Patent Application
20170224123
The following description relates to a mattress pad or topper, and in particular, a mattress pad or topper having differently formed corners.
A typical mattress pad is configured to fit over mattress and includes a top surface for fitting over a top of a mattress and a sidewall configured for fitting over sides of the mattress. The top surface generally corresponds in size and shape a top surface of a mattress configured for supporting a user thereon. The sidewall typically extends about a periphery of the top surface and is configured to fit around the sides of the mattress. In some mattress pads, the sidewall is sized so as to fit around a bottom edge or periphery of the mattress hold the pad to the mattress.
Mattress pads are typically manufactured in standard sizes corresponding to standard mattress sizes, such as crib, twin, XL twin, full, full XL, queen, king, California king, split king and split California king sizes. The sidewall is generally formed from a single material having dimensions that closely correspond to the dimensions of the selected mattress size. An elastic strand or strands may be attached to the sidewall in a stretched condition so that upon positioning over a mattress, the elastic strand or strands may contract to gather excess sidewall material and fit the mattress pad to the mattress.
However, some mattresses may be formed having varying depths, and thus, a mattress pad sized corresponding to a standard mattress size may not fit properly in a depth direction. Additionally, a mattress pad may shrink after repeated washing and drying so that it does not properly fit to the mattress. Further, the elastic strand or strands may lose elasticity over time and adversely affect fitting of the mattress pad to the mattress. Ill-fitted mattress pads may be difficult to fit around the mattress and in turn, may become inadvertently removed or detached from the mattress, particularly at corner regions.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mattress pad having differently formed corners, such as reinforced or strengthened corners to more securely fit the mattress pad to the mattress.
According to one aspect, there is provided a mattress pad or topper including a base layer having a peripheral edge and a depending sidewall extending from the peripheral edge. The depending sidewall includes one or more first section and one or more second section having different properties or characteristics than the first section.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps, and processes.
While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated.
The base layer 14 includes an upper surface 24 that, when positioned on the mattress 12, generally faces away from the mattress 12. Referring to
Referring to
The sidewall 18 includes a plurality of sides 38 and a plurality of corners 40. Each side of the plurality of sides 38 generally corresponds to a side surface of a mattress, namely, a vertical side surface extending between top and bottom surfaces of the mattress 12 when the mattress 12 is positioned for regular use (i.e., positioned to support a user lying in a supine or prone position, for example). Likewise, each corner of the plurality of corners 40 generally corresponds to a vertical corner of the mattress 12 extending between the top and bottom mattress surfaces, when the mattress 12 is positioned for regular use. The corners 40 and sides 38 are alternately positioned along a periphery of the depending sidewall 18. In one embodiment, the peripheral edge 16 includes four edges, and the depending sidewall 18 includes four sides 38 corresponding to the four peripheral edges 16, and four corners 40, each corner 40 corresponding to a joint between adjacent sides 38.
The depending sidewall 18 also includes the one or more first sections 20 and the one or more second sections 22. The first and second sections 20, 22 have different material and/or physical properties as described further below. In one embodiment, the first sections 20 and the second sections 22 are positioned alternately with one another along a periphery of the sidewall 18. That is, the first sections 20 and second sections 22 may be disposed end-to-end in series with one another in an alternating pattern. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, in some embodiments, the second section 22 may partially or completely overlay the first section 20. The second section 22 may be connected to the first section 20, for example, by stitching, adhesive, a hook and loop fastener, a slide fastener, buttons, snaps or the like
Referring again to
With further reference to
In one embodiment, each first section 20 is formed entirely on a side 38 of the depending sidewall 18. The first section 20 may be formed in a substantially complementary shape to the second section 22. For example, where the second section 22 is substantially triangular as described above, the first section 20 may also be substantially triangular with a base formed at or near the distal end 36 and a vertex formed at or near the fixed end 34. Other complementary shapes are envisioned as well that include angled edges that substantially extend along corresponding edges of the second section 22. For example, the first section 20 may be substantially trapezoidal in shape. Other shapes are envisioned as well, including, but not limited to, square, rectangular and irregular shapes. The first section 20 may be substantially the same shape as the second section 22 or different.
In one embodiment, the first section 20 is made from a first material and the second section 22 is made from a second material, different than the first material and having different material properties and/or characteristics. Each of the first section 20 and second section 22 may be either a single material or a blend or combination of materials, having material properties that are different from the other material. In another embodiment, the first section 20 and the second section 22 may be formed from the same material, but differently constructed by varying physical characteristics of the construction (for example, changing the width or density of one of the constructions) to arrive at the different properties and/or characteristics.
For example, the first material may be material that is used in a sidewall of a conventional mattress pad, for example, a cotton, polyester or a blend with an elastic material. According to the embodiments described herein, the second material may be an elastic material configured to stretch to fit around respective corners of a mattress, and return toward its unstressed or relaxed condition to hold the mattress pad 10 the mattress 12. In one embodiment, the second section 22 or material may have a different elasticity module than the first section 20 or material, or a different, higher, spring constant than the first section 20 or material. Alternatively, or in addition, the second material may be a stronger material than the first material and more resistant to wear over time. The construction of the first section 20 and second section 22 may be varied for example, by using different filaments, yarn, weight, thickness, width, weave, knit, density, finish, and the like, to provide different properties and/or characteristics between the first section 20 and the second section 22. Further still, the first section 20 and second section 22 may be formed have different colors from one another.
In one embodiment, the sides 38 of the depending sidewall 18, with the second section 22 in a relaxed or unstressed condition, may be sized to be less than a length of a corresponding side of a mattress over which the mattress pad 10 is designed to fit. Accordingly, the mattress pad 10 may be stretched to fit over the mattress 12 and return toward its original shape to secure the mattress pad 10 to the mattress. The depending sidewall 18 may also be formed having a dimension between the fixed end 34 and distal end 36 adequate to allow a portion 42 of the depending sidewall 18 to be received under the mattress 12. In some embodiments, the first section 20 and/or second section 22 may include one or more strands of elastic material 44 secured thereto.
In use, the mattress pad 10 described in the embodiments above is configured to fit over a mattress, such that the base layer 14 is sized to substantially correspond to and be positioned over a top surface of the mattress 12 configured to support a user, and the depending sidewall 18 is sized to correspond and fit around side surfaces of the mattress 12. Additional bed linens, such as a fitted or bottom sheet may be disposed over the mattress pad 10 in normal use. The mattress pad 10 may be stretched to be fit over the mattress 12 and return toward its original, unstressed size under an elastic or spring force. With an increased return spring force in the second section 22, relative to the first section 20, the mattress pad 10 may more tightly grip the corners of the mattress 12 and increase resistance to inadvertent removal of the mattress pad 10 from the mattress 12. Further, resistance to inadvertent removal may be increased by forming the second section 22 with an increased strength relative to the first section 20.
The directional references of top, bottom, upper, lower and side are provided for reference only and are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way.
All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.
In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
