Patent Publication Number: US-8117692-B1

Title: Sheet system for mattress protection

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a system of sheets for mattresses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bedwetting is a common problem for young children or those with limited bladder control. Changing sheets in the middle of the night can be a huge inconvenience. The present invention features a novel sheet system for protecting mattresses and providing an easy means of changing sheets in the middle of the night if needed. 
     Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sheet system for mattress protection. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a sheet system for mattress protection showing the sheets separated. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the secondary sheet of a sheet system for mattress protection. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the primary sheet of a sheet system for mattress protection showing the Velcro protective flap opened. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the primary sheet of a sheet system for mattress protection showing the Velcro protective flap closed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention features a sheet system  100  for providing mattress protection as well as an easy means of changing sheets (e.g., after bedwetting in the middle of the night). 
     The system  100  comprises a primary sheet  110 . The primary sheet  110  resembles standard fitted sheets, which are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the primary sheet  110  has a top surface  115  (e.g., a top layer), a bottom surface (e.g., a bottom layer), a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner. Each corner comprises an elastic edge to allow the corners to fit around mattress  101  corners in a conventional manner. 
     Disposed between the top surface  115  (e.g., top layer) of the primary sheet  110  and the bottom surface (e.g., bottom layer) of the primary sheet is a second protective layer  150 . The second protective layer  150  provides moisture protection to help prevent leaking of liquid (e.g., urine) onto the mattress  101 . The second protective layer  150  may be constructed from a variety of materials including but not limited to moisture-resistant nylon, moisture-proof nylon, neoprene, rubber, plastic (e.g., soft plastic sheet), the like, or a combination thereof. 
     The system  100  further comprises a secondary sheet  210  for attaching atop the primary sheet  110 . The secondary sheet has a top surface  215  (e.g., a top layer), a bottom surface  216  (e.g., a bottom layer), a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner. Generally, the secondary sheet  210  is sized to cover all or a portion of the primary sheet  110 . 
     Disposed between the top surface  215  (e.g., top layer) of the secondary sheet  210  and the bottom surface  216  (e.g., bottom layer) of the secondary sheet  210  is a first protective layer  250 . The first protective layer  250  provides moisture protection to help prevent leaking of liquid (e.g., urine) onto the primary sheet  110 . The first protective layer  250  may be constructed from a variety of materials including but not limited to moisture-resistant nylon, moisture-proof nylon, neoprene, rubber, plastic (e.g., soft plastic sheet), the like, or a combination thereof. 
     Disposed on the top surface  115  of the primary sheet  110  is a plurality of first attachment means  120 . The first attachment means  120  may be arranged in any fashion. For example, in some embodiments, the first attachment means  120  are arranged around the outer edges (and corners) of the primary sheet  110 . In some embodiments, the first attachment means  120  are disposed at the corners of the primary sheet  110 . In some embodiments, the first attachment means  120  are positioned at the corners, the edges, and on portions of the center of the primary sheet  110 . The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned configurations of the first attachment means  120 . 
     Disposed on the bottom surface  216  of the secondary sheet  110  is a plurality of second attachment means  220 . The second attachment means  220  are adapted to engage and temporarily attach to the first attachment means  120 . The second attachment means  220  are arranged to align with the first attachment means  120 . For example, if the first attachment means  120  are arranged along the outer edge of the primary sheet  110  (e.g., see  FIG. 2 ), then the second attachment means  220  are arranged along the outer edge of the secondary sheet  210  (e.g., see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In some embodiments, first protective flaps  130  are disposed adjacent to each first attachment means  120 . The first protective flaps  130  function to temporarily cover the first attachment means  120 , for example if the secondary sheet  210  is not atop the primary sheet  110 . For example, if the first attachment means  120  are hook-and-loop fasteners, the first protective flaps  130  can help prevent a user from scratching himself or herself when laying atop the primary sheet  110  on its own. The first protective flaps  130  can move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the first protective flaps  130  cover the first attachment means  120  (e.g., see  FIG. 5 ) and in the second position the first protective flaps  130  leave exposed the first attachment means  120  (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ). 
     In some embodiments, second protective flaps  230  are disposed adjacent to each second attachment means  220 . The second protective flaps  230  function to temporarily cover the second attachment means  220 . The second protective flaps  230  can move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the second protective flaps  230  cover the second attachment means  220  and in the second position the second protective flaps  230  leave exposed the second attachment means  220 . 
     In some embodiments, the attachment means  120 ,  220  are snap systems, hook-and-loop systems, magnet systems, clip systems, buckle systems, the like, or a combination thereof. 
     In some embodiments, the primary sheet  110  is put onto the mattress  101  in a conventional manner. The secondary sheet  210  is then attached to the top of the primary sheet  110 . If the user wets the bed, he/she can remove the secondary sheet  210  easily by removing the secondary sheet  210  (and optionally moving the first protective flaps  130  to the first position) and sleep on the primary sheet  110 . The primary sheet  110  still provides protection against moisture in the event the user wets the bed again. 
     As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number. For example, an embodiment wherein the secondary sheet  220  is about 100 inches in length includes a secondary sheet  220  that is between 90 and 110 inches in length. 
     The disclosures of the following U.S. patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Design Pat. No. D317841; U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,099; U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,219; U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,197; U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,102; U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0222805; U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0044337; U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0293195; and U.S. Patent Application No. 2010/0154119. 
     Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. 
     The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.