Patent Publication Number: US-2020275790-A1

Title: Two-piece duvet cover

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/811,796 filed on Feb. 28, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to bed coverings, and, in particular to a two-piece duvet cover. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bed coverings have been changing over time and, from their roots in Europe and Asian countries duvets (futons, comforters, or the like) are becoming more popular in North America, including being used in hotels and other commercial operations. Typically, a duvet is placed inside a bag or pillowcase-like duvet cover to protect the duvet and reduce the number of times the duvet might otherwise need to be washed. However, placing the duvet into the duvet cover, either initially or after the duvet cover has been washed, can be difficult due to the need to push the duvet inside the duvet cover. 
     Further, there can be issues with the duvet bunching into a part of the duvet cover rather than staying flat within the duvet cover due to movement of a person sleeping at night or due to the duvet cover hanging over an edge of the bed or the like. In some cases, a duvet cover may include ties internally that attach to the duvet to hold it in place but it can be difficult to reach the internal ties and be able to tie them to the duvet. The process of inserting the duvet into the duvet cover or of tying the duvet to the duvet cover can also cause wrinkling of the duvet cover and affect the look of the cover when on the bed. 
     Still further, duvets can come in various sizes and it is important to match the size of the duvet cover with the size of the duvet so that the duvet does not slide around as much within the cover. 
     As such, there is a need for an improved duvet cover that overcomes at least some of the issues with conventional duvet covers. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a two-piece duvet cover including a duvet bottom sheet, a duvet top sheet and a set of connectors for reversibly coupling the duvet bottom sheet to the duvet top sheet to cover a duvet, wherein the set of connectors is configured to accommodate various sizes of duvets. In some cases, the set of connectors are configured with a variable length to accommodate various sizes of duvets. 
     In some cases, the duvet top sheet is larger than the duvet bottom sheet and the duvet top sheet and the set of connectors are configured so that the duvet top sheet covers the set of connectors. 
     In some cases, the duvet top sheet may include a top flap to fold over a top of the duvet and a top of the duvet bottom sheet, and wherein the duvet cover further may include a flap connector to connect the top flap to the duvet bottom sheet. 
     In some cases, the flap connector may include a plurality of clasps, wherein a portion of the clasps are located on the top flap and another portion of the clasps are located on the duvet bottom sheet. 
     In some cases, the set of connectors is configured to accommodate duvets with a size of: between 64 to 70 inches Wide (W) by 86 to 92 inches Long (L), between 80 to 82 inches W by 86 to 89 inches L, between 88 to 92 inches W by 88 to 90 inches L, between 98 to 102 inches W by 90 to 94 inches L, between 104 to 108 inches W by 90 to 94 inches L, or between 110 to 116 inches W by 98 to 100 inches L. 
     In some cases, a top sheet width of the duvet top sheet exceeds a bottom sheet width of the duvet bottom sheet by up to 24 inches. 
     In some cases, a top sheet length of the duvet top sheet exceeds a bottom sheet length of the duvet bottom sheet by up to 24 inches. 
     In some cases, the set of connectors may include a tie provided to one or the other of the duvet top sheet and duvet bottom sheet and a loop provided to the other of the duvet top sheet and duvet bottom sheet, wherein the tie passes through the loop and connected to itself or the one or the other of the duvet top sheet and duvet bottom sheet to hold the duvet bottom sheet and duvet top sheet together to form the duvet cover. 
     In some cases, the set of connectors may include a duvet connector for connecting with the duvet to hold the duvet in place in relation to the duvet cover. 
     In some cases, the duvet connector may include a loop provided to the duvet, wherein the tie passes through the loop provided to the duvet. 
     In some cases, the duvet connector may include an alligator clip configured to attach to the duvet. 
     In some cases, the set of connectors may include clasps, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, string and loop fasteners, zippers or a combination thereof. 
     Other aspects and features of the invention will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments. 
     The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side sectional schematic view of a duvet cover according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a bottom sheet of a duvet cover according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a top sheet of a duvet cover according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a duvet cover for covering a duvet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a duvet bottom sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of a duvet top sheet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a top duvet cover, a duvet, and a duvet bottom cover prior to connecting the duvet top cover to the duvet bottom cover to cover the duvet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of a top duvet cover, a duvet, and a duvet bottom cover prior to connecting the duvet top cover to the duvet bottom cover to cover the duvet according to an embodiment herein; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of a top duvet cover, a duvet, and a duvet bottom cover showing arrows originating at two of the ties depicting a path by which each tie may pass through a respective duvet loop and loop prior to tightening to connect the duvet top cover to the duvet bottom cover to cover the duvet according to an embodiment herein. 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart illustrating a method of placing a duvet in a duvet cover according to an embodiment herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described below. No embodiment is intended to limit any claimed invention. The claimed invention is not limited to all of the features of any one embodiment described below or to features common to multiple or all of the embodiments. It is possible that an embodiment may include any appropriate elements of the described embodiments as will be understood by one of skill in the art. The applicants, inventors or owners reserve all rights that they may have in any invention disclosed herein that is not claimed in this document, for example the right to claim such an invention in a continuing application and do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side sectional schematic view of a duvet cover  10  for covering a duvet  12  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet cover  10  includes a duvet bottom sheet  15 , a duvet top sheet  20  and a set of connectors  25  for attaching the duvet bottom sheet  15  and duvet top sheet  20 . The duvet bottom sheet  15  and the duvet top sheet  20  may be attached to one another or detached from one another via the set of connectors  25 . Detaching the duvet bottom sheet  15  from the duvet top sheet  20  may increase the ease with which the duvet bottom sheet  15  and/or the duvet top sheet  20  can be placed on or removed from the duvet to facilitate washing or the like. In this embodiment, each connector in the set of connectors  25  generally includes a tie  30  and a loop  35 , which the tie  30  connects with, to hold the duvet bottom sheet  15  and duvet top sheet  20  together to form the duvet cover  10 . In some cases, the set of connectors  25  may also connect the duvet sheets/duvet cover to the duvet  12  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of a duvet bottom sheet  15  of a duvet cover  10  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet bottom sheet  15  is a generally flat sheet of material having a set of connectors, in this case a plurality of ties  30 , around a border thereof. In this embodiment, the ties  30  are strips of fabric with clasps spaced thereon allowing each tie  30  to be pulled tight and connect to itself after passing through a loop  35  on the duvet top sheet  20 . In some cases, there may be a plurality of clasps so that the tie  30  can be adjusted to fit different sized duvets. In this example, the clasps are snap fasteners (press studs) or the like, however, other clasps, such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, or the like may be used. 
     The duvet bottom sheet  15  may include at least a portion of a flap connector  40  to allow a top flap  45  of the duvet top sheet to connect to an underside (bottom) of the duvet bottom sheet  15  to provide a smooth edge at an upper end of the duvet cover  10 . In this case, the flap connector  40  is a plurality of clasps, a portion of which are located on the bottom of the duvet bottom sheet  15 , and the remainder of which are located on the duvet top sheet  20 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of a duvet top sheet  20  of a duvet cover  10  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet top sheet  20  is a generally flat sheet of material that may be sized to be larger than the duvet bottom sheet  15 . For example, the duvet top sheet  20  may have from approximately 3-12 inches (or other appropriate amount) of extra fabric beyond each edge of the duvet bottom sheet  15  when the duvet top sheet  20  is on top of the duvet bottom sheet  15 . Sizing the duvet top sheet  15  larger than the duvet bottom sheet  20  (e.g. the duvet top sheet having approximately 3-12 inches of extra fabric) can allow the duvet top sheet  15  to drape over the duvet and duvet bottom sheet to generally cover the set of connectors  25 . In some embodiments, a top sheet width of the duvet top sheet may exceed a bottom sheet width of the duvet bottom sheet by up to one inch, up to two inches, up to three inches, up to 12 inches, up to 24 inches, or greater than 24 inches. In some embodiments, a top sheet length of the duvet top sheet may exceed a bottom sheet length of the duvet bottom sheet by up to one inch, up to two inches, up to three inches, up to 12 inches, up to 24 inches, or greater than 24 inches. 
     The duvet top sheet  20  includes a set of connectors, in this case a plurality of loops  35  that are placed to generally coincide with the ties  30  of the duvet bottom sheet  15 . The ties  30  of the duvet bottom sheet  15  can be fed through the loops  35  and pulled tight to connect the duvet top sheet  20  and the duvet bottom sheet  15  together to form the duvet cover  10 . 
     The duvet top sheet  20  may include at least a portion of the flap connector  40 . The duvet top sheet  20  may include a longer piece of material at an upper edge thereof (top flap), which is configured to fold over the duvet  12  and duvet bottom sheet  15  and connect to the duvet bottom sheet  15  via the flap connector  40 . As noted above, in this case, the flap connector is a plurality of clasps that connect with a plurality of clasps on the duvet bottom sheet. The clasps may be, for example, snap fasteners or the like. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a duvet cover  100  for covering a duvet  112  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet cover  100  includes a duvet bottom sheet  115 , a duvet top sheet  120 , a flap connector  140 , and a set of connectors  125  for attaching the duvet bottom sheet  115  and duvet top sheet  120 . As above, the duvet bottom sheet  115  and the duvet top sheet  120  may be attached to one another or detached from one another via the set of connectors  125 . The duvet  112  and the duvet bottom sheet  115  are obscured by the duvet top sheet  120  due to the perspective view in  FIG. 4  and are therefore depicted with dotted lines. The duvet cover  100  is similar in some ways to the duvet cover  10 . The flap connector  140  includes a first portion and a second portion. 
     The set of connectors  125  generally includes a plurality of connectors. In this embodiment, each connector includes a tie  130  and a loop  135  to which the tie  130  connects, to hold the duvet bottom sheet  115  and duvet top sheet  120  together to cover the duvet  112 . In some cases, the set of connectors  125  can also connect the duvet cover  100  to the duvet  112 , in this case, via a duvet loop on the duvet and feeding the tie  130  through the duvet loop. A person having ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of the present disclosure, will appreciate that in alternative embodiments the plurality of connectors  125  may comprise various types of connectors such as string and loop, hook and loop fasteners, button and hole, clasps, snaps, zippers or a combination thereof. For example, the set of connectors could be provided along a portion of each edge of the duvet bottom sheet, for example, clasps or zippers along the portion of each edge, and a matching connector along a similar portion of the duvet top sheet and/or some combination of types of connectors, such as a zipper on a portion of one edge and clasps on a portion of another edge. 
     While the set of connectors  125  includes eight connectors in the present embodiment, a person having ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of the present disclosure, will appreciate that alternative embodiments may comprise a set of connectors with a greater or lesser number of connectors, for example two, three, four, five, six, seven, nine, ten, or a greater number of connectors. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 7  is a top view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 8  is a side view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 9  is a bottom view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 10  is a front view of a duvet bottom sheet  115  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet bottom sheet  115  includes a generally flat sheet of material having a plurality of ties  130  around a border thereof, and the first portion of a flap connector  140 . 
       FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 13  is a top view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 14  is a side view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 15  is a bottom view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 16  is a front view of a duvet top sheet  120  according to an embodiment herein. The duvet top sheet  120  includes a plurality of loops  135  that are placed to generally coincide with the ties  130  of the duvet bottom sheet  115 . The ties  130  of the duvet bottom sheet  115  can be fed through the loops  135  and pulled tight to connect the duvet top sheet  120  and the duvet bottom sheet  115  together to form the duvet cover  100 . A duvet  112  may be placed between the duvet top sheet  120  and the duvet bottom sheet  115  prior to connecting the duvet top sheet  120  and the duvet bottom sheet  115  to cover the duvet. 
     The duvet top sheet  120  includes the second portion of the flap connector  140 . The duvet top sheet  120  may include a longer piece of material at an upper edge thereof (top flap  145 ), which is configured to fold over the duvet  112  and duvet bottom sheet  115  and connect to the duvet bottom sheet  115  via the flap connector  140 . The second portion of the flap connector  140  is located on the top flap  145 . As noted above, in this embodiment, the flap connector  140  is a plurality of clasps that connect with a plurality of clasps on the duvet bottom sheet. The clasps may be, for example, snap fasteners or the like. 
     In this embodiment, each tie  130  is a strip of fabric with clasps spaced thereon allowing each tie  130  to be pulled tight and connect to itself after passing through a loop  135  on the duvet top sheet  120 . Each tie  130  may include a plurality of clasps so that the tie  130  can be adjusted to fit different sized duvets. In this embodiment, the clasps are snap fasteners (press studs) or the like, however, other clasps, such as hook and loop fastener or buttons may be used. 
     The duvet bottom sheet  115  may include a portion of a flap connector  140  to allow a top flap  145  of the duvet top sheet to connect to an underside (bottom) of the duvet bottom sheet  115  to provide a smooth edge at a upper end of the duvet cover  100 . In this case, the flap connector  140  is a plurality of clasps, a portion of which are located on the bottom of the duvet bottom sheet  115 , and the remainder of which are located on the duvet top sheet  120 . 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a duvet top cover  120 , a duvet  112 , and a duvet bottom cover  115  prior to connecting the duvet top cover  120  to the duvet bottom cover  115  to cover the duvet  112  according to an embodiment herein. In this embodiment, the duvet  112  may include a plurality of duvet loops  114 . The arrows originating at two of the ties  130  depict a path by which each tie  130  may pass through a respective duvet loop  114  and loop  135  prior to tightening to connect the duvet top cover  120  to the duvet bottom cover  115  to cover the duvet  112 . By using the duvet loops  114 , the duvet  112  can be held in place relative to the duvet top cover  120  and the duvet bottom cover  115 . 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of a duvet top cover  120 , a duvet  112 , and a duvet bottom cover  115  prior to connecting the duvet top cover  120  to the duvet bottom cover  115  to cover the duvet  112  according to an embodiment herein.  FIG. 19  is a side view of a top duvet cover  120 , a duvet  112 , and a duvet bottom cover  115  showing arrows originating at two of the ties  130  depicting a path by which each tie  130  may pass through a respective duvet loop  114  and loop  135  prior to tightening to connect the duvet top cover  120  to the duvet bottom cover  115  to cover the duvet  112  according to an embodiment herein. 
       FIG. 20  is a flow chart generally describing a method  2000  of placing a duvet in the duvet cover according to an embodiment herein. The method  2000  includes eight acts  2005 ,  2010 ,  2015 ,  2020 ,  2025 ,  2030 ,  2035 , and  2040 , although a person of skill in the art will appreciate that acts of method  2000  may be omitted and/or performed in an order other than the order presented in  FIG. 20 . The duvet cover may be substantively similar to duvet cover  10  and/or duvet cover  100 . 
     At  2005 , a duvet bottom sheet is placed on a bed or other generally flat surface. The duvet bottom sheet may be substantively similar to duvet bottom sheet  15  and/or duvet bottom sheet  115 . Placing the duvet bottom sheet on a flat surface may enhance the ease with which subsequent acts of method  2000  are performed, and/or reduce wrinkling of the duvet bottom sheet. 
     At  2010 , the duvet is placed on the duvet bottom sheet. If the duvet also may include duvet loops or some other form of integrated connector, the duvet loops (or the like) may be aligned with the ties on the duvet bottom sheet. 
     At  2015 , the duvet top sheet is placed on the duvet and the edges of the duvet top sheet are folded back to reveal the loops. The duvet top sheet may be substantively similar to duvet top sheet  20  and/or duvet top sheet  120 . 
     At  2020 , the ties on the duvet bottom sheet are fed through the loops on the top sheet. 
     At  2025 , if the duvet also includes duvet loops or some other form of integrated connector, the ties may be fed through the duvet loops or the like. If the duvet does not comprise an integrated connector (loops or the like), the ties may comprise a duvet connector, such as an alligator clip or the like and the duvet connector may be attached to the duvet to hold the duvet in place within the duvet cover. Holding the duvet in place within the duvet cover may reduce bunching of the duvet within the duvet cover. 
     At  2030 , the ties are pulled tight and fastened (as shown in, for example  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ). 
     In this way, rather than the duvet being pushed into a conventional duvet cover and then shaken into position, the duvet can be set on top of the bottom sheet and the connectors can be fastened to hold the duvet inside the duvet top sheet and the duvet bottom sheet without the need to push the duvet into a bag. It is intended that this process will be significantly easier to perform and also save time, particularly in commercial locations such as hotels and the like, where there may be many changes of duvet covers needed to be completed quickly and efficiently and without an undue burden on staff. 
     At  2035 , when the duvet cover includes a flap and flap connector, the upper end of the duvet top sheet is folded over the top of the duvet and duvet bottom sheet and connected to the underside/bottom of the duvet bottom sheet via the flap connector to provide a smooth edge at the upper edge/top of the duvet cover. It will be understood that the flap and flap connector may be at a different side of the duvet cover as well. 
     At  2040 , the top sheet is extended over the duvet and bottom sheet to fold over the edge of the bed, smooth the edges of the duvet cover, and cover up the set of connectors. In many cases, smooth edges and covered connectors may be more aesthetically pleasing. 
     It will be understood that the ties and loops of the connectors may be on the other of the duvet top sheet and bottom sheet from the embodiments described above (i.e. ties on the duvet top sheet and loops on the duvet bottom sheet). Further, the connectors may also have other arrangements, for example, the ties may be strings and connect to the loops by a conventional knot/bow. The connectors may also be hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers or other connectors/fasteners as will be understood by one of skill in the art. 
     Embodiments of the duvet cover described herein may be configured to cover various sizes by adapting the set of connectors accordingly. For example the ties can be longer and include a plurality of clasps, snaps, buttons or the like to allow the ties to be tightened to various lengths. In some cases, embodiments of the duvet cover herein may be slightly larger than conventional duvet covers. Generally speaking, duvets have the following size ranges: Twin: 64-70 inches Wide (W)×86-92 inches Long (L); Double: 80-82 inches W×86-89 inches L; Queen: 88-92 inches W×88-90 inches L; Super Queen: 98-102 inches W×90-94 inches L; King: 104-108 inches W×90 to 94 inches L; Super King: 110-116 inches W×98-100 inches L, and embodiments herein may be sized accordingly. In other words, duvets may have various sizes, both between named sizes (e.g. Twin, Queen, Super King, etc.), and within a particular named size. 
     In this description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details may not be required. In other instances, well-known structures may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the understanding. Further, elements of an embodiment may be used with other embodiments and/or substituted with elements from another embodiment as would be understood by one of skill in the art. 
     What has been described is merely illustrative of the application of some embodiments. Other embodiments can be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope, which is defined by the following claims.