US20110154570A1

US20110154570A1 - Household linen item

Info

Publication number: US20110154570A1
Application number: US12/973,886
Authority: US
Inventors: Joan Curos Santaeularia
Original assignee: Manufactures Industrials de Tortella SA
Current assignee: Manufactures Industrials de Tortella SA
Priority date: 2009-12-24
Filing date: 2010-12-20
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: ES1072086U; ES1072086Y

Abstract

The anti-balloon household linen item provides an adjustable, impermeable and transpirable surface together with one or more fabric patches that allow the air to easily go out, therefore ensuring a comfortable surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Spanish Utility Model No. ES 200930800 U, filed Dec. 24, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of household linen or domestic use elements, and, more particularly, to covers such as pillowcases or cushion covers.
The present invention is a household linen item especially adapted to be breathable and to permit the egress or outlet of air existing in the inside thereof, featuring an anti-ballooning effect present at several household linen items, such as pillows cases.

BACKGROUND

Household linen items, namely drygoods for household use that are typically made of white cloth, are widely used and include, among others things, covers for different types of pillows, cushions, etc. Pillows and/or cushions are generally constituted by an inner filling of loose material, such as wool, down, cotton fuzz, or the like, and an external cover of thin fabric, which wraps the loose material and gives shape to the pillow. The pillows and/or cushions are generally complemented by an external case, which provides an aesthetic exterior appearance and establishes a protective barrier against dirt received by the pillow. To clean the pillow, one only has to remove the external case and wash it.
These external cases, which are typically used for pillows, are made of smooth fabrics with which one can achieve a good aesthetic quality. Nevertheless, these cases are completely inadequate and ineffective with regard to absorption, which makes the user's perspiration, facial make-up, or drool rings easily pass through to the structural body of the pillow, producing an anti-hygienic accumulation of dirt, filth, and/or bad odors.
Furthermore, existing pillow cases currently on the market feature the drawback of being completely closed, which creates a “balloon effect.” This causes the air to remain trapped inside the pillow, without the possibility of exiting, due to a closure mechanism which prevents the air from evacuating to the exterior. The pillow swells and is less comfortable and pleasant for the user when resting their head on the pillow.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide household linen items that overcome these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY

The present invention resolves the previously mentioned drawbacks by providing a household linen item, such as a cushion or pillow cover, which provides, on the one hand, protection against dampness, dirtiness, and bad odors, and, on the other, prevention of the cover from filling up with air and creating a “balloon effect” such that the suitable shape and configuration thereof is riot lost, thus providing the user with maximum comfort and making, in the case of a pillowslip, their sleeping time more pleasant.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the household linen item comprises an outer layer and an inner impermeable sheet adhered to the outer layer, which offers protection against dampness, both forming an open sack, the interior whereof being intended for the insertion of a pillow or any similar element, like a cushion, therein.
In some embodiments, the household linen item features a breathable closure mechanism at at least one of the ends thereof, the closure mechanism being adapted to permit the exit of air present in the interior of the pillow, thus preventing the “balloon effect” or swelling of the pillow.
Preferably, the breathable closure mechanism is formed by a permeable and breathable fabric and has a zipper on the peripheral edge thereof.
Therefore, in accordance with the pillow case embodiment of the present invention, stains or dirtiness created on a pillow, brought about by various causes: sweat, facial make-up, drool rings, etc., are prevented, and the exit of air present inside the pillow is also made possible, so that the pillow perfectly adapts to the special configuration and curvature of the head and neck of the user, providing them with greater comfort, relaxation, and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the following drawing, in which like reference numerals identify like elements:

FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of the household linen item, depicted as a pillow case, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the household linen item of the present invention comprises a textile defined by an outer layer (1) and an inner layer (3) joined together delivering a multilayer textile which defines the shape of a sack, the interior whereof being intended for the insertion of a pillow (2) therein, and which additionally features an inner, impermeable, inner layer (3), adhered to the outer layer (1) and adapted to protect the pillow (2) against dampness, dirtiness and bad odors.
As can be observed in FIG. 1, the household linen item, in this embodiment depicted as a pillow case, features a closure mechanism (4) (e.g., a zipper, velcro, one or more buttons, and/or one or more fasteners) at at least one of the ends thereof, formed by a breathable layer (5), the peripheral edge whereof having a zipper (6), where the breathable layer (5) is adapted to permit the exit of air present in the interior of the pillow (2).
It should be noted that, although FIG. 1 depicts the household linen item as a pillow case, this is merely illustrative. The household linen item can be in the form of, for example, a cushion case, a featherbed case, and/or a duvet case.
Accordingly, household linen items are provided.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.

Claims

1. A household linen item comprising:

at least one textile having an outer layer made of a non-impervious fabric and an inner layer made of an impervious fabric that are joined together with at least one opening;

at least one breathable layer made of a breathable fabric, wherein said breathable layer is respectively joined along an edge of the at least one opening adapted to allow airflow; and

a closure mechanism arranged along at least one free edge of the at least one breathable layer adapted to close the at least one opening.

2. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the non-impervious fabric is selected from the group consisting of: knitted material, woven material, and non-woven material.

3. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the impervious fabric is made of material selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane, rubber material, and plastic material.

4. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the closure means is selected from at least one of the group consisting of: zipper, velcro, buttons, and fasteners.

5. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the household linen item is a pillowcase.

6. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the household linen item is a cushion case.

7. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the household linen item is a featherbed case.

8. The household linen item according to claim 1, wherein the household linen item is a duvet case.