Mattress Encasement

Abstract

A mattress encasement and method protect against the migration of bed bugs into and out of a mattress. The mattress is encased within encasement members constructed of a material resistant to the migration of bed bugs through the material. The encasement members are joined together along perimetric edges by the engagement of a zipper provided with a peripheral length greater than a perimetric length of each perimetric edge. With the zipper engaged fully along its peripheral length, the difference between the peripheral length of the zipper and the perimetric lengths overlaps an inner segment of the zipper adjacent one terminal end of the zipper with an outer segment of the zipper adjacent the other terminal end of the zipper, to complete a barrier against the migration of bed bugs into and out of the encased mattress through either one of the terminal ends of the zipper.

1 . A mattress encasement for protecting against at least the migration of bed bugs into and out of a mattress encased therein, the mattress encasement comprising:
 a lower encasement member dimensioned and configured for enveloping a corresponding lower portion of a mattress, the lower encasement member including a lower perimetric edge having a lower perimetric length, the lower encasement member being constructed of a material resistant to the migration of bed bugs through the lower encasement member;   an upper encasement member dimensioned and configured for enveloping a corresponding upper portion of a mattress, the upper encasement member including a perimetric edge having an upper perimetric length, the upper encasement member being constructed of a material resistant to the migration of bed bugs through the upper casement member; and   a peripheral fastener for selective joining of the upper perimetric edge with the lower perimetric edge fully along the upper and lower perimetric edges to establish a closed mattress encasement about an encased mattress;   the peripheral fastener having a peripheral length between a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the peripheral length being greater than each of the upper and lower perimetric lengths such that upon engaging the peripheral fastener fully along the peripheral length of the peripheral fastener, a difference between the peripheral length of the peripheral fastener and the upper and lower perimetric lengths will establish an inner terminal segment of the peripheral fastener extending adjacent the first terminal end of the peripheral fastener, and an outer terminal segment of the peripheral fastener extending adjacent the second terminal end of the peripheral fastener, with the inner and outer terminal segments overlapping one another to complete a barrier against migration of bed bugs into and out of the encased mattress through either one of the first and second terminal ends of the peripheral fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress encasement of  claim 1  wherein the encased mattress has a predetermined perimeter, and the upper and lower perimetric lengths are dimensioned to extend fully along the entire perimeter of the encased mattress. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress encasement of  claim 2  wherein the peripheral fastener comprises a fine-toothed zipper. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress encasement of  claim 1  wherein the upper encasement member includes a layer of fluid-resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress encasement of  claim 1  wherein the mattress includes a top, a bottom, and depending sides extending between the top and the bottom, the upper encasement member includes a top panel and upper side panels extending downwardly a distance to the upper perimetric edge such that the upper perimetric edge is spaced downwardly from the top panel. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress encasement of  claim 1  wherein the mattress includes a top, a bottom, and depending sides extending between the top and the bottom, the upper encasement member includes a top panel and upper side panels extending downwardly a first distance to the upper perimetric edge, the lower encasement member includes a bottom panel and lower side panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel a second distance to the lower perimetric edge, and the first distance is less than the second distance. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress encasement of  claim 1  including a block of resiliently compressible material interposed between the overlapping inner and outer terminal segments of the peripheral fastener to establish a further barrier against migration of bed bugs into and out of the encased mattress through either one of the first and second terminal ends of the peripheral fastener. 
     
     
         8 . A method for protecting against at least the migration of bed bugs into and out of a mattress encased within a mattress encasement, the method comprising:
 enveloping a lower portion of the mattress within a lower encasement member dimensioned and configured for receiving the lower portion of the mattress, the lower encasement member including a lower perimetric edge having a lower perimetric length, the lower encasement member being constructed of a material resistant to the migration of bed bugs through the lower encasement member;   enveloping an upper portion of the mattress within an upper encasement member dimensioned and configured for receiving the upper portion of the mattress, the upper encasement member including a perimetric edge having an upper perimetric length, the upper encasement member being constructed of a material resistant to the migration of bed bugs through the upper casement member;   joining the upper perimetric edge with the lower perimetric edge with a peripheral fastener to establish a closed mattress encasement about an encased mattress;   providing the peripheral fastener with a peripheral length between a first terminal end and a second terminal end greater than each of the upper and lower perimetric lengths; and   engaging the peripheral fastener fully along the peripheral length of the peripheral fastener, such that a difference between the peripheral length of the peripheral fastener and the upper and lower perimetric lengths establishes an inner terminal segment of the peripheral fastener adjacent the first terminal end of the peripheral fastener, and an outer terminal segment of the peripheral fastener adjacent the second terminal end of the peripheral fastener, with the inner and outer terminal segments overlapping one another to complete a barrier against migration of bed bugs into and out of the encased mattress through either one of the first and second terminal ends of the peripheral fastener.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the encased mattress has a predetermined perimeter, and the method includes dimensioning the upper and lower perimetric lengths to extend fully along the entire perimeter of the encased mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the mattress includes a top, a bottom, and depending sides extending between the top and the bottom, and the upper encasement member includes a top panel and upper side panels extending downwardly a distance to the upper perimetric edge, and the method includes spacing the upper perimetric edge downwardly from the top panel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  including interposing a block of resiliently compressible material between the overlapping inner and outer terminal segments of the peripheral fastener to establish a further barrier against migration of bed bugs into and out of the encased mattress through either one of the first and second terminal ends of the peripheral fastener.