An antimicrobial article in the form of a portable hygiene mat. The mat includes a lightweight, flexible incorporated with an antimicrobial agent. The mat is readily configurable to a compact size. A fastener secures the mat in the compact configuration.

A protective enclosure for a zipper of an article. The zipper enclosure may include an enclosure base that is attachable to the article, such as a mattress cover or padding materials for use with a bedding/furniture cover. The enclosure base may be configured to receive a one or more components of the zipper, such as the zipper slider and pull tab, upon closing of the zipper. When the zipper is closed, the enclosure base may be enclosed by an enclosure cover to contain and/or prevent migration of particles and/or organisms, such as bed bugs, allergens, dust mites, small particles and the like, from the article through an opening in the zipper chain adjacent the slider head. The enclosure may include one or more barriers for preventing migration of small particles and/or organisms past obstructions formed by the barriers.

A method of making foam imparts antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities to the foam. Green tea powder is added to the polyol raw materials for making memory foam. The green tea memory foam is used to make pillows, cushions and mattresses. Green tea foam in the top layer of a mattress acts as an antiodorant such that less of the chemical smell of the memory foam is perceived by the user. In addition, the bacteria and mold that would otherwise develop in the moist warmer sleeping environment on memory foam are killed by the green tea additive to the foam. Measurable antimicrobial and antiodorant qualities in the green tea foam are achievable by adding green tea powder constituting less than 2% of the weight of the resulting green tea foam. A neck-support contour pillow is made using memory foam that contains green tea and a green dye.

This invention provides a mat, comprising: an upper surface; a lower surface; a porous structure located between said upper surface and said lower surface, said porous structure including silica gel. The mat according to this invention can be used as, for example, a pillow, seat cushion, back cushion or mattress, or part of a chair seat or chair back.

Mattress assemblies including antimicrobial panels formed of porous foam or fibers generally include an antimicrobial including a polymer in an amount from 90 to 99.9 weight percent, an oxidant in an amount from 0.004 to 1 weight percent, and a silver metal from 0.002 to 1 weight percent, wherein the weight percent is based on a total weight of the antimicrobial.

Provided herein is a new fire barrier material composed of flame retardant (FR) cellulosic fiber(s) and one or more of an antimicrobial (AM) cellulosic fiber and an untreated cellulosic fiber(s). The fire barrier material may be a fabric woven or knitted from the yarn containing the FR cellulosic fiber(s) and the one or more of AM cellulosic fibers and untreated cellulosic fibers. When AM cellulosic fibers are combined with FR treated cellulosic fibers, the fire barrier material has the dual features of flame retardancy and antimicrobial properties. The fire barrier material may also be a nonwoven, and in preferred embodiments optionally includes a binder fiber. The FR cellulosic fiber contains FR chemical(s) or FR compound(s) that have a melting point or decomposition temperature at 400° C. (752° F.) or below. The FR performance of the new nonwoven provided herein is comparable to the conventional FR nonwoven (FR cellulosic fiber/binder fiber), but has advantages in cost effectiveness, as well as antimicrobial properties.

A configurable seating assembly includes a plurality of rectangular pad assemblies disposed within a durable cover assembly. The cover includes a generally triangular or tapered upper chamber forming a back support portion above a generally rectangular lower chamber forming a body support portion. A wedge assembly, manufactured from a foam material, is removably positioned in the upper chamber, and the pads, manufactured from a foam material, are positioned in the compartments of a separator assembly within the lower chamber thereby providing a seating apparatus. A front panel at the forward end of the lower chamber provides an opening into the cover assembly allowing insertion and removal of the wedge and pads. The pads may be removed from the cover and arranged on the floor providing pads for sleeping. The front panel is releasably secured to the cover by cooperating removable connectors.

A bed covering device for protecting humans, animals and objects from crawling pests such as bed bugs. The device includes a top component for contacting the top surface of bedding such as a mattress or box spring. The top component includes barrier material suitable for preventing pests from biting humans or animals resting on the bedding. The device further includes a fitted side skirt joined to the periphery of the top component and having a slippery, i.e., low friction, exterior surface that hinders bed bugs and similar pests from climbing up the covered bedding and gaining access to humans, animals, or objects resting atop the bedding. The device may be part of a system including pillow protectors, headboard and/or footboard protectors for preventing contact by traditional bed coverings with walls or bed structures that may be infested by bed bugs.

The present technology provides an encasement comprising a fabric cover formed of bed bug impervious fabric. The encasement comprises an opening with a zipper mechanism disposed therein and operable to close the opening. The encasement also comprises a barrier attached to the fabric cover, extending along and opposite the zipper tracks. The encasement also comprises a channel between the barrier and said zipper tracks that receives a portion of the zipper head and becomes an enclosed channel when said zipper tracks are mated together. The channel has a confined space of a size to thwart bug movement along the channel.

The invention relates to a device for the physical relaxation of a person. The device comprises at least one contact surface (11), on which at least parts of the person come into physical contact with the device. The device additionally comprises at least one relaxation means for generating and/or blocking stimuli in order to relax the person and at least one lighting means (13), which is designed to emit optical radiation in a wavelength range between 200 nm and 230 nm and supply a radiation region with optical radiation with a peak ranging between 207 and 222 nm. The invention also relates to the use of a lighting means for the aforementioned purpose and to a method for disinfecting a device for the physical relaxation of a person.