WO1997024484A1

WO1997024484A1 - Covering for beds and similar items and method for its manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO1997024484A1
Application number: PCT/BE1996/000135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Cornelis Siegfried Kluft
Original assignee: Sogilo, Naamloze Vennootschap
Priority date: 1995-12-28
Filing date: 1996-12-23
Publication date: 1997-07-10
Also published as: NL1004907A1; DE29622338U1; NL1004907C2; JPH11501246A; ES2113328A1; BE1009900A5; NZ325161A; NO973939L; NO973939D0; ES2113328B1; IL121606A0; AU1361897A; CZ269797A3; FR2742977B3; FR2742977A3; EP0812372A1

Abstract

This covering for beds and similar items has the distinguishing feature of being equipped with an acaricidal biocide installed in the covering.

Description

Covering article for beds and the like, and method for making same

The present invention relates to a covering article for beds and the like, as well as to a method for making it.

First, the invention relates to a mattress protector; nevertheless, in general, it also relates to other covering articles for beds and the like such as quilts, cushions, filling materials for the latter, bedspreads, sheets, knitted bedspreads, etc. .

As is known, the above-mentioned covering articles for beds easily form homes in which organisms such as house dust mites and the like can settle.

House dust mites, for example, feed on fungi and dander on human skin which, as we know, end up in bedding.

The presence of house dust mites of this type and of organisms of the same species causes, in many cases, allergic reactions. In the case of house dust mites, it is the droppings that cause allergic reactions. Therefore, one should exterminate the house dust mite to prevent allergies.

Both the dust formed by the droppings and the spores of the fungi are responsible for respiratory allergies and asthma attacks.

The solutions known at present for combating house dust mites of this type are simple but relatively open to criticism. They consist of daily very careful ventilation of the bedding, possibly vacuuming it or washing it as often as possible.

Fibers, inter alia intended for bed covering articles, which are treated with a bactericide and / or a fungicide, as well as methods for the treatment during washing, are known in particular from GB-A-2.248 .774, document US-A-3,691,570, document US-A-4,525,409, document EP-A-0.113.254 and document FR-A-2.015.989 as well as according to the literature, more specifically according to the chapter "Antimicrobial protection" of "Textile progress", tome 22 (1992), n ° 2/3/4 and according to the article "Antimikrobielle Ausrustung von Textilien flir den- Spitalbereich" of "Textileveredlung ", volume 26 (October 1991), n ° 10.

In all these documents, we mainly consider the medico-social world. In this case, we are mainly trying to kill microbes, bacteria and fungi. However, there is no solution offered which would target the fight against house dust mites, since these do not concern the first chief of the medico-social world. In this regard, it should be mentioned that the house dust mite is an arachnid, that is to say a being which is comparable neither to an insect, nor to a bacterium, nor to a fungus and that, for example products which are developed as insecticide, bactericide or fungicide have little or no effect in this case.

All the known techniques also exhibit a defective fixing which is due above all to a lack of knowledge of the fixing itself.

The subject of the invention is a covering article for beds and the like, by means of which the above-mentioned problem is avoided and eliminated.

To this end, the invention consists of a covering article for beds and the like which has the characteristic that it is provided with a house dust mothproof biocide fixed on the article.

The house dust moth biocide includes at least one miticide as an active ingredient.

Preferably, a commercially available biocide A is used under the name "Amicide 90HP2".

Preferably, a product based on a natural extract of chrysanthemum petals, more specifically based on pyrethinoid, will be used in accordance with the invention for the acaricide.

Unlike permitrine, this extract is not subjected to a synthetic treatment. It therefore remains in the form of a biodegradable natural product. A further object of the invention is to provide a covering article for beds, in which the abovementioned miticide is applied permanently to the fibers of the covering article so that an active effect can be guaranteed for the life of the fiber, starting from the covering article. To this end, the anti-mite biocide of house dust, more specifically the acaricide, is fixed to the covering article by means of a binder.

By the fact that the biocide is fixed to the covering article by means of a binder, the advantage is obtained that the biocide is only released very slowly and that a long-lasting effect is guaranteed. Likewise, the advantage is also obtained of being able to wash the covering article several times or even dozens of times without giving rise to the loss of the activity of the biocide.

In the most preferred embodiment, use is made of a biocide which exhibits bactericidal, antifungal and acaricidal activity. Thus, we get the possibility of combating house dust mites on two levels. On the one hand, we oppose the development of fungi, respectively we destroy these fungi so that we exclude a broth culture for mites of house dust. On the other hand, we also fight directly against house dust mites by the bactericidal and acaricide action, both at the larva stage and at the adult stage with regard to the house dust mite. . It will be noted that fungi release spores which in themselves also have a pronounced allergic effect and that by their elimination, it is possible to simultaneously suppress a second source of allergy. For the bactericidal and fungicidal effect, use is preferably made of 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 1Orophophenylphenol and glycol ether.

The above-mentioned binder can be of different types. In this case, one can use a product which is already used for other purposes or a product which is used exclusively for fixing the biocide.

In the latter case, a binder is preferably used which consists of an acrylic-based product, more specifically based on perfluorinated acrylic compounds.

According to another characteristic of the invention, one can use a binder which is water repellent and oleophobic. At the same time, this binder provides protection against UV rays and the biting appearance of laundry products.

According to the invention, a melamine-formaldehyde resin can also be added to the binder, so that the layer obtained more optimally meets the requirements imposed.

It is also possible to add to the binder, other secondary products such as, for example, products which promote resistance to washing and dry washing.

Preferably, the biocide is fixed to the article by means of a binder dried using thermal drying, this thermal drying being able to be carried out both by heating and by lyophilization.

According to a preferred embodiment, one starts with a covering article which is composed of a substrate and by a composite layer applied to the latter. The use of a composite layer of this type in combination with the use of the biocide offers the advantage that a large contact surface is obtained on which the biocide can be fixed by means of the binder.

In this case, we also create a double effect, that is to say, on the one hand a first effect exerted on the basis of the material where the mite of house dust is found, and on the other also leaves to the surface to prevent the house dust mite from becoming attached to it. On the base, a concentration higher than that used on the fibers is preferably used.

In the case of a covering article of this type, it is possible, in accordance with the invention, to apply the biocide either exclusively to the fibers of the composite layer, or exclusively to the substrate, or else to apply it both to the fibers and to the substrate.

In the case of a covering article on which a coating layer has already been provided, such as a primer, to make this article waterproof, for example, the biocide can be mixed with the material of which this coating layer is made so that the material of the coating layer acts as a binder.

As a coating layer, one can choose, in cases of this type, from among the materials listed below: a synthetic material waterproof; latex; a mixture of acrylic resins and polyurethane resins; a mixture of acrylic resins.

In the case of a covering article which is composed at least in part of fibers, as is the case for example, for the aforementioned composite, these fibers are preferably provided with the aforementioned biocide before making the article. Thus, one obtains the fact that the biocide is optimally incorporated into the article.

According to a preferred embodiment, the covering article is a knitted article, but it can also be a commercially available article, such as woven or tufted fabrics.

The invention especially demonstrates its usefulness in the case of a mattress protector and / or of what is called an interlayer skin which can be applied over the sheet and / or of an anti-decubitus skin. which is also designated by the expression anti-decubitus mattress pad and / or a bedspread. Indeed, it is most of the time in these articles and especially in interlayer skins of this type, as well as in anti-decubitus skins, that the population of house dust mites is the highest, at least when no specific measures are taken to control house dust mites.

Consequently, in an optimal embodiment, the mattress protector is constituted in accordance with the invention, by a skin, of well-defined dimensions, of the aforementioned article formed by a substrate and by a composite layer. Which is provided with '' a biocide as indicated above. However, this does not exclude that the invention can be implemented in combination with other kinds of mattress protectors, for example without a composite layer and / or having a base layer based on wool or cotton instead of a synthetic material.

In the case of cushions and quilts, including composite quilts, it is preferable to realize, and the filling material, and the cover according to the invention.

It should be noted that the articles according to the invention, apart from domestic use, have a complementary value when they are used in hospitals, in establishments for the elderly and in hotels thanks to the hygienic aspect. which is related to the invention.

Finally, the invention also relates to a method for making a covering article which consists in pretreating the fibers and fixing these fibers on a substrate so that these fibers form a composite layer, with the particularity that the fibers are also treated with during their pretreatment with a biocide, this biocide being fixed on the fibers by means of a binder.

In a very practical embodiment, the mixture of binder and biocide is sprayed onto the fibers during the carding of the latter.

In a particular embodiment, the fibers treated with the biocide are kept, after treatment with the above-mentioned mixture, for a determined time in closed receptacles. Thus, the biocide, respectively the binder, has the possibility of optimally adhering to the fibers.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the back side of the substrate is provided with a biocide by mixing this biocide with a coating material and applying it jointly with the coating material on the back side and / or by applying the biocide to the substrate material before applying the coating layer, primer or coating. In order to better highlight the characteristics of the invention, there is described below by way of example, without any limiting character, a preferred embodiment of a method of making an article of covering the invention with reference to the single appended figure which schematically represents the manufacturing process.

In this case, it is a manufacturing process for making mattress protectors 1 which are composed of a substrate 2 and a composite layer 3 fixed on the latter.

For the composite layer 3, we start with a supply 4 of fibers 5, preferably synthetic fibers. These fibers 5 can be delivered in bales.

The fibers are successively subjected to different pretreatments. In the logic diagram of the figure, they are represented by blocks 6, 7 and 8.

In the first step represented by block 6, the fibers are dyed.

In the step which is represented by block 7, the fibers 5 are stretched for the first time and possibly mixed with fibers from other reserves. This is what is called "pickering".

Alternatively, the above steps can be replaced by a supply of fibrous rods, the fibrous rods being cut to obtain fibers of determined lengths.

In the step which is represented by block 8, the fibers 5 are subjected to an even better drawing by using carding. According to the invention, the fibers 5 are treated during carding, preferably they are sprayed, with a mixture 9 of the binder with the biocide. The biocide, which is a house dust mothproof biocide, is dosed according to a ratio of 0.4 to 0.6% by weight of the total.

The treated fibers 4 and 5 are then temporarily stored in closed receptacles 10, for example in bags.

Next, a continuous strip 11 is formed, formed by the substrate 2 and by the composite layer 3.

In the example shown, a knitting machine 12 is used for this purpose. In this knitting machine 12, a substrate 2 is knitted from a fed material 13, for example synthetic knitting yarns and, systematically , the above fibers 5 are fixed therein by knitting them.

Then, a primer is applied to the back side 14. This takes place for example by depositing, on the back side, a finishing agent 15 in an installation 16, for example using an automatic doctor blade mechanism, and then fixing this finishing agent 15 by drying in an oven 17.

In accordance with the invention, a second addition of biocide is carried out during this step, more specifically by mixing it with the finishing agent 15, for example also in a ratio of 0.4 to 0.6% by weight, or by spraying the biocide onto the substrate, therefore, onto the fabric, before applying the sizing agent 15. In a station 18, the article can still be subjected to various subsequent treatments such as polishing, combing and / or cutting the fibers 5 of the composite layer at the same height.

After having cut it to the appropriate length and / or width, the skins 19 are obtained which either are directly intended to act as mattress protectors or can be subsequently fitted with additional accessories such as buckles. fixation and the like.

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described by way of example and shown in the figure; This type of covering article can be implemented in different shapes and in different dimensions without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, for example in the case of a pillow provided with a covering of composite material, it is limited to spraying the fibers.

Claims

1.- Covering article for beds and the like, characterized in that it is provided with a house dust mothproof biocide, fixed on the article.

2. A covering article according to claim 1, characterized in that the biocide contains as active ingredient at least one acaricide.

3. A covering article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the active ingredient comprises at least one extract formed from petals of chrysanthemums.

4. A covering article according to claim 3, characterized in that the active ingredient contains natural pyrethinoids.

5. Cover article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biocide comprises active ingredients which, in addition to acaricidal activity, also have bactericidal and antifungal activity, respectively fungicidal.

6. A covering article according to claim 5, characterized in that the biocide comprises 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, orthophenylphenol and glycol ether.

7.- Article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the biocide is fixed to the article by means of a binder.

8.- Article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the binder is constituted with an acrylic-based product, more specifically based on perfluorinated acrylic compounds.

9. A covering article according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the biocide is fixed by means of a binder dried using a thermal drying process, either by heating or by lyophilization.

10.- covering article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a substrate (2) and a composite layer (3).

11. A covering article according to claim 10, characterized in that the biocide is applied at least to the fibers (5) of the composite layer (3).

12. A covering article according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the back side (14) is provided with a coating layer so that the biocide is mixed with the material, more specifically with the agent. primer (15) of which this coating layer is made, so that the material of the coating layer acts as a binder.

13. A covering article according to claim 12, characterized in that the coating layer is' constituted by a material chosen from the following series: a layer of waterproof synthetic material; latex; a mixture of acrylic resins and polyurethane resins; a mixture of acrylic resins.

14. A covering article according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the biocide is applied both on the front side, but more specifically on the fibers of the composite layer (3), than on the back side (14).

15.- covering article according to any one of the preceding claims, which is at least partially composed of fibers, threads or the like, characterized in that it comprises fibers and / or threads which have been provided with the aforementioned biocide before the making of the article.

16. Cover article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a knitted or woven article.

17. Cover article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a mattress protector (1) and / or an interlayer skin and / or an anti-decubitus skin. and / or a bedspread.

18. Method for making a covering article for a bed, more specifically a mattress protector (1), an anti-decubitus skin, an interlayer skin and / or a bedspread according to any one of claims 10 to 17, consisting in subjecting the fibers (5) to a pretreatment and in fixing these fibers (5) on a substrate (2) so that the above-mentioned fibers (5) form a composite layer (3), characterized in that ^J during their pretreatment, the fibers (5) are also treated with a mixture (9) of a biocide and a binder.

19.- Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the fibers (5) are subjected during their pretreatment at least to carding and in that the mixture (9) is sprayed on the fibers (5) to during carding.

20.- Method according to claims 18 or 19, characterized in that the fibers (5) treated with a biocide are kept immediately after the treatment with the mixture

(9) above, for a determined time in closed receptacles (10) before fixing them on the substrate (2).

21.- Method according to claims 18, 19 or 20, characterized in that the back side (14) of the substrate (2) is also provided with a biocide and in that this takes place by mixing the biocide with a coating material more specifically with a finishing agent (15), and this by applying it to the substrate (2), at the same time as the coating material (2), respectively by spraying it on the latter before to apply the coating material.