Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to bed sheets and beddings for use in a crib. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Mattress covers, sheets, or pads are widely used to cover a mattress. Covers, sheets, and pads come in a variety of styles and are used for several different purposes. Some offer extra cushioning and support to a sleeper, while others act as an extra layer, keeping the mattress itself cleaner. 
         [0003]    Babies and other bedridden people can have trouble controlling their bowels or bladders and can soil the mattress or the top element of the mattress (i.e. the cover, sheet, and/or pad). Therefore, the top element of the mattress may need to be changed several times a day. This can be exhausting and time-consuming, considering the effort needed to arrange tightly fitted covers, sheets, and/or pads on the mattress. 
         [0004]    In addition, the fit and design of the top element may be important depending on the user of the bed. For cribs, specific safety issues must be considered in the design. Recommendations for preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are of primary importance. SIDS is the leading cause of death in the United States for babies between one month and one year old. SIDS is not any one illness or disease. Rather, it is the diagnosis given when a child under a year old dies suddenly and an exact cause cannot be found after a death scene investigation, an autopsy, and a review of the child&#39;s medical history are all undertaken. That SIDS can happen without warning makes it a particular source of insecurity for parents. Currently, approximately 2,300 infants die from SIDS in the United States each year. SIDS most commonly affects babies between the ages of one and four months, and ninety percent (90%) of cases involve infants younger than six months. 
         [0005]    SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths can be attributed to suffocation, asphyxia, entrapment, infection, ingestions, metabolic diseases, arrhythmia—associated cardiac channelopathies, and trauma (both accidental and non-accidental). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regularly publishes guidelines for infant sleep safety and SIDS risk reduction. The most recent guideline published Oct. 18, 2011 lists 18 recommendations. Relevant recommendations for the purposes of this document are cited below:
       Infants should be placed for sleep in a supine position (wholly on the back);   A firm crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet should be used;   Soft objects or loose bedding should be out of the crib (including pillows, blankets, and bumper pads); and   Covering the infant&#39;s head or overheating should be avoided.       
 
         [0010]    In light of the risk of SIDS and the current recommendations, there are a number of aspects to consider when choosing a bedding element (pad, mattress, top sheet, bed cover, etc.). A thick or loose fitted cover, sheet, and/or pad may interfere with the breathing of a baby, especially if a baby&#39;s face presses against or is near these items. One should ensure that the pad or mattress fits properly in the crib. Any gaps or holes could pose a danger to a baby because airflow near and around the baby&#39;s head may be reduced. The crib pad or mattress should also be firm. A soft mattress can conform to the shape of a baby&#39;s head or face, increasing the risk of suffocation. One should also ensure that there is no loose bedding or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation within the crib. 
         [0011]    Although the prior art provides useful waterproof covers for crib mattresses, they are not designed with the current SIDS recommendations in mind. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,565 discloses a crib sheet that consists of a moisture proof top panel and a lower panel that is attached to the mattress. The top panel and the lower panel are separable. Hook and loop fasteners attach the panels at only two sides, thereby leaving holes and gaps in which the baby&#39;s head or limbs can be caught. Although the prior art teaches that a bumper pad may be used to secure the top panel and close off any holes or gaps accessible to the baby, it should be noted that bumper pads are prohibited under any SIDS-related recommendations. 
         [0012]    Therefore, there is a need for a safe, easily removable and reusable waterproof pad, which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention provides systems relating to a currently safe and easily removable and reusable waterproof pad with an accompanying bottom layer that attaches to a crib mattress. The detachable waterproof pad of the present invention seeks to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by providing a tightly fitted pad to comply with current SIDS recommendations. The pad can be changed, cleaned, and replaced frequently. 
         [0014]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides a detachable waterproof pad system for use in a crib, the system comprising:
       a bottom layer fitted sheet constructed and arranged to fasten around a mattress, the fitted sheet having a top surface adjoining a top surface of the mattress and a bottom surface adjoining a bottom surface of the mattress that is adjacent to a portion of a crib frame;   a top layer pad constructed and arranged to cover a substantial portion of the top surface of the mattress, and having: a bottom waterproof layer, a middle absorbent layer, and a top fabric layer;   first fastening means for operatively coupling the top layer pad to the bottom layer fitted sheet when the bottom layer fitted sheet is fastened to the mattress; and
 
wherein the top layer pad is substantially immovable along the mattress due to the first fastening means being mounted at the edge of the pad along the bottom waterproof layer.
       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, in which identical reference numerals in different figures indicate identical elements and in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fitted sheet bottom layer of a detachable waterproof pad system within a crib according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the detachable waterproof pad system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable waterproof pad system taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2  according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fitted sheet bottom layer of the detachable waterproof pad system within a crib according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the detachable waterproof pad system according to second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the detachable waterproof pad system taken along line B-B of  FIG. 5  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    The figures are not to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular elements while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    The present invention provides replacements for both a crib&#39;s fitted sheet and a mattress pad. The waterproof nature of the pad protects the underlying mattress from potential soiling. If the pad is soiled, it is simply unfastened from the bottom layer, washed, and reused. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , schematic representations of the detachable waterproof pad system are illustrated according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention where a fastening means has oval-shaped corners and is located at the edge of the mattress. In  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the top layer pad covers the entire top surface of the mattress and it has a non-continuous stitching pattern format. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4 through 6  illustrate schematic representations of the detachable waterproof pad system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 4 through 6  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention where a fastening means has a rectangular shape and is located away from the edge of the mattress. In  FIGS. 4 through 6  the top layer pad covers a substantial portion of the top surface of the mattress and it has a continuous stitching pattern format. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the detachable waterproof pad system is designed to be used in a crib  10  to cover a mattress  20  entirely or substantial portions thereof. 
         [0030]    The mattress  20  in the crib  10  is generally supported by a frame  30 . 
         [0031]    The detachable waterproof pad system generally includes a bottom layer  40  and a top layer pad  50 . The bottom layer  40  in  FIG. 1  is a fitted sheet that covers the mattress  20 . The bottom layer  40  in  FIG. 1  only covers the sides of the mattress  20  and the mattress  20  can be seen in the void not covered by the bottom layer  40 . The top layer pad  50  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is removably attachable to the bottom layer  40  by way of first fastening means  60 . The first fastening means  60 , in one embodiment, is a two-part fastening system with a bottom portion attached to the top surface of the bottom layer  40  and a top portion attached to the bottom surface of the top layer pad  50 . The top and bottom portions of the first fastening means  60  cooperate to fasten the top layer pad  50  to the bottom layer  40  such that the top layer pad  50  does not move relative to the bottom layer  40 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bottom portion of the two-part fastening system is configured to cover the perimeter of the mattress  20 . The complementary top portion of the two-part fastening system also covers the perimeter of the top layer pad  50  such that each section of the bottom portion on the top surface of the bottom layer has a corresponding top portion on the bottom surface of the top layer pad  50 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , another schematic presentation of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1  is shown. The top layer pad  50  of the detachable waterproof pad system according to one aspect of the invention is shown. In the Figure, the top layer pad  50  is laid on top of the bottom layer  40  and on top of the mattress  20 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional diagram of the system illustrated in  FIG. 2  along the lines A-A. It should be noted that, for simplicity, the cross section of most of the frame  30  is not shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the bottom layer  40  is a fitted sheet constructed and arranged to fasten around a crib mattress  20 . The bottom layer of fitted sheet  40  has a top surface adjoining a top surface of the mattress  20  and a bottom surface adjoining a bottom surface of the mattress  10 . The bottom surface of the mattress  10  is adjacent to a portion of a crib frame  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the bottom layer  40  is equipped with a second fastening means for mounting the bottom layer fitted sheet around the top surface  50  and around the bottom surface  60  of the mattress  10 . This second fastening means can be made of elastic bands. The second fastening means is deployed to hold the bottom layer tightly against the mattress  20 . 
         [0035]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bottom layer  40  has second fastening means which include a unitary elastic band  70  around the top surface of the mattress and a zipper  80  for mounting the bottom layer fitted sheet  20  to the bottom surface of the mattress  10 . Other fastening means for holding the bottom layer  40  tightly against the mattress  20  may also be used. Buttons, snaps, drawstrings and/or combinations of such fasteners may be employed. 
         [0036]    It should be noted that the bottom layer fitted sheet  40  can be made of any type of natural fabric material or synthetic fabric material. In the preferred embodiment, the material used is a polyester material to maintain greater durability in everyday use. 
         [0037]    Again referring to  FIG. 3 , the top layer pad  50  of the detachable waterproof pad system can be constructed and arranged to entirely cover the top surface of the mattress  10  as well as the top surface of the bottom layer fitted sheet  40 . The top layer pad  30  can have either rounded corners as shown in  FIG. 2 . The top layer pad  30  may consist of three layers, a bottom waterproof layer  90 , a middle absorbent layer  100 , and a top fabric layer  110 . These layers can form a substantially unitary article. 
         [0038]    It should be noted that the height and the texture of the top layer pad  50  are important as having a pad which is too thick or too soft may cause suffocation. Therefore, the overall thickness of the top layer pad  50  is approximately 6 mm and is purposely stitched in a specific pattern format to ensure that the middle absorbent layer stays evenly distributed such that it remains at a constant height or thickness. These precautionary designs further reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the way the top layer pad  50  is sewn together or quilted can have a variety of stitching pattern formats to ensure that the middle absorbent layer stays evenly distributed. For example, sewn or quilted patterns, such as loops, diamonds, and squares, may be used. Furthermore, continuous or non-continuous stitching patterns may be used.  FIG. 2  illustrates the use of a non-continuous stitching pattern. 
         [0039]    The bottom waterproof layer  90  of the top layer pad  50  protects the underlying mattress  20  and fitted sheet  40  from potential soiling. The bottom waterproof layer  90  can be made of any type of water resistant or waterproof material. In the preferred embodiment, the material used is a waterproof tent fabric, such as a mixture of polyester with plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-P). 
         [0040]    The middle absorbent layer  100  of the top layer pad  50  serves the function of retaining soil or waste of a baby lying on the top layer pad  50 . The middle absorbent layer  100  can be made of any type of natural or synthetic material that is fluid absorbent. In the preferred embodiment, the material used is a synthetic blend of polyester and viscose rayon. 
         [0041]    The top fabric layer  36  is used to increase the comfort and aesthetic appeal for the user. The top fabric layer  36  can be made of the same material as the bottom layer fitted sheet  20  so that the color, texture, and design between the two matches and the appearance of the whole pad system can be eye-pleasing. Therefore, similar to the bottom layer fitted sheet  20 , the top surface layer  36  can be made of any type of natural fabric material or synthetic fabric material. In the preferred embodiment the material used is a polyester material to maintain greater durability in everyday use. 
         [0042]    The top layer pad  50  can have an overall thickness of anywhere from ½ inch to ¼ inch. Other dimensions are, of course, possible. 
         [0043]    Also illustrated in  FIG. 3  are the bottom portion  120  and the top portion  130  of the two-part fastening system. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the two part fastening system is positioned to be at the very edge of the mattress  20  and the very edge of the top layer pad  50 . This positioning ensures that, at their respective edges, there is no gap between the top layer pad  50  and the mattress  20  as the points of contact between the top layer pad  50  and the bottom layer  40  are covered by the first fastening means. 
         [0044]    In a preferred embodiment, a hook and loop fastener means is used as the first fastening means to couple the top layer pad  50  to the bottom layer  40 . The hook portion of the hook and loop fastener can be the bottom portion while the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener can be the top portion of the two-part fastening system. As can be imagined, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  uses strips of hook and loop fasteners or a continuous strip of hook and loop fasteners at each edge of the mattress  20 . 
         [0045]    The use of such a hook and loop fastener provides a substantially immovable sleeping arrangement for a baby and to further provide an easy removal and replacement padding system for parents. However, any other alternative fastening means known in the art may be used to provide tautness and a snug fit between the top layer pad  50  and the bottom layer  40 . The first fastening means restrains the movement of the waterproof pad system while maintaining easy attaching and detaching mechanisms. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of the detachable waterproof pad system is illustrated. As can be seen, the bottom portion of the first fastening means is positioned on the top surface of the bottom layer to not be at the very edge of the mattress  20 . In this embodiment, the top portion of the first fastening means is correspondingly positioned at the bottom surface of the top layer pad. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the alternative embodiment shows that the top layer pad  50  need not completely cover the mattress. As can be seen, the top layer pad  50  is covers an area smaller than the top area of the mattress  20 . The top portion of the first fastening means is positioned at the edge of the bottom of the top layer pad to cooperatively form a seal between the top layer  50  and the bottom layer  40  by way of the first fastening means. 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  also shows the use of a continuous repeating square stitching pattern on the top layer pad  50  of the system. As noted above, other stitching patterns and designs may be used. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of the system along lines B-B is illustrated. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the embodiment in  FIG. 6  has a top layer pad  50  and the bottom layer  40  of the detachable waterproof pad system being releasably connected by a washable hook and loop fastener means. The top layer pad  50  has a top portion of the first fastening means  130  on the outer perimeter of the side facing downwardly and away from the waterproof layer  90  to operatively couple to the bottom portion of the first fastening means  120  on the bottom layer fitted sheet  40 . The bottom portion of the first fastening means  120  can be located away from the top edge of the bottom layer  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0050]    The top portion of the first fastener means  130  on the top layer pad  50  is intentionally mounted at the edge of the top layer pad  50  along the bottom waterproof layer  90  to construct a substantially immovable top layer pad  50 , and to prevent holes, gaps, or other openings in which the baby&#39;s head can be caught. 
         [0051]    To releasably disengage the hook and loop fastener means of the present invention, one merely needs to place a finger between the bottom portion of the first fastening means  120  and the top portion of the first fastening means  130 . These two portions are then pulled away from each other to disengage them from one another. 
         [0052]    It should be noted that the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  differs from the embodiment in  FIG. 3  in that the embodiment in  FIG. 6  uses two unitary elastic bands as its second fastening means. The first unitary elastic band  70  is positioned at the top of the bottom layer while the second unitary elastic band  70 A is positioned at the bottom of the bottom layer  40 . The unitary elastic band  70  around the top surface of the mattress mounts the bottom layer  40  to the top of the mattress  20  while the second unitary elastic band  70 A mounts the bottom layer  40  to the bottom surface of the mattress  20 . Other fastening means for holding the bottom layer  40  tightly against the mattress  20  may also be used. Buttons, snaps, drawstrings and/or combinations of such fasteners may be employed. 
         [0053]    In a further preferred embodiment, the waterproof pad and/or the accompanying bottom layer can be cleaned and can be constructed to be able to withstand any ordinary washer and dryer. 
         [0054]    A further advantage to the invention is that it allows for better airflow around and through the mattress. Previously, plastic layers or components were required for mattresses to be used by infants to protect against infant waste. Because the waterproof nature of the waterproof pad system already protects against this eventuality, mattresses for use by infants no longer need to have such plaster layers or components. The use of non-plastic layers or components in the mattress allows for better airflow and thereby prevents infants from overheating. It should be noted that the prevention of overheating in infants is one of the recommendations for preventing SIDS. 
         [0055]    Although the illustrated detachable waterproof pad system is designed for use in a crib, the invention is useful on all bed sizes and can be manufactured in any desired size. Furthermore, it can be used on sofas, chairs, seats, and pillows. 
         [0056]    A person understanding this invention may now conceive of alternative structures and embodiments or variations of the above all of which are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow.

Technology Category: 1