Cover for a mattress or a seat |
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申请号 | EP03425785.7 | 申请日 | 2003-12-05 | 公开(公告)号 | EP1481614B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2009-11-25 |
申请人 | POINTEX S.p.A.; | 发明人 | Ranaldo, Marco; | ||||
摘要 | |||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | The present invention relates to an article for supporting the human body of the type comprising a shaped panel, hereinafter referred to with the term panel, for supporting the body and an outer cover containing the panel. Depending on the shape of the panel, the article made in accordance with the present invention may be, in particular, a mattress, a seat for a motor vehicle, an armchair, a sofa, etc. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the use of foams, latexes and their derivatives, whether synthetic, natural or mixed, for the production of panels of the desired shape. Such panels are increasingly appreciated by consumers both because of their hygienic and anallergic characteristics, and because of their capacity for local deformation proportional to the force applied and, therefore, the fact that they anatomically adapt to the shape of the body they support. Therefore, in the description below, the term latex is used without distinction to mean both natural and synthetic latex, and so the term latex foam also means polyurethane foam or substantially equivalent materials for the production of the above-mentioned panels. Such foams are often used in the production of mattresses, to which the following description refers, without in any way limiting the scope of the present invention. Generally speaking, mattresses made of such foams have a removable outer cover, that is to say, their outer cover may be removed for both washing and changing. For this purpose, the outer cover normally has a zip extending along the outer edge of the panel. Sometimes, to prevent temporary removal of the outer cover from leaving the panel unprotected, for example against accidental cuts or scrapes, stains, etc., the panel may be contained in a protective inner cover, normally made of fabric such as cotton or, in any case, of a breathable material to promote panel airing. The outer cover, also breathable, may consist of a single layer of material, but more often consists of three layers of material, and specifically of one outer layer of superior quality material, which may bear decorative patterns, one inner layer of more economical material, usually a rather thin cotton voile, and one filler layer normally made of polyester, cotton and/or other types of fibres, inserted between the internal and external layers. The three layers may be combined, fixing them together by quilting or bonding (a special type of stitching). As is known, in order to keep the elasticity of a foam mattress unchanged with the passage of time, the mattress must periodically be turned over and turned through 180° relative to the mesh which supports it. These operations, together with the movements normally made by a sleeping person, very often result in an annoying sliding, due to slipping, of the outer cover relative to the panel, irrespective of whether or not the panel has the above-mentioned protective inner cover. In the former case, the sliding occurs both between the protective inner cover and the panel and between the outer cover and the protective inner cover. However, the sliding between the protective inner cover and the panel is most apparent due to the natural slipperiness of the fabric surface of the protective inner cover in contact with the panel. After the sliding and slipping, the outer cover's shape stitching, which defines the shape of the panel on which it is applied, no longer matches the edges of the panel as it should. This is on one hand an aesthetic disadvantage and on the other hand results in unwanted deformation of the panel, with evident serious consequences for its functionality. However, due to the significant weight of latex mattresses, in particular double mattresses, and due to the form and structure of the material with which they are made (latex foams) which is not particularly rigid but easily deformed, realigning the outer cover shape stitching with the edges of the panel is very difficult and laborious. To solve the above-mentioned problem, outer covers and/or protective inner covers have been proposed which are impregnated on the inside with resins or similar sticky substances. However, resins, whether natural or synthetic, may be toxic, or may cause allergies or intolerances. Moreover, in the long-term such resins may alter the characteristics of the panel, irreversibly damaging it. The aim of the present invention is to produce an article for supporting the human body, comprising a shaped panel for supporting the body and a panel outer cover, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aim, are clearly described in the claims below, in particular claim 1 and, preferably, in any of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1. The advantageous aspects of the invention are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
With reference to The mattress 1 has a removable outer cover, that is to say, the outer cover 3 may be removed for easy washing or changing. For this purpose, the outer cover 3 has, for example, a zip 4 extending along the outer edge of the panel 2. Obviously, the zip may be substituted by two Velcro strips or the like. As illustrated in The outer cover 3 is also of the known type, and in particular may, without distinction, be of the single-layer or multi-layer type. In the latter case, not illustrated in Between the panel 2 and the outer cover 3 there is a cotton fabric 5, in particular, as illustrated in The particular weave of the above-mentioned fabric gives the fabric 5 a certain elasticity even though it is completely made of cotton. Alternatively, the fabric 5 may be made of synthetic fibres, which may be elastic, or a mixture of cotton and synthetic fibres. Whatever the case, the fabric 5 is breathable, to promote panel 2 airing. As illustrated in According to the particular weave of the velvet illustrated in In particular, as illustrated in It should be noticed that the local deformation of the panel 2 is generated by the weight of the fabric 5 and of the outer cover 3, by the force with which the fabric 5 and the outer cover 3 elastically compress the panel 2 and by the latex foam's capacity for local deformation proportional to the force applied, even if the force is of limited intensity. It should also be considered that the weight of the person sleeping on the mattress contributes to increased local deformation of the panel 2. The fabric 5 is obtained in the known way, not illustrated, using a machine, not illustrated, comprising two sets of needles. A first set produces the base fabric, in particular the side 8, and a second set produces the loops 9, therefore, the side 7. Unlike the first set of needles, a plurality of needles are missing from the second set, according to a succession of gaps arranged according to the above-mentioned spacing p. In a first embodiment of the mattress 1, the fabric 5 forms an inner cover for the panel 2. In this case, the outer cover 3 is separate from the inner cover and covers the latter. In other words, when the outer cover 3 is removed, for example so that it can be washed or changed, the panel 2 is still contained in and protected by the inner cover made of the fabric 5. Said inner cover may, in turn, be removable. In another embodiment of the mattress 1, the fabric 5 is fixed to the inside of the outer cover 3. In this case, the fabric 5 and the outer cover 3 together form a panel 2 cover which, when removed, for example so that it can be washed, leaves the panel 2 bare and unprotected. It should be highlighted that In a third embodiment of the mattress 1, illustrated in The fabric 12 may be of the known type normally used to protect the panel, or substantially smooth on both sides, or, preferably, the same type as the fabric 5. In both cases, the fabric 5 is fixed to the inside of the outer cover 3, the side 7 of the fabric 12 is in contact with the panel 2 and the side 7 of the fabric 5 is in contact with the fabric 12. As already indicated, the present invention is not limited to the production of mattresses, but may also be advantageously applied in the production of other types of articles for supporting the human body. For example, Obvious alternative embodiments of the motor vehicle seat 13 are seats in general and armchairs or sofas in particular. The invention described has evident industrial applications and can be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. |