Patent Publication Number: US-11659944-B2

Title: Duvet cover—devices and methods of use

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This present invention relates to devices and methods for efficiently isolating or covering a duvet, and making a bed. 
     Hotels, motels, and inns have many guests that stay overnight, and sleep in beds provided by these establishments (hereafter collectively “hotel” or “hotels”). Hotel personnel change the bed sheets after guests depart but often do not change the duvet. Many guests do not want to be exposed to an unwashed duvet that had been used by other people. 
     Some hotels use systems and devices to cover a duvet, and then remove and wash the duvet cover between guests. In some hotels, the system used comprises two bed sheets, wherein one sheet is placed below the duvet, and another sheet is placed on top of the duvet, and the sheets are folded over the top of the duvet. This method has the advantage of being very efficient. It is easy to strip the bed, remove the sheets from the top and bottom of the duvet, and replace them with clean sheets. However, this method has the disadvantage of not securely retaining the duvet inside the sheets while guests are in the bed. The bed sheets are simply folded over the duvet at the top of the bed; they are not secured in place. Often, while guests are sleeping, the bed sheets will separate from the duvet, exposing the duvet to the guests, and defeating the purpose of enclosing the duvet in bed sheets. 
     Other methods comprise using covers that securely enclose the duvet, thereby retaining the duvet inside the enclosed cover. The duvet covers are secured using means such as zippers, buttons, snaps, a hook and loop system, and the like. These systems will almost certainly prevent exposure of the duvet. But these systems are not practical when a hotel has multiple beds to change. There is inefficiency because it takes quite a bit of time to undo the zipper or other means for securing the duvet cover, remove the duvet from the cover, place the duvet in a clean cover, secure the duvet inside the clean cover, and place the duvet and cover onto the bed. 
     The present invention solves these problems by providing methods and devices for securely enclosing a duvet inside a cover, while at the same time allowing for rapid and efficient changing of the duvet cover. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention comprises devices and methods that allow for rapid and efficient changing of duvet covers while securely enclosing and isolating a duvet when the duvet is in use. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises two sections of material that are sized to be larger than the duvet. The two sections of material are secured together along one edge only, and the secured edge is placed at or near the head of the bed. The side and bottom edges are free, and are not secured together. As used herein, free edge means at least a portion of the side edge or edges and/or portion of the bottom edge where the upper section and lower section are not secured together. In the preferred embodiment, the free edge may not have securing means. 
     To make the bed, the duvet cover is placed on the bed in geometric alignment with the bed and with the secured edge at or near the head of the bed. The duvet is placed between the two sections of material, thereby isolating the duvet completely inside the material. This prevents the duvet from becoming exposed while guests are using the bed, and simultaneously allows for easy and rapid changing of the duvet cover after use. 
     In another embodiment, a single piece of material is sized to be wider than the width of the duvet and sized to be longer than twice the length of the duvet. The single piece of material is folded along a midline, and the duvet is placed between the folded material, thereby isolating the duvet. 
     In another embodiment, the duvet cover may be secured along one edge that is placed at or near the head of the bed and along a small portion of each side edge, creating a small pocket in which to slip the duvet. 
     In another embodiment, the duvet cover may have securing means between the two sections of material (upper section and lower section), creating a means to secure the duvet in place within the duvet cover. 
     In another embodiment, the duvet cover may have side edge pockets running along the side edges of the lower section or upper section, creating an opening toward the inner surface of the duvet cover to allow for insertion of the corresponding side edges of the duvet. 
     In another embodiment, the duvet cover may have an edge pocket running along the edges (side and bottom edges) of the lower section or upper section, creating an opening toward the inner surface of the duvet cover to allow for insertion of the corresponding edges of the duvet. 
     In another embodiment, the duvet cover may have an edge pocket running along the edges (side and bottom edges) of the lower section, creating an opening toward the inner surface of the duvet cover to allow for insertion of the corresponding edges of the duvet and/or upper section of the duvet cover. The duvet cover may have an edge pocket running along the edges (side and bottom edges) of the upper section, creating an opening toward the inner surface of the duvet cover to allow for insertion of the corresponding edges of the duvet and/or lower section of the duvet cover. 
     The present invention is described using the following examples, which may describe more than one relevant embodiment falling within the scope of the present invention. Features from the described embodiments can be combined to create different embodiments falling within the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet. The embodiment may represent one sheet of material or two sheets of material. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a step in a method of using the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a step in a method of using the invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet and securing means to secure the duvet to the duvet cover. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet inserted into the side edge pockets of the lower section of the duvet cover. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet inserted into the edge pocket of the lower section of the duvet cover. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet inserted into the edge pocket of the lower section of the duvet cover, wherein the edges of the pocket near the top edge of the duvet cover is not secured. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the upper section raised to expose the duvet inserted into the edge pocket of the lower section of the duvet cover. The view exposes an edge pocket on the upper section with edges of the pocket near the top edge of the duvet cover not secured. 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the edges of one of the sections inserted into the edge pocket of the other section of the duvet cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG.  1   , two sections of material are used, a first upper section  10  and a second lower section  11 . The material may be made from any flexible material known in the art. Non-limiting examples comprise polyester, cotton, linen, wool, flannel, rayon, modal, blended material, or any other synthetic or natural fabric, textile, or material that is washable, either machine-washable or washable by hand. 
     Both upper section  10  and lower section  11  are sized to be significantly larger than duvet  13 , in both length and width. Duvet  13  may be of any size or shape, and each of the two sections of material is sized so that it is significantly larger than the duvet, as shown in  FIG.  1   . As used herein, significantly larger means that there is material in each section that extends beyond the edges of the duvet to cover and to sufficiently isolate and enclose duvet  13 . 
     Typically, a duvet is longer than it is wide to correspond with the shape of most beds. In other words, a duvet is typically a rectangle with one of the shorter edges placed at the top, or head, of a bed, and the other shorter edge placed at the bottom, or foot, of the bed.  FIG.  1    shows this embodiment where the first upper section, second lower section, and duvet are rectangular in shape. It is apparent that the duvet may be of any shape, including but not limited to square or circular, and that the first upper and second lower sections may be shaped and sized to be significantly larger than the duvet. 
     In some preferred embodiments, upper section  10  and lower section  11  are secured  12  along one edge only. In one embodiment, upper section  10  and lower section  11  are secured  12  together along common edge  103  of a rectangular shape, as shown in  FIG.  1   . In one embodiment, upper section  10  and lower section  11  are secured  12  using stitching along one of the short edges of the rectangle, common edge  103 . 
     Upper section  10  and lower section  11  may be stitched together, or they may be secured  12  together in using any other methods known in the art, including but not limited to zippers, hook and loop systems, snaps, buttons, decorative means, the warp and weft of the fabric, or any combination thereof. 
     As non-limiting examples, common edge  103  may be secured together using any type of stitching, including but not limited to double stitching, zig-zag stitching, superimposed seams, lapped seams, bound seams, flat seams, decorative stitching, or any combination thereof. One example comprising double stitching  12  and  12   a  is shown in  FIG.  2   . 
       FIG.  3    shows another embodiment where upper section  10  and lower section  11  are secured  12  along top edge  103 , and also secured  14  along a portion of the side edges  112  and  102 . This creates a small pocket in which to slip the top edge of duvet  13 . Securing means  14  may comprise any of the securing means  12  described above. 
       FIG.  4    shows another embodiment using a single piece of material when common edge  103  is the warp and weft of the fabric. In this embodiment, the material is significantly wider than the width of the duvet, and is significantly longer than twice the length of the duvet, with lower section  11  and upper section  10  comprising one piece of material. To use this embodiment, the securing means  12  comprise the warp and weft of the fabric, which is folded along common edge  103  to form upper section  10  and lower section  11 . In this embodiment, common edge  103  also forms midline  103 , and may be marked by a fabric fold-line, stitching, print on the fabric, small cut-outs, colored fabric, colored threads, or other means of indicating a line in fabric. 
     In some embodiments, the edges of one or both of the sections of material may have weighted elements  15  to weigh down the side edges and bottom edge of the duvet cover, further ensuring that the duvet is isolated and covered, as shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     Weighted elements  15  may comprise decorative stitching, small weights, or other features that add weight to the material. In other embodiments, weighted elements  15  may comprise material that is doubled, tripled or otherwise folded to give weight at the side edges and bottom edge. In these embodiments, for example, each side edge  102  may be folded one or more times, and secured together by stitching or any other securing means  12 . This creates multiple layers of fabric, adding weight to the side edges and bottom edge. 
     Weighted elements  15  may be strategically disposed along the edges of upper section  10 , wherein the edges comprise side edges  102 , bottom edge  101 , or any combination thereof. In a similar manner, weighted elements  15  may be strategically disposed along the edges of lower section  11 , wherein the edges comprise side edges  112 , bottom edge  111 , or any combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the duvet cover may have securing means to secure duvet  13  to the duvet cover. The securing means may be located on the inner surface of upper section  10  and/or on the inner surface of lower section  11 . The securing means can be located on one corner, two corners, three corners or four corners or on the top edge, one side edge, two side edges or bottom edge, on any interior location of the inner surface of upper section  10  and/or lower section  11 , or any combination thereof. In other words, the securing means can be located on any corner, edge or interior location of the inner surface of upper section  10  and lower section  11 . As used herein, inner surface means the surface of the upper section and lower section that comes in contact with duvet  13 . 
     Duvet  13  may be secured to the duvet cover using any methods known in the art, including but not limited to zippers, hook and loop systems, snaps, buttons, straps, loop and tie, decorative means, or any combination thereof. One preferred embodiment uses securing means  17  disposed at the two corners near common edge  103  on the inner surface of the duvet cover to secure duvet  13  to the duvet cover as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     In some embodiments, side edge pockets and/or bottom edge pocket may be disposed along the edges of the inner layer of lower section  11  and/or upper section  10 , wherein the opening of the pocket or pockets are disposed toward the inner surface of the duvet cover to allow for the insertion of the side edges and/or bottom edge of duvet  13  and/or other section of the duvet cover into the edge pocket or pockets. The edge pocket or pockets run a portion of the length of the edge of the duvet cover. Where there exists a side pocket that meets the bottom pocket, the front layer of both pockets is secured together and not secured to the back layer as to allow an opening for insertion of the corner of the duvet. In the preferred embodiment where both side edge pockets and bottom edge pocket are disposed along the edges of the duvet cover, a single edge pocket  114  is formed that runs along a portion of the edges of lower section  11  and allows for insertion of the corresponding edges of duvet  13  as shown in  FIG.  9   . Although in this case there is only one pocket formed, the use of the terms side edge pocket and bottom edge pocket indicates that there is a side edge opening for which to insert the side edge of duvet  13  and a bottom edge opening for which to insert the bottom edge of duvet  13 .  FIG.  8    shows a preferred embodiment comprised of two side edge pockets  113  disposed along a portion of the side edge of lower section  11  to insert the side edges of duvet  13 . 
     In some embodiments, the edge pocket or pockets disposed on the inner layer of lower section  11  and/or upper section  10  may have unsecured edges of the pocket or pockets located near common edge  103 , wherein the front layer and the back layer of the pocket are not secured together. The preferred embodiments with unsecured edges of edge pocket  114  of lower section  11  and edge pocket  104  of upper section  10  are shown in  FIG.  10    and  FIG.  11    respectively. In these embodiments, the edge pocket opening or openings created may allow for the insertion of the edges of one of the sections into the edge pocket or pockets of the other section. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG.  11   , the duvet is inserted into edge pocket  114  of lower section  11 . Then as shown in  FIG.  12   , the edge of lower section  11  is inserted into edge pocket  104  of upper section  10 . 
     The edge pocket or pockets of the duvet cover may have secured or unsecured pocket edges when the pocket edge is located near common edge  103  of the duvet cover. As used herein, edge pocket means a pocket or pockets located on the edge of the duvet cover that may or may not have secured pocket edges when the pocket edge is located near common edge  103  of the duvet cover. 
     The secured edges of the edge pocket or pockets on lower section  11  or upper section  10  may be sewn or secured by using any other methods known in the art, including but not limited to zippers, hook and loop systems, snaps, buttons, ties, decorative means, the warp and weft of the fabric, or any combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, securing means are located on the back surface of one of the sections of material at the top two corners and the unsecured pocket edges near common edge  103  to secure the unsecured edges of the edge pocket or pockets of the other section of material. 
     The invention may be used to quickly and efficiently make and unmake a bed. In one embodiment, lower section  11  is placed on top of a bed  16 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . Typically, bed  16  has a fitted sheet and flat sheet over a mattress. 
     Lower section  11  is centrally positioned in substantial geometric alignment over bed  16  with edges  112  and  111  hanging down the sides of the bed. Common edge  103  is positioned at or near the head of the bed, as shown in  FIG.  6   . Upper section  10  is pulled, folded, or rolled back along common edge  103 , exposing a top surface of lower section  11 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  5   , upper section  10  is pulled back to and folded along securing means  12 . 
     Duvet  13  is centrally positioned, in substantial geometric alignment, adjacent to the top surface of lower section  11  and bed  16 , as seen in  FIG.  5   . The top edge of the duvet is positioned at or near common edge  103 . Once duvet  13  is in place, upper section  10  is pulled, unfolded, or unrolled, and positioned on top of duvet  13 , with the bottom surface of section  10  adjacent to duvet  13 .  FIG.  6    shows upper section  10  partially unfolded on top of and adjacent to duvet  13 . When upper section  10  is fully unfolded and extended, the entire duvet  13  is enclosed and isolated inside the duvet cover, and on top of bed  16 . 
     To unmake the bed, the duvet cover and duvet are removed from the mattress by any means known in the art. The duvet is removed from inside the duvet cover. A clean duvet cover is positioned on bed  16  as described above, by centering lower section  11  in substantial geometric alignment on top of bed  16  with common edge  103  positioned at or near the head of the bed. The process described herein is repeated to position duvet  13  between and adjacent to upper section  10  and lower section  11 , thereby isolating duvet  13  from the exterior. This process is repeated as often as needed. 
     A similar method is used to make a bed using the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   . Lower section  11  is centrally positioned in substantial geometric alignment on top of mattress  16 , with edge  103  at the top of the bed. Upper section  10  is pulled or folded back, although it cannot be entirely folded back due to stitching  14  that runs along, and secures, a portion of side edges  112  and  102 . Upper section  10  is pulled back as far as stitching  14  will allow. Duvet  13  is positioned in substantial geometric alignment with the duvet cover and adjacent to the top surface of lower section  11  by slipping the edge of duvet  13  into the small pocket created by securing means  14  and securing means  12 . Once duvet  13  is in place, upper section  10  is pulled, unfolded, or unrolled, and positioned on top of duvet  13  so that the bottom surface of upper section  10  is adjacent to the duvet. 
     To unmake the bed, the duvet cover and duvet are removed from the mattress by any means known in the art. The duvet is removed from inside the duvet cover. A clean duvet cover is positioned on bed  16  as described above, by centering lower section  11  on bed  16  with common edge  103  positioned near the head of the bed. The process described herein is repeated to enclose and isolate duvet  13  between and adjacent to upper section  10  and lower section  11 . This process is repeated as often as needed. 
     A similar method is used to make and unmake a bed using the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4   . To use this embodiment, the duvet cover is centrally positioned on bed  16  with lower section  11  of the material laid on top of the mattress and sheets. Lower section  11  is in substantial geometric alignment with bed  16 . Midline  103  is positioned at or near the head of the bed. Upper section  10  of the material is pulled, folded, or rolled back at or near midline  103  exposing the top surface of lower section  11 . Duvet  13  is placed in substantial geometric alignment on top of and adjacent to the exposed top surface of section  11 . The other half of the material, section  10 , is pulled, unfolded or unrolled over the top of, and adjacent to, duvet  13 , enclosing and isolating duvet  13 , thereby sandwiching duvet  13  in between upper section  10  and lower section  11 . 
     To unmake the bed using this embodiment the duvet cover and duvet are removed from bed  16  by any means known in the art. Duvet  13  is removed from the duvet cover. A clean duvet cover is positioned on bed  16  as described above, by centering lower section  11  in substantial geometric alignment on bed  16  with midline  103  positioned at or near the head of bed  16 . The process described herein is repeated to enclose and isolate duvet  13  between upper section  10  and lower section  11 . This process is repeated as often as needed. 
     A similar method is used to make a bed using the embodiments shown in  FIGS.  7  through  12   . Lower section  11  is centrally positioned in substantial geometric alignment over bed  16  with edges  112  and  111  hanging down the sides of the bed. Common edge  103  is positioned at or near the head of the bed, as shown in  FIG.  6   . Upper section  10  is pulled, folded, or rolled back along common edge  103 , exposing a top surface of lower section  11 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  5   , upper section  10  is pulled back to and folded along securing means  12 . 
     Duvet  13  is centrally positioned, in substantial geometric alignment, adjacent to the top surface of lower section  11  and bed  16 , as seen in  FIG.  5   . The top edge of the duvet is positioned at or near common edge  103 . Once duvet  13  is in place, if the embodiment has securing means to secure the duvet to the duvet cover, the duvet may be secured to the duvet cover using the securing means. If the embodiment has edge pocket or pockets, the side edges and/or bottom edge of the duvet may be inserted into the edge pocket or pockets of lower section  11 . For one of the preferred embodiments shown in  FIG.  8   , insert the side edges of duvet  13  into side edge pockets  113  of lower section  11 . For the preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS.  9 ,  10  and  11   , insert the edges of the duvet into edge (side edges and bottom edge) pocket  114  of lower section  11 . Upper section  10  is pulled, unfolded, or unrolled, and positioned on top of duvet  13 , with the bottom surface of upper section  10  adjacent to duvet  13 .  FIG.  6    shows upper section  10  partially unfolded on top of and adjacent to duvet  13 . When upper section  10  is fully unfolded and extended, the entire duvet  13  is enclosed and isolated inside the duvet cover, and on top of bed  16 . If upper section  10  has edge pocket or pockets with edges of the pocket or pockets near the top edge of the duvet cover not secured, the edge of lower section  11  may be inserted into the edge pocket or pockets of upper section  10 . For one of the preferred embodiments shown in  FIG.  11   , insert edges of the duvet inserted lower section  11  into edge (side edges and bottom edge) pocket  104  of the upper section  10 . The finished insertion is shown in  FIG.  12   . In another embodiment, after duvet  13  is inserted into the pocket or pockets of lower section  11 , upper section  10  may be inserted into the pocket or pockets of lower section  11 . The duvet cover may be flipped over so that upper section  10  is now adjacent to bed  16 , and lower section  11  is now the outer surface of the duvet cover. Now upper section  10  becomes lower section  11  and lower section  11  becomes upper section  10 . The outer surface of the duvet cover that is not adjacent to bed  16  should have no exposed pocket or pockets. For another embodiment, after duvet  13  is in place adjacent to the top surface of lower section  11  and upper section  10  is fully unfolded and extended, the edges of duvet  13  may be inserted into edge pocket or pockets of upper section  10 . Then the edges of lower section  11  may be inserted into the edge pocket or pockets of upper section  10 . If securing means are present to secure the unsecured edges of the edge pocket of upper section  10  to lower section  11 , the securing means may be secured. 
     CONCLUSIONS, OTHER EMBODIMENTS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION 
     The above description presents the best mode, and preferred embodiments contemplated in carrying out the invention. However, it will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the invention described herein may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are specific examples of an inventive concept, which may have greater scope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.