Mattress encasement with improved bed bug protection

• US 8,516,633 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.
• Inventors: Dobin, J. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelleher, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURILLA, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US13/444,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 549/9, 569/9, 573/8, 548/4, 573/7, 593/9, 243/87, 243/88, 244/36
• US Class Current: 5/499
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/007 Anti-mite, anti-allergen or anti-bacterial means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/105 for mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2009/001 Anti-allergen; Anti-mite
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/0246 Fitted sheets loose furniture covers A47C31/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2511 with distinct, stationary means for anchoring slider
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2598 including means for obstructing movement of slider

Abstract

A mattress encasement with improved bed bug protection includes an encasement body configured to cover a mattress and a zipper disposed at an opening in the encasement body and movable between an open condition permitting insertion and removal of the mattress and a closed condition preventing bed bugs from traversing the zipper. The zipper has a zipper head and a zipper pull pivotable on the zipper head. A clasp is at least partly fixed to the encasement body. A hook-and-loop fastener is associated with the encasement body and the clasp for locking the zipper pull to the clasp with the zipper in the closed condition to prevent movement of the zipper head and opening of the zipper.

Claims

1. A mattress encasement with improved bed bug protection, the mattress encasement comprising:

an encasement body configured to cover a mattress;

a zipper disposed at an opening in said encasement body and movable between an open condition permitting insertion and removal of the mattress and a closed condition preventing bed bugs from traversing said zipper, said zipper having a zipper head and a zipper pull pivotable on said zipper head;

a clasp at least partly fixed to said encasement body;

and

a hook-and-loop fastener associated with said zipper pull and said clasp for locking said zipper pull to said clasp with said zipper in said closed condition to prevent movement of said zipper head and opening of said zipper, said hook-and-loop fastener having a material with hooks and a material with loops, said material with hooks being attached to one of said zipper pull or said clasp and said material with loops being attached to the other of said zipper pull or said clasp.

2. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said clasp has a fixed portion attached to said encasement body and a movable portion hinged to said fixed portion for sandwiching said zipper pull between said fixed and movable portions of said clasp in said closed condition of said zipper.

3. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said material with hooks forms one piece with one of said zipper pull or said clasp and said material with loops forms one piece with the other of said zipper pull or said clasp.

4. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said encasement body is formed of 100% Lyocell.

5. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said encasement body is formed of 100% cotton.

6. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said encasement body is formed of 100% polyester.

7. The mattress encasement according to claim 1, wherein said encasement body is formed of a blend of at least two fibers selected from the group consisting of Lyocell, cotton and polyester.

8. A mattress encasement comprising:

an encasement body configured for covering a mattress;

a zipper disposed at an opening in said encasement body, said zipper having a zipper head movable between an open position permitting insertion and removal of the mattress and a closed position preventing bed bugs from traversing said zipper, said zipper head having a zipper pull pivotable on said zipper head;

a clasp at least partly fixed to said encasement body; and

a hook-and-loop fastener defining at least a portion of said zipper pull and defining at least a portion of said clasp, said portions engaging one another in said closed position of said zipper head for locking said zipper pull to said clasp and preventing movement of said zipper head and opening of said zipper.

9. The mattress encasement according to claim 8, wherein said portion of said clasp is disposed between said encasement body and said zipper pull and engages a side of said zipper pull facing said encasement body in said closed position of said zipper head.

10. The mattress encasement according to claim 8, wherein said portion of said clasp is disposed between said encasement body and said zipper pull and engages a side of said zipper pull facing said encasement body and said portion of said clasp further extends to engage a side of said zipper pull facing away from said encasement body in said closed position of said zipper head.

11. The mattress encasement according to claim 8, wherein said hook-and-loop fastener has a material with hooks and a material with loops, said material with hooks being associated with one of said zipper pull or said clasp and said material with loops being associated with the other of said zipper pull or said clasp.

12. The mattress encasement according to claim 11, wherein said clasp has a fixed portion attached to said encasement body and a movable portion hinged to said fixed portion for sandwiching said zipper pull between said fixed and movable portions of said clasp in said closed condition of said zipper.

13. The mattress encasement according to claim 11, wherein said material with hooks is attached to one of said zipper pull or said clasp and said material with loops is attached to the other of said zipper pull or said clasp.

14. The mattress encasement according to claim 11, wherein said material with hooks forms one piece with one of said zipper pull or said clasp and said material with loops forms one piece with the other of said zipper pull or said clasp.