Zippered mattress cover with inner flange

Abstract

A mattress cover may include a top cover portion, a bottom cover portion, and a border panel cover portion positioned to extend around a perimeter of a mattress. The mattress cover may include a closure element positioned to enable opening of the cover to access an interior region of the cover. The mattress cover includes an internal flange element positioned in the interior region. A mattress may include the cover, and the flange element may be connected to one or more internal mattress elements, such as springs or foam. A method of making a mattress may include positioning internal mattress elements in the interior region, attaching the internal flange element to at least one of internal mattress elements, and closing the mattress cover with a closure element such as a zipper. The closure element may be positioned on a bottom side of the cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress comprising a mattress cover and one or more internal mattress elements positioned within an interior region of the mattress cover, wherein the mattress cover comprises:
 a top cover portion;   a bottom cover portion;   a closure element positioned to selectively open or close the mattress cover, wherein the closure element is positioned on a bottom side of the mattress cover;   a border panel cover portion extending around a perimeter of the mattress between the top cover portion and the bottom cover portion; and   one or more internal flange elements positioned in the interior region of the mattress cover, wherein a free end of the one or more internal flange elements is attached to at least one of the one or more internal mattress elements.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal mattress elements comprises at least one of foam or one or more springs. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the top cover portion comprises a quilted top portion. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the border panel cover portion is joined to the top cover portion with a tape edge. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the border panel cover portion is joined to the bottom cover portion with a tape edge. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the border panel cover portion extends beneath a lower perimeter of the mattress, and wherein the border panel cover portion is attached to the bottom cover portion at an interface positioned on a bottom side of the mattress. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the interface comprises the closure element. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the bottom cover portion comprises a non-skid material. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the closure element comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal flange elements extends from an interface between the top cover portion and the border panel cover portion. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal flange elements comprises a single integral internal flange element extending around a perimeter of the mattress cover within the interior region. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein an interface between the top cover portion, the border panel cover portion, and at least one of the one or more internal flange elements comprises:
 the at least one flange element stitched to the top cover portion; and   the border panel cover portion connected to the at least one flange element and the top cover portion via a tape edge connection.   
     
     
         13 . A cover for a mattress, the cover comprising:
 a top cover portion positioned on a top side of the cover;   a bottom cover portion positioned on a bottom side of the cover, opposite the top cover portion;   a border panel cover portion positioned to extend around a perimeter of the mattress between the top cover portion and the bottom cover portion, wherein the top cover portion, the bottom cover portion, and the border panel cover portion enclose an interior region of the cover;   a closure element positioned to enable opening of the cover to access the interior region, wherein the closure element is positioned on a bottom side of the cover; and   an internal flange element positioned in the interior region of the cover, wherein the internal flange element extends from an upper connection between the top cover portion and the border panel cover portion, to a free end of the internal flange element.   
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 13 , wherein the top cover portion comprises a quilted top portion. 
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 13 , wherein the border panel cover portion extends beneath a lower perimeter of the cover, and wherein the border panel cover portion is attached to the bottom cover portion at an interface positioned on a bottom side of the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 15 , wherein the closure element comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 13 , wherein an interface between the top cover portion, the border panel cover portion, and at least one of the one or more internal flange elements comprises:
 the at least one flange element stitched to the top cover portion; and   the border panel cover portion connected to the at least one flange element and the top cover portion via a tape edge connection.   
     
     
         18 . A method of making a mattress, the method comprising:
 positioning one or more internal mattress elements in an interior region of a mattress cover having an internal flange element;   attaching the internal flange element to at least one of the one or more internal mattress elements; and   closing the mattress cover with a closure element positioned on a bottom side of the mattress cover.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming the mattress cover, wherein forming the mattress cover comprises:
 attaching the internal flange element to a top cover portion with serge stitching;   attaching a border panel cover portion to the internal flange element and the top cover portion with a tape edge, wherein attaching with the tape edge comprises stitching through the tape edge, the top cover portion, the internal flange element, and the border panel cover portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein attaching the internal flange element to the one or more internal mattress elements comprises:
 attaching a hog ring to the internal flange element and to a spring; or   stapling the internal flange element to a foam material.