U.S. patent application number 11/482869 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for mattress cover and mattress pad cover.
Invention is credited to Carol Moran Pfleger.
Application Number | 20080005845 11/482869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38917858 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080005845 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moran Pfleger; Carol |
January 10, 2008 |
Mattress cover and mattress pad cover
Abstract
A cover for a mattress pad with an arrangement for retaining a
mattress pad and a mechanism for securing the arrangement to a
mattress. In a specific embodiment, the arrangement for retaining
the pad is an envelope with a zipper along one side thereof. As an
alternative, the arrangement for retaining the pad may include a
hook and loop type fastener. In the illustrative embodiment, the
mechanism for securing the envelope and pad to the mattress is an
at least partially elastic skirt. In alternative implementation,
the invention is a complete mattress cover assembly with a mattress
pad and a cover for the pad. In this embodiment, the cover includes
the arrangement for retaining the mattress pad and the mechanism
for securing the arrangement to a mattress as discussed above.
Inventors: |
Moran Pfleger; Carol;
(Chatsworth, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Benman, Brown & Williams
Ste. 2740, 2049 Century Park East
Los Angeles
CA
90067
US
|
Family ID: |
38917858 |
Appl. No.: |
11/482869 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/691 ;
5/737 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 31/007 20130101;
A47G 9/0246 20130101; A47C 27/005 20130101; A47C 31/105
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/691 ;
5/737 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/00 20060101
A47C027/00; A47G 9/00 20060101 A47G009/00 |
Claims
1. A cover for a mattress pad comprising: means for retaining a
mattress pad and means for securing said means for retaining to a
mattress.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining is an
envelope.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining
includes a hook and loop type fastener.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining is a
skirt.
6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said skirt is at least
partially elastic.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said skirt is secured to said
means for retaining.
8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said means for retaining is an
envelope.
9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
10. A cover for a mattress pad comprising: an envelope for
retaining a mattress pad and an at least partially elastic skirt
coupled to said envelope for securing said envelope to a
mattress.
11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
12. The invention of claim 10 wherein said envelope includes a hook
and loop type fastener.
13. A mattress cover comprising: a mattress pad; means for
retaining a mattress pad and means for securing said means for
retaining to a mattress.
14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said means for retaining is
an envelope.
15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
16. The invention of claim 13 wherein said means for retaining
includes a hook and loop type fastener.
17. The invention of claim 13 wherein said means for retaining is a
skirt.
18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said skirt is at least
partially elastic.
19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said skirt is secured to said
means for retaining.
20. The invention of claim 19 wherein said means for retaining is
an envelope.
21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
22. A mattress cover comprising: a pad; an envelope for retaining
said pad and an at least partially elastic skirt coupled to said
envelope for securing said envelope and said pad to a mattress.
23. The invention of claim 22 wherein said envelope includes a
zipper.
24. The invention of claim 22 wherein said envelope includes a hook
and loop type fastener.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to bedding. More specifically,
the present invention relates to bedding and linen for covering
mattresses.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, hotels offered bedding with standard 5-6
ounce-mattress pads or `toppers`. More recently, several hotel
chains have offered bedding with 14 and 24 ounce mattress pads to
provide guests a more luxurious feel. In some cases, the pads are
integrated into the mattress. For the mattresses without an
integrated pad, a standalone replaceable mattress pad is used. The
replaceable pads are easily removed to facilitate cleaning.
[0005] Unfortunately, the thicker more bulky pads are more
difficult to wash and dry in commercial machines. In addition,
frequent washing changes the feel of the pad, increases wear rate
and leads to shorter life cycle for the considerably more costly
pads. Consequently, the cost associated with the deployment,
maintenance and use of the more luxurious mattress pads is
considerably higher than that associated with conventional pads.
Hence, a need exists in the art for a system or method for
protecting thick mattress pads to mitigate the need for frequent
washing and drying thereof.
[0006] In addition, the thicker replaceable mattress pads are
typically secured to the mattress using bands at the corners
thereof. This is due at least in part to the fact that the elastic
skirts typically used on fitted sheets add bulk to the already
bulky pad and thereby exacerbate the cleaning problem set forth
above. In addition, the skirts tend to shrink and lose
effectiveness. Unfortunately, the bands tend to stretch with wear
and lose effectiveness as well. The tension on the bands can be
considerable given thickness of the pad. Hence, when one sits on
the bed, the bands are stretched to the limit.
[0007] The limited utility of the bands is further shortened by
exposure to heat during drying as well. Eventually, one or more
bands often break prompting hotel staff to cut the remaining bands.
This leaves the pad to be secured to the mattress by its weight
alone.
[0008] To some extent, the need for a pad protector is met by
conventional mattress pad protectors. However, conventional
mattress pad protectors do not secure the mattress pad in place on
the mattress. Hence, when one sits on the thicker pad, the pads
tend to become displaced. This necessitates a visit by staff to
remake the bed. Obviously, this approach is costly and
undesirable.
[0009] Hence, a need remains in the art for a system or method for
protecting mattress pads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The need in the art is addressed by the present invention.
In one embodiment, the invention is a cover for a mattress pad and
comprises an arrangement for retaining a mattress pad and a
mechanism for securing the arrangement to a mattress.
[0011] In a specific embodiment, the arrangement for retaining a
pad is an envelope with a zipper along one side thereof. As an
alternative, the arrangement for retaining a pad includes a hook
and loop type fastener. In the illustrative embodiment, the
mechanism for securing the envelope and pad to the mattress is an
at least partially elastic skirt.
[0012] In alternative implementation, the invention is a mattress
cover comprising a mattress pad and a cover for the pad. The cover
includes an arrangement for retaining a mattress pad and a
mechanism for securing the arrangement to a mattress as discussed
above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress protector
implemented in accordance with an-illustrative embodiment of the
teachings of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective sectional view of the
protector of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the protector of FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a magnified partial sectional side view of the
protector of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a magnified partial sectional side view of an
alternative embodiment of the protector of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Illustrative embodiments and exemplary applications will now
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to
disclose the advantageous teachings of the present invention.
[0019] While the present invention is described herein with
reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications,
it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.
Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings
provided herein will recognize additional modifications,
applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and
additional fields in which the present invention would be of
significant utility.
[0020] In one embodiment, the invention is a cover for a mattress
pad and comprises an arrangement for retaining a mattress pad and a
mechanism for securing the arrangement to a mattress. In another
realization, the invention is a complete mattress protection
assembly with a pad and the inventive cover. Both illustrative
implementations of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress protector
implemented in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the
teachings of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective sectional view of the
protector of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the protector of FIG.
1.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a magnified partial sectional side view of the
protector of FIG. 1.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the protector 11 includes a generally
planar upper section 13 and a skirt 15 disposed about the periphery
thereof. The protector 11 is sized to cover a mattress and extend
around the bottom thereof. The protector 11 may be made of any
suitably comfortable bedding material such as linen with a
sufficiently tight weave to suit a given application without
departing from the scope of the present teachings. For example,
various types of fabrics may be used depending on the application
or customer requirements including waterproof materials for
hospitals, nursing home and the like, dust mite and allergy-proof
fabrics for home and hotel use, and other new fabrics that might be
available in the future that might be optimal for specific
applications.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the upper section 13 of the
protector has a thread count of 200 on top 14 and 130 on the bottom
16 thereof.
[0027] In the best mode, the skirt 15 is fabricated with an elastic
band 18 (shown in FIG. 2), as is common in the manufacture of
fitted sheets. This ensures that the protector will retain a
mattress pad 17 in place on a mattress 19 (both shown in phantom in
FIG. 1).
[0028] As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, in the illustrative
embodiment, the arrangement for retaining the pad is an envelope 23
with a zipper 21 (FIG. 1) along one side thereof. The envelope 23
is sized to receive and retain the mattress pad 17 (shown in
phantom in FIG. 2). The zipper 21 is shown more clearly in the
magnified partial sectional side view of FIG. 4.
[0029] As an alternative, the arrangement for retaining the pad 17
may include a hook and loop type fastener 25 such as that shown in
FIG. 5.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a magnified partial sectional side view of an
alternative embodiment of the protector of the present invention
with a hook and loop (e.g. Velcro.TM.) type fastener 25. In this
embodiment, the fastener includes a strip of hook (or loop) type
material secured to the pad 17 and a strip of loop (or hook) type
material secured to the cover 11 at end thereof. In practice,
multiple strips of any length may be used around the periphery of
the bed. As an alternative, the fasteners 25' may be positioned
between the pad 17 and the mattress 19 as shown in phantom in FIG.
5.
[0031] Thus, the present invention has been described herein with
reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application.
Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present
teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and
embodiments within the scope thereof. For example, the invention is
not limited to the size of the protector or the material used in
its fabrication. Nor is the invention limited to the means
disclosed for securing a pad to the protector.
[0032] It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any
and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the
scope of the present invention.
[0033] Accordingly,
* * * * *