GB2510925A

GB2510925A - Bed Sheet

Info

Publication number: GB2510925A
Application number: GB1308156.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melanie Joanne Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-13
Filing date: 2013-05-07
Publication date: 2014-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-07
Also published as: GB201302489D0; GB2510925B; GB201308156D0

Abstract

A bed sheet comprises an elongate piece of material (4); and fastening means (6, 8) adapted to releasably attach together a first point on the piece material (4) and a second point on the piece material (4), the first and second points being located at different positions along a length of the piece of material (4). Attachment in this manner produces a loop of material having a first open end and a second open end opposite to the first open end such that the loop of material produced by attaching together the first and second points is adapted to fit around a part of a mattress (22); a portion of the mattress (22) extends from at least one of the open ends of the loop of material.

Description

BED SHEET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bed sheets.

BACKGROUND

During the night, many sleeping children, in particular toddlers, remove sheets, blankets or duvets from themselves, thereby leaving themselves exposed.

An example solution to this problem is provided in US 5,084,929 which discloses a sleeping enclosure constructed from a bottom form-fitted sheet for a mattress with a top flat sheet stitched to the bottom form-fitted sheet along the foot end portion and partially along the longitudinal sides.

Another example solution to this problem is provided in GB 2 145 330 which discloses a fabric pocket formed from a top, a bottom and a side and end strip. In use, a mattress and a duvet are inserted into the pocket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bed sheet comprising an elongate piece of material, and fastening means adapted to releasably attach together a first point on the piece material and a second point on the piece material, the first and second points being located at different positions along a length of the piece of material, thereby producing a loop of material having a first open end and a second open end opposite to the first open end; wherein the bed sheet is such that the loop of material produced by attaching together the first and second points is adapted to fit around a part of a mattress such that a portion of the mattress extends from at least one of the open ends of the loop of material.

The bed sheet may be is such that the loop of material produced by attaching together the first and second points is adapted to fit around a pad of a mattress such that a first portion of the mattress extends from the first open end of the ioop of material and a second portion of the mattress extends from the second open end of the loop of material.

The bed sheet may be such that the loop of material produced by attaching together the first and second point is adapted to fit around a width of a mattress such that a first end of the mattress extends from the first open end of the loop of material and a second end of the mattress that is opposite to the first end of the mattress extends from the second open end of the loop of material.

The mattress may be for a toddler bed.

The first point may be located at, or proximate to, a first end of the elongate piece of material. The second point may be located at, or proximate to, a second end of the elongate piece of material. The second end of the elongate piece of material may be an opposite end of the elongate piece of material to the first end.

The fastening means may be further adapted to releasably attach together first point on the piece material and a third point on the piece material, the third point being located at a different position along a length of the piece of material to the first and second points. Attaching together the first point and the third point may produce a further loop of material, the further loop being a different size loop than the loop produced by attaching together the first and second points.

The first point may be a point on a first line on the piece of material. The second point may be a point on a second line on the piece of material. The fastening means may be adapted to releasably attach together the first line to the second line on the piece of material. At least part the first line may be located at a different position along the length of the piece material to the second line.

The first line may be a transverse line across at least part of a width of the elongate piece of material.

The second line may be a transverse line across at least part of a width of the elongate piece of material.

The first and second lines may be each located at, or proximate to, a respective end of the elongate piece of material.

The fastening means may be further adapted to releasably attach together the first line on the piece of material and a third line on the piece of material. At least part of the third line may be located at a different position along the length of the piece material to the first and second lines.

The third line may be a transverse line across at least part of a width of the elongate piece of material.

The fastening means may be a fastening means selected from the group of fastening means consisting of: a zipper mechanism, a one-way zipper mechanism, a two-way zipper mechanism, strips of Velcro, one or more buttons and corresponding button holes, and one or more snap fasteners.

The elongate piece of material may be adapted to, at least to some extent, stretch in a direction that points along the length of the piece material.

The elongate piece of material may be adapted to, at least to some extent, stretch in a direction that points along the width of the piece material.

The stretchiness of the piece of material in direction that points along the length of the piece material may be greater than the stretchiness of the piece of material in the direction that points along the width of the piece material.

The elongate piece of material may be adapted to, after being stretched, return to its original shape.

The elongate piece of material may comprise a portion that is adapted not to stretch.

The bed sheet may further comprise an image disposed on the portion that is adapted not to stretch.

The bed sheet may further comprise one or more pockets.

At least part of the elongate piece material may be made of a breathable material.

At least part of the elongate piece material may be made of an air permeable material.

At least part of the elongate piece material may be made of a thermally insulating material.

At least part of the elongate piece material may be made of a fabric.

At least part of the elongate piece material may be made of Jersey fabric.

The bed sheet may further comprise heating means.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system comprising a plurality of bed sheets, each bed sheet being a bed sheet according to the above aspect, the plurality of bed sheets being coupled together, by the fastening means of the bed sheets, so as to form a larger bed sheet.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system comprising a is bed sheet according to any of the above aspects, and a sleeve comprising a channel, the channel having a first opening at a first end of the channel and a second opening at a second end of the channel, the first end of the channel being an opposite end to the second end of the channel, wherein the channel is adapted to receive the bed sheet such that the bed sheet may be placed within the channel and such that, for each channel opening, a respective portion of the bed sheet extends from that channel opening.

At least part of the sleeve may be made of a thermally insulating material.

The sleeve may further comprise an image on an outer surface of the sleeve.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of retaining one or more items against a mattress, the method comprising: providing a bed sheet according to any of the above aspects, wrapping the elongate piece of material of the bed sheet around at least a portion of the mattress and at least a portion of the one or more items; attaching together, using the fastening means of the bed sheet, the first point on the piece material and the second point on the piece material so as to produce a loop of material around the mattress and the one or more items, thereby holding or retaining the one or more items against the mattress.

The one or more items may comprise one or more items selected from the group of items consisting of: a cover, a sheet, a blanket, a duvet, a human (e.g. a toddler or elderly person).

At least part of the elongate piece of material may be an elastic material.

The step of wrapping may comprise stretching, at least to some extent, the elongate piece of material.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a bed sheet comprising an elongate piece of material and fastening means adapted to attach together two different point along a length of the piece of material so as to produce a tube of material, the tube having two opposite open ends.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a bed sheet comprising an elongate piece of material and fastening means adapted to attach together two different points along a length of the piece of material so as to produce a tube of material, the tube of material being for receiving a mattress.

The tube of material may be for receiving a mattress such that respective portions of the mattress extend from respective open ends of the tube.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a bed sheet comprising an elongate piece of material adapted to wrap around a portion of a mattress, and fixing mean adapted to, after the piece of material has been wrapped around the portion of the mattress, fix the piece of material around the portion of the mattress.

The portion of the mattress may be a middle portion of the mattress between the two ends of the mattress.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of retaining one or more items against a mattress, the method comprising: wrapping an elongate piece of material around at least a portion of the mattress and at least a portion of the one or more items so as to form a loop of material around the portion of the mattress and the one or more items; and, so as to fix the loop of material around the portion of the mattress and the one or more items, attaching together, using fastening means coupled to the piece of material, a first point on the piece material and a second point on the piece material, the first and second points being located at different positions along a length of the piece of material.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of retaining an item against a mattress, the method comprising: wrapping an elongate piece of material around a middle portion of the mattress and an item that is located on the mattress so as to form a tube of material in which at least a portion of the mattress and the item are located; and fixing, using fixing means, the piece of material around the portion of the mattress, thereby retaining the item on the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a first embodiment of a bed sheet; Figure 2 is a process flow chart showing certain steps of an example process of using the bed sheet; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a coupling of the bed sheet to a bed; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the bed sheet retaining a duvet on the bed; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a second embodiment of a bed sheet; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a third embodiment of a bed sheet; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a fourth embodiment of a bed sheet; and Figure 8 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a system comprising the bed sheet and a sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of an embodiment of a bed sheet 2 for retaining a duvet on a bed.

In this embodiment, the bed sheet comprises a piece of fabric 4, a first zipper side 6, and a second zipper side 8.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 4 is rectangular in shape.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 4 comprises a first end edge 10, a second end edge 12, a first side edge 14, and a second side edge 16.

In this embodiment, a length of the piece of fabric 4, i.e. a distance between the first end edge 10 and the second end edge 12 is approximately lAm Also, a width of the piece of fabric 4, i.e. a distance between the first side edge 14 and the second side edge 16 is approximately 1.Om In this embodiment the piece of fabric 4 is made of a Jersey fabric material i.e. a knit fabric that may, for example, be made of wool, cotton, synthetic fibres or a combination thereof.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 4 is such that the piece of fabric 4 is able to stretch in its longitudinal direction (i.e. in the direction from the first end edge 10 to the second end edge 12 and vice versa). Thus, in this embodiment, the length of the piece of fabric 4 may be increased by stretching the piece of fabric 4 along its length.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 4 is such that the piece of fabric 4 is able to stretch in its transverse direction (i.e. in the direction from the first side edge 14 to the second side edge 16 and vice versa). Thus, in this embodiment, the width of the piece of fabric 4 may be increased by stretching the piece of fabric 4 along its width.

In this embodiment, the stretchiness of the piece of fabric 4 in its longitudinal direction is greater than the stretchiness of the piece of fabric 4 in s its transverse direction.

In this embodiment, the piece of fabric 4 is elastic, i.e. after being stretched, the piece of fabric 4 returns to its original shape.

The first zipper side 6 is securely attached to the piece of fabric 4 at or proximate to the first end edge 10 of the piece of fabric 4. The first zipper side 6 is adjacent to the first end edge 10.

In this embodiment the first zipper side 6 spans a width of the piece of fabric 4, i.e. the first zipper side 6 extends transversely across the piece of fabric 4, from the first side edge 14 to the second side edge 16.

The second zipper side 8 is securely attached to the piece of fabric 4 at or proximate to the second end edge 12 of the piece of fabric 4. The second zipper side 8 is adjacent to the second end edge 12.

In this embodiment the second zipper side 8 spans a width of the piece of fabric 4, i.e. the second zipper side 8 extends transversely across the piece of fabric 4, from the first side edge l4to the second side edge 16.

In this embodiment, each of the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 comprise a respective chain of teeth. In the manner usual to zipper operation, the teeth in one chain may mate with corresponding teeth in the other chain, using a zipper slide 18, such that the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 are attached together. Also, the teeth in the chains may be released from such a mating engagement, using the zipper slide 18, such that the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 are not attached together.

In this embodiment, when the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 are not attached together, the zipper slide is attached to the first zipper side 6.

Figure 2 is a process flow chart showing certain steps of an example process of using the bed sheet 2.

At step s2, the bed sheet 2 is coupled to a bed.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the coupling of the bed sheet 2 to the bed at step s2 of the process of Figure 2.

In this embodiment, the bed comprises a bed frame 20 and a mattress 22 thereon.

Also in this embodiment, a human 24 and a duvet 26 are located on top of the mattress 22 (i.e. on the top surface of the mattress 22 that is opposite to the bottom surface of the mattress 22 that is in contact with the bed frame 20).

In this embodiment, the human 24 is a toddler or young child (e.g. a child between the ages of 2 and 4 years old). Also, in this embodiment, the mattress is a "toddler mattress" (i.e. a mattress for a toddler bed) having a length of approximately 1.4m, a width of approximately 0.7m and a depth of approximately 0.0gm.

In this embodiment, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that a portion of the piece of fabric 4 is between the bed frame 20 and the mattress 22. In other words, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that a portion of the piece of fabric 4 is beneath a portion of the mattress 22 (i.e. in contact with a bottom surface of the mattress 22).

In this embodiment, the bed sheet 2 is held in place by the bed frame 20 and the mattress 22. Thus, the bed sheet 2 is coupled to the bed. In other embodiments, the bed sheet may be coupled to bed (e.g. to the bed frame 20 or the mattress 22) in a different way e.g. by attaching the bed sheet, using attachment means, to part of the bed.

Also, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that the end edges 10, 12 of the bed sheet 2 are substantially parallel to the length of the mattress 22. In other words, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that the side edges 14, 16 of the bed sheet 2 are substantially perpendicular to a direction pointing along the length of the mattress 22.

Also, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that a first end of the bed sheet 2 (i.e. an end of the bed sheet 2 at which is located the first end edge 10) extends away from a first side of the mattress 28. Thus, the first zipper side 6 is not located beneath the mattress 22.

Also, the bed sheet 2 is positioned such that a second end of the bed sheet 2 (i.e. an end of the bed sheet 2 at which is located the second end edge 10) extends away from a second side of the mattress 30, the second side of the mattress 30 being a side of the mattress opposite to the first side 28. Thus, the second zipper side 8 is not located beneath the mattress 22. Also, the second zipper side 8 is located on an opposite side of the mattress 22 to the side of the mattress at which the first zipper side 6 is located.

In some embodiments, the bed sheet 2 may be coupled to the bed (i.e. placed beneath the bed frame 20 and the mattress 22) prior to the human 24 and/or the duvet 26 being on top of the mattress 22. This tends to facilitate the positioning of the bed sheet 2.

In this embodiment, the coupling of the bed sheet 2 to the bed performed at step s2 is performed by a further human (not shown in the Figures). The further human is a different human to the human 24 on the mattress 22.

At step s4, the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 is moved, by the further human, from the first side of the mattress 28 to the second side of the mattress 30.

In this embodiment, the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 is moved, from the first side of the mattress 28 to the second side of the mattress 30, by the further human pulling the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 over the top of the human 24 and the duvet 26, across the width of the mattress 22.

In this embodiment, this pulling of the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 by the further human comprises stretching, at least to some extent, the bed sheet in its longitudinal direction. In other words, in this embodiment the dimension of the bed sheet are such that the bed sheet is stretched in its longitudinal direction when the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 is moved, from the first side of the mattress 28 to the second side of the mattress 30.

In this embodiment, this is performed such that a portion of the piece of fabric 4 is on top of the human 24 and the duvet 26 (which are, in turn, on top of the top surface of the mattress 22). Advantageously, the combined weight of the mattress 22, the human 24 and the duvet 26 tend to provide that the portion of the piece of fabric 4 that is located beneath the mattress 22 remains substantially stationary.

In this embodiment, the first end edge 10 of the bed sheet 2 is moved, from the first side of the mattress 28 to the second side of the mattress 30, such that the first zipper side 6 at the first end edge 10 contacts with the second zipper side 8 at the second end edge 12.

At step s6, in the manner usual to zipper operation, using the zipper slide 18, the further user attaches the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 together.

Thus, the first and second ends of the bed sheet are attached together.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the bed sheet 2 coupled to the bed after step s6 of the process of Figure 2 has been performed.

In this embodiment, the zipper sides 6, 8 are attached together at the second side of the mattress 30.

In this embodiment, when at step s6 the zipper sides 6, 8 are attached together, the bed sheet 2, in effect, forms a loop or hoop of material that surrounds the mattress 22 (and the human 24 and duvet 26 thereon) around the width of the mattress 22.

Thus, an example process of using the bed sheet 2 is provided.

Advantageously, the bed sheet may be used (for example as described in more detail above with reference to Figure 2) to retain a duvet on a mattress.

This tends to be at least in part because the bed sheet wraps around a width of the mattress and the duvet placed thereon, thereby opposing movement of the duvet with respect to the mattress. Furthermore, the stretching of the elastic bed sheet in its longitudinal direction when the bed sheet is wrapped around a width of the mattress and the duvet placed thereon tends to provide that the duvet is held onto the mattress relatively securely.

Many young children (e.g. between 2 and 4 years of age) move about a lot when they are asleep and, as a consequence, risk moving (e.g. kicking) their duvet or other cover away from them. Without a duvet or other cover covering them, the child may get cold. Thus, the above described bed sheet may advantageously be used to hold a duvet or other cover over the child while they sleep, thereby keeping the child warm.

Also, the bed sheet may be used (for example as described in more detail above with reference to Figure 2) to prevent, or reduce the likelihood, of the human moving off the mattress (i.e. falling out of bed), e.g. when they are asleep on the mattress. This tends to be at least in part because the bed sheet wraps around a width of the mattress and the human thereon, thereby opposing movement of the human with respect to the mattress. Furthermore, the stretching of the elastic bed sheet in its longitudinal direction when the bed sheet is wrapped around a width of the mattress and the duvet placed thereon tends to provide that the human is held against the mattress.

Many people (especially young children) move about a lot when they are asleep and, as a consequence, risk falling out of bed and injuring themselves.

Thus, the above described bed sheet may be used to keep such people in bed and thereby prevent, or reduce the likelihood, of someone falling out of bed and receiving an injury.

Also, many people get out of bed and walk around during the night, for example sleep-walkers or people suffering from mental illness such as dementia. These people risk injury while out of bed. The above described bed sheet may be used to keep such people in bed and thereby prevent, or reduce the likelihood, of someone falling out of bed and receiving an injury.

Advantageously, the above described bed sheet allows for some movement of the human, thereby permitting the human to move into a comfortable position for sleeping.

Advantageously, the property that the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its longitudinal direction is greater than the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its transverse direction tends to provide that some side-to-side movement of a human is permitted (e.g. so that the human to move into a comfortable position for sleeping), whereas movement of the human along the length of the mattress tends is opposed.

In an example use, the bed sheet forms a band around a mid-section of s the mattress (and the human and duvet thereon). Thus, ventilation at the foot and head of the bed tend to be provided. This advantageously tends to reduce the risk of the human becoming too hot.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is made of a breathable material, i.e. a material that permits water vapor to be transmitted through the material.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is made of an air permeable material, thereby reducing a risk of the human being suffocated by the bed sheet.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is made of a material that is relatively easy to wash.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is easy and cheap to manufacture.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is easy to store, for example, when not being used.

Advantageously, the bed sheet is easy to transport, for example, so that the bed sheet can be taken on holidays and the like.

Advantageously, when the first and second zip sides are not attached together, the bed sheet may be easily positioned so that the bed sheet does not impede, for example, someone making the bed, or someone getting into or out of bed. For example, the first end of the bed sheet may be located out of the way at the first side of the mattress, and the second end of the bed sheet may be located out of the way at the second side of the mattress.

Advantageously, the above described bed sheet tends to be relatively easy to couple to a bed compared to conventional means for retaining a duvet (or other cover) on a bed.

Advantageously, the above described bed sheet tends to be relatively easy to decouple from a bed compared to conventional means for retaining a duvet (or other cover) on a bed. -14-

Advantageously, the above described bed sheet tends to be relatively easy to use to retain a duvet on a bed compared to conventional means for retaining a duvet (or other cover) on a bed.

Advantageously, two or more of the above described bed sheets may be coupled together to form a larger bed sheet. For example, two bed sheets may be releasably attached together by attaching, in the manner usual to zipper operation, a zipper side of one of the bed sheets to a zipper side of another of the bed sheets, thereby, in effect, creating a larger bed sheet. This larger bed sheet may then, for example, be used to retain a duvet on a mattress as described above with reference to Figure 2. In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of bed sheets that are attached together to form the larger bed sheet may be of a different size (e.g. have a different length) to one or more of the other bed sheets in the plurality.

Advantageously, the above described bed sheet provides a soft enclosure for the human (e.g. a child). Thus, a child can snuggle within the enclosure. This tends to promote sleep.

In the above embodiments, the bed sheet is used to retain a duvet on top of a mattress. However, in other embodiments, the bed sheet is used for a different purpose. For example, in some embodiments, the bed sheet is used to retain a different type of cover or sheet on top of a mattress. In some embodiments, the bed sheet only is used as a cover for the human, e.g. in warm weather.

In the above embodiments, the piece of fabric is rectangular in shape.

However, in other embodiments, the piece of fabric is a different appropriate shape.

For example, in some embodiments, the piece of fabric is trapezoidal in shape. In such embodiments, the fastening means may be located at or proximate to each of the non-parallel edges (i.e. the lateral edges) of the trapezoidal piece of material. The non-parallel edges may be coupled together so as to form a tube of material having an opening at each end. Due to the trapezoidal shape of the piece of material, the circumference of one opening of the tube is less than circumference of the other opening. Such trapezoidal bed sheets may, for example, be used in conjunction with oval or elliptical mattress.

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration showing a second embodiment of a bed sheet, hereinafter referred to as the second bed sheet 30, coupled to an elliptical mattress 32. The second bed sheet 30 is comprises a trapezoidal piece of material having zipper sides 34, 36 along each lateral edge. The circumference of one opening of the tube formed when the zipper sides 34, 36 are attached together advantageously tends to mean that movement of the second bed sheet 30 relative to the elliptical mattress 32 in the direction indicated in Figure 5 by the arrow 38 is opposed.

In the above embodiments, the bed sheet has the above described dimensions. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the dimensions of the bed sheet has a different value to that given above. For example, in other embodiments, the dimensions of the bed sheet may be such that the bed sheet fits around a different type or size of mattress to that mentioned above (e.g. the bed sheet may be adapted to fit around an adult single, small-single, double, small double, king-size, or super-king-size mattress). Preferably, the bed sheet is such that, in order to fit around a width of a mattress (and items thereon), the bed sheet is stretched at least to some extent. However, in some embodiments, the bed sheet is not stretched when fit around the width of a mattress (and items thereon).

By way of example, the dimensions of some single mattresses are 1.9m (length) by 0.9m (width) by 0.16m (depth). An embodiment of a bed sheet that may be used with such a single mattress has the following dimensions: 3.5m - 3.8m (length) by Im (width).

In the above embodiments, the piece of fabric is adapted to stretch in both its longitudinal and transverse directions. However, in other embodiments the piece of fabric is not adapted to stretch in its longitudinal direction. In other embodiments the piece of fabric is not adapted to stretch in its transverse direction.

In the above embodiments, the piece of fabric is made of a Jersey fabric material. However, in other embodiments, the piece of fabric is made of a different material, for example a different type of fabric material or a non-fabric material. In some embodiments, the piece of fabric forms an electric blanket.

In the above embodiments, the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its longitudinal direction is greater than the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its transverse direction. However, in other embodiments, the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its longitudinal direction is less than or equal to the stretchiness of the piece of fabric in its transverse direction.

In some embodiments, the piece of fabric contains one or more holes through the fabric. Such holes may, for example, provide additional ventilation.

In some embodiments, the piece of fabric may include one or more pockets e.g. for retaining items belonging to the human. For example, a soft toy or hot water bottle belonging to a child may be retained in a pocket. The pocket may, for example, be sealable by any appropriate fastening means e.g. a zipper.

In some embodiments, the piece of fabric is made of a plurality of different materials.

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration showing a third embodiment of a bed sheet, hereinafter referred to as the third bed sheet 40, coupled to the bed shown in Figures 3 and 4 and described above.

The third bed sheet 40 comprises an inelastic portion 42 disposed between elastic portions 44. The inelastic portion is adapted not to stretch. The elastic portions 44 are adapted to stretch in at least a direction that points along the length of the third bed sheet 40. The elastic portions 44 may, for example, be made of a Jersey fabric material. In use, the third bed sheet 40 may be positioned such that the inelastic portion 42 is located on top of the duvet 26, the human 24 and the mattress 22. Images may be printed on the inelastic panel 42. For example, a favourite cartoon character of the human child 24 may be printed on the inelastic portion 42. Advantageously, the inelastic panel inelastic portion 42 does not stretch to any significant degree and so, in use (i.e. when the third bed sheet is pulled across the top of the mattress and the human 24 and duvet 26 thereon), the image printed on the inelastic portion 42 is not distorted. Also, the elastic portions 44 provide that the bed sheet may be stretched across the top of the mattress and the human 24 and duvet 26 thereon.

In the above embodiments, the zipper slide is attached to the first zipper side. However, in other embodiments, the zipper slide may be attached to the second zipper slide.

In the above embodiments, the zipper mechanism provided by the first and second zipper ends and the zipper slide is a one-way zipper. However, in other embodiments, the zipper mechanism is a two-way zipper which can be opened or closed from either end thereof if so desired.

In the above embodiments, the bed sheet comprises a two zipper sides that may be attached together. However, in other embodiments, the bed sheet comprises more than two zipper sides, two of which may be attached together.

In such embodiments, each zipper side may have a different respective location along the length of the bed sheet.

For example, Figure 7 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing a fourth embodiment of a bed sheet, hereinafter referred to as the fourth bed sheet 50.

As described above for the bed sheet 2, the fourth bed sheet 50 comprises the first and second zipper sides 6, 8 which are located at or proximate to the first and second ends of the piece of fabric 4 respectively.

In addition, the fourth bed sheet 50 comprises a third zipper side 52. The third zipper side 52 is securely attached to the piece of fabric 4 between the first and second zipper sides 6, 8. Also, the third zipper side 52 spans a width of the piece of fabric 4, i.e. the third zipper side 52 extends transversely across the piece of fabric 4, from the first side edge 14 to the second side edge 16.

In use, the first zipper side may be attached, in the manner usual to zipper operation, using the zipper slide 18, to either the second zipper slide 8 or the third zipper slide 52 as desired. Thus, the fourth bed sheet 50 may be used to form loops of material of different sizes, thereby allowing for the fourth bed sheet 50 to be fit to mattresses of different sizes.

In the above embodiments, the fastening means that is used to s releasably attach the first end edge of the piece of fabric to the second end edge of the piece of fabric is a zipper mechanism (comprises the first and second zipper sides and the zipper slide). However, in other embodiments the fastening means is a different type of fastening means, for example, fastening means comprising strips of Velcro, fastening means comprising buttons and button holes, fastening means comprising snap fasteners (i.e. press studs), etc. In some embodiments, the bed sheet is coupled with a sleeve, e.g., as follows.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the bed sheet 2 and a sleeve 60.

In this embodiment, the sleeve 60 is a tube (i.e. a loop or hoop) of material.

In operation, the bed sheet 2 is passed through the sleeve in the direction indicated in Figure 8 by a solid arrow and the reference numeral 62. In particular, the bed sheet 2 in moved into the sleeve such that the sleeve forms a loop around a width of the bed sheet 2 and such that the first and second ends of the bed sheet extend from opposite ends of the sleeve 60.

The system formed by the bed sheet 2 and the sleeve 60 may then, for example, be used to retain the duvet 26 on the mattress 22 as described in more detail earlier above with reference to Figure 2. In use, the sleeve 60 is positioned such that it lies onto of the duvet 26.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 60 has one or more images printed thereon. For example, an image of the human child's favourite cartoon character may be printed on the sleeve 60.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 60 is adapted to act as an extra layer of insulation for the human 24.