AU2003101077A4 - Fitted Sheet for Infant Cots - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 650390

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Millie Yee 1801/117 Murray Street Pyrmont New South Wales 2009 Australia Millie Yee Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Fitted Sheet for Infant Cots The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c e¢3 O1 SFitted Sheet for Infant Cots c, 0 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fitted sheet for infant cots or bassinets.

S Background of the Invention To reduce the risk of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the SIDS Foundation recommends that infants are put to sleep on their backs with their feet at the bottom e¢3 0 of the basinet or cot and that the bed sheets are tucked in securely so that bedding is not loose.

C1, From experience, it appears that infants feel secure and sleep better for longer when tightly bound by the tucked in bedding top sheet.

One of the more difficult parenting steps in early childhood is teaching an infant how to sleep. One common method often termed control crying involves putting the infant down in its cot and allowing the infant to cry for a period of time during which the parent will offer comfort intermittently in the form of rocking, patting and cuddling, amongst other things. More often than not, the parent will be required to pick up and put down the child many times over a period of some hours. It is cumbersome to have to reach under the cot/bassinet mattress to tuck in the top sheet each time and further, obstruction by the sides of the cot/ bassinet makes it difficult to tuck in the top sheet tightly.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a sheet to be laid across a top portion of a mattress, the sheet comprising: side edges and a middle portion extending between said side edges, and means for retaining said side edges adjacent to said mattress in use, wherein the sheet middle portion has first and second portions which are separable from and reattachable to each other, the first and second portions forming a gap in the sheet when C€3 S separated from each other and substantially closing said gap when attached to each other, the gap t being above said mattress top portion in use.

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Brief Description of the Drawing The accompanying drawing shows an embodiment of the fitted sheet according to the S present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment C€3 O The accompanying drawing shows a fitted sheet 10 according to the present invention.

C' The fitted sheet 10 includes a top section 11, side sections 12, rear section 13 and base section 14. The sections 11-14 together form a mattress opening 15 and a hollow 16. Part of the top section 11 adjacent the right hand side section 12 is formed from an expandable elasticised material 17, the purpose of which will be described below.

The top section 11 includes side edges 22 and a middle portion 23. The middle portion 23 has first and second portions 18 and 19 which overlap each other, and are separable from and reattachable to each other by hook and loop fasteners 20 (eg. Velcro t m When the first and second portions 18 and 19 are separated from each other, a gap 21 is formed which extends from the mattress opening 15 to adjacent the base section 14. When the first and second portions 18 and 19 are attached to each other, the gap 21 is substantially closed.

The fitted sheet 10 is primarily intended for use with an infant mattress and cot. An infant mattress is typically rectangular prism shaped and includes a top section, side sections, rear section, a top end section and a base end section. In use, an infant mattress (not shown) with bed clothes thereon is inserted through the mattress opening 15 and into the hollow 16, with the sheet top section 11 disposed above the mattress top section. The sheet side sections 12, rear section 13 and base section 14 are disposed adjacent corresponding sections of the mattress. The sections 11 to 14 are sized to correspond with their respective sections of the mattress, in that their widths are slightly larger than their corresponding mattress sections. The length of the top section 11 (from the base section 14 to opening 15) is preferably about one-half to three quarters of the length of the mattress top section. This ensures that the top section 11 does not cover an infant's head in use as explained below.

The top section 11 is intended to be a top sheet which is to cover an infant's [I:\DayLib\LIB LL] 14884.doc:FDP S body from its shoulder to its feet. In use (when a mattress is inserted into the sheet 10), the side O edges 22 of the top section 11 are retained adjacent the mattress top section by the sheet side and

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rear sections 12, 13. Separation of the top section first and second portions 18 and 19 allows a parent to place an infant onto the mattress under the top sheet through the gap 21, which gap 21 is located above the mattress top section. Overlapping and reattaching the first and second portions 18 and 19 to each other closes the gap 21 and secures the top sheet to the mattress. The infant's body is thus tightly bound by the top sheet. The expandable elasticised section 17 can also assist in tightly binding the infant, by attaching the second portion 19 to the first portion 18 O whilst the elasticised section 17 is in a slightly stretched state. The sheet 10 thus allows an infant C1, to be placed onto and removed from under the top sheet as required without having to tuck in the top sheet. The sheet 10 provides a parent with a convenient means of putting the infant to sleep according to the SIDS foundation recommendation, particularly in the early days of teaching an infant to sleep.

The sheet sections 11-14 can be cut separately and joined together (eg. by sewing) or two or more sections 11-14 can be formed from an integral piece and joined to the other sections, as desired. Rather than hook and loop fasteners, the releasable attachment 20 between the first and second sections 18 and 19 can alternatively comprise other devices such as a zipper, hook and eye fasteners and the like. The first and second portions also do not have to overlap each other, and can be joined by a zipper as mentioned. The elasticised portion 17 can be made from a TM TM variety of known materials such as elastane

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nylon/lycra cotton/lycra T M and the like.

Also, the gap 21 can be formed on the right hand side of the top section 11. Further, two or more gaps 21 can be formed in the top section 11 by forming additional separable and reattachable portions thereof, to allow a parent to place an infant onto the mattress and under the top sheet from either side of the cot. Such gaps 21 can be formed at any position along the top section 11, such as at the sides or centre thereof. The shape of the gap 21 can also be varied from that shown, as long as it allows easy removal and placement of an infant.

Although the sheet 10 is primarily intended for infants, it can also be used for older persons including toddlers, teens and adults. Sheets will be made according to the dimensions of the mattress of the intended user. Other modifications can also be made to the sheet 10. For example, the base section 14 can be omitted. Also, the side sections 12 and rear section 13 can comprise straps of sheet or other suitable material, rather than sheet panels. If such straps are

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¢€3 S made such that their length can be varied, the sheet 10 can be used with a number of differently o dimensioned mattress thickness and widths. For example, such straps can be made with S overlapping sections joined by hook and loop fasteners or buttons and the like.

In another alternative embodiment, the side sections 12, rear section 13 and base section 14 of the sheet 10 can be omitted. C-shaped brackets can instead be used to retain the side edges S 22 of the top section 11 adjacent the mattress top section in use. The C-shaped brackets are disposed to receive side sections of the mattress, with base portions of the bracket wedged between the mattress base portion and the cot. The top portions of the bracket will include O means for attaching to side edges 22 of the top section 11, such as clips, hook and loop fasteners N, and the like. As a further alternative, the side sections 12, rear section 13 and base section 14 of the sheet 10 can be omitted, with side edges 22 of the top section 11 having means to attach to base portions of the cot or to rails thereof. Such means can include clips or ties in the side edges 22 for attaching to the cot.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that the invention can be embodied in other forms or that other modifications can be made to the embodiment shown.

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Claims (18)

1. A sheet to be laid across a top portion of a mattress, the sheet comprising O side edges and a middle portion extending between said side edges, and means for retaining said side edges adjacent to said mattress in use, wherein the sheet middle portion has first and second portions which are separable from S and yeattachable to each other, the first and second portions forming a gap in the sheet when separated from each other and substantially closing said gap when attached to each other, the gap being above said mattress top portion in use. e¢3

2. The sheet of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, C1 wherein the gap extends from said top edge.

3. The sheet of claim 2 wherein the gap extends from said top edge substantially toward said bottom edge.

4. The sheet of claim 3 wherein the gap terminates prior to said bottom edge.

The sheet of any one of the preceding claims, further including a side section extending from each side edge of said sheet, and a rear section extending between said side sections, wherein said sheet, said side sections and said rear section form a hollow for receiving said mattress.

6. The sheet of claim 5 wherein the side sections and rear section comprise panels of sheet material.

7. The sheet of claim 5 or 6 further including a base section extending between bottom edges of said sheet, side sections and base section.

8. The sheet of claim 7 wherein the base section comprises a panel of sheet material.

9. The sheet of any one of the preceding claims wherein at least part of said sheet is formed from an expandable elasticised material.

The sheet of claim 9 wherein said expandable part of said sheet is formed adjacent one of said side edges.

11. The sheet of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first portion overlaps at least part of the second portion.

12. The sheet of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second portions are separable from and reattachable to each other via hook and loop fasteners, hook and 6 0 eye fasteners or a zipper. 0

13. The sheet of any one of the preceding claims wherein the gap is formed adjacent O one of said sheet side edges.

14. The sheet of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the gap is formed at a central portion of said sheet. The sheet of any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet includes at least 0 one additional openable and substantially closable said gap formed by additional separable and O reattachable portions of the sheet.

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16. The sheet of claim 15 wherein the first gap is formed adjacent one side edge of CN the sheet and one said additional gap is formed adjacent an opposite side edge of said sheet to the first gap.

17. The sheet of claim 15 wherein one said additional gap is formed at a central portion of said sheet

18. A sheet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. Dated 14 October, 2003 MILLIE YEE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [I:\DayLib\LIBLL] 14884.doc:FDP