AU2010101033A4 - Bed bug resistant mattress cover - Google Patents

Description

1 BED BUG RESISTANT MATTRESS COVER FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to bed bug resistant mattress covers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bed bugs are a small flat, brown insect that feed mainly on human blood. 10 They tend to live and breed in mattresses and come out at night to feed, returning to the mattress during the day. Bed bugs have undergone a massive resurgence in recent years and reports of bed bug infestations have been on the rise since the mid 1990's. Bed bug infestation is a serious problem for accommodation providers such as backpacker hostels, hotels, 15 resorts, cruise ships and even nursing homes. Bed bug traps, such as those disclosed in US2009/0223115 Al and US2010/0043274, use a sticky substance to trap bed bugs and prevent their movement and breeding. However, attracting the bed bugs to the trap can 20 prove difficult and not all bed bugs will be trapped. US 20090271926 discloses a mattress encasement which can receive a mattress and zips to close around the mattress while foam within the encasement presses against the inside of the zipper to prevent any bed bugs 25 living in the mattress from escaping and biting the person sleeping on the mattress. However, in practice the zipper is not 100% effective at preventing bed bug escapement and does not allow the mattress to breathe. CN2456565 discloses a ventilation stopper of a mattress having a cavity 30 within the mattress which holds spices or other insect repelling agents and a hole in the cavity which allows dispersion of the spices throughout the mattress to repel bed bugs. Again this method is not 100% effective at repelling bed bugs and may result in the mattress acquiring an unpleasant aroma and also requires continual replacement of the spice.

2 Therefore, there is a need for an improved apparatus for preventing bed bug infestation in mattresses. 5 STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a mattress cover made of bed bug impervious material comprises a sealable opening for the insertion of a mattress core and at least one breather valve having a hole with a mesh 10 screen which prevents the ingress of bed bugs and wherein said breather valve is sealable by a closure. Preferably the opening of the mattress cover is sealed by welding the opening after a mattress core is inserted. 15 Preferably at least one end of the cover has a number of attachment points for hanging the cover for storage or cleaning. Preferably the closure is a cap and is tethered to the cover. 20 Alternatively, a mattress comprises a cover made of bed bug impervious material sealed by welding an opening after a mattress core is inserted and at least one breather valve having a hole with a mesh screen and wherein said breather valve is sealable by a closure. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 30 Fig 1 is a rear isometric view of the mattress cover of the present invention in use sealed around a mattress core. Fig 2 is a front isometric view of the mattress cover of Fig 1. Fig 3 is a top plan view of the mattress cover of Fig 1. 35 Fig 4 is a side plan view of the mattress cover of Fig 1.

3 Fig 5 is a detailed view of one corner of the mattress cover of Fig 1 showing the attachment points and a cap sealing a breather valve of the mattress cover of Fig 1. Fig 6 is a top plan view of the breather valve of Fig 6 sealed with a cap. 5 Fig 7 is a bottom plan view of the breather valve of Fig 6 showing the mesh screen over the hole. Fig 8 is a cross section of the breather valve, mesh and cap along line A-A of Fig 6. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a bed bug resistant mattress cover 1 and Figs 1 through 5 show cover 1 sealed around a mattress core to provide a bed bug resistant mattress la. Cover 1 is made of bed bug impervious material such 15 as hospital grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that is linen embossed to provide grip for sheets or blankets used on the mattress cover and is flame retardant and anti-static for the safety and comfort of the user. Cover 1 has a sealable opening 2 (shown sealed in the Figs) into which a 20 mattress core such as a foam infill or the like can be inserted. Opening 2 is sealed by welding with a high frequency welder after the mattress core is inserted to completely seal cover 1 and prevent entry of bed bugs into the mattress core. Other suitable methods of sealing cover 1 may include a bed bug proof zipper, clip lock seal or even gluing opening 2 closed. Ideally cover 25 1 is made of one piece of fabric which is folded in half and the seams welded or joined together to completely seal cover 1 around the mattress core. A number of breather valves 3, having a hole 4 with a mesh screen 5 shown in Figs 7 to 9, are welded into the sides of cover 1. Air can flow through hole 30 4 into and out of the mattress core while mesh screen 5 is sufficiently fine to prevent the ingress of bed bugs into the mattress core. The preferred mesh size is less than 0.5mm. Allowing airflow within mattress 1a not only ensures that mattress 1 a can conform to the shape of a user when they lie on it but also prevents air pressure increases within the mattress to avoid bursting of 4 the seams of cover 1. As shown in Figs 1 to 4 three breather valves 3 are spaced along each of two opposite sides of cover 1. Breather valves 3 are sealable by a screw in or clip in cap 6 or any other 5 suitable closure to prevent water entering cover 1 during cleaning or storage. In a preferred form cap 6 snaps over a lip (not shown) around the edge of hole 4. Caps 6 are attached to a piece of material or webbing or alternatively tethered to cover 1 providing easy storage of caps 6 and preventing loss when not in use. In one form six caps 6 are attached to a strip of material, such as 10 a seat belt type band, in an arrangement so as to align with breather valves 3 on each side of mattress 1a. The band containing the caps can be used on all mattresses of corresponding size and therefore, an accommodation operator may have many mattresses but would only require a few bands. Alternatively, the caps may be attached to breather valve 3 or the cover material by means 15 of a cord or chain. At least one end of cover 1 will have a number of attachment points 7 such as eyelets, hooks or loops for hanging cover 1 with or without the mattress core sealed within for cleaning or storage. Cover 1 can be easily cleaned with a 20 cleaner or steriliser and caps 6 will prevent entry of the cleaner into mattress 1 a. Cover 1 can be made to fit standard sized mattress cores or custom made to fit any shape of mattress. 25 ADVANTAGES The present invention provides a mattress cover which is completely sealable to prevent the entry of bed bugs into the mattress. The cover allows the 30 mattress to breathe which ensures the comfort of the user and prevents air pressure increases within the mattress to avoid bursting of the seams of the cover. Furthermore, the cover is easy to clean and to store.

5 VARIATIONS It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be 5 apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" 10 are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

Claims (5)

1. A mattress cover made of bed bug impervious material and comprising a sealable opening for the insertion of a mattress core and at least one 5 breather valve having a hole with a mesh screen which prevents the ingress of bed bugs and wherein said breather valve is sealable by a closure.

2. The mattress cover of claim 1 wherein the opening is sealed by welding 10 the opening after a mattress core is inserted.

3. The mattress cover of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one end of the cover has a number of attachment points for hanging the cover for storage or cleaning. 15

4. The mattress cover of any of the preceding claims wherein the closure is a cap and is tethered to the cover.

5. A mattress with a cover according to any of the preceding claims. 20 25