Patent Application
20210106153
The present invention refers to an improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes, such as typically but not exclusively a mattress cover, a pillow, a seat cushion on chairs, especially wheelchairs for the disabled.
As widely known, the evolution of the human species has had the result not only to connote the body of a person the assumption of the upright position but also to conform the vertebral column according to a sinusoidal arrangement (or to an S). The S-shape, on one hand, is optimal for the functionality of the movements and distribution of loads that the backbone must support, on the other hand, however, makes the column very vulnerable and subject to diseases such as lumbar arthritis and cervical, back pain, low back pain, back-related pathologies, herniated disc, kyphosis, scoliosis and so on.
In order to avoid to go with or, better, to prevent these pathologies, it seems increasingly crucial that, during sleep, rest, sitting or other conditions in which a person's body rests to some extent on a support structure, the anatomical part of the human body in support cooperates by contact with comfort elements such as mattresses, pillows, mattress covers and even more through which the backbone succeeds in keeping a posture almost equivalent to that one taken by the person when rests in standing position.
Otherwise, indeed, the backbone is forced to place itself in incorrect positions that cause the increase of the mentioned painful pathologies and the automatic stiffening of the muscles of the body.
Another factor to be carefully assessed when considering the conditions under which a person sleeps, rests or remains seated concerns the air recirculation guaranteed by the bedclothes (otherwise definable also as garments or set cloths) which the support structure (bed, chair, sofa, bench and so on) on which the person stands with her own body is provided with.
Moreover, as a whole, the comfort elements of such a support structure must be able to prevent or at least minimize other diseases such as allergic forms.
It is, therefore, evident that mattresses, blankets, duvets, mattress covers, pillows, cushions and similar handmade linen and/or bedclothes articles must guarantee a healthy air circulation in order to optimize body transpiration and avoid humidity stagnation, thus ensuring a constant and dry heat.
At the same time, it is important that these bedclothes elements which can be placed on a bed or in any case lied on a generic seating or resting surface, such as a sofa, an armchair, a chair, a bench, a deckchair or directly on the floor (or on the carpet resting on it) of a room in a house, can be washed and disinfected to ensure adequate hygiene conditions that protect the human body from mites, bacteria, molds and dust, which often cause allergies and infections for people.
It should be considered the fundamental role that could have a comfort element or handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes, such as for instance a covering or a cushion, in relation to each of the factors listed above when applied over a seat, usually with wheels, on which disabled persons are forced, in spite of themselves, to spend most of the day.
The invention concerned herein described bases in particular on the properties of breathability, linked to hygroscopicity (or hygroscopy) and of thermoregulation, linked to the insulation, typical of a comfortable handmade article (or object) or element of lined and/or bedclothes, whose role in determining effective sitting or resting conditions for the person results not only increasingly less negligible but rather crucial and essential.
Briefly, it should be noted that hygroscopicity means the ability of a substance or a material to readily absorb the molecules of water present in the relative surrounding environment, in this case the sweat of the human body of the person, which specifically are subsequently released thanks to the breathability concerned. By thermoregulation, instead, it is meant the capability of keeping constant the temperature of a body, independently from the temperature variations of the external environment, and, thus, in other words, the capability of some materials to keep constant the temperature of the body, handmade article or object made with them, thanks to their insulation properties.
The main limitation of the most common and traditional handmade articles (or objects) of linen and/or bedclothes, such as typically a mattress cover or a cushion, of the known art derives from the conditions of thermoregulation and breathability of the user's body coming into contact with them: although high, they are not ideal for the physical integrity of people, especially if with rheumatism problems or disabled people forced to bed or wheelchair for a long part of the day. Indeed, the constructive shape and the materials with which they are made do not allow the handmade articles of linen and/or bedclothes of the known art to release the humidity to a significant and effective extent.
consequently, the classic handmade articles (or objects) of linen and/or bedclothes, such as a mattress cover, a cushion or a pillow, available on the market, on one hand, expose the person's body to environmental conditions that are not properly ideal and unfortunately capable of causing rheumatism problems, and, on the other hand, make the moments of rest or relax, sometimes crucial for people like the disabled, the elderly or for those ones who suffer from chronic back problems, less comfortable.
At the same time, moreover, the handmade articles (or objects) of linen and/or bedclothes, such as a mattress cover or a cushion, of the known art available on the market are not washable for example in water, so the conditions of hygiene and cleaning offered by them to the user are precarious or not entirely adequate and satisfactory.
The mattress cover described in the Italian patent nr. 1380622, whose ownership belongs to the same applicant requiring the patentability of the present invention and whose technical teachings are incorporated herein by reference, remedies to these drawbacks, although in incomplete and not totally satisfactory way.
Indeed, if it is true that the mattress cover described in such a prior document improves the breathable and thermoregulating properties of the mattress covers then known, thanks to the interstitial air (hygroscopic and transpiring) chamber defined by two distinct bedclothes items facing and opposite each other and by junction means that, applied mainly though not exclusively at perimetrical level, firmly couple mutually these bedclothes items, it is equally true that this constructive device, even in its effective and revolutionary innovation, does not allow such a mattress cover to reach optimal levels of the two properties mentioned above—breathability and thermoregulation—and, consequently, does not offer the best possible conditions of comfort to people who spend moments of rest or relax lying in bed or sitting on a sofa, a chair, an armchair and so on.
By return, the specific handmade article of the above mentioned Italian patent exposes the person's body to environmental conditions that are not exactly ideal, yet capable of causing problems of rheumatism, and makes the moments of rest, relax or normal daily life (in the case of disabled people forced to bed or wheelchair) that the same person spends on it less comfortable, albeit to a noticeably reduced extent with respect to the handmade articles comparable to it of traditional and more dated constructive conception.
Starting, therefore, from the awareness of the aforesaid drawbacks suffered by the current state of the art herein considered, the present invention seeks to completely and effectively overcome them.
Particularly, main purpose of the invention is to devise an improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes that improves the hygroscopic and transpiring properties (or, in other words, the breathability) compared to those ensured by known similar handmade articles of more advanced and modern embodiment.
In other words, primary purpose of the present invention is to make available an improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes which is more breathable with respect to the equivalent articles of the prior art.
Within this scope, it is therefore task of the present invention to provide an improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes which allows to further limit with respect to the known technique the physical problems suffered by the rheumatism of a person while resting, sleeping, sitting or otherwise lying.
It is another task of the invention to develop an improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes that improves the quality, making it more comfortable and healthy, of the moments of rest, relax or normal daily life (in the case, for example, of people force to bed or wheelchair) spent by a person during a day.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to indicate an improved handmade article of lined and/or bedclothes which, with respect to the known art more directly comparable thereto, allows to improve the thermoregulation property.
It is a last but not least purpose of the present invention to give substance to an improved handmade article (or object) of lined and/or bedclothes that is also hygienic since hypoallergenic, anti-mite and washable in water, as well as very soft and light and pleasant to touch and use.
Said purposes are achieved by means of an improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes according to the attached claim 1, as hereinafter referred for the sake of exposure brevity.
Further applicative detail features of the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention are contained in the respective dependent claims.
The aforementioned claims, specifically and concretely defined below, are intended as an integral part of the present description.
Advantageously, the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention, on which a person typically supports at least a part of her body (her own head in case of a pillow or the whole body in case of a mattress cover) during the hours of rest or if disabled sits during daily life, is able to further reduce, bringing it to minimum levels, the humidity content of the surrounding space, significantly lowering its value compared to equivalent handmade articles of know art, while at the same time keeping the body temperature of the person who uses it constant.
In essence, the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention is more transpiring and thermoregulating with respect to equivalent handmade articles of known type even of more advanced constructional design. This is thanks to the significantly innovative technical feature which the improved handmade article of the invention is provided with and which is embodied in the fact that at least one of the inner spacer tabs (as defined in the aforementioned claim 1) of at least one of the padded and quilted bedclothes items—which constitute the main components of the handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes itself—presents one or more through holes which place in mutual communication at least two of the adjacent quilted panels adjacent each other and belonging to the same bedclothes item, so that the circulation the air inside at least one of these bedclothes items and/or the hygroscopic interstitial chamber defined by them is maximized or optimized, or at least increased with respect to similar handmade articles of the prior art.
Equally advantageously, with respect to the prior art, the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the current invention makes the moments of rest, relax or normal daily life of the user more comfortable and healthy who can thus appreciate or live these moments with greater serenity and satisfaction, with a consequent improvement in the quality of life.
Equally advantageously, the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention further reduces with respect to the known technique the physical problems to which a person is exposed while resting, sleeping, remaining seated or otherwise lying on a generic support structure comprising the object which the invention itself is oriented to.
Still advantageously, as already pointed out above, the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention offers levels of thermoregulation higher than those ones provided also by the comparable products of more modern and recent design (shown in the Italian patent No. 1380622 in the name of the same owner of the titled industrial property right herein presented), allowing in respect to the latter to keep more effectively constant the body temperature of the person who uses it.
Advantageously, moreover, the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention is an article of high quality and durability, especially in the case where it is preferably made of down and, in particular, in Siberian and Tibetan down.
More specifically, each bedclothes item (or set cloth) of the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention is, preferably, padded with the down flakes taken from the underneck and from the chest of the goose which are full-bodied and soft, and which, moreover, especially if geese are bred to their full maturity or live in the wild in a harsh climate, are particularly elastic and resistant.
The natural properties of goose down, therefore, such as hygroscopicity, insulation, elasticity and volume, allow to create an anti-allergic and anti-rheumatic cover that, in the invention, helps to promote healthy body transpiration and a comfortable rest for the user.
The specific structure, the absolute naturalness and the careful selection of the materials used for its components allow to provide a long warranty to the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention described herein.
Said purposes and advantages will become clearer from the following description, relating to a preferred embodiment of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention, given by indicative and illustrative, but not limitative, wat with the aid of the attached drawing tables in which:
The improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention is shown in
As it can be seen, such an improved handmade article 1, typically although not restrictively and not exclusively constituted by a mattress cover, comprises two padded bedclothes items 2, 3 which:
In accordance with the invention, each of these spacer tabs 5 of both the padded bedclothes items 2, 3 presents two through holes (each numbered with 8) which place in mutual communication the quilted modular squares (or sectors) 4 adjacent each other and belonging to the respective bedclothes item 2, 3, so that the circulation of air A inside not only the hygroscopic interstitial chamber 7 defined by the bedclothes items 2, 3 but also the bedclothes items 2, 3 themselves is maximized or optimized, or at least significantly increased compared to what can be found in similar handmade articles of the prior art.
Particularly, each of the aforesaid through holes 8 presents, on preferred but not binding basis, a circular profile having a diameter of a value in the range of 2÷5 cm.
Even more preferably but not restrictively, the diameter of each of the through holes 8 is equal to 3 cm.
In addition, moreover, the spacer tabs 5 are also connected with the corresponding bedclothes items 2, 3 preferably through the junction means 6.
In preferred and advantageous manner, each of the inner spacer tabs 5 comprises a movable and flexible portion (in this case, for instance, not affected by the junction means 6 of the type that will be described hereinafter), not shown for the sake of exposure convenience, arranged in correspondence of at least one of the through holes 8 in such a way as to widely but not completely close it, so as to allow, on one side, circulation of the air A between the quilted squares 4 and, on the other side, properly, to prevent accidental and uncontrolled migration, transfer or passage of the padding (of the type that will be highlighted in the following of the description) from one to another of the quilted squares 4 of the bedclothes items 2, 3.
Such a movable and flexible portion might belong to one or more of the spacer tabs 5 (with which it is thus monolithic) or, less frequently, might be constrained only partly to it through suitable union means or, possibly, held in position (at the through hole concerned) by the aforesaid junction means applied at the quilting of the squares or modular sectors.
Each of the padded bedclothes items (or set cloths or portions) 2, 3 includes, at preferred but non-binding title, a fabric envelope 9, 10 filled with filamentary elements suitable to give it softness, elasticity, hypoallergenic, thermoregulation, hygroscopicity, breathability features. More in detail, the fabric envelope 9, 10 is made of a material comprising cotton.
Preferably but not necessarily, the material of the fabric envelope 9, 10 also comprises silver yarns inserted into the cotton weft, giving rise to a silver textile fiber which represents an innovation which has been introducing almost for some years into the latest generation products of the sector of linen and/or bedclothes, in order to meet the growing need for health, well-being and hygiene of the end user: the properties of the silver textile fiber allow, indeed, a significant increase in the level of comfort of people.
This arises from the fact that silver ions present remarkable hygienic and antibacterial properties and are thus used to make different types of objects, including also textile fibers.
The silver fiber fabrics are obtained from the permanent and homogeneous union of a layer of pure silver that, through the use of nanotechnology, is firmly bonded to the surface of the fiber: it is a process that allows the fiber to keep, at the same time, its traditional textile and tactile consistency features.
The silver textile fiber is:
In other embodiments of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes, not shown in the attached drawing tables, the cotton constituting the material of the fabric envelope of the padded bedclothes items can be subjected to a specific antibacterial treatment in silver solution, performed in the finishing phase to ensure an antimicrobial, antiallergic and anti-odor action to the cotton: such a treatment fully prevents the uncontrolled bacteria proliferation on the fabric surface.
As far as the filamentary elements contained in the fabric envelope 9, 10 are concerned, they comprise any of the padding elements chosen from the group consisting of duvets, wool, horsehair, feathers and synthetic fibers (polyesters, microfibers and the like).
Preferably and advantageously, the duvets are of the Siberian, Tibetan, Canadian, Hungarian and/or similar type and absorb the moisture to allow the fabric envelope 9, 10, which a person's body comes into contact with, to remain dry.
The duvets (for example that one shown above) are thermo-regulating, offering a good thermal insulation (thanks to the air circulating among the fibers of the duvets themselves) which allows to keep the temperature of the person's body constant and to homogeneously spread the heat.
More specifically, each of the duvets consists of an extremely light three-dimensional ribbon which comprises a central core from which a plurality of beards branches out suitable to create a multiplicity of air chambers where the air which creates the thermal insulation useful for maintaining body temperature is kept.
The set of duvets flakes gives the improved handmade article 1 of the invention advantageous features of elasticity, volume and lightness, unlike the traditional feather structure (in any case falling within the inventive concept underlying the present invention referring purely to a possible variant thereof) which is rigid, flat, heavy and with little ability to absorb air.
It should be noted that the duvets contained in the fabric envelope 9, 10 are in a predetermined and adequately calibrated quantity, correlated with the supporting function performed by the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes 1 of the present invention.
It is evident that the composition just described of the padded bedclothes items 2, 3 of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes 1 exclusively claimed herein contributes to the achievement of the prefixed purposes of the present invention and to get the advantages previously listed.
As regards the modular squares or sectors 4, they are in this case mutually identical and side-by-side along at least a plurality of first linear directions X and also along a plurality of second linear directions Y, orthogonal to the first linear directions X.
It is understood, however, that in other embodiments of the improved handmade article of the invention, not shown hereinafter, the modular squares or sectors could be placed side-by-side only along a single linear direction, so that to form for instance a cushion or a pillow of special and elongated constructive conception. Moreover, each of the modular squares or sectors 4 is composed by an upper surface 11 and a lower surface 12 spaced apart each other at the opposite ends 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b by a first length of a value lower than that one of a second length which spaces apart the central areas 11c, 12c of the upper surface 11 and of the lower surface 12: it follows, therefore, a rounded shape for each of the modular squares or sectors 4 of the padded bedclothes items 2, 3.
With particular reference to the inner spacer tabs 5, it is emphasized that each of them is preferably but not exclusively made of cotton and is applied internally at the opposite ends 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b respectively of the upper surface 11 and the lower surface 12 of the modular squares or sectors 4.
From what has been described so far, therefore, it derives that the only one hygroscopic interstitial chamber 7 define in this case by the padded bedclothes items 2, 3:
Finally, as far as the junction means 6 are concerned, they are preferably but not necessarily applied at the entire perimeter (or of the entire perimetrical length) defined by the side flaps 2a, 3a of each of the padded bedclothes items 2, 3.
According to the preferred embodiment described herein of the invention, the junction means 6 comprise a double perimetrical seam section, of the type per se known in the sector concerned, distributed according to a closed path along the entire perimeter defined by the side flaps 2a, 3a.
Other variants of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention, not shown in the enclosed tables, may provide that the junction means include a number of perimetrical seam sections different than two, such a number being able to vary in function of the constructive choices starting from one. As further alternative of the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention, not accompanied by reference figures in the following, the junction means could comprise:
The improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes 1 of the invention is washable simply in water and neutral soap and can, therefore, be rinsed and dried in air and in shade.
For a perfect drying, it is in particular necessary to shake the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes 1 and frequently separate the content of the fabric envelope 9, 10 from the envelope itself, thus preventing halos formation.
It is possible to wash the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes 1 even in the dry cleaner's with water at 60° C., neutral soap and thorough rinsing too, ensuring over time high hygienic conditions that protect against mites, bacteria, molds and powders, which often cause allergic and infectious diseases. Drying of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes 1 of the invention can take place with a dryer (or drier).
By virtue of the description just given, it is understood, therefore, that the improved handmade article (or object) of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention achieves the purposes and reaches the advantages previously mentioned.
The innovative concept underlying the invention—represented by the features contained in the characterizing part of the attached claim 1—allows to improve, triplicating, the movement of air inside the improved handmade linen and/or bedclothes article, with all the benefits already underline that this entails.
Upon execution, changes could be made to the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention, consisting, for example, in a number of bedclothes items (or set cloths or portions) other than that one previously highlighted and visible in the attached figures, since this number may vary at will starting from two.
In addition to this, other embodiments of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention, not shown in the attached tables, could be present in which the junction means connect the padded bedclothes articles each other in such a way as to define more than one inner hygroscopic interstitial air chamber, even in this case such a number being able to vary according to the constructive needs starting from one.
Furthermore, in further embodiments of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the present invention, yet not illustrated in the following drawings, only one or only some of the spacer tabs could present one or more of the through holes as above constructively and functionally defined.
In addition, in optional and alternative embodiments of the invention, still not shown in the figures of the attached drawing tables, the spacer tabs affected by at least one of the through holes previously defined could belong only to one or some of the padded bedclothes items forming the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes that is exclusively claimed herewith, letting the spacer tabs of the remaining padded bedclothes are depict of through holes, which does not affect the advantage basically brought by the present invention.
In further addition, other embodiments of the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes of the invention, not shown in the following, could provide that the through holes are unevenly distributed on the various spacer tabs of at least one of the padded bedclothes items: other words, in certain embodiments of the invention, one or more of the spacer tabs could be depict of through holes or, in certain other embodiments of the invention, one or more of the spacer tabs could have a number of through holes other than that of one or more of the remaining spacer tabs.
In this regard it is specified that the number of through holes made in at least one of the inner spacer tabs—which clearly means that, in some embodiments of the invention, some spacer tab could lack these through holes—is variable according to the project choices starting from a minimum of one.
It is, finally, clear that several other changes could be made to the improved handmade article of linen and/or bedclothes concerned, without departing from the principle of novelty intrinsic in the inventive idea expressed herein, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details could be changed, as needed, and replaced with others technically equivalent.
Where the constructive features and techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference numbers or signs, those reference signs have been introduced with the sole objective of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and therefore they have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, by way of example only, by these reference signs.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102018000002459 | Feb 2018 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2019/050737 | 1/30/2019 | WO | 00 |
