Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application no. 201 1903288 dated 17 August 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Field

This disclosure relates, generally, to bedding and, more particularly, to a bedding system and to a component for use in the bedding system.

Background

A problem with multi-component bedding systems is that relative movement can occur between the components resulting in the components not covering the bed evenly. Besides being aesthetically unappealing this could also result in one of the occupants of the bed not being covered properly by the bedding. An example of a multi-component bedding system is a quilt received in a quilt cover. The present disclosure is not, however, limited to this type of bedding system. Summary

In a first aspect, there is provided a bedding system which includes

a first component defining a plurality of corners;

a carrier arranged at each of at least two of the corners of the first component, each carrier carrying a first part of a two part fastening system; and

a second component which, in use, lies in register with the first component, the second component defining a plurality of corners with a second part of the two part fastening system being carried at, or adjacent, each of the corners of the second component aligned, in use, with those corners of the first component having the carriers.

The first component may be a covering element defining a pocket in which the second component is received, the carriers being arranged in the pocket of the covering element.

Each carrier may be in the form of a fabric gusset.

The fastening system may be a button-and-buttonhole fastening system with the carrier at each of the at least two corners having a buttonhole defined in it and a button being attached proximate each of the corners of the second element which, in use, are aligned with those corners of the first element.

Each corner of the first component may have a carrier with its first part of the fastening system and the associated second part of the fastening system may be carried at, or adjacent, each corner of the second component.

More particularly, the covering element may be a quilt cover and the second component may be a quilt and a quilt cover. The term "quilt" is to be understood in a broad sense to include any padded article of bedding such as a duvet, doona, comforter, or the like.

It will however be appreciated that the disclosure has broader application than its use with a quilt. Thus the disclosure could apply to pillows and pillow slips, whether standard pillows or continental pillows. It could also be used, for example to attach a sheet and a blanket together.

In a second aspect there is provided an article of bedding component, the component including

a body member defining a plurality of corners; and

a carrier arranged at each of at least two of the corners of the component, each carrier having a first part of a two part fastening system.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of modifying a component of an article of bedding, the method including

applying a first part of a two part fastening system to each of a plurality of carriers; and

attaching one of the carriers at each of at least two corners of the component. Brief Description of Drawings

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a first element of a bedding system, the first component being shown inside out; and'

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a second component of the bedding system, the first component and the second component intended to be used together to form the bedding system.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiment

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates an embodiment of a bedding system. The bedding system 10 comprises a first component 12 and a second component 14. · . In the illustrated embodiment, the first component comprises a body member in the form of a quilt cover 12 and the second component is a quilt 14.. As described above, the bedding system 10 has broader application than to a quilt and a quilt cover and can be used in securing any two suitable bedding components together. Thus, for example, instead of the first component 12 being a quilt cover, the first component could be a pillow slip with the second component 14 being a pillow. The system 10 could also be used for securing a first component in the form of a sheet to a second component in the form of a blanket or vice versa. However, for ease of explanation, the system 10 will be described with reference to its application to a quilt cover 12 and a quilt 14.

The quilt cover 12 is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, inside out, and is, generally, rectangular, having four corners 16. A gusset 18 is secured to each corner 16 internally of the quilt cover 12. For example, each gusset 18 is attached to its associated corner 16 by being sewn into the corner 16 on two sides as shown at 20, in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Each gusset 18 is of a fabric and includes a first part 22 of a two part fastening system. In the illustrated embodiment, the first part 22 of the two part fastening system is a buttonhole formed in each gusset 18 with a second part of the two part fastening system being a button 24 (Fig. 2) arranged proximate each corner 26 of the quilt 14.

While the fastening system has been described with reference to its being a button and buttonhole combination, it will be appreciated that the fastening system could be any other suitable two-part fastening system, such as, for example, press studs or strips of hook and loop fasteners such as those sold under the registered trade mark Velcro.

In use, to apply the gussets 18 to the quilt cover 12, the quilt cover 12 is turned inside out, as illustrated, the gussets 18 sewn to the corners 16 of the quilt cover along the sides 20 and the quilt cover 12 is then again turned the right way out.

In use, the quilt 14 is inserted into the quilt cover and the buttons 24 are inserted into the button holes 22 of the gussets 18 at the associated corners of the quilt cover 12. In so doing, the quilt 14 is retained in position in the quilt cover 12 and movement of the quilt 14 in the quilt cover 12 is inhibited. This inhibits the quilt 14 gathering to one side or one end of the quilt cover 12 as can occur when the quilt 14 is contained in an unrestrained configuration in the quilt coyer 12.

It will also be appreciated that the gussets 18 form sockets in which the corners 26 of the quilt 14 are received to improve the aesthetics of the bedding system 10. It is therefore an advantage of the described embodiment that a bedding system 10 is provided which inhibits movement of a first component 12 and a second component 14 of the bedding system 10 relative to each other. It also provides a more pleasing aesthetic effect and insures that the components 12 and 14 evenly cover a bed on which they are placed.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the disclosure as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.