Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02834367 2013-11-25
BED SHEETS AND SECURING STRAPS FOR SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to bedding, and more
particularly to beddings that combines a fitted sheet and top sheet into a
single unit
and employs a set of straps to secure the same in place on a mattress in order
to
minimize sheet movement during sleep to maximize sleep comfort and ease the
bed-making process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known problem in the field of bedding is sheets being moved about,
or even becoming completely separated from the bed, by body movement during
sleep. Such movement can lead to sleep disruption or discomfort, for example
by
way of temperature issues caused by loss of coverage of the body by a
displaced
top sheet or by way of bunching up of a loosened bottom sheet under the body,
and
other problems, such as direct exposure of the mattress to sweat when a loose
bottom sheet is dislodged from beneath a sleeper.
Prior solutions to such bedding displacement issues have been
proposed, including use of straps to secure or tie-down the fitted bottom
sheet to the
mattress to better resist movement thereof, and combining of a top sheet and
fitted
bottom sheet into a single unit to reduce top sheet movement by anchoring of
same
to bottom sheet that is fitted onto the mattress.
Examples of strap arrangements for securing bedding in place include
those disclosed in U.S. Patents 4891856, 6161235, 3092848, 4040133, 6233764
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and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2009/0172881, 2009/0241261 and
2012/0060285.
Examples of combined fitted and top sheets include those disclosed in
U.S. Patents 5375274, 5729847, 5901389, 6725477, 7100223,. 7231679, 7487561,
7290301.
Other bedding related prior art includes U.S. Patent 7810184,
2326399, 4045832, 5263212, and U.S. Patent Application Publication
2004/0060113.
There remains room for improvement however, and applicant has
developed a new combination sheet and securing strap product present
advantages
over the prior art solutions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bed
sheet for a mattress having a top surface, a bottom surface, a pair of first
and
second longitudinal sides, opposing head and foot ends, and corners defined
between the longitudinal sides and the head and foot ends, the bed sheet
comprising:
a center fabric portion for overlying the top surface of the mattress;
a plurality of hanging portions including:
hanging head and foot portions for hanging over the head and
foot ends of the mattress from opposing ends of the center fabric portion;
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first and second hanging side portions for hanging over the first
and second longitudinal sides of the mattress from opposite sides of the
center
fabric portion; and
sheet fastener elements disposed on multiple ones of said hanging
portions; and
flaps attached to the multiples ones of said hanging portions and each
being movable between a fastener-concealment position lying over at least one
of
the sheet fastener elements and a fastener-access position withdrawn from over
said at least one of the sheet fastener elements.
Preferably the bed sheet is provided in combination with securing
straps having strap fastener elements thereon that are positioned adjacent
ends of
said securing straps and selectively engagable to the sheet fastener elements
of the
bed sheet, the securing straps being dimensioned to span under the bottom
surface
of the mattress and reach upward therefrom at some or all of the sides, ends
and
corners of the mattress for attachment of the strap fastener elements to the
sheet
fastener elements to secure the bed sheet in place on the mattress, wherein
movement of the flaps between the fastener-access and fastener-concealment
positions enables exposure of the sheet fastener elements for attachment of
the
strap fastener elements thereto and subsequent concealment of said attachment
from sight.
Preferably each flap has a flap fastener element thereon at a position
that faces the sheet fastener element when said flap is in the fastener-
concealment
position over said sheet fastener element.
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Preferably the flap fastener element and the sheet fastener element
are non-engagable with one another.
Preferably the flap fastener element and the sheet fastener element
are of a same one of either hook material or loop material of a hook and loop
fastener.
Preferably a one of the flaps that is movable into and out of the
fastener-concealment position over said sheet fastener element has a flap
fastener
element on a side of the flap that faces the sheet fastener element when said
flap is
in the fastener-concealment position, and a one of the securing straps for
connecting
to said sheet fastener element has a second strap fastener element on a side
of said
strap opposite the strap fastener element, the flap fastener element and the
second
strap fastener element being selectively engagable with one another.
Preferably the sheet fastener elements and flap fastener elements are
of a same first type of fastener element, and the strap fastener elements on
both
sides of each strap are of a second type of fastener element engagable with
the first
type of fastener element.
Preferably the sheet fastener element and the strap fastener element
are opposing ones of hook material and loop material to cooperatively form a
first
hook and loop fastener, and the flap fastener element and second strap
fastener
element are also opposing ones of the hook material and loop material to
cooperatively form a second hook and loop fastener.
Preferably the sheet fastener element and the flap fastener element
are the same one of either hook material or loop material.
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Preferably the sheet fastener element and the flap fastener element
are both loop material.
Preferably the bed sheet is a combined top and bottom sheet in which
the hanging foot portion is part of a top sheet of the combined top and bottom
sheet
5 and the hanging head and side portions are part of a bottom sheet of the
combined
top and bottom sheet, and the fastener elements include top sheet fastener
elements on the top sheet and bottom sheet fastener elements on the bottom
sheet.
According to a second aspect of the invention there are provided
securing straps for securing a bed sheet to a mattress by spanning of the
straps
beneath the mattress for connection of ends of said straps to the sheet at
sheet
fastener elements thereon at spaced apart positions around the perimeter of
the
mattress, the bed sheet having flaps movable into and out of fastener
concealing
positions over the sheet fastener elements and having flap fastener elements
located on sides of the flaps that face the sheet fastener elements when the
flaps
are in the fastener concealing positions, wherein the securing straps comprise
first
and second strap fastener elements on opposite sides of each strap at a
locations
adjacent the ends of said straps, the first strap fastener element and the
second
strap fastener element being releasably engagable to the sheet fastener
element
and the flap fastener element, respectively.
According to a third aspect of the invention there are provided
combined top and bottom sheets for a mattress having a top surface, a bottom
surface, a pair of first and second longitudinal sides, opposing head and foot
ends, a
top transverse edge defined between the top surface and the foot end, a bottom
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transverse edge defined between the bottom surface and the foot end, a top
longitudinal edge defined between the top surface and each longitudinal side,
a
bottom longitudinal edge defined between the bottom surface and each
longitudinal
side, and upright corners defined between the foot end and the longitudinal
sides,
the combined top and bottom sheets comprising:
a bottom sheet having a center portion for overlying the top surface of
the mattress, head and foot portions for hanging over the head and foot ends
of the
mattress from opposing ends of the center portion, and first and second side
portions for hanging over the first and second longitudinal sides of the
mattress from
opposite sides of the center portion;
a top sheet comprising a main portion overlying the central portion of
the bottom sheet, lateral portions overlying the side portions of the bottom
sheet on
opposite sides of the main portion of the top sheet, and an end portion
overlying the
foot portion of the bottom sheet at a respective end of the main portion of
the top
sheet, the end portion of the top sheet spanning beyond sides of the foot
portion of
the bottom sheet to also overlie an end of each side portion of the bottom
sheet
adjacent the foot portion thereof so that the end portion of the top sheet has
wrapped ends that wrap around the corners of the mattress from the foot end of
the
mattress to the longitudinal sides thereof, and each lateral portion of the
top sheet
comprising a folded-under end that underlies a remainder of the lateral
portion of the
top sheet and that overlies and forms a folded connection with a respective
one of
the wrapped ends of the end portion of the top sheet;
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transverse stitching attaching the end portion of the top sheet to the
foot portion of the bottom sheet in a tranverse direction at a distance from
the center
portion of the bottom sheet so as to place the transverse stitching along the
bottom
transverse edge of the mattress; and
upper longitudinal stitching attaching the top sheet to the bottom sheet
in a longitudinal direction at the folded connection between the folded-under
end of
each lateral portion of the top sheet and the respective one of the wrapped
ends of
the end portion of the top sheet so as to place the upper longitudinal
stitching along
the top longitudinal edges of the mattress adjacent the foot end of the
mattress, the
remainder of each lateral portion of the top sheet being free of the
longitudinal
stitching so that only the folded-under end of said lateral portion is
attached to the
bottom sheet by said longitudinal stitching;
wherein the bottom sheet and the top sheet are unattached to one
another where the bottom sheet transitions from the central portion of the
bottom
sheet to the foot portion thereof so as allow relative movement between the
sheets
at the top transverse edge of the mattress.
Preferably there is provided lower longitudinal stitching attaching the
wrapped ends of the end portion of the top sheet to the side portions of
bottom sheet
in the longitudinal direction at a distance further from the center portion of
the bottom
sheet than the upper longitudinal stitching so as to place the lower
longitudinal
stitching along the bottom longitudinal edges of the mattress, the lower
longitudinal
stitching only partially spanning a length of the side portions of the bottom
sheet in
the longitudinal direction.
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Preferably the distances of the lower longitudinal stitching and the
transverse stitching from the center portion of the bottom sheet are equal.
Preferably the lower longitudinal stitching at each side portion of the
bottom sheet forms a continuous seam with the transverse stitching.
Preferably the transverse stitching fully spans the foot portion of the
bottom sheet in the transverse direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the present invention:
Figure 1 is an overhead plan view of a bedding harness of the present
invention employing a number of straps that span out from between a mattress
and
box-spring to connect to a fitted bed sheet on the mattress at locations
around the
perimeter of the mattress to hold the fitted sheet in place.
Figure 2 is an overhead perspective view of combined fitted and top
sheets of the present invention, which include features for fastening to and
concealing the straps of Figure 1, and employs a unique configuration of folds
and
stitch lines to optimize the balance between available foot room and anchoring
of the
sheets in place, while also providing consistent, cleanly folded sheet corners
at the
foot of the bed.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the combined fitted and top sheets of
Figure 2 with a lateral side portion of the top sheet shown lifted to a
generally
horizontal position from its natural position hanging vertically at the side
of the bed.
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Figure 4 is a perspective view of the combined fitted and top sheets of
Figure 3 with the lateral side portion of the top sheet lifted further to
reveal normally
concealed stitching that attaches the top sheet to the bottom sheet at a
folded-under
end of the lateral side portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a bedding harness 10 of the present invention, which
features a number of straps 12, 14, 16 crossing over one another and sewn or
otherwise foxed together at their lengthwise centers. The drawing shows the
perimeter of a mattress and box-spring combination in broken lines, thus
outlining
the head end 102, foot end 104, and two longitudinal sides 106, 108 of the
mattress
100, each of which aligns with the corresponding perimeter side of the box-
spring on
which the mattress is positioned in a conventional manner. The harness 10 is
placed atop the box spring 200 so as to reside beneath the underside of the
mattress.
The length of each strap 12, 14, 16 is sufficient to span fully across the
bottom surface of the mattress in a respective direction so that the ends of
the strap
extend a short distance outward from between the mattress and box-spring. The
illustrated embodiment features three straps, particularly a shorter strap 12
spanning
across the mattress in a transverse direction parallel to the ends of the
mattress and
perpendicular to the longitudinal sides thereof, and two longer straps 14, 16
of equal
length that each lie in a diagonal direction relative to the generally
rectangular shape
of the mattress so as to reach from one corner of the mattress to an opposing
corner
thereof.
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As opposed to a number of full-length straps interconnected at their
centers and each continuously spanning fully across the mattress to reach
outward
therefrom at two opposing points around the mattress perimeter, the harness
may
alternatively employ twice the number of half-length straps that are all
connected
5 together at inner ends thereof under the mattress, and each reaching
outward from
under the mattress at only one point around the mattress perimeter. The number
of
points, and location of these points, at which the harness reaches out from
under the
mattress may be varied from those shown in the illustrated embodiment, where
six
strap ends reach out from the mattress at the four corners thereof and two
10 intermediate locations along the mattress sides.
Adjacent each strap-end extending out from under the mattress, each
strap features two pieces of hook material 20 sewn to the two opposing sides
or
faces of the strap, for example hook material from a VelcroTM brand hook and
loop
fastener.
Figures 2 and 3 show a combined top and bottom sheet 32 of the
present invention. The bottom fitted sheet 32 features the same general shape
as a
conventional, commercially available fitted sheet, with a conventional fabric
span
that includes a generally rectangular center portion 34 for overlying and
fully
covering the top surface of the mattress, and head end protion, foot end
portion and
two side portions that surround the center portion on respective sides thereof
to
hang downward over the head, foot and sides of the mattress when the fitted
sheet
is in place thereon.
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In the drawings, only the center portion 34, foot end portion 36, and
one side portion 38 of the bottom sheet are visible, but it will be
appreciated that the
head and foot end portion match, as do the two side portions. In a
conventional
manner, elastic material at the corners of the fitted sheet where the side
portions join
to the end portions, or elastic material running around the full perimeter of
the fitted
sheet, may be used to help secure the corners in place under the mattress when
the
free outer edges of the end and side portions of the fitted sheet are tucked
under the
mattress in the space between the mattress and box-spring.
One way in which the combined top and bottom sheets 30 differ from
the prior art is in the configuration of the top sheet 50 and its attachment
to the to the
bottom sheet 32.
The top sheet 50 features a rectangular main portion 52 that overlies
the center portion 34 of the bottom sheet 32, spanning the full transverse
width of
the bottom sheet's center portion 34 and spanning all, or at least a majority
of the
longitudinal length thereof. From the main portion 52 of the top sheet 50, two
lateral
portions hang down on opposite sides of the main portion 52 to overhang
respective
sides of the top of the mattress to lie over the side portions 38 of the
bottom sheet.
In the drawings, only one of the lateral portions 54 of the top sheet is
visible, and is
shown in a raised position lifted from its naturally hanging position
depending down
the side of the mattress. A single end portion 56 of the top sheet 50 hangs
down
from the end of the main portion 52 at the foot of the mattress to lie over
the foot end
portion of the bottom sheet 32. The top sheet is formed by folding of an
originally
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rectangular sheet and sewing of the same to the bottom sheet in the manner
described herein further below.
The end portion 56 of the top sheet 50 spans a width greater than that
of the foot end of the mattress, and thus also greater than that of the foot
end portion
of the bottom sheet 32. As a result, the end portion 56 wraps around the two
mattress corners at the foot end of the bed, reaching partially over the two
sides of
the mattress toward the head of the bed. Each wrapped end 56a of the end
portion
56 reaching a partial distance along the respective side of the mattress has
its
bottom edge sewn to the respective side portion 38 of the bottom sheet beneath
it,
as shown at 58. This stitching 58 thus runs along the horizontal bottom edge
of the
respective longitudinal side of the mattress over a partial length thereof
from the foot
end of the mattress.
With the illustrated top sheet formed from a continuous, unitary
rectangular piece of fabric, the wrapped end 56a of the end portion 56 of the
top
sheet 50 is integrally linked to the respective lateral portion 54 of the top
sheet 50,
and more particularly to a folded-under triangular end 54a of the later
portion 54.
The folded under end 54a of the lateral portion 54 is sewn to the bottom sheet
32
along the boundary between the bottom sheet's center portion 34 and respective
side portion 38, as shown at 60. This stitching 60 spans along the fold at
which the
folded-under triangular end 54a of the lateral portion 54 of the top sheet
transition is
folded to transition itself into the wrapped end 56a of the top sheet's end
portion 56.
Accordingly, this stitching 60 runs along the horizontal top edge of the
respective
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longitudinal side of the mattress over a partial length thereof from the foot
end of the
mattress.
As stitching 60 engages only through the triangular folded-under end
54a of the lateral portion, and not through the remaining rectangular upper
layer of
the lateral portion 54 that lies over the folded-under end, the upper layer of
the
lateral portion is not directly attached to the bottom sheet, and the
stitching 60 is not
normally seen, hence being shown in broken lines in Figures 2 and 3,. Figure 4
shows the lateral portion of the top sheet fully lifted from over the side of
the bed to
reveal the diagonally folded-under triangular end 54a of the lateral portion
of the top
sheet, its integral connection to the respective wrapped end 56a of the end
portion of
the top sheet, and the stitching 60 attaching the folded-under and wrapped
ends
54a, 56a of the lateral and end portions of the top sheet to the underlying
bottom
sheet.
The attachment of the top sheet 50 to the bottom sheet 32 is
completed by sewing of the end portion 56 of the top sheet to the foot end
portion 36
of the bottom sheet at the free edge of the top sheet's end portion 56
furthest from
the top sheet's main portion, as shown at 62. This stitching 62 thus runs
along the
horizontal bottom edge of the foot end of the mattress over the full width
thereof.
This stitching 62 may be part of a continuous seam including the stitching 58
along
the bottom edge of the longitudinal sides of the mattress.
To summarize the stitching pattern, the top sheet 50 is sewn to the
bottom sheet only at the transverse stitch line 62 along the bottom edge of
the foot
of the bed at the intermediate area of the top sheet's end portion between the
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wrapped ends thereof, at the lower longitudinal stitch lines 58 along the
bottom
edges of the mattress sides at the bottom edges of the wrapped ends of the top
sheet's end portion, and at the upper longitudinal stitch lines 60 along the
top edges
of the mattress sides at the folded connection of each wrapped end of the top
sheet's end portion to the folded-under end of the respective lateral portion.
This particular folding and stitching of the originally rectangular top
sheet 50 provides multiple benefits.
Firstly, the top sheet and bottom sheet are unattached with one
another at the top edge of the foot of the bed, where the top sheet
transitions from
its main portion to its end portion and the bottom sheet transitions from its
center
portion to its foot end portion. The two sheets are also left unattached along
the
vertical corner edges of the mattress at the foot end of the bed, where the
end
portion 56 of the top sheet 50 wraps around these corners and the bottom sheet
transitions from its foot end portion to its side portions. The upper layer of
each
lateral portion of the top sheet (i.e. everything other than the folded-under
end 54a
thereof) is also not attached to the bottom sheet, and thus is movable
relative to the
bottom sheet with the main portion of the top sheet, from which the lateral
portion's
upper layer is a continuous integral extension.
Accordingly, the two sheets are not seamed together at the mattress
edge between the top surface and foot of the mattress, thus leaving room for
the
central portion of top sheet to lift upward from the bottom sheet, as
accommodated
by the likewise movable upper layer of the lateral portion of the top sheet,
in order to
create a foot-accommodating space for occupants of the bed. On the other hand,
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the attachment of the sheets over a short distance from the foot of the bed
along the
longitudinal side edges of the mattress prevents the top sheet from being
kicked off
the mattress by foot movement, while the folding-under of the lateral portions
of the
top sheet at their ends and sewing of this folded-under end portion to the
bottom
5 sheet maintains a clean corner appearance by avoiding loose-hanging excess
material spanning around the corners at the foot of the mattress.
Another way in which the combined top and bottom sheets 30 differ
from the prior art is in the addition of pieces of loop material 40 to the
side and head
portions of the bottom sheet 32 and to the end portion 56 of the top sheet on
the
10 surfaces of these sheets that face outwardly away from the mattress for
use in a
hook and loop fastener arrangement, and in the addition of movable flaps 42
that are
also attached to the outer surfaces of these same portions of the sheets to
selectively cover and reveal and loop material pieces 40.
Each piece of loop material 40 is provided as an elongated strip
15 running up the top or bottom sheet when the sheets are in place on the
mattress.
Each strip is positioned at a location around the mattress perimeter where a
respective strap-end of the harness 10 reaches out from under the mattress.
That
is, each piece of loop material runs toward the rectangular boundary of the
center or
main portion of the sheet from at or near the free edge of the sheet at the
perimeter
thereof. In embodiments where the different portions of each sheet are
integral
parts of a unitary span of fabric, it will be appreciated that the
'rectangular boundary'
of the center or main portion is an imaginary boundary that becomes realized
at the
perimeter of the top surface of the mattress when the sheets are in place on
the
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mattress. In the illustrated embodiment, with six strap-ends extending out
from
under the mattress, there are six strips of loop material 40, one running up
each of
the four corners of the mattress, and one strip at a central location along
each side
portion of the bottom sheet so as to run centrally up the respective
longitudinal sides
of the mattress.
Each flap 42 is illustrated as a strip of fabric or other material that is
sewn to the top or bottom sheet just above the top end of a respective one of
the
loop material strips 40, i.e. just past the end of the loop material strip 40
nearest the
center or main portion 34 of the sheet. Each flap 42 can be pivoted about its
sewn
connection to the top or bottom sheet to move between a fastener-concealing
position over the respective loop material strip 40, and a fastener-revealing
position
withdrawn from over the respective loop material strip 40 to allow access
thereto.
Figure 2 shows the two flaps at the foot end of the bed in the fastener-
concealing or
closed positions, and the four remaining flaps in the fastener-revealing or
open
positions, while Figure 3 shows all six flaps in the fastener-concealing
positions.
Another piece of loop material is sewn to each flap 42 on the side or
face thereof that faces toward the strip of loop material 40 on the sheets
when the
flap 42 is in the concealing position lying over the strip 40. With the same
type of
fastener material on the flap and the bottom sheet, the flap 42 does not
fasten to the
sheet when the flap is closed directly over the strip
However, as described above, each strap-end of the harness 10 has
hook material attached to both sides of the strap. Accordingly, when the
bottom
sheet 32 is fitted on the mattress, each flap 42 is moved into the fastener-
revealing
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position withdrawn from over the respective loop material strip 40, and the
respective strap-end of the harness 10 poking out from under the mattress can
be
pulled upward and placed against the loop material strip 40 on the top or
bottom
sheet so that the hook material on the respective side of the strap will
engage to the
loop material strip 40, thus releasably fastening the strap-end to the
combined
sheets. During such fastening of the opposing strap-end to the bottom sheet,
this
strap-end is pulled sufficiently taught before engaging the hook and loop
fastener so
that the harness holds the bottom sheet taught between the opposing sides,
ends or
corners of the mattress to better secure the bottom sheet against movement,
bunching or shifting on the top surface of the mattress. The straps thus
provide
improved retention of the bottom sheet versus use of the fitted-sheet's direct
engagement to the mattress alone.
With each strap-end attached to the respective strip of loop material 40
on the sheets 32, 50, the respective flap 42 can be closed over the respective
strap-
end. In this fastener-concealing position over the strap-end and the loop
material
strip on the sheets thereunder, the loop material on the inside of the flap 42
engages
the second piece of hook material on the strap-end, whereby the flap 42 covers
up
the strap-end and the hook and loop fastener that engages the strap-end to the
sheets. The fastening of the flap to the strap-end and also adds further
fastening
strength to the connection between the strap and sheets. The flaps thus have
dual
functionality, both concealing the strap ends from sight, and further
strengthening
the connection between the bottom sheet and the securing straps of the
harness.
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While the illustrated embodiment employs diagonal corner straps and a
central transverse strap, the number and orientation of straps may be modified
into
any of a number of different combinations, with the number and position of
fastening
sites on the sheets being likewise variable to suit the strap configuration.
It will also
be appreciated that the disclosed arrangement for attaching the securing
straps of
the harness to the bed sheets may be applied regardless of whether a combined
top
and bottom sheet arrangement is used. That is, a bottom sheet without an
attached
top sheet may be secured in place using the described strap configuration. In
such
instance, instead of being attached to the end portion of the top sheet, the
two
corner pieces of loop material and corresponding flaps at the foot end of the
mattress would be attached to the foot end portion of the stand-alone bottom
sheet,
meaning that all the loop material pieces and covering flaps would be found on
the
side and end portions of the bottom sheet. Likewise, it will be appreciated
that the
advantageous features of the combined top and bottom sheet may be employed in
embodiments lacking the sheet securing harness and corresponding harness
attachment points on the combined sheets.
Although the detailed embodiment employs loop material on the sheets
and flaps, and hook material on the straps of the harness, this configuration
may be
reversed without losing the functionality of the hook and loop fasteners.
Alternatively, each strap could have opposite fastener materials on its two
sides,
with the sheets and flaps likewise having opposing fastener materials, but
this is less
preferred since it would require the harness be placed in a particular right-
side-up
orientation atop the box-spring to ensure proper function of the hook and loop
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fasteners. Other embodiments may employ fasteners of other types, but hook and
loop fasteners are preferred.
