Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57 and should be considered a part of this specification. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a sleeping garment and more particularly to a bed sheet with an integrated sleeping garment. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    Bed sheets are commonly known. With respect to infants and toddlers, sleeping garments, such as zip-up pajamas or body suits, sleep sacks and swaddle wraps are known. However, such sleeping garments do not inhibit the infant or toddler from moving (e.g., coming near the edges of cribs, bassinets, etc.), which is discouraged as being potentially dangerous, nor do they prevent the infant or toddler from trying to climb out of the crib or bed. Additionally, use of several separate sleeping components, such as bedding sheets, pajamas, blankets, can be expensive. Moreover, use of blankets or separate coverings has been discouraged to avoid suffocation hazards for infants. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved bedsheet with integrated garment that can allow a user (e.g., newborn baby, infant, toddler, child) to sleep comfortably and securely, while reducing the number of components and addressing some of the deficiencies noted above. Optionally, the garment can be a swaddle. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, there is a need for a bedsheet with integrated garment that can be used in hospitals (e.g., for newborn babies, premature babies) to hold babies securely while allowing access to the baby for medical procedures without having to take the baby out of the garment. The bedsheet can be fitted over a mattress (e.g., at home, in a hospital) and the baby (newborn baby, premature baby, infant) can be placed in a cavity or pocket in the blanket and portions of the garment fastened to secure the baby or infant within the garment. The garment can be a swaddle. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect a bed sheet with an integrated swaddle garment is provided. The bed sheet comprises a bottom layer configured to extend over and removably attach to at least a portion of a mattress and a top layer configured to extend over at least a portion of the mattress, the top layer attached to the bottom layer and defining a cavity between the top layer and the bottom layer, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a baby or infant therein. The bed sheet also comprises a swaddle garment integrally attached to the top layer and comprising a pair of garment portions configured to wrap about at least a portion of a body of the baby or infant to enclose arms of the baby or infant. The pair of garment portions are configured to fasten to one another or to the top layer to securely hold the baby or infant in a swaddled position. The pair of garment portions are configured to define an opening at the proximal end of the swaddle garment to extend at least partially around a neck of the baby or infant when in use. The swaddle garment is configured to hold the baby or infant such that at least a portion of the baby or infant is disposed in the cavity between the top and bottom layers, the swaddle garment also configured to secure the baby or infant on the mattress while allowing the baby or infant to move while on the mattress without dislodging the bottom layer from the mattress. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect, a bed sheet with an integrated swaddle garment is provided. The bed sheet comprises a bottom layer configured to extend over and removably attach to at least a portion of a mattress and a top layer configured to extend over at least a portion of the mattress, the top layer attached to the bottom layer and defining a cavity between the top layer and the bottom layer, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a baby or infant therein. The bed sheet also comprises a swaddle garment integrally attached to the top layer and comprising a pair of garment portions configured to wrap about at least a portion of a body of the baby or infant to enclose arms of the baby or infant. The pair of garment portions are configured to fasten to one another or to the top layer to securely hold the baby or infant in a swaddled position. The pair of garment portions are configured to define an opening at the proximal end of the swaddle garment to extend at least partially around a neck of the baby or infant when in use. At least one of the garment portions has one or more flaps that selectively cover a corresponding opening under the flap, the one of more flaps selectively movable between a closed position over the opening to cover the opening and an opened position to uncover the opening and allow access to at least a portion of the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s body via the opening while swaddled within the swaddle garment. The swaddle garment is configured to hold the baby or infant such that at least a portion of the baby or infant is disposed in the cavity between the top and bottom layers, the swaddle garment also configured to secure the baby or infant on the mattress while allowing the baby or infant to move while on the mattress without dislodging the bottom layer from the mattress. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect, a bed sheet with an integrated swaddle garment is provided. The bed sheet comprises a layer configured to extend over and removably attach to at least a portion of a mattress and define a cavity between the layer and the mattress, the cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a baby or infant therein. The bed sheet also comprises a swaddle garment integrally attached to the layer and comprising a pair of garment portions configured to wrap about at least a portion of a body of the baby or infant to enclose arms of the baby or infant. The pair of garment portions are configured to fasten to one another or to the layer to securely hold the baby or infant in a swaddled position. The pair of garment portions are configured to define an opening at the proximal end of the swaddle garment to extend at least partially around a neck of the baby or infant when in use. At least one of the garment portions has one or more flaps that selectively cover a corresponding opening under the flap, the one of more flaps selectively movable between a closed position over the opening to cover the opening and an opened position to uncover the opening and allow access to at least a portion of the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s body via the opening while swaddled within the swaddle garment. The swaddle garment is configured to hold the baby or infant such that at least a portion of the baby or infant is disposed in the cavity, the swaddle garment also configured to secure the baby or infant on the mattress while allowing the baby or infant to move while on the mattress without dislodging the bottom layer from the mattress. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a bed sheet with integrated garment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of a bed sheet with integrated garment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of 
           [0013]      FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows another view of the bed sheet with integrated garment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional side view of a bedsheet with integrated garment on a mattress. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a bottom view of a bedsheet with integrated garment on a mattress. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    As used herein, a “mattress” is meant to encompass any cushioned sleeping pad, where the sleeping pad can be filled with resilient material, such as cotton, feathers, foam rubber, or can have one or more springs, as in a common mattress of a bed, or can be filled with water or air. As used herein, a “mattress” is meant to encompass different sized mattresses, such as crib size, twin size, full size, queen size and king size, as well as mattresses of different thickness, such as bassinet pads, crib mattresses and up to king size mattresses. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-2  show one embodiment of a bed sheet  100 . The bed sheet  100  can have a top layer  10  generally sized to extend along a length L and width W of a mattress  200  (see  FIG. 11 ). The top layer  10  can at least partially define a sleeping garment  60 , which is further described below. 
         [0023]    The top layer  10  is attached to a bottom layer  20  (see  FIG. 10 ) so as to define a pocket or cavity  30  therebetween into which a wearer of the sleeping garment can at least partially extend. In the illustrated embodiment, the top layer  10  is generally co-extensive with the bottom layer  20 . However, in other embodiments, the bottom layer  20  can extend over a larger area than the top layer  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the top layer  10  is sewn to the bottom layer  20  along at least a portion of the periphery of the top layer  10 . In one embodiment, the periphery of the top layer  10  is sized to substantially correspond to the periphery of a top surface  210  of the mattress  200  (see  FIG. 10 ) on which the top layer  10  rests. In another embodiment, the periphery of the top layer  10  is larger than the periphery that defines the top surface  210  of the mattress  200  so that the top layer  10  extends past the edges of said top surface and onto a side surface  220  of said mattress  200 . 
         [0024]    The bed sheet  100  can optionally include a generally water-resistant layer or water proof layer  40  disposed below the bottom layer  20 , so that the waterproof layer  40  is adjacent and in contact with the mattress  200  when the sheet  100  is placed on the mattress  200 , and so the bottom layer  20  is disposed between the waterproof layer  40  and the top layer  10 . In one embodiment, the top layer  10  is generally co-extensive with the bottom layer  20  and the waterproof layer  40 , and the three layers  10 ,  20 ,  40  are sewn together along at least a portion of the periphery of the top layer  10 . In one embodiment, the waterproof layer  40  extends along an area smaller than the top layer  10 , where the waterproof layer  40  extends along substantially the top surface  210  of the mattress  200 . In another embodiment, the waterproof layer  40  can extend along the same area as the top layer  10 , and can extend to the sides  220  or underside surface  230  of the mattress  200 . Advantageously, the waterproof layer  40  can at least partially stick or adhere to the mattress  200  during use (e.g., due to the affinity between the mattress material and material of the waterproof layer  40 ), which advantageously helps to maintain the bed sheet  100  in place on the mattress  200  and inhibits dislodgement of the sheet  100  during use (e.g., due to the user moving around, sitting up or standing up). In another embodiment, the water proof layer  40  can be excluded from the bed sheet  100 . In one embodiment, where the water proof layer  40  is excluded from the bed sheet  100 , the bottom layer  20  can be water resistant or water proof. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the top layer  10  can be made of a breathable fabric, such as cotton. However, in other embodiments, the top layer  10  can be of a stretchable material, such as 100% jersey cotton stretch material, which advantageously allows the user to comfortably move while having the sleeping garment  60  on. However, in other embodiments, the top layer  10  can be made of other suitable fabrics or textiles, including those made from natural or synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester). In one embodiment, the bottom layer  20  can be made of fabric. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom layer  20  can be made of 100% cotton flannel. However, in other embodiments, the top layer  10  can be made of other suitable fabrics or textiles, including those made from natural or synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, terrycloth, bamboo). In one embodiment, the waterproof layer  40  can be made of a polymer material, such as plastic or vinyl coated polyester. However, in other embodiments, the waterproof layer  40  can be made of other suitable materials, such as a plastic material (e.g., natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic plastic material). 
         [0026]    The bed sheet  100  can have a side portion  50  configured to extend from the top layer  10 , along the sides  220  of the mattress  200  and to an underside  230  of the mattress  200 . In one embodiment, the side portion  50  and top layer  10  are one piece. In another embodiment, the side portion  50  and top layer  10  are separate pieces that are sewn together at said periphery. In one embodiment, the side portion  50  can be made of the same material as the top layer  10 . In another embodiment, the side portion  50  can be made of a different material than the top layer  10 . 
         [0027]    The side portion  50  can extend to the underside  230  of the mattress  200  and define an edge  52  (see  FIG. 11 ). A resilient (e.g., elastic) band  54  can optionally be attached to at least a portion of said edge  52  or be integrated in the edge  52  (e.g., the side portion  50  can overlap the band  54  at said edge  52  so as to enclose the band  54 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic band  54  can extend along the entire edge  52 . In one embodiment, the band  54  can have a generally oval shape when in the relaxed or unstretched condition. Advantageously, the band  54  substantially maintains the sheet  100  in place on the mattress  200  and inhibits the sheet  100  from dislodging or coming off the mattress  200  during use of the sheet  100  by a user, as further discussed below. In one embodiment, the band  54  has a thickness  54   t  of about three inches. However, in other embodiments, the thickness  54   t  can be less than or greater than three inches. 
         [0028]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , a garment  60  can be integrated into the bed sheet  100  so that the garment  60  and top layer  10  are a single piece. In the illustrated embodiment, the garment  60  is a swaddle with two portions  61   a,    61   b  (e.g., two halves) that wrap around the baby or infant&#39;s torso and lower body so that the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s arms are completely enclosed by the two portions  61   a,    61   b  of the swaddle garment  60 . The two portions  61   a,    61   b  can attach to each other, or to another portion of the garment  60  or top layer  10  with one or more fasteners. In one embodiment, the one or more fasteners can be hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO® or APLIX™). In another embodiment, the one or more fasteners can include one or more snaps. In still another embodiment, the one or more fasteners can include one or more zippers or buttons and button holes. The sleeping garment  60  can optionally have a waist band of a resilient and stretchable material. In use, the baby or infant can be placed in the pocket or cavity  30  of the bed sheet  100  and the two portions  61   a,    61   b  of the swaddle garment  60  wrapped around the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s torso so that his or her arms are completely covered by the swaddle portions  61   a,    61   b.    
         [0029]      FIGS. 3-9  show another embodiment of a garment  60 A integrated with the bed sheet  100 . The garment  60 A is similar to the garment  60  shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , except as noted below. Thus, the reference numerals used to designate the various components of the garment  60 A are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the garment  60  in  FIGS. 1-2 , except that the reference numerals of the garment  60 A end with an “A”. Therefore the description for the various components of the garment  60  shown in  FIGS. 1-2  is understood to apply to the corresponding components of the garment  60 A in  FIGS. 3-9 , except as described below. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-9 , the garment  60 A is a swaddle with two swaddle portions  61   a,    61   b  (e.g., swaddle halves) that wrap at least partially around the torso of the baby or infant, and which fasten to each other or to another portion of the garment  60 A or top layer  10  with one or more fasteners. As discussed above, the one or more fasteners can be hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO® or APLIX™). In another embodiment, the one or more fasteners can include one or more snaps. In still another embodiment, the one or more fasteners can include one or more zippers or buttons and button holes. The garment  60 A also has two flaps  63 A,  63 B that can be pulled to uncover corresponding openings  65 A,  65 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  65 A,  65 B are sized to allow at least a portion of the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s hand or arm to pass therethrough. In another embodiment, the openings  65 A,  65 B can be sized to not allow the baby&#39;s hands or arms to pass therethrough, but to allow access to a portion of the baby&#39;s hand or arm (e.g., to connect an iv line, as discussed further below). The flaps  63 A,  63 B can removably close the openings  65 A,  65 B via fasteners  67 B on the flap  63 B that releasably attach to fasteners  69 B on the opening. The fasteners  67 B,  69 B can be hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO® or APLIX™), though other suitable fasteners can be used. 
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, the openings  65 A,  65 B are located on the swaddle portions  61   a,    61   b  at a location that allows a portion of the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s arms to pass through the opening, but lower than openings for sleeves would normally be (e.g., in a garment that has sleeves or openings that align with the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s shoulders). This allows the swaddle garment  60 A to maintain the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s shoulders and upper arms wrapped and swaddled. Advantageously, the flaps  63 A,  63 B and openings  65 A,  65 B allow access to the baby&#39;s arms, which can allow a caregiver, nurse or doctor to access the baby&#39;s arms, such as to check their pulse or to apply an iv (e.g., intravenous fluid delivery). As shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , one flap  63 B can be open to allow access to the baby&#39;s left arm, while the other flap  63 A can be closed. In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , the second flap  63 A can be opened to allow access to the baby&#39;s other arm through the opening  65 A. In still another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 9 , the flap  63 B can be partially closed (via the fasteners  67 B,  69 B) to hold the baby&#39;s hand in place, for example, after an iv line has been attached to the baby&#39;s arm. 
         [0032]    Though the garment  60 A only shows two flaps  63 B,  65 B, one of skill in the art will recognize that the garment  60 A can in one embodiment only have one flap and corresponding opening. In another embodiment, the garment  60 A can have one or two additional flaps over openings located further down on the garment  60 A to allow access to the baby&#39;s or infant&#39;s legs or feet. 
         [0033]    Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. 
         [0034]    Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
         [0035]    Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a sub combination. 
         [0036]    Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products. 
         [0037]    For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
         [0038]    Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
         [0039]    Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z. 
         [0040]    Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree. 
         [0041]    The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

Technology Category: 1