U.S. patent application number 10/973771 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for spacer fabric for mattress pad.
Invention is credited to Jeremy Schlussel.
Application Number | 20070261173 10/973771 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38683678 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070261173 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlussel; Jeremy |
November 15, 2007 |
Spacer fabric for mattress pad
Abstract
A spacer fabric in combination with an infant mattress pad is
provided. The spacer fabric has three parts or components knitted
together to form a fabric with two breathable outer fabric layers
and a breathable cushioned middle defined by yarns interconnecting
the two layers. The spacer fabric is incorporated into an infant
mattress pad in order to create an infant safety and comfort system
designed to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS) and also to provide infants with enhanced comfort.
Inventors: |
Schlussel; Jeremy;
(Lawrence, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOTTLIEB RACKMAN & REISMAN PC
270 MADISON AVENUE
8TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10016-0601
US
|
Family ID: |
38683678 |
Appl. No.: |
10/973771 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60515171 |
Oct 27, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/725 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 31/006 20130101;
A47D 15/001 20130101; D04B 21/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/725 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/05 20060101
A47C027/05 |
Claims
1. An infant mattress pad comprising a body portion of which at
least a part thereof is made from a spacer fabric material.
2. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, further including a border
portion integrally formed around the body portion.
3. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said spacer fabric
material comprises two fabric layers and a plurality of
interconnecting or separator yarns disposed therebetween.
4. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein the two fabric
layers of said spacer fabric material are made from either the same
or different fabric materials.
5. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said two fabric
layers of said spacer fabric material have a construction selected
from the group consisting of a mesh construction and a solid
construction.
6. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said spacer fabric
material is made from a yarn selected from the group consisting of
polyester, nylon, spandex; cotton, polyester, propylene, other
naturally occurring yarns, and man-made fibers.
7. The infant mattress pad of claim 2, wherein said border portion
includes an elastic trim sewn therealong.
8. The infant mattress pad of claim 2, wherein said border portion
is made from a fabric material different than that of said spacer
fabric material.
9. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein the spacer fabric
material is made from yarn comprising a textured yarn having yarn
fibers of a denier less than one.
10. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said body portion
has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 1.0 inches.
11. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said body portion
of said pad includes an upper layer incorporating said spacer
fabric and a lower layer of a breathable foam material.
12. The infant mattress pad of claim 11, wherein said upper layer
has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.5 inches and said lower
layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.75 inches.
13. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said spacer fabric
material is treated with a wicking agent.
14. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said spacer fabric
material is finished by a finishing process selected from the group
consisting of a scouring, brushing and sanding.
15. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein the spacer fabric
material has a mesh size of between about 200 microns and 0.5
inches.
16. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, wherein said spacer fabric
has a fabric density of between about 75 stitches per square inch
and 2,400 stitches per square inch.
17. An infant mattress pad comprising; a mattress having a top
portion, a bottom portion and a continuous side wall; and a
mattress pad sized for selectively covering said mattress of which
at least a substantial portion thereof is made from a spacer fabric
material.
18. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said mattress pad
comprises a body portion and an integrally formed border portion
therearound.
19. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said body portion of
said pad is of a size and width which is substantially the same as
that of said top portion of said mattress.
20. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said border portion of
said pad has a width which is at least substantially the same as
that of said side wall of said mattress.
21. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said body portion of
said pad includes an upper layer incorporating said spacer fabric
material and a lower layer of a breathable foam material.
22. The bedding system of claim 21, wherein said lower layer of
breathable foam material abuts against said top portion of said
mattress when said pad is fitted thereover.
23. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said pad has a
thickness of between about 0.1 and 1.0 inches.
24. The bedding system of claim 21, wherein said upper layer has a
thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.5 inches and said lower layer
has a thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.75 inches.
25. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said spacer fabric
material has a mesh size of between about 200 microns and 0.5
inches and fabric density of between about 75 stitches per square
inch and 2,400 stitches per square inch.
26. An infant mattress pad comprising a body portion of which at
least a substantial part thereof is made of a breathable fabric
material.
27. The infant mattress pad of claim 26, wherein said breathable
fabric material is selected from the group consisting of a mesh
fabric material and a spacer fabric material.
28. The infant mattress pad of claim 26, wherein said pad includes
a top layer of said breathable fabric material and an underlying
layer of a foam material.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority benefit of provisional
application No. 60/515,171, filed Oct. 27, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to an infant mattress pad, and,
more particularly, to an infant mattress pad which incorporates a
spacer fabric.
[0003] It is known that SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) occurs
in infants primarily under six months of age. While there is no
definitive proof as to why SIDS occurs, there is a significant
medical school of thought that says SIDS occurs when an infant
re-breaths its own carbon dioxide. Although SIDS risk has been
shown to be lowered significantly when an infant sleeps on its
back, the risk nonetheless remains. Also, many infants, even if
placed on their back to sleep, can roll over, increasing the SIDS
risk.
[0004] Indeed, infants are known to turn over or maneuver
themselves into positions which make it hard for them to breath.
Also, doctors sometimes recommend for infants to sleep on their
stomach for reasons such as reflux and head deformity. Moreover,
sometimes parents will put their infants on their stomachs to sleep
better. Any of these reasons therefore, put an infant at higher
risk for SIDS.
[0005] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sleeping
environment for infants which reduce the risk of SIDS as much as
possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a
spacer fabric in combination with an infant mattress pad is
provided.
[0007] The spacer fabric has three parts or components knitted
together to form a fabric defined by two breathable outer fabric
layers and a breathable cushioned middle comprising yarns
interconnecting the two layers. The spacer fabric is incorporated
into an infant mattress pad in order to create an infant safety and
comfort system designed to help reduce the risk of sudden infant
death syndrome (SIDS) and also to provide infants with enhanced
comfort.
[0008] Medical school of thought suggests the risk of SIDS is
reduced by having an infant sleep on a mattress pad made of a
fabric material which utilizes breathable spacer fabric. Such a pad
allows the infant to rest above the mattress itself, leaving room
for carbon dioxide gas to defuse along a lower level than the level
that the infant rests. This reduces the carbon dioxide amount that
the infant breaths, which, in turn, reduces the risk of SIDS.
[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an
improved infant sleeping environment.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
mattress pad for infant mattresses and cribs.
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a mattress
pad system which utilizes breathable spacer fabric.
[0012] Still other objects and advantages will, in part, be obvious
and will, in part, be apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is
made to the following description, taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
inventive mattress pad as applied to a mattress; and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the inventive mattress pad
as applied to a mattress.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Spacer fabric, also known as double needle bar fabrics
(typically knitted on a double needle bar machine) or 3-dimensional
fabric, is typically made by knitting two fabric layers. The two
fabric layers could be the same or different, i.e. mesh or solid.
The spacer fabric further includes separator yarns interdisposed
between the two layers, creating a 3 dimensional cushioned material
fabric construction which is highly breathable. Such spacer fabrics
and their manufacture are well known in the art. Any yarn can be
used to knit spacer fabrics, including polyester, nylon, spandex,
cotton, polyester, polypropylene, or any other naturally occurring
or man-made fiber used for knitting. Spacer fabric may also be
prepared by weaving or other known technologies.
[0017] Now referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the inventive
mattress pad is shown and generally indicated at 11. Mattress pad
11 is defined by a body portion 13 of substantially the same size
as top portion 23 of mattress 21 as well as an integrally formed
border portion 15. Body portion 13 is defined by a single layer 16
made of a spacer fabric material of the type described hereinabove,
while border portion 15 is made from a solid non-spacer fabric
material. In this regard, the fabric of border portion 15 will
preferably have an elastic trim sewn therealong and has a width
which substantially matches the wall thickness of mattress 21.
Border portion 15 is not made of a spacer fabric material in order
to reduce the use of spacer fabric in the construction of pad 11.
Thus, body portion 13 of pad 11 is sized to be disposed
substantially over top portion 23 of mattress 21. Moreover, because
border portion 15 of pad 11 is elastic, pad 11 will have a snug fit
over mattress 21, preventing the bunching thereof.
[0018] In a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, body portion 13
of mattress pad 11 is constructed with an upper layer 17 comprising
a spacer fabric, as described hereinabove, and an underlying layer
19 of a breathable foam material for adding resiliency to body
portion 13 of pad 11. Also, since body portion 13 incorporates
underlying layer 17 of a foam material, production of pad 11 is
made more cost-effective since it enables the overall use of a
smaller percentage of spacer fabric in pad 11.
[0019] In accordance with the invention, body portion 13 of pad 11
has a thickness of between about 0.1 inches and 1.0 inches and
preferably a thickness of between about 0.15 and 0.25 inches. If
body portion 13 of pad 11 incorporates both an upper layer of
spacer fabric and an underlying layer of a foam material, the upper
layer will have a thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.5 inches
(preferably between 0.15 and 0.25 inches), while the underlying
layer will have a thickness of between about 0.1 and 0.75 inches
(preferably between about 0.2 and 0.3 inches). Moreover, in this
embodiment, the upper and underlying layers remain co-extensive
with each other when applied to the mattress.
[0020] The inventive pad of the invention will reduce infant rashes
from saliva and other fluids by allowing such dispensed fluids to
drain to the bottom of the spacer fabric that defines the body
portion, keeping the infant away from the dispensed fluids.
Further, by utilizing moister management technologies in the spacer
fabric material such as, but not limited to utilizing special
fibers such as Hydrofil (modified version of nylon) and Coolmax
(modified version of polyester), knitting the fabric to have a
desired mesh size of between about 200 microns and 0.5 inches
(preferably between 0.1 and 0.25 inches) and/or a desired fabric
density of between about 75 stitches per square inch and 2,400
stitches per square inch (preferably between 300 and 600 stitches
per square inch), and/or finishing the fabric by applying a wicking
agent to the fabric, or to the yarns, before knitting. As a result,
fluids will be wicked away from the infant, thereby allowing faster
drying.
[0021] The inventive pad will be made from 100% hypoallergenic
materials, such as nylon, polyester, spandex and polypropylene.
This will help prevent allergies and maintain better breathing
while the infant is sleeping.
[0022] In accordance with the invention, the body portion of the
inventive pad will be constructed to be extremely soft by, for
example, using textured (crimped) yarn and microdenier (yarn fibers
or filaments of less than one denier), special knitting
constructions such as open or closed loops of the yarns, and/or
using certain fabric finishings prior to cutting and sewing, such
as jet scouring, brushing, and/or sanding of the fabric.
[0023] The inventive pad will be easy to wash, which will keep the
infant as clean as possible.
[0024] The invention may be expanded to include the use of an
infant mattress pad made from other breathable fabric materials By
way of example, the body portion of the mattress pad may be defined
by a regular mesh fabric as a top layer and a foam material as the
bottom layer; both layers are, as with the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, discussed hereinbefore, integrally formed together.
[0025] The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts as
shown and described in the preceding description. The scope of the
invention is defined by the following claims.
* * * * *