Interchangeable bedspread
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to bedspreads and is particularly directed to bedspreads having a plurality of reversible and interchangeable panels which enable the user to provide a wide variety of different decorative effects with a single bedspread. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Bedspreads have long been used to protect sheets, blankets and the like from soiling by dust and by people sitting or lying on the bed, aside from normal sleeping usage. At the same time, bedspreads serve a decorative purpose and are frequently the centerpiece of bedroom decor. Unfortunately bedspreads are relatively expensive and, since their uses are subordinate to the primary purpose of a bed, most families have only a very limited number of bedspreads and, consequently, have little or no variety in the appearance of the bedspreads or of the bedroom decor. 
     In an attempt to solve this limitation, prior art bedspreads have been proposed which are reversible and have a first surface having one color or pattern and a reverse surface having a different color or pattern. This allows the user a choice of two colors or patterns, but cannot provide additional colors or patterns beyond these two. In addition, bed coverings have been proposed having insertable panels to enable the user to change the size of a blanket or bedspread, so that a given blanket could be made to fit a single, double or king-size beds. Other prior art bed coverings have had insertable panels which would allow the user to vary the warmth provided by a given blanket or quilt. However, these devices serve to vary the utility of the bed covering, but do little, if anything, to vary the aesthetic appeal of the bed covering. A search in the United States Patent Office has revealed the following: 
     
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U.S. Pat. No.                                                             
             INVENTOR        ISSUED                                       
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4,069,526    T. Delkel       Jan. 24, 1978                                
4,839,934    R. R. Rojas     Jun. 20, 1989                                
4,573,227    A. F. Prandino  Mar. 4, 1986                                 
3,508,285    E. R. T. Marquette                                           
                             Apr. 28, 1970                                
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     Each of these references is subject to the limitations discussed above. Thus, none of the prior art bed coverings have been entirely satisfactory. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     These disadvantages of prior art bed coverings are overcome with the present invention and an improved bed covering is provided which enables the user to provide a wide variety of different visual effects with a single bedspread and, thereby, to allow considerable variation of the bedroom decor. 
     The advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing a bedspread having a plurality of panels which are each reversible and interchangeable to provide a wide variety of different visual effects. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bedspread. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bedspread which enables the user to significantly alter the bedroom decor, while avoiding the expense of providing a plurality of bedspreads. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved bedspread which provides the user with a wide variety of different colors and patterns, while avoiding the expense of providing a plurality of bedspreads. 
     A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved bedspread comprising a plurality of panels which are each reversible and interchangeable to provide a wide variety of different visual effects. Additional panels of the same size, but of different colors, patterns, textures, etc. may be used interchangeably to create an even larger selection of bedspread varieties 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a bedspread embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the bedspread of FIG. 1 having the reverse side upward; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the bedspread of FIG. 1 with only the center panel reversed; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the bedspread of FIG. 1 with only the side panels reversed; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the bedspread of FIG. 1 with a portion of the bedspread reversely turned to provide an additional visual difference; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the bedspread of FIG. 4 with a portion of the bedspread reversely turned to provide an additional visual difference; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, taken through the overlapping edges of adjacent panels of the bedspread of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation showing a first method of covering a pillow with the bedspread of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 9 is a view, similar to that of FIG. 8, showing an alternative method of covering a pillow with the bedspread of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration in the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a bedspread, indicated generally at 10, having a central panel 12 and a pair of side panels 14 and 16. Each of the panels 12, 14 and 16 have first surfaces, as seen at 18, 20 and 22 in FIG. 1, which present first decorative effects, due to the color, pattern, texture, etc. of the first surfaces 18, 20 and 22, and have second surfaces, as seen at 24, 26 and 28 in FIG. 2, which present second decorative effects, which are different from those of the first surfaces 18, 20 and 22 of FIG. 1. The side panels 14 and 16 are separably connected to the central panel 12 by releasable connecting means 32, such as snaps, slide fasteners, strips of hook-and-loop material and the like, as seen in FIG. 7. Also, the central panel 12 is preferably provided with flaps 34 and 36 and the side panels 14 and 16 are provided with flaps 38 and 40, which lie above and below the connecting means 32, to prevent the connecting means 32 from being seen when the bedspread 10 is in use. 
     When the bedspread 10 is spread over the bed with surfaces 18, 20 and 22 of the panels 12, 14 and 16 to face upward, the bedspread 10 presents a first decorative effect, as seen in FIG. 1. When the bedspread is reversed, to cause the surfaces 24, 26 and 28 of panels 12, 14 and 16 to face upward, a second decorative effect is presented, as seen in FIG. 2. Moreover, releasing the connecting means 32 and reconnecting the center panel 12 with surface 24 facing upward, while surfaces 20 and 22 of the side panels 14 and 16 face upward, serves to produce a third decorative effect, as seen in FIG. 3. Similarly, by placing the center panel 12, with surface 18 facing upward, and connecting the side panels 14 and 16 with surfaces 26 and 28 facing upward, creates a fourth decorative effect, as seen in FIG. 4, which is the reverse of the bedspread of FIG. 3. 
     Furthermore, it is conventional to place pillows 44 or the like across the head of a bed and to cover the pillows 44 with the bedspread by laying the end 48 of the bedspread over the pillows 44, in the manner seen in FIG. 8. This arrangement is seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and, depending on the orientation of the panels 12, 14 and 16, produces the decorative effects seen in a respective one of these figures. However, in accordance with the present invention, the bedspread 10 is made somewhat longer than conventional bedspreads. This has no unique effect when the bedspread is laid over the bed in the manner seen in FIG. 8. However, due to the extra length of the bedspread 10, it is also possible to lay the bedspread 10 on the bed, place the pillows 44 on top of the bedspread 10 and to bring end 48 of the bedspread 10 back over the pillows 44, as seen in FIG. 9. With the bedspread 10 oriented in the manner of FIG. 1, with surfaces 18, 20 and 22 of panels 12, 14 and 16 facing upward, causing the top end 48 of the bedspread 10 to be reversed over the pillows 44, as seen in FIG. 9, will create a fifth decorative effect, as seen in FIG. 5. Similarly, with bedspread 10 oriented in the manner of FIG. 4, with surfaces 18, 26 and 28 of panels 12, 14 and 16 facing upward, causing top end 48 of the bedspread 10 to be reversed over the pillows 44, as seen in FIG. 9, will create a sixth decorative effect, as seen in FIG. 6. It will be apparent that orienting the bedspread 10 in the manner of FIGS. 2 and 3 and causing topend 48 of the bedspread 10 to be reversed over the pillows 44 will create seventh and eighth decorative effects, respectively. 
     Thus, a single bedspread 10, embodying the present invention, is capable of use to create eight different decorative effects. Moreover, additional panels could be provided, corresponding to central panel 12 and side panels 14 and 16, but having still different upper and lower decorative surfaces, and these additional panels could be interchanged with the original panels to create further decorative effects. In addition, numerous other variations and modifications can, obviously, be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.