# Patent

## Title
Mattress encasement

## Abstract

An improved encasement for a mattress which thwarts the escapement of bed bugs from a mattress through the encasement and which thwarts the encroachment of beg bugs through the encasement into the mattress. An elongated opening is provided in the encasement which is selectively closed by a zipper associated therewith. The encasement includes a flap secured to the lower side wall portion of a side of the encasement which is positioned inwardly of the zipper for retarding or preventing the escapement of bed bugs through the zipper. Hook and loop fasteners are also provided at the end location for further preventing the escapement of bed bugs from the mattress through the encasement and preventing the encroachment of beg bugs into the mattress through the encasement.

## Background
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mattress encasement and more particularly to a mattress encasement for preventing bed bug escapement through a zipper opening in the encasement or bed bug encroachment through the zipper opening.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Bed bug infestation in mattresses is a growing concern. Many attempts have been provided to prevent the bed bugs from moving from an infested mattress to bed clothing where the bed bugs feast on an individual sleeping in the bed. If the mattress encasement did not have zippers formed therein to facilitate the positioning of the mattress within the encasement, the movement of the bed bugs from the mattress would be thwarted since the encasement is comprised of a bed bug impervious material. However, a mattress encasement must be periodically removed from the mattress for laundering which makes it imperative that zippers be utilized. Even though the teeth of the zipper tracks of the mattress encasements are very small in size to thwart the movement of bed bugs therethrough, bed bugs still pass through the zipper tracks. One attempt to prevent the escapement of bed bugs from a mattress through a mattress encasement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,489. Although it is believed that the mattress encasement described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,489 does reduce the movement of bed bugs from the mattress through the zipper, Applicant has developed an improved mattress encasement which is regarded as a dramatic improvement over the '489 patent and the other prior art encasements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A bed bug protective encasement for a mattress having six sides is described. The encasement comprises a cover of a size for surrounding the six sides of the mattress and is formed of a bed bug impervious fabric. The cover has an opening formed therein which is of such a shape for receiving the mattress within the cover. A slide fastening mechanism is disposed in the opening in the cover which is operable to close the opening after the mattress has been received in the cover. The slide fastening mechanism comprises a zipper head and a pair of zipper tracks having a longitudinal axis and terminating at an end location. The opening in the mattress extends completely along one side of the mattress and at least partially along one or more adjacent sides. The opening defines a generally vertically disposed upper side wall portion, having a lower end, in the said one side and the said adjacent side or sides and defining a generally vertically disposed lower side wall portion having an upper end, in the said one side and the said one or more sides. The upper and lower side wall portions have inner and outer surfaces. A first zipper track is secured to the lower end of the upper side wall portion. A second zipper track is secured to the upper end of the lower side wall portion. The first and second zipper tracks terminate at an end location and have a zipper head connected thereto operable to close the opening.
The cover also includes an elongated flap having an upper end and a lower end with the flap being formed with a bed bug impervious material. The lower end of the flap is secured to the lower side wall portion and extends upwardly therefrom inwardly of the inside surface of the lower side wall portion so that the upper end of the flap is positioned above the first zipper track and so that the upper end of the flap is positioned above the zipper tracks when the opening has been closed. The flap has a strip of loop fastener material secured thereto at the end location which faces the inner surface of the upper side wall portion. The upper side wall portion has a strip of hook fastener material secured thereto at the inner surface thereof at the end location above the second zipper track. The hook and loop fastener material and the flap cooperate to prevent bed bugs from moving through the opening and zipper at the end location.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved mattress encasement.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mattress encasement for preventing bed bug escapement and encroachment through a zipper opening in the encasement.
A further object of the invention is to provide a mattress encasement which includes a flexible flap positioned at the inner side of the zipper.
A further object of the invention is to provide a mattress encasement which includes hook and loop fasteners at the end location to thwart the movement of bed bugs through the zipper at the end location.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mattress encasement of this invention with the zipper being partially open;
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating one end of the zipper opening and the flap extending upwardly from the lower side wall portion;
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view seen at the other end of the zipper track with the zipper being opened to illustrate the hook and loop fasteners provided at the end location;
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in which the hook and loop fasteners of the upper end lower side wall portions of the cover are attached thereto; and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the construction at the end location of the encasement.



DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
The numeral 10 refers to the bed bug encasement of this invention for encasing a mattress 12. Encasement 10 is comprised of a bed bug impervious fabric material readily available in the marketplace. Encasement 10 includes a top side 14, a bottom side 16, and sides 18, 20, 22 and 24 extending therebetween. Encasement 10 has an elongated opening 26 formed therein which has a length sufficient to enable the mattress to be received within the encasement. In the particular embodiment shown herein, the opening 26 is formed in encasement 10 at the end of side 18, the entire length of side 20, and at one end of side 22. For purposes of description, opening 20 will be described as having ends or end locations 28 and 30. Also, for purposes of description, opening 26 will be described as creating an upper side wall portion 18A and lower side wall portion 18B in side 18, an upper side wall portion 20A and lower side wall portions 20B in side 20, and an upper side wall portion 22A and lower side wall portion 22B in side 22.
Zipper track 32 is attached to the lower ends of lower side wall portions 18A, 20A and 22A by sewing or stitching and extends between end locations 28 and 30 of opening 26. Zipper track 34 is attached to the upper ends of lower side wall portions 18B, 20B and 22B by sewing or stitching and extends between end locations 28 and 30 of opening 26. Zipper head 36 is mounted on zipper tracks 32 and 34 in conventional fashion. When zipper head 36 is at end location 28, the zipper tracks 32 and 34 will be “open” or disconnected. When zipper head 36 is at end location 30, the zipper tracks 32 and 34 will be engaged to close opening 26. The teeth of zipper tracks 32 and 34 are extremely small to thwart bed bug movement therethrough.
An elongated flexible flap 38 comprised of a bed bug impervious fabric is secured to the upper ends of lower side wall portions 18B, 20B and 22B, by stitching and extends upwardly therefrom to a point well above the zipper track 34 between end locations 28 and 30 of opening 26.
An elongated flat strip of loop fastener material 40 is secured to flap 38 (FIG. 4) at the outer surface thereof at end location 30 by stitching and extends therefrom for several inches.
An elongated flat strip of hook fastener material 42 is positioned at the inner surface of upper side wall portion 22A of side 22 at end location 30 and is secured thereto by stitching as seen in FIG. 4 and extends therefrom for several inches. It should be noted that strip 40 could be of hook fastener material with strip 42 being comprised of loop type fastener material.
When the mattress 12 has been inserted into the encasement 10 through opening 26, the flap 38 will be pushed or forced outwardly into close engagement with the zipper tracks 32 and 34. Upon closing of the opening 26, the bed bug impervious fabric material of flap 38 will thwart the movement of bed bugs through the zipper. When the zipper head 36 has been moved to its closed position at end location 30, the hook and loop fasteners will be engaged to further thwart movement of bed bugs through the end location 30 where zipper head 36 is positioned. The stitching 44 closes the ends of the strips 40 and 42.
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

## Claims

1. A bed bug protective encasement for a mattress having six sides, comprising:
a cover of a size for surrounding the six sides of the mattress;
said cover being formed of a bed bug impervious fabric;
said cover having an opening formed therein being of a size for receiving the mattress;
said opening in said mattress extending completely along one side of the mattress and at least partially along an adjacent side;
said opening defining a generally vertically disposed upper side wall portion, having a lower end, in the said one side and the said adjacent side and defining a generally vertically disposed lower side wall portion, having an upper end, in the said one side and the said adjacent side;
a first zipper track having upper and lower ends;
said first zipper track having spaced-apart zipper teeth at said lower end thereof;
said upper end of said first zipper track being secured to said lower end of said upper side wall portion;
a second zipper track having upper and lower ends;
said second zipper rack having spaced-apart zipper teeth at said upper end thereof;
said lower end of said second zipper track being secured to said upper end of said lower side wall portion;
said first and second zipper tracks and the zipper teeth thereon having inner and outer sides;
said first and second zipper tracks terminating at an end location;
a zipper head connecting said first and second zipper tracks operable to close said opening;
said zipper head having inner and outer sides;
said zipper head being positioned at said end location when said opening has been closed;
an elongated flap having an inner side, an outer side, an upper end and a lower end;
said flap being formed of a bed bug impervious material;
said lower end of said flap being secured to said lower side wall portion below said zipper teeth of said second zipper track and extending upwardly therefrom inwardly of said inside surface of said lower side wall portion so that said upper end of said flap is positioned above said zipper teeth of said first zipper track and so that said upper end of said flap is positioned above said zipper teeth of said tracks when said opening has been closed;
a strip of loop fastener material having upper and lower ends;
said upper end of said loop fastener material being secured to said flap above said zipper teeth of said first zipper track which faces the inner surface of said upper side wall portion;
said lower end of said loop fastener material being secured to said flap and to said upper end of said lower side wall portion below said zipper teeth of said second zipper track;
a strip of hook fastener material having upper and lower ends;
said upper end of said strip of hook fastener material being secured to said inner surface of said upper wall portion above said zipper teeth of said first zipper track at said end location;
said lower end of said strip of hook fastener material being secured to said lower end of said upper wall portion at said first zipper track closely adjacent said zipper teeth of said first zipper track;
said strip of loop fastener material and said flap providing a bed bug barrier at the inner side of the zipper teeth of said second zipper track when said zipper head is positioned at said end location;
the engagement of said strip of loop fastener material at said strip of hook fastener material forming an additional bed bug barrier above said zipper teeth of said first and second zipper tracks when said zipper head is positioned at said end location.