(19)
(11) EP 2 124 681 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
04.04.2012 Bulletin 2012/14

(21) Application number: 08705222.1

(22) Date of filing: 22.01.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47G 9/02(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/SE2008/000049
(87) International publication number:
WO 2008/091196 (31.07.2008 Gazette 2008/31)

(54)

BED CLOTHING

BETTWÄSCHE

LITERIE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 24.01.2007 SE 0700150

(43) Date of publication of application:
02.12.2009 Bulletin 2009/49

(73) Proprietor: Eesibed Ab
582 27 Linköping (SE)

(72) Inventors:
  • VIKSTRÖM, Dagny
    S-972 36 Lulea (SE)
  • JOHANSSON, Svanhild
    S-582 18 Linköping (SE)

(74) Representative: Eriksson, Kjell 
Norrtelje Patentbyra AB P.O.B. 38
761 21 Norrtälje
761 21 Norrtälje (SE)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A2- 1 078 591
US-A- 2 736 043
US-A- 5 414 881
US-A- 6 094 759
GB-A- 2 142 233
US-A- 4 466 516
US-A- 5 481 768
US-B1- 6 230 341
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Technical field of the invention



    [0001] The present invention relates to a bed clothing which comprises a blanket provided with a nap and preferably made of fleece, and to a sheet, which blanket and sheet are permanently connected to one another, preferably by seams. The invention also relates to a method for effecting bedmaking with a folded-up bed clothing according to the present invention.

    State of the art



    [0002] A bagsheet previously known from EP 1 078 591 is provided with a permanent filling in the form of a quilt or blanket. The bagsheet is sewn together with the filling along the longitudinal edges of the bagsheet. The bagsheet comprises in principle two bags which overlap one another on one side of the filling. The bagsheet has no fold indications.

    [0003] A camping mat for beach use previously known from US 4,466,516 is provided with a number of fold indications to make it possible to fold it to a compact format, but these fold indications do not seem to be configured in any special way to facilitate the folding of the mat. Nor does the mat seem to comprise a plurality of layers.

    [0004] In the case of a method and device for sheet folding which are previously known from US 4,227,684, the device is mechanically complicated and uses a number of fold panels to initially achieve concertina folding of the sheet, followed by turnover folding in the longitudinal direction of the concertina-folded sheet. No specially configured fold indications seem to be provided.

    [0005] US 6,094,759 discloses a bed clothing provided with fold line indications defined by sew-lines.

    Objects and features of the invention



    [0006] A primary object of the present invention is to propose a bed clothing configured in such a way as to facilitate bedmaking.

    [0007] Another object of the present invention is that the bed clothing should comprise both a blanket and a sheet.

    [0008] A further object of the present invention is that washing of the bed clothing should be possible without its components being separated.

    [0009] At least the primary object of the present invention is achieved by a bed clothing provided with the features defined in the independent claim 1 set out below. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

    Brief description of the drawings



    [0010] A preferred embodiment of the bed clothing according to the present invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
    Fig. 1
    depicts a plan view of a bed clothing according to the present invention;
    Fig. 2
    depicts a schematic sideview of the bed clothing according to Fig. 1;
    Fig. 3
    depicts a plan view of a bed clothing according to the present invention partly folded up by concertina folding;
    Fig. 4
    depicts a plan view of a bed clothing according to the present invention completely folded up by concertina folding;
    Fig. 5
    depicts the initial step in a turnover folding of the concertina-folded bed clothing according to the present invention;
    Fig. 6
    depicts the final step in a turnover folding of the concertina-folded bed clothing according to the present invention;
    Fig. 7
    depicts a detail of a first embodiment of a fold indication;
    Fig. 8-Fig. 11
    depicts schematically a preferred method for bedmaking with the bed clothing according to the present invention;
    Fig. 12
    depicts a detail of an alternative embodiment of a fold indication.

    Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a bed clothing according to the present invention



    [0011] The bed clothing depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 thus comprises a blanket 1 preferably made of fleece. In this context it should be noted that the blanket 1 has a nap on one side. The bed clothing also comprises a sheet 3, and the fleece blanket 1 and the sheet 3 are connected to one another, preferably by a number of seams along the edges of the fleece blanket 1 and of the sheet 3. The bed clothing depicted in Fig. 1 has two longitudinal edges 5, viz. an upper transverse edge 7 (the right edge in Fig. 1) and a lower transverse edge 9 (the left edge in Fig. 1). Fig. 1 also has a first double arrow L defining the longitudinal direction of the bed clothing, and a second double arrow T defining the transverse direction of the bed clothing.

    [0012] As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the sheet 3 extends in principle along the whole of one side of the fleece blanket 1 (see Fig. 2). The bed clothing according to the present invention also comprises a turnover 10 in the form of a separate piece of sheet fabric which extends from the rear side of the bed clothing, across the upper transverse edge 7 of the bed clothing and down the front side of the fleece blanket 1. In the embodiment depicted, the turnover 10 extends about 30-40 cm from the upper transverse edge 7 towards the lower transverse edge 9.

    [0013] The bed clothing according to the present invention comprises two fold indications 11 represented by broken lines in Fig. 1. As depicted in Figs. 3 and 4, however, folding of the bed clothing can also be effected along a longitudinal line halfway between the two fold indications 11. This folding will take place "naturally" during handling of the bed clothing according to the present invention and it has been deemed an advantage that there be no fold indication, with associated seams, in the contact region between the bed clothing and a person/patient lying under the bed clothing.

    [0014] Fig. 7 depicts a section through a fold indication 11 in the fleece blanket 1, which fold indication 11 takes the form of a number of purl stitches 12 situated alongside one another. These purl stitches 12 in the fleece blanket 1 are symbolised by quadrilaterals in Fig. 7. The portions 13 of the fleece blanket 1 situated on each side of the fold indication 11 comprise basic stitches and are symbolised by thick lines and the associated nap. The thick lines represent the bottom of the fleece blanket. Knitting of basic stitches entails the formation of loops on the side facing upwards in Fig. 7, which loops are roughened by dressing to form a nap.

    [0015] Knitting the purl stitches 12 means that a number of basic stitches are replaced by purl stitches in a longitudinal portion between the portions 13 with basic stitches. In the portion 12 with purl stitches there is no nap on the side of the blanket 1 which faces away from the sheet 3. The reason for this is that the purl stitches have no loops on the side which faces away from the sheet 3. This portion 12, which thus extends in the longitudinal direction L of the bed clothing, will do excellent service as a fold indication 11 during handling of the bed clothing according to the present invention. As depicted in Fig. 7, the portions 13 and the sheet 3 are joined by seams 14 situated near to, but laterally away from, the fold indication 11. The seams 14 have an extent along the fold indication 11. As regards the width of the fold indication 11, i.e. its extent in the transverse direction T of the bed clothing, the fold indication 11 thus comprises a number of purl stitches 12 which together define a width of about 5-10 mm, preferably 6-8 mm. As regards the number of purl stitches in width which define a fold indication 11, 6-10 stitches may be cited as a non-limitative example.

    [0016] Figs. 3-6 show how the bed clothing according to the present invention is preferably folded from the state depicted in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the bed clothing according to the present invention is first subjected to so-called concertina folding whereby the bed clothing is folded along the two fold indications 11 and also along a line situated halfway between the fold indications 11. If the user grasps the bed clothing at the intersection between the fold indications 11 and the short sides 7 and 9 and raises it from the underlay, the bed clothing will fold at the fold indications 11 and will in principle also fold automatically along a line between the fold indications 11. The bed clothing will thus have been subjected to concertina folding as in Fig. 4. Continued folding up of the bed clothing according to the present invention is effected by the portion of the bed clothing which comprises the lower transverse edge 9 and constitutes about one-third of the extent of the bed clothing in the longitudinal direction L being folded over the remainder of the bed clothing, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The turnover folding is completed by the portion of the bed clothing which comprises the upper transverse edge 7 and constitutes about one-third of the extent of the bed clothing in the longitudinal direction L being folded over the previously folded-over portion, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The resulting folded-up bed clothing is extremely compact and well suited to transport and storage.

    [0017] Figs. 8-11 depict schematically how bedmaking with the bed clothing according to the present invention is effected. Fig. 8 depicts the bed clothing in a folded-up compact format, placed on the bed which is to be "made", which is already provided with an undersheet. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the bed clothing is placed close to, and approximately halfway along, a longitudinal edge of the bed. The first step is to unfold towards the head end of the bed the uppermost turnover portion of the bed clothing, resulting in the upper transverse edge 7 being in the region of the head end of the bed, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Thereafter, the remaining turnover portion of the bed clothing is unfolded in the longitudinal direction of the bed, resulting in the lower transverse edge 9 being at the foot end of the bed. The folding over is thus undone, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The final stage of bedmaking is illustrated in Fig. 11, entailing the bed clothing being unfolded about the centreline C-C which extends in its longitudinal direction L. The concertina folding is thus partly undone and the bedmaking is completed.

    [0018] Fig. 12 depicts a section through an alternative embodiment of a fold indication 111 in the fleece blanket 100, the fold indication 111 taking the form of a portion 112 where the fleece blanket 100 has no nap. The portion 112 thus has no nap on the side of the blanket 100 which faces away from the sheet 3. A portion with no nap is created as follows. During normal knitting of fleece, the material is flat-knitted with two yarns to form basic stitches. One yarn serves as a bottom, while the other forms loops across dividers/sinkers which are part of the knitting machine used for knitting the fleece blanket. No dividers are used in knitting the fold indications, and the two yarns are knitted together in stitches with no formation of loops. The fold indications may with advantage have a width of three stitch wales. The loops are thereafter roughened by dressing to form a nap, but no nap is formed in the fold indications, since they have no loops.

    [0019] The portions 13 of the fleece blanket 100 which are situated on each side of the fold indication 111 comprise basic stitches and are symbolised by thick lines and associated nap. These portions may be identical with corresponding portions in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 7, so these portions are given the same reference numerals. The portion 112 with no nap constitutes a break between the portions 13 with basic stitches. This break portion 112, which thus extends in the longitudinal direction L of the bed clothing, will do excellent service as a fold indication 111 during handling of the bed clothing according to the present invention. As depicted in Fig. 12, the portions 13 and the sheet 3 are joined by seams 14 situated close to, but laterally away from, the fold indication 111. The seams 14 have an extent along the fold indication 111. The width of the fold indication 111, i.e. its extent in the transverse direction T of the bed clothing, is about 5-10 mm, preferably 6-8 mm.

    [0020] It is generally the case in both of the embodiments of fold indications described above that the blanket is thinner in the region of the fold indications.

    Feasible modifications of the invention



    [0021] In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the bed clothing is provided with two fold indications, but it is also possible within the scope of the present invention to conceive of the bed clothing comprising three fold indications, the additional fold indication being situated between the two already existing fold indications. The additional fold indication will also be situated at equal distances from the already existing fold indications.


    Claims

    1. A bed clothing comprising a blanket (1) provided with a nap and preferably made of fleece, and a sheet (3), which blanket (1) and sheet (3) are permanently connected to one another, preferably by seams, the bed clothing is provided with at least two fold indications (11; 111), that the fold indications (11; 111) extend in a longitudinal direction (L) of the bed clothing, that the fold indications (11; 111) are mutually parallel, characterized in that the fold indications (11; 111) are defined by lack of nap on the blanket (1).
     
    2. A bed clothing according to claim 1, characteriz ed in that the fold indications (11; 111) extend along the whole bed clothing.
     
    3. A bed clothing according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that a further fold indication is disposed halfway between the existing fold indications (11; 111).
     
    4. A bed clothing according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that each fold indication (11) comprises a number of purl stitches (12) which define a region which has an extent both in the longitudinal direction (L) of the bed clothing and in the transverse direction (T) of the bed clothing.
     
    5. A bed clothing according to any one of claims 1-3,
    characterized in that each fold indication (111) comprises a region (112) where the blanket has no nap, and that the region (112) has an extent both in the longitudinal direction (L) of the bed clothing and in the transverse direction (T) of the bed clothing.
     
    6. A bed clothing according to claim 5,
    characterized in that the blanket is thinner or of reduced thickness in the region (112) of the fold indications (111).
     
    7. A bed clothing according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blanket (1) is of reduced thickness in the region of the fold indications (11; 111).
     
    8. A method for effecting bedmaking with a folded-up bed clothing according to any one of claims 1-7, in which the bed clothing is subjected to both concertina folding and turnover folding,characterized in that the bed clothing is placed on the bed which is to be "made", that the turnover folding is undone so that the bed clothing in the concertina-folded state extends in the longitudinal direction of the bed, which coincides with the longitudinal direction (L) of the bed clothing, in that the concertina folding is partly undone by the bed clothing being unfolded about a centreline (C-C) of the bed clothing, and in that the centreline (C-C) extends in the longitudinal direction (L).
     
    9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the folded-up bed clothing is placed close to, and approximately halfway along, a longitudinal edge of the bed.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Bettzeug mit einer Decke (1), die mit einem Flor versehen ist und vorzugsweise aus Fleece hergestellt ist, und einem Betttuch (3), wobei die Decke (1) und das Betttuch (3) permanent, vorzugsweise durch Nähte, miteinander verbunden sind, wobei das Bettzeug mit mindestens zwei Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) versehen ist, wobei sich die Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) in einer Längsrichtung (L) des Bettzeugs erstrecken, wobei die Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) zueinander parallel sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) durch Fehlen von Flor auf der Decke (1) gebildet sind.
     
    2. Bettzeug nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich die Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) entlang des ganzen Bettzeugs erstrecken.
     
    3. Bettzeug nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine weitere Faltmarkierung in der Mitte zwischen den bestehenden Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) angeordnet ist.
     
    4. Bettzeug nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Faltmarkierung (11) eine Anzahl von Raupenstichen (12) aufweist, die einen Bereich bilden, der eine Ausdehnung sowohl in der Längsrichtung (L) des Bettzeugs als auch in der Querrichtung (T) des Bettzeugs aufweist.
     
    5. Bettzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Faltmarkierung (111) einen Bereich (112) aufweist, in dem die Decke keinen Flor aufweist und dass der Bereich (112) eine Ausdehnung sowohl in der Längsrichtung (L) des Bettzeugs als auch in der Querrichtung (T) des Bettzeugs aufweist.
     
    6. Bettzeug nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Decke in dem Bereich (112) der Faltmarkierungen (111) dünner ist oder eine reduzierte Dicke aufweist.
     
    7. Bettzeug nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Decke (1) in dem Bereich der Faltmarkierungen (11, 111) eine reduzierte Dicke aufweist.
     
    8. Verfahren zum Bettenmachen mit einem zusammengefalteten Bettzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, bei dem das Bettzeug Gegenstand sowohl einer Harmonikafaltung als auch einer Wendefaltung ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Bettzeug auf dem zu machenden Bett angeordnet wird, dass die Wendefaltung rückgängig gemacht wird, sodass sich das Bettzeug in dem Zustand mit Harmonikafaltung in der Längsrichtung des Betts erstreckt, die mit der Längsrichtung (L) des Bettzeugs zusammenfällt, dass die Harmonikafaltung teilweise dadurch rückgängig gemacht wird, dass das Bettzeug um eine Mittenlinie (C-C) des Bettzeugs entfaltet wird, und dass sich die Mittenlinie (C-C) in der Längsrichtung (L) erstreckt.
     
    9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zusammengefaltete Bettzeug nahe an und etwa in der Mitte einer Längskante des Betts angeordnet wird.
     


    Revendications

    1. Literie comprenant une couverture (1) munie d'une couche de poils et de préférence composée de molleton, et un drap (3), laquelle couverture (1) et lequel drap (3) sont raccordés ensemble de manière permanente, de préférence par des coutures, caractérisée en ce que la literie est munie d'au moins deux indications de pliure (11 ; 111), en ce que les indications de pliure (11 ; 111) s'étendent dans le sens longitudinal (L) de la literie, en ce que les indications de pliure (11 ; 111) sont parallèles les unes aux autres, et caractérisée en ce que les indications de pliure (11 ; 111) sont définies par l'absence de couche de poils sur la couverture (1).
     
    2. Literie selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les indications de pliure (11 ; 111) s'étendent le long de l'intégralité de la literie.
     
    3. Literie selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'une autre indication de pliure est disposée à mi-chemin entre les indications de pliure (11 ; 111) existantes.
     
    4. Literie selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que chaque indication de pliure (11) comprend un certain nombre de points perlés (12) qui définissent une région qui s'étend à la fois dans le sens longitudinal (L) de la literie et dans le sens transversal (T) de la literie.
     
    5. Literie selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que chaque indication de pliure (111) comprend une région (112) dans laquelle la couverture ne présente pas de couche de poils, et en ce que la région (112) s'étend à la fois dans le sens longitudinal (L) de la literie et dans le sens transversal (T) de la literie.
     
    6. Literie selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que la couverture est plus mince ou a une épaisseur réduite dans la région (112) des indications de pliure (111).
     
    7. Literie selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que la couverture (1) a une épaisseur réduite dans la région des indications de pliure (11 ; 111).
     
    8. Procédé permettant de faire un lit avec une literie pliée selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel la literie est soumise à la fois à un pliage en accordéon et par retournement, caractérisé en ce que la literie est placée sur le lit qui doit être « fait », en ce que le pliage par retournement est défait de manière à ce que la literie pliée en accordéon s'étende dans le sens longitudinal du lit, qui coïncide avec le sens longitudinal (L) de la literie, en ce que le pliage en accordéon est partiellement défait en ce que la literie est dépliée autour d'une ligne centrale (C - C) de la literie, et en ce que la ligne centrale (C - C) s'étend dans le sens longitudinal (L).
     
    9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la literie repliée est placée près d'un bord longitudinal du lit, environ à mi-chemin de celui-ci.
     




    Drawing

















    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description