A fitted sheet is adapted to fit conformingly over a mattress. The fitted sheet comprises a top panel having a general shape and size similar to that of the top surface of the mattress. Side panels depend from the edges of the top panel. Portions of the side panels are made of an elastic material, each elastic portion extending from the bottom hem of the side panels to the top panel.
A fitted cornerless bedclothing item such as a sheet, mattress pad, anti-allergy cover, blanket or coverlet includes a top portion, side portions and end portions, and elastic segments stitched to edges of respective side and end portions. One or more elastic bindings are provided at lower edges of the side and end portions to cause the tops of the elastic segments to be positioned below the respective upper corners of the mattress on which the bedclothing item is mounted, such that no ears or pockets are formed when the bedclothing item is mounted on mattresses of at least two different sizes and/or thicknesses. The elastic segments are made of knitted or woven elastic filaments, such as SPANDEX.RTM. fabric, and can be shaped to have a straight lower edge and a curved upper edge, the curved upper edge advantageously approximating an end of an ellipse.
A mattress covering in the form of a fitted mattress pad or fitted sheet having a top portion, an inelastic side skirt, and an elastic underskirt with the top portion dimensioned to fit a standard size mattress and the side skirt and underskirt being dimensioned to fit a range of mattress heights. The side skirt can be made of the same quilted or sheet material as the top portion for attractive appearance, or it can be made of other material, such as inexpensive single ply, non-woven, sheeting. The elastic underskirt can be made of three ply laminated material having a pair of inelastic outer plies gathered and bonded to an elastic inner ply. An elastic strand is secured in a peripheral fold in the underskirt to facilitate retention of the covering on a mattress.
The invention comprises an expandable skirt mattress cover and a method for making a mattress cover. The mattress cover includes a top platform attached to a skirt having an elastic band. The mattress cover is manufactured using the steps of stretching the skirt farbic; attaching the top platform to the skirt; stretching the elastic band and the skirt fabric; and attaching the elastic band to the skirt. Because the skirt stretches in two directions, the mattress cover adjusts to fit same-size mattresses of differing thicknesses.
A fitted mattress pad has a flat top portion with a skirt portion depending from its sides and edges. At least part of the skirt portion has frictional holding means for holding the mattress pad securely in place over a mattress. The frictional holding means help to grip the mattress and keep the mattress pad from shifting during use.
A mattress covering in the form of a fitted mattress pad or fitted sheet has a top portion, an inelastic side skirt extending perpendicularly from the top portion, an elastic underskirt extending from the side skirt and a separate elastic strand attached to the elastic skirt at its open outer periphery. The top portion is dimensioned to fit a standard size mattress and the side skirt and underskirt are dimensioned to fit a range of mattress heights. The side skirt can be made of the same quilted or sheet material as the top portion for attractive appearance, or it can be made of other material, such as a single layer of an inelastic nonwoven, inexpensive sheet, to minimize cost. The elastic underskirt can be made of three layer material having a pair of inelastic outer layers gathered by and bonded to an elastic inner layer, or elastic thread stitched or woven into an inelastic fabric layer.
