Mattress encasement

Abstract

A mattress incudes a core and an encasement sized and shaped to receive the core. The encasement includes a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper portion, a lower portion, an interior portion, an opening at the first end and in communication with the interior portion, and a flap at the first end. The flap is moveable from an open position, in which the flap is outside of the opening, and a closed position, in which the flap is within the opening. The flap overlays at least a portion of the core when the flap is in its closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mattress, comprising:
 a core; and   an encasement,
 wherein the encasement includes
 a first end, 
 a second end opposite the first end, 
 a first side, 
 a second side opposite the first side, 
 an upper portion, 
 a lower portion opposite the lower portion, 
 an interior portion, 
 
 an opening at the first end and in communication with the interior portion, and 
 a flap at the first end,
 wherein the core is within the interior portion, 
 wherein the flap is moveable from an open position, in which the flap is outside of the opening, and a closed position, in which the flap is within the opening, and 
 wherein the flap overlays at least a portion of the core when the flap is in its closed position. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the core includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the core, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an upper surface, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, wherein when the flap is in its closed position, the flap covers the first end of the core, at least a portion of the upper surface of the core, and at least a portion of the lower surface of the core. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the core includes first corner edge extending from the upper surface to the lower surface at an intersection of the first end and the first side, and a second corner edge extending from the upper surface to the lower surface at an intersection of the first end and the second side, wherein when the flap is in its closed position, the flap covers the first corner edge and the second corner edge. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 3 , wherein the flap includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the flap, a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the flap, a first surface extending from the first end of the flap to the second end of the flap and from the first side of the flap to the second side of the flap, and a second surface opposite the first surface of the flap, wherein the first surface of the flap covers the first end of the core when the flap is in its closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein a portion of the first surface of the flap is between the upper surface of the core and an interior surface of the lower portion of the encasement. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the flap is integral with the first end of the encasement. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 5 , wherein the second end of the flap is between the first end of the encasement and the second end of the encasement when the flap is in its open position. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 7 , wherein the second end of the encasement is closed. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the first side of the flap is aligned with the first side of the encasement when the flap is in its open position, and wherein the second side of the flap is aligned with the second side of the encasement when the flap is in its open position. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the encasement overlays the second end of the core, wherein the first side of the encasement overlays the first side of the core, wherein the second side of the encasement overlays the second side of the core, wherein the upper portion of the encasement overlays the upper portion of the core, the lower portion of the encasement overlays the lower portion of the core. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the core is composed of foam. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the encasement is composed of a fire retardant fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the encasement has a height of inches to 20 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the encasement has a width of inches to 80 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the opening extends from the first side of the encasement to the second side of the encasement and from the upper portion to the lower portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining a mattress core encasement having an upper portion, a lower portion, an initial open end, a closed end opposite the open end, a first side extending from the open end to the closed end, and a second side opposite the first side and extending from the open end to the closed end;   cutting a slit in each of the first side and the second side from the open end to a location between the open end to the closed end and by a length;   folding back a portion of the upper portion onto itself to create a fold line;   cutting an excess portion of the lower portion such that an end of the lower portion is substantially aligned with the fold line of the upper portion; and   attaching the folded portion of the upper portion and the lower portion along the first side and the second side to create the opening on the initial open end of the encasement and a flap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising stretching the folded back portion of the upper portion onto the upper portion prior to the cutting a slit in each of the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of attaching the folded portion includes sewing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the length is 10 inches to 20 inches. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining an encasement having an opening, a flap proximate to the opening, an upper portion, and a lower portion;   obtaining a mattress core having a first end, an upper surface, and a lower surface;   inserting the mattress core into the opening of the encasement;   pulling the encasement over the core;   pulling the flap over the core such that the flap fully covers the first end of the core; and   inserting at least a portion of the flap between a lower surface of the core and an interior surface of the lower portion of the encasement.