WO2010124828A1

WO2010124828A1 - Mattress cover and method for producing a covering material intended therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2010124828A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/002546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen Müller
Original assignee: Sipra Patententwicklungs- Und Beteiligungsgesellschaft Mbh
Priority date: 2009-04-29
Filing date: 2010-04-26
Publication date: 2010-11-04
Also published as: TW201104029A; DE102009018942A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mattress cover which, at least on the front side, contains a covering material (8) which is produced as circular knitwear, has rows of stitches and wales and which is provided with a plurality of zones (18 to 22) following one another in a lying direction (v) and having different properties. According to the invention, the wales extend parallel to the lying direction (v) and the different properties are at least predominantly produced by rows of stitches knitted with different threads (Fig. 4).

Description

Mattress cover and method of making a cover fabric therefor

The invention relates to a mattress cover, which comprises at least on a front side produced as a circular knitted fabric, courses and wales containing fabric provided with a plurality of successive in a lying direction, different properties zones, and a method for producing a designated cover fabric ,

The production of mattress covers can be done on the basis of very different demands. It is Z. For example, it is known to provide the mattress cover on the inside with an antifungal coating and to form it on the outside or lying side in such a way that it is impermeable to allergens (eg DE 196 00 849 A1). Another known proposal provides to provide a central part of the mattress cover with a filter web, which is to prevent mites od. Like. Penetrate through the mattress cover and then form colonies on the mattress (CH 667 196 A5). Are also known from circular knitwear, stretchable in two directions and the same length the same trained mattress covers that are brought by a multi-stage pretreatment in such a form that they closely conform to the respective mattress, do not shrink after washing and are non-iron ( DE 23 63 447 A1). All these cover materials have at least on the Lying side of the mattress throughout the same properties or require special blanks when zones with different properties are desired, which increases the production cost.

Furthermore, numerous mattress covers are known, which are provided in their lying or longitudinal direction with successive zones of different properties. A known mattress cover is z. B. in the area that receives the pelvis resting on her person, made of an elastic fabric (DE 296 22 542 Ul). Another, made of a woven or drug mattress cover has at least on its side a number of consecutive longitudinal zones with different properties, the mattress cover optionally different, optionally adapted to different elastic areas of a mattress elasticities or, if necessary, a cooling or should give warming effect (DE 103 34 351 B4). These different properties are z. B. obtained by different weaving or knitting densities or threads with different elasticity. About the manufacturing method can be found in the said writings no details.

Finally, a mattress cover of the type described above is provided which has zones of different extensibility and which contains a fabric produced on a circular knitting machine whose zones are provided with preselected properties by the use of different binding techniques (EP 0 843 981 B1). The different zones are here z. Example obtained by the fact that within the product width, ie along the circumference of a tubular fabric produced on the circular knitting fabric z. B. different structure and / or jacquard pattern and / or different Nadelanordnungen be provided both in the needle cylinder and in the dial. Since the different zones are thus adjacent to each other in the direction of the width of the fabric, the lying direction of the fabric must be parallel to the rows of stitches. In addition, the selectable along the direction of lying properties are limited, since they can be influenced essentially only by the choice of structure and / or Jacquard pattern. Finally, it is perceived as a disadvantage that the cover fabric, if it is, as is the case predominantly, produced as a so-called double cloth and provided with a loose and fast inserted, running in the direction of the courses weft, this weft in the finished mattress cover in the lying direction is arranged. As a result, the weft thread, regardless of the type of knit in the various zones of the cover fabric, has an approximately desired elasticity, especially in the direction of lying down. Since the weft thread serves, inter alia, the purpose of inflating when equipping the knitted fabric and thereby exert a certain filling effect, ie to increase the thickness of the product and to give it a cotton-like consistency, it can indeed be omitted, but then both on the filling effect as Also dispensed with the often also desired possibility to adjust the weight of the product not on the mesh size, but on the thickness of the weft yarn used in each case.

Based on this, the technical problem of the invention is to propose a mattress cover of the type described above and a method for producing a suitable covering material for such that the fabric is not only provided in a simple manner with lying in the direction of successive zones of different properties, but also manufactured in the manner of a double cloth and can be provided if necessary with an inserted weft without this has a significant influence on the elasticity of the mattress cover in the lying direction.

This problem is solved according to the invention in that the wales of the round-knit cover fabric extend parallel to the lying direction and the different properties are produced by courses of stitches knitted with different threads. The mattress cover according to the invention is produced on a circular knitting machine equipped with thread changing devices, in particular a circular knitting machine according to the method according to claim 9.

The invention has the advantage that with the circular knitting machine produced fabric tube with numerous, in the direction of the wales successive zones can be provided by function yarns are supplied with different properties by means of known thread changing devices and in a largely arbitrary order. It is also advantageous that due to this production method, the courses can be arranged transversely to the lying direction. Therefore, if necessary, also in the direction of the courses inserted weft has no significant effect on the elasticity of the product in the lying direction. In addition, the circular knit can be cut in the longitudinal direction as desired and according to the desired length of the mattress cover, while a z. B. on a 34 "circular knitting machine manufactured fabric tube sufficient to cut out of it without large waste two about 1.20 m to 1.30 m wide panels that are used to make a mattress cover for example 1 m wide mattress can.

Further advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Figure 1 is a designated for a bed in a nursing home or hospital, provided with a mattress cover according to the invention mattress.

2 and 3 each show a plan view of a known and a fabric according to the invention with zones of different properties.

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the manner of manufacturing the fabric of Fig. 3;

5 and 6 each show a schematic, perspective view of a mattress, which is covered with a zone according to the invention, zones of different properties having mattress cover. and Fig. 7 shows the essential components of a suitable for producing the fabric of FIG. 3 to 6 circular knitting machine.

Fig. 1 shows a mattress 1, which has a right in Fig. 1 headboard, a central part and a lying in Fig. 1 left foot, in a lying or longitudinal direction 2, which is a lying on the mattress 1 person 3 is defined, are arranged one behind the other. In Fig. 1 is further indicated that the mattress 1 can be folded or folded as needed by z. B. the head portion is inclined, the middle part arranged substantially horizontally and the foot part indeed increased, but also arranged substantially horizontally. A mattress cover 4 enveloping the mattress 1 should therefore each have at least one zone 4 a, 4 b and 4 c receiving the head, middle and foot sections and between the top and middle sections on the one hand and the middle section and foot section on the other hand. 4e, which can be referred to as transition zones and lie in those areas in which the mattress 1 is angled. By folding or folding the mattress 1, the mattress cover 4 is subjected to high pressure or tension, especially in the area of these transition zones 4d and 4e. The zones 4d and 4e should therefore be formed on the top and / or bottom of the mattress 1 so elastic that they allow the possible settings of the mattress 1 without throwing or tensioning wrinkles. In a situation in which all three parts of the mattress 1 are arranged essentially in one plane and horizontally, the same applies, of course.

So far, cover fabrics from which mattress covers are made, for. B. corresponding to FIG. 2 is formed. 2, for example, the upper side of a cover fabric 5 is shown, which is to form the top of a mattress cover, wherein a lying or longitudinal direction is indicated by an arrow u_. The cover fabric is obtained by processing a fabric hose produced on a circular knitting machine in the direction of an arrow v, such that its courses are arranged parallel to the direction of travel according to the arrow u_ and its wales perpendicularly thereto in the direction of the arrow v, in which the width of the Reference fabric 5 is measured and which also corresponds to the knitting direction on the circular knitting machine. Zones having different properties (eg, 6 and 7) are obtained by forming side by side jacquard or pattern patterns along the circumference of the knitted fabric, ie, side by side in the direction of arrow u. Therefore, the lying direction (arrow u) must be perpendicular to the knitting direction y_.

On the other hand, it is proposed according to the invention to produce a cover fabric as shown in FIG. 3 likewise on a circular knitting machine with the knitting direction v, but to define the lying or longitudinal direction parallel to the knitting direction _v and the width of the cover fabric 8 transversely thereto in the direction of an arrow vv. In addition, here zones with different properties (eg 9 and 10) are not provided in the width of the side by side, but in the direction of the length of the fabric 8 (arrow v) in succession.

The production of various zones is indicated schematically in Fig. 4, wherein a circular knitting machine with at least one, preferably a plurality of thread changing devices 11 (Ringeleinrichtungen) is used. According to Fig. 4, the thread changing device 11 contains z. B. four infeed fingers to the knitting or thread insertion points of the circular knitting machine optionally at least one of four threads 12, 14, 15 and 16 to perform. For example, the thread 12 is an elastomer thread, the thread 14 is a silver thread, the thread 15 is a compacting thread and the thread 16 is a filament.

When fabricating the cover fabric 8 according to Fig. 3 corresponding fabric, the knitting direction is again indicated by the arrow v and the reference numeral 17 a conventional winding roller of the circular knitting machine is indicated, for example, first with the thread 12, a zone 18 is prepared in which the Thread 12 is processed over a preselected number of courses. At the end of the zone 18, the thread 12 is laid out and the thread 14 is laid in order to knit a zone 19. After a preselected number of full courses, the thread 14 is laid out and the thread 15 is inserted for a zone 20. After completion of the Zone 20, a zone 21 is worked with the thread 16. If it is assumed that the length of the fabric tube formed from the four zones 18 to 21 corresponds to the desired length of the cover fabric 8, after the completion of the zone 21, the thread 12 can again be inserted to produce a further zone 18 and thereby produce a second Reference substance to start. However, if the fabric tube does not yet have the desired length, then at least one further zone 22 with one of the four threads 12 to 16, here z. B. the thread 12 connect. In principle, in this way any number of zones 18 to 22 can be produced with alternating threads until the desired total length of a web of the cover fabric 8 is completed. The take-up roller 17 is thus successively wound a plurality of goods sections, which are expediently identical in length and in the order of the zones 18 to 21. Alternatively, it is also possible to change the lengths and the order of the zones from section to section. The lying direction (arrow v) results here from the position of the marked person 3 analogously to FIG. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a mattress with a mattress cover 24 which has in the lying direction x seven consecutive zones 25 of different lengths, which also all have different properties, such. B. may have different elasticities. In contrast, Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a mattress with a mattress cover 26, the seven lying in the lying direction zones 27, wherein a first zone 27a is made of a thread that consists of a tolerable for allergy natural fiber. A subsequent zone 27b is z. B. made with a basic thread and an additional inserted elastomer thread. A zone 27c contains z. B. Threads of a breathable fiber with a coarse structure. A zone 27d is made of silver threads and thus of an antiseptic material. Again, a zone 27e may be made of yarns made of breathable fibers, but in contrast to the zone 27c are provided with a fine structure and additionally have an inset elastomeric thread. A zone 27f is made of a filament and a zone 27g finally made of a normal background thread such. As polyester or cotton. Of course, the various details only refer to examples. Actually, the zones 27a to 27g may be formed as in the embodiments of Figs. 3 to 5 according to the respective needs. In addition, surfaces of different fibers can be mixed with each other in at least one or in all zones or, in addition to a basic thread (eg 27 g), further threads, such as, for example, can be used. B. elastomeric threads (eg 27b) are inserted. The combination options are varied and possibly dependent on the number of arranged on the circumference of the circular knitting machine thread changing devices 11 and the existing thread insertion fingers. Finally, it is clear that in the production of a mattress cover 4 according to FIG. 1, in particular two zones 4d and 4e are provided, which have at least one enough for the kinking of the head or foot part of the mattress 1 good elasticity and in each case one of the kinks of the mattress Bridging area to come to rest.

A circular knitting machine 29 suitable for the production of the described cover fabric is shown in FIG. The circular knitting machine 29 includes a frame in which a needle cylinder 30 and a dial 31 are rotatably mounted. In addition to the circular knitting machine 29, a creel 32 is arranged with a plurality of supply spools 33. On the supply reels 33 located threads 34 are withdrawn via only roughly schematically illustrated Fadenleitrohre 35 and via yarn feeding devices 36, the z. B. are formed as Speicherfournisseure, at least one knitting point 37 is supplied. At least one of these knitting points 37 is associated with a thread changing device 38 which corresponds to the yarn changing device 1 1 shown in FIG. 4 and z. B. is attached to a above the needle cylinder 30 arranged support ring 39. Further supply spools 40 with functional threads 41, z. As elastomeric yarns may also be mounted on the support ring 39. With particular advantage also a circular knitting machine is used which has a so-called Entdublier- device, ie a device by means of which the fabric tube is already cut in the circular knitting machine, spread and then wound in its full width on a take-up roll. Circular knitting machines 29 with thread changing devices 38 of the type described are z. B. from the documents EP 0 319 444 A2, DE 195 1 1 949 A1 and DE 101 20 736 C1, which is why these documents are hereby made the subject of the present disclosure in order to avoid repetition. In connection with the cover material according to the invention, it is only noticeable that at least one thread change device 38 is present in order to be able to produce one or more zones 25, 27 according to FIGS. 5 and 6 as required. In particular, those threads which are to be used only in certain zones are then fed by means of one of the thread changing devices 38. In addition, if necessary, at least in selected zones, a background thread could be processed together with a functional thread supplied by a thread changing device. With particular advantage, with the help of at least one additional yarn feeding device, a so-called weft thread can be fed, which is inserted without knitting fast in selected courses.

The thread change take place when using the circular knitting machine 29 in a conventional manner in the region of a so-called change point, which is cut out after the completion of the knitting tube. The remaining part of the knitting web is then subjected to a per se any equipment and thereafter, depending on the diameter of the circular knitting machine has a width of z. B. about 2.50 m, which is sufficient to obtain two webs with a width of about 1.20 m to 1, 30 m, from which then two front parts or a front part and a back of a mattress cover including the side parts necessary for the connection of these parts can be produced. The waste is minimal in this case.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, which can be modified in many ways. This applies in particular to the properties provided in the various zones. With particular advantage, however, at least the zones 4d and 4e are formed in Fig. 1 highly elastic, to allow easy bending or Abwinkein the head and foot parts of the mattress without wrinkling or excessive tensions in the mattress cover. It is also clear that zones can also be made with threads other than those described, and the circular knit fabrics obtained can be cut in a different manner than described, depending on the size of the mattress. In any case, the cutting takes place so that the wales are arranged parallel to the lying direction _v. Apart from that, it is of course possible to provide the different zones as needed with different jacquard patterns or the like, and to use other fabrics for forming the tops of the mattress covers than for their bottoms. The circular knitting machine described with reference to FIG. 7 also represents only one example and can be replaced by a circular knitting machine with other thread changing devices. Finally, it is understood that the various features may be applied in combinations other than those described and illustrated.

Claims

claims

1. Mattress cover, which at least on a front side produced as a circular knit, courses and wales containing fabric (8, 24, 26) containing a plurality of in a lying direction (v) successive, different properties having zones (18 to 22nd ; 25, 27), characterized in that the wales extend parallel to the laying direction (y) and the different properties are generated at least predominantly by courses of stitches knitted with different threads (12 to 15).

2. mattress cover according to claim 1, characterized in that zones (27a, 27c) are present, the threads of natural fibers and / or breathable fibers.

3. Mattress cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that zones (27d, 27f) are present, which contain antiseptic threads and / or heating filaments.

4. Mattress cover according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has at least two, at buckling or folding points of the mattress (1) to lie next zones (4d, 4e) of great elasticity.

5. Mattress cover according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least selected zones (27g) of a main thread and an additional

Thread according to one of claims 2 to 4 are produced.

6. Mattress cover according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cover fabric (8, 24, 26) knitted in the manner of a double cloth and provided with an inserted, parallel to the rows of stitched weft thread.

7. Mattress cover according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the different properties are partially generated by different Jacquard pattern.

8. A method for producing a covering material (8, 24, 26) for mattress covers according to one of claims 1 to 7 in the form of a course rows and wales having circular knitting on a circular knitting machine (29), characterized in that the fabric (8, 24, 26 ) is produced on a circular knitting machine (29) provided with thread changing devices (1 1, 38) and provided with zones (18 to 22; 27) of different properties by placing different threads (12 to 16) in rows.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the circular knitted fabric is cut so that the wales in a lying direction (v) of the cover fabric (8, 24, 26) and the courses are arranged transversely thereto.