KNIT TUBE FLAME RESISTANT BARRIERS

The invention relates to the use of a flame resistant knit tube, made with either a seamless or seamed circular knit or a seamed or tubular warp knit fabric, used to protect a mattress, foundation, upholstery cushion, pillow, office panel, transportation seat or any other article requiring flame resistant protection. In this invention, a tubular knit fabric is formed utilizing flame resistant yarn and then optionally heat-set to prevent curling during subsequent cutting and processing. Heat-setting the knit fabric is especially preferred for circular knit constructions to prevent curling in subsequent processing. The knit tube is then cut to the length of the article to be flame protected, allowing enough additional length to sew a pocket closure on one end and a standard closure on the other end. First, one end of the tubular knit sock is sewn with a pocket closure seam, using a flame resistant thread or a suitable substitute. The open end of the tubular knit sock is then rolled up t o the sewn pocket closure end so that it can be easily positioned over the article to be protected from flame. The rolled up knit sock is then unrolled down the length of the article to be flame protected. The second closure seam is then sewn with flame resistant thread, or a suitable substitute, over the open end of the article to completely encapsulate and protect the article. The invention has particular applicability in the formation of fire resistant foam mattresses and foundations that require passage of large open flame tests such as California's Test Bulletin 603 and Test Bulletin 129 and in the formation of fire resistant foam upholstery cushions that require passage of California's Test Bulletin 133 or British Standard 5852 using the crib 5 ignition source. La presente invencion se refiere al uso de un tubo de punto resistente a las flamas, fabricado ya sea con un tejido circular con costura o sin costura o bien con una tela de punto de urdimbre con costura o tubular, que se utiliza para proteger un colchon, base, cojin tapizado, almohada, panel de oficina, asiento de transporte o cualquier otro articulo que requiere de proteccion resistente a las flamas. En esta invencion se forma un tejido de punto tubular utilizando un hilo resiste a las flamas y despues se somete opcionalmente a termo-endurecimiento para evitar que se refuerza durante el corte y procesamiento subsiguiente. El termo-endurecimiento de la tela de punto es especialmente preferido en el caso de const