METHOD OF IMPARTING MATTRESS GRIPPING STRETCHABILITY TO A MATTRESS COVER
A fitted mattress cover for enveloping the top, side and end surfaces of a mattress is constructed to accommodate a range of mattress peripheral sizes and thicknesses. The construction utilizes composite end panels which include stretch end panels covering lower partial portions of the mattress end surfaces and which impart recovery forces to effectively grip the mattress and thereby minimize the shifting of the cover relative to the mattress. At the same time, the look and feel of the mattress covering, which may be of importance especially in the case of a fitted sheet, is improved, by virtue of the fact that the side panels can be formed as uninterrupted unitary extensions of the material forming the top side panel, or other material based upon aesthetic considerations, as can upper partial portions (extension end panels) of the composite end panels. In a related aspect, stretchability of the mattress cover skirt may be imparted in a post-manufacture heat treatment finishing step, which may include a laundry wash and dry cycle.
1 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover, said mattress cover comprising a top panel of material for fitting in overlaying relationship to the top surface of a mattress; and a peripheral skirt depending from the periphery of the top panel for fitting in overlaying relationship to the sides and ends of the mattress, said method comprising heat treating at least a portion of the peripheral skirt after it has been attached to said top panel, to thereby cause said portion of the peripheral skirt to contract in a longitudinal direction thereof, thus forming a stretchable material stretchable in at least a longitudinal direction of the skirt so as to generate an at least partial recovery force, whereby upon installation of the mattress covering the at least partial recovery force causes the skirt to grip the mattress.
2 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover according to claim 1 , wherein said heat treatment comprises a wash and dry cycle.
3 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover according to claim 1 , wherein said portion of the peripheral skirt is substantially inelastic and non-stretchable prior to said heat treatment.
4 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover according to claim 1 , wherein said portion of the peripheral skirt consists of an end panel of said skirt.
5 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover according to claim 4 , said skirt comprising an extension end panel attached to the top panel, said extension end panel being sized and configured to overlie substantially only an upper partial portion of an end wall of the mattress, said end panel being attached to said extension end panel and being sized and configured to overlie substantially only a lower partial portion of the end wall below the upper partial portion.
6 . A method of imparting mattress gripping stretchability to a mattress cover according to claim 1 , wherein said mattress cover is a fitted sheet.