US20060130234A1

US20060130234A1 - Uncovering Resistant Shared Bedclothing

Info

Publication number: US20060130234A1
Application number: US10/905,116
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Poulin; Catherine Poulin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-16
Filing date: 2004-12-16
Publication date: 2006-06-22

Abstract

Means coupled to the torso covering portion of uncovering resistant shared bedclothing such as sheets or blankets includes an open fold, a single pleat and a double pleat in alternate disclosed embodiments for preventing uncovering of one sleeper in response to turning of the torso covering portion of the shared bedclothing by another sleeper. The sheets, blankets or other bedclothing may be King, Queen or Double sized to fit King, Queen or Double size beds.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is drawn to the field of bedclothing, and more particularly, to novel uncovering resistant shared bedclothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To lie on one's side and to lie flat are the principal sleep states and to roll over is the principal way to change sleep states. During sleep, quarter turns and half turns are common; quarter turns make the transition between laying flat and on one's side, whereas half turns either make the transition between laying on one's left or right sides or the transition between being face down or face up. Other transitions of course regularly occur such as full turns.
It is not uncommon for the natural nocturnal movements of one person to disturb the sleep of another person sharing a bed and bedding in common. Whenever one sleeper turns away from the other a quarter or half turn, the sheet, blanket or other shared bedclothing typically turns with them, with the result that the lateral edge of the shared bedding is displaced in the direction of the turn a distance that depends on the angle of the turn and the girth of the turning sleeper's shoulders. For the multiple quarter and half turns typical of the nocturnal movements that arise during the course of a normal night's sleep, the bedclothing all too often becomes removed from covering relation exposing the non-turning sleeper to room ambient. Discomfort is commonly experienced from the exposure, which typically leads to loss of rest and loss of sleep and sometimes even presents a health exposure hazard.
There accordingly is a need to provide shared bedclothing that resists uncovering and the resulting exposure of one sleeper arising from the natural nocturnal quarter, half and other turning movements of another sleeper sharing a common bed or bedding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It accordingly is an object of the present invention to disclose uncovering resistant shared bedclothing including blankets and sheets that remain in covering relation notwithstanding the natural nocturnal movements of sleepers sharing a bed or bedding in common.
A related object of the present invention is to disclose such uncovering resistant shared bedclothing that may be manufactured and sold at costs competitive with conventional bedclothing.
Another related object of the present invention is to disclose such uncovering resistant shared bedclothing that may be used on any standard sized Queen, King or Double bed.
It is another related object of the present invention to disclose such uncovering resistant shared bedclothing that upon waking (or at any other time) may be made-up with little or no additional trouble and that is easy to launder and maintain.
In accord with these and other objects, the present invention contemplates uncovering resistant shared bedclothing that includes a sheet of flexible material that is adapted to softly lie over and cover sleepers who share a bed in common. For example, the sheet of flexible material may be a bed sheet or blanket that is sized to fit one of a standard Queen, King and Double size bed.
In broad terms, means are disclosed coupled to the sheet of flexible material of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing for preventing uncovering of one sleeper in response to another sleeper turning under the sheet of flexible material adapted to softly lie over and cover sleepers who share a bed in common. In one embodiment, the uncovering preventing means coupled to the sheet of flexible material includes two separate sheet members laid over each other to provide an open fold that unfolds in response to turning to prevent uncovering of one sleeper by turning of the other sleeper. In other disclosed embodiments, the uncovering preventing means coupled to the sheet of flexible material includes a pleat provided by having doubled the sheet of flexible material over on itself that unfolds in response to turning to prevent uncovering of one sleeper by turning of the other. Although open folds and single and double pleats are disclosed in the presently preferred and exemplary embodiments, other structures of different geometry and/or unfold capacity may be employed so long as the uncovering preventing means prevent uncovering of one sleeper by turning of the other sleeper at least a quarter turn more, and preferably at least a half turn more, than the turning leeway allowed by conventional bedclothing of corresponding standard size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features will become more apparent as the invention becomes better understood by referring to the following solely exemplary detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, and to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 in the FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C thereof are pictorial diagrams useful in explaining the problems normally encountered by sleepers sharing prior art bedclothing;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a top plan view and FIG. 3B a top end view of one embodiment of uncovering resistant shared bedclothing in accord with the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a top plan view and FIG. 4B a top end view of another embodiment of uncovering resistant shared bedclothing in accord with the present invention; and
FIG. 5A is a top plan view and FIG. 5B a top end view of a further embodiment of uncovering resistant shared bedclothing in accord with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1A, two sleepers 12 and 14 are shown sharing a common bed 16 and bedclothing 18. Both are lying flat; sleeper 12 is face up and sleeper 14 is also face up. In FIG. 1B, sleeper 14 is illustrated lying face down, having made from the position of FIG. 11A a one half turn transition away from sleeper 12 as illustrated by arrow 20. The portion of the bedclothing 18 covering the sleeper 14 rotates as the sleeper 14 turns from friction between the bedclothing 18 and sleeper 14 and/or as a result of the sleeper 14 grasping while turning the bedclothing 18 with the result that the lateral edge of the bedclothing 18 has been displaced as a result of the half turn 20 of the sleeper 14 as schematically illustrated by arrow 22. King and Queen sized bedclothing accommodate approximately one half turn total turning leeway before uncovering occurs, whether that results from the turning of one sleeper one half turn, as illustrated by arrow 20, or from two quarter turns, not illustrated, either of one or both sleepers. In FIG. 1C, sleeper 14 having made another quarter turn from the position of FIG. 1B as illustrated by arrow 24 lies on one side, and sleeper 12 is illustrated as uncovered as a result of the displacement of the lateral edge of the bedclothing 18 as schematically shown by arrow 26. The uncovered sleeper 12 is exposed to room ambient and is subjected to possible loss of rest or sleep. The sequence of quarter and half turns resulting in exposure caused by uncovering of course is exemplary; it being understood that exposure caused by uncovering commonly results from a great variety of possible turning movements beyond the turning leeway allowed by the heretofore known bedclothing of standard size.
Referring now to FIG. 2, generally designated at 30 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the novel uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of the present invention. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 30 includes a flexible material 32 adapted to softly lie over and cover a sleeper, such as cloth of natural or synthetic fiber. The bedclothing 30 is sized to fit one of King, Queen and Double sized beds.
The flexible material 32 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 30 includes a portion illustrated by bracket 34 adapted to cover the torso of a sleeper and a portion illustrated by bracket 36 adapted to cover the feet.
Means schematically illustrated by dashed box 38 are coupled to the torso covering portion 34 intermediate the lateral sides of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 30 for preventing displacement of the lateral sides of the torso covering portion in response to turning motion of sleepers sharing the bedclothing who turn the bedclothing through a total predetermined angular displacement schematically illustrated by arrow 40 more than the turning leeway provided by conventional, prior art bedclothing of the same standardized sizes. The principles of the present invention have particular application to sheets and to blankets used on standard King, Queen and Double beds, but have application to other shared bedclothing without departing from the inventive concepts.
Referring now to FIG. 3, generally designated at 50 in FIG. 3A is one presently preferred and exemplary embodiment of uncovering resistant shared bedclothing preventing uncovering of one sleeper by turning of another sleeper. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 50 includes a sheet of flexible material 52 such as cotton or other natural or synthetic fiber dimensioned to fit a King, Queen or Double sized bed such as the uncovering resistant shared King sized bedclothing 50 illustrated. The flexible sheet 52 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 50 includes a portion 54 adapted to cover the torso and a portion 56 adapted to cover the feet. Exemplary dimensions of the torso covering portion 54 of one hundred twelve (112) by sixty (60) inches and of one hundred twelve (112) by forty-two (42) inches of the foot covering portion 56 for the King sized bedclothing 50 are illustrated, it being understood that another partitioning of the flexible sheet 52 into torso covering and foot covering portions 54, 56 would not depart from the inventive concepts.
The torso covering portion 54 of the flexible sheet 52 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 50 consists of separate, partially overlapping left side and right side panels 58, 60. Each of the panels 58, 60 is wider than the half width of the foot covering portion 56 and each is partially attached to the foot covering portion 56 so that the unattached parts lie over each other and provide an open fold generally designated 62 intermediate the lateral edges of the torso covering portion 54 as best seen in the FIG. 3B. A Velcro or other separable attachment 64 is provided to releasably secure the fold 62. The dimensions of seventy-four (74) inches for the widths of the panels 58, 60, of thirty-eight (38) inches for the widths of the panel's attached portions and of a fold of thirty-six (36) inches are exemplary for the King sized bedclothing 50 illustrated, it being understood other dimensions could be implemented for King sized or other beds which would not depart from the inventive concepts. For example, exemplary dimensions for Queen sized beds of fifty-three (53) inches in width panels that are partially attached along twenty-nine (29) inches to provide a twenty-four (24) inch fold may be advantageously implemented in accord with the present invention, it being understood that other dimensions for Queen sized beds could be employed.
In use, sleepers, not shown, who share the bedclothing 50 may turn any number of multiple full turns total without uncovering occurring because the displacement of the lateral edges of either panel induced from turning of the other panel is prevented due to the split provided by the open fold 62 therebetween. A good night's sleep uninterrupted by uncovering of one sleeper induced by another's turning is thereby attained and in the morning, or at another time, the bedclothing 50 may be readily made-up by reattaching the Velcro, retucking the foot covering portion and straightening the torso covering portion. The bedclothing 50 may be laundered and ironed as needed with little or no additional trouble than that of conventional bedclothing.
Referring now to FIG. 4, generally designated at 70 in FIG. 4A is one presently preferred and exemplary embodiment of uncovering resistant shared King sized bedclothing allowing one (1) full turn of total angular rotation by one, the other or by both sleepers combined before uncovering occurs, a half turn more than the turning leeway allowed by the heretofore known conventional bedclothing of the same standard size. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 70 includes a sheet of flexible material 72 such as cotton or other natural or synthetic fiber dimensioned to fit a King, Queen or Double sized bed such as the uncovering resistant shared King sized bedclothing 70 illustrated. The flexible sheet 72 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 70 includes a portion 74 adapted to cover the torso and a portion 76 adapted to cover the feet. Exemplary dimensions of the torso covering portion 74 of one hundred twelve (112) by sixty (60) inches and of one hundred twelve (112) by forty-two (42) inches of the foot covering portion 56 for the uncovering resistant King sized bedclothing 70 are illustrated, it being understood that another partitioning of the flexible sheet 72 into torso covering and foot covering portions 74, 76 would not depart from the inventive concepts.
The torso covering portion 74 of the flexible sheet 72 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 70 is folded over on itself to provide a single pleat generally designated 78 intermediate the lateral edges of the torso covering portion 74 as best seen in FIG. 4B. The bottom edge of the torso covering portion 74 is threadably fastened or otherwise attached to the top edge of the foot covering portion 76. A Velcro or other separable attachment 80 is provided to releasably secure the pleat 78. The dimensions of sixty-nine (69) inches for the widths of the plies and of twenty-four (24) inches for the width of the pleat 76 are exemplary for the King sized uncovering resistant shared bedclothing illustrated, it being understood other dimensions could be implemented for King sized or other beds which would not depart from the inventive concepts. For example, exemplary dimensions allowing one (1) full turn without uncovering for Queen-sized beds of fifty and one half (50.5) inches in width plies that are folded to provide a twenty and one fourth (20.25) inch wide pleat may be advantageously implemented in accord with the present invention, it being understood that other dimensions for Queen sized beds could be employed.
In use, the pleat 78 allows sleepers, not shown, who share the bedclothing 70 to turn a total angular turn up to the capacity of the pleat 78 to unfold, one (1) full turn total without uncovering occurring in the presently preferred and exemplary embodiment. In the morning or at the time of make-up, the Velcro is reattached, the foot covering portion retucked and the torso covering portion straightened. The bedclothing 70 may be laundered and ironed as needed with little or no additional trouble than that of conventional bedclothing.
Referring now to FIG. 5, generally designated at 90 in FIG. 5A is one presently preferred and exemplary embodiment of uncovering resistant shared King sized bedclothing allowing one and one half (1.5) full turns of total angular rotation by one, the other or by both sleepers combined before uncovering occurs, one (1) full turn more than the half turn typical of conventional bedclothing of the same size. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 90 includes a sheet of flexible material 92 such as cotton or other natural or synthetic fiber dimensioned to fit a King, Queen or Double sized bed such as the uncovering resistant shared King sized bedclothing 90 illustrated. The flexible sheet 92 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 90 includes a portion 94 adapted to cover the torso and a portion 96 adapted to cover the feet. Exemplary dimensions of the torso covering portion 94 of one hundred twelve (112) by sixty (60) inches and of one hundred twelve (112) by forty-two (42) inches of the foot covering portion 96 for the uncovering resistant King sized bedclothing 90 are illustrated, it being understood that another partitioning of the flexible sheet 92 into torso covering and foot covering portions 94, 96 would not depart from the inventive concepts.
The torso covering portion 94 of the flexible sheet 92 of the uncovering resistant shared bedclothing 90 is folded over on itself to provide a double pleat generally designated 98 intermediate the lateral edges of the torso covering portion 74 as best seen in FIG. 5B. The bottom edge of the torso covering portion 94 is threadably fastened or otherwise attached to the top edge of the foot covering portion 96. A Velcro or other separable attachment 100 is provided to releasably secure the pleat 98. The dimensions of fifty-six (56) inches for the widths of the plies and of thirty-two (32) inches for the width of the pleat 96 are exemplary for the King sized uncovering resistant shared bedclothing illustrated, it being understood other dimensions could be implemented for King sized or other beds which would not depart from the inventive concepts. For example, exemplary dimensions allowing one and one half (1.5) full turns without uncovering for Queen sized beds of forty (40) inches in width plies that are folded to provide a twenty two and one half (22.5) inch wide double pleat may be advantageously implemented in accord with the present invention, it being understood that other dimensions for Queen sized beds could be employed.
In use, the double pleat 98 allows sleepers, not shown, who share the bedclothing 90 to turn a total angular turn up to the capacity of the pleat 98 to unfold, one and one half (1.5) full turns total without uncovering occurring in the presently preferred and exemplary embodiment. In the morning or at the time of make-up, the Velcro is reattached, the foot covering portion retucked and the torso covering portion straightened. The bedclothing 90 may be laundered and ironed as needed with little or no additional trouble than that of conventional bedclothing.
Many modifications of the presently disclosed invention such as pleats with non-linear crease lines or application to bedclothing of Double sized beds will become apparent without departing from the inventive concepts.

Claims

1. Uncovering resistant shared bedclothing, comprising:

a sheet of flexible material that is adapted to softly lie over and cover sleepers who share a bed in common;

said sheet of flexible material is sized to fit one of a standard sized Queen, King and Double bed and includes a first, torso covering portion having lateral edges that is attached to a second, foot covering portion; and

means intermediate said lateral edges of said first, torso covering portion of said sheet of flexible material for preventing displacement of said lateral edges, and consequent uncovering, in response to a predetermined total angular rotation by one, the other or both sleepers combined that is at least a quarter turn more than the turning leeway provided by conventional bedclothing of the same standardized size.

2. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 1, wherein said sheet of flexible material includes two separate sheet members lying over each other to provide an open fold intermediate the lateral edges of the first, torso covering portion that unfolds to prevent lateral edge displacement and consequent uncovering of one sleeper in response to turning by the other.

3. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 2, wherein said predetermined total angular rotation is determined to allow multiple full turns.

4. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 1, wherein said sheet of flexible material is doubled over on itself to provide a single pleat intermediate said lateral edges of the first, torso covering portion having an unfold capacity sufficient to prevent lateral edge displacement and consequent uncovering in response to said predetermined total angular rotation more than the turning leeway provided by conventional bedclothing of the same standardized size.

5. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 4, wherein said predetermined total angular rotation is determined to allow at least a quarter turn more than the turning leeway of conventional bedclothing of the same size.

6. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 4, wherein said predetermined total angular rotation is determined to allow at least a half turn more than the turning leeway of conventional bedclothing of the same size.

7. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 1, wherein said sheet of flexible material is doubled over on itself to provide a double pleat intermediate said lateral edges of the first, torso covering portion having an unfold capacity sufficient to prevent lateral edge displacement and consequent uncovering in response to said predetermined total angular rotation more than the turning leeway provided by conventional bedclothing of the same standardized size.

8. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 6, wherein said predetermined total angular rotation is determined to allow at least a quarter turn more than the turning leeway of conventional bedclothing of the same size.

9. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 6, wherein said predetermined total angular rotation is determined to allow at least a half turn more than the turning leeway of conventional bedclothing of the same size.

10. Uncovering resistant shared bedclothing, comprising:

said sheet of flexible material is sized to fit one of a standard sized Queen, King and Double bed and includes a first, torso covering portion having lateral edges that is attached to a second, foot covering portion;

said torso covering portion of said sheet of flexible material includes two separate left and right panels wider than half the width of the leg covering portion each so partially attached to the leg covering portion that their unattached portions lie over each other to provide an open fold intermediate the lateral edges of the first, torso covering portion that unfolds in response to turning to prevent uncovering of one sleeper by turning of another.

11. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 10, wherein said sheet of flexible material is made of cloth.

12. Uncovering resistant shared bedclothing, comprising:

said torso covering portion of said sheet of flexible material includes two plies wider than half the width of the leg covering portion lying over each other to provide a pleat intermediate the lateral edges of the first, torso covering portion and is attached along its bottom edge to the top edge of said leg covering portion of said sheet of flexible material;

said pleat unfolds in response to turning to prevent uncovering of one sleeper by turning of another and has an unfold capacity at least a quarter turn greater than the turning leeway provided by conventional bedclothing of the same standardized size before uncovering occurs.

13. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 12, wherein said pleat is a single pleat.

14. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 12, wherein said pleat is a double pleat.

15. The uncovering resistant shared bedclothing of claim 12, wherein said sheet of flexible material is made of cloth.