CN115363386A

CN115363386A - Disposable sanitary and antiallergic pillow inner protective sleeve

Info

Publication number: CN115363386A
Application number: CN202210208051.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑錕海
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-05-18
Filing date: 2022-03-04
Publication date: 2022-11-22
Also published as: TW202306518A; CA3119106C; CA3119106A1

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a sanitary disposable pillow cover involves the step of folding a pillow cover material to define a first surface and a second surface, and further defining a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end. The pillow core cover material is aligned to further define two unsealed edges. The method then involves sealing the unsealed edges of the pillow core protective cover material by ultrasonic welding or bonding to define two sealed edges extending from the closed end to the open end, thereby defining an opening sized to enable insertion of the pillow core into the disposable pillow core protective cover. The method then involves applying a first strip of double-sided adhesive tape and applying a second strip of double-sided adhesive tape. The pillow core may be inserted into a disposable pillow core protective cover and the opening is sealed by forming a fold seam with the first strip of adhesive tape and the second strip of adhesive tape.

Description

Disposable sanitary and antiallergic pillow inner protective sleeve

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to bedding, and more particularly to pillow inner covers.

Background

Pillows used in homes, hospitals, hotels, rental property (e.g., airbnb) and other public living facilities can be a source of allergens and microorganisms (hereinafter "allergens" or "pollutants") that cause or exacerbate pathological conditions (e.g., allergy, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and other respiratory related illnesses).

It is not common practice to wash or frequently replace used pillow interiors, nor to periodically wash or sterilize the used pillow interiors throughout their life cycle. The most common practice is to use a common pillow case (also known as a pillow inner cover or pillowcase) to encase the pillow inner in order to protect the pillow inner from contamination when sleeping on the pillow inner. Periodically, conventional pillow cases are cleaned when they become soiled, odorous, or used by patients in hospitals or guests at public facilities. However, conventional pillow cases, which are simply washed or changed to clean, cannot remove pre-existing allergens and microorganisms that inhabit and grow in the used pillow core. Conventional pillow core casings are made of interwoven porous materials, which help create an environment for allergen accumulation. This material allows moisture from the ambient air or from the sleeper's breath, saliva, dandruff and dead skin cells to penetrate and accumulate in or on the pillow core. Thus, it creates an environment that promotes the accumulation and growth of microorganisms and allergens (e.g., dust mites). In addition, conventional pillow cases are open on one end, have zippers, or have alternative closure means that inherently have gaps and/or perforations created by the sewing assembly process. These gaps or holes provide an opportunity for contaminants to enter the pillow interior and establish colonies of bacteria in the pillow interior. In addition, dead skin cells that penetrate and accumulate on the surface of the pillow core become a source of nutrients for the contaminants. In combination with the porous material, conventional casings allow airborne contaminants to be deposited on the pillow core or allow the transfer of contaminants to pass freely between the user and the pillow core.

Therefore, there is a need for a practical solution that prevents the user from coming into contact with pre-existing contaminants found on the pillow core.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, the present invention provides a disposable hygienic and anti-allergic pillow inner cover which prevents the transfer of contaminants from the pillow inner to the user.

By using a custom material and a securely sealed casing, the disposable pillow core protective cover completely isolates the user from the pillow core and thus minimizes the risk of contamination of allergen-producing entities and leakage of allergens. In order to provide a protective barrier between the user and the pillow core, the material must prevent the passage of moisture, contaminants, allergens and skin drops, but remain breathable and comfortable for sleep.

As described further below, the disposable pillow core protective cover is made using three or more layers of a spunbond nonwoven filter fabric that is water impermeable, hydrophobic, antimicrobial, and breathable. The disposable pillow core protective sleeve is manufactured by adopting an ultrasonic welding/combination technology, thereby eliminating holes of a suture needle. Therefore, all seams of the disposable pillow inner protective sleeve are not affected by allergen and moisture. The disposable pillow inner protective sleeve comprises a compatible opening for inserting the pillow inner into the inner part. The opening may be sealed with a strip of double-sided adhesive tape covered with an easily peelable backing paper bonded to the opening, thus making it ready for use and sealing after the pillow core is inserted inside. The disposable protective cover for pillow core provides a sterile barrier around the pillow core to prevent contamination and minimize allergen leakage.

Although the disposable pillow covers can be used for people of any age, there is clearly a need for such products to protect vulnerable persons at risk of asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases. The product can be used as a protective cover for pillow core or as a protective layer between a common pillow cover and pillow core. The open closure function is intended to allow for a single use that easily encases the pillow core. This affordable disposable pillow cover promotes personal hygiene and minimizes interaction with pre-existing microorganisms and allergens on the pillow interior. The disposable protective cover for a pillow core effectively reduces the chance of transmitting respiratory infectious diseases among users sleeping on a common pillow core, particularly those pillow cores offered by public facilities such as hotels.

An inventive aspect of the present disclosure is a method of manufacturing a sanitary disposable pillow cover that involves the step of folding a pillow cover material to define a first surface and a second surface, and further to define a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end. The pillow core cover material is aligned to further define two unsealed edges. The method then involves sealing the unsealed edges of the pillow core protective cover material by ultrasonic welding or bonding to define two sealed edges extending from the closed end to the open end, thereby defining an opening sized to enable insertion of the pillow core into the disposable pillow core protective cover. The method then involves applying a first strip of double-sided adhesive tape and applying a second strip of double-sided adhesive tape. The pillow core may be inserted into a disposable pillow core protective cover and the opening is sealed by forming a fold seam with the first strip of adhesive tape and the second strip of adhesive tape.

Another inventive aspect of the present disclosure is a disposable pillow inner cover comprising a pillow inner cover material folded to define a first surface and a second surface, and further defining a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, the pillow inner cover material being aligned to further define two unsealed edges. The disposable pillow inner protective case includes two sealing edges sealed by ultrasonic welding or bonding and extending from the closed end to the open end, thereby defining an opening sized to enable insertion of the pillow inner into the disposable pillow inner protective case. The disposable pillow inner protective sleeve also comprises a first double-sided adhesive tape and a second double-sided adhesive tape.

The foregoing presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is discussed later. Other aspects of the invention will be described in conjunction with the following figures.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1A is a rear view of a disposable pillow inner cover material according to an embodiment of the present invention, folded with the user side on the outside as a first step in manufacturing the disposable pillow inner cover.

Figure 1B is a perspective view of the disposable pillow core protective cover material shown in figure 1A.

Figure 2 is a rear view showing the sealing of two side seams by ultrasonic welding/bonding techniques, leaving an opening accessible at the top for insertion of the pillow core.

Figure 3 is a rear view showing the completed pillow cover with two double-sided adhesive tape covered with an easy peel liner bonded to the disposable pillow cover material at the designated location at the opening.

Figure 4 is a rear view showing an unsealed disposable pillow inner protective case, wherein the pillow inner is inserted through the unsealed opening prior to sealing the opening of the disposable pillow inner protective case.

Fig. 5 is a rear view showing a sealed disposable pillow inner cover in which the pillow inner is enclosed inside, and the pillow inner is sealed by folding a top strip of double-sided adhesive tape to seal the opening.

Fig. 6 is a rear view showing a disposable pillow inner cover with a pillow inner inside, in which an upper folding seam of the disposable pillow inner cover is further folded downward to be precisely adhered on top of a lower strip of double-sided adhesive tape, thereby double-sealing an opening.

Figure 7 is a front view showing the sealed disposable pillow inner protective cover with the pillow inner sealed inside.

It should be noted that throughout the drawings, like features are denoted by like reference numerals.

Detailed Description

Generally, as will be described in more detail below, a first aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a single-use disposable hygienic and anti-allergic pillow cover (hereinafter referred to as a "disposable pillow cover"). In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the disposable pillow cover is constructed of three or more layers of spunbonded nonwoven filter fabric or equivalent material. In the illustrated embodiment, the disposable pillow core protective cover is manufactured by ultrasonic welding/bonding techniques, rather than traditional stitching with a needle and thread. The opening may be sealed with a double-sided adhesive tape or multiple such tapes. These components together constitute an integrated leak-proof barrier to enclose the pillow interior, which effectively prevents or at least reduces the transmission of allergens and microorganisms between the sleeper and the pillow interior. The beneficial properties of the finished disposable pillow inner cover were confirmed by the American PPE test Standard ANSI/AAMI PB70 (grade 2 or higher), but it should be understood that the new method and disposable pillow inner cover produced by this method are not limited to this test standard. Any other compatible industry-accepted test methods and standards may be used to verify the anti-allergenic properties of the disposable pillow inner protective cover.

Reference will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In addition to the figures, the present specification discloses other embodiments than the figures. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the single embodiment or to the multiple embodiments disclosed herein. The invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Fig. 1A and 1B illustrate a first step of a method of manufacturing a disposable pillow inner protective cover, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this first step of the method, the disposable pillow core protective cover material 12 is folded and aligned as shown for the next step of the manufacturing method. In this embodiment, the disposable pillow core protective cover material 12 has a generally elongated rectangular shape. The disposable pillow inner protective sleeve can be made into a size suitable for standard or customized pillow inner.

The disposable pillow core protective cover material 12 has an inner pillow core protective cover backing layer 14. The disposable pillow inner protective cover 12 is folded to define a first surface 11 and a second surface 13. As shown in these figures, the second surface 13 extends beyond the first surface at the opening. In other words, the second surface 13 has an upper projecting edge 15, which is provided as a designated space for a piece of double-sided adhesive tape to be bonded, as will be explained below. The width of the edge can be made compatible with the intended width of the double-sided adhesive tape. For example, the underlying material is aligned to extend a 2cm edge across from the crease (opening), although another size edge may be used to match the width of any particular double-sided adhesive tape used. Figure 1B also shows that the fold of the pillow core protective cover material 12 defines a closed end 17 and an open end opposite the closed end. Once the unsealed edge is sealed, the open end defines an opening 16 in the casing of the pillow core. By folding and aligning the pillow core protective cover material as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, two unsealed edges are defined.

Figure 2 shows the result of the next step of the method, where the two edges are firmly bonded and sealed using ultrasonic welding/bonding techniques to make them hydrophobic and antiallergic. The sealing of the edges may be accomplished in an alternative way to make the disposable pillow inner protective cover hydrophobic and anti-allergic. This step of sealing the edges creates an opening 16 and two sealed edges 18, as shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows the result of the subsequent step of applying two industrial grade double-sided adhesive tapes covered with an easy release liner. In this embodiment, the upper and

lower strips

20, 22 are parallel and spaced apart by a gap between the strips. The gap between the

strips

20, 22 may be greater than the thickness of each individual strip shown in this figure, or another spacing may be used. The upper strip 20 may be positioned along the edge of the opening 16 as shown, although in another embodiment it may be spaced from the opening. These strips are bonded to the designated upper edge of the disposable pillow core protective cover material so that it is ready for use immediately after the pillow core is inserted into the interior. Such an easy to leak-proof closure is easy for the user to seal the opening by a simple D-I-Y (do-it-yourself) folding process. Such sealing of the opening may be achieved in alternative ways. Figure 3 also shows the completed disposable pillow inner cover ready for use by the user.

Figure 4 is the disposable pillow inner cover after the pillow inner has been inserted into the interior of the disposable pillow inner cover through the opening 16. As shown in this figure, the easy peel liner is in place to prevent contamination of the double-sided tape strips 20, 22.

Fig. 5 shows the disposable pillow inner cover with the pillow inner inside after the upper strip of double-sided adhesive tape is folded down (with the backing paper peeled off) and the opening is sealed. It should be noted that the pillow core is inserted into the pillow core protective cover before the upper strip 20 of double-sided adhesive tape is folded down. The folding of the upper strip 20 creates an upper fold seam 24 (also referred to herein as a first fold seam, as will be explained below). Since the double-sided adhesive tape is intended for a single use only, the sealed disposable pillow inner cover should not be re-opened until it needs to be discarded.

Fig. 6 shows the formation of a second folded seam by further folding the first folded seam over the lower strip 22. A first fold seam 24 is precisely adhered to the top of the lower strip 22 of double-sided adhesive tape (with the backing paper peeled away) to further secure (i.e., double seal) the pillow core enclosed therein. Since the double-sided adhesive tape is intended for a single use only, the sealed disposable pillow inner protective case should not be re-opened until it needs to be discarded.

Figure 7 shows the front side of the disposable pillow inner protective cover without any folded seam for sealing the opening, which is therefore the preferred surface on which to sleep. Since the double-sided adhesive tape is intended for a single use only, the sealed disposable pillow inner protective case should not be re-opened until it needs to be discarded.

Various inventive features and aspects will become apparent from the foregoing description. The disposable pillow core protective cover is preformed by applying ultrasonic welding/bonding methods (rather than needle-based stitching) to seal all seams adjacent to the pillow core folds to make it hydrophobic and antiallergic. This method may be performed using alternative seam sealing techniques that do not puncture the material, thereby protecting it against allergens and moisture.

The application of the built-in industrial-grade double-sided adhesive tape enables closure using a simple D-I-Y process, so that the user can easily seal the opening after the pillow core is enclosed inside. This method of securing the encapsulated pillow core and making it hydrophobic and anti-allergic can be accomplished using any alternative method of D-I-Y closure that completely seals the opening to ensure that no moisture or allergens enter or exit. This ready-made closure, which helps maintain personal hygiene, enables the manufacture of a versatile and cost-effective single-use disposable pillow case.

In one embodiment, the disposable pillow core protective cover material is comprised of three or more layers of a spunbonded nonwoven fabric that is designed or designed to be water impermeable, hydrophobic, and air permeable. The composite of such a spunbond nonwoven filter fabric can be customized with a suitable combination of polyurethane-based, polyethylene-based and polytetrafluoroethylene-based microporous membranes, but is not limited to other alternative composites with compatible properties. Thus, disposable pillow covers made from the above-described spunbond nonwoven fabrics provide desirable hygiene properties.

The methods described herein enable the manufacture of disposable pillow covers that avoid traditional stitching with thread and needles that results in large perforations and gaps. Due to the novel method of manufacturing such a disposable pillow inner cover, it cannot be penetrated by moisture, water and contaminants. Thus, it minimizes the amount of allergens, contaminants, moisture and microorganisms that are transmitted from the encapsulated pillow core to the user. By minimizing the outflow of contaminants and allergens from the encapsulated pillow interior, the user is protected from exposure that may exacerbate respiratory or dermatologic conditions.

Similarly, disposable pillow covers minimize the amount of contaminants, bacteria, food sources and moisture that enter the encapsulated pillow from the user and the environment. This minimizes the formation or maintenance of an environment that maintains organisms such as bacteria, bed bugs, dust mites, and other microorganisms.

For the purposes of this specification, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements when they relate to elements of various embodiments of the invention. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," "involving," and variations thereof by the verb tense, are intended to be inclusive and open-ended, meaning that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

This new technology has been described in terms of specific implementations and configurations that are intended to be exemplary only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many obvious variations, adaptations, and modifications may be made without departing from the inventive concepts set forth herein. Accordingly, the scope of the exclusive rights sought by the applicants is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a sanitary disposable pillow inner cover, the method comprising:

folding a pillow core cover material to define a first surface and a second surface, and also to define a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, aligning the pillow core cover material to further define two unsealed edges;

sealing the unsealed edges of the pillow core protective cover material by ultrasonic welding or bonding to define two sealed edges extending from the closed end to the open end, thereby defining an opening sized to enable insertion of a pillow core into the disposable pillow core protective cover;

applying a first strip of double-sided tape; and

a second strip of double-sided tape was applied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second surface extends beyond an edge of the first surface at the open end, and wherein the first strip of double-sided tape is applied to the edge.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein applying the second strip of double-sided adhesive tape comprises spacing the second strip of double-sided adhesive tape from the first strip of double-sided adhesive tape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pillow core protective cover material is comprised of three or more layers of spunbond nonwoven filter fabric.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric is water impermeable, hydrophobic, antimicrobial, and air permeable.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a pillow core through the opening.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising folding the first strip of double-sided adhesive tape onto the first surface to create a sealed folded seam.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising re-folding the sealed fold seam onto the second strip of double-sided tape to double seal the opening of the disposable pillow core protective case.

9. A disposable pillow inner protective sleeve comprises:

a pillow core protective cover material folded to define a first surface and a second surface and further defining a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, the pillow core protective cover material aligned to further define two unsealed edges;

two sealing edges sealed by ultrasonic welding or bonding and extending from the closed end to the open end thereby defining an opening sized to enable insertion of a pillow core into the disposable pillow core protective case;

a first strip of double-sided tape; and

a second piece of double-sided adhesive tape.

10. The disposable pillow inner protective cover of claim 9, wherein the second surface extends beyond an edge of the first surface at the open end, and wherein the first strip of double-sided tape is applied to the edge.

11. The disposable pillow inner protective cover of claim 10, wherein the second strip of double-sided adhesive tape is spaced apart from the first strip of double-sided adhesive tape.

12. The disposable pillow core protective cover of claim 9, wherein the pillow core protective cover material is comprised of three or more layers of spunbond nonwoven filter fabric.

13. The disposable pillow core protective cover of claim 12, wherein the fabric is water impermeable, hydrophobic, antibacterial, and air permeable.