Mattress Encasement Systems

Abstract

An encasement system is disclosed. All of the embodiments include an outer encasement, which may be a decorative encasement, for example, normally provide on mattresses by mattress manufacturers. Unlike outer encasements provided by mattress manufacturers, the outer encasements disclosed herein are removable, for example, in order to replace one or more layers of a foam mattress core. The embodiments herein may include a cover and / or an inner encasement to facilitate rotation of the mattress core relative to the foundation of the bed. The encasement system is available as a passive device which provides the features mentioned above and an active device which additionally can be used to selectively lift the mattress to facilitate bed making.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 130,906, filed on Mar. 10, 2015 and is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 046,047, filed on Oct. 4, 2013, both hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to encasements for mattresses and more particularly to various configurations of an outer encasement, an optional inner encasement or inner cover, or an optional separate cover which facilitates mattress maneuverability, which includes lifting, sliding, installation, removal, and rotation (hereinafter maneuvering) of a mattress assembly with respect to a box spring, foundation, or fixed or adjustable platform (hereinafter foundation) or alternatively facilitates maneuvering, sliding, installation, removal, and rotation of the mattress core with respect to the outer encasement and can optionally fa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Other embodiments include inner encasements formed from top and bottom covers which are removable and are connected to a separate band or strip. The upper and lower covers as well as the band may optionally be formed from a decorative fabric. The upper and lower covers are removably attached to the strip with, for example, opposing 180 degree zippers to allow the upper and lower covers to be removed and re-installed. The 180 degree zippers allow the upper cover to be re-attached to the strip after the mattress core and the upper cover have been rotated 180 degrees. The lower cover can be flipped down over the foundation exposing its interior slick surface to an underside of the mattress core. The mattress core including the top cover can then be rotated and reconnected by way of the 180 degree zippers. A bottom panel of the lower covered is zippered on 3 or 4 sides to facilitate installation and removal of the mattress core.

[0017]In other embodiments, an inner encasement is provided with top and bottom covers which are together. An additional cover is provided. The additional cover is removably attachable to the top cover of the inner encasement directly or by way of a flap that is connected to the top cover of the inner encasement in a way that conceals the inner encasement zipper. The bottom surface of the additional cover may be provided with attachment provisions for attachment of the additional cover to the foundation. An inner bottom surface of the additional cover and / or the bottom surface of the bottom cover of the inner encasement may be provided as slick surfaces. These slick surfaces facilitate rotation of the encased mattress core when the additional cover is flipped down over the foundation. The additional cover may also include an inflatable air volume for levitating the mattress for maneuvering.

[0018]In yet other embodiments, an inner encasement and separate outer top and bottom covers is disclosed. The inner encasement is used to encase the mattress core. The inner encasement includes removable and re-installable top and bottom covers. These inner encasement covers are removably attachable to each other to encase a mattress core. The outer covers are attached to each other by way of 180 degree zippers. These outer covers may be un-attached so that the top outer cover can be folded down over the platform to enable the encased mattress core and top outer cover to be rotated 180 degrees. The 180 degree zippers allow the top outer cover to be re-zippered to the bottom outer cover. In some embodiments, the bottom outer cover is provided with an inflatable air volume to facilitate mattress maneuvering.

[0019]In other embodiments, an inner encasement is provided which includes a top cover and a bottom cover removably attached together. One or both of an outer top cover or an outer bottom cover may be attached to the inner encasement or to a flap that is attached to the inner encasement. In embodiments that include a bottom cover, an inflatable volume may be provided to facilitate maneuvering of the mattress.

[0020]Other embodiments of encasements are configured as “one size fits all”. These embodiments include top cover and a bottom cover that are zippered on 3 sides. Both the top cover and the bottom cover include a horizontal panel and vertical side panels. In accordance with this embodiment, the vertical side panels and optionally the horizontal panel of the top cover are made from a fabric that is stretchable in a vertical direction. An inner surface of the bottom cover may be formed as a slick surface. The slick surface facilitates horizontal rotation of the mattress core when the top and bottom covers are un-zippered. In this mode, the bottom cover is folded down over the foundation and the top cover is flipped over to one side. The bottom cover may be further configured with an inflatable volume to further facilitate mattress maneuvering.

[0022]Various configurations of the encasements are provided. In one embodiment, an encasement cover is formed from 2 pieces. One piece is in a “C” shape and forms 3 vertical side walls. The other piece is in an “L” shape and forms the horizontal panel and the fourth vertical sidewall. Another embodiment [c-c] pieces. In another embodiment, both the top and bottom covers can be formed from 2 pieces of material. The top cover is formed from a “C” shaped piece of material that forms a top horizontal panel and 2 vertical sidewalls. The bottom cover is also formed from a “C” shaped piece of material that forms a bottom horizontal panel and 2 vertical side panels. The 2 sidewalls from the top cover plus the 2 sidewalls from the bottom cover may be removably attached together to form an encasement from 2 pieces of material. A clam shell configuration of a mattress encasement is provided that is removably attached along 3 sides. In addition, 2 of the vertical side panels adjacent the unattached side of the top cover are also removably attached to facilitate a mode in which the side panels are folded down over the foundation. A stretchable material may also be used to bridge the gap between the zippered vertical panels and a vertical panel that connects the top horizontal panel to the lower horizontal panel.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, should the decorative encasement become soiled with liquid or other fluid, the mattress is essentially ruined and requires replacement.

Another problem with factory-installed encasements is that any degradation or compression of the mattress core requires the entire mattress to be replaced.

As such, one side of the mattress may degrade or compress more than the other side, making the one side uncomfortable.

Both of these solutions are expensive.

Unfortunately, such mattresses are relatively heavy and thus are relatively cumbersome to rotate or maneuver.

There are several problems with such vinyl encasements.

One such problem is that they are uncomfortable.

Another problem relates to cleaning them after being soiled with blood, urine or other matter.

Such vinyl encasements cannot be laundered.

Such a task is very cumbersome and due to the weight of the mattress requires multiple individuals.

Mattresses are relatively heavy items.

As such, lifting the mattress for bed making or to remove an encasement can be an extremely difficult task for an individual to perform.

In hotels and motels, where housekeepers must make up multiple beds every day, cumulative repeated lifting of mattresses by a single housekeeper can be quite debilitating.

Another problem with encased mattresses relates to the difficulty in maneuvering a mattress, for example to install or remove a bed skirt.

For one thing, encasements cause the mattress handles to be covered making an encased mattress difficult to maneuver.

The problem is especially acute if there is a bed skirt on the foundation.

In that case, maneuvering the mattress causes the bed skirt to move out of position.

This is a very cumbersome task and requires more than one person.

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