Patent Application
20240237829
The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a system used to lift one or more corners of a mattress. The presently disclosed subject matter also includes methods of making and using the system.
Bedding (including sheets, covers, blankets) must be changed or removed periodically for cleaning. To properly change the bedding, the mattress must be manually lifted to remove and properly wrap fitted sheets around and under the corners of the mattress. Depending on its weight and size, lifting a corner of the mattress can prove to be difficult to some individuals. Specifically, mattresses have gradually increased in dimensions and weight over the years, from “full size” to “queen size” to “king size” to “California king.” In addition, the thickness of conventional mattresses has increased due to the application of quilting or similar padding on both sides of the mattress, commonly referred to as a “pillow top.” While the mattresses increase sleeping comfort for the users, the changing of linens has become significantly more difficult. These difficulties are especially burdensome to people with physical limitations due to pregnancy, back pain, injuries, surgery, advancing age, and the like. Similarly, hotel housekeepers must routinely change the linens on many beds every day (typically over 35 per shift). The stress and strain associated with the repetitive lifting of heavy mattresses eventually can take a toll on the worker (e.g., lifting injuries). It would therefore be beneficial to provide a system that enables one or more corners of a mattress to be lifted, allowing the user to change the bedding easily and efficiently.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a system for elevating the corners of a mattress. Specifically, the system comprises an air pump defined by an output. The system also includes an air distributor defined by an input, an interior, and a plurality of outputs. The system comprises tubing operably attached from the air pump output to the air distributor input. The system includes a series of inflatable bladders, each comprising an interior and a fitting positioned on an exterior surface of the bladder, wherein the fitting is in communication with the bladder interior. The system includes a plurality of tubing, each operably attached from an air distributor output to the fitting of a corresponding bladder. Each bladder transitions from a first inflated state when the interior is at least partially filled with air and a second deflated state when the interior is substantially free from air.
In some embodiments, the air pump is portable.
In some embodiments, the air pump is manual.
In some embodiments, the air pump is electrically powered.
In some embodiments, each bladder includes a groove adjacent to a top face of the bladder.
In some embodiments, each bladder comprises a support board positioned at a lower face of the bladder, wherein the support board includes an indentation in a top face of the support board, the indentation sized and shaped to fit the bladder.
In some embodiments, each support board comprises at least one strap that fits into the groove on an associated bladder.
In some embodiments, air exiting the air pump is at a pressure of about 1-10 psi.
In some embodiments, the system includes at least one feedback sensor positioned within at least one bladder.
In some embodiments, the air distributor has 1-10 outlets.
In some embodiments, each bladder comprises a check valve, pressure relief valve, or both.
In some embodiments, each bladder is formed from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymeric material, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, each bladder has a thickness of about 0.001-0.5 inches in the deflated state.
In some embodiments, each bladder has a thickness of about 2-10 inches in the inflated state.
In some embodiments, the bladder is configured in a doughnut shape, with a circular body and an internal void in the middle of the body.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of lifting one or more corners of a mattress. Specifically, the method comprises positioning an inflatable bladder of the disclosed system between each corner of a mattress and a mattress support. The method includes initiating the air pump to generate the flow of air into the air distributor to exit the distributor via the outlets to at least partially inflate the bladders, whereby the corners of the mattress are raised about 1-3 inches.
In some embodiments, the method includes removing the tubing from the bladders to deflate the bladders, thereby lowering the bladders to the deflated state on demand.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of changing the bedding on a mattress. Specifically, the method comprises positioning an inflatable bladder of the disclosed system between each corner of a mattress and a mattress support. The method includes initiating the air pump to generate the flow of air into the air distributor to exit the distributor via the outlets to inflate the bladders at least partially, whereby the corners of the mattress are raised about 1-3 inches. The method also includes making up the bed while the air bladders are inflated.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−20%, in some embodiments +/−10%, in some embodiments +/−5%, in some embodiments +/−1%, in some embodiments +/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the drawing figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawing figures.
The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device that assists a user in lifting one or more corners of a mattress. In this way, removing or inserting the bed sheets on a mattress is performed easier and faster.
As set forth above, the disclosed device includes portable air pump 10 for pushing or directing air into and out of air distributor 15. The term “air pump” generally refers to any apparatus that functions to draw in, compress, and/or exhaust air. Air pump 10 can therefore include any suitable device, such as (but not limited to) one or more pumps, compressors, bellows, and the like. The air pump can include movable arm 35 that drives the flow of air, as shown in
Air pump 10 can be configured to pump air at any suitable pressure to fill bladders 20. For example, the pump can pump about 1-10 PSI of air for inflating one or more bladders to a substantially uniform pressure. Thus, the pump is capable of providing about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 PSI of pressure. However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and the pump can distribute air at any conventional pressure to fill bladders 20.
In some embodiments, the air pump can include power source 41 engageable with the air pump (e.g., a power cord) to provide power to operate the pump. In these configurations, the air pump can further include switch 40 for activating and deactivating pump 10, as shown in
The air pump can further include a control system comprising at least one feedback sensor and an air release timing system. The feedback sensor can be configured as one or more pressure sensors (not shown) located within one or more inflatable bladders 20 or at a valve located at an input channel of the inflatable bladders where tubing 31 connects to the inflatable bladder. The feedback sensor can be configured to sense the internal pressure within bladder 20 and can be in operable communication with the air pump to activate or de-active the flow of air.
As discussed in detail below, air pump 10 can be configured to force air (via the air distributor) to one or more inflatable bladders 20. The air pump can be configured to automatically deliver air to the bladder(s) until each bladder reaches a predetermined amount of air pressure. The air pump can deliver air to each bladder at the same time (e.g., an amount of air is equally added to each bladder at about the same time, about the same rate, and about the same amount). Alternatively, a first bladder can be filled with air to a predetermined level and then the air pump then moves on a fills a second bladder and so forth until all bladders 20 have been filled to a desired level.
When the air pump is activated, air travels from the pump via tubing 30 to air distributor 15. Tubing 30 can be any suitable hollow material used to move air from one location to another. Tubing 30 can be constructed from any conventional material, such as (but not limited to) polymeric material (e.g., nylon, polyethylene, PVC, vinyl), rubber, metal (e.g., aluminum, copper, stainless steel), and the like. In some embodiments, the material used to construct tubing 30 can be flexible, allowing the tubing to be handled and/or moved without breaking. In other embodiments, the tubing is rigid and set in shape.
Tubing 30 can have any desired size, such as an inner or outer diameter 45, 46 of about 0.1-1 inch, as shown in
The tubing can have any cross-sectional shape, such as circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, and the like. One embodiment of a length of tubing with a circular configuration is shown in
Tubing 30 can also have any desired length 46, such as about 6 inches to 6 feet, as shown in
Tubing 30 can attach to the air pump and distributor using any suitable mechanism, such as (but not limited to) the use of threads, an adaptor, fasteners, valves, and the like.
As described above, system 5 also includes air distributor 15. The term “air distributor” refers to any device that dispenses or routes air to one or more outlets. As shown in
Tubing 31 attaches at each outlet 60, allowing air to flow to one or more bladders 20. Tubing 31 can be configured as any hollow material that can move air from a first location to a second location. Tubing 31 can be constructed polymeric material (e.g., nylon, polyethylene, PVC, vinyl), rubber, silicon, metal (e.g., aluminum, copper, stainless steel), and the like. In some embodiments, the material used to construct tubing 31 can be flexible or rigid.
Tubing 31 can have any desired size, such as an inner or outer diameter of about 0.1-1 inch. Further, the tubing can have any desired length, such as about 6 inches to 6 feet.
Tubing 31 can attach to the air distributor and inflators using any suitable mechanism, such as (but not limited to) the use of threads, an adaptor, valves, fasteners, and the like.
One embodiment of bladder 20 is illustrated in
Each bladder can optionally include one or more check valves or pressure relief valves for maintaining the pressure within an inflatable bladder. For example, a one-way check valve can be positioned at a connection between tubing 31 and the bladder. The check valve can be a releasable valve that opens when the system determines that the inflatable bladder should be deflated (e.g., by user input). A pressure relief valve can also be employed to ensure that the bladder(s) do not exceed a maximum internal pressure.
Bladders 20 can have any suitable shape, such as the generally square shape shown in the Figures. However, the bladder can be configured in any desired shape, such as round, oval, rectangular, triangular, doughnut-shaped, T-shaped, and the like. For example, in the embodiment of
The inflatable bladders can be formed from any material, such as (but not limited to) natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymeric material, or any similar pliable material selected based on physical characteristics and availability.
Each bladder can be sized for use with standard mattress sizes. For example, the bladders can be used with traditional king size mattresses, California king mattresses, queen size mattresses, full size mattresses, or even twin mattresses.
In use, the disclosed system can be used with a conventional bed mattress. Specifically, one or more bladders are positioned beneath a mattress 70 (e.g., between the mattress and box springs or other mattress support 75) at each of the four corners, as shown in
The bladders can be held in place by the weight of mattress 70. In some embodiments, each inflator is held in place by a series of boards 80, as shown in
The boards cooperate with the bladders, keeping them from sliding or moving. Alternatively, the bladders can be held in place by VELCRO®, fasteners, clips, and the like. When in a deflated state, the bladders are flat and are not noticeable to the user, as shown in
After the bladders have been positioned beneath the mattress, 70, the mattress can be used as desired by the user for sleeping. Because the bladders are so thin in the deflated state, the user does not typically notice that the bladders are present.
When a user desires to the change the bedding on the mattress, they can attach one end of tubing 31 to fitting 65 of one or more bladders 20. The opposing end of the tubing can be connected to air distributor 15. Similarly, the input of the air distributor is in fluid communication with the air pump via tubing 30. As a result, as the air pump is activated, air is moved from the air pump through tubing 30 to the air distributor. The air then flows from one or more outlets 60 via tubing 31 to inflate each bladder to a desired level. In some embodiments, each of the bladders can be inflated simultaneously. In other embodiments, a user can select or more specific bladders for inflation at a desired time (e.g., sequential inflation).
As a bladder fills with air, the corresponding corner of mattress 70 is elevated vertically, allowing a user to easily remove or add bedding (e.g., sheets) from the mattress, as shown in
When not in use, the inflators can remain in position beneath mattress 70 since they are substantially flat and are not noticed by the viewer or the sleeper. The air pump, air distributor and tubing can be easily and conveniently stored until needed.
The disclosed system provides many advantages over prior art systems. For example, the system makes changing mattress sheets easier and more streamlined, as set out in
The disclosed system can remain positioned beneath a mattress, even when not in use. Due to the substantially flat configuration of the bladders in the deflated state, the bladders are not noticeable to the observer or user.
The system is portable and easily used as needed when it is desired to change a set of sheets or bedding.
The system can also be easily sized to accommodate different sized mattresses, from a twin mattress to a king.
The system can be easily used by a wide variety of users, including the elderly, children, and those with physical limitations (e.g., back or lifting issues).
Small bedrooms with a bed positioned against a wall are traditionally difficult to reach. However, system 5 allows a user to easily access the corners of the mattress to change the bedding as needed or desired.
Exemplary embodiments of the methods and components of the presently disclosed subject matter have been described herein. As noted elsewhere, these embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only, and are not limiting. Other embodiments are possible and are covered by the presently disclosed subject matter. Such embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/297,846 filed Jan. 10, 2022, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
