Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
DUVET COVER SYSTEM HAVING CUSTOMIZABLE VARIABLE PERFORMANCE
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to linens used with
bedding
and, more specifically, to duvet cover systems used with bedding in various
contexts.
Background
[0002] Blankets and comforters, such as down comforters, provide an
extra
layer of comfort and warmth to those who choose to use them while sleeping.
For
example, a down comforter provides more warmth and comfort as compared to
sleeping under only a top sheet of a sheet set applied to a bed. However,
because
of the bulk/size of comforters and blankets, these bedding elements can be
very
difficult to properly clean. In order to diminish the need for direct cleaning
and
extend the life thereof, these blankets and comforters are often covered with
(and/or
inserted within) what is known as a duvet cover. The duvet cover protects the
blanket or comforter while, at the same time, contributes an aesthetically
appealing
element to the bed when positioned atop the bed. There are many different
versions
of duvet cover designs available, each with different options for how the
blanket or
comforter is inserted or secured in position when in use on the bed.
[0003] Typically, the blanket or comforter inserted into a duvet cover
is a
single, unitary element that extends throughout a pocket defined within the
duvet
cover. The single piece blanket or comforter provides certain performance
features
to the duvet cover system. For example, a certain amount of thermal retention
may
be provided (which is measured as "CLO values" in the U.S. and "tog values" in
European locales). Other performance factors such as air
permeability/breathability
and moisture wicking can also be provided by the blanket or comforter within
the
duvet cover. Thus, a different blanket or comforter can be inserted into a
duvet
cover to change the performance features such as when seasons change and cause
a user to desire several different performance features (e.g., higher thermal
retention
in wintertime).
[0004] Many beds are sized to sleep two or more users, often with one
user
on each side of the bed. However, every user is unique in body chemistry and
sleep
preferences. In one example, one user may sleep better when warmer while
another
user may sleep better when cooler or when better air flow/circulation is
present. The
CA 3071312 3071312 2020-02-06
conventional duvet cover system designs offer only one set of performance
features,
which is often not desirable for one of the users of the bed. This often
results in one
of the users being uncomfortable under the duvet cover system, if not both (in
cases
where both users have compromised on some of the performance factors to make
both users marginally comfortable). Therefore, it would be desirable to
improve
duvet cover systems to provide variable performance that can be configured for
users desiring different performance features during sleep on a bed.
[0005] Several designs have been more recently produced in an effort
to
provide variable performance in a duvet cover system. For example, British
Patent
Application No. GB 2 369 293 to Dunn shows several duvet cover systems
including
one with separated pockets on a cover layer for receiving two half-blankets
defining
different thermal retention values, and another with two half-blankets (again,
defining
different thermal retention values) zipped together along their length before
insertion
into the pocket of a cover layer. In another example, U.S. Patent No.
6,862,760 to
Bradley et al. describes that two comforter sections defining different
thermal
resistance can be connected along an overlapped junction. Additionally, U.S.
Patent
No. 8,707,480 to Graddy shows a multilayer blanket with a base layer and
straps
that enable addition of further blanket leaves/layers on either side of the
bed, e.g.,
more or fewer blanket layers can be provided on the two sides of the bed.
[0006] These more recent designs continue to need improvement in the
field
of bedding covers. In this regard, the elongated zipper or overlap at the
junction
causes variations in thickness or a rigid connection that is discernable to
users of the
bed after the connected portions are placed within a cover layer. Designs like
the
one shown in the Graddy patent also fail to provide a consistent loft or
thickness
across the width of the bed, which means any duvet cover system using those
types
of designs will not provide the desirable aesthetic appearance of a
conventional
duvet. Notably, all the prior designs focus on adjusting only the thermal
retention or
conductivity of the sides or portions of the blanket/duvet. As a result, such
designs
have not found widespread adoption in the marketplace because they do not
actually
provide fully desirable and customizable sleep experiences for different users
of the
bed, plus they do not look or function sufficiently like conventional duvet
cover
system designs in the ways that users find desirable to maintain.
[0007] It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a new duvet cover
system
that addresses these and other drawbacks of conventional designs.
-2-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
Summary
[0008] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides
the
following technical solutions, in one embodiment: a duvet cover system is
provided
for covering a bed is provided to allow for multiple users of the bed to have
desirable
sleep experiences. To this end, the system includes a cover layer configured
to
receive a fill layer in the form of a blanket or comforter. The cover layer is
configured
to at least substantially enclose the fill layer and provide a desired
aesthetic
appearance to the duvet cover system. The system further includes a duvet
insert
defining the fill layer. The duvet insert includes a first insert portion and
a second
insert portion removably connected to one another along a junction such that
the first
insert portion covers a first side of the bed and the second insert portion
covers a
second side of the bed when the system is spread over the bed. The first
insert
portion includes a first fill material having a first fill volume to thereby
define at least
two quantifiable performance factors for the first insert portion, including a
first
thermal retention value and a first air permeability value. The second insert
portion
includes a second fill material having a second fill volume to thereby define
at least
two quantifiable performance factors for the second insert portion, including
a
second thermal retention value and a second air permeability value. The
quantifiable performance factors of the first and second insert portions are
different
from each other to provide different sleep experiences for users located on
the first
and second sides of the bed under the duvet cover system.
[0009] In one aspect, another of the quantifiable performance factors
for the
first insert portion is a first loft amount generated by the first fill
material and the first
fill volume, The first and second loft amounts are substantially equal such
that the
duvet cover system defines a consistent aesthetic appearance on first and
second
sides of the bed when the duvet cover system is spread over the bed.
[0010] In another aspect, the first and second insert portions are
removably
connected to one another by a plurality of fastening elements that are spaced
apart
from one another along a length of the junction. Each of the plurality of
fastening
elements further comprises a flexible strap extending from one of the first
and
second insert portions and a receiving aperture formed on the other of the
first and
second insert portions. The flexible strap extends through the receiving
aperture and
then is secured in position on one of the first and second insert portions to
hold the
-3-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
first and second insert portions together. The plurality of fastening elements
may be
defined by at least one of: hook and loop fastener elements, ties, buttons,
snaps and
magnets.
[0011] In yet another aspect, the cover layer includes a single,
unitary pocket
configured to receive and substantially enclose an entirety of the duvet
insert. In a
further aspect, the first and second fill materials include at least one of:
duck down,
polyester, wool, kapok, soybean, silk and bamboo. The at least two
quantifiable
performance factors for the first and second insert portions may further
include a loft
amount, weight, and/or texture.
[0012] In another aspect, the first insert portion further includes a
cover fabric
that encloses the first fill material, and the second insert portion further
includes a
cover fabric that encloses the second fill material. The cover fabrics of the
first and
second insert portions help define the at least two quantifiable performance
factors.
For example, these quantifiable performance factors may also include wicking
and/or
temperature regulation. The cover fabrics for the first and second insert
portions
include at least one of: cotton, cotton blends, microfiber polyester, and
Lyocell.
[0013] In a further aspect, the first and second insert portions are
removably
connected to one another by a plurality of fastening elements, which are
defined by
non-hardened or non-rigid materials such that a presence of the fastening
elements
along the junction cannot be detected by users located on the bed and under
the
duvet cover system. The first and second insert portions each defines a
plurality of
peripheral edges, one of which is located along the junction. The others of
the
plurality of peripheral edges do not include any fastening elements for
connecting the
first and second insert portions together. This configuration allows for the
duvet
insert to feel like a single-part, unitary blanket or comforter to the user,
thereby
providing a familiar and comfortable feel to the duvet cover system.
[0014] In one aspect, the cover layer includes a decorative pattern to
provide
a desired aesthetic appearance to the bed when the duvet cover system is
spread
over the bed. The duvet cover system of the embodiments of this invention
provide
a fully customizable sleep experience with multiple quantifiable performance
factors
tailored to the specific users on the different sides of the bed, while
simulating in look
and feel a conventional duvet design in a desirable manner for users.
[0015] In yet another aspect, each of the first and second insert
portions
includes a fill identification element that identifies a performance
specification
-4-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
defined by the at least two quantifiable performance factors for the insert
portion.
The fill identification element may take different forms, such as a label, or
color-
coded threading or portions of the first and second insert portions.
[0016] In another embodiment, a duvet cover system includes a cover
layer
configured to receive a fill layer in the form of a blanket or comforter. The
cover
layer is configured to at least substantially enclose the fill layer and
provide a desired
aesthetic appearance to the duvet cover system. The system further includes a
duvet insert defining the fill layer. The duvet insert includes a first insert
portion
including a plurality of first quilt boxes defined by a first cover fabric,
and a second
insert portion including a plurality of second quilt boxes defined by a second
cover
fabric. The first and second insert portions are positioned such that the
first insert
portion covers a first side of the bed and the second insert portion covers a
second
side of the bed when the system is spread over the bed. The first quilt boxes
are
filled with a first fill material having a first fill volume to thereby define
at least two
quantifiable performance factors for the first insert portion, including a
first thermal
retention value and a first air permeability value. The second quilt boxes are
filled
with a second fill material having a second fill volume to thereby define at
least two
quantifiable performance factors for the second insert portion, including a
second
thermal retention value and a second air permeability value. The quantifiable
performance factors of the first and second insert portions are different from
each
other to provide different sleep experiences for users located on the first
and second
sides of the bed under the duvet cover system. The first and second insert
portions
may be removably connected to one another along a junction, in one aspect,
such as
by fastening elements spaced apart from one another along a length of the
junction.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017] Various additional features and advantages of the invention
will
become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the
following detailed description of one or more illustrative embodiments taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which
are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
one or more
embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given
above
and the detailed description given below, explain the one or more embodiments
of
the invention.
CA 3071312 3071312 2020-02-06
[0018] Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a duvet cover system having
customizable variable performance, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention, with the system shown in a fully assembled state combining a cover
layer
and a duvet insert while spread over a bed.
[0019] Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the duvet cover system
of Fig, 1,
with the duvet insert removed from a pocket defined within the cover layer to
show a
disassembled state of the system, with this view showing further details of
the first
and second insert portions defining the duvet insert.
[0020] Fig. 3 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of a portion of
the duvet
cover system of Fig. 2, taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing further
details of the
junction between the first and second insert portions and one of the fastening
elements at the junction.
[0021] Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the duvet cover system
of Fig. 1
in a disassembled state, and further showing an alternative insert portion
replacing
one of the first and second insert portions when a different sleep experience
is
desired for a user on the corresponding side of the system and bed.
[0022] Fig. 5 is a detailed top perspective view showing further
details of one
of the fastening elements at the junction in Fig. 2.
[0023] Fig. 6A is a side cross-sectional view showing an alternative
type of
fastening element that may be used in one embodiment of the duvet insert.
[0024] Fig. 6B is a side cross-sectional view showing another type of
fastening
element that may be used in another embodiment of the duvet insert.
[0025] Fig. 6C is a side cross-sectional view showing yet another type
of
fastening element that may be used in yet another embodiment of the duvet
insert.
[0026] Fig. 6D is a side cross-sectional view showing a further type
of
fastening element that may be used in a further embodiment of the duvet
insert.
[0027] Fig. 7 is a graphical plot showing test results of thermal
retention
("CLO") values for various fill materials and air permeability for various
fill materials.
[0028] Fig. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a duvet cover system
according
to a further embodiment of the invention, with the cover layer partially
zipped open to
reveal the two-portion duvet insert located inside the system.
[0029] Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a duvet insert according
to
another embodiment of the invention, showing further details of so-called
quilt boxes
that may define the insert portions.
-6-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
Detailed Description
[0030] Figs. 1 through 5 show a duvet cover system 10 in accordance
with
one embodiment of the invention, the system 10 being configured to provide
customizable variable performance to allow for different sleep experiences for
users
of a bed. To this end, the system 10 includes a cover layer 12 of any known
design
and an inventive duvet insert 14 defined by a first insert portion 16 and a
second
insert portion 18 that each define at least two quantifiable performance
factors that
are different, to be tailored to the desires and needs of the user on the
corresponding
side of the bed. These quantifiable performance factors include at least
thermal
retention value and air permeability value. The first and second insert
portions 16,
18 are removable from one another so that one of or both the insert portions
16, 18
can be replaced with the changing seasons or other desires of the users.
Advantageously, the system 10 provides users with different sleep experiences
and
performance factors while providing a substantially identical look and feel as
conventional duvets with a single-piece blanket or comforter insert. This
"conventional" and desirable aesthetic appearance of the duvet cover system 10
is
shown in Fig. 1, in which the system 10 is fully assembled and spread over a
bed 20.
Further details regarding this embodiment of the duvet cover system 10 will
now be
described with reference to the detailed views in Figs. 2 through 5.
[0031] As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, the cover layer 12 of
the
system 10 in this illustrated embodiment is a central access-type cover layer
with an
opening 22 into an internal pocket defined by the cover layer 12 located at a
central
position to make it easier to insert the fill layer in the form of the duvet
insert 14 into
the pocket. This central access-type cover layer is described in the original
Applicant's own U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0255945 to Stewart, and
further
details regarding such a duvet cover design can be referenced in that prior
publication. It will be understood that the duvet insert 14 of this invention
is designed
for use with cover layers 12 of all known and future designs, thereby
increasing the
marketplace and usability of the system 10 described herein. The central
access
version is shown as one example and briefly described in further detail below,
but it
should not be deemed as a limiting example.
[0032] Use of several descriptive terms, such as top, bottom, head,
foot, side,
upwardly, downwardly, horizontal, and/or vertical, for example, as it pertains
-7-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
to/describes the system 10 and its components, is from the viewpoint of when
the
system 10 is laid out on the bed 20, unless otherwise noted.
[0033] Returning with reference to Fig. 2, the cover layer 12 shown
in this
embodiment includes a top fabric layer 24 and a bottom fabric layer 26, which
are
assembled together such as by stitching along a periphery defined by a
plurality of
edges: including a head end edge 30a, a foot end edge 30b, and first and
second
side edges 30c, 30d extending between the head and foot end edges 30a, 30b.
The
stitch lines are shown in phantom for clarity but may be modified in other
embodiments. The top fabric layer 24 may include printing or dyes that provide
a
desirable aesthetic appearance for the duvet cover system 10, as shown in Fig.
1.
The cover layer 12 also includes a plurality of retention slots 32 located
near the
corners in the bottom fabric layer 26, which can optionally engage with a
plurality of
retention fastening elements 34 that may be provided along corner portions of
the
duvet insert 14 to reliably maintain the duvet insert 14 in a desired position
within the
pocket of the cover layer 12. It will be appreciated that such retention slots
32 and
retention fastening elements 34 may be moved or omitted in other embodiments
without departing from the scope of this invention.
[0034] Also shown in Fig. 2 is one embodiment of the duvet insert 14
in
accordance with the duvet cover system 10 of this invention. The first and
second
insert portions 16, 18 are shown to be removably connected to one another
along a
junction 40 that extends lengthwise between the head end edge 30a and the foot
end edge 30b when the system 10 is fully assembled. The first and second
insert
portions 16, 18 are each sized with about the same dimensions such that the
first
insert portion 16 is configured to overlie a first side of the bed 20 when the
system 10
is fully assembled and spread over the bed 20, while the second insert portion
18 is
configured to overlie a second side of the bed 20. The first and second insert
portions 16, 18 provide at least two quantifiable performance factors that are
different from one another, thereby providing a customizable and desirable
sleep
experience for different users on the two sides of the bed 20. As will be
described in
further detail below, these quantifiable performance factors include at least
a thermal
retention value (often referred to as a CLO value or a tog value) and an air
permeability value, the latter being indicative of how breathable the duvet is
while the
former being indicative of how warm or cool the sleep experience will be when
using
the system 10. Advantageously, the duvet insert 14 continues to function and
feel
-8-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
(to users) like a conventional one-piece fill layer when the first and second
insert
portions 16, 18 are connected together as shown in Fig. 2.
[0035] With continued reference to Fig. 2 as well as Fig. 3, the
first and
second insert portions 16, 18 are connected together using a plurality of
fastening
elements 42 separated and spaced apart from one another along the length of
the
junction 40. In this embodiment, each fastening element 42 includes a flexible
strap
44 extending from one of the first and second insert portions 16, 18 and a
receiving
aperture 46 formed on the other of the first and second insert portions 16,
18. As
most readily understood from the cross section shown in Fig. 3, the flexible
strap 44
of this embodiment includes self-securing means such as hook and loop fastener
48,
which allows the flexible strap 44 to be threaded through the receiving
aperture 46
and then folded over itself to secure the hook and loop fastener 48 together
and
thereby secure the first and second insert portions 16, 18 together at the
junction 40.
The self-securing means may be defined by other types of known elements,
including but not limited to interlocking interdigitations, and further
examples
described below with reference to Figs. 6A through 6D.
[0036] The spacing apart of the fastening elements 42 avoids creating
a
highly-rigid connection along the junction 40 that could then be discerned by
users of
the duvet cover system 10. Likewise, the use of flexible straps 44 and
receiving
apertures 46 in this embodiment allows for the removable connection of the
first and
second insert portions 16, 18 to be made without necessitating hardened or
rigid
materials to be used. As a result, the plurality of fastening elements 42 is
configured
to be indiscernible to users of the system 10 thanks to the lack of hardened
and/or
rigid materials along the junction 40. This arrangement for coupling the first
and
second insert portions 16, 18 is desirable because users will feel like the
system 10
encloses a conventional one-piece blanket or comforter, thereby not adding any
potential discomfort or unusual feel to the sleep experience when using the
system
10.
[0037] Further details of the connection made by the fastening
element 42 and
the first and second insert portions 16, 18 are shown in Fig. 3. To this end,
the first
insert portion 16 includes a first cover fabric 50 that encloses a first fill
material 52.
The first fill material 52 can be selected from several different fill options
and placed
in the first cover fabric 50 at various fill weights. For example, the first
fill material 52
may include one or more of duck down, polyester, wool, kapok, soybean, silk,
-9-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
bamboo, and similar insulative materials. The first cover fabric 50 may be
provided
in one or more of the following materials: cotton, cotton blends, microfiber
polyester,
Lyocell, and similar textile materials. Each of the first cover fabric 50 and
the first fill
material 52 may contribute to help define the quantifiable performance factors
for the
first insert portion 16. In further embodiments, a coating or treatment is
applied to
the first cover fabric 50 to help achieve the quantifiable performance
factors. The
first cover fabric 50 (and any surface treatments applied) may be selected to
provide
certain performance factors like wicking and temperature regulation, while the
first fill
material 52 and its fill weight may contribute to the thermal retention value
and air
permeability factor. Any number of selected combinations of materials for
these
elements of the first insert portion 16 may be selected to provide a highly
customized
set of quantifiable performance factors exhibited by that side of the duvet
cover
system 10.
[0038] Similarly, Fig. 3 also illustrates that the second insert
portion 18
includes a second cover fabric 54 that encloses a second fill material 56. The
second cover fabric 54 and second fill material 56 and its fill weight may be
customized using the various options explained above for the first insert
portion 16,
and as such, a highly customized set of quantifiable performance factors can
be
achieved and exhibited by the other side of the duvet cover system 10. For
example, a coating or treatment can be applied to the second cover fabric 54
to help
achieve the quantifiable performance factors. Of course, the second insert
portion
18 will advantageously exhibit some different performance factors than the
first insert
portion 16, including but not limited to the thermal retention value and/or
the air
permeability, thereby providing unique and desirable sleep experiences for
users on
both sides of the bed 20 and system 10.
[0039] The amount of the first and second fill materials 52, 56 may be
diminished along the peripheral edges of the first and second cover fabrics
50, 54,
thereby resulting in the narrowed thickness profile along the junction 40 even
with
the first and second insert portions 16, 18 partially overlapping in that
region as
shown in the cross section of Fig. 3. As a result, the overlap at the junction
40 and
the fastening elements 42 do not project outwardly or bulge from the overall
profile or
thickness of the first and second insert portions 16, 18. Additionally, the
first and
second fill materials 52, 56 and fill volumes thereof are tailored such that
the first
insert portion 16 defines a first loft amount (schematically indicated as LAi)
that is
-10-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
substantially equal to a second loft amount (schematically indicated as LA2)
that is
defined by the second insert portion 18. It will be readily appreciated that
because
the first and second fill materials 52, 56 may be different, the corresponding
fill
volumes are also likely different in view of the differing densities of the
materials
involved. The consistent first and second loft amounts are another
quantifiable
performance factor for each of the first and second insert portions 16, 18,
and such
is desirable because having the same first and second loft amounts results in
a
consistent aesthetic appearance on first and second sides of the bed 20 when
the
system 10 is fully assembled. To this end, users will not be able to discern
that the
duvet insert 14 is formed from the first and second insert portions 16, 18
instead of a
single, unitary blanket or comforter, which provides the desirable aesthetic
appearance associated with those conventional duvet designs.
[0040] Furthermore, the generally low profile of the junction 40 and
the
fastening elements 42 and the formation of such fastening elements 42 from non-
rigid and non-hardened materials prevents users of the bed 20 and system 10
from
discerning or feeling these elements when sleeping or laying under the fully-
assembled system 10. This again is desirable because one of the objectives of
the
present invention is to simulate the look and feel of a conventional duvet
while
providing the improvements in sleep experience that has not been achieved by
prior
designs. The junction profile and the loft factors shown most clearly at Fig.
3
contribute to achieving these objectives.
[0041] The flexible straps 44 and receiving apertures 46 are
alternated as
shown in Figs. 2 and 4 such that each of the first and second insert portions
16, 18
can universally be connected with any other insert portion having the same
configuration of fastening elements 42. Consequently, any such combination of
two
insert portions may be removably connected to define the duvet insert 14 for
the
system 10. This arrangement is schematically illustrated in Fig. 4 where an
arrow 60
indicates removal and replacement of the second insert portion 18 with a third
insert
portion 18a that provides different quantifiable performance factors than the
second
insert portion 18 when such variations are desired (or the user of the
corresponding
side of the bed 20 changes). As noted above, each of the first and second
insert
portions 16, 18 are configured for connection to any other insert portion to
provide a
highly customizable set of quantifiable performance factors for the opposite
sides of
the system 10. It will be understood that even in embodiments where the type
of
-11-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
fastening element 42 is modified, the alternation of fastening elements 42
along the
length of the insert portions 16, 18 may be used to make sure any pair of
selected
insert portions may be successfully and removably coupled together.
[0042] Also shown in Fig. 4, each of the various insert portions 16,
18, 18a
may also include a fill identification element 80. In the illustrated
embodiment, the fill
identification element 80 is a label connected to an outer surface of the
corresponding insert portion. The label may contain printed information
indicating
the performance factors or materials specifications of that particular insert
portion, so
a user could readily identify a desired insert portion for his or her side of
the bed 20.
Alternatively, the label may include symbology or color-coding that can be
associated with certain performance specifications (defined by the materials
and the
quantifiable performance factors exhibited by the insert). In other
embodiments
within the scope of the invention, one or more of the elements defining the
insert
portions 16, 18, 18a may be color-coded to provide performance specification
information for a user, and these elements may include bindings, thread, trim,
or the
like. By adding the fill identification element 80 to the insert portions 16,
18, 18a, the
proper configuration of the duvet cover system 10 is easier to achieve for
users.
[0043] Figs. 5 and 6A-6D illustrate various embodiments of the
fastening
elements 42 that may be used along the junction 40 between the first and
second
insert portions 16, 18 in accordance with several embodiments of the system
10.
With reference to Fig. 5, the fastening element 42 of the first embodiment
described
above includes flexible straps 44 configured to be inserted through receiving
apertures 46 and then secured to themselves using hook and loop fastener 48.
This
arrangement for the fastening elements 42 can be modified in other
embodiments.
To this end, Fig. 6A shows that the fastening elements 42 include a tie
element 70
that is again inserted through a receiving aperture 46 before being secured to
itself
by tying, as illustrated, to thereby removably couple the first and second
insert
portions 16, 18. In another embodiment shown in Fig. 6B, the fastening
elements 42
include a button 72 that engages with a button hole 74 to removably couple the
first
and second insert portions 16, 18. Turning to Fig. 6C, the fastening elements
42 in
another embodiment include snap members 76 on each of the first and second
insert
portions 16, 18. Fig. 6D illustrates yet another embodiment in which the
fastening
elements 42 are defined by magnetic elements 78 located along the junction 40
and
in the first and second insert portions 16, 18. It will be appreciated that
still further
-12-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
embodiments of the invention are possible with other known fastening elements
for
removably coupling the first and second insert portions 16, 18. In preferred
embodiments, such fastening elements 42 define a low profile and are defined
by
non-rigid and/or non-hardened materials such that the fastening elements 42
are not
discernable to users laying on the bed 20 underneath the duvet cover system
10.
[0044] With reference to Fig. 7, two graphical plots are provided to
illustrate
some test results of potential materials that may be used in some embodiments
of
the system 10. As described above, the system 10 advantageously provides
different sleep experiences on opposite sides of the bed 20 because of the
provision
of the first and second insert portions 16, 18 that define at least two
quantifiable
performance factors that are different from one another. The inventors of the
present application have discovered that many quantifiable performance factors
can
be desirable to tailor when forming a customized sleep experience for a user
of the
system 10, but at a minimum, the thermal retention value and the air
permeability or
"breathability" are two performance factors of high importance to achieving a
desirable sleep experience. Several prior designs for duvet systems have
attempted
to provide different sleep experiences with just different thermal retention
values, but
as shown in the plots of Fig. 7, this does not often provide a truly
customized and
desirable sleep experience for a given user of the system.
[0045] On the left graphical plot in Fig. 7, several materials that
may be used
as fill materials for the first and second insert portions 16, 18 are shown
with test
results for a "CLO value" indicative of thermal retention caused by the fill
material.
These materials include white duck down, polyester microfiber, kapok, wool,
soybean, silk, and bamboo. On the right graphical plot in Fig. 7, many of
these same
materials are also shown with test results showing a measure of air
permeability
caused by these same fill materials. These test results are shown using a
consistent
fill weight for the fill materials, but it will be understood that the test
results would
change based on variations in fill weight as well within the first and second
insert
portions 16, 18. What is made apparent by these graphs is the complete
independence of these two quantifiable performance factors from one another,
which
illustrates why the prior duvet system designs have failed in some respects to
actually provide customized desirable sleep experiences.
[0046] To this end, consider an example where a first user A desires a
high
thermal retention and low air permeability while sleeping, while a second user
B
-13-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
desires a low thermal retention and high air permeability while sleeping. In a
conventional design focused solely on thermal retention value, one solution
would be
to fill a first insert portion for first user A with polyester microfiber and
fill a second
insert portion 18 for second user B with silk. As shown on the left graphical
plot in
Fig. 7, this would provide the thermal retention desired by users A and B.
However,
as shown on the right graphical plot in Fig. 7, the silk and polyester
microfiber both
have a very high amount of air permeability, which means the first user A
would not
have a desirable sleep experience with the extra air flow/circulation caused
by the
high air permeability. When multiple quantifiable performance factors are
considered
in selection of fill materials and fill weights, only then can the users of a
bed receive
customized desirable sleep experiences when using the system 10 as set forth
in
this application. Moreover, when additional quantifiable performance factors
such as
loft amount, weight, texture, etc. are considered when selecting the fill
materials and
cover fabrics for the first and second insert portions 16, 18, the sleep
experience
provided to different users is much more desirable than anything possible with
the
conventional designs. Each material and each corresponding fill weight will
change
a number of the quantifiable performance factors, which means a wide variation
in
these materials and fill weights must be used to provide desirable sleep
experiences
to a high number of users. Only when considering two or more quantifiable
performance factors does the duvet cover system 10 achieve the technical
objectives noted above, as these needs for customizable sleep experiences have
long gone unmet by the conventional designs. Thus, the system 10 of this
invention
provides technical advantages to users of the bed 20 that provide a meaningful
positive difference in sleep experiences. Likewise, users who desire changed
sleeping conditions with changing seasons can easily achieve the desirable
sleep
conditions in all seasons by replacing the insert portion on their side of the
system 10
whenever necessary.
[0047] With
reference to Fig. 8, an alternative embodiment of the duvet cover
system 110 is shown. This embodiment of the duvet cover system 110 includes
the
same duvet insert 14 defined by first and second insert portions 16, 18 as
described
in detail above, but combined with a different cover layer 112. The cover
layer 112
in this embodiment is a standard, end-opening duvet cover with a closure
zipper 114
along the opening to shut the cover layer 112 following insertion of the duvet
insert
14 into the pocket defined within the cover layer 112. This embodiment of the
-14-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
system 110 achieves the same technical advantages and objectives as the first
embodiment because of the first and second insert portions 16, 18 defining
different
quantifiable performance factors customized for different users of the bed 20.
Furthermore, the fact that the duvet insert 14 is made up of separate portions
connected together is not discernable to the users when laying on the bed 20,
nor is
this apparent from outside the bed 20 because the loft factors are consistent
across
the width of the bed 20 (and a single, unitary pocket is advantageously
provided in
the cover layer 112 so as to not reveal that multiple insert portions are
being
implemented to fill the cover layer 112). Therefore, the desirable aesthetic
appearance of a conventional duvet is provided while also enabling customized,
desirable sleep experiences for different users. It will be understood that
the cover
layers 12, 112 shown in the Figures are but two examples of cover layers that
could
be used with the duvet insert 14 of this invention, and other known cover
layers can
be substituted in without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0048] Now turning with reference to Fig. 9, an alternative embodiment
of the
duvet insert 214 that may be used with other embodiments of the duvet cover
system 210 is shown in detail. Much like the first embodiment described above,
this
duvet insert 214 includes a first insert portion 216 and a second insert
portion 218
that are removably coupled along a junction 40 using a plurality of fastening
elements 42, thereby allowing each insert portion 216, 218 to cover
approximately
half of the bed 20 when the system 10 is fully assembled. Each of the first
and
second insert portions 216, 218 is formed by a respective cover fabric and
fill
material, and the construction is such that the insert portions are made up of
a
plurality of so-called "quilt boxes" 92, 96 that may be about 7 inches in
width, for
example, with stitching 90, 94 provided along the boundaries between each of
the
quilt boxes 92, 96. This construction is one known type of construction for
blankets
and comforters.
[0049] Each of the quilt boxes 92 on the first insert portion 216 is
joined to
adjacent quilt boxes 92 by the stitching 90, and each of these quilt boxes 92
is filled
with the fill material and weight designed to provide the set of quantifiable
performance factors desired at the first insert portion 216. As set forth
above, a label
or some other type of fill identification element 80 may be provided to show
to a user
the performance specifications of the first insert portion 216. Similarly,
each of the
quilt boxes 96 on the second insert portion 218 is joined to adjacent quilt
boxes 96
-15-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
by the stitching 94, and each of these quilt boxes 96 is filled with the fill
material and
weight designed to provide the set of quantifiable performance factors desired
at the
second insert portion 218, these typically being different from the set of
performance
factors for the first insert portion 216. A fill identification element 80 in
the form of a
label is also provided at the second insert portion 218. Accordingly, the
duvet cover
system 210 of this embodiment continues to provide the desirable aesthetic
appearance of a conventional duvet while also enabling customized, desirable
sleep
experiences for different users.
[0050] It will be appreciated that other embodiments of the system
similar to
the one shown in Fig. 9 may include additional design changes. In this regard,
a
single-piece version of the duvet insert may be provided having similar
construction
with quilt boxes as in the duvet insert 214 of Fig. 9. In such an alternative
embodiment, the junction 40 and fastening elements 42 are omitted but the
quilt
boxes on the opposite sides of the duvet insert 214 continue to be defined by
cover
fabrics and fill materials and weights that collectively are unique for each
side of the
duvet insert 214. To this end, despite being constructed as a single-piece
duvet
insert, this embodiment would continue to provide customized, desirable sleep
experiences for different users because of the quilt boxes on the two sides of
the
duvet insert providing at least two quantifiable performance factors that are
different
from those on the other side of the duvet insert. Other similar methods of
providing a
"half-and-half" distinctive fill of the two sides of a duvet insert will also
be possible in
further embodiments consistent with the scope of this invention.
[0051] While the present invention has been illustrated by a
description of
various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in
considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or
in any way limit
the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Thus, the
invention in its
broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details,
representative
apparatus and method and illustrative example shown and described.
Accordingly,
departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or
scope
of applicant's general inventive concept.
-16-
CA 3071312 2020-02-06
