SIDE PANELS AND HORIZONTALLY STRETCHABLE CORNER PANELS

Background and Summary

[0001] The disclosure relates to a cover, for instance, a mattress cover, bed sheet, or a cover for a cushion of furniture, such as a sofa or chair seat cushion. The cover has vertically stretchable side panels and horizontally stretchable corner panels. In particular, the cover has side walls that have more vertical stretch than horizontal stretch, and corner panels that have a more horizontal stretch than vertical stretch. The corner panels are shaped such that when they are joined to the side panels and the cover is installed, there is a smooth transition from the side panels to the corner panels around the object on which the cover is installed.

Description of the Drawings

[0002] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cover comprising a mattress cover.

[0003] Figure 2 is an enlarged partial elevational view taken from detail area 2-2 of Figure 1 .

[0004] Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side elevational view taken from detail area 3-

3 of Figure 1 .

[0005] Figure 4 is an enlarged partial side elevational view taken from detail area 4-

4 of Figure 1 .

Detailed Description

[0006] Figures 1 -4 show an exemplary embodiment of the cover 10 comprising a mattress cover. The cover 10 is installed on a mattress 12 and covers the mattress such that the mattress is not seen. The cover 10 generally comprises a top panel 14 and side panels extending from peripheral edges of the top panel. Because the mattress 12 is generally rectangular in shape, the cover 10 of Figure 1 has a rectangular top panel 14 with a length "L" and a width "W". The top panel 14 may have other shapes depending upon the configuration of the object on which the cover is installed. For instance, by way of example and not in any limiting sense, the top panel 14 may be a triangle, square, hexagon, octagon, etc. The side panels may extend from peripheral edges of the top panel and may at least partially enclose the object, at least partially cover the object, and/or at least assist in maintaining the cover over the object.

[0007] Depending upon the application of the cover 10 and the use desired to be promoted, the top panel 14 may be formed from an appropriate material. For instance, the top panel 14 may be quilted to provide a desired softness, for instance, when the cover is configured to be used as a mattress cover. The top panel 14 may be fabric, for instance, when the cover is promoted for use as a bed sheet or cushion cover. The top panel 14 may include water impermeable or leak resistant materials. The top panel 14 may also include natural fibers, synthetic fibers, blends, non-woven materials, foam, rubber, or flexible plastic sheets, or inelastic material, as desired.

[0008] For purposes of illustrating the features shown in Figure 1 -4, and not in any limiting sense, the side panels 16 extending from the peripheral edges of the top panel along the length "L" may be referred to as "side panels," and the side panels 18 extending from the peripheral edges of the top panel along the width "W" may be referred to as "end panels." The end panels 18 of the cover of Figures 1 -4 may be similar in construction to the side panels 16, but have a different longitudinal length. As shown in Figures 1 -4, the cover 10 has two side panels 16 extending along length edges of the cover and two end panels 18 extending along width edges of the cover. The side and end panels 16,18 extend from the peripheral edges of the top panel to form a box-like shape for the cover 10. The side and end panels 16,18 may be sewn or otherwise joined to the peripheral edges of the top panel 14. The side and panels 16,18 may be configured to stretch more in a direction transverse to the top panel peripheral edge (i.e., vertically in the drawings), than in a direction parallel to the top panel peripheral edge (i.e., horizontally in the drawings). In other words, the side panels 16 may be configured to stretch more in a direction transverse to the top panel length edge than in a direction parallel to the top panel length edge, and the end panels 18 may be configured to stretch more in a direction transverse to the top panel width edge than in a direction parallel to top panel width edge. As shown in Figure 1 , the top panel defines a plane when the cover 10 is installed on the mattress 12. Accordingly, the side panels 16 may be configured to stretch more in a direction that is transverse to the plane defined by the top panel 14 than in a direction that is parallel to the plane defined by the top panel. Likewise, the end panels 18 may be configured to stretch more in a direction that is transverse to the plane defined by the top panel 14 than in a direction that is parallel to the plane defined by the top panel. The side and end panels 16,18 may be of such a length and width that when the cover 10 is installed over the mattress 14, the side and end panels cover the sides and ends of the mattress, or other object depending upon the application and use desired to be promoted. The side and end panels 16,18 may be configured to allow sufficient vertical stretching in a direction "T" to cover the sides and ends of the mattress 12, or other object depending upon the application and use desired to be promoted.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 -4, corner panels 20 are provided between the adjacent side and end panels 16,18. The corner panels 20 may attach to the top panel 14 and extend downward between the side and end panels 16,18. The corner panels 20 may be sewn or otherwise joined to the top panel 14. Side edges 22 of the corner panels 20 may be attached to the adjacent side and end panels 16,18. The corner panel side edges may be sewn or otherwise joined to the respective edges of the side and end panels 16,18. The corner panels 20 may be configured such that they stretch more horizontally than they do vertically. In other words, the corner panels 20 may be configured to stretch more in a direction that is generally parallel to the peripheral edge of the top panel than in a direction that is generally transverse to the peripheral edge of the top panel. The corner panels 20 may be configured to stretch more in a direction that is parallel to a plane defined by the top panel than a direction that is transverse to the plane defined by the top panel when the top panel is installed on an object, for instance, a mattress or cushion.

[0010] The material forming the side, the end, and the corner panels 16,18,20 may be made from materials having natural or man-made fibers or other non-woven material. The side, the end, and the corner panels 16,18,20 may be made from the same material or different material. The side and end panels 16,18 may be arranged such that their material stretches more in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. In distinction, the corner panels 20 may be arranged such that their material stretches more in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. In one example, the side, the end, and the corner panels 16,18,20 may be made from a fabric. The fabric may have courses. The courses may be arranged in accordance with the desired stretch. For instance, the side and end panels 16,18 may be arranged such that their courses 24 promote stretching in a direction transverse to the peripheral edge of the top panel 14, thereby allowing the side and end panels to stretch vertically more than horizontally. The corner panels 20 may be arranged such that the courses 26 promote stretching of the fabric in a direction parallel to the plane defined by the top panel, thereby allowing the corner panels to stretch more horizontally than vertically. The corner panels 20 may have their courses 26 arranged in a direction transverse to the direction of the courses of the side and end panels 16,18. In one example, the fabric comprising the side panels, the end panels, and the corner panels may be a knit jersey material. The knit jersey material may be single or double knit. The material forming one or more of the side, end, and corner panels 16,18,20 may also comprise a one-way stretch fabric. In another example, the material for the side and end panels 16,18 may have approximately 60 percent stretch vertically, and the material for the corner panels 20 may have approximately 60 percent stretch horizontally, the percentages of stretch being determined using industry standard fabric tests, for instance, ASTM-D2594 or equivalent. Depending upon the use of the cover, the material of the side, end, and corner panels 16,18,20 may be varied as needed.

[0011] The side edges 22 of the corner panels 20 may be curved to provide the appearance of a seamless transition from the side panel 16 to the end panel 18. The side edges 22 may be curved to provide the corner panel 20 with an hourglass- type shape or trapezoidal shape. The corner panels 20 may have a general trapezoidal shape prior to being joined to the top panel 14 and the side and end panels 16,18. The side and end panels 16,18 may be generally rectangular in shape prior to being joined to the top panel 14 and the corner panels 20.

[0012] A distal edge 28 of the side and end panels 16,18, and the corner panels 20 may be stretchable. For instance, an elastic material may be applied to the distal edge 28 of the side panels, the end panels, and the corner panels to facilitate securing the cover around a mattress or cushion. Corners of the cover 10 may also be provided with straps (not shown) to facilitate securing the cover to a mattress or a cushion. The straps and/or other underside areas of the side, the end, or the corner panels may be provided with a non-skid material that reduces or prevents slippage to facilitate anchoring the cover to a mattress or cushion. The non-skid material may be silicone material deposited as a continuous strip or intermittent pads on the surface of the strap or cover. As one example, the distal edge 28 of the side and end panels 16,18, and the corner panels 20 may have a silicone material applied in such a way that the silicone material engages the object on which the cover is installed and/or a supporting surface on which the covered object is supported. For example, the silcone material may be applied to both sides of the distal edge 28 so the cover may engage the mattress and a box spring on which the mattress is disposed.

[0013] The cover 10 may be promoted for use as a mattress cover, bed sheet, or a cover for a cushion of furniture, such as a sofa or chair seat cushion. The cover 10 may be promoted in or on the packaging of the cover via text, pictures, graphics, and indicia. Additionally, the cover 10 may be sold individually or together with other like covers and may be combined with other products as desired.

[0014] While the specific embodiments have been described, it should be understood that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings is intended to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense and that various modifications and variations may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.