U.S. patent application number 12/564210 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-24 for bed bug proof mattress.
Invention is credited to ALEX KUSSOFF.
Application Number | 20110067182 12/564210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43755294 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110067182 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KUSSOFF; ALEX |
March 24, 2011 |
BED BUG PROOF MATTRESS
Abstract
A bed-bug proof mattress comprises an inner section including
filler and springs and a continuous outer layer comprised of (i) a
bed bug retardant layer made of light weight interlock knit
polyester laminated to a hydrophilic breathable polyurethane film,
(ii) a fire retardant layer; (iii) a foam layer, the bed bug
retardant layer quilted to the fire retardant layer and to the foam
layer and containing a seam. The bed bug retardant layer is
integrally joined to the fire retardant layer and to the foam layer
by being quilted together during the manufacturing of the mattress.
The bed bug retardant layer may be approximately one mil thick. The
interlock knit provides few places for dust accumulation and the
film may act as a barrier for bed bugs. Although the film may be
hydrophilic to increases the user's comfort, it may be without
pores or even micropores so that it can act as an effective
barrier.
Inventors: |
KUSSOFF; ALEX; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Family ID: |
43755294 |
Appl. No.: |
12/564210 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/698 ;
5/737 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 31/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/698 ;
5/737 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/00 20060101
A47C027/00; A47C 31/00 20060101 A47C031/00 |
Claims
1. A mattress, comprising: an inner section; and a continuous
uninterrupted outer layer comprised of (i) a bed bug retardant
layer including a continuous polyester interlock fabric adjacent to
a continuous plastic film, (ii) a fire retardant layer; (iii) a
foam layer, the bed bug retardant layer quilted to the fire
retardant layer and to the foam layer.
2. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the plastic film is a
polyurethane film.
3. The mattress of claim 2, wherein the polyurethane film is
hydrophilic and breathable without being porous.
4. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the plastic film is a
polyurethane film that has a thickness of approximately one
mil.
5. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the polyester interlock fabric
is lightweight.
6. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the bed bug retardant layer
includes a bed bug free seam around a perimeter of the top and
underside of the mattress.
7. The mattress of claim 6, wherein the seam is made of
polyester.
8. The mattress of claim 1, wherein the polyester interlock fabric
is a knit fabric.
9. A mattress adapted to be free of bed bug infestation by means of
a continuous outer layer made of a polyester interlock fabric
laminated with a breathable polyurethane film so as to form a
barrier preventing bed bugs from traversing or breeding in the
outer layer.
10. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the barrier prevents bed bugs
from breeding along a seam at a perimeter of the outer layer.
11. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the continuous outer layer is
joined to a fire retardant layer.
12. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the continuous outer layer
encloses the mattress from all sides.
13. The mattress of claim 9, wherein the continuous outer layer is
joined to a fire retardant layer and wherein the fire retardant
layer is joined to an elastic layer.
14. A method of preventing bed bugs from infesting beds of a hotel,
comprising: incorporating into mattresses of beds of the hotel a
continuous uninterrupted outer layer comprised of (i) a bed bug
retardant layer including a light weight interlock knit polyester
laminated with a hydrophilic polyurethane film, (ii) a fire
retardant layer; and (iii) a foam layer, the bed bug retardant
layer quilted to the fire retardant layer and to the foam layer and
containing a seam.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising changing linen on
the beds without having to remove a special mattress cover related
to bed bugs.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the polyurethane is
moisture-curable.
17. A method of making a bed bug retardant mattress, comprising:
laminating a hydrophilic polyurethane film to a polyester interlock
knit to form a bed bug retardant layer; quilting the bed bug
retardant layer to a fire retardant layer and to a foam layer to
form an outer layer; and joining the outer layer to an inner
section to form a mattress.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the laminating includes putting
a discontinuous layer of adhesive between the film and the
interlock knit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to apparatus and
methods for preventing bed bugs and mites from infiltrating
mattresses.
[0002] Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They
are usually active at night when people are sleeping. Adult bed
bugs have flat, rusty-red-colored oval bodies. About the size of an
apple seed, they are big enough to be easily seen, but often hide
in cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, their
bodies swell and become brighter red. They can live for several
months without food or water. When bed bugs infect an apartment
dwelling they often reside in mattresses. When they reside in
mattresses they typically reside not inside the mattress but rather
under the seam of the mattress.
[0003] The following article about bed bugs in New York City was
taken from a recent blog and illustrates the perniciousness of bed
bugs.
[0004] "I'm sorry we haven't hosted any play dates at our house," a
dad at school says the other day. "The truth is, we've been
fighting bed bugs for months." His tale unfolds then--the kind of
story that makes you wiggle and shiver and twitch just hearing it.
Back in September, they take their daughter to their family doctor
with what they expect are bed bug bites. The doctor says it's not
bed bugs--he even says it a second time, at their next visit. By
the time they finally prove him wrong, the bed bugs have a
strangle-hold on their apartment. "I just wish we had found them
right away," he says. Finally after months of fighting back, they
think it's over. Weeks later; more bites show up on their daughter.
He carries the heavy look of someone fighting a long war."
[0005] As of 2009, there is a full-blown bed bug outbreak across
New York City and in other cities across the United States. The bed
bugs are even in some of New York's fanciest hotels. According to
the same article "The exterminator won't let his kids sit on the
wood benches in the subway stations," my friend says. "They house
bed bugs, who can climb onto your clothes or into your bags."
People with the bed bug infestations talk about the social shame
they have. "They look traumatized and weary".
[0006] Bed bugs have not only infected residential dwellings,
making life in many residential buildings intolerable, but have so
seriously disturbed hotels that they have made life in such hotels
so intolerable for patrons that they have hurt business. Hotels by
definition have a lot of traffic and bed bug problems are
exacerbated by traffic.
[0007] In contrast to other vermin, bed bugs are so insidious that
courts have held that their presence in a residence constitutes
constructive eviction. The protocol for exterminating bed bugs
places such a toll on the residents of the apartments that this
causes secondary damage.
[0008] Prior art solutions to bed bugs include exterminating the
apartment with pesticides and sealing off mattresses with covers
made of vinyl or other materials. Each cover has an opening to
allow the cover to be placed on the mattress to enclose the
mattress. Then the opening of the mattress, or in the case of
covers with zippers, the zipper of the mattress, must be taped with
duct tape. Variations on this procedure may exist. The problem is
that the tape frequently falls off. In addition, in hotels, where
linen is changed on a daily basis it is impractical to use this
procedure. Even if this procedure were able to be used, the
frequent linen changes would increases the chances that the tape
would fall off.
[0009] As can be seen, there is a need for an effective and
practical apparatus and method that solves the bed bug problem,
particularly one that is easy to use.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] One aspect of the present invention is directed to a
mattress, comprising an inner section; and a continuous
uninterrupted outer layer comprised of (i) a bed bug retardant
layer including a continuous polyester interlock fabric adjacent to
a continuous plastic film, (ii) a fire retardant layer; (iii) a
foam layer, the bed bug retardant layer quilted to the fire
retardant layer and to the foam layer.
[0011] A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a
mattress adapted to be free of bed bug infestation by means of a
continuous outer layer made of a polyester interlock fabric
laminated with a breathable polyurethane film so as to form a
barrier preventing bed bugs from traversing or breeding in the
outer layer.
[0012] In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
presented a method of preventing bed bugs from infesting beds of a
hotel, comprising incorporating into mattresses of beds of the
hotel a continuous uninterrupted outer layer comprised of (i) a bed
bug retardant layer including a light weight interlock knit
polyester laminated with a hydrophilic polyurethane film, (ii) a
fire retardant layer; and (iii) a foam layer, the bed bug retardant
layer quilted to the fire retardant layer and to the foam layer and
containing a seam.
[0013] In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is
presented a method of preventing bed bugs from infesting beds of a
hotel, comprising incorporating a mattress into beds of the hotel,
the mattress having an inner section and that has a continuous
outer layer comprised of (i) a bed bug retardant layer including a
light weight interlock with polyurethane film, (ii) a fire
retardant layer; (iii) a foam layer, the bed bug retardant layer
quilted to the fire retardant layer and to the foam layer and
containing a seam.
[0014] In a further aspect of the present invention, the present
invention is directed to a method of making a bed bug retardant
mattress, comprising laminating a hydrophilic polyurethane film to
a polyester interlock knit to form a bed bug retardant layer;
quilting the bed bug retardant layer to a fire retardant layer and
to a foam layer to form an outer layer; and joining the outer layer
to an inner section to form a mattress.
[0015] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, descriptions and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a mattress in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention including a sectional
view of layers of one corner of the mattress;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mattress of FIG. 1 at a
juncture of a top and side of the mattress showing the outer layer
in section and showing a portion of the inside of the mattress;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mattress of FIG. 1A taken
along a line 3-3 of FIG. 1A;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the mattress of FIG. 1A taken
along a line 4-4 of FIG. 1A;
[0021] FIG. 5 is sectional view of the mattress of FIG. 1 at a
juncture of a side and top surface and showing the seam;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mattress of
FIG. 1 at a corner thereof showing the outer layer in section and
showing an inside portion of the corner of the mattress in phantom
lines;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the length of the
bed bug retardant layer showing its sublayers; and
[0024] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the outer layer showing a
portion of the bed bug retardant layer quilted to the fire
retardant layer and the elastic layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0026] The present invention generally provides a mattress that may
be bed bug proof. The mattress incorporates a continuous outer
layer enclosing the entire inner section of the mattress. The outer
layer may include a bed bug retardant layer made of a light weight
interlock polyester laminated with a hydrophilic polyurethane film
of approximately one mil thick by adhering one side of the
polyester layer to the polyurethane film. The bed bug retardant
layer may be quilted to a fire retardant layer and to a foam
layer.
[0027] In contrast to the prior art, in which a standard mattress
has to be covered with a bed bug proof cover that of necessity has
an opening for ingress and egress, the mattress of the present
invention includes a continuous outer layer integrally joined to
the mattress during the manufacturing of the mattress that may have
no openings. In further contrast to the prior art, in which a
mattress is first covered with a cover to prevent bed bug
infestation, the mattress of the present invention may eliminate
the need for any covering over it to seal against bed bugs. In
further contrast to the prior art, in which tape is used to seal
the mattress from bed bugs, the mattress of the present invention
may not requires any tape, thus saving effort, time and cost. In
further contrast to the prior art, in which tape is used to seal
the mattress and the tape frequently falls off or is disturbed,
especially on hotel bed mattresses where frequent linen changing
increases the change of disturbing such tape, the mattress and
method of the present invention may reliably allow hotels to
overcome the bed bug problem and provide a mattress that prevents
bed bugs while still permitting the routine of linen changes to
proceed. The present invention would not require that the linen
changes be more difficult because of the need to remove a special
cover that was placed on the mattress specifically to protect
against bed bugs.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows generally the mattress 10 of the present
invention. Mattress 10 may comprise an inner section 99 that may be
made of made of filler 98 and springs 97 (see FIG. 6). Although the
top surface of mattress 10 is quilted, as discussed further below,
this is not intended to be apparent from FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 1A
the outer layer of mattress 10 has layers 22, 24, 26. Again, the
quilted nature of these layers is not intended to be apparent from
FIG. 1A.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, which shows the layers along a top panel
of a mattress, mattress 10 may also include a continuous outer
layer 20 comprised of a bed bug retardant layer 22. As seen in FIG.
7, bed bug retardant layer 22 may itself be comprised of two
sublayers, including a fabric layer 21 and a layer of film. Fabric
sublayer 21 may be a light weight interlock knit fabric which may
be polyester, and in one preferred embodiment 100% polyester.
Interlocking knit refers to a very smooth knit that may allow few
places for bed bugs or dust mites to accumulate. The sublayer of
film 23 may be a hydrophilic moisture-curable polyurethane film.
Polyurethane film 23 may be hydrophilic and may draw liquid
perspiration from the body of a user lying on mattress 10, thus
providing comfort. Nonetheless, film sublayer 23 may not be porous
and may even be without micropores so that film sublayer 23 may act
as an effective barrier preventing bed bugs or dust mites from
traversing sublayer 23 and into mattress.
[0030] Applicant has commissioned scientific tests on a sample
mattress of the mattress 10 of the present invention. The sample
mattress was subjected to actual live bed bugs. Nonetheless, the
results of these scientific tests were that mattress 10 remained
free of bed bugs. The tests supported, the conclusion that mattress
10 of the present invention prevents bed bugs from gathering or
accumulating near or under seam 33, where they usually do, or in
other parts of mattress 10.
[0031] In addition, bed bug resistant layer 22 may exhibit
excellent wash resistance.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, the two sublayers of bed bug retardant
layer 22 may be joined together to form bed bug retardant layer 22
by laminating interlocking knit fabric layer 21 on one side with
film sublayer 23. The process may include providing an adhesive 29,
which may be a discontinuous layer of adhesive 29, between
sublayers 21, 23. For example, a dot formation of adhesive 29 may
be used to provide a more aesthetic and more malleable and drapable
overall layer 22. Pressure and heat may be used in the lamination
process.
[0033] The thickness of the bed bug retardant layer 22 may vary and
may be approximately one mil. Alternatively, film sublayer 23 may
be approximately one mil. A portion of the thickness of bed
retardant layer 22 may be taken up by the adhesive coated
hydrophilic polyurethane film 23. In certain embodiments, the
polyurethane film sublayer 23 may take up approximately 10 percent
of the weight of the bed bug retardant layer 22. For example, the
overall weight of the bed bug retardant layer 22 may be
approximately 3.75 ounces per square yard whereas the polyurethane
film sublayer 23 including its adhesive coating may weigh
approximately 0.3 ounces per square yard.
[0034] By being hydrophilic the polyurethane film may be breathable
yet may simultaneously still act as a barrier preventing bed bugs
from penetrating into the mattress. By being hydrophilic the
mattress' outer layer may be more comfortable since it absorbs the
body's sweat without allowing moisture to penetrate the outer layer
which could otherwise be a breeding ground four fungus, mold or bed
bugs.
[0035] Continuous outer layer 20 of mattress 10 may also include a
fire retardant layer 24 which may be bulbous in nature. Outer layer
20 may also include an elastic layer 26 that may typically be made
of foam.
[0036] Bed bug retardant layer 22 may be attached to other layers
of the mattress 10 in an integrated manner since bed bug retardant
layer is an integral portion of mattress 10. For example, as seen
in FIG. 8, bed bug retardant layer 22 may be quilted to fire
retardant layer 24 and to the foam layer 26 that is underneath fire
retardant layer 24. It is noted that other drawings figures herein
besides FIG. 8 do not depict the quilted nature of the layers 22,
24, 26 either because such figures showing sectional views may be
deemed to depict the portion of these layers at points between the
quilted points or, as in the case of FIG. 1, FIG. 1A, FIG. 2 and
FIG. 6, the criss-cross pattern is not to reflect the quilting
without showing the three-dimensional nature of the quilting.
[0037] As can be seen from FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, bed bug
retardant layer 22 may contain a seam 33 that runs along a
perimeter of the top of mattress 10 as well as along a perimeter of
the underside of mattress 10. As a result of the fact that bed bug
retardant layer 22 repels bed bugs, seam 33 may be free of bed
bugs. Otherwise, bed bugs would hide under the crease between seam
33 and a top surface of the top layer of mattress 10. Although seam
33 may be composed of the layers of outer layer 20, seam 33 may be
held in place by means of a polyester fastening means such as a
thread.
[0038] FIG. 4, a sectional view along a side panel of mattress 10,
shows the same bed bug retardant layer 22, fire resistant layer 24
and elastic layer 26 above spring 97 that is shown in FIG. 3.
Whereas FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a side panel, FIG. 3
is a sectional view taken along the top panel/surface of mattress
10. it is noted that outer layer 20 may be a continuous
uninterrupted outer layer that entirely envelopes and encases the
more inward portions of mattress 10. Standard mattress may however
incorporate additional filler layers 98 below the top surface of
the mattress as shown in FIG. 3 but such filler layers 98 may not
appear inward of the side panels of the mattress 10.
[0039] The present invention may also be expressed as a method of
preventing bed bugs from infesting beds of a hotel. This method may
include a step of incorporating into mattress of beds of the hotel
a continuous uninterrupted outer layer comprised of (i) a bed bug
retardant layer including a light weight interlock knit polyester
laminated with a hydrophilic polyurethane film, (ii) a fire
retardant layer; (iii) a foam layer, the bed bug retardant layer
quilted to the fire retardant layer and to the foam layer and
containing a seam. The method may also include a further step, in
certain embodiments, of changing linen on the beds without having
to remove a special cover related to bed bugs.
[0040] The present invention may also be expressed as a method of
making a bed bug retardant mattress, comprising laminating a
polyester interlock knit with a polyurethane film to form a bed bug
retardant layer; quilting the bed bug retardant layer to a fire
retardant layer and to a foam layer; and joining an inner section
to the quilted bed bug retardant layer form a mattress.
[0041] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *