Abstract:
A sheet construction for baby sleeping furniture includes three dimensional contour surfaces extending upwardly from a flat central portion of the sheet. The contour surfaces are defined by fabric pockets filled with soft bulk material and may extend along opposed side edges of the sheet to define a central resting area therebetween. The contoured pockets contain a sleeping infant and prevent rolling over and other unwanted movement while providing comfortable contact with soft surfaces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date priority of U.S. Provisional Application 62/079,399, filed Nov. 13, 2014. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       SEQUENCE LISTING, ETC ON CD 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to sheets for baby and juvenile sleep or lounge products and surfaces and, more particularly, to sheets that embody three dimensional contoured shapes on their upper surfaces. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    Baby sleeping furniture, including cribs, sleepers, carriers, and the like, have in the past been provided with various pads, bumpers, and fillers to protect and surround the baby. However, recent regulatory rulings and adverse events have determined that many wedges, pads, and bumpers cannot be used in baby sleeping furniture. 
         [0008]    However, it remains necessary to protect babies while sleeping, particularly if it is required, e.g., to keep a baby sleeping on its back, or protect from impingement of the baby on structural components of the crib or sleeper construction. At the same time, it is important to provide a cozy and enclosed space for the infant that creates a sense of security, rather than an expansive open space that provides insufficient contact. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention generally comprises a fitted or flat sheet construction for baby sleeping furniture that includes three dimensional contour surfaces embodied in the sheet and supported or filled by soft or molded resilient bulk materials that are safe for baby sleeping purposes. The sheet is adapted to be removably secured to a flat mattress or mattress pad of baby sleeping furniture of any type, and includes a central portion that is essentially planar and horizontal or inclined and supported atop the mattress or pad. In one embodiment a pair of oblong fabric portions are sewn to the central portion and form a pocket therewith that extends upwardly from the plane of the sheet to form a smoothly contoured three-dimensional shape. 
         [0010]    The pocket retains a soft or molded resilient bulk material such as expanded foam, bulk fiber, and flexible silicone or plastic, or the like. The exterior of the pocket is a smooth curved contoured bumper surface that extends approximately 1.5-5 inches above the plane of the central portion of the sheet. 
         [0011]    The pair of pockets are spaced apart laterally, each abutting a respective side edge of the sheet, and defining therebetween a flat resting place for a baby. In other embodiments the pockets may be provided in plan layouts that are U-shape or an enclosed oval as well. One exemplary use for the invention is that the baby may be placed on his/her back on the resting place, and the three-dimensional bumper contours at the sides of the baby will prevent the baby from rolling over, so that the baby will sleep on its back. And the tactile contact with the smooth soft contours of the pockets engender a sense of comfort and security in the baby. 
         [0012]    The outer perimeter of the sheet is sized to fit about the mattress pad or sleeping surface, and may be provided with straps or an elastic edge treatment that secures the sheet assembly to the pad at the periphery thereof. 
         [0013]    The pockets of the sheet assembly may be provided with sealable openings that enable removal of the soft resilient bulk material so that the sheet assembly may be laundered. Alternatively, the pockets may be sewn shut and the filler material may be permanently installed. 
         [0014]    A salient advantage of the sheet assembly is that it may enhance any flat sleeping surface by adding three-dimensional contoured bumper surfaces that not only limit movement of the sleeping infant, but also provide soft, comfortable, cozy contact for the infant. Unlike the prior art use of loose pillows, pads, and stuffed figures, the three-dimensional contoured bumper surfaces of the sheet assembly cannot be displaced or moved by the infant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention, for use in a typical baby sleeper. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of another embodiment of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention for use in a typical baby sleeper. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a further embodiment of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours of the present invention for use in a typical baby sleeper. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours of the invention in use in a Snugglenest™ baby sleeper. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5-7  are cross-section lateral elevations of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 , each showing a different material used as a resilient bulk filler. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section lateral elevation of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 , showing another material used as a resilient bulk filler. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the sheet assembly with three-dimensional shaped contours of the invention used in a typical baby crib. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention generally comprises a sheet construction for baby sleeping furniture that includes three dimensional contour surfaces embodied in the sheet and supported or filled by soft or molded resilient bulk materials that are safe for baby sleeping purposes. The sheet is adapted to be removably secured to a flat mattress or mattress pad of the baby sleeping furniture. The outer perimeter of the sheet is dimensioned to fit about the mattress pad, and may be provided with an elastic edge treatment that continuously secures the sheet assembly to the pad at the periphery thereof, in the manner of a fitted sheet. 
         [0023]    As shown in the accompanying Figures, and particularly  FIG. 4 , in one typical use the invention may be installed in a Snuggle Nest™ sleeper  21  or the like, which has an upstanding sidewall  22  having a head end  23  and opposed side portions  24 . A flat mattress pad  26  is secured between the side portions and the head end, and the assembly is dimensioned to receive a baby  25  therein. 
         [0024]    The sheet assembly  30  of the invention includes a central flat portion  31  that spans the mattress pad  26  and is secured about the periphery thereof, either by an elastic band  35  sewn into the hem, or by tucking the margins of the sheet under the pad  26 . Sewn to the portion  31  are two fabric pockets  32  having smooth convex exterior surfaces with no protruding edges or seams. Each pocket is disposed adjacent to one longitudinal side edge of the sheet portion  31  and like edge of the mattress pad, and extends upwardly from the mattress pad approximately 1.5-5.0 inches. Each pocket  32  extends laterally toward the center of the mattress pad and protrudes upwardly from the sheet  31  in the manner of a bolster or bumper, and is configured with an outboard surface  33  that is generally parallel and collinear with the adjacent portion of the longitudinal side edge of the pad  26 , and an inboard surface  34  that is an elongated bowed continuous convex curved shape that joins the outboard surface at both ends. 
         [0025]    Each pocket  32  defines a three-dimensional contour by being filled with a soft resilient bulk material  36 , such as expanded foam ( FIG. 5 ), resilient fiber batting ( FIG. 6 ), inflated air cells ( FIG. 7 ), molded soft plastic ( FIG. 8 ), and the like. 
         [0026]    The perimeter of the sheet assembly  30  is configured in complementary fashion to the shape of the mattress pad, and may be shaped in plan view as an oval with rounded ends ( FIG. 1 ), a quadrilateral with rounded ends ( FIG. 2 ), or an oval having two extended pockets  32  or a single pocket  32 ′ that extends continuously about the outer edge of the sheet  31  ( FIG. 3 ). The shape and the width and length may be selected to fill the space provided in the baby sleeping bed, whatever type and size it may be. The sheet may be formed of, or include panels of, breathable mesh fabric for increased air flow to the baby, as indicated by reference numeral  41 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the continuous oval configuration of the pocket  32 ′ serves not only to prevent a sleeping infant from rolling over, but also to block the child from crawling or squirming toward the head or foot of the sleeping bed. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , the invention is shown in use with a typical baby crib  51 . The sheet assembly  30  has marginal side portions  56  secured about the sides of crib mattress  52 , either by folding and tucking under the mattress, or by an elasticized hem commonly used with fitted sheets. The pockets  32  are joined to the central flat portion  31  of the sheet assembly  30 , and extend continuously about the inner perimeter of the crib  51 , in the fashion similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 . The baby  25  asleep in the central resting area  31  of the sheet assembly  30  is blocked from rolling or otherwise moving into contact with the crib bars or ends, and the invention provides cozy comfort and safety for the sleeping infant. The materials used for the sheet portions and the bulk fill materials may be any of those mentioned previously herein, or their equivalents. Likewise, in any of the embodiments shown herein the pockets may include openings that are used to remove the bulk fill materials to enable laundering of the sheet assembly. 
         [0028]    Although the embodiments described herein depict the three-dimensional contour shapes as being located adjacent to the side or end edges of the sleeping mattress or pad, the pockets defining the contour shapes may be placed wherever they are needed or desired for the comfort and safety of the sleeping infant. 
         [0029]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The embodiments described are selected to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular purpose contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.