Bedding for bed bug protection

Abstract

A bedding arrangement includes a mattress and a bed covering. The bed covering includes a top component adapted to cover a top surface of the mattress and a drape coupled to a perimeter portion of the top component and arranged to extend downwardly along a side wall of the mattress.

1 . A bed covering comprising
 a top component adapted to cover a top surface of a mattress and   a drape coupled to a perimeter edge of the top component and arranged to extend downwardly away from the top component, the drape including a panel anchor adapted to extend into a space defined between a mattress and a mattress foundation and a lower panel arranged to extend downwardly from the panel anchor and provide an exterior surface adapted to face away from a mattress and having a surface roughness of less than 0.000005 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel coupled to the perimeter edge of the top component and arranged to extend downwardly toward the panel anchor and interconnect the top component and the panel anchor. 
     
     
         3 . The bed covering of  claim 2 , wherein the panel anchor is located between the upper panel and the lower panel. 
     
     
         4 . The bed covering of  claim 2 , wherein the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer and a mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The bed covering of  claim 2 , wherein the lower panel includes an outer barrier layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress foundation and an inner comfort layer adapted to lie between and the outer barrier layer and a mattress foundation and the outer barrier layer provides the exterior surface. 
     
     
         6 . The bed covering of  claim 2 , wherein the panel anchor includes an upper barrier layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between the mattress and the mattress foundation, an upper comfort layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between the upper barrier layer and the mattress foundation, a lower comfort layer appended to the lower panel and adapted to lie between the upper comfort layer and the mattress foundation, and a lower barrier layer appended to the lower panel and adapted to lie between the lower comfort layer and the mattress foundation. 
     
     
         7 . The bed covering of  claim 6 , wherein the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer and a mattress and the outer comfort layer of the upper panel, the upper comfort layer of the panel anchor, and the lower comfort layer of the panel anchor cooperate to provide a first monolithic sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The bed covering of  claim 7 , wherein the inner barrier layer of the upper panel, the upper barrier layer of the panel anchor, and the lower barrier layer of the panel anchor cooperate to provide a second monolithic sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The bed covering of  claim 6 , wherein the lower panel includes an outer barrier layer including the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface and an inner comfort layer adapted to face away from a mattress and an inner comfort layer including an inner surface adapted to face toward a mattress and an outer surface arranged to face toward and abut the interior surface of the outer barrier layer. 
     
     
         10 . The bed covering of  claim 9 , wherein the outer barrier layer of the lower panel is bonded to the lower barrier layer of the panel anchor and the outer barrier layer of the lower panel is spaced apart from the lower comfort layer of the panel anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the lower panel includes a barrier band providing the exterior surface and a bridge band arranged to extend between and interconnect the panel anchor and the barrier band. 
     
     
         12 . The bed covering of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier band includes an outer barrier layer including the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface and an inner comfort layer adapted to face away from a mattress and an inner comfort layer including an inner surface adapted to face toward a mattress and an outer surface arranged to face toward and abut the interior surface of the outer barrier layer. 
     
     
         13 . The bed covering of  claim 12 , wherein the bridge band includes an outer comfort layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress foundation and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer and the mattress foundation. 
     
     
         14 . The bed covering of  claim 13 , wherein the outer barrier layer of the barrier band is bonded to the inner barrier layer of the bridge band. 
     
     
         15 . The bed covering of  claim 2 , wherein the top component is configured to provide means for transporting moisture provided by a person resting on the bed covering in an inbound direction from a person resting on the top component into a mattress-receiving space formed in the bed covering when a person is resting on the top component and in an outward direction from the mattress-receiving space to atmosphere surrounding the bed covering when a person is not resting on the top component without allowing passage of needle-like mouth parts of bed bugs through the top component so that a person resting on the top component is not bitten by bed bugs located in the mattress-receiving space and comfort of a person resting on the top component is maximized as a result of moisture being transported away from the person and bed bugs being blocked from biting the person. 
     
     
         16 . The bed covering of  claim 15 , wherein the top component includes an inner comfort layer having an inner surface adapted to face toward a mattress, an outer comfort layer spaced apart from the inner comfort layer and having an outer surface arranged to face away from the inner surface, and an insect-barrier layer positioned to lie between the inner and outer comfort layers and configured to provide means for blocking passage of needle-like mouth parts of bed bugs through the top component so that a person resting on the outer comfort layer of the top component is not bitten by bed bugs located in the mattress-receiving space. 
     
     
         17 . The bed covering of  claim 16 , wherein the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress located in the mattress-receiving space and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer and a mattress. 
     
     
         18 . The bed covering of  claim 17 , wherein the outer comfort layer of the upper panel is bonded to the outer comfort layer of the top component and the inner barrier layer of the upper panel is spaced apart from the outer comfort layer of the top component. 
     
     
         19 . The bed covering of  claim 17 , wherein the inner barrier layer of the upper panel is arranged to lie between and interconnect the outer comfort layer of the upper panel and the outer comfort layer of the top component. 
     
     
         20 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel and the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer adapted to lie in spaced-apart relation to a mattress and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer and a mattress, the panel anchor includes an upper barrier layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between a mattress and a mattress foundation, an upper comfort layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between the upper barrier layer and a mattress foundation, a lower comfort layer appended to the lower panel and adapted to lie between the upper comfort layer and a mattress foundation, and a lower barrier layer appended to the lower panel and adapted to lie between the lower comfort layer and a mattress foundation and the lower panel defined by a barrier layer including the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface. 
     
     
         21 . The bed covering of  claim 20 , wherein the barrier layer is bonded to the lower barrier layer of the panel anchor. 
     
     
         22 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel and the panel anchor includes a barrier layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between a mattress and a mattress foundation and a comfort layer appended to the upper panel and adapted to lie between the barrier layer and a mattress foundation. 
     
     
         23 . The bed covering of  claim 22 , wherein the lower panel is defined by a barrier layer including the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface. 
     
     
         24 . The bed covering of  claim 23 , wherein the barrier layer of the lower panel is bonded to the comfort layer of the panel anchor. 
     
     
         25 . The bed covering of  claim 22 , wherein the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between a mattress and the outer comfort layer, the barrier layer of the panel anchor is monolithic with the inner barrier layer of the upper panel, and the comfort layer of the panel anchor is monolithic with the outer comfort layer of the upper panel. 
     
     
         26 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel arranged to extend between and interconnect the top component and the panel anchor and the panel anchor is defined by a comfort layer adapted to lie between a mattress and a mattress foundation. 
     
     
         27 . The bed covering of  claim 26 , wherein the lower panel is defined by a barrier layer and the barrier layer includes the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface. 
     
     
         28 . The bed covering of  claim 27 , wherein the barrier layer of the lower panel is bonded to the upper panel and the panel anchor is located in spaced-apart relation to the barrier layer of the lower panel. 
     
     
         29 . The bed covering of  claim 26 , wherein the upper panel includes a comfort layer having an outer surface adapted to face away from a mattress and an inner surface adapted to face toward a mattress, the comfort layer of the panel anchor is monolithic with the comfort layer of the upper panel. 
     
     
         30 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the panel anchor is defined by a barrier layer adapted to lie between a mattress and a mattress foundation. 
     
     
         31 . The bed covering of  claim 30 , wherein the lower panel is defined by a barrier layer including the exterior surface and an interior surface arranged to face opposite the exterior surface. 
     
     
         32 . The bed covering of  claim 31 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel arranged to extend between and interconnect the panel anchor and the top component and the upper panel is defined by a barrier layer having an outer surface adapted to face away from a mattress and an inner surface adapted to face toward a mattress and the barrier layer of the lower panel is bonded to the inner surface of the barrier layer of the upper panel. 
     
     
         33 . The bed covering of  claim 32 , wherein the barrier layer of the panel anchor and the barrier layer of the lower panel cooperate to form a monolithic sheet. 
     
     
         34 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness is measured along a vertical direction of the exterior surface of the lower panel. 
     
     
         35 . The bed covering of  claim 34 , wherein the vertical direction is a direction transverse to a machine direction defined during manufacturing of the lower panel. 
     
     
         36 . The bed covering of  claim 35 , wherein the surface roughness is less than 0.000003 inches. 
     
     
         37 . The bed covering of  claim 36 , wherein the surface roughness is less than 0.000002 inches. 
     
     
         38 . The bed covering of  claim 1 , wherein the drape further includes an upper panel arranged to extend downwardly toward the panel anchor and interconnect the top component and the panel anchor and the upper panel includes an outer comfort layer and an inner barrier layer adapted to lie between the outer comfort layer of the upper panel and a mattress, the lower panel includes an outer barrier layer including the exterior surface and an inner comfort layer adapted to lie between the outer barrier layer of the lower panel and a mattress foundation, the inner barrier layer of the upper panel has a first thickness, and the outer barrier layer of the lower panel has a relatively greater second thickness. 
     
     
         39 . The bed covering of  claim 38 , wherein the relatively second thickness is greater than 2 mil. 
     
     
         40 . The bed covering of  claim 39 , wherein the relatively second thickness is greater than 3 mil. 
     
     
         41 . The bed covering of  claim 35 , wherein the relatively second thickness is about 3 mil. 
     
     
         42 . The bed covering of  claim 38 , wherein the first thickness is less than 2 mil. 
     
     
         43 . The bed covering of  claim 42 , wherein the first thickness is less than 1 mil. 
     
     
         44 . The bed covering of  claim 42 , wherein the first thickness is less than 0.5 mil. 
     
     
         45 . The bed covering of  claim 42 , wherein the first thickness is about 1 mil. 
     
     
         46 . The bed covering of  claim 45 , wherein the relatively second thickness is about 3 mil. 
     
     
         47 . A bedding arrangement comprising
 a mattress including a top mattress surface and a mattress side wall arranged to extend downwardly from the top mattress surface,   a mattress foundation including a top foundation surface arranged to face toward the mattress and a foundation side wall arranged to extend downwardly from the top foundation surface, and   a bed covering including a top component arranged to contact and cover the top mattress surface, an upper panel coupled to a perimeter edge of the top component and arranged to extend downwardly along the mattress side wall, a panel anchor coupled to the upper panel to extend into a space formed between the mattress and the mattress foundation, and a lower panel coupled to panel anchor to extend downwardly from the panel anchor and to locate the panel anchor between the lower panel and the upper panel,   wherein the lower panel includes an exterior surface arranged to away from the foundation side wall and the exterior surface of the lower panel and is configured to provide means for blocking upward traversal of bed bugs along the exterior surface to reach the top component so that so that a person resting on the bed covering is not bitten by bed bugs crawling up to the top component.   
     
     
         48 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 47 , wherein the exterior surface has a surface roughness of less than 0.000005 inches. 
     
     
         49 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 48 , wherein the exterior surface has a surface roughness of less than 0.000003 inches. 
     
     
         50 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 47 , wherein the top component is configured to provide means for transporting moisture provided by a person resting on the bed covering in an inbound direction from a person resting on the bed covering into a mattress-receiving space formed in the bed covering when a person is resting on the bed covering and in an outward direction from the mattress-receiving space to atmosphere surrounding the bed covering when a person is not resting on the bed covering without allowing passage of needle-like mouth parts of bed bugs through the top component so that a person resting on the bed covering is not bitten by the bed bugs located in the mattress-receiving space and comfort of a person resting on the bed covering is maximized as a result of moisture being transported away from the person and the bed bugs being blocked from biting the person. 
     
     
         51 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 50 , wherein the mattress-receiving space is defined between the panel anchor and the upper panel. 
     
     
         52 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 50 , wherein the top component includes an inner comfort layer configured to provide an inner surface that faces toward the mattress, an outer comfort layer spaced apart from the inner comfort layer and configured to provide an outer surface arranged to face away from the inner surface, and an insect-barrier layer positioned to lie between the inner and outer comfort layers and configured to provide means for blocking passage of needle-like mouth parts of bed bugs through the top component so that a person resting on the outer comfort layer of the top component is not bitten by the bed bugs located in the mattress-receiving space formed in the bed covering. 
     
     
         53 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 47 , wherein the exterior surface has a surface roughness of less than 0.000005 inches, the top component includes an inner comfort layer configured to provide an inner surface that faces toward the mattress, an outer comfort layer spaced apart from the inner comfort layer and configured to provide an outer surface arranged to face away from the inner surface, and an insect-barrier layer positioned to lie between the inner and outer comfort layers and configured to provide means for blocking passage of needle-like mouth parts of bed bugs through the top component so that a person resting on the outer comfort layer of the top component is not bitten by the bed bugs located in the mattress-receiving space formed in the bed covering, and the top component is made from a breathable nonwoven material. 
     
     
         54 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 53 , wherein the breathable nonwoven material has a moisture transfer rate of at least about 50 grams per square meter per 24 hours. 
     
     
         55 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 54 , wherein the breathable nonwoven material is a 30 grams per square meter spunlace blend of polyester and polypropylene. 
     
     
         56 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 55 , wherein the insect-barrier layer is made from the same material as the outer comfort layer. 
     
     
         57 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 56 , wherein the insect-barrier layer is made from a blend of about 30% breathable copolyamide resin and about 70% nonbreathable resin. 
     
     
         58 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 52 , wherein the insect-barrier layer is made from a blend of about 30% breathable copolyamide resin and about 70% nonbreathable resin. 
     
     
         59 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 47 , wherein the lower panel includes an outer insect-barrier layer including the exterior surface and an inner comfort layer coupled to the outer insect-barrier layer and arranged to lie between the outer insect-barrier layer and the mattress foundation. 
     
     
         60 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 59 , wherein the outer comfort layer is made from a breathable nonwoven material. 
     
     
         61 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 60 , wherein the breathable nonwoven material is a 30 grams per square meter spunlace blend of about 50% polypropylene fibers and about 50% polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         62 . The bedding arrangement of  claim 59 , wherein the insect-barrier layer is made from low density polyethylene.