Abstract:
A bedding assembly for use with a mattress, the assembly including a circumscribing padding sized and shaped to extend from or rest on top of a top perimeter surface of the mattress, the padding having one or more contiguous sections, each section having a vertical outer surface positioned adjacent to sidewalk of the mattress, a horizontal bottom surface adjacent the to surface of the mattress, and an angled surface extending from the outer surface to the bottom surface, and a cover sized and shaped to secure the padding sections together in a shape that circumscribes a central portion of the mattress, and a fitted sheet sized and shaped to hold the padding and cover on the mattress.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure is directed to sleep systems and, more particularly, to mattresses and bedding for infants and toddlers to be used in crib and cradle safety sleep systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Cribs and cradles are utilized by infants or young children during sleep and nap times as well as for resting while awake. A typical crib has a base, a soft mattress resting on the base, and side rails surrounding the mattress to keep an infant from falling off the mattress. One or both side rails have top and bottom rails with vertical slats extending there between. These side rails are usually configured to raise and lower to facilitate placing and removing a child from the crib and changing the bedding and, at times, the mattress. However, the side rails of a crib can often pose dangers for young children, such as hitting their heads on the hard surface or getting limbs stuck between individual vertical slats. As a result of these dangers, crib bumpers have become popular to act as a buffer between a child and the side rails. 
     Many people find crib bumpers necessary for one of three reasons: to protect a child from the hard surfaces of the crib or cradle, to prevent a child&#39;s limbs from extending through the slats resulting in strain or injury, or to simply provide an environment in which a child can have a more restful sleep. 
     Traditional crib and cradle bumpers create a “wall” that lines the inside perimeter of the bed. These bumpers block the child&#39;s access to the vertical slats and the space in between each vertical slat. Unfortunately, these bumpers can also block airflow to the child, especially young infants who can be smothered or tangled in the flexible ties used to hold the bumper to the side rails and end boards of the crib. This style of crib bumper has generally been made of a continuous, soft, quilted pad that is fastened to the vertical rails of the crib by ties similar to shoe laces. There are a number of reasons why this is not safe for a child. First, the pad does not allow for proper airflow to the child and a child can suffocate if their airway is blocked by the soft pad (at a young age, children do not have the instinct to move away when their airway is blocked). Second, because the pads are secured to the railings instead of the mattress by the ties, children can get their faces or limbs wedged between the bumper and the mattress causing injury or suffocation. Finally, these pads are typically secured to the rails with some type of fastener, generally ties, that do not hold the bumper tightly to the rails and slats, which can pose a strangulation or choking hazard for children. 
     There are also new types of “wall” bumpers made of mesh. These do allow for airflow while keeping a child&#39;s limbs from becoming stuck in the side rails, but they do not provide any protection from the hard surfaces of the rails or crib. This could result in injury to the child or, at minimum, could wake a child if they bump too hard into the sides of the crib or cradle. One example of a mesh bumper can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,161,584, which uses a mesh means at the base of the bumper where the bumper meets the mattress. Additionally, this system uses a fastening device to attach the mesh to the fitted sheet. This can either be in direct contact with a child, possibly resulting in injury, or be can lead to the child being covered with a “flap,” leading to suffocation. 
     Another solution has been to wrap each vertical slat individually. One example of such a bumper can be seen in published Patent Application WO 2009117180. Although this method provides protection from the hard, internal surfaces of the crib and allows for airflow, it does not prevent a child&#39;s limbs from extending through the vertical rails. This could cause injury or allow a child to wake from restful sleep when turning or changing positions in the crib or cradle. 
     One other proposed solution can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,874, which uses triangular bumpers around the inside perimeter of the crib or cradle. However, this design still poses several potential safety hazards. A child can easily get caught underneath the device because it rests directly on top of the mattress without being secured to the mattress in any way. If a child accidentally places their head or limbs under the bumpers, they could suffocate or sustain injuries. In addition, the bumper is attached via cords, snaps or some kind of tie to the rails of the bed, which present a significant choking or strangulation hazard to children. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a protective system for cribs, cradles and toddler beds that does not pose any significant hazards or dangers to a child, and keeps the child centered in the safe middle section of the bed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to bedding and bedding systems for use with infants and young children. In accordance with one implementation of the present disclosure, a padding system is provided for use with a mattress, the mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface, a circumscribing sidewall defining a thickness, and a top surface perimeter. The padding system includes a padding assembly having a length for placement along at least part of the perimeter of the top surface of the mattress. The padding assembly has a bottom padding surface, a back padding surface, and an angled padding surface connecting the bottom padding surface to the back padding surface. The padding system also includes a padding cover having a continuous top surface, the padding cover sized and shaped to at least partially cover the padding assembly, and to hold the padding assembly in a geometric shape. The padding cover includes a central cover portion sized and shaped to and cover at least a portion of the top surface of the mattress and the inner padding surface, a side cover portion connected to the central cover portion and sized and shaped to at least partially wrap around the padding assembly, and releasable cover fasteners structured to releasably secure the side cover portion and the padding assembly together. The padding system further includes a fitted sheet sized and shaped to hold the padding assembly and the padding cover to the mattress. The fitted sheet has a padding covering portion sized and shaped to cover the padding cover, and a mattress covering portion having a first sheet part extending from the padding covering portion and sized and shaped to cover the circumscribing sidewall of the mattress, and a second sheet part extending from the first sheet part, and sized and shaped to at least partially cover the bottom surface of the mattress. 
     In accordance with another implementation of the present disclosure, a bedding assembly is provided for a mattress having a top surface with a surface area, which defines a perimeter of the mattress, and a bottom surface. The bedding assembly includes a padding sized and shaped to rest on the top surface of a mattress and be secured around the perimeter of the mattress, the padding having first, second, third, and fourth padding sections. The bedding assembly further includes a cover having a continuous top surface and is sized and shaped to enclose the padding and cover the surface area of the mattress. The cover includes a first padding wrap sized and shaped to at least partially enclose the first section of the padding, a second padding wrap sized and shaped to at least partially enclose the second section of the padding, a third padding wrap sized and shaped to at least partially enclose a third section of the padding, and a fourth padding wrap sized and shaped to at least partially enclose a fourth section of the padding. A center section is connected to the first padding wrap, the second padding wrap, the third padding wrap and the fourth padding wrap, the center section sized and shaped to securely hold the first padding wrap, the second padding wrap, the third padding wrap and the fourth padding wrap together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a bedding system according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows the padding of the bedding system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a padding of a bedding system formed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a padding of a bedding system formed in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  shows a bedding system with attachment points of a cover according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  shows the bedding system of  FIG. 5  with hidden lines showing the padding and attachment points of a cover according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a bedding system with a fitted sheet according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  shows the bedding system of  FIG. 7  with hidden lines showing the mattress and padding; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view a bedding system in a crib according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a bedding system with a fitted sheet according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a bedding system in a crib according to one implementation of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a bedding system formed in accordance with the present disclosure in a crib with one side rail of the crib removed; and 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a bedding system in a toddler bed according to one implementation of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the present disclosed implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both that are associated with the environment of the present disclosure, including but not limited to the construction of the crib frame, bed frame, and mattresses have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations. 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoing applies equally to the words “including” and “having.” 
     Reference throughout this description to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. 
       FIG. 1  shows a bedding assembly  20  according to one implementation of the present disclosure. The bedding assembly  20  includes a first side  22 , a second side  24 , a third side  26 , a fourth side  28 , and a center  30 . The sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  are generally sloped upwards and outwards from the center  30 . An infant is placed on the center  30  to sleep, and the sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  help to keep the infant positioned in the center  30  of the bedding system  20  and prevent them from falling off while sleeping. The bedding assembly  20  is designed to keep a child within the safety of the center  30  of a crib or cradle without any devices or parts that a child can get wedged under, become tangled in, or choke on. It is to be understood that the bedding assembly  20  can be formed to be with a mattress  100  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) or mattress-boxspring combination or formed separate from the mattress  100 . The system may also include the frame or crib that supports the mattress. 
       FIG. 2  shows a further aspect of the bedding assembly  20  to include a first padding  32 , a second padding  34 , a third padding  36  and a fourth padding  38 . It is to be appreciated that the individual padding sections  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  can be connected together to form a unitary elongate padding or a padding formed in a geometric shape, such as the traditional rectangular shape of a mattress. As such it can be easily placed around the perimeter of a mattress top on which it is used. 
     However, in a preferred implementation, the padding is formed of the four sections  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  that are placed or formed in the sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  of the bedding assembly or system, thus providing a supporting structure for the sides. The contoured shape of the padding allows for easy airflow to the child, and prevents the sides  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  from collapsing on the child, which can lead to suffocation. 
     In another contemplated implementation of the present disclosure, the bedding system  20  only has two sides  22  and  26 . In this implementation, the bedding system  20  positions paddings  32  and  36  on the top surface of the mattress  100 , but does not have the paddings  34  and  38  adjacent to the headboard or footboard of the crib or cradle. 
     The padding  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  is made of any suitable soft, protective material, such as foam. Preferably, the padding  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  is made of food grade polyethylene in order to be less toxic and easily wiped clean. Food grade polyethylene does not produce trapped gasses like other foam products do, which may be dangerous to a child. 
     Each of the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  has a bottom surface  40 , a back surface  42 , an angled surface  44  connecting the bottom surface  40  and the back surface  42 , and first and second side surfaces  46  and  48 . Each padding  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  preferably has a triangular cross sectional configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The angle between the bottom surface  40  and the angled surface  44  can be any angle sufficient to keep a child away from the railing, while still allowing adequate airflow to the child. Preferably, the angle is between 20 degrees and 70 degrees. The triangular shape of the paddings helps to ensure that there are no gaps or air pockets which a child might become stuck in, while still allowing air to easily flow into the crib. 
     The padding length from the first side surface  46  to the second side surface  48  can be any length appropriate to fit in a crib, cradle or toddler bed. Preferably, the length from side surface  46  to side surface  48  of paddings  32  and  36  is between 45″ and 80″; and the length from side surface  46  to side surface  48  of paddings  34  and  38  is between 25″ and 45″. The width of the bottom surface  40 , as measured from the back surface  42  to the angled surface  48 , can be any length appropriate to keep a child safely secured in the center of the bedding assembly  20 . Preferably, the width of the bottom surface  40  is between 4″ and 6″. The height of the back surface  42  can be any length appropriate to protect an infant or child from hitting the side rails of a crib or cradle or from falling out of a bed. Preferably, the height of the back surface  42  is between 3″ and 6″. 
       FIG. 3  shows the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  fitting together to form a rectangular shape having approximately the same outer perimeter dimensions as the top of the mattress with which the bedding assembly  20  will be used. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom surface  40  of all paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  is placed downward, with the back surface  42  being vertical and the angled surface  44  angled inwardly toward the center of the crib. The side surface  46  of each padding  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  touches the side surface  48  of one other padding. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of one of the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , showing the face of the side surface  48 , and a profile view of the padding. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a cover  50  of the bedding assembly  20 . The paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  are contained within the cover  50 , which securely fastens all paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  together. The cover  50  provides a single, continuous surface  62  for the entire bedding assembly  20 , preventing a child from becoming trapped under the paddings. The cover  50  is made up of a center piece  52 , a first padding wrap  54 , a second padding wrap  56 , a third padding wrap  58  and a fourth padding wrap  60 . Each of the padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  are connected to the center piece  52  so that the padding wraps and the center piece  52  have a single, continuous top surface  62  when the cover  50  is fastened around the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . 
     The padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  each have a padding covering portion  66  extending from the center piece  52 , and a side covering portion  68  extending from the padding covering portion. The padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60  contain fasteners  64  that are used to secure the padding wraps around their respective paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . Preferably, the fasteners  64  are connected to the side cover portion  68  in order to keep the fasteners  64  on the outside of the system  20  and away from the child. According to one implementation, the padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  fully enclose their respective paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . 
     In another implementation, the padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  partially enclose the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 , leaving the bottom surface  40  of each padding uncovered. The fasteners  64  of the cover are preferably hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable releasable fastener, and are positioned on all four sides of the cover. Preferably, there are eight sets of hook and loop fasteners stitched to the perimeter of the cover measuring approximately 1″×1.5″ each. Other fasteners may include snaps or zippers, but will preferably face the railing so nothing hard can be felt while lying on the bedding system. 
     The cover  50  can be made of any suitable fabric to securely wrap the paddings, such as cotton. According to one implementation, the cover is made of 100% organic cotton. The weight of the fabric is preferably thick and durable enough to contain the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  and keep them in place, giving the bedding assembly  20  structure. Preferably the fabric used for the cover does not stretch, thereby giving more support to the bedding assembly  20 . The cover  50  is sewn such that the padding wraps  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60  fit tightly over the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  when they are wrapped around the paddings, preventing the paddings from slipping or moving. According to one implementation, the cover also protects the mattress from spills and stains by placing a rubber layer on the center piece  52 . This is an added convenience for the consumer, as a separate mattress pad or protector does not have to be purchased. The cover  50  can be easily removed for laundering. 
       FIGS. 7-10  show another implementation of the bedding assembly  20  described above used in conjunction with a fitted sheet  70 . The fitted sheet  70  is sized and shaped to at least fit over and preferably enclose or encompass the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 , the cover  50 , and the mattress  100  on which the bedding assembly  20  rests. The fitted sheet  70  includes a padding covering portion  72  and a mattress covering portion  74 . 
     The padding covering portion  72  of the fitted sheet  70  is sized and shaped to fit over the center  30  and over the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . The padding covering portion  72  is sewn such that it has a center portion  82  that lies over the top surface  102  of the mattress  100 , and a perimeter portion  84  that circumscribes the center portion  82  and fits over the paddings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38 . The mattress covering portion  74  of the fitted sheet  70  extends from the padding covering portion to cover a sidewall  104  and a bottom surface  106  of the mattress  100 . The mattress covering portion  74  has a first sheet part  76  that covers the sidewall  104  of the mattress  100 , and a second sheet part  78  extending inwardly from the first part  76  to enclose at least part of the bottom surface  106  of the mattress, forming an opening  86  on the fitted sheet  70 . 
     The fitted sheet  70  keeps the sleeping environment clean and clear of any internal parts that a child could potentially be entangled in, causing strangulation or suffocation. The opening  86  for removing the fitted sheet  70  is completely under the mattress and out of reach of the child. The sheet  70  is kept secure by elastic stitched in the opening  86  or any other suitable method. In one implementation, the sheet is made of 100% organic cotton, however any suitable fabric may be used. The fitted sheet  70  has a fabric that is preferably smooth and soft in surface texture making it a comfortable sleeping surface. 
       FIGS. 11-13  show the bedding assembly  20  being used on a variety of different bed types, allowing the bedding assembly  20  to be used when a child is transitioning into larger bed by sleeping in a convertible crib or toddler bed. As long as a standard mattress is used in the bed, the fitted sheet  70  will securely fasten the bedding assembly  20  to the mattress even when no railing or other side guards are used. When used in a toddler bed or a convertible crib, the bedding assembly  20  will help to prevent a child from rolling out of bed. This lengthens the time and use of the implementation making it multi-functional and a more convenient purchase for the consumer. 
     The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of the implementations can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further implementations. 
     These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.