REUSABLE ANTI-DUST-MITES AND ANTI-ALLERGENS PILLOW PROTECTOR

HOUSSE D`OREILLER REUTILISABLE NON ALLERGENE ET ANTIACARIEN DE LA POUSSIERE

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a reusable and machine washable hypoallergic
pillow
cover/protector. This is comprised of 3-layers of laminated fabric that is
water-impermeable,
breathable, and antimicrobial. Generic pillow covers/protectors can be
assembled with sewing
machines which leave gaps in the fabric or include generic zippers with gaps
that both allow for the
transmission of allergens between the user and the pillow. The invention
utilizes ultrasonic
welding/bonding technology, waterproof tapes, and a hermetic zipper to render
the cover allergen-
proof. This would provide a hygienic and hypoallergenic sleeping environment
for personal use at
home, travel use in public accommodations, and/or clinical environments.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne une taie doreiller hypoallergénique réutilisable et lavable à la machine. Elle est composée de trois couches de tissu laminé imperméable à leau, respirant et antimicrobien. Les taies doreiller génériques peuvent être assemblées à la machine à coudre, ce qui laisse des espaces dans le tissu, ou comprennent des fermetures à glissière, qui permettent la transmission dallergènes entre lutilisateur et loreiller. Linvention utilise une technologie de soudage/adhésion par ultrasons, des rubans étanches à leau et des fermetures à glissière hermétiques pour que la taie soit à lépreuve des allergènes. Cela permettrait un environnement de sommeil hygiénique et hypoallergénique pour lutilisation personnel à la maison, lutilisation de voyage dans les locaux dhabitation publics et/ou dans les environnements cliniques.

Claims

6
What is claimed is:
1. A pillow protector comprising:
a pillow encasing comprising an outer fabric layer, a middle fabric layer, and
an inner
fabric layer sequentially layered to define an internal volume and an
insertion aperture;
a hermetic zipper;
a layer of adhesive zipper tape;
a layer of adhesive seam reinforcement tape;
wherein a zipper ultrasonic weld secures the layer of adhesive zipper tape at
an edge of
the hermetic zipper to secure the hermetic zipper to the pillow encasing at
the insertion
aperture; and
wherein a seam reinforcement ultrasonic weld secures the layer of adhesive
seam
reinforcement tape to a combination of the outer fabric layer, the middle
fabric layer, and inner
fabric layer to secure together the combination of the outer fabric layer, the
middle fabric layer,
and the inner fabric layer.
2. The pillow protector of claim 1, wherein the layer of adhesive zipper
tape or the layer of
adhesive seam reinforcement tape is comprised of waterproof or water repellent
material.
3. The pillow protector of claim 1, wherein the outer fabric layer, the
middle fabric layer,
or the inner fabric layer is comprised of recycled plastic, waterproof
material, water repellant
material, dust mite-proof material, antimicrobial material, or breathable
material.

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4. The pillow protector of claim 1, wherein the outer fabric layer is
comprised of plastic
woven pongee or similar material.
5. The pillow protector of claim 4, wherein the plastic woven pongee or
similar material
comprises polyester, nylon, acrylic, or other synthetic fibers.
6. The pillow protector of claim 1, wherein the middle fabric layer is
comprised of
a polyurethane polymer, a polyethylene polymer, a polyvinyl chloride polymer,
or a
polytetrafluoroethylene polymer.
7. The pillow protector of claim 6, wherein the middle fabric layer
contains a plurality
of micropores.
8. The pillow protector of claim 1, wherein the inner fabric layer is
comprised of plastic
woven pongee or similar material.
9. The pillow protector of claim 8, wherein the plastic woven pongee or
similar material
comprises polyester, nylon, acrylic, or other synthetic fibers.
10. The pillow protector of claim 1, further comprising a water repellent
treatment layer,
an anti-contaminant treatment layer, or a flame retardant treatment layer
applied upon or
adjacent to a surface of the pillow encasing or impregnated within the outer
fabric layer, the
middle fabric layer, or the inner fabric layer.
11. The pillow protector of claim 10, wherein the anti-contaminant
treatment layer is
comprised of an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, or a metal with
antimicrobial
properties.
12. The pillow protector of claim 11, wherein the metal with antimicrobial
properties
comprises silver, copper, or zinc.

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13. A method of assembling a pillow protector comprising a pillow encasing
comprising
an outer fabric layer, a middle fabric layer, and an inner fabric layer; a
hermetic zipper; a
layer of adhesive zipper tape; and a layer of adhesive seam reinforcement
tape; comprising
the steps of:
sequentially layering the outer fabric layer, the middle fabric layer, and
inner fabric
layer to define an internal volume and an insertion aperture;
ultrasonically welding the layer of adhesive zipper tape at an edge of the
hermetic
zipper to secure the hermetic zipper to the pillow encasing at the insertion
aperture; and
ultrasonically welding the layer of adhesive seam reinforcement tape to a
combination
of the outer fabric layer, the middle fabric layer, and the inner fabric layer
to secure together
the combination of the outer fabric layer, the middle fabric layer, and the
inner fabric layer.

Description

1
REUSABLE ANTI-DUST-MITES AND ANTI-ALLERGENS PILLOW
PROTECTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present specification relates generally to pillow protectors and
specifically to an innovative
method of making reusable pillow protectors by applying ultrasonic welding or
bonding
technology in assembly in a manner that does not require sewing and which may
integrate
customized 3-layered laminated fabric, hermetic zippers, waterproof adhesive
seal tapes, and
reinforcement adhesive tapes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pillows can be a source of allergens, bacteria, and fungi; herby referred to
as 'allergens' or
'contaminants', that contribute or exacerbate pathologies such as allergies,
asthma, chronic
sinusitis, and other respiratory-related diseases. It is established that
allergen avoidance
measures such as pillow covers/protectors, hereon referred to as 'pillow
protectors' can
effectively control and mitigate these conditions.
Pillows used in households, hospitals, hotels, Airbnb and other public housing
facilities are
sources of allergens (e.x. house dust mites, fungi, bacteria, etc.) that
exacerbate respiratory
diseases. It is not common practice to wash or replace a pillow, nor practical
to regularly wash
or sterilize a pillow throughout its lifecycle. Thus, a practical solution to
prevent the
contamination of allergen-producing entities and mitigating the spread of
allergens is required.
The most adoptable practice is to use a generic pillow protector to encase a
sleeping pillow, as an
effort to protect the pillow from contamination whenever it is slept on.
Periodically, the generic
pillow protector is washed when it is soiled, becomes odorous, or used by
patients in the hospital
or by guests in public accommodations (i.e. hotels, hostels, Airbnb, etc).
However, simply
washing or changing to a new generic pillow protector would not able to remove
the dust mites
Date Recu/Date Received 2021-10-13

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and all other microscopic allergens that are inhabiting and growing inside a
used pillow.
Traditional pillow encasings (e.x. pillowcases and pillow protectors) are made
from porous,
woven materials that contribute to creating an environment for allergen
accumulation. The
material allows moisture from the ambient air or the user's breath and saliva
to permeate into
the pillow. Thus, it creates a warm and damp environment which promotes the
growth of
fungi, bacteria, and house dust mites.
Traditional pillow encasings have zippers with wide gaps and/or punctures
resultant from the
sewing process. These gaps or holes provide opportunities for contaminants to
ingress and
establish colonies in the pillows. Furthermore, dead skin cells that penetrate
through and
accumulate on the pillow surface can become a source of nourishment for the
contaminants. In
conjunction with the porous materials, traditional encasings allow for the
transfer of allergens
and allergen-producing entities to freely pass between the user and the
pillow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hygienic and hypoallergic pillow protector that minimizes the risk of
contamination of
allergen-producing entities and egression of allergens requires a specialized
fabric, zipper, and
assembly process. The fabric must prevent moisture, contaminants, allergens,
and dead skin to
pass between the fabric, yet remain breathable and comfortable.
This is achievable using a customized 3-layered fabric made from 100% recycled
plastic
engineered to be: waterproof and water repellant, dust mite-proof,
antimicrobial, and breathable
with an integrated hermetic zipper. When assembled with waterproof tapes for
the seams with
ultrasonic welding/bonding technology, it would eliminate the holes from
sewing needles, thus
creating a sterile barrier around the pillow to prevent contamination and
minimize allergen
egression.
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There is a need for such a product to protect vulnerable populations at risk
of asthma, allergies,
and other respiratory diseases. Such a product can be used as a pillowcase or
as a protective
layer between a pillowcase and pillow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a face-side (front side) view to illustrate that the hermetic zipper
is attached to the
pillow protector fabric by welding the adhesive tape sandwiched between the
pillow protector
fabric and the hermetic zipper.
Fig. 2: is an inside-out view (front side) to illustrate additional seam
reinforcement tapes
adhered on top of the hermetic zipper's seam allowance to add adhesive
security and durability
such that the hermetic zipper is sandwiched between the adhesive tape and the
adhesive seam
reinforcement tape.
Fig. 3 is an inside-out view (front side) to show how the seams are sealed by
welding adhesive
tape sandwiched between the pillow protector fabric.
Fig. 4 is an inside-out view (front side) to show both closed side seams are
secured by welding
the adhesive seam reinforcement tape to cover up the seam allowance.
Fig. 5 is the face-side (front side; zipper facing up) of a finished pillow
protector.
Fig. 6 is the face-side (backside side; zipper facing down) of a finished
pillow protector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
In addition to the drawings described above, this description provides one or
more
embodiments of the above reference drawings. There is no intent to limit this
disclosure to a
single embodiment or embodiments that are disclosed herein. The intent is to
cover all
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents within the spirit and scope of
this disclosure as
defined by the appended claims.
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Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the embodiment of the method by which the hermetic
zipper 1100 is
attached to the pillow protector fabric 1200 (pillow not shown). Ultrasonic
welding/bonding
was used to secure a layer of adhesive seam reinforcement tape 1300 applied
around the
edges of the hermetic zipper 1100 to the pillow protector fabric 1200 material
and adhesive
tape 1400 is sandwiched between the pillow protector fabric 1200 or the
hermetic zipper
1100 and pillow protector fabric 1200 for adhering purposes. Adhesive tapes
used may be
waterproof.
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the embodiment of assembling the pillow protector
itself. It is
assembled by ultrasonic welding/bonding of the pillow protector fabric 1200
material with
waterproof adhesive seam reinforcement tape 1300 and adhesive tape 1400 around
the
circumference of the pillow. The pillow protector can be made to fit standard
or customzied
sized pillows made of various materials.
The pillow protector material is composed of 3-layer laminated textile fabric.
The outer face-
side layer is made from 100% recycled plastic woven pongee or similar material
made from
but not limited to polyester, nylon, acrylic, and other synthetic fibres. The
middle later can be a
polyurethane-based, polyethylene-based, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based,
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based membrane layer of similar properties with
micropores to
render it microscopic allengens filtration, breathable (the ingress and egress
of air) and
waterproof.The inside layer is 100% recycled plastic (similar to the outer
layer) tightly knitted
jersey. Together the layers of the pillow protector prevent moisture and
allergens from entering
or exiting the pillow through the protector, yet allows for airflow for user
comfort.
The face-side of the outer layer fabric is treated with a durable water
repellent and
antimicrobial finishing. The antimicrobial finishing can also be impregnated
within the fabric
or between the layers. They are not limited to an antimicrobial and/or
antifungal agent, or
metals with antimicrobial properties such as silver, copper, and zinc.
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Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 embodies the assembled pillow protector. Appropriate sized
pillows can be
placed within the pillow casing and secured with the hermetic zipper 1200.
Once assembled by
ultrasonic welding/bonding with waterproof tape, the pillow protector fabric
1200 forms a
secure pillow protector free from holes for contaminants and allergens to pass
through.
Date Recu/Date Received 2021-10-13