AU2005100771A4 - A sheet and method of making same - Google Patents

Description

S&FRef: 732604

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address of Applicant Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Ronald B. Smith, Australian Citizen, of 43 Beach Road, Collaroy, New South Wales, 2097, Australia Ronald B. Smith Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A sheet and method of making same The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5843c A SHEET AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet and, in particular, to a partially fitted bed sheet.

Background of the Invention The use of a sheet for a bed is known. Many different types of sheets of varying sizes and shapes including both fitted top and bottom sheets are also known. It has been noted that after making a bed in the typical manner certain difficulties are encountered by a user. In particular, it is common for the topsheet to come loose or be fixed too tightly to the mattress contributing to a disturbed sleep for a user. At such times, it is generally inconvenient to fully wake and remake the bed.

Further, unless one is skilled in making beds, it takes considerable time to make a bed quickly, efficiently and in the correct manner to provide a restful sleep. It would be advantageous for large commercial establishments such as hotels, hospitals, nursing is homes or the like to utilise sheets that allow staff to remake beds quickly, neatly and efficiently.

Though there have been many attempts to solve the above problems by, for example, providing a fitted topsheet, they do not sufficiently achieve the desired results.

Further, the construction of existing fitted topsheets is too complicated and expensive, requires excessive amounts of cutting and stitching and uses too much elastic.

[R:\LIBLL] 1738 l.doc:gxt -2- Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a sheet for a mattress of square or rectangular configuration, said sheet including: a major portion to cover a major surface of the mattress, said major portion having a pair of longitudinal sides joining a transverse base and transverse head; a side skirt portion extending from said sides; a base skirt portion extending from the base and joining the side skirt portions, the base being fixed to the side skirt portions so as to cooperate therewith together with the major portion to provide two spaced pockets each to receive a respective comer of the mattress; and an elongated elastic element extending along and fixed to the side skirt portions and base, and spaced from the major portion so as to cooperate therewith to urge the pockets to retain the comers; and wherein said head in use is not urged into contact with the mattress.

There is also disclosed herein a method of manufacturing a partially fitted sheet for a mattress of a generally square or rectangular configuration, said mattress having a predetermined length and width, said sheet being generally square or rectangular and [R:\LIBLL] 1738 Idoc:gxt -3including a base and head end connected by sides forming corners, said method including the steps of: marking said mattress configuration on said sheet about a central axis; cutting a generally square section from said sheet at two adjacent corners at said base end to form cut edges substantially parallel with said base end and sides, such that a distance between said cut edges at said base end is substantially the same as the width of said mattress; sewing said cut edges at each adjacent comer together to form pockets; sewing at least one length of an elongate elastic element along a portion of said tO0 base end to urge said pockets together.

Brief Description of the Drawing A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a top view of a sheet of an embodiment of the present invention overlaid on a standard sized bed mattress.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawing, there is schematically depicted a sheet 1 for a mattress 5 of a generally square or rectangular configuration. However, any mattress shape could be utilised. Sheet 1 includes a major portion 10 to cover a major surface [R:\LIBLL] 1j738 .doc:gxt -4of the mattress 5. The major portion 10 has a pair of longitudinal sides 20 joining a transverse base 25 and transverse head 30. A side skirt portion 35 extends from the sides A base skirt portion 40 also extends from the base 25 and joins the side skirt portions The base 25 being fixed to the side skirt portions 35 so as to cooperate therewith together with the major portion 10 to provide two spaced pockets 42 each to receive a rectangular corner 41 of the mattress 5. An elongate elastic element 45 extends along and is fixed to the side skirt portions 35 and base 25 spaced from the major portion 10 so as to cooperate therewith to urge the pockets 42 to retain the corners. Wherein the head 30 in use is not urged into contact with the mattress l0 There is also disclosed herein a method of manufacturing a partially fitted sheet 1 for a mattress 5. The mattress 5 being generally square or rectangular in configuration and having a predetermined length and width. The sheet 1 also being generally square or rectangular and includes a base and head end 25, 30 connected by sides 20 forming corners 41. The preferred method includes the steps of: Is marking the mattress configuration and size on the sheet 1 about a central axis; cutting a generally square or rectangular section 44 from the sheet 1 'at two adjacent comers 41 at the base end 25 to form cut edges 50 substantially parallel with the base end 25 and sides 20, such that a distance between the cut edges 50 at the base end is substantially the same as the width of the mattress sewing the cut edges 50 at each adjacent corner 41 together to form pockets 42; sewing at least one length of an elongate elastic element or material 45 along a portion of the base end 25 to urge the pockets 42 together.

[R:\LIBLL] 738 .doc:gxt Advantageously, the present invention at least in a preferred form secures the sheet 1 to the foot or base end 25 of the mattress 5 when pulled up around the head and shoulders of the user. When making a bed there is a significant time/labour advantage as the sheet 1 can be attached to the mattress 5 in one or two actions only. In the preferred s form the elastic element 45 would be extended along the sides 20 of the sheet 1 by about 600 mm. However, various differing dimensions could be utilised for different sized mattresses 5 and for different users. Advantageously the present invention at least in a preferred form does not require the fold and tuck motion of standard sheets when making beds.

1o Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

[R\LIBLL]I 738 I.doc:gxt

Claims (3)

1. A sheet for a mattress of square or rectangular configuration, said sheet including: a major portion to cover a major surface of the mattress, said major portion having a pair of longitudinal sides joining a transverse base and transverse head; a side skirt portion extending from said sides; a base skirt portion extending from the base and joining the side skirt portions, the base being fixed to the side skirt portions so as to cooperate therewith together with the major portion to provide two spaced pockets each to receive a respective corner of the 1o mattress; and an elongated elastic element extending along and fixed to the side skirt portions and base, and spaced from the major portion so as to cooperate therewith to urge the pockets to retain the comers; and wherein said head in use is not urged into contact with the mattress. Is

2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein said elastic element extends along said side portions about 600 mm.

3. A method of manufacturing a sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2, said method including the steps of: marking said mattress configuration on said sheet about a central axis; (R:\LIBLL] 1738 Ldoc:gxt -7- cutting a generally square or rectangular section from said sheet at two adjacent corers at said base end to form cut edges substantially parallel with said base end and sides, such that a distance between said cut edges at said base end is substantially the same as the width of said mattress; sewing said cut edges at each adjacent corer together to form pockets; sewing at least one length of an elongate elastic element along a portion of said base end to urge said pockets together. Dated 19 September, 2005 Ronald B. Smith Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL 17381 .doc:gxt