Patent Abstract:
A augmentation cover attached to an item of bed cover, or bed cover, for a human and having access for a secondary user to enter under the augmentation cover. The augmentation cover may be permanently or releasably attached to the bed cover. The augmentation cover may be multi-layered fabric, including a water resistant fabric and/or fabrics impregnated with antibacterial, antimicrobial, pesticidal, or various other special purpose additives. Various shapes, attachments, and configurations are illustrated. The invention may be provided as a bed cover for a human with multiple interchangeable augmentation covers. The invention may be provided as one or more augmentation covers with user-installable fasteners for a legacy bed cover.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/737,096 which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 61/589,648 filed Jan. 23, 2012 with two common inventors. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to bedding for standard sized beds generally and to integrated human bedding augmented to receive a secondary user, such as a pet or a child, at least partially isolated from the primary user. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Children and pets (collectively, “secondary users”), especially dogs and cats, sometimes like to sleep on a bed that is designed for and in use by one or more humans. Some secondary users also sometimes prefer to sleep under a blanket. Humans sometimes enjoy having a secondary user sleeping on the bed that the humans are using, but have concerns regarding sanitation and infestation. 
       OBJECTS AND FESTURES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an augmented bedding that includes a comforter or similar bed cover for a human bed and a augmentation cover on the bed cover for receiving a smaller live occupant as a secondary user. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmented bedding in which the augmentation cover is attached to the human bed cover on most of the perimeter of the augmentation cover and having an unattached portion of the perimeter by which a smaller live occupant can enter into the augmentation cover. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that includes antimicrobial materials. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that has air vents. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that includes multiple layers of fabric. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmented bedding that suppresses fleas and ticks. It is another object of the present invention to provide an augmented bedding that is washable. It is another object of the present invention to provide augmentation covers in various sizes and shapes. It is a feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that is either releasably or fixedly attached to a comforter or similar bed cover for a human bed. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that is attached to the human bed cover on most of the perimeter of the augmentation cover and having an unattached portion of the perimeter by which the pet can enter under the augmentation cover. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that includes antimicrobial materials. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that has air vents. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that includes multiple layers of fabric. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that suppresses fleas and ticks. It is another feature of the present invention to provide an augmentation cover that is washable. It is another feature of the present invention to provide bed cover and augmentation covers in various sizes and shapes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0005]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding, in accordance with a fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of another augmented bedding, in accordance with a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary augmented bedding  100  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  100  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  106 . Bed  102 , which may be of any useful size, releasably supports bed cover  104 , which includes top portion  118  and skirt portion  116 . Bed cover has a top edge  120 . Bed cover  104  is preferably a bedspread but, in various additional embodiments, may be a comforter, a blanket, duvet, or other top layer of human bedding. Preferably, the bed cover  104  for a twin bed comprises eighty inches in width and one-hundred and ten inches in length. Preferably, the bed cover  104  for a full size bed comprises ninety-six inches in width and one-hundred and ten inches in length. Preferably, the bed cover  104  for a queen size bed comprises one hundred and two inches in width and one-hundred and sixteen inches in length. Preferably, the bed cover  104  for a king size bed comprises one hundred and fourteen inches in width and one-hundred and twenty inches in length. 
         [0022]    Augmentation cover  106  is preferably at least one layer of fabric and is attached to bed cover  104  along the bottom edge  110  and side edges  108  and  112  of the augmentation cover  106 . Top edge  114  of augmentation cover  106  is not attached to bed cover if augmentation cover  106  is a single layer of fabric. In embodiments in which augmentation cover  106  is made of multiple layers of fabric, at least one of the layers is not attached to the bed cover  104  along top edge  114 , thereby allowing entry of a secondary user under augmentation cover  106 . Preferably, edges  108 ,  110 , and  112  coincide with edges of the bed  102 . Preferably, augmentation cover  106  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  106  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. Bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  106  may be of various fabric materials in various embodiments and may bear decoration, such as colors and/or patterns. Preferably, all materials are ecologically friendly materials. While illustrated as flat, augmentation cover  106  may have slack to accommodate a secondary user. The augmented bedding  100  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  106  attached. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of augmented bedding  200  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  200  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  206 . In this embodiment of augmented bedding  100 , augmentation cover  206  includes air vents  202  (one of eight labeled). In various embodiments, air vents  202  may be of various sizes and shapes and may be one or more air vents  202 . Preferably, augmentation cover  206  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  206  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  200  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  206  attached. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  300  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  300  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  306 . Augmentation cover  306  has an irregular curved top edge  314  illustrative, without limitation, of the variation in shape that the top edge  314  may have. Preferably, augmentation cover  306  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  306  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  300  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  306  attached. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment augmented bedding  400  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  400  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  406 . Augmentation cover  406  has edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  attached to bed cover  104 . Edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  do not extend to the respective edges of bed  102 . Top edge  414  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. In some embodiments, only one or two of edges  408 ,  410 ,  412  do not extend to the respective edges of bed  102 . Preferably, augmentation cover  406  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  406  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  400  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  406  attached. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  500  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  500  includes bed cover  504  and augmentation cover  506 . Augmentation cover  506  has a continuous releasable fastener  502  along edges  510 ,  512 , and  512 . Releasable fastener  502  may be, for non-limiting examples, a zipper, hook and loop fastener, and a press-seal fastener. Top edge  514  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Bed cover  504  includes a complimentary part of fastener  502 . Preferably, augmentation cover  506  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  506  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  500  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with one or more augmentation covers  506 . In a particular embodiment, augmentation cover  506  may be reversible. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding on a bed, in accordance with a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  600  includes bed cover  604  and augmentation cover  606 . Augmentation cover  606  includes spaced apart releasable fasteners  602  (one of fifteen labeled) along edges  610 ,  612 , and  612 . Releasable fasteners  602  may be, for non-limiting examples, snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, hooks, ties, hook and eye fasteners, and buckles. Top edge  614  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Bed cover  604  includes complimentary parts of fasteners  602 . In a particular embodiment, complimentary parts of fasteners  602  are arrayed around the top portion  618  of bed cover  604  to permit variation in the positioning, by the user, of augmentation cover  606  on bed cover  604 . Preferably, augmentation cover  606  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation  606  cover does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  600  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with one or more augmentation covers  606 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiments of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the augmented bedding  500  or  600  may be sold with a plurality of various augmentation covers  506  or  606 , respectively, each having a different weight and/or air permeability for various seasons, applications, and secondary users. Likewise, the plurality of various augmentation covers  506  or  606  may have various colors, designs, and/or patterns in various embodiments. One or more of the plurality of various augmentation covers  506  or  606  may be reversible. In a particular embodiment, the combination of the bed cover  504  and the plurality of releasably attachable augmentation covers  506  or  606  may be sold with the augmentation covers detached. In another approach, the bed cover  504  or  604  may be sold online with a consumer&#39;s choice of one or more augmentation covers  506  or  606 , respectively, made in the same online sale. In another particular embodiment, the plurality of releasably attachable augmentation covers  506  or  606  may be sold including a plurality of first parts of complimentary fasteners  502  or  602  operable to be attached to a consumer&#39;s legacy bed covering  504  or  604  by the consumer and second parts of such complimentary fasteners  502  or  602  attached to the augmentation cover  506  or  606 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  700  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  700  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  706 . Side and bottom edges  712 ,  716 , and  710  of augmentation cover  706  extend over the edges of bed  102 . The extent of the extended edges  710  and  712  may, in a particular embodiment, extend to the bottom edge of bed  102  (see  FIG. 12 ). The side not shown in this illustration also has an extension of the augmentation cover  706 . Top edge  714  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Preferably, augmentation cover  706  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  706  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. The augmented bedding  700  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  706  attached. In a particular embodiment, edge  716  is open, forming a hammock, with a bottom at edge  712 , along the side of bed  102 , in which a small secondary user may rest. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  800  on a bed, in accordance with an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  800  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  806 . Augmentation cover  806  has an irregular shape to exemplify, without limitation, the range of shapes available for augmentation cover  806 . Preferably, augmentation cover  806  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. Top edge  814  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Edges  808 ,  810 , and  812  are releasably or fixedly attached to bed cover  104 . The augmented bedding  800  is preferably sold as the bed cover  804  with augmentation cover  806  attached. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary augmented bedding  900  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  900  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  906 . Augmentation cover  906  has a bottom edge  910  that is not along the bottom edge of bed  102 . Top edge  914  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Edges  908 ,  910 , and  912  are releasably or fixedly attached to bed cover  104 . Preferably, augmentation cover  906  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  906  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. In a particular embodiment, the bottom edge  910  of augmentation cover  906  may be near the bottom edge of bed  102  to provide for a secondary user that prefers to sleep on the foot of the bed. The augmented bedding  900  is preferably sold as the bed cover  904  with augmentation cover  906  attached. 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  1000  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1000  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  1006 . Augmentation cover  1006  has a divider  1002  that divides augmentation cover  1006  into two compartments  1020  and  1022 . The compartments  1020  or  1022  may be used for separating two secondary users or for providing options for positioning one secondary user. Top edge  1014  is open to permit entry of a secondary user. Preferably, augmentation cover  1006  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104 . Edges  1008 ,  1010 , and  1012  are releasably or fixedly attached to bed cover  104  and are at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  1006  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover. In a particular embodiment, compartments  1020  and  1022  may have releasably fastenable top edges  1014  to allow one compartment to be closed off to limit a secondary user to a particular side of the bed  102 . The augmented bedding  1000  is preferably sold as the bed cover  1004  with augmentation cover  1006  attached. 
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  1100  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1100  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  1106 . Augmented bedding  1100  has attached or releasably attached edges  1108 ,  1110 , and  1112  and unattached edge  1114 , which is arranged straight across bed  102 . Preferably, augmentation cover  1106  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  1106  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover  104 . The orientation of unattached edge  1114  may vary among various alternate embodiments. The augmented bedding  1100  is preferably sold as the bed cover  1104  with augmentation cover  1106  attached. 
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  1200  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1200  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  1206 . Augmentation cover  1206  includes top portion  1222 , side skirt  1212 , bottom skirt  1210 . Augmentation cover  1206  has attached or releasably attached edges  1216 ,  1218 , and  1220 , and unattached edge  1214 . Preferably, augmentation cover  1206  has a width equal to the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover  1206  does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover  104 . The augmented bedding  1200  is preferably sold as the bed cover  104  with augmentation cover  1206  attached. In a particular embodiment, edge  1216  may be an opening, allowing a secondary user or child access between the bed covering  104  and the augmentation cover  1206  along the side of bed  102 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  1300  on a bed  102 , in accordance with a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1300  includes bed cover  104  and augmentation cover  1306 . Augmentation cover  1306  has fasteners  1302  (one of four labeled) at each corner for fastening augmentation cover  1306  to bed cover  104 . Edges  1308 ,  1310 ,  1312 , and  1314  are not attached, except at the corners, allowing secondary user access from any side. The augmented bedding  1300  is preferably sold as the bed cover  1304  with augmentation cover  1306  attached. Any embodiment of the augmented bedding, including illustrated embodiments  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600 ,  700 ,  800 ,  900 ,  1000 ,  1100 ,  1200 , and  1300  may be made with antimicrobial or antibacterial materials; moisture barriers as a bottom layer of the augmentation cover  106 ,  206 ,  306 ,  406 ,  506 ,  606 ,  706 ,  806 ,  906 ,  1006 ,  1106 ,  1206 , and  1306 ; and flea and tick suppressant materials. Preferably, augmentation cover  1306  has a width of no more than fourteen-fifteenths of the width of the bed cover  104  and is at least five inches less wide than the bed cover  104 . Top edge  114  of the augmentation cover does not touch upon or fasten to the top edge  120  of the bed cover  104 . All materials are preferably environmentally friendly materials. Any embodiment of the augmented bedding may bear decorative or functional colors and/or patterns. 
         [0036]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an augmented bedding  1400 , in accordance with a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1400  includes bed covering  104  with first parts  1402  (one of four labeled) of complimentary fasteners  1302  attached and a plurality augmentation covers  1306  and  1406  with second parts  1404  (one of four labeled on each augmentation cover  1306  and  1406 ) complimentary fasteners  1302  attached. The plurality of augmentation covers  1306  and  1406  is not intended to be limiting, nor is the type or configuration of fastener parts  1402  and  1404 . While augmented bedding  1400  is based on augmented bedding  1300 , any previously described embodiment with a releasably fastened augmentation cover may form a basis for augmented bedding  1400 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of another augmented bedding  1500 , in accordance with a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. Augmented bedding  1500  includes a plurality of augmentation covers  1306  and  1406  and a plurality of complimentary fastener parts  1402 , preferably in a container  1502 , that the consumer can fasten to the consumer&#39;s legacy bed cover  104 . The plurality of augmentation covers  1306  and  1406  is not intended to be limiting, nor is the type or configuration of fasteners  1402  and  1404 . While augmented bedding  1500  is based on augmented bedding  1300 , any embodiment with a releasably fastened augmentation cover may form a basis for augmented bedding  1500 . 
         [0038]    Although applicant has described applicant&#39;s preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes such modifications as diverse shapes and sizes and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many other advantages of applicant&#39;s invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims. For example, the invention may be used to hold objects as well as or instead of live secondary users. For further example, stuffed animals, teddy bears, toys generally, and electronic devices such as remote controls, may be placed under the augmentation cover.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0