Bedclothing

Abstract: A combination of bag-sheet and blanket that are sewn together along the longitudinal edges. Preferably blanket and bag-sheet are sewn together also along the lower edge, while the upper edge preferably entirely lacks seam and that the sheet instead is folded over this end of the blanket for the comfort of the user. The combination is simple to handle and wash as a unit, which furthermore provide an increased degree of cleanliness, since the blanket can not be forgotten. The used sheeting is preferable cotton and the blanket may be constituted of spirally curled polyester hollow fiber so that washing may take place at a high and thereby sterilizing temperature.

Description: In order to make the handling of bedclothing at nursing institutions as for instance hospitals, homes for old people etc rational and time saving today so called bag-sheets are used where a duvet or blanket is put into an enclosing bag-sheet. One draw back at the use of bag-sheets is however that the insertion of the duvet or blanket into the bag-sheet becomes comparatively work consuming. At for instance hospitals, nursing homes and other places the frequency of this insertion of duvets may become so high that there is a risk of wear injuries. The use of bag-sheets that thus is rational from some points of view simultaneously leads to complications at the change of sheets. At for instance hospitals this becomes more accentuated since many patients only remain for a short time and consequently the bag-sheets must be changed and washed very often. It is therefore very close at hand to return to the use of entirely separately sheets of old times, which however result in an increased remaking of beds since then blanket and sheets more easily becomes separated, in particular if the bed occupant is not satisfied with lying absolutely still. In hospitals it is not unusual that the bag-sheet is used as it is without the insertion of any blanket. A terry or hole blanket is instead placed at the foot end of the bed. In this way the insertion of the blanket is to be sure eliminated, but if the patient can not on his own pull up the blanket he or she must alert personnel to be helped with this, why the time saving does not become very large but instead in reality more time may actually be used. An attempt to address the above hygienic problem is known from JP-A-11 187954. A sanitary bedquilt is provided with an inner cotton-filled bag of thermoplastic fiber and a thermally sealing and sewing together. From the above it is apparent that there is a need for a more rational handing of bedclothing, partly to reduce the amount of work and thereby the cost, partly to reduce the risk of wear injuries and to accomplish an improved comfort for the user. In accordance with the invention the above objects are solved by bag-sheet provided with a padding in the shape of a blanket, duvet or the like, whereby bag-sheet and padding are sewn together along the longitudinal edges, characterized in that it includes in principal two bags, of which a first bag extends from the lower end and almost to the upper end of the sheet, and a second bag that extends from the upper end overlapping the upper edge of the lower bag, and in that the sheet in the upper end is folded over the upper edge of the blanket or duvet. At a first consideration the invented thought may seem considerably unpractical since the bag-sheet can not be washed separately but each time also the corresponding blanket or insert duvet is washed. The handled volume of washing is thus increased considerably. Since however statistically seen one comparatively often must wash bag-sheets as well as blanket when it is the question of use on hospitals or the like the invention is in this case instead a rationalizing even if at a first glance it seems as a drawback, this since one subconsciously easily starts from the situation at use in the home. When the units comprising bag-sheet and blanket have been washed they may after folding be vacuum packed so that each set comprising bag-sheet with accompanying duvet actually takes less space than the two parts would do separately. If so is desired also a bottom sheet can be placed in each package, since also this is changed at the same time. Preferably duvet and bag-sheet are also sewn together in the lower end, while the upper edge for the comfort of the user preferably is without seam, that is the sheet is only folded over the duvet in the upper end. Likewise for the comfort of the user no quilting is arranged, at least not on the inside (under side). At the manufacturing of the combination of bag-sheet and duvet in accordance with the invention preferably sheet and duvet are sewn together along their edges with the blanket laying folded double on one side of the duvet, whereafter the bag made of the sheeting in this way is turned inside out so that the duvet ends up on the inside whereafter the open end of the bag can be sewn together during the simultaneous in-folding of the edges of the bag-sheet. If so should be wished blanket and sheet may be quilted on the upper side but be left non-quilted on the underside, by carrying out the quilting before the underside to be is folded down and sewn together with the duvet and the sheet on the upper side along the edges. Additionally advantageous characteristics of the invention are apparent from the patent claims as well as from the following description of advantageous embodiments of the inventions shown in the accompanying drawings. In these Fig 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention, Fig 2 and 3 show an alternative embodiment, as Fig 7, while Fig 4 to 6 show different seam designs for longitudinal and/or lateral edges. In order to elucidate the combined duvet and sheet are shown exaggeratedly short and thick. The device schematically shown in Fig 1 includes a duvet 1 that is enclosed by a bag-sheet 2 in such a manner that a lower bag 11 is formed extending on the upper side almost up to the upper end of the duvet 1 and an upper bag 12 is formed that from the upper end of the lower bag extends overlapping with this to a couple of decimeters from the upper edge of the duvet. If so desired the upper edge on the sheets that has been folded down in this way may be sewn 4 or fixed in some other way to the lower bag. At this it is also conceivable to sew fast a decor edge in the same work step so that an appearance corresponding to bedmaking with over-folded single sheets of old times is obtained. At 5 the bags can be sewn together. The lateral edges of duvet and sheet may be sewn together in the way that is shown in any of the figures 4 to 6. If as it is shown in Fig 2 the upper edge 14 of the lower bag 13 is folded down somewhat the edges of the two bags can comparatively easy be sewn together 6 with a machine so that the duvet is enclosed completely. In a second embodiment shown in Fig 7 the sheet is when it is sewn to the duvet 1 folded entirely double and has its opening in the lower end of the blanket. Blanket and sheet are sewn together along the longitudinal edges for instance in the same way as is shown in any of the figures 4 to 6 whereafter the bag is turned outside in. Hereafter the sheet edges in the lower end are folded inward and sewn with a seem across either only the ends of the sheets or together with the enclosed blanket as is shown in Fig 7 or Fig 6. In this case a quilting between the duvet and the sheet on the upper side may take place before the part of the sheet that is to become underside/inside is folded down for the seems along the sides. In particular for the use at nursing it is essential that the bedclothing is not only washed but also disinfected and it is therefor necessary to use materials that can cope with at least 60° C. As sheeting can at this with advantage be used cotton and as padding can advantageously spirally curled hollow fibers of polyester be used. The spirally curled polyester hollow fibers dries quickly after washing and is also lighter than usual hospital blankets, which reduce the wear of arms and shoulders of the personnel. Through the above choice and materials allowed washing temperatures of 90° C may be achieved which guaranties a sterilized result after washing. For the part or side of the bag-sheet that is to bridge over or pass around the edge after the turning inside out this part of the sheet may at the sewing together along the longitudinal sides this part of the sheet for instance be lifted somewhat alternatively be displaced somewhat inward so that the seam in this part gets located somewhat closer to the edge than for the corresponding lower part of the bag-sheet. In order to eliminate the need of turning inside out at the manufacturing one can instead consider to use the variety shown in fig 6 or 7 where the sheeting is folded around the blanket or duvet also at the longitudinal edges. In this way the need of turning inside out of the sheet is eliminated. Today many patients complain of freezing when they are hospitalized. The invention makes it more comfortable and warmer for the patients at the same time as the personnel is freed from the "blanket handling". An additional advantage is that a simple handling makes it possible for an increased number of care receivers to make their beds themselves when everything is in one piece, it is in other words possible to see the combination of bag-sheet and blanket in accordance with the invention as an aid.

Claims: Bag-sheet (2) provided with a padding (1) in the shape of a blanket, duvet or the like, whereby bag-sheet (2) and padding (1) are sewn together along the longitudinal edges, characterized in that it includes in principal two bags (11, 12) of which a first bag (11) extends from the lower end and almost to the upper end of the sheet (2), and a second bag (12) that extends from the upper end overlapping the upper edge (14) of the lower bag (11), and in that the sheet (2) in the upper end is folded over the upper edge of the blanket or duvet (1). Bag-sheet according to claim 1, characterized in that sheet (2) and padding (1) are sewn together also along the lower or foot end. Bag-sheet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bag-sheet (2) with the enclosed padding (1) is folded and vacuum packed. Bag-sheet according to claim 3, characterized in that also an under-sheet is enclosed in the same vacuum package.

Inventors: BERGMAN KERSTIN, BERGMAN, KERSTIN
Applicants: BERGMAN KERSTIN, BERGMAN, KERSTIN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47G9
IPC codes: A47G9