CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/702,208, filed Sep. 17, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to articles of bedding and, more particularly, to a mattress sheet made with two or three straps in the corners that connect under the mattress, acting as a locking mechanism to hold down the corners of mattress sheets and liners so the corners will not pop up during use.

During use, the mattress sheet corners often ride up and pop off the mattress. Conventional designs to address this issue include attachments to both corners of the sheet that can be difficult to work, especially if the user has limited ability to securely grasp and pull on the fitted sheet, such as a user with arthritis, for example.

Conventional garter belt types of devices that are external to the sheet are often difficult to attach. There are also various clip-on devices that clip the sheet to the mattress. Again, these items can be difficult to attach and remove.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved bedding sheet that can be include a mechanism to prevent the sheet from sliding up from under the mattress when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an article of bedding for covering a mattress comprises at least two straps extending from the article of bedding, one each of the two straps positioned on each side straddling each corner of the article of bedding, where two adjacent straps straddling a corner define an interconnecting pair of straps; and a fastening mechanism disposed on the straps, wherein the fastening mechanism connects the interconnecting pair of straps under the mattress, preventing a corner of the article of bedding from being inadvertently lifted off the mattress.

In another aspect of the present invention, an article of bedding comprises two removably interconnecting straps extending from each corner region of the article of bedding, one each of the two straps positioned on each side straddling each corner of the article of bedding; and a fastening mechanism disposed on each of the straps, wherein the fastening mechanism connects the removably interconnecting straps under the mattress, preventing the corner of the article of bedding from being inadvertently lifted off the mattress.

In a further aspect of the present invention, an article of bedding comprises two removably interconnecting straps extending from each corner region of the article of bedding, one each of the two straps positioned on each side straddling each corner of the article of bedding; a middle strap directly extending from each corner of the article of bedding, the middle strap forming a loop in an end portion thereof; and a fastening mechanism disposed on each of the straps, wherein the fastening mechanism connects the removably interconnecting straps through the loop and under the mattress, preventing the corner of the article of bedding from being inadvertently lifted off the mattress.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a mattress sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the mattress sheet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a pre-application configuration of the mattress sheet of FIG. 1 on a mattress;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the mattress sheet of FIG. 1 being applied to the mattress;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the mattress sheet of FIG. 1 fully applied to the mattress;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a mattress sheet according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view illustrating application of the mattress sheet of FIG. 7 on a mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 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.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mattress sheet, fitted of flat, or a mattress liner/pad that includes two and/or three straps at the corners of the sheet. These straps can be affixed to the sheet/liner/pad during the manufacturing process to be an integral part of the sheet. After the sheet is placed on the mattress, the corner straps connect under the mattress by way of a fastening device, such as a hook and loop fastener on the ends of the straps, securing the two or three straps together. These connected straps then hold the corners of the sheet securely in place so they do not ride up or pop up during use.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a mattress sheet 10 can include straps 12 along the edge of the mattress sheet 10, on each side of the corner of the mattress sheet 10. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6, two straps 12 are disposed at each corner of the mattress sheet 10.

A fastening mechanism 14 can be disposed on each of the straps 12, allowing the straps 12 to be secured to each other. The fastening mechanism can take various forms, including hook and loop-type fasteners (such as VelcroÂ®), snaps, buttons, buckles or the like.

The mattress sheet 10 can be disposed over a mattress 16. The mattress 16 may be further disposed on a box spring 18. The straps 12 can be connected under the mattress 16, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 6. In this configuration, the mattress sheet 10 cannot come off the mattress 16 at the corners, as typically occurs with conventional fitted mattress sheets.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the mattress sheet can include side straps 20, 24 and a middle strap 22, typically extending exactly at the corner of the mattress sheet 10. The side straps 20, 24, like strap 12, described above, extend from edges of the mattress sheet 10, adjacent to the corners thereof.

The middle strap 22 can include a fastening mechanism 14 to permit the middle strap 22 to form a loop. The side straps 20, 24 can connect together under the mattress 16 and the middle strap 22 can loop about the connected side straps 20, 24. As described above, the fastening mechanism on straps 20, 22, 24 can take various forms, including hook and loop-type fasteners (such as VelcroÂ®), snaps, buttons, buckles or the like. In some embodiments, the middle strap 22 can have the loop permanently formed therein, and the side straps 20, 24 can thread through the loop and connect together.

While the above shows the straps (either double straps 12, or triple straps 20, 24 and 22) formed integrally with the mattress sheet 10, in some embodiments, the straps could be added onto existing mattress sheets. The straps could be connected to existing mattress sheets via a fastener, stitching, or the like.

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.