(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0261173 A1
`Schlussel
`(43) Pub. Date:
`NOV. 15, 2007
`
`US 20070261173A1
`
`(54) SPACER FABRIC FOR MATTRESS PAD
`(76)
`Inventor: Jeremy Schlussel, Lawrence, NY (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`GOTTLIEB RACKMAN & REISMAN PC
`270 MADISON AVENUE
`8TH FLOOR
`NEW YORK NY 10016-0601 US
`’
`(
`)
`10/973 771
`(21) Appl. No.:
`’
`Oct 26, 2004
`(22) Filed:
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`A47C 27/05
`(52) US, Cl,
`
`(2006.01)
`
`.. 5/725
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A spacer fabric in combination With an infant mattress pad
`is provided. The spacer fabric has three parts or components
`knitted together to form a fabric With tWo breathable outer
`fabric layers and a breathable cushioned middle de?ned by
`yarns interconnecting the tWo layers. The spacer fabric is
`incorporated into an infant mattress pad in order to create an
`infant safety and comfort system designed to help reduce the
`risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and also to
`provide infants With enhanced comfort.
`
`Related US, Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/515,171, ?led on Oct.
`27, 2003.
`
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`2666263
`
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`. 62666256 26366626 6266 .|
`
`
`
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 2
`
`US 2007/0261173 Al
`
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`15
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 15, 2007 Sheet 2 0f 2
`
`US 2007/0261173 Al
`
`N Q LL
`
`11
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`
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`

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`US 2007/0261173 A1
`
`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`SPACER FABRIC FOR MATTRESS PAD
`[0001] This application claims priority bene?t of provi
`sional application No. 60/515,171, ?led Oct. 27, 2003.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`[0002] This application relates to an infant mattress pad,
`and, more particularly, to an infant mattress pad Which
`incorporates a spacer fabric.
`[0003] It is knoWn that SIDS (sudden infant death syn
`drome) occurs in infants primarily under six months of age.
`While there is no de?nitive proof as to Why SIDS occurs,
`there is a signi?cant medical school of thought that says
`SIDS occurs When an infant re-breaths its oWn carbon
`dioxide. Although SIDS risk has been shoWn to be loWered
`signi?cantly When an infant sleeps on its back, the risk
`nonetheless remains. Also, many infants, even if placed on
`their back to sleep, can roll over, increasing the SIDS risk.
`[0004] Indeed, infants are knoWn to turn over or maneuver
`themselves into positions Which make it hard for them to
`breath. Also, doctors sometimes recommend for infants to
`sleep on their stomach for reasons such as re?ux and head
`deformity. Moreover, sometimes parents Will put their
`infants on their stomachs to sleep better. Any of these
`reasons therefore, put an infant at higher risk for SIDS.
`[0005] Accordingly, it Would be desirable to provide a
`sleeping environment for infants Which reduce the risk of
`SIDS as much as possible.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`[0006] Generally speaking, in accordance With the inven
`tion, a spacer fabric in combination With an infant mattress
`pad is provided.
`[0007] The spacer fabric has three parts or components
`knitted together to form a fabric de?ned by tWo breathable
`outer fabric layers and a breathable cushioned middle com
`prising yarns interconnecting the tWo layers. The spacer
`fabric is incorporated into an infant mattress pad in order to
`create an infant safety and comfort system designed to help
`reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and
`also to provide infants With enhanced comfort.
`[0008] Medical school of thought suggests the risk of
`SIDS is reduced by having an infant sleep on a mattress pad
`made of a fabric material Which utiliZes breathable spacer
`fabric. Such a pad alloWs the infant to rest above the mattress
`itself, leaving room for carbon dioxide gas to defuse along
`a loWer level than the level that the infant rests. This reduces
`the carbon dioxide amount that the infant breaths, Which, in
`turn, reduces the risk of SIDS.
`[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to
`provide an improved infant sleeping environment.
`[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an
`improved mattress pad for infant mattresses and cribs.
`[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a
`mattress pad system Which utiliZes breathable spacer fabric.
`[0012] Still other objects and advantages Will, in part, be
`obvious and Will, in part, be apparent from the folloWing
`description.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`[0013] For a fuller understanding of the invention, refer
`ence is made to the folloWing description, taken in connec
`tion With the accompanying draWings, in Which:
`[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a ?rst embodiment
`of the inventive mattress pad as applied to a mattress; and
`[0015] FIG. 2 is a second embodiment of the inventive
`mattress pad as applied to a mattress.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`[0016] Spacer fabric, also knoWn as double needle bar
`fabrics (typically knitted on a double needle bar machine) or
`3-dimensional fabric, is typically made by knitting tWo
`fabric layers. The tWo fabric layers could be the same or
`different, i.e. mesh or solid. The spacer fabric further
`includes separator yarns interdisposed betWeen the tWo
`layers, creating a 3 dimensional cushioned material fabric
`construction Which is highly breathable. Such spacer fabrics
`and their manufacture are Well knoWn in the art. Any yarn
`can be used to knit spacer fabrics, including polyester, nylon,
`spandex, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, or any other
`naturally occurring or man-made ?ber used for knitting.
`Spacer fabric may also be prepared by Weaving or other
`knoWn technologies.
`[0017] NoW referring to FIG. 1, a ?rst embodiment of the
`inventive mattress pad is shoWn and generally indicated at
`11. Mattress pad 11 is de?ned by a body portion 13 of
`substantially the same siZe as top portion 23 of mattress 21
`as Well as an integrally formed border portion 15. Body
`portion 13 is de?ned by a single layer 16 made of a spacer
`fabric material of the type described hereinabove, While
`border portion 15 is made from a solid non-spacer fabric
`material. In this regard, the fabric of border portion 15 Will
`preferably have an elastic trim seWn therealong and has a
`Width Which substantially matches the Wall thickness of
`mattress 21. Border portion 15 is not made of a spacer fabric
`material in order to reduce the use of spacer fabric in the
`construction of pad 11. Thus, body portion 13 of pad 11 is
`siZed to be disposed substantially over top portion 23 of
`mattress 21. Moreover, because border portion 15 of pad 11
`is elastic, pad 11 Will have a snug ?t over mattress 21,
`preventing the bunching thereof.
`[0018] In a second embodiment, as shoWn in FIG. 2, body
`portion 13 of mattress pad 11 is constructed With an upper
`layer 17 comprising a spacer fabric, as described herein
`above, and an underlying layer 19 of a breathable foam
`material for adding resiliency to body portion 13 of pad 11.
`Also, since body portion 13 incorporates underlying layer 17
`of a foam material, production of pad 11 is made more
`cost-effective since it enables the overall use of a smaller
`percentage of spacer fabric in pad 11.
`[0019] In accordance With the invention, body portion 13
`of pad 11 has a thickness of betWeen about 0.1 inches and
`1.0 inches and preferably a thickness of betWeen about 0.15
`and 0.25 inches. If body portion 13 of pad 11 incorporates
`both an upper layer of spacer fabric and an underlying layer
`of a foam material, the upper layer Will have a thickness of
`betWeen about 0.1 and 0.5 inches (preferably betWeen 0.15
`and 0.25 inches), While the underlying layer Will have a
`thickness of betWeen about 0.1 and 0.75 inches (preferably
`
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`US 2007/0261173 A1
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`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`between about 0.2 and 0.3 inches). Moreover, in this
`embodiment, the upper and underlying layers remain co
`extensive With each other When applied to the mattress.
`[0020] The inventive pad of the invention Will reduce
`infant rashes from saliva and other ?uids by allowing such
`dispensed ?uids to drain to the bottom of the spacer fabric
`that de?nes the body portion, keeping the infant aWay from
`the dispensed ?uids. Further, by utiliZing moister manage
`ment technologies in the spacer fabric material such as, but
`not limited to utiliZing special ?bers such as Hydro?l
`(modi?ed version of nylon) and Coolmax (modi?ed version
`of polyester), knitting the fabric to have a desired mesh siZe
`of betWeen about 200 microns and 0.5 inches (preferably
`betWeen 0.1 and 0.25 inches) and/or a desired fabric density
`of betWeen about 75 stitches per square inch and 2,400
`stitches per square inch (preferably betWeen 300 and 600
`stitches per square inch), and/or ?nishing the fabric by
`applying a Wicking agent to the fabric, or to the yarns, before
`knitting. As a result, ?uids Will be Wicked aWay from the
`infant, thereby alloWing faster drying.
`[0021] The inventive pad Will be made from 100%
`hypoallergenic materials, such as nylon, polyester, spandex
`and polypropylene. This Will help prevent allergies and
`maintain better breathing While the infant is sleeping.
`[0022] In accordance With the invention, the body portion
`of the inventive pad Will be constructed to be extremely soft
`by, for example, using textured (crimped) yarn and microde
`nier (yam ?bers or ?laments of less than one denier), special
`knitting constructions such as open or closed loops of the
`yarns, and/or using certain fabric ?nishings prior to cutting
`and seWing, such as jet scouring, brushing, and/or sanding of
`the fabric.
`[0023] The inventive pad Will be easy to Wash, Which Will
`keep the infant as clean as possible.
`[0024] The invention may be expanded to include the use
`of an infant mattress pad made from other breathable fabric
`materials By Way of example, the body portion of the
`mattress pad may be de?ned by a regular mesh fabric as a
`top layer and a foam material as the bottom layer; both
`layers are, as With the embodiment shoWn in FIG. 2,
`discussed hereinbefore, integrally formed together.
`[0025] The invention accordingly comprises the features
`of construction, combination of elements and arrangement
`of parts as shoWn and described in the preceding description.
`The scope of the invention is de?ned by the folloWing
`claims.
`1. An infant mattress pad comprising a body portion of
`Which at least a part thereof is made from a spacer fabric
`material.
`2. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, further including a
`border portion integrally formed around the body portion.
`3. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said spacer
`fabric material comprises tWo fabric layers and a plurality of
`interconnecting or separator yarns disposed therebetWeen.
`4. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein the tWo
`fabric layers of said spacer fabric material are made from
`either the same or different fabric materials.
`5. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said tWo
`fabric layers of said spacer fabric material have a construc
`tion selected from the group consisting of a mesh construc
`tion and a solid construction.
`
`6. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said spacer
`fabric material is made from a yam selected from the group
`consisting of polyester, nylon, spandex; cotton, polyester,
`propylene, other naturally occurring yarns, and man-made
`?bers.
`7. The infant mattress pad of claim 2, Wherein said border
`portion includes an elastic trim seWn therealong.
`8. The infant mattress pad of claim 2, Wherein said border
`portion is made from a fabric material different than that of
`said spacer fabric material.
`9. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein the spacer
`fabric material is made from yarn comprising a textured yarn
`having yam ?bers of a denier less than one.
`10. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said body
`portion has a thickness of betWeen about 0.1 and 1.0 inches.
`11. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said body
`portion of said pad includes an upper layer incorporating
`said spacer fabric and a loWer layer of a breathable foam
`material.
`12. The infant mattress pad of claim 11, Wherein said
`upper layer has a thickness of betWeen about 0.1 and 0.5
`inches and said loWer layer has a thickness of betWeen about
`0.1 and 0.75 inches.
`13. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said
`spacer fabric material is treated With a Wicking agent.
`14. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said
`spacer fabric material is ?nished by a ?nishing process
`selected from the group consisting of a scouring, brushing
`and sanding.
`15. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein the spacer
`fabric material has a mesh siZe of betWeen about 200
`microns and 0.5 inches.
`16. The infant mattress pad of claim 1, Wherein said
`spacer fabric has a fabric density of betWeen about 75
`stitches per square inch and 2,400 stitches per square inch.
`17. An infant mattress pad comprising;
`a mattress having a top portion, a bottom portion and a
`continuous side Wall; and
`a mattress pad siZed for selectively covering said mattress
`of Which at least a substantial portion thereof is made
`from a spacer fabric material.
`18. The bedding system of claim 17, Wherein said mat
`tress pad comprises a body portion and an integrally formed
`border portion therearound.
`19. The bedding system of claim 17, Wherein said body
`portion of said pad is of a siZe and Width Which is substan
`tially the same as that of said top portion of said mattress.
`20. The bedding system of claim 17, Wherein said border
`portion of said pad has a Width Which is at least substantially
`the same as that of said side Wall of said mattress.
`21. The bedding system of claim 17, Wherein said body
`portion of said pad includes an upper layer incorporating
`said spacer fabric material and a loWer layer of a breathable
`foam material.
`22. The bedding system of claim 21, Wherein said loWer
`layer of breathable foam material abuts against said top
`portion of said mattress When said pad is ?tted thereover.
`23. The bedding system of claim 17, Wherein said pad has
`a thickness of betWeen about 0.1 and 1.0 inches.
`24. The bedding system of claim 21, Wherein said upper
`layer has a thickness of betWeen about 0.1 and 0.5 inches
`and said loWer layer has a thickness of betWeen about 0.1
`and 0.75 inches.
`
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`US 2007/0261173 A1
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`Nov. 15, 2007
`
`25. The bedding system of claim 17, wherein said spacer
`fabric material has a mesh siZe of between about 200
`microns and 0.5 inches and fabric density of betWeen about
`75 stitches per square inch and 2,400 stitches per square
`inch.
`26. An infant mattress pad comprising a body portion of
`Which at least a substantial part thereof is made of a
`breathable fabric material.
`
`27. The infant mattress pad of claim 26, Wherein said
`breathable fabric material is selected from the group con
`sisting of a mesh fabric material and a spacer fabric material.
`28. The infant mattress pad of claim 26, Wherein said pad
`includes a top layer of said breathable fabric material and an
`underlying layer of a foam material.
`
`*
`
`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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