Abstract:
A bedding assembly including at least one fitted sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering a matrress at least one flat sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering said fitted sheet, and stitches connecting the fitted sheet to the flat sheet along at least one edge of the foot end of the fitted sheet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is related to a commonly owned application entitled “Bedding Assembly and Comforter Fastener,” filed Nov. 23, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates, in general, to a bedding assembly and means for maintaining the bedding assembly on a bed while in use and for simplifying bed making.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Various specific types and designs of bedclothes, commonly including various covering (as sheets, comforters, bed skirts, pillow cases) used on a bed, are known to those skilled in the art. However, it is often the case that when in use these bedclothes slip off of the bed resulting in a chilling of the user, or when not in use once these items have slipped off of the bed there are additional challenges necessary to re-make the bed. When using typical bedclothes, each separate piece is put on the bed one at a time.  
         [0004]     Bed covering designs and arrangements in common use have remained largely unchanged for many years, and generally involve the use of a bottom sheet to cover the mattress, a top sheet to cover a sleeper lying on the bottom sheet, and additional blankets or coverings placed above the top sheet when needed or desired. Fitted bottom sheets, with a pocket at each corner to fit around and under the mattress, have been known for some time and have become the conventional design because they are easily installed and removed, and because they stay in place much more reliably than flat sheets. In the conventional approach, however, separate flat top sheet have continued to be the norm, despite disadvantages and problems with their use. Those disadvantages and problems include difficulty in properly aligning the top sheet on the mattress; difficulty in tucking the ends and edges of the top sheet under the mattress, especially when the bed is placed with one side against a wall or access to one side is otherwise obstructed; and difficulty in maintaining the position and attachment of the top sheet during use.  
         [0005]     The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art and the conflicting criteria of typical users.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is the object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art preforms discussed above.  
         [0007]     One aspect of the present invention is directed to a bedding assembly including at least one fitted sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering a mattress, and at least one flat sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering said fitted sheet, and stitches connecting the fitted sheet to the flat sheet along at least one edge of the foot end of the fitted sheet.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of making a bed including the steps of providing a bedding assembly including at least one fitted sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering a mattress, at least one flat sheet having a head end and a foot end for covering said fitted sheet, and stitches connecting the fitted sheet to the flat sheet along at least one edge of the foot end of the fitted sheet. The method further includes steps of overlaying the mattress with the flat sheet and fitted sheet combination, and affixing the fitted sheet to the mattress, so as to secure the fitted sheet flat sheet combination in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.  
         [0009]     In this text, the terms “comprising”, “comprise”, “comprises” and other forms of “comprise” can have the meaning ascribed to these terms in U.S. Patent Law and can mean “including”, “include”, “includes” and other forms of “include”.  
         [0010]     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, incorporated herein by reference, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one aspect of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second aspect of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third aspect of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fourth aspect of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fifth aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     An example of the present invention can be found in  FIG. 1 , where a perspective view of a typically bed  10  having a head and  100  and a foot end  102  can be seen. The bed  10  includes a mattress  14  and a box spring  12 . The mattress  14  is covered with a fitted sheet  16 , over which is a top or flat sheet  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , at the foot end  102 , the top sheet  18  and the fitted sheet  16  are joined. The three remaining ends, namely the head end  100  and the two sides are free and allow for movement. In some arrangements it may be desirable that one of the sides also be attached to the fitted sheet  16 , as will be discussed below.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 1  the top sheet  18  is sewn to the fitted sheet  16  along four edges, namely the top horizontal edge  30 , a bottom horizontal edge  32 , and the two vertical side edges  34 . This is demonstrated in the figure by stitches  20 . The stitches  20  secure the top sheet  18  to the fitted sheet  16  and insure that at least on the foot end  102  of the bed  10 , the flat sheet will be secured. It has been found that securing the foot end  102  of the flat sheet  18  greatly enhances the likelihood that the flat sheet  18  will not be kicked off of the bed  10  while the user is sleeping. In addition, the flat sheet  18  as shown in  FIG. 18  is much easier than traditional flat sheets to secure to the bed when making it as it is already secured to the fitted sheet  16  in the location where traditional hospital corners would be installed at the foot end  102  of the bed  10 .  
         [0019]     It has been determined that to improve security of the top sheet  18  on the fitted sheet  16 , at least two of the edges  30 - 34  must be sewn. Preferably, the edges that are sewn are adjacent edges and not parallel edges. More preferably still, at least three edges are sewn to insure strength to the combination of the fitted and the top sheets  16  and  18 , as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]     In  FIG. 2 a  second aspect of the present invention is shown. In  FIG. 2 , the flat sheet  18  is formed so that it only covers the top surface of the fitted sheet  16 . Such an arrangement has the advantage of reducing the bulk of the material hanging over the edge of the mattress and may enhance the aesthetic appeal of the bed  10  when made. Another feature of the aspect of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2  is the addition of stitches  20  on the side  36  of the mattress. These stitches  20  on the side  36  of the mattress further assist in securing the flat sheet  18  to the fitted sheet  16 , and reduce the likelihood that the user would kick the flat sheet  18  off of the bed when in use. Although shown in  FIG. 2  as having all four edges  30 - 34  of the flat sheet  18  sewn to the fitted sheet  16 , this need not be the case. As discussed above, sewing of at least one edge is necessary, and preferably two or more edges are sewn. Further, there is no requirement that the entire edge be sewn, as will be discussed below.  
         [0021]     In  FIG. 3 , a further aspect of the present invention is shown. The mattress in  FIG. 3  is covered with a fitted sheet which itself is covered with a flat sheet  18 . The flat sheet  18  is sewn to the fitted sheet on three edges  30  and  34 . In addition, the flat sheet  18  is sewn on two lengthwise edges  36 . The flat sheet  18  also includes flaps  24  which extend over the mattress and at least partially cover the box spring  12 .  
         [0022]     Yet a further aspect of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  depicts a flat sheet  18  sewn to a fitted sheet along only a portion of the horizontal edge  30 . Specifically,  FIG. 4  shows stitches  20  along the portion of horizontal edge  30  that is closest to the corners of the bed. Accordingly, it is not necessary that an entire edge surface of the flat sheet  18  be stitched to the fitted sheet. As shown if  FIG. 4  only portions of the edges  36  are sewn as is only a portion of the horizontal edge  30 . Though shown as having the entirety of vertical edges  34  sewn together, those of skill in the art will appreciate that only a portion of these vertical edges need be sewn. A further aspect of the present invention are the two attachment means  38 . The use of these attached means is described in greater detail in commonly owned U.S. Patent Application entitled “Comforter Fastener” filed Nov. 7, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference, and where it is described that the attachment means  38  may be for, example, hook and loop fasteners sold under the trade name Velcro®. Alternatively, the attachment means could be buttons, snaps, zippers, or other useful means known to those of skill in the art. Further, corresponding attachments means may be formed on a comforter or a duvet cover that covers the comforter. Through the use of the attachment means  38 , the comforter is secured to the bed  10 . When used in combination with the sewn together fitted and flat sheets  16  and  18 , described above, the comforter provides a warm, comfortable and secure combination of sheets and comforters when in use, and when not in use a comforter and sheet combination that is aesthetically appealling and held in place when made up on a bed.  
         [0023]     Having thus described in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.