Abstract:
A fitted sheet has cutout portions at both of its bottom corners that permit, with the aid of separable fasteners located at the cutout portions, to convert the sheet from a planar configuration to a configuration comprising two pockets adapted to retain the sheet on the mattress.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to bed clothes, and in particular to a fitted top sheet. 
     When making up a bed with sheets, it is desirable that the corners of the sheet be kept in place to insure a smooth fit, and to prevent the dislodgement of the sheet when in use. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Fitted sheets are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 738,674 to Grattan discloses a sheet having excess material at the sides and ties to secure the sheet at the corners. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,630,588 to Levin discloses a fitted sheet having straight cutouts at all four corners. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,089,379 to Marinsky discloses a fitted sheet having two straight portions at all four corners with a cutout between the corners. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,832 to Jamison discloses a fitted sheet having 45 degree angles at the top and 45 degree angles at the bottom. 
     The present invention is directed to a fitted sheet that is cut at a 45 degree angle at the bottom to eliminate excess material and to prevent the sheet from becoming shifted or dislodged, all as will be detailed in the specification that follows hereafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a fitted top sheet that has cut out bottom portions each of which portions are oriented at angles to be folder about the bottom corners of a mattress. 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for an improved fitted sheet. 
     Another object is to provide for such a sheet which has bottom corner cutout portions with fasteners to permit a sheet to be firmly attached to a mattress, whereby the sheet can be converted from a first planar configuration to a second, pocketed configuration. 
     It is an other object of the present invention to provide for an improved fitted sheet which can be easily and quickly attached to a mattress. 
     It is an other object of the present invention to provide for an improved fitted sheet which will be securely attached to a mattress so it will not become dislodged during use. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to readers from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the sheet of the present invention before it is folded about a mattress. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the bottom corners of the sheet after it is folded about a mattress. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the bottom corners of the sheet before it is completely folded about a mattress. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial view of one of the bottom corners of the sheet showing the various angles which make up each bottom corner of the sheet. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention  1 . The unfolded sheet  1  has a generally rectangular shaped portion  3  with a center slit  4  which extends from approximately the top of the sheet to a position adjacent the bottom of the sheet. The slit  4  will allow a person sleeping on the left side of the bed to adjust his/her half of the sheet without disturbing a person sleeping on the right side of the bed. 
     The sheet  1  of the present invention has a top edge  7  and a bottom edge  8  with side edges  5  extending between the top and the bottom of the sheet. Each side edge has an enlarged portion  6  which will allow the sheet to be tucked under a mattress  2 . At each of the bottom corners of the sheet  3  a cutout portion is provided. The cut out portion comprises a first horizontal straight line portion  9  which makes an approximate 90° angle with the side edge  5 . A second straight line portion  10  makes an approximately 135° angle with the portion  9 . A third straight line portion of the cut out  11  makes an approximately 90° angle with the portion  10 . Portion  11  is joined to portion  10  on one end, and is joined to bottom edge  8  at the other end. 
     Portions  10 ,  11  have complimentary fasteners  12 ,  13  disposed therealong. When the portions  10 ,  11  are folder about the corner of the mattress  2 , the fasteners  12 ,  13  will be secured together in order the bottom of the sheet firmly and securely to the bottom of the mattress  2 . It should be noted that while the fasteners  12 ,  13  are shown as snap fasteners, any conventional fastener such as, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners could be used, as long as the fastener will securely hold the bottom portion of the sheet onto the bottom of the mattress. In addition, the number of fasteners is not material. For example, two fasteners are shown in FIG.  1  and five fasteners are shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the sheet in its final folded position about the corner of the mattress. In this figure the portion  6  has been folded under the mattress  2  and extends between the mattress  2  and the box spring  14 . In addition, portion  10  has been folded down along the side of the mattress and is not seen since it is under portion  11  in FIG.  2 . Portion  11  has been folded onto portion  10  and the fasteners  13  have been engaged with the fasteners  12  thereby forming two pockets that retain the sheet on the mattress. 
     FIG. 3 shows the bottom of the sheet with the portion  10  folded down along the side of the mattress  2 , but before the portion  11  has been folded over portion  10 . The extended portion  6  has not, as yet, been folded under the mattress  2 . 
     In use, a person would first fold portion  10  down along the side of the mattress  2 , as shown in FIG.  3 . Then the portion  6  would be folded under the mattress  2 . Next, portion  11  would be folded over portion  10 , as shown in FIG. 2, and the fasteners  12 ,  13  would be engaged. This same procedure would be performed on the opposite bottom corner and this would quickly and easily secure the bottom of the sheet to the bottom of the mattress. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the method of using the same has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.