Patent Publication Number: US-7908694-B1

Title: Mattress cover apparatus with integrated seals

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Non-Provisional Utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/099,605, filed on Sep. 24, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mattress cover apparatus in general, and more particularly to a mattress cover apparatus comprising seals for mattress control conduits. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Mattress covers generally provided to protect a mattress from any of a variety of contaminants such as dirt and dust, bodily fluids, microorganisms, and the like. Once a mattress is contaminated with microorganisms such as bedbugs, the mattress is generally considered unsanitary and thus discarded. 
     Bed covers are generally known for common mattresses. The inventor fabricates and distributes mattress covers as a business. The current mattress covers are formed in the fitted shape of the mattress, having a closure providing a means for placing the cover encasing the mattress. 
     A portion of beds utilizes a mattress that interfaces with a power source or a pneumatic source. Some examples include hospital beds, waterbeds, and air-adjustable mattresses. The means for controlling the functionality is provided via a functionality interfacing conduit, such as an electrical wire, a pneumatic line, and the like. The current mattress covers fail to provide a means for ensuring that mattresses having these types of functionality interface conduits are protected from microorganisms. 
     An elastomer is a polymer with the property of elasticity. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, and is preferred when referring to vulcanisates. Each of the monomers that link to form the polymer is usually made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and/or silicon. Elastomers are amorphous polymers existing above their glass transition temperature, so that considerable segmental motion is possible. At ambient temperatures rubbers are thus relatively soft (E˜3 MPa) and deformable. 
     Thus, what is desired is a means for protecting a mattress that interfaces with conduits from microorganisms using an inexpensive mattress cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a mattress cover apparatus, more specifically a mattress cover apparatus comprising:
         a mattress cover having a top sheet, a bottom sheet and a side sheet contiguous disposed between said top sheet and said bottom sheet;   a cover closure assembled to the mattress cover providing closure to a mattress insertion opening in said mattress cover;   at least one functional conduit passageway provided through the mattress cover; and   a pliant seal fabricated of a pliant material and having a port formed through the plaint material, the port having a cross section that is smaller than an interfacing conduit, wherein the pliant seal is assembled to the mattress cover covering the conduit passageway.       

     One aspect of the present invention utilizes a pliant material fabricated of an elastomeric material, rubber or rubber-like material, a nylon material, and the like. 
     Another aspect of the present invention assembles the pliant seal to the mattress cover sandwiching the pliant material between a seal outer frame and a seal inner frame. 
     While another aspect assembles the outer frame and inner frame using a plurality of frame assembly pins affixed to one frame member and respective pin receiving apertures provided in the opposing frame member. 
     In another aspect deforms each frame assembly pin, securing the frame assembly pins in the respective pin receiving aperture. 
     Yet another aspect teaches the assembly of a mattress functionality interfacing conduit through a seal aperture, forming a sealed barrier between the exterior of the mattress cover and the interior of the mattress cover. 
     And another aspect utilizes a zipper, a dense hook and loop tape (commonly referred to as VELCRO), a tie or series of ties, and the like as the cover closure. 
     Wherein another aspect provides a waterproof lining applied to an interior side of the mattress cover material. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view presenting a mattress cover incorporating a pair of exemplary seal assemblies; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a magnified isometric view of the pair of exemplary seal assemblies originally illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the exemplary seal assembly originally illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an isometric assembly view of the exemplary seal assembly originally illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Turning to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 through 4  present various views of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention referred to as a sealed mattress cover assembly  100 . The sealed mattress cover assembly  100  is presented in an installed configuration installed in  FIG. 1 . The sealed mattress cover assembly  100  comprises a mattress cover  102  having at least one seal assembly  110  assembled thereon. The mattress cover  102  is fabricated having a cover top sheet  103 , a cover bottom sheet  104 , and a cover side sheet  105  assembled there between a perimeter of the cover top sheet  103  and a perimeter of the cover bottom sheet  104  forming a hollow cavity for receiving a mattress. The cover sheet material preferably incorporates a waterproof or microorganism barrier. For comfort, it is preferred to integrate the barrier on the interior surface of the mattress cover  102 . The interface between each member is provided via a seam. The seam is formed in a manner that provides a barrier for any microorganisms. One such means would be a thermal bonding process. A second such means would be incorporation of an adhesive between the two sheets of material. A mattress insertion opening is provided within the mattress cover  102  and sealed via a mattress cover closure  106  that is assembled to the mattress cover  102  about the mattress insertion opening. The mattress insertion opening would be sized to allow the user to place the mattress cover  102  over a mattress. 
     The seal assembly  110  comprises a seal outer frame  112  and a seal inner frame  120  sandwiching a seal membrane  114  there between. The seal membrane is preferably of a pliant material such as silicone. The seal outer frame  112  is preferably formed in a substantially flat donut or ring shape as illustrated. A plurality of frame assembly pins  118  extends rearward from a mating surface (rear as shown) of the seal outer frame  112 . The seal inner frame  120  is also preferably formed in a substantially flat donut or ring shape as illustrated. A plurality of pin receiving apertures  122  is formed through the seal inner frame  120  in a pattern aligning with the plurality of the frame assembly pins  118 . The seal outer frame  112  and seal inner frame  120  would be formed of a material that is compatible with he selected assembly process. A seal aperture  116  and a plurality of pin clearance apertures  115  disposed through the seal membrane  114 . During the installation process, the installer would slide each mattress functionality interfacing conduit  108  through the seal aperture  116 . The seal membrane  114  forms a microorganism barrier surrounding the mattress functionality interfacing conduit  108 . 
     A sandwiching assembly is presented as an exemplary means for assembling the seal assembly  110 ; the embodiment places the plurality of frame assembly pins  118  through the pin clearance apertures  115 , and assembled through the plurality of pin receiving apertures  122 . The frame assembly pins  118  are secured within the pin receiving apertures  122  via any commonly known process, such as heat staking, ultrasonic welding, and the like. The cover material would have holes similar to the seal membrane  114  and would be placed on either side of the seal membrane  114  during the assembly of the seal assembly  110 . The preferred embodiment positions the cover material between the seal membrane  114  and the seal inner frame  120 . The seal outer frame  112  can include a frame registration lip  113  extending rearward from the perimeter of the seal outer frame  112  to a distance sufficient for the insertion of the mattress material, the seal membrane  114 , and the seal inner frame  120 . The frame registration lip  113  aids in alignment and retention of the seal inner frame  120 . It is well understood that other assembly processes can be utilized, while maintaining the spirit and intent of the present invention. 
     The mattress functionality interfacing conduit  108  normally provides an easy path for microorganisms to contaminate a mattress. The sealed mattress cover assembly  100  provides a microorganism barrier surrounding the mattress, including a means providing a barrier around items such as the mattress functionality interfacing conduit  108 . The present invention significantly reduces the risk of having to discard a mattress due to contamination. 
     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.