Abstract:
A bed safety sheet for use on mattresses and particularly beneficial for use on a toddler bed is disclosed. The bed safety sheet includes a securement pocket at one end and side flaps along opposed sides which drape down over opposed sides of the mattress. The side flaps may include a fold to provide hospital corner looking appearance when the bed safety sheet is installed on a mattress.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/648,654, filed Jan. 31, 2005, the teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference thereto. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to constructed fabric apparatus and more specifically relates to bed sheets. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Bed sheets are commonly used to cover a mattress to provide a bed upon which one can sleep. It is desirable to keep a bed sheet secured on a mattress when in use for a variety of reasons. For example, it is highly desirable to keep the bed sheet on a mattress for safety as applied to crib sheets and the like to prevent the sheet from being removed from the mattress and the infant becoming entangled in the sheet, as is discussed in the present inventor&#39;s previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,844. There is a continued desire for further improvements as it relates to mattress sheets and different securement mechanisms for different applications, which is the subject of the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a bed safety sheet for covering a mattress which comprises a fabric body having a form fitted position (e.g. an inflated or expanded position which the bed safety sheet would take when properly fitted on a mattress). In this form fitted position, the fabric body includes a generally rectangular top defining first and second sides in spaced opposition and first and second ends in spaced opposition which extend transversely between the first and second sides. A pair of flaps on the opposed sides of the rectangular top depend downward. The bed safety sheet also includes a receiving pocket disposed at one of the ends of the body which serves the purpose of securing the bed sheet over an end of the mattress. The receiving pocket includes an end portion extending downward from one end of the rectangular top and first and second side portions integrally connected to the end portion and to the first and second sides of the rectangular top. The first and second side portions extend at least partially toward the second end. The receiving pocket also includes a pocket bottom in spaced and generally parallel relation to the top. The pocket bottom is integrally connected to the first and second side portions and to the end portion. 
   It is an aspect of the present invention that the first and second side flaps overlap the opposed sides of the receiving pocket and may be pivotable about the first and second sides of the rectangular top. 
   Other aspects of the present invention, preferred implementations and preferred assembly (e.g. using different panels in order to construct and assemble a bed safety sheet) are further discussed and also claimed herein as different aspects of an invention. 
   Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bed safety sheet in a form fitted and ready to install position for a mattress, which is also shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bed safety sheet shown in  FIG. 1  in a form fitted position and without a mattress being indicated. 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , but with the side flaps raised. 
       FIG. 4  is a further perspective view of the bed safety sheet as shown in  FIG. 3 , but taken from a bottom perspective. 
       FIG. 5  is another bottom perspective view of the bed safety sheet shown in  FIG. 3 , but taken from a different end. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded assembly view showing the different side panels which may be constructed in order to form the bed safety sheet as shown in the previous figures. 
       FIG. 7  is another embodiment of a bed safety sheet in accordance with the present invention, wherein the side panels of the safety sheet are sufficiently large enough to hang below the bottom edge of the mattress on which the safety sheet is secured. 
   

   While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Turning to the figures, a bed safety sheet  10  is shown in association and for use with a mattress  12  (see  FIG. 1 ), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the bed safety sheet generally comprises a rectangular top panel  14 , a pair of side panels  16 ,  18 , and a receiving pocket  20 , which may be formed by an end panel  22  and bottom panel  24 . Preferably, but not necessarily, the body of the bed safety sheet  10  is free of any elastic material or otherwise substantially free of elastic material such that the bed safety sheet can be form fitted and secured on the mattress  12  without the assistance of elastomeric material. 
   For purposes of reference, the top panel  14  which is generally rectangular and may include arcuate corners (see  FIG. 6 ), defines opposed first and second sides  26  and opposed first and second ends  27  and  28 . 
   The end panel  22  is sewn along end  28  of the top panel  14  along an end stitch  30 . Opposed ends of the end panel  22  are wrapped around the arcuate corners of the top panel  14  with the end stitch  30  extending therearound such that the end panel  22  forms first and second side portions  32  depending downward from the opposed sides  26  of the top panel. The side portions  32  extend generally perpendicular from the end portion of the end panel  22  toward the other end of the top panel  14 . 
   As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom panel  24  is sewn along a bottom edge stitch  34  to the bottom edge of the end panel  22  to thereby form the receiving pocket  20 . The receiving pocket  20  preferably extends partially from end  28  of the top panel  14  toward the other end  27  to provide a means for relatively easily and reliably securing the bed safety sheet  10  to a mattress and preventing it from slipping off. It is preferable, but not required, that the end panel  22  be sewn to the bottom panel  24  prior to attaching the end panel to the top panel  14 . 
   Advantageously, only one end of a mattress needs to be manipulated in order to securely install the bed safety sheet  10  on the mattress  12  thereby providing for easier installation and removal. The other end  27  of the sheet may be a free terminating edge. The terminating edge may be formed by folding under the two side panels  16 ,  18  and the top panel  14  and stitching the folded portion to form a hem  29 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Additionally, the bed safety sheet  10  includes the two side panels  16  and  18  which form side flaps along opposed sides  26  of the top panel  14 . The side panels  16 ,  18  are sewn to opposed sides of the top panel  14  along side stitches  36 . In a preferred embodiment, a single stitch combining stitch  30  and  36  connects the pair of side panels  16 ,  18  and the end panel  22  to the top panel  14 . Particularly, the stitch  30  begins at end  27  of the top panel  14  and finishes at end  27 . Furthermore, the seams for the side panels  16 ,  18  are top stitched to provide a finishing look 
   The side panels  16 ,  18  depend downward from the top panel  14  so as to provide a means for covering the sides of the mattress  12  when installed thereon, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7 , the width of the side panels  16 ,  18  can be such that the side panels  16 ,  18  extend beyond the bottom edge  13  of the mattress  12 . In this configuration, the side panels  16 ,  18  are known as dropsides. In a further embodiment, the side panels  16 ,  18  can be sufficiently wide such that a portion of the side panels  16 ,  18  may be folded under the mattress  12  on which the bed safety sheet is installed (see  FIG. 2 ). The widths of the top panel  14  and side panels  16  and  18  can be such that the safety sheet  10  can be secured to beds  12  of various types and thicknesses. 
   It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the side panels  16 ,  18  and top panel  14  could be formed from a unitary panel of material. Particularly, the rectangular top panel  14  may be sufficiently wide such that the opposed sides  26  are spaced farther apart eliminating the need for adding separate pieces of fabric for the side panels  16 ,  18 . It will be further appreciated by one skilled in the art that the top panel  14  may be longer in a direction from end  27  to end  28  such that the top panel  14  and the end panel  22  are formed from a single piece of material rather than two separate pieces of fabric sewn together. In this embodiment, as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 1 , the end stitch  30  of the previous embodiment would merely be a fold or crease rather than a stitch. Furthermore, the end stitch  34  securing the bottom panel  24  to the end panel  22 , in  FIG. 1 , would connect the piece of fabric for the top panel  14  to the bottom panel  24 . Thus, this embodiment would eliminate the need for a separate piece of fabric for the end panel  22 . The side portions  32  used to form the receiving pocket  20  would then be formed from either the bottom panel  24  or the top panel  14 . 
   Preferably, the end of each side panel  16 ,  18  overlap the opposed side portions  32  of the receiving pocket  20 . Even more preferably, the first and second side flaps  16 ,  18  include a folded triangle portion  38  which is folded along a tapered crease  40 , the crease could also be referred to as a fold, and sewn to a remainder of the side panel along a stitch  42  such that when the wings or flaps formed by the side panels  16  and  18  are draped downward over the sides of the mattress, the folded triangle portion  38  and tapered crease give the impression of a hospital corner type securement of the bed safety sheet  10  to the mattress when in fact a much simpler type of securement has been accomplished. Preferably, the terminating edge of each folding portion (e.g. where stitch  42  is located) substantially coincides with the terminating free edge  44  of the bottom panel  24  (see  FIG. 4 ). It is preferred that the folded triangle portion  38  of the side panels  16 ,  18  are folded and sewn before the side panels  16 ,  18  are attached to the top panel  14 . 
   In an embodiment, the free edges of side panels  16 ,  18  are one-quarter inch (¼″) double hemmed. This double hemming is preferably performed prior to attaching the side panels  16 ,  18  to the top panel  14 . It is further preferable that all free edges of the top sheet are one-quarter inch (¼″) double hemmed. 
   As best illustrated with reference to  FIG. 4 , when sewing and assembling the safety bed sheet, first, the end panel  22  is stitched to the edge of the bottom panel  24  about seam  34 . Particularly, the end panel  22  is wrapped around corners of the bottom panel  24  and extends perpendicularly from the bottom panel  24  creating receiving pocket  20 . Then, the free edge of the ends of the end panel  22  that form the end portions  32  and the free edge  44  of the bottom panel  24  are one-quarter inch (¼″) double hemmed. Next, the side panels  16 ,  18  are then folded to form the folded triangular portions  38 , as explained previously. Next, the receiving pocket  20  is centered relative to the top panel  14  and the side panels  16 ,  18  are placed along the sides  26  of the top panel  14 . These components, the top panel  14 , side panels  16 ,  18 , and receiving pocket  20 , are then secured together by stitches  30  and  36 . Preferably these stitches  30  and  36  are created by a single stitch. 
   An exemplary and advantageous, but not exclusive, application for the subject bed safety sheet  10  is for a toddler bed. As such, the bed safety sheet  10  may be of a pre-selected size configured for a toddler bed in which the top panel defines a rectangular dimension of between about 54 and about 55 inches long by about 28 and about 29 inches wide. 
   All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
   The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
   Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.