Abstract:
A fitted top sheet for a mattress includes a material blank having a pair of opposed fitted corners formed by at least one pleat on a blank surface of the sheet. A plurality of pleats may be formed in each corner to form a pocket mountable over a bottom corner of a mattress. The bottom edges of the fitted top sheet hang freely below the bottom edge of the mattress without tucking beneath the mattress to allow ample foot room between the top sheet and the mattress for a user&#39;s feet while without separating from the mattress during use of the bed.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates, in general, to a top sheet for a bed mattress and, more particularly, to a fitted top sheet for a mattress.  
         [0002]     Unfitted, flat bed sheets are widely used with a bed mattress. Such sheets, also known as top sheets, are spread flat over the upper surface of the mattress with the side and bottom edges typically hanging downward beyond the lower edge of the mattress. At least the bottom edge and usually the sides of the top sheet are tucked under the mattress between the mattress and the box springs to keep the top sheet in place on the mattress.  
         [0003]     However, mattresses, particularly king and queen size mattresses, make it difficult to easily bend over and lift the bottom edge of the mattress a sufficient amount to enable the edges of the top sheet to be tucked underneath the mattress. This is especially troublesome and potentially injurious for individuals who make a large number of beds each day in hotels, hospitals, etc.  
         [0004]     While the bottom sheets typically have elastic pockets formed at each corner to enable the bottom sheet to be fit over the mattress and held securely in place during use of the bed, elastic corners cannot be applied to all four corners of the top sheet since such would prevent an individual from pulling back the top sheet to enter the bed. In addition, the tight fit of the top sheet at the bottom edge of the bed due to the elastic corners provides limited space for the user&#39;s feet thereby making use of the bed uncomfortable. Elastic also has a tendency to lose its elasticity over time and repeated washings thereby rendering the sheet unusable or difficult to use despite the fact that the sheet material may still be in good condition.  
         [0005]     Although the four elastic pockets on the bottom sheet are easily placed on the mattress to properly locate the bottom sheet on the mattress, unfitted top sheets pose a centering problem which causes the person making the bed to typically make several trips from one side of the bed to the other to make sure that the top sheet is substantially centered on the mattress with even amounts of overhang on both sides and a sufficient amount of overhang at the bottom edge for tucking and to hide the mattress.  
         [0006]     Attempts have been made to address these problems by providing a fitted top sheet. However, most fitted top sheets still employ elastic at the fitted corners which engage the bottom corners of the mattress thereby not fully addressing the problems of an uncomfortable fit for the user&#39;s feet as well as the eventual loss of elasticity rendering the top sheet unusable. Other fitted top sheets employ a specially designed and shaped sheet with elaborate cut outs or notches which are folded together over the mattress to provide a pocket for the user&#39;s feet.  
         [0007]     However, such fitted top sheets are easily dislodged due to the normal movements of a person during sleep which pulls the folded over, fitted edges of the sheet away from the mattress thereby requiring the top sheet to be recentered and retucked under the mattress after each time the bed is used.  
         [0008]     Such elaborately folded top sheets also require extra steps to place the top sheet in the proper position on the mattress. This can be time consuming for those individuals who make up a large number of beds each day in hotels, hospitals, etc.  
         [0009]     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a fitted top sheet for a bed mattress which addresses the problems of prior art top sheets with respect to the need to bend over and lift the edge of the mattress to tuck the top sheet under the mattress, repeated movements around the bed to center the top sheet on the mattress, the need to remount the top sheet to the mattress after each use since the top sheet is easily become separated from the mattress during bed use.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     A fitted top sheet mountable over a mattress is disclosed. The fitted top sheet includes a blank material having a top portion, opposed side portions, and an end portion. A width of the blank is greater than a width of a mattress on which the blank is mountable such that the edges of the side and end portions of the blank extend below a bottom edge of the mattress when the sheet is deployed on the mattress.  
         [0011]     At least one pleat formed at each of the opposed ends of the bottom end portion of the blank. The pleat(s) forms opposed fitted corners mountable over the corresponding bottom corner edges of a mattress to fit the top sheet over the mattress.  
         [0012]     In another aspect, the at least one pleat comprises a plurality of pleats, such as three pleats, for example. A central one of the pleats is substantially alignable with a center line of the bottom corner of the mattress. Additional side pleats are spaced equidistantly on opposite sides of the central pleat and extend substantially parallel to the central pleat.  
         [0013]     Folded over portions of the pleats on the rear surface of the blank can be fixed to the hem of the blank.  
         [0014]     The top sheet described herein overcomes many of the deficiencies encountered with the use of prior flat top sheets as well as fitted top sheets. Since there is no need to fold and tuck the bottom edges of the top sheet beneath the mattress, placing the fitted top sheet on the mattress is quicker, and involves less tiresome labor while still providing adequate foot room between the top sheet and the mattress. Further, the fitted corners remain in place on the mattress between uses thereby eliminating the need to reposition the top sheet and retuck the corners of the top sheet beneath the mattress after each use.  
         [0015]     A properly folded fitted top sheet can be quickly and easily centered and located on a mattress and then unfolded to drop into position over the top of the mattress in a simple, quick, and expeditious manner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0016]     The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a fitted top sheet mounted over a bed mattress;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged showing the mounting of one edge of the fitted top sheet of  FIG. 1  on the mattress;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a partial, enlarged perspective view showing the rear surface of the top sheet during an initial construction step;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged, perspective view of the top sheet of  FIG. 3  in a subsequent construction step; and  
         [0021]      FIGS. 5-9  are perspective views showing the sequential steps in applying the fitted top sheet of  FIGS. 1-4  on a mattress. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9  of the drawing, there is depicted a fitted top sheet  20  which provides many advantages in making and using a bed in residential, institutional, or commercial settings.  
         [0023]     The fitted top sheet  20  is formed of a blank of fabrics and materials commonly found in bed sheets made today. Such materials may include cotton, silk, synthetic materials and combinations thereof, by way of example only.  
         [0024]     The fitted top sheet  20  is typically provided with a four-sided polygonal shape. Typically, the top sheet  20  has a rectangular shape; although larger size sheets, such as king size sheets, may be almost square in shape. It will be understood that the fitted top sheet  20  described herein may be provided in any size, for different size mattresses, such as twin, queen, king, etc.  
         [0025]     Thus, regardless of the overall size or shape of the top sheet  20 , the top sheet  20  has, taken from a view from the top of a mattress, a top surface  22 , a rear or back surface  24 , shown in  FIG. 3 , opposed side edges  26  and  28 , a top edge  30 , and a bottom edge  32 . As is typical, the side edges  26  and  28 , the top edge  30 , and the bottom edge  32  may be hemmed to provide a neat appearance and to prevent unraveling.  
         [0026]     The top sheet  20  is designed for application over a bed mattress  36  which, in typical use, rests on a box spring  38  which is supported in a frame, not shown. The mattress  36 , which again can be provided in any typical mattress size or even a custom size, has a top surface  40 , an opposed bottom surface, not shown, and four identical height sides, such as sides  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48 . The sides  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  are separated by corners, such as corners  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 .  
         [0027]     The top sheet  20  has a length, which may be a standard size sheet length for any of a twin, queen, or king size mattress, such that the top edge  30 , when the top sheet  20  is applied to the mattress  36 , is located on the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  adjacent to, but typically spaced from a top edge of the mattress  36 .  
         [0028]     The top sheet  20  has a width and length such that when the top sheet  20  is applied over the mattress  36 , two opposed side panels  60  and  62 , as well as a bottom panel  64 , which are respectively located adjacent to the side edges  54  and the bottom edge  46  of the mattress  36 , have the same height and, by example only, overhang from the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  the same distance or height as the height of the side edges  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  of the mattress  36  on which the top sheet  20  is mounted. This places the bottom edges  26 ,  28 , and  32  of the top sheet  20  at least substantially in line with a bottom edge  66  of the mattress  36 . It will be understood that the width and length of the sheet  20  may be modified to different widths and lengths so as to vary the amount of the overhang of the side panels  60  and  62  and the bottom panel  64  of the top sheet  20  over the side edges  44 ,  46 , and  48  of the mattress  36 .  
         [0029]     This amount of overhang eliminates the need to tuck in the bottom edges  26 ,  28 , and  32  of the top sheet  20  beneath the bottom edge  66  of the mattress  36  between the mattress  36  and the box spring  38 . In addition, the overhang of the side panels  60  and  62  and the bottom panel  64  over the respective side and bottom edges  44 ,  48 , and  46  of the mattress  36  enables the top surface  22  of the top sheet  20  to be elevated away from the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  to enable a user to easily enter and get out of the bed, move around on the mattress  36  during sleep, as well as to be elevated to provide a comfortable space for the user&#39;s feet. These functions are provided without causing the bottom panel  64  or any portion of the side panels  60  and  62  from being completely separated from the mattress  36 .  
         [0030]     A pair of fitted corners  70  and  72  are formed on the sheet  20  at locations corresponding to the bottom side edges  52  and  54  of the mattress  36 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , at least one, with two or more pleats such as three pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  shown by way of example only, are formed on the back surface  24  of the sheet  20 . The pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  extend for a predetermined length tailored to the thickness of mattress from the hem or bottom edges  28  and  32  of the sheet  20  for the total height of the mattress  36  plus the predetermined additional amount, such as four inches of sheet overhang, by way of example only. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  extend from an upper end  90  to an opposed lower end at the hem on the bottom edge of the sheet  20 .  
         [0031]     The pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , are formed with a generally V-shaped fold in the sheet  20 . The distance between the fold and the apex of each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88  varies in length between the top of each peat  84 ,  86 , and  88  and the bottom of each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88 .  
         [0032]     For odd numbers of pleats, such as 1, 3, 5, etc., one pleat is positioned such that the creased or folded edge of the sheet is substantially alignable with a center line of the bottom corner of the mattress  36 . When even numbers of pleats are used in the top sheet  20 , the innermost pair of spaced pleats are spaced substantially equidistantly from the bottom corner edge of the mattress  36  when the sheet  20  is deployed on the mattress  36 .  
         [0033]     The centralmost pleat  84  extends at a slight angle from perpendicular from the top edge  90  from the corner of the sheet  20 . The side pleats  86  and  88  are spaced equidistantly on opposite sides of the central pleat  84  and are generally parallel to the pleat  84 .  
         [0034]     The innermost fold edge, such as edge  94  of each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88 , can be stitched so as to retain the shape of the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  or merely pressed to form a crease in each pleat at the juncture of each pleat and the side panels  24 ,  26 , and the bottom edge  64  of the sheet  20 .  
         [0035]     The formation of each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88  forms a generally tapered flounce extending from the upper end  90  to a larger dimension at the hem.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  are folded over the side panels  60  and  64  of the sheet  20 . The bottommost edges adjacent the hem are folded upward as shown in  FIG. 4  to overlay the remainder of the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  or cut in a line generally co-linear with the hem of the sheet  20 . Pinking shears may be used to cut the excess material from each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88 .  
         [0037]     The ends of each pleat  84 ,  86 , and  88  may optionally stitched to the hem of the sheet  20  or merely left in a folded position on the back surface  24  of the sheet  20 . Alternately, the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  may be left unfolded as shown in  FIG. 3  for a decorative effect.  
         [0038]     When the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  have been completed, the sheet  20  is reversed so that the top surface  22  is outermost and the folded over portions of the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  are disposed in an overlying relationship with the back surface  24  of the sheet  20 . The stitched ends of the pleats  84 ,  86 , and  88  form three generally parallel pleat lines  100 ,  102 , and  104  on the top surface  22  on the sheet  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The central pleat line  100  is adapted to be disposed substantially over the edge  52  of the mattress  36 . The two side pleat lines  102  and  104  are spaced on opposite sides, generally equidistantly from the central pleat line  100 . This pleat arrangement forms a fitted corner at each of the bottom edges or corners of the sheet  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0039]     When the top sheet  20  is installed over the mattress  36 , the bottom edges  28 ,  32 , etc., extend a predetermined distance, such as four inches for example, below the bottom edges  66  of the mattress. The amount of overhang can vary depending on the thickness of the mattress  36 . Meanwhile, the fitted corner  70  and  72  fits snuggly over the bottom edges  52  and  54  of the mattress  36  to position the top sheet  20  on the mattress  36 . At the same time, the loose, untucked, non side-to-side movable hanging of the lower edges of the sheet  20  in line or below the bottom edge  66  of the mattress  36 , allows the bottom portion of the top sheet  20  to rise upward away from the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  to allow comfortable room for the user&#39;s feet.  
         [0040]     Further, the fitted corners  70  and  72  allow the top sheet  20  to be quickly centered on the mattress  36  thereby eliminating the tiresome and time consuming necessity of walking back and forth between the opposite sides of the bed to properly center a top sheet on the mattress.  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-9 , there is depicted a unique method of installing the fitted top sheet  20  on a mattress  36 .  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the fitted top sheet  20 , folded up as described hereafter, is positioned adjacent the top bottom edge  37  of the mattress  36 . The outermost fold  110  of the folded up top sheet  20  is then unwrapped from the stack and draped over the top bottom edge  37  of the mattress  36  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The remaining folds denoted by reference number  112  are then longitudinally unwound toward the top of the mattress  36  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . The two longitudinal folds  114  and  116  are then each unwrapped laterally over the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  until the side edges  26  and  28  naturally hang downward from the top surface  40  of the mattress  36  to a bottom edge located in line or up to four or more inches below the bottom edge  66  of the mattress  36 .  
         [0043]     This quickly completes the installation of the fitted top sheet  20  on a mattress  36  in a less time consuming manner than required with previously devised fitted sheets or unfitted, flat top sheets.  
         [0044]     After the fitted top sheet  20  has been laundered, it can be spread out on a flat surface or on a mattress  36  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The lateral sides are then folded inward as shown by the arrows  120  and  122  to form the longitudinal folds  116  and  114 . Starting from the top edge  118  of the top sheet  20 , after the lateral folds  114  and  116  are substantially touching as shown in  FIG. 7 , the top sheet  20  is folded longitudinally on itself until it reaches the position shown in  FIG. 6 . The bottom portion of the fitted top sheet hanging over the top edge  37  of the mattress  36  is then folded over the top of the stack to return the folded up top sheet  20  to the ready to install position shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0045]     In summary, there has been disclosed a unique fitted top sheet which addresses the deficiencies with previously devised flat top sheets and even fitted top sheets. The fitted top sheet is easily and quickly centered and mounted on a mattress through the use of pleated fitted corners. The lack of the elastic to form the corners extends the useful life of the fitted top sheet.  
         [0046]     Further, since the bottom edges of the fitted top sheet hang loosely in a non-tucked manner in line with or below the bottom edge of the mattress, the time and effort previously required to tuck the bottom edges of a top sheet underneath a mattress is eliminated. The free floating of the bottom edges of the top sheet over the mattress provides a comfortable space for a user&#39;s feet during sleep as well as enabling the user to easily enter and exit the bed.