Method and apparatus for a covering with pocket that provides a secure fit

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention provide a covering with pocket that provides a secure fit, for example, for a mattress. The covering may comprise a free end that is associated with a head of the mattress and a secured end that is associated with a foot of the mattress. The secured end of the covering having a pocket that includes a lower portion to be positioned under the foot of the mattress, a left side portion to be positioned along the left side of the mattress, and a right side portion to be positioned along the right side of the mattress. The pocket includes an expandable material that spans an opening along the lower portion of the pocket. The expandable material, which includes an elastic member and/or an elastic material, may or may not extend into the left side portion or into the right side portion of the pocket.

1 . A covering for a mattress, the covering comprising:
 a free end associated with a head of the mattress; and   a secured end associated with a foot of the mattress, the secured end comprising a pocket, wherein:
 the pocket comprises a lower portion to be positioned under the foot of the mattress, a left side portion to be positioned along the left side of the mattress, and a right side portion to be positioned along the right side of the mattress; 
 an expandable material that spans an opening along the lower portion of the pocket; 
 a left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress, when the covering overlays the mattress; and 
 a right side edge of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress, when the covering overlays the mattress. 
   
     
     
         2 . The covering according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the left side edge of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the foot of the mattress when the left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress; and   the right side edge of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the foot of the mattress when the right side edge of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress.   
     
     
         3 . The covering according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the left side edge of the pocket that forms the angled flap toward the foot of the mattress, when the left side edge drapes over the left side of the mattress, is at an angle of approximately 45° with a lower surface of the mattress; and   the right side edge of the pocket that forms the angled flap toward the foot of the mattress, when the right side edge drapes over the right side of the mattress, is at an angle of approximately 45° with a lower surface of the mattress.   
     
     
         4 . The covering according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket comprises a left side dart and a right side dart, wherein:
 when the left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress, the left side dart causes the left side edge of the pocket to form an angled flap, which is at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to a lower surface of the mattress; and   when the right side edge of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress, the right side dart causes the right side edge of the pocket to form an angled flap, which is at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the lower surface of the mattress.   
     
     
         5 . The covering according to  1 , wherein the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket are dimensioned such that the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket are approximately aligned with a lower surface of the mattress when each of the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket drape over the corresponding left side of the mattress and the corresponding right side of the mattress, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The covering according to  1 , wherein, the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket are dimensioned such that the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket extend beyond a lower surface of the mattress, when each of the left side edge of the pocket and the right side edge of the pocket drape over the corresponding left side of the mattress and the corresponding right side of the mattress, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The covering according to  claim 1 , wherein the expandable material comprises one or both of an elastic member and an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The covering according to  claim 7 , wherein the expandable material extend into or does not extend into the left side portion of the pocket and extend into or does not extend into the right side portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         9 . A covering for a mattress, the covering comprising:
 a free end associated with a head of the mattress; and   a secured end associated with a foot of the mattress, the secured end comprising a pocket having an opening for receiving the foot of the mattress and for securing the covering to the mattress;   a left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress when the covering is aligned upon the mattress; and   a right side edge of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress when the covering is aligned upon the mattress, wherein:
 the left side edge of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the left side of the foot of the mattress, when the left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress; and 
 the right side of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the right side of the foot of the mattress, when the right side of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress. 
   
     
     
         10 . The covering according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the pocket comprises a lower portion to be positioned under the foot of the mattress;   a left side portion to be positioned along the left side of the mattress; and   a right side portion to be positioned along the right side of the mattress.   
     
     
         11 . The covering according to  claim 10 , comprising an expandable material that spans the opening along the lower portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         12 . The covering according to  claim 11 , wherein the expandable material span into or does not span into the left side portion of the pocket and span into or does not span into the right side portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The covering according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the angled flap formed by the left side edge of the pocket is at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to a lower surface of the mattress; and   the angled flap formed by the right side edge of the pocket is at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the lower surface of the mattress.   
     
     
         14 . The covering according to  claim 9 , wherein the pocket comprises:
 a left side dart and a right side dart, wherein:
 when the left side edge of the pocket drapes over the left side of the mattress, the left side dart causes the angled flap towards the left side of the foot of the mattress to be at an angle of approximate 45° with respect to the lower surface of the mattress, and 
 when the right side edge of the pocket drapes over the right side of the mattress, a right side dart causes the angled flap towards the right side of the foot of the mattress to be at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the lower surface of the mattress. 
   
     
     
         15 . The covering according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the left side edge of the pocket extends beyond a lower surface of the mattress when the covering is properly positioned upon, the mattress; and   the right side edge of the pocket extends beyond the lower surface of the mattress when the covering is properly positioned upon the mattress.   
     
     
         16 . The covering according to  claim 8 , wherein the pocket comprises contoured corners which align the covering with corresponding corners of the mattress. 
     
     
         17 . A method for dressing a mattress, the method comprising:
 laying a free end of a covering, which is associated with a head of the mattress, along a head of the mattress; and   spreading a secured end of the covering, which is associated with a foot of the mattress over the foot of the mattress, the secured end of the mattress comprising a pocket having an opening for receiving the foot of the mattress, wherein the spreading comprises:
 securing the opening of the pocket over the foot of the mattress; 
 draping a left side edge of the pocket over the left side of the mattress when the covering is aligned upon the mattress; and 
 draping a right side edge of the pocket over the right side of the mattress when the covering is aligned upon the mattress, wherein:
 the left side edge of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the left side of the foot of the mattress, when the left side edge of the pocket is draped over the left side of the mattress; and 
 the right side of the pocket forms an angled flap toward the right side of the foot of the mattress, when the right side of the pocket is draped over the right side of the mattress. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 positioning a lower portion of the pocket under the foot of the mattress;   aligning a left side portion of the pocket along the left side of the mattress; and   aligning a right side portion of the pocket along the right side of the mattress.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the pocket comprises an expandable material, and the expandable material:
 spans the opening along the lower portion of the pocket;   span into or does not span into the left side portion of the pocket; and   span into or does not span into the right side portion of the pocket.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the expandable material comprises one or both of an elastic member and an elastic material.