PROTECTIVE FIRE RETARDANT COMPONENT FOR A COMPOSITE FURNITURE SYSTEM

1 . A fire retardant (FR) cover for use as a component of a composite furniture system, the FR cover comprising:

a resilient FR fiber batt comprising at least one FR material; and

a layer of material enclosing said FR fiber batt.

2 . The FR cover of claim 1 , wherein said FR fiber batt has first and second side surfaces and wherein said layer of material enclosing said FR fiber batt further comprises:

a top cover mated with said first side surface of said FR fiber batt; and

a backing mated with said second side surface of said FR fiber batt.

3 . The FR cover of claim 2 , wherein said backing is a woven fabric.

4 . The FR cover of claim 2 , wherein said backing is a nonwoven fiber batt.

5 . The FR cover of claim 2 , wherein said top cover, FR fiber batt and backing are quilted to one another.

6 . The FR cover of claim 2 , wherein said backing and said top cover each further comprises a first side surface and wherein said FR cover further comprises:

a first heat-activated layer of adhesive attaching said first side surface of said FR fiber batt to said first side surface of said cover; and

a second heat-activated layer of adhesive attaching said second side surface of said FR fiber batt to said first side surface of said backing.

7 . The FR cover of claim 1 , wherein said FR fiber batt further comprises at least one charring fiber.

8 . The FR cover of claim 8 , wherein said at least one charring fiber includes an oxidized polyacrylonitrile (O-PAN) fiber, an FR rayon fiber, or both.

9 . The FR cover of claim 1 wherein said FR fiber batt is formed from a blend of FR fibers comprising O-PAN fibers, FR rayon fibers, a blend of O-PAN fibers and FR rayon fibers, modacrylic fibers, or a blend of FR rayon fibers and modacrylic fibers.

10 . A composite furniture system comprising the FR cover of claim 1 .

11 . A fire retardant (FR) cover for use as a component of a composite furniture system, the FR cover comprising:

a resilient FR fiber batt comprising at least one inherently FR hybrid fiber, at least one polyester carrier fiber and binder; and

a layer of material enclosing said resilient FR fiber batt.

12 . The FR cover of claim 11 , wherein said inherently FR hybrid fiber is a part-organic and part-inorganic fiber.

13 . The FR cover of claim 12 , wherein said part-organic and part-inorganic fiber is a viscose staple fiber containing silicic acid.

14 . The FR cover of claim 13 , wherein said viscose staple fiber containing silicic acid is a blend of cellulosic fibers, a polysilicic acid and an aluminum compound.

15 . The FR cover of claim 13 , wherein said viscose staple fiber containing silicic acid is a blend of cellulosic fibers, sodium dioxide and sodium aluminate.

16 . A composite furniture system, comprising a first component; and

a first fire retardant (FR) cover enclosing said first component;

wherein said FR cover comprises:

a resilient FR fiber batt; and

a layer of material enclosing said resilient FR fiber batt.

17 . The composite furniture system of claim 16 , wherein said first component is a mattress.

18 . The composite furniture system of claim 16 , wherein said first component is a mattress foundation.

19 . The composite furniture system of claim 16 , and further comprising:

a second component; and

wherein said first FR cover encloses said first component and said second component.

20 . The composite furniture system of claim 19 , wherein said first component is a mattress and said second component is a mattress foundation.

21 . The composite furniture system of claim 16 , and further comprising;

a second component; and

a second FR cover enclosing said second component;

wherein said second FR cover comprises:

a resilient FR fiber batt; and

a layer of material enclosing said resilient FR fiber batt.

22 . The composite furniture system of claim 21 , wherein said first component is a mattress and said second component is a mattress foundation.