and preferably 
three, secured to each end surface. A preferred mattress for use without a 
draw sheet also has a plurality of hook fasteners, at least three, secured 
to each side surface for anchoring the sides of the bottom sheet to the 
sides of mattress. In another embodiment for use with a draw sheet the 
mattress has two hook fasteners secured to each side surface equidistant 
from the ends of the mattress and nearer to ends than the center. The 
optional hook fasteners on the side surfaces of the mattress provide for a 
more controlled neater appearance. When used with the draw sheet, the draw 
sheet keeps the sides of the bottom sheet pressed firmly to the sides of 
the mattress at the central and any hook fasteners near the center serve 
no practical purpose. When three fasteners are used, it is easier to 
center the sheets on the mattress because one can use the middle fastener 
as a guide for aligning it with a middle fastener on the end surface of 
the sheet. 
When a hospital bed has round, inverted "U"-shaped metal bars attached to 
the head and foot end of the bed to keep the mattress from shifting, only 
two fasteners are used on mattress end surfaces. Any loss of gripping 
power when only two fasteners are used is fully restored by increasing the 
width of the hook fasteners. Rectangular hook pieces are preferred. The 
longer sides extend vertically substantially between the mattress major 
surfaces and the shorter side are disposed proximate the edges of the 
mattress ends. The hook pieces are disposed in essentially identical 
predetermined patterns symmetrical about each end surface and optionally 
about each side surface, whereby the patterns are essentially the same 
relative to the mattress' major surfaces regardless of which major surface 
is the top surface and which is the bottom surface. The predetermined hook 
pattern is substantially the same as the predetermined pattern of loop 
material on the head and foot ends and optionally sides of the bottom 
sheet and on the foot end of the top sheet. 
In the draw sheet embodiment, the mattress has additional pieces of hook 
material, preferably two or three rectangular pieces, which are secured to 
the mattress major surfaces in a predetermined pattern which is disposed 
in an essentially identical pattern on each major surface symmetrical 
about the center of the major surfaces, whereby the patterns are 
essentially the same regardless of which major surface is the bottom 
surface. The predetermined pattern is substantially the same as the 
predetermined pattern of loop material on the ends of the draw sheet. The 
predetermined patterns are arranged so that the draw sheet loop material 
engages a portion of the mattress hook material. When three fasteners are 
used, it is easier to center the draw sheet over the bottom sheet because 
one can use a middle fastener, placed in the middle of the draw sheet, as 
a guide for aligning it with a middle fastener along the side of the 
bottom major surface of the mattress. 
In the preferred embodiment, one of the long sides of the rectangular hook 
material is disposed along the side edges of the mattress surface and the 
rectangular loop material on the draw sheet is disposed so that one of the 
short sides is along the end edge of the draw sheet. With this arrangement 
there is greater flexibility when the hook and loop fasteners are engaged. 
The reasons the embodiment with the long sides of the rectangular hook 
disposed along the side edges of the mattress surface is preferred include 
patient comfort if less of the hook material protrudes onto the mattress 
top surface by being attached horizontally and easier attachment of the 
draw sheet to the mattress via the long side of the rectangular hook. In 
addition, the vertically positioned loop material sewn beneath the ends of 
the draw sheet allows for variations in the thickness of the mattress. 
In the alternate and less preferred embodiment, the mattress hook material 
is disposed on the mattress so that one of the short sides of the 
rectangle is along the side edges of the mattress surface and the draw 
sheet loop material is disposed on the draw sheet so that one of the long 
edges is along the end edges of the draw sheet. 
As used herein, referring to the patterns "as essentially the same" does 
not mean the patterns are identical but rather related in such a way that 
the cooperating hook and loop fasteners connect and secure the bed sheets 
or draw sheet to the mattress. 
As used herein, the term "secured to the mattress" refers to mattresses or 
mattress covers manufactured with hook pieces thereon or to existing 
mattresses or mattress covers, adapted after original manufacture, to 
include the hook pieces. 
The design of the bottom sheet permits it to be used either with a 
conventional top sheet or with a top sheet having loop material disposed 
thereon, or made of a loop-like, waffle-weave construction, for reversibly 
connecting the top sheet to the mattress. 
The bottom sheet is a simple rectangular sheet of fabric. It can be a 
polyester-cotton blend or a knitted fabric which is more flexible and can 
accommodate more variations in the mattress size. It can also be a 
non-woven disposable material which allows the sheets to be stripped and 
disposed of. It can also be a woven fabric with a loop-like, waffle-weave 
construction which is attached directly at least part of the hook material 
on the mattress. 
As used herein, the term loop-like, waffle-weave construction refers to a 
fabric which is woven in such a way that it has an added dimension, i.e., 
depth. It has no "loops" as such but it has tiny depressed areas, due to a 
"tiered" construction of yarns, which trap air cells, making it ideal as 
"thermal wear". It is this three dimensional weave, especially when 
combined with soft-textured yarns, which enables the hook fasteners on the 
mattress to snag the fabric and act as if the hook fasteners were mating 
with loop fasteners. Hook fasteners cannot latch onto flat knits as they 
have only length and width to offer, whereas properly constructed 
soft-textured, waffle-weave fabrics offer "depth" as a trap where each 
hook can "cling" as if it had mated with loop material. Therefore, a 
waffle-weave fabric is "loop-like" in its effect, but not in appearance. 
The bottom sheet has obverse and reverse surfaces, opposite side edges, and 
opposite head and foot end edges. The sheet includes a plurality of pieces 
of loop material secured to the bottom sheet reverse surface proximate the 
end edges and optionally the side edges and disposed horizontally in each 
instance in a predetermined pattern which can be reversibly connected with 
a portion of the hook material disposed on the end surfaces and optionally 
side surfaces of the mattress in a predetermined pattern. The ends of the 
bottom sheet and optionally the sides have the same number of loop 
fasteners as the mattress has hook fasteners on its head and foot ends and 
optionally side edges. The distance between the side edges of the sheet is 
a selected amount greater than the distance across the mattress major 
surface. Typically, it is the distance across the mattress plus an amount 
equal to the thickness of the mattress in which case the loop fasteners on 
the sides of the sheet will line up with part of the hook fasteners on the 
sides of the mattress or an amount equal to about twice the thickness of 
the mattress in which case the loop fasteners will cover all of the hook 
fasteners on the sides of the mattress. The distance between the end edges 
of the bottom sheet is critical. It is the distance between the ends of 
the mattress plus one and one-half times the thickness of the mattress. 
The bottom sheet is aligned with the mattress by its placement on the 
mattress such that it hangs evenly over the side edges of the mattress and 
so that it completely covers the head end of the mattress, but only the 
top half of the bottom end of the mattress. The loop material on the 
bottom sheet is then pressed against at least part of the hook material on 
the mattress, thus securing the sheet to the mattress. When there is no 
loop material on the bottom sheet, the waffle weave fabric is pressed 
against the hook material on the mattress. This leaves the bottom half of 
the mattress foot end uncovered so that the exposed hook fasteners can be 
used to attach the optional top sheet having loop fasteners. 
One skilled in the art will recognize that if the bottom sheet is to be 
used with a conventional top sheet, it is not necessary to leave the 
bottom half of the mattress foot end uncovered. In this embodiment, the 
bottom sheet can be centered on the mattress so that about three-quarters 
of each mattress end is covered, or the entire foot end may be covered 
with only 50% of the head end covered, depending upon which ratio a user 
prefers. 
In the preferred-embodiment, larger rectangular hook fasteners (4 by 2 
inches) extend vertically between the mattress major surfaces on the ends 
and optionally on the side surfaces and smaller rectangular loop fasteners 
(3 by 1.5 inches) extend horizontally along the end and optionally the 
sides edges of the sheet. This sizing of the fasteners provides more 
leeway in aligning the fasteners. The horizontal-vertical arrangement of 
the hook-loop fasteners also provides greater flexibility than a 
horizontal-horizontal or vertical-vertical arrangement of hook-loop 
fasteners. In addition, it is easier to sew the horizontally extended 
rectangular loop fasteners into the hems of the sheet. 
The top sheet is a simple rectangular sheet of fabric such as a 
polyester-cotton blend, a knitted fabric, a non-woven disposable material, 
or a woven fabric with a waffle weave, loop-like construction which 
requires no separately applied loop fasteners. The sheet has obverse and 
reverse surfaces, opposite side edges, and opposite head and foot end 
edges. 
The top sheet can be an ordinary hospital sheet. The top sheets other than 
those of the waffle weave construction include a plurality of pieces of 
loop material, at least two and preferably three, secured to the top 
sheet's reverse surface proximate to the foot edge only. The number of 
loop fasteners will be the same as the number of hook fasteners on the 
mattress ends. The loop fasteners are disposed in a predetermined pattern 
which is essentially identical to the predetermined pattern on the 
mattress ends. The preferred loop fasteners are rectangular pieces (e.g., 
1.5 by 3 inches) which are aligned so that a long side is along the foot 
end edge. 
This preferred top sheet with the loop fasteners is releasibly connectable 
with the lower portion of the hook material on the foot end of the 
mattress. The top sheet is placed on the mattress with the reverse surface 
being over the bottom sheet such that it hangs evenly over the sides of 
the mattress. The loop fasteners on the reverse surface at the foot end of 
the sheet are aligned with the exposed lower half of the hook fasteners on 
the foot end of the mattress. The exposed area of hook fasteners is the 
lower part of the hook material which is left uncovered when the bottom 
sheet is aligned and connected to the mattress as described above. The 
loop fasteners on the reverse side of the top sheet are then pressed 
against the exposed hook fasteners on the bottom end of the mattress, thus 
securing the top sheet to the mattress. 
The hospital bedding system can also include a draw sheet, optionally with 
a waterproof liner and preferably with a pocket. The draw sheet is a 
simple rectangular sheet of fabric, preferably quilted for comfort and 
absorbency. Newly developed super-absorbent materials are also useful for 
disposable draw sheets. The draw sheet has obverse and reverse surfaces 
and opposite side edges and opposite end edges. Pieces of loop material, 
hereafter referred to as loop fasteners, are secured to the reverse 
surface on each end of the draw sheet near the side edges. The loop 
fasteners are disposed in an essentially identical predetermined pattern 
related to the predetermined pattern of hook fasteners on the mattress 
major surfaces. The number of loop fasteners on each end will be the same 
as the number of hook fasteners along each side edge of the mattress major 
surfaces. In some cases, three fasteners are preferred because, as 
discussed above, this makes alignment easier. The length of the draw sheet 
is equal to the width of the mattress plus twice the depth of the mattress 
plus an additional length of fabric (typically about 3 inches) on each end 
for securing the loop fasteners on the draw sheet to the hook fasteners on 
the mattress. 
The draw sheet is placed over the bottom sheet and centered on the bed so 
that the ends extend over the side surfaces of the mattress and are in a 
position to easily engage the hook fasteners on the bottom mattress major 
surface. The draw sheet's ends are placed under the mattress and the loop 
fasteners are pressed against the hook fasteners on the mattress bottom 
major surface, thus securely anchoring the draw sheet to the mattress over 
the bottom sheet. This anchoring of the draw sheet permits bending with 
far less bunching. When the bed is returned to the prone position, the 
draw sheet automatically returns to its original flat configuration. 
One skilled in the art will recognize that other equivalent releasibly 
connectable fasteners will be useful in the present hospital bedding 
system, for example VELCRO.RTM.-type loop yarn woven into, or applied to 
either woven or non-woven fabrics, either randomly or as a wide band 
(e.g., about 3 to 6 inches wide) running parallel to the selvage edge, or 
loop yarn applied to non-woven fabrics in the same manner as "flocking" is 
now applied to various products. The hook and loop materials used herein 
are commonly sold, under the trademark VELCRO.RTM. or SCOTCHMATE.RTM.. 
Only loop material is used on the bottom and top sheets and draw sheet 
since the abrasive action of hook material on the sheets would soon 
destroy the sheets in the laundering process. 
An example of a bedding system for a hospital mattress which measures 38 
inches wide by 75 inches long by 4 inches deep is provided. The system 
includes a bottom sheet which measures 46 inches finished width by 81 
inches finished length, a top sheet which measures 66 or 56 inches 
finished width by 86 or 81 inches finished length, and a quilted draw 
sheet which measures up to 36 inches by 50 inches or a super-absorbent 
draw sheet which measures 26 inches by 50 inches. The quilted portion is 
either 36 or 26 inches wide by 36 inches. 
There are obvious technical differences between a hospital mattress and a 
waterbed mattress. In principle, however, they are similar in that the 
mattresses are plastic covered. Hospital mattresses vary from 3" to 6" in 
thickness. Waterbed mattresses are typically 9" thick and made of a heavy 
gauge plastic. They are water-filled to varying degrees, depending upon 
the amount of undulating (i.e., "wavy") action the user prefers. Waterbed 
mattresses sit within a wooden padded frame to minimize the risk of 
damage. Typically, a set of waterbed sheets consists of a fitted bottom 
sheet with a top sheet sewn to same at the foot end of the bed. This 
attached sheet set is held in place via short poles which are wedged into 
each corner and pushed beneath the mattress. Supposedly, this will hold 
the sheet in place due to the sheer weight of the water-filled mattress. 
In practice, the undulating action of the mattress loosens the sheets, 
causing a disheveled appearance and an uncomfortable fit. Attaching 
VELCRO.RTM.-type hook material to the sides, head end, and foot end of a 
waterbed mattress in the same basic format described herein solves this 
problem. Longer 9" vertical units of hook material easily supply the extra 
holding power required to hold the sheet to Waterbed mattress due to the 
water undulation. The sheers would not be sewn together which would 
simplify both laundry and storage problems. Waterbeds larger than twin 
size would merely require additional vertical hook units fused to the 
mattress with corresponding loop units sewn to the underside of the 
sheets. Any retrofitting of a mattress via pressure-sensitive applications 
would be subject to deterioration due to the combination of moisture, 
alternating degrees of heat and cold plus inherent stress factors. 
In contrast, flotation beds contain individual water-filled plastic tubes 
which better control or reduce the wild gyrations which are typical of the 
original waterbed. The amount of water placed within each tube also 
controls the firmness of the mattress. These tubes, which are also 9" 
deep, sit within a semi-soft foam-lined frame which is encased within a 
zippered quilted mattress cover. The outward appearance of a flotation 
mattress is identical to any traditional bed. It does not require the use 
of any corner control devices such as those used for a waterbed. 
Therefore, the bedding system which can be used is the same as that used 
for the hospital beds. The only changes would be those required to conform 
to the 9" depth of the mattress and to the specific size of the bed. The 
benefits which would accrue using the present system on a flotation bed 
are the same advantages inherent in the use of the hospital bedding 
system. 
The mattress has three pieces of rectangular hook material attached 
vertically at the head end and three pieces of rectangular hook material 
attached vertically at the foot end in the same predetermined pattern. 
Each piece of hook material is about 2 by 4 inches. If the sides of the 
bottom sheet are to be anchored to the sides of the mattress, the mattress 
additionally has three pieces of rectangular hook material attached 
vertically at each side. For attaching the draw sheet, the mattress also 
has eight pieces of rectangular hook material, each being about 2 by 3 
inches, attached horizontally along the side edges of each of the mattress 
major surfaces, with four fasteners on the bottom major surface and four 
fasteners on the top major surface for attaching the draw sheet whenever 
the mattress is reversed. 
For a uniform appearance and to simplify production, all hook units which 
are nearest to the corner of a mattress should be preferably attached six 
inches from each corner and if a third hook fastener is used it is 
centered between the fasteners near the corners. The reverse surface of 
the bottom sheet has six corresponding pieces of loop material, three loop 
fasteners on each end, each being 1.5 by 3 inches, attached horizontally 
at the head and foot end of the sheet. 
The reverse surface of the top sheet has three pieces of rectangular loop 
material, 1.5 by 3 inches, with these loop fasteners attached horizontally 
only at the foot end of the top sheet. The reverse surface of the draw 
sheet has four pieces of rectangular loop material, with two loop 
fasteners at each end, each 1.5 by 3 inches, attached vertically (i.e., 
with a shorter side of the rectangle along the end edges). 
The above-described hospital bedding system provides an improved way to 
mount the bottom sheet and the top sheet to a mattress. Both the bottom 
sheet and top sheets are rectangular and flat (i.e., they do not have 
fitted, metered or shaped corners) and are easy to use. The advantage 
provided to the patient includes the fact the bottom sheet, being anchored 
in place at both ends, wrinkles far less and stays neater when the 
hospital bed is rolled up. The patient will be more comfortable because 
each time the hospital bed is returned to the prone position, the bottom 
sheet is automatically straightened and stretched back to a flat 
configuration. 
The above described bedding system has several other advantages. First, one 
can make a bed in about half the time needed with normal flat or fitted 
sheets. In addition, because it is not necessary to lift the mattress to 
attach the sheets, the person making the bed can avoid back strain, which 
benefit is of great interest to hospitals and other institutions who 
employ persons whose principal duties include changing and making a number 
of beds each day. This easier bed-making benefit is also of great interest 
to people with arthritis, physical disabilities, and to those blind 
persons, who would prefer to make their own beds by utilizing hook and 
loop placements as tactile guideposts in attaching sheets to a mattress. 
Second, manufacturing costs are reduced because the sheets can be narrower 
and shorter than conventional sheets because the sheets do not need to be 
tucked under the sides or ends of the mattress. About 41% less fabric is 
needed for a two piece set of sheets. This reduction in size leads to a 
reduction in laundry costs since the sheets weigh less and less water, 
less detergent, and less energy are used in laundering them, thus reducing 
pollutants returned to the echo system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The mattress 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, can be a standard commercially 
available mattress, e.g., a hospital mattress which is typically 
waterproof and often used without a mattress pad. The required pieces of 
hook material 11 are attached, as by bonding or sewing along the head end 
12 and foot end 13 of the mattress 10 and the optional pieces of hook 
material 22 are attached, as by bonding or sewing, along the side surfaces 
23 of the mattress 10. The required pieces of hook material 11 and 
optional pieces of hook material 22 may be of any suitable shape, 
preferably rectangular, and placed in any predetermined pattern on the 
ends 12 and 13 and sides 23 which patterns are vertically symmetrical 
about the centerline of the ends 12 and 13 and sides 23 of the mattress 10 
and symmetrical between the ends of the side surfaces 23 and the head and 
foot ends 12 and 13 of the mattress 10. The preferred rectangular pieces 
(4 inches long by 2 inches wide) extend between the mattress major 
surfaces 15 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. 
The first pattern of required hook material 11 and optional second pattern 
of hook material 22 on the mattress 10 is matched on both ends 12 and 13 
and both side surfaces 23 so that, from time to time as is recommended by 
mattress manufacturers, the mattress 10 can be turned side-for-side or 
turned end to end, or even turned top to bottom without interfering with 
how the bottom sheet 16 cooperates with the mattress 10. 
Additional pieces of hook material 14 are attached, as by bonding or 
sewing, on the mattress major surfaces 15 near the side edges if the 
mattress is to be used with a draw sheet 20. The pieces of hook material 
14 may be of any suitable shape, preferably rectangular, and placed in any 
predetermined pattern which is symmetrical about the centerline of the 
major surfaces 15 of the mattress 10. The preferred rectangular pieces (3 
inches long by 2 inches wide) are placed horizontally along the side edges 
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. 
The third pattern of optional hook material on the mattress 10 for 
attaching the draw sheet 20 is matched on both major surfaces 15 so that, 
from time to time as is recommended by mattress manufacturers, the 
mattress 10 can be turned side-for-side or turned end to end, or even 
turned top to bottom without interfering with how the bottom sheet 16 
cooperates with the mattress 10. 
The required and optional pieces of hook material (11, 14 and 22) may be of 
the same size and shape, though they need not be so as they normally will 
sustain different levels of load in use. Any shape fasteners can be used 
as long as there is sufficient contact between the hook fasteners and loop 
fasteners. Circular coins (Velcoins) can be used. Preferably, however, the 
required pieces of hook material 11 and optional pieces of hook material 
12 are uniformly wide strips of hook material (e.g., 2 inches wide) cut 
into pieces of sufficient length (e.g., 4 inches long) to encompass 
substantially the full depth of the mattress end surfaces and side 
surfaces to which they are attached with their long dimensions extending 
between the mattress major surfaces 15. Preferably, the optional pieces of 
hook material 14 are also uniformly wide strips of hook material (2 by 3 
inches) and they are preferably attached to the mattress major surfaces 15 
along with their long dimensions extending along the side edges of the 
mattress 10. 
The pieces of hook material 11, 14, and 22 can be attached to mattress 10 
as a step in the manufacture of the mattress. Alternatively, the hook 
material pieces can be attached to an existing mattress or mattress cover, 
e.g., a protective plastic envelope. In the latter instance, the pieces of 
hook material can be provided, perhaps with cooperating pieces of pile or 
loop material, as elements of a kit (i.e., a retrofit kit) for adapting an 
existing mattress or mattress cover, and other bedding components, for use 
in accord with the teachings and principles of this invention. Of course, 
the duly fitted mattress cover will carry the same number of hook 
fasteners as would be attached to mattress 10. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 9, a bottom sheet 16 to which pieces of 
required loop material 17 and optional loop material 24, defined for 
cooperation with hook material, are attached at spaced locations along 
each of the sheet's short edges and long edges on the reverse side of the 
sheet 16. The attachment of the several pieces of loop material 17 and 24 
to bottom sheet 16 is by sewing. Bonding or gluing is not typically used 
on the sheets or draw sheets since they are laundered. Loop material 
pieces 17 and 24 may be the same size and shape as hook material pieces 11 
and 22. Preferably, they are smaller rectangular pieces (3 inches long by 
1.5 inches wide) which makes connecting easier. The distance between long 
edges of the bottom sheet 16 is a selected amount greater than the 
distance across a major surface of the mattress 10 such that the long 
edges fall over the long sides of the mattress 10. The distance between 
the head edge and the foot edge of the bottom sheet 16 is critical. It is 
a selected amount greater than the distance across the major surface of 
the mattress between its end surfaces plus one and one half times the 
depth of the mattress, i.e., the distance between the mattress major 
surfaces 15. When optional loop material 24 is applied on the long edges 
of bottom sheet 16, the distance between the side edges of the bottom 
sheet 16 is critical. It is an amount greater than the distance across the 
major surface of mattress 10 between its side surfaces 23 plus twice the 
depth of mattress 10. 
FIG. 3 shows the relative location on the mattress 10 when the bottom sheet 
16 is attached to the mattress 10 in a position to be used with the 
preferred top sheet 18. The bottom sheet 16 is centered lengthwise and 
widthwise on the mattress 10 so that the entire head end 12 of the 
mattress 10 is covered by the bottom sheet 16 and about one-half of the 
foot end 13 of the mattress 10 is covered by the bottom sheet 16. The top 
sheet 18 is centered widthwise on the mattress and centered lengthwise on 
the mattress so that the entire foot end of the mattress is covered with 
the foot end of the top sheet 18. The loop fasteners on the reverse side 
of the foot end of the top sheet 18 are connected with the hook material 
pieces 11 on the foot end 13 of the mattress 10. 
FIG. 4 shows a preferred top sheet 18 to which loop material pieces 19, 
defined for cooperation with hook material, are attached at spaced 
locations along one of the sheet's short edges on the reverse side of the 
sheet 18. The attachment is typically by sewing. The sheet end to which 
the loop material is attached is the foot end of the sheet. Loop material 
pieces 19 may be the same size and shape as hook material pieces 11. 
Preferably, they are smaller rectangular pieces (3 inches long by 1.5 
inches wide) which makes connecting easier. 
FIG. 5 shows an additional aspect of the invention which includes a draw 
sheet 20 as shown. The draw sheet 20 is a rectangular sheet of fabric 
having obverse and reverse surfaces and of a size sufficient to cover a 
portion of the top surface of the mattress 10. Pieces of loop material 21 
are secured to the reverse surface of the draw sheet 20 proximate to each 
of its corners. The mattress 10 has pieces of hook material 14 secured on 
the bottom major surface 15 and preferably the top major surface 15. 
Preferably, rectangular pieces hook materials 14 are positioned 
horizontally near the edges at equal distances from the ends of the 
mattress as shown in FIG. 1. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the draw sheet 20 is connected to the mattress 10 by 
its being placed over the bottom sheet 16 such that it is centered on the 
mattress 10 with the loop material 21 on the corners of the draw sheet 20 
facing and aligned with the hook material 14 on the bottom major surface 
15 of mattress 10. The loop material 21 on the draw sheet 20 is then 
connected with the hook material 14 on the bottom major surface 15 of the 
mattress 10 securing the draw sheet 20 over the bottom sheet 16 and to the 
mattress 10. Hook material 14 preferably is placed on both the top and 
bottom major surfaces 15 of the mattress 10 so the mattress 10 can be 
turned over periodically without interfering with the cooperation of draw 
sheet 20 with the mattress 10 in the manner described above. 
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of complete attachments of bottom sheet 16 to 
the head end 12 and foot end 13 of mattress 10, of draw sheet 20 to the 
bottom major surface 15 of mattress 10, and of top sheet 18 to the foot 
end 13 of mattress 10. This figure shows that the bottom sheet 16 
completely covers and is attached to the head end 12 of the mattress 10 
and is attached to the top half of foot end 13 of mattress 10. It also 
shows that the foot end of top sheet 18 covers the entire foot end 13 of 
the mattress 10 and is attached to the bottom half of the foot end 13. 
FIG. 8 is described with FIG. 1. 
FIG. 9 is described with FIG. 2. 
FIG. 10 is a perspective of complete attachments of bottom sheet 25 and top 
sheet 26, which are made of a loop-like, waffle weave fabric that acts as 
loops, to the head end 12 and foot end 13 of mattress 10. The bottom sheet 
26 completely covers and is attached to the head end 12 of the mattress 10 
and is attached to the top half of foot end 13 of mattress 10. It also 
shows that foot end 13 of top sheet 26 covers the entire foot end 13 of 
the mattress 10 and is attached to the bottom half of the foot end 13. The 
dark areas indicate where the waffle-weave fabric construction will grip 
hook material 11 and 22 on mattress 10. Bottom sheet 25 covers the upper 
half of the sides 23 of mattress 10. In an alternate embodiment bottom 
sheet 25 is wider and covers the entire side surfaces 23 of mattress 10. 
To make a bed using the bottom and preferred top sheet bedding system of 
the invention, the bottom sheet 16 is placed on the mattress 10, reverse 
side down, with the head-end of the bottom sheet 16 aligned with the head 
end 12 of the mattress 10. This means that a portion of the head end of 
the bottom sheet 16 falls over the foot end 13 of the mattress 10 by 
one-half the distance from the upper edge of the foot end 13 of the 
mattress 10 to the lower edge of the foot end 13 of the mattress 10. The 
pieces of loop material 17 and pieces of loop material 22, if present, on 
the reverse of the properly placed bottom sheet 16 are then patted into 
engagement with the hook material 11 and pieces of hook material 24, if 
present, on the head end 12 and foot end 13 of the mattress 10 and sides 
23 of the mattress. At this point, the lower half of the pieces of hook 
material 11 at the foot-end 13 of the mattress 10 remain exposed. The top 
sheet 18 is then placed, with its reverse surface down, on the bottom 
sheet 16 with the foot-end of the top sheet 18 overhanging the foot end 13 
of the mattress 10 and aligned with the lower edge of the foot end 13 of 
the mattress 10. The pieces of loop material 19 attached to foot-end of 
the top sheet 18 are then patted into engagement with the exposed pieces 
of hook material 11 on the foot end 13 of the mattress 10. The head end of 
the top sheet, which has no loop material attached thereto, can then be 
folded back a desired distance as is common. 
To make a bed using the bottom sheet, preferred top sheet, and draw sheet, 
one proceeds as above but, before placing on the top sheet 18, one places 
the draw sheet 20 with its reverse surface down over a central portion of 
the bottom sheet 16, with the draw sheet ends overhanging the sides of the 
mattress 10. One then aligns the loop pieces 21 on the ends of draw sheet 
20 with the hook pieces 14 on the bottom major surface 15 of the mattress 
10, lifts the side edges of mattress 10, and attaches the loop material 
pieces 21 on the ends of draw sheet 19 to the exposed hook material pieces 
14 on the bottom major surface 15 of mattress 10. 
Changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and 
spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.