U.S. patent application number 10/661892 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for fire retardant construction for mattress assembly.
Invention is credited to Cavazos, Frank G..
Application Number | 20050055776 10/661892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34273967 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050055776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cavazos, Frank G. |
March 17, 2005 |
Fire retardant construction for mattress assembly
Abstract
A mattress assembly having an inner cushioning member, top and
bottom mattress covers and a surrounding border strip extending
around the periphery of the mattress between the top mattress cover
and the bottom mattress cover. In the present invention, the
peripheral border strip extending around the periphery of the
mattress is secured to the fabric flanges of the top and bottom
mattress covers by tiny releasable and flexible hook and loop
fastening members. The fire retardant construction includes
peripheral welts extending around the periphery of the upper and
lower peripheral edges of the peripheral border strip and
peripheral welts are provided on the respective fabric flanges of
the top and bottom mattress covers which contact and press against
respective ones of the welts of the peripheral border strip to
thereby restrict passage of oxygen into the interior of the
mattress and thus inhibit burning therein.
Inventors: |
Cavazos, Frank G.;
(Rockdale, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ernest S. Kettelson
KETTELSON LAW OFFICES, LTD.
Wynderidge Place
Post Office Box 2517
Joliet
IL
60434
US
|
Family ID: |
34273967 |
Appl. No.: |
10/661892 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/698 ; 5/699;
5/954 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 31/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/698 ;
005/699; 005/954 |
International
Class: |
A47C 017/00 |
Claims
1. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test
having a fire retarding construction, comprising barrier means
releasable from said mattress to be separable therefrom and
securable thereto, said barrier means extending around the entire
periphery of said mattress when secured thereto to restrict entry
of oxygen into the interior portions of said mattress.
2. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 1, wherein said mattress includes an
innercushioning assembly having an upper surface and a lower
surface, a top mattress cover over said upper surface of said
innercushioning assembly, first insert members between said top
mattress cover and said upper surface of said innercushioning
assembly, a bottom mattress cover over said lower surface of said
innercushioning assembly, second insert members between said bottom
mattress cover and said lower surface of said innercushioning
assembly, a top mattress cover fabric flange extending downwardly
from the peripheral edge of said top mattress cover, a bottom
mattress cover fabric flange extending upwardly from the peripheral
edge of said bottom mattress cover, a peripheral band extending
around the periphery of said mattress, said peripheral band having
an upper edge and a lower edge, said barrier means includes a first
enlarged diameter welt along said upper edge of said peripheral
band, a second enlarged diameter welt along a portion of said top
mattress cover fabric flange in facing relation with said first
enlarged diameter welt when said peripheral band is in place on
said mattress.
3. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 1, wherein said mattress includes an
innercushioning assembly having an upper surface and a lower
surface, a top mattress cover over said upper surface of said
innercushioning assembly, first insert members between said top
mattress cover and said upper surface of said innercushioning
assembly, a bottom mattress cover over said lower surface of said
innercushioning assembly, second insert members between said bottom
mattress cover and said lower surface of said innercushioning
assembly, a top mattress cover fabric flange extending downwardly
from the peripheral edge of said top mattress cover, a bottom
mattress cover fabric flange extending upwardly from the peripheral
edge of said bottom mattress cover, a peripheral band extending
around the periphery of said mattress, said peripheral band having
an upper edge and a lower edge, said barrier means includes a first
enlarged diameter welt along said upper edge of said peripheral
band, a second enlarged diameter welt along a portion of said top
mattress cover fabric flange in facing relation with said first
enlarged diameter welt when said peripheral band is in place on
said mattress, a third enlarged diameter welt along said lower edge
of said peripheral band, a fourth enlarged diameter welt along a
portion of said bottom mattress cover fabric flange in facing
relation with said third enlarged diameter welt when said
peripheral band is in place on said mattress.
4. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 3, including releasable fastening members to
releasably hold said first enlarged diameter welt against said
second enlarged diameter welt when said peripheral band is in place
on said mattress.
5. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 4, wherein said releasable fastening members
include tiny flexible hook members and corresponding tiny flexible
loop members.
6. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 3, including releasable fastening members to
releasably hold said third enlarged diameter welt against said
fourth enlarged diameter welt when said peripheral band is in place
on said mattress.
7. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 6, wherein said releasable fastening members
include tiny flexible hook members and corresponding tiny flexible
loop members.
8. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test
having a fire retarding construction, comprising barrier means
extending around the entire periphery of said mattress to restrict
entry of oxygen into the interior portions of said mattress, said
barrier means including a length of rope, said mattress including a
fabric covering, said rope being enfolded by a portion of said
fabric.
9. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 8, wherein said rope has a diameter of-about
one-eighth of an inch.
10. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test as
set forth in claim 8, wherein said rope has a diameter of any size
between one-eighth of an inch and one-fourth of an inch.
11. A mattress able to pass an established fire protective test
having a fire retarding construction, comprising barrier means
releasable from said mattress to be separable therefrom and
securable thereto, said barrier means extending around the entire
periphery of said mattress to restrict entry of oxygen into the
interior portions of said mattress, wherein said fire protective
test is the "Flammability Test Procedure for Mattresses For Use in
Public Buildings" described in Technical Bulletin 129 of the State
of California.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of mattresses having a
fire retardant construction comprising a mattress assembly having
an inner cushioning member, top and bottom mattress covers and a
surrounding border strip extending around the periphery of the
mattress between the top mattress cover and the bottom mattress
cover. In the present invention, the peripheral border strip
extending around the periphery of the mattress is secured to the
fabric flanges of the top and bottom mattress covers by tiny
releasable hook and loop fastening members. The fire retardant
construction includes a first peripheral welt or cylindrical member
somewhat in the form of a lip having an enlarged diameter extending
around the periphery of the upper peripheral edge of the peripheral
border strip and a second peripheral welt or cylindrical member
somewhat in the form of a lip having an enlarged diameter extending
around the periphery of the lower peripheral edge of the peripheral
border strip. Such welt or enlarged cylindrical member can be
continuous length of rope enclosed within a folded over portion of
the mattress fabric. When the peripheral border strip is in place
on the mattress, the first peripheral welt of the border strip
contacts and presses against a corresponding welt provided on the
fabric flange of the top mattress cover positioned thereon to face
the first peripheral welt when the border strip is in place on the
mattress, and the second peripheral welt of the border strip
contacts and presses against a corresponding welt provided on the
fabric flange of the bottom mattress cover positioned thereon to
face the second peripheral welt when the border strip is in place
on the mattress.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Relevant prior art of which the inventor is aware is set
forth in the following patents discovered during his searches for
prior art.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,809 discloses an articulated mattress
for an adjustable bed which has hinge portions between mattress
sections for limited pivotal movement of one section relative to
another.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,255 discloses a cushion or mattress
structure comprising a box structure with side, top and bottom
walls of foam material, and cavity within the box to receive
encased springs.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,884 discloses a modular box spring
mattress comprising a plurality of plate sub units in which coil
springs are received and held by flexible retaining arms. The sub
units have cooperative coupling structures to hold adjacent sub
units together.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,941 discloses an assembled mattress
having an upper sheet with integrally formed sleeves or bellows
extending downward and a lower sheet with integrally formed sleeves
or bellows extending upward, with individual coil springs seated in
each of the sleeves or bellows.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,840 discloses a sectional mattress
comprising three separate sections positioned end to end, with one
end of a coil spring connected at each end of the middle section
and on both sides thereof, having the other end of each coil spring
connected to the adjacent mattress section at each opposite end of
the middle section.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 2,446,775 discloses an innerspring mattress
construction made up of sections which are glued together along
facing end walls to make up a completed mattress.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,249,266 discloses a combined chair and bed
having a mattress like coil spring cushion supported on a hinged
frame which folds down into a bed and angularly to form a chair in
one position and a recliner in another.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 2,216,991 discloses three mattress units which
are connected end to end to make a complete mattress. The units are
connected by a transverse cylindrical bar insert on one unit which
is received in a sleeve have a split cylindrical wall around its
through passageway on the adjacent unit.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 1,915,674 discloses a coil spring assembly for
making cushions, comprising four or more coils in a row connected
by an elongated endless loop of twisted wire which includes one
elongated strand connected to one side of each coil in the row and
a second parallel strand connected to the opposite side of each
coil in the row, such rows of coils in turn being connected to
adjacent rows of coils by C-wires or fasteners known as hog
rings.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 1,459,540 discloses a sectional mattress
comprising three separate sections that are laid end to end to make
up a complete mattress and can be interchanged in their
relationship to each other. The innersprings within each section
are encased in bags.
[0013] The inventor's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,026 discloses a
do-it-yourself type of mattress which can be put together by the
customer after purchasing the necessary component parts.
[0014] The inventor's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,688 discloses a
modular innerspring assembly for a mattress and a modular box
spring assembly on which the mattress is placed.
[0015] The inventor's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,639 discloses an
S-shaped metal connecting clip having a spring characteristic to
more easily connect the border wire around the top and bottom of an
innerspring assembly to the top and bottom coils of adjacent coil
springs.
[0016] The inventor's own U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,811 discloses a
mattress having access to materials sandwiched between the mattress
covers and the innerspring or other innercushioning member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention constitutes an improvement over the
prior art in that the border strip around the periphery of the
mattress assembly includes a fire retardant construction. The fire
retardant construction includes a first continuous welt or
cylindrical enlargement along the upper edge of the border strip
held in close contact against a corresponding continuous welt or
cylindrical enlargement along the facing portion of the fabric
flange hanging down from the top mattress cover, and a second
continuous welt or cylindrical enlargement along the lower edge of
the border strip held in close contact against a corresponding
continuous welt or cylindrical enlargement along the facing portion
of the fabric flange extending upwardly from the bottom mattress
cover.
[0018] In one embodiment, a peripheral retaining band has a width
corresponding to the peripheral side wall dimension of the mattress
or innercushioning member. The retaining band usually has an
outwardly facing surface covered by the same material as the
outwardly facing surfaces of the top and bottom mattress covers. On
the inwardly facing surface, the retaining band includes tiny hook
or loop fasteners of the Velcro type to releasably interconnect
with corresponding tiny hook or loop fasteners on the top and
bottom mattress covers or on the fabric flanges of the top and
bottom mattress covers.
[0019] The retaining band can also be a continuous length of
material, preferably having some elasticity, and slipped over the
innercushioning member as well as over the fabric flanges of the
top and bottom mattress covers in place on the innercushioning
member. The mattress may otherwise be of the traditional mattress
construction, having an innercushioning member such as an
innerspring assembly, cushioning material over the upper and lower
surfaces of the innerspring assembly, a mattress cover over such
cushioning materials on both surfaces, with the fabric flange of
the top mattress cover extending downwardly along and around the
peripheral side wall of the mattress assembly and the fabric flange
of the bottom mattress cover extending upwardly therealong and
therearound. The difference between the present invention and the
prior art is that the fabric flanges of the top and bottom mattress
covers have fire retardant welts positioned thereon to contact and
press against corresponding fire retardant welts on the inner
surface of the peripheral border strip when the tiny fastening
hooks and loops of the border strip and mattress covers are pressed
together to releasably interconnect the border strip with the
mattress covers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a mattress in accordance
with this invention in which the middle portion has been broken
away, and in which portions of the upper and lower edges of the
peripheral band extending around the mattress have also been broken
away to illustrate a peripherally extending rope that is enclosed
within folded over portions of the mattress fabric along both the
upper and lower edges of the peripheral band.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but
with a middle portion of the mattress as seen in this section view
broken away.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] A mattress assembly 2 in accordance with the present
invention comprises an innercushioning assembly such as an
innerspring 4, a top mattress cover 6, a bottom mattress cover 8,
and a peripheral border strip 10 in the form of an elongated band
12 that extends around the entire periphery 14 of the mattress
assembly 2. The elongated band 12 has a first peripherally
extending strip 16 of tiny releasable hook fastening members 18
just below the upper edge 20 of the inwardly facing surface 22 of
the elongated band 12, and a second peripherally extending strip 24
of said tiny releasable hook fastening members 18 just above the
lower edge 26 of such inwardly facing surface 22 of the elongated
band 12.
[0023] The elongated band 12 has a first peripherally extending
welt or cylindrical enlargement such as a fabric enfolded rope 17
along the upper edge 20 of the elongated band 12 just above the
peripherally extending strip 16 having the tiny releasable hook
fastening members 18. The elongated band 12 also has a second
peripherally extending welt or cylindrical enlargement such as a
fabric enfolded rope 25 along the lower edge 26 of the elongated
band 12 just below the peripherally extending strip 24 having the
tiny releasable hook fastening members 18. The rope 17 and 25 may
be a continuous length of rope made of hemp or comparable rope
making material, having a diameter of one-eighth of an inch to
One-quarter of an inch.
[0024] The first peripherally extending strip 16 of releasable hook
fastening members 18 releasably interconnect with corresponding
tiny releasable loop fastening members 42 secured to the outwardly
facing surface 44 of the fabric flange 46 and extends around the
periphery of the top mattress cover 6 hanging downwardly therefrom.
A peripherally extending welt or cylindrical enlargement 43 is
secured to the outwardly facing surface 44 of the fabric flange 46
just above the tiny releasable loop fastening members 42,
positioned to face and firmly contact the welt 17 around the upper
edge of the elongated peripheral band 12.
[0025] The second peripherally extending strip 24 of such
releasable hook fastening members 18 releasably interconnect with
corresponding tiny releasable loop fastening members 42 secured to
the outwardly facing surface 50 of the fabric flange 52 and extends
around the periphery of the bottom mattress cover 8 projecting
upwardly therefrom. A peripherally extending welt or cylindrical
enlargement 53 is secured to the outwardly facing surface 50 of the
fabric flange 52 just below the tiny releasable loop fastening
members 42 around the fabric flange 52, positioned to face and
firmly contact the welt 25 around the lower edge of the elongated
peripheral band 12.
[0026] When the welt 17 along the upper edge of the elongated
peripheral band 12 is in place and in firm contact with the
corresponding welt 43 of the fabric flange of the top mattress
cover, and the welt 25 along the lower edge of the elongated
peripheral band 12 is in place and in firm contact with the
corresponding welt 53 of the fabric flange 52 of the bottom
mattress cover, held securely in place by the respective releasable
hook and loop fastening members, the welt 17 in firm contact with
its corresponding welt 43 and welt 25 in firm contact with its
corresponding welt 53 provide a fire retardant construction by
substantially preventing oxygen from reaching interior portions of
the mattress to thereby retard and prevent ignition of materials in
the interior of the mattress.
[0027] The mattress having the fire retardant construction in
accordance with this invention has passed a mattress fire
prevention test commonly used as a standard in the mattress
industry for mattresses used in public buildings. That is the
"Flammability Test Procedure for Mattresses For Use in Public
Buildings" described in Technical Bulletin 129 of the State of
California which is available to the public, including on the
Internet. The purpose of such test is to determine the burning
behavior of mattresses used in public occupancy facilities, such as
hospitals and other health care facilities, old age convalescent
homes, boarding houses, college dormitories, residence halls and
the like. An elongated propane gas burner with spaced apart
apertures is positioned parallel to the bottom horizontal surface
of the mattress, one inch from the vertical side panel of the
mattress, and ignited. The testing continues until (1) all
combustion has ceased, (2) one hour of testing has elapsed or (3)
flashover of the mattress being tested appears inevitable.
* * * * *