Encapsulating Bed Sheet

Abstract

A mattress covering assembly for covering opposing sides of a mattress to facilitate sanitary alternating use by two individuals includes a mattress and a sleeve. The sleeve may receive the mattress so that the sleeve covers opposing surfaces of the mattress with opposing portions of the sleeve. Each one of a pair of users may alternately lie on respective portions of the sleeve over the mattress to minimize exposure to germs, body oils, or the like from the other user.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mattress covering assembly comprising:
 a mattress having a first support surface and a second support surface positioned opposite each other, each of the first support surface and the second support surface extending between a pair of ends of the mattress, the mattress having a pair of side surfaces, each side surface extending between the first and second support surfaces and between the pair of ends; and   a sleeve positionable in a use position wherein the sleeve surrounds the mattress, the sleeve comprising an end panel and a perimeter panel, the perimeter panel being coupled to and extending away from the end panel, the end panel and the perimeter panel defining a cavity in the sleeve, a distal edge of the perimeter panel with respect to the end panel defining an opening to the cavity, the perimeter panel having a first support portion and a second support portion positioned opposite each other across the cavity, the sleeve containing the mattress in the cavity when positioned in the use position, the first support portion of the perimeter panel lying against the first support surface of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, the second support portion of the perimeter panel lying against the second support surface of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the sleeve to the mattress in the use position. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener is positioned at the distal edge of the perimeter panel. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the end panel lies against one end of the pair of ends of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, the fastener extending over another end of the pair of ends of the mattress opposite the one end when the fastener secures the sleeve to the mattress in the use position. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the fastener comprises a first cord positioned on the first support portion of the perimeter panel and a second cord positioned on the second support portion of the perimeter panel, the first cord being joinable via tying to the second cord. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a fabric material. 
     
     
         7 . A mattress covering assembly comprising:
 a mattress having a first support surface and a second support surface positioned opposite each other, each of the first support surface and the second support surface extending between a pair of ends of the mattress, the mattress having a pair of side surfaces, each side surface extending between the first and second support surfaces and between the pair of ends;   a sleeve positionable in a use position wherein the sleeve surrounds the mattress, the sleeve comprising an end panel and a perimeter panel, the perimeter panel being coupled to and extending away from the end panel, the end panel and the perimeter panel defining a cavity in the sleeve, a distal edge of the perimeter panel with respect to the end panel defining an opening to the cavity, the perimeter panel having a first support portion and a second support portion positioned opposite each other across the cavity, the sleeve containing the mattress in the cavity when positioned in the use position, the first support portion of the perimeter panel lying against the first support surface of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, the second support portion of the perimeter panel lying against the second support surface of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, the end panel lying against one end of the pair of ends of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, the sleeve comprising a fabric material; and   a fastener configured to secure the sleeve to the mattress in the use position, the fastener being positioned at the distal edge of the perimeter panel, the fastener comprising a pair of first cords positioned on the first support portion of the perimeter panel and a pair of second cords positioned on the second support portion of the perimeter panel, each first cord of the pair of first cords being joinable via tying to an associated second cord of the pair of second cords over another end of the pair of ends of the mattress opposite the one end of the pair of ends.   
     
     
         8 . A method of sharing a mattress between a pair of users, the method comprising:
 positioning a sleeve around the mattress in a use position wherein a first support portion of a perimeter panel of the sleeve lies against a first support surface of the mattress and a second support portion of the perimeter panel of the sleeve lies against a second support surface of the mattress, wherein the first and second support surfaces are positioned opposite each other;   positioning the mattress and the sleeve on a base such that the first support surface of the mattress faces upwardly from the base;   positioning a first user of the pair of users on the first support portion of the perimeter panel of the sleeve over the first support surface of the mattress;   removing the first user from the mattress;   positioning the mattress and the sleeve on the base such that the second support surface of the mattress faces upwardly from the base; and   positioning a second user of the pair of users on the second support portion of the perimeter panel of the sleeve over the second support surface of the mattress.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising securing the sleeve to the mattress in the use position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve further comprises an end panel coupled to the perimeter panel, wherein the end panel lies against one of a pair of ends of the mattress when the sleeve is positioned in the use position, wherein the step of securing the sleeve to the mattress in the use position further comprises coupling the first support portion of the sleeve to the second support portion of the sleeve across another end of the pair of ends of the mattress opposite the one end. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve comprises a fabric material.