US20130276231A1

US20130276231A1 - Fabric article

Info

Publication number: US20130276231A1
Application number: US13/856,498
Authority: US
Inventors: Janell L. Bowyer; Mary C. Riddell; Lawrence Fealy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-23
Filing date: 2013-04-04
Publication date: 2013-10-24

Abstract

An article of fabric manufacture adaptable as a bedding article to accommodate and cover more than one person sharing a bed while providing a freedom to each of the persons to individually wrap into a respectively corresponding portion of the article. In one embodiment, the article includes a foldable sheet having a perimeter defining a concave polygon with an interior angle of about 360 degrees. In another embodiment, first and second sheets are appropriately affixed to each other at the corresponding corners to define such polygon and, optionally, to define a portion of one of the first sheet that folds over the second sheet, preferably along the substantial portion of or substantially along the whole length of the second sheet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of and priority from a U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/637,138 filed on Apr. 23, 2012 and titled “Bedding Article”. The disclosure of the above-mentioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sheets and blankets and, more particularly, to a fabric blanket construction adapted to cover two individuals in the same bed such as to allow these individuals to wrap into the blanket individually, without disturbing each other.

BACKGROUND ART

Couples sleeping or resting in the same bed usually do not have too much choice as to a cover that they use. Normally, both persons are sharing the same cover (such as a sheet or blanket), in which case they often engage in a competition of who is using the blanket more. This problem is particularly acute with regard to being able to wrap oneself into a blanket as a cocoon. Alternatively, the sleepers have to use individual blankets, in which case the feeling of sleeping together is not as appealing. Accordingly, there exists a need in an article of manufacture that can be adapted as a bedding article providing opportunity to an individual sleeper to wrap him or herself in it, while retaining a sensitivity of a single cover for the couple of sleepers sharing the bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an article of manufacture that includes a first foldable sheet having a perimeter that defines a concave polygon and a first interior angle; a length defined by a longitudinal side of such polygon; and a first width defined by two corners of such polygon and at least one side connecting these two corners. The longitudinal side is generally transverse to one or more sides associated with the first width. When the first width is defined by two or more sides, such sides of the polygon, these sides are optionally oblique to one another. The interior angle of the polygon differs from 180 degrees and, in a specific implementation, is about 360 degrees. Alternatively or in addition, the concave polygon formed by the perimeter of the embodiment is symmetrical with respect to a bisector line bisecting the first interior angle, which bisector is optionally oblique with respect to the longitudinal side of the polygon. The article may have a second width defined by second and third sides of the polygon, which are optionally symmetrical to one another with respect to the bisector of the interior angle and, alternatively or in addition, are oblique to one another. In a specific embodiment, the article additionally combines a second foldable sheet (optionally removably) affixed to the first foldable sheet along a side of the polygon that defines the first interior angle. An embodiment of the article of manufacture can be adapted as a bedding article dimensioned to cover at least a coupled of individuals sharing a bed and to allow each of the individuals wrap him/herself in a portion of the article adjacent to the interior angle of the polygon.
Embodiments of the invention additionally provide an article of manufacture comprising a first foldable sheet having corresponding first length, first width, and first corner; and a second foldable sheet having corresponding second length, second width, and second corner. Such sheets are affixed to one another at the first and second corners to define a portion of the first foldable sheet that overlaps the second foldable sheet. Such portion of overlap extends along the second length of the second sheet when the bedding article is spread out. Such overlapping portion of the first foldable sheet is optionally detached from a portion of the second foldable sheet that it folds over or overlaps. The first and second sheets are not attached to one another along at least a part of the overlapping portion. The overlapping portion optionally extends the second corner to a next corner of the second sheet or substantially along the whole length of the second sheet. The first sheet may include means for removably affixing of the corners of the first and second sheets.
In a specific embodiments, the first and second sheets are substantially coextensive, in either length, or width, or both length and width. In another implementation, the second width is larger than the first width. An article of manufacture is optionally adapted for use as a bedding article.
Embodiments of the invention additionally provide a method for fabrication of a bedding article. The method includes positioning a first foldable sheet (having a first length, first width and first corner with respect) to a second foldable sheet (having a second length, second width and second corner) such as to partially overlap the first and second foldable sheets to form an overlap area extending from the first and second corners along the first length; and affixing the first and second foldable sheets to one another in a first portion of the overlap area that corresponds to the first and second corners such as to keep the first and second foldable sheets disattached in a second portion of the overlap area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments in conjunction with the Drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention with a perimeter defining a concave polygon with an interior angle of about 360 degrees.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment having a perimeter defining a concave polygon with two interior angles.

FIG. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, and 7 are diagrams schematically showing articles of manufacture according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating schematically a bedding article including an embodiment of the invention equipped with means for connecting the flaps of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “a related embodiment,” or similar language mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the referred to “embodiment” is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. It is to be understood that no portion of disclosure, taken on its own and in possible connection with a figure, is intended to provide a complete description of all features of the invention.
In addition, the following disclosure may describe features of the invention with reference to corresponding drawings, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements wherever possible. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are generally not to scale, and certain components are enlarged relative to the other components for purposes of emphasis and understanding. It is to be understood that no single drawing is intended to support a complete description of all features of the invention. In other words, a given drawing is generally descriptive of only some, and generally not all, features of the invention. A given drawing and an associated portion of the disclosure containing a description referencing such drawing do not, generally, contain all elements of a particular view or all features that can be presented is this view, for purposes of simplifying the given drawing and discussion, and to direct the discussion to particular elements that are featured in this drawing. A skilled artisan will recognize that the invention may possibly be practiced without one or more of the specific features, elements, components, structures, details, or characteristics, or with the use of other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Therefore, although a particular detail of an embodiment of the invention may not be necessarily shown in each and every drawing describing such embodiment, the presence of this detail in the drawing may be implied unless the context of the description requires otherwise. In other instances, well known structures, details, materials, or operations may be not shown in a given drawing or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment of the invention that are being discussed. Furthermore, the described single features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more further embodiments.
The invention as recited in claims appended to this disclosure is intended to be assessed in light of the disclosure as a whole, including features disclosed in prior art to which reference is made.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a bedding article is shown in top view, which includes a foldable sheet 100 (made of fabric, for example) a perimeter 110 of which defines a concave polygon having an interior angle A. The sheer 100 has a length defined by a longitudinal side 114 of the polygon. The sheet 100 also has a first width 116 defined by the first and second corners 120, 122 and at least one side of the polygon that connects the corners 120, 122. The width 116 and the length 114 are defined such as to be associated with directions that are substantially transverse to one another. An interior angle A differs from 180 degrees and, generally, is formed by sides 130, 132 of the polygon 110 that are comparable in length with that polygon side which defines the length 114. As shown in FIG. 1, the interior angle is A greater than 180 degrees and lower than 360 degrees. FIG. 2 illustrates a related embodiment 200, in which the width 116 is defined by two polygon sides 210, 212 that are oblique to one another and define a second interior angle B. The presence of the first internal angle A specifies two sub-portions I and II of the sheets 100, 200 that can be considered to be flaps of a corresponding embodiment extending substantially along the whole length 114 from a bottom of the corresponding sheet (associated with the width 116 and, in practice, adapted to cover legs of the users) to a top of the sheet that is opposite to the bottom and defined by sides 140, 142. In practice, a couple of sleepers uses an embodiment of the bedding article to cover themselves together, as a couple, while having a freedom individually cover with or wrap into a flap used to a given sleeper. Such bedding article may optionally include additional fixtures such as, for example, means for affixing the article to a bed or recliner such as loops, buttons and/or buttons holes and straps (if required) or, for example, pockets.
Generally, geometrical extents of the sub-portions I, II that are defined transversely to the length 114 of a bedding article may be not equal. In the embodiment 100, for example, such inequality of dimensions generally corresponds to the sides 140, 142 having different lengths as compared to one another. In the embodiment 200 such inequality of dimensions generally corresponds to the sides 210, 212 having different lengths, as compared to one another. In either case, a corresponding implementation of the bedding article defines an additional width parameter corresponding to the top portion of the polygon, and sub-portions or flaps of the polygon are appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the needs of a user. A longitudinal side of the polygon defining its length 114 can be oblique with respect to a top side of the polygon (such as the side 140 or the side 142). This situation is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3A, showing the top side 140 and the longitudinal side 310 forming an interior angle C<90 degrees; and in FIG. 3B, showing the top side 140 and the side 310 forming an interior angle D>90 degrees.
FIGS. 4A, 4B illustrate embodiments 400, 404 each of which has a corresponding perimeter defining a concave polygon that is symmetric with respect to a bisector 410 of the interior angle A. In a specific embodiment, the sides 210, 212 are symmetric to one another with respect to the bisector 410.
FIGS. 5A, 5B show schematically related embodiments 500, 510, in which the corresponding articles of manufacture of the invention are formed by a first foldable sheet 520 and a second foldable sheet 530 affixed to the sheet 520 along its side such as to define the interior angle A. Preferably, corners and/or corner areas 540 of the first and second sheets 520, 530 corresponding to the bottom portion of the articles 500, 510 are permanently affixed to one another (for example, appropriately sawn or seamed together).
As shown in related embodiments 600, 604 of FIGS. 6A, 6B, the sheets 520, 530 are (optionally removably) connected at a bottom area 540 (which includes corresponding corners of the sheets) and overlapped with one another such as to define a portion 610 of the sheet 520 that overlaps or folds over the sheet 530 along the length of the sheet 530 when the bedding article 600 is spread out. Such overlapping portion 610 may run along substantially the whole length of the sheet 530, for example when the sheet 530 is dimensioned to be rectangular. In this case, the overlapping portion may be rectangular in shape (as shown in FIG. 6B) or trapezoidal (not shown).
FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment 800 (such as any of the embodiments described above) that is additionally equipped with a means 808 for releasably joining the flaps 810, 812 together. As shown, the means 808 include the snap features disposed along the edges of the flaps 810, 812, but can generally include different means of attachment facilitating the temporary or reversible cooperation between the flaps. Such cooperation between the first and second flaps can be not only removable (for example, via an attachments means such as, for example, Velcro or buttons) but also, optionally, reconfigurable.
In accordance with examples of embodiments, described above a single article of manufacture is provided that can be adapted as a bedding article for individual cover and/or wrapping of individuals sharing a bed or recliner. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to, and variations of, the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. For example, an article of manufacture may include a sheet the perimeter of which defines a concave polygon having more that one interior angle that is greater than 180 degrees (and, in particular, about 360 degrees) and that accordingly specifies more than two flap sub-portions facilitating the use of the article by more than two people at once. A schematic of such implementation is shown in FIG. 7. Furthermore, disclosed aspects, or portions of these aspects, may be combined in ways not listed above. An embodiments of a bedding article of the invention configured as a blanket may have a substantial thickness to accommodate a heat-conserving layer therein. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as being limited to the disclosed embodiment(s).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising a first foldable sheet having

a perimeter defining a concave polygon and a first interior angle;

a length defined by a longitudinal side of said polygon; and

a first width defined by two corners of said polygon and at least one side connecting said two corners, said longitudinal side and said at least one side being transverse to one another.

2. An article according to claim 1, wherein said at least one side includes two sides of said polygon, said two sides being oblique to one another.

3. An article according to claim 1, wherein said at least one side includes two sides of said polygon that form an interior angle, of said polygon, said interior angle being less than 180 degrees.

4. An article according to claim 1, wherein said concave polygon is symmetrical with respect to a bisector line bisecting the first interior angle.

5. An article according to claim 4, wherein said bisector is oblique with respect to the longitudinal side of the polygon.

6. An article according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal side and said at least one side form an angle of about 90 degrees.

7. An article according to claim 1, further comprising a second width defined by second and third sides of said polygon.

8. An article according to claim 7, wherein the second and third sides are symmetrical to one another with respect to the bisector.

9. An article according to claim 1, further comprising a second foldable sheet affixed to the first foldable sheet along a side of said polygon that defines the first interior angle.

10. A bedding article including an article of manufacture according to claim 1 and defining, when the bedding article is straightened out along a plane, two overlapping flaps equipped with a means for releasable attachments of said flaps to one another.

11. An article of manufacture comprising

a first foldable sheet having a first length, a first width, and a first corner; and

a second foldable sheet having a second length, a second width, and a second corner, the first and second sheets affixed to one another at the first and second corners to define a portion of the first foldable sheet that overlaps the second foldable sheet, said portion extending along the second length of the second foldable sheet when the bedding article is spread out.

12. An article according to claim 11, wherein the first foldable sheet and the second foldable sheet are disattached across said portion.

13. An article according to claim 11, wherein said portion extends from the first corner to a next corner of said first sheet.

14. An article according to claim 11, wherein the first and second lengths are about equal to one another.

15. An article according to claim 11, wherein the second widths is larger than the first width.

16. A bedding article including an article of manufacture according to claim 11, the bedding article including two overlapping flaps releasably attachable to one another with a means for attachment disposed along a length of at least one of the flaps.

17. An article according to claim 11, further comprising means for affixing said article to a bed.

18. A method for fabrication of a fabric article, the method comprising:

positioning a first foldable sheet having a first length, first width and first corner with respect to a second foldable sheet having a second length, second width and second corner such as to partially overlap the first and second foldable sheets to form an overlap area extending from the first and second corners along the first length; and

affixing the first and second foldable sheets to one another in a first portion of the overlap area corresponding to the first and second corners such as to keep the first and second foldable sheets disattached in a second portion of the overlap area.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the affixing includes affixing removably.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said positioning includes formation of an overlap area that is substantially coextensive with the first length, the overlap area defining a rectangle.