US20120110736A1

US20120110736A1 - Pouch blanket

Info

Publication number: US20120110736A1
Application number: US13/317,954
Authority: US
Inventors: Karen Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-05
Filing date: 2011-11-01
Publication date: 2012-05-10

Abstract

A blanket with no ends to pull loose stays in place by wrapping entirely around a mattress anchored with the weight of the mattress and the individual. The blanket allows freedom of movement but keeps an individual covered. The blanket will not become tangled or pulled up too far to bunch up in the face. The snug, wrapped feeling contributes to a sense of spatial orientation providing additional benefit for some individuals with autism/sensory processing disorders.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Provisional application No. 61/410,538, filed on Nov. 5, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a blanket, and more particularly, to a blanket that wraps around a mattress in such a way as to remain in place and stay wrapped around a person in the bed thus providing consistent warmth, a feeling of comfort, and sensory definition.
A strong need exists for bed covers that remain in place during the time a person is sleeping. This is evident primarily with small children. Many individuals often move about during their sleep causing them to become uncovered or to struggle with blankets that bunch up or get twisted. Young children especially will not wake up to put the blanket back in place, or will be unable to maneuver the covers properly.
Much is available in night clothing for infants to stay covered and warm. But children reach an age when they no longer wear such night clothes and begin to sleep in a bed instead of a crib. Nothing is currently available to provide blanketing for children after infancy that will stay in place and provide the noted benefits.
Remaining covered during sleep is valuable for a number of reasons not the least of which is to keep a person warm. There are other benefits to sleeping with covers that not only remain in place but remain closely wrapped around the individual. One such benefit is for individuals who are affected by autism or sensory processing disorders and have difficulty with spatial perception. These individuals benefit from a blanket that is securely wrapped and stays in place.

Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The following prior art generally discloses bed coverings that present solutions for the need to keep bedcovers in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,863,256 (Snoody) discloses a crib blanket for a baby that is designed to resist displacement. It wraps the mattress with a complicated design of bindings, grommets, and straps, that secure the cover. The sides are open and can be secured with fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,885,558 (Smith) discloses a bed covering of sheeting material with layers, side and end panels that wrap around a mattress and are secured with snaps, fastener tapes and ties.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,713 (North) discloses a combination of sheets which attach to each other and are placed on the bed with fitted corners and a portion extending under the sides. It is constructed with numerous parts and detailed fittings.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,627,617 (Avila) discloses a bed cover constructed with several panels, side walls, and end wall, flanges, and flaps for securing the corner portions to a bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,378 (Pursell) discloses a bed cover constructed with several layers fitted over the corners of the mattress but not around the mattress. It has detailed construction with side walls, binding, closures, and snaps and a detachable blanket.
U.S. Pat No. 3,857,124 (Hadley) discloses a set of sheets formed with fitted corners that wrap under the mattress but not around it. The construction is detailed with multiple layers of fabric, binding and closures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,044 (Bogle) discloses a set of sheets formed with fitted corners that wrap under a mattress but not around it. The bottom layer is constructed with side, head, and foot panels and connected to the top layer with slide closures and snaps.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,929 (Staudinger) discloses a set of sheets formed with fitted corners, straps, and closures that extend under the edges of a mattress but not around it. The bottom layer is constructed with side, head, and foot panels and connected to the top layer with slide closures and snaps.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,729 (Hall) discloses a crib safety sack which is pocket-shaped to cover an end of a crib mattress. The top panel of the sack secures in infant in sleeping position acting as a safety restraint.
The prior art is generally designed for infants or is restrictive to movement or inconvenient to use; therefore, none of the prior art is seen to solve the problems enumerated as effectively and efficiently as described in the immediate concept discussed below. Furthermore, each design in the prior art requires numerous parts and materials, and construction of the extensive fitting is labor-intensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A blanket is provided that is constructed with a single piece of fabric, generally a somewhat elastic material, to wrap completely around a mattress and closed at the bottom (foot end) so there are no ends to pull loose. It remains in place without restricting movement.
It provides the user with significant benefits not provided with flat blanketing and bedding that is currently in use. The simplicity of the current invention gives it an inherent advantage because it is not only easy to use it is cost-effective to manufacture therefore setting it apart from prior art.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method to keep bed covers in place without restricting movement.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a solution that can be used with ease.
It is further the object of the present invention is to provide a product that is simple to construct so that it can be manufactured at minimal cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch blanket fitted on a mattress according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pouch blanket of FIG. 1 placed on a bed.

DETAILED DESRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a pouch blanket that may wrap around a mattress.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a pouch blanket 10 fitted on a mattress 1 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Pouch blanket 10 may be formed from a single sheet of fabric by folding the fabric sheet in half lengthwise and sewing a side and a bottom closed or by positioning the fabric with the horizontal fold at the bottom and sewing both sides. Pouch blanket 10 may include a body portion 2, an open top 6 and an enclosed bottom portion 4. Body portion 2 may have an identical top and bottom side (not shown) and it may be constructed to completely wrap around mattress 1. One or both sides of body portion 2 may have a closable opening 3 formed Closable opening 3 may be closed or opened by a fastener (not shown), for example, a zipper or a hoop and loop fastener. The side(s) may be opened for getting into a pouch (not shown) formed between pouch blanket 10 and the top of mattress 1 and then closed up to create a wrap. Pouch blanket 10 may be constructed from soft, insulating, somewhat elastic fabrics, for example, fleece fabric.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the pouch blanket 10 fitted on a mattress is shown lying on a bed 5. Pouch blanket 10 may be slipped over the mattress 1 thru top opening 6, and then mattress 1 could be placed on bed 5. Closed bottom 4 may prevent pouch blanket 10 to be pull up too far. Closable opening 3 may be positioned at either side of mattress 1 by simply flipping pouch blanket 10 over.
Since pouch blanket 10 wraps around the mattress 1 it may stay in place, keeping its user warm and tucked in, which may be a very advantageous feature for children, mobility challenged users, and individuals suffering with sensory processing disorders.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A pouch blanket, comprising:

a single sheet of fabric folded in half having a side(s) and a bottom enclosed by sewing to wrap around a mattress; and a closable opening formed at the side(s) of the pouch blanket.