Sheet securing system and method

Abstract

A system and method to securely fasten a cover sheet to a fitted sheet that is fitted over a mattress. The system can include a button receptacle connected to and extending along the bottom end of the cover sheet and a button fastener connected to the cover sheet that engages with the button receptacle to securely align the cover sheet with the fitted sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet fastening system, comprising:
 a first sheet having a bottom end, a top end and two opposing sides, the first sheet including:
 an elastic material formed around an entire circumference thereof; and 
 a plurality of button receptacles connected to and extending along a bottom end of the first sheet, each button receptacle including:
 two side portions extending lengthwise in parallel and having a first side connected to the first sheet; 
 a top portion extending between second sides of the two side portions to form a hollow interior with the two side portions and the first sheet; 
 one open end; and 
 a groove formed through the top portion exposing the hollow interior from the open end to a closed end opposite the open end; and 
 
   a second sheet having a bottom end, a top end and two opposing sides, the second sheet including:
 a plurality of button fasteners extending along a bottom end of the second sheet, each button fastener including:
 a first side connected to the second sheet; and 
 a button integrally extending from a second side opposite the first side, the buttons being configured to fit into a respective hollow interior of a button receptacle through the open end. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the button receptacles and button fasteners are formed of a hard flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the button receptacles and button fasteners are formed of polypropylene. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the buttons have a diameter smaller than the button receptacle interior portion and larger than the button receptacle groove. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the button fasteners include a groove formed between the second side thereof and the button, the groove having a diameter smaller than the grooves formed in the button receptacles such that the button slides through the interior portion of a respective button receptacle while the second side slides along the top portion of the respective button receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the button receptacles are connected to the first sheet by threading through holes extending through the first sides of the two side portions thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the button fasterners are connected to the second sheet by threading through holes extending through the circumference thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the second sheet is shorter in width than the remaining width of the second sheet such that when the button receptacles and button fasteners are engaged, the remaining width of the second sheet aligns with the bottom front surface of the mattress. 
     
     
         9 . A sheet fastening system, comprising:
 a button receptacle including:
 a u-shaped member forming an open end and a closed end and including:
 a first lengthwise part having a plurality of holes extending therethrough and forming a first u-shaped groove, 
 a second lengthwise part bent at an angle substantially perpendicular to the first lengthwise part, and 
 a third lengthwise part extending at an angle substantially perpendicular to the second lengthwise part such that the third lengthwise part forms a second u-shaped groove that is more narrow than and in parallel with the first u-shaped groove; and 
 
   a button fastener including:
 a flat body including a plurality of holes extending along a circumference thereof; and 
 a button integrally extending from a first side of the body, the button being configured to slide through the open end and between parallel sides of the second lengthwise part of the button receptacle while the body slides along an external side of the third lengthwise part of the button receptacle such that the button fastener is fastened to the a button receptacle while the button is forced against the closed end of the button receptacle. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the button receptacle and the button fastener are formed of a hard rubber or polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the holes formed in the button receptacle and the button fastener are configured to receive thread to be threaded to a sheet or other cloth material. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fastening sheets together, the method comprising:
 sewing one side of one or more first u-shaped members having an opening at one end to a bottom end of a first sheet such that a second side of the u-shaped member forms a groove more narrow than a groove formed by the first side of the u-shaped member and the second side of the u-shaped member forms a hollow channel with the first sheet; and   sewing one side of one or more second flat u-shaped members to a bottom end of a second sheet while a second side thereof includes a button extending therefrom at the u-shaped end such that the button inserts through the opening and channel of the first u-shaped member and becomes secured in the channel at a closed u-shaped end of the first u-shaped member while the second u-shaped member remains outside the channel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sewing a plurality of the first u-shaped members to the bottom end of a fitted sheet along a length thereof such that the respective openings face a top end of a mattress when the bottom end of the fitted sheet is tucked under the bottom end of a mattress which the fitted sheet is designed to fit; and   sewing a plurality of the flat second u-shaped members to the bottom end of a cover sheet such that when the buttons are inserted into the channels the u-shaped ends of the second u-shaped members face in opposite directions with respect to the first u-shaped members.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 forming a groove circumferentially between the buttons and respective second sides of the flat u-shaped members, the grooves between the buttons and respective second sides of the flat u-shaped members having diameters of substantially the same length as the wide of the respective grooves formed in the second side of the u-shaped members such that the grooves frictionally slide along respective grooves formed in the second side of the u-shaped members while the buttons remain in a respective channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 forming a portion of the bottom of the cover sheet, having a length equal to or greater than a thickness of the mattress which the fitted sheet is designed to fit, to have a width equal to a width of the mattress and less than a width of the remaining portion of the cover sheet such that when the first and second u-shaped members are engaged with each other under the mattress, the remaining portion of the cover sheet aligns with a bottom front surface of the mattress.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the width of the remaining portion of the cover sheet is formed such that sides thereof extend past the sides and thickness of the mattress.