Mattress carrying case

Abstract

A device for covering and facilitating the transport of a mattress that is both durable and portable. The device includes a material cover which encloses the mattress, a zipper or other fastening means for closing the cover, a plurality of handles to allow the user to easily lift, orient, and maneuver the mattress, and a plurality of wheels or casters to permit the user to easily move the enclosed mattress.

1 . An apparatus for covering and facilitating the transport of a mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a case enclosure sized and shaped to generally surround and enclose the mattress, the case enclosure comprising:
 generally rectangular front and back panels; 
 generally rectangular top and base panels; and 
 two generally rectangular end panels; 
   
     the panels being connected one to another so as to form the case enclosure;
 means for opening and closing the case enclosure sufficient to allow insertion of the mattress therein; 
 at least one handle positioned on at least one of the two end panels; and 
 at least one wheel positioned on the base panel; 
 wherein the mattress may be transported across a support surface by orienting the mattress enclosed within the case enclosure onto the base panel whereby the at least one wheel contacts the support surface. 
 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the panels comprising the case enclosure each comprise a flexible sheet-like material. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the flexible sheet-like material is water resistant. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the flexible sheet-like material comprises a fabric material. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the panels are connected one to another by sewing the panels together along a common edge thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for opening and closing the case enclosure comprises a zipper extending at least partially along a line within an area where the front panel and the top panel are connected and further within an area where the front panel and at least one side panel are connected. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for opening and closing the case enclosure comprises a zipper extending at least partially along a line within an area where the front panel and a first of the end panels are connected, further within an area where the front panel and the top panel are connected, and further within an area where the front panel and a second of the end panels are connected. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for opening and closing the case enclosure comprises mating sections of hook and loop material. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for opening and closing the case enclosure comprises a plurality of buttons insertable into aligned button holes formed in the panels. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one handle positioned on at least one of the two end panels comprises four handles, two each positioned on each of the end panels. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wheel positioned on the base panel comprises four wheels positioned approximately at the corners of the base panel. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wheel positioned on the base panel comprises six wheels, four wheels positioned approximately at the corners of the base panel and two wheels positioned approximately at a mid-point of a long dimension of the base panel. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wheel on the base panel comprises a caster wheel. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base panel further comprises at least one semi-rigid plate to which the at least one wheel is attached. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base panel further comprises at least one rigid plate to which the at least one wheel is attached. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the at least one rigid plate comprises three generally rectangular rigid plates positioned in association with the base panel, each of the rigid plates providing an attachment point for securing at least one wheel to the base panel, the rigid plates approximately equally spaced along a long dimension of the base panel. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for covering and facilitating the transport of a mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a case enclosure sized and shaped to generally surround and enclose the mattress, the case enclosure comprising:
 generally rectangular front and back panels; 
 generally rectangular top and base panels; and 
 two generally rectangular end panels; 
   
     the panels comprising flexible, water resistant, fabric material connected one to another by sewing the panels together along a common edge thereof so as to form the case enclosure;
 a zipper extending at least partially along a line within an area where the front panel and the top panel are connected and further within an area where the front panel and at least one side panel are connected, the zipper for opening the case enclosure sufficient to allow insertion of the mattress therein; 
 four handles, two each positioned on each of the end panels; and 
 six caster wheels, four caster wheels positioned approximately at the corners of the base panel and two caster wheels positioned approximately at a mid-point of a long dimension of the base panel; 
 wherein the mattress may be transported across a support surface by orienting the mattress enclosed within the case enclosure onto the base panel whereby the six caster wheels contact the support surface.