Active mattress encasement

Abstract

An active mattress encasement which can be relatively easily installed or removed or rotated over a mattress supported by a foundation is disclosed. The encasement is formed to encapsulate a mattress and may include a top panel, a bottom panel and multiple side panels. One or more of the side panels are zippered together, In one embodiment, the unzippered side panels, i.e. side panels without zippers, fixedly connect the top and bottom portions of the side panels. In another embodiment, an inflatable volume is integrated into the bottom panel. Alternatively, the inflatable volume may be integrated with a separate detachable cover and attached to the bottom panel by conventional means. The top and bottom panels, as well as the side panels may be made from a conventional materials. The underside of the top panel and optionally the inside of the side panels may be coated with a waterproof coating, such as polyurethane (TPU/PU), silicone, and/or urethane to form a waterproof membrane. In accordance with an important aspect of one embodiment of the invention, an interior surface of the bottom panel is formed with a slick surface while the exterior surface of the bottom panel is integrated with an inflatable volume. The inflatable volume faces outwardly and is adapted to be in contact with the foundation or optional bed skirt. In this embodiment, the exterior surface of the bottom panel of the encasement is formed at least partially with a non-slick surface. The non-slick surface provides a frictional relationship between the exterior surface of the bottom panel of the encasement and the foundation or bed skirt while the encasement is being installed or removed over a mattress. The slick interior surface of the bottom panel allows a mattress to be rotated, installed, or removed, once the bottom panel is juxtaposed between the mattress and the foundation in an application in which the encasement is unzipped and the top panel is disposed on the floor adjacent one end of the mattress. Alternatively, a separate detachable cover may be used to allow the mattress to be relatively easily installed or removed or rotated with the encasement fully installed on the mattress. Optional straps may be provided, fixedly attached to the encasement, to allow the encasement to be snugged against the mattress. This enables the encasement to be used with a relatively wide range of mattress sizes and still provide a snug fit.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by a Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . An active encasement for a mattress or foundation comprising:
 a rectangular top panel defining an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a rectangular bottom panel having an inflatable volume formed on an exterior surface of said bottom panel;   a fixed side panel connecting one side of said top panel to one end of said bottom panel;   a plurality of side panels, each side panel defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portions connected to said upper panel and said lower portions connected to said bottom panel;   a zipper for connecting said upper portions to said lower portions; and   an air supply for providing air to said inflatable volume.   
     
     
         2 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said top panel, bottom panel and said side panels including said fixed side panel are made from a launderable material. 
     
     
         3 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said top panel, bottom panel and said side panels including said fixed side panel are made from a bedding material. 
     
     
         4 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface of said top panel is made from a launderable material and said interior surface is formed from a waterproof material. 
     
     
         5 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said upper portions and said lower portions of said side panels are formed as continuous strips. 
     
     
         6 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface of said bottom panel is formed as a slick surface. 
     
     
         7 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said exterior surface of said bottom panel including said inflatable volume is formed from a non-slick material. 
     
     
         8 . The encasement as recited in  claim 1  further including an inflatable volume formed on an exterior surface of said bottom panel of said encasement. 
     
     
         9 . A method for installing an encasement on a mattress supported by a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) removing the mattress from the foundation;   (b) placing an unzipped encasement on the foundation so that an exterior surface of the bottom panel is in contact with the foundation and the top panel is placed adjacent one end of the foundation;   (c) sliding the mattress onto the foundation so that a bottom surface of the mattress is in contact with an interior surface of the bottom panel of the encasement;   (d) placing the top panel of the encasement over a top surface of a mattress; and   (e) zipping up the encasement.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  further including the step of installing a bed skirt after the mattress has been removed in step (a) and placing the encasement on top of the bed skirt so that an exterior surface of the encasement is in contact with the bed skirt. 
     
     
         11 . A method for rotating a mattress encased by an encasement and supported by a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) unzipping the encasement;   (b) placing a top panel of the encasement on the floor adjacent one end of the mattress;   (c) rotating the mattress 180 degrees; and   (d) zipping up the encasement.   
     
     
         12 . A method for rotating a mattress encased by an encasement and supported by a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) attaching a cover having a slick side and a non-slick side to an underside of the mattress encased by an encasement so that the slick side is in contact with the foundation and the non-slick side is in contact with the bottom panel;   (b) rotating said mattress 180 degrees with respect to the foundation.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further including step (c) as follows:
 (c) detaching said cover from said mattress and attaching said cover to said foundation so that said slick side is in contact with said foundation and said non-slick side is in contact with said encasement. 
 
     
     
         14 . An encasement for a mattress or foundation comprising:
 a rectangular top panel defining an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a rectangular bottom panel;   a fixed side panel connecting one side of said top panel to one end of said bottom panel;   a plurality of side panels, each side panel defining an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portions connected to said upper panel and said lower portions connected to said bottom panel;   a zipper for connecting said upper portions to said lower portions;   one or more straps coupled to said upper and lower portions of one or more of said side panels in order to tighten the encasement with respect to said mattress or foundation; and   an air supply for supplying air to said inflatable volume.   
     
     
         15 . A method for rotating a mattress encased in an encasement supported on a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) unzipping the encasement and rotating the mattress on an interior surface of a bottom panel of the encasement; and   (b) rotating the mattress.   
     
     
         16 . A method for rotating a mattress encased in an encasement supported on a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) attaching a cover having a slick surface and a non-slick surface so that the slick surface is in contact with the foundation and the non-slick surface is in contact with the encasement; and   (b) rotating the mattress.