SYSTEM FOR ELEVATING AN END OF A MATTRESS SUPPORT

Abstract

One example embodiment includes a system for elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support. The system includes a brace, where the brace is trapezium shaped. The brace includes a first side and a second side, where the second side is opposite the first side. The brace also includes a third side, where the third side connects the first side to the second side and a fourth side, where the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side. Opposing sides of the brace are not parallel to one another and the brace is configured to support at least a portion of the weight of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/297,200 filed on Jan. 21, 2010, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Elevation of the head or legs while resting or sleeping is a recommended remedy for a variety of ailments, such as spinal cord injury, back pain, acid reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), sinus and respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, poor circulation, low metabolism, edema in the legs, and many other conditions. Such a remedy is sometimes referred to as Inclined Bed Therapy (IBT). Sleeping at an incline in which the head is raised anywhere from 3″ to 8″ higher than the legs is a method proven to help with many physical conditions.

However, to date, the solutions available are some combination of (i) expensive; (ii) not easily portable; and (iii) not aesthetically pleasing. For example, some people place blocks or other similar mechanisms between the feet of a bed and the floor in order to raise the head of the bed frame up higher off the floor. However, this method results in the headboard being tilted away from the wall and bottom of any bed skirt to no longer be parallel to the floor, which is an aesthetically non-pleasing solution. It is also a solution that requires either significant strength from a single person or multiple people to implement. This solution is also not useful in a bunk-bed situation in which one desires to raise the head or feet of one of the beds in the bunk bed system but not the other (or to set each bed in the bunk bed system to a different incline).

Another solution is to purchase a mechanical bed with build-in mechanisms for raising the head or feet of the bed. This solution, however, if expensive and narrows the field of available mattresses that one can purchase. It is also not a portable solution that allows one to benefit from the inclined bed therapy while traveling. A need still exists for a portable and inexpensive system which allows (i) one to raise one end of a bed without sacrificing the aesthetic qualities of how a bed frame is positioned relative to a wall and floor and/or (ii) one bed in a bunk bed system to be so adjusted without adjusting the same end of the other bed in the bunk system

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One example embodiment includes a system for elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support. The system includes a brace, where the brace is trapezium shaped. The brace includes a first side and a second side, where the second side is opposite the first side. The brace also includes a third side, where the third side connects the first side to the second side and a fourth side, where the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side. Opposing sides of the brace are not parallel to one another and the brace is configured to support at least a portion of the weight of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

Another example embodiment includes a system for elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support. The system includes a first brace, where the brace is trapezium shaped. The first brace includes a first side and a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. The first brace also includes a third side, where the third side connects the first side to the second side and a fourth side, where the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side. Opposing sides of the first brace are not parallel to one another and the first brace is configured to support the weight of a first side of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position. The system also includes a second brace, where the second brace is trapezium shaped. The second brace includes a first side, where the first side of the second brace is the same length as the first side of the first brace and a second side, where the second side is opposite the first side and is the same length as the second side of the first brace. The second brace also includes a third side, where the third side connects the first side to the second side and is the same length as the third side of the first brace. The second brace further includes a fourth side, where the fourth side connects the first side to the second side, is opposite the third side and is the same length as the fourth side of the first brace. Opposing sides of the second brace are not parallel to one another and the second brace is configured to support a second portion of the weight of the mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

Another example embodiment includes a method of elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support. The method includes placing a side of a brace on a supporting surface of a mattress or mattress support. The brace is trapezium shaped and includes a first side and a second side, where the second side is opposite the first side. The brace also includes a third side, where the third side connects the first side to the second side and a fourth side, where the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side. Opposing sides of the brace are not parallel to one another and the brace is configured to support at least a portion of the weight of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position. The method also includes placing a mattress or mattress support. Placing the mattress or mattress support includes placing a portion of the mattress or the mattress support on a side of the brace opposite the side resting on the supporting surface.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a first type of bed frame arrangement showing positioning of a first component and a second component of a system of the present invention in a first orientation, consistent with some embodiments;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the first type of bed frame arrangement showing positioning of the second component (shown in FIG. 1A) with a third component, also in the first orientation and consistent with some embodiments;

FIG. 1C is a side view of a second type of bed frame arrangement showing positioning of the first and second components of FIG. 1A in a second orientation, consistent with some embodiments;

FIG. 1D is a side view of the first type of bed frame arrangement having a bed skirt, showing the first and second components of FIG. 1A and in the orientation of FIG. 1A, used with a third component and consistent with some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of three components of a system of the present invention, consistent with some embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a component of a system of the present invention, consistent with some embodiments; and

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of three components of one embodiment of a system of the present invention, nested within one another and being placed into a briefcase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, illustrated therein is a first arrangement 100a which includes a first type of bed frame 102a (e.g., a metal bed frame in the shape of a rectangle that includes two side rails, each side rail with a surface extending inwardly towards the center of the bed frame for supporting a box spring or other mattress support). The bed frame 102a includes one side rail 104a, a headboard 106a and a footboard 108a. Of course, the bed frame includes another side rail (not shown) that is parallel to the side rail 104a, as well as members at the head and foot of the frame that run perpendicular to and connect the side rail 104a to the other side rail (not shown). Resting on the bed frame 102a is a mattress support 110 (e.g., a box spring) and a mattress 112. Positioned between the bed frame 102a and the mattress support 110 are two exemplary components of a system consistent with the present invention, namely component 120 and component 130. Component 120 is larger than component 130, meaning that each of the sides of component 120 is longer than a corresponding side of component 130.

It should be noted that in the exemplary bed frame of FIG. 1A, the side rail 102a includes a raised portion (illustrated by a dotted line) that is higher than a flat surface portion upon which the components 120 and 130 are resting. Such a bed frame design is not necessary for the successful use of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B (described in further detail below), another bed frame design may not include a raised portion on a side rail such that no portion of components consistent with embodiments described herein are hidden behind any portion or surface of a side rail. So long as a side rail has a surface upon which a component of the present invention can rest, it is compatible with systems described herein. Of course, as described below, in some embodiments a bed frame is not necessary for all embodiments, as in some configurations may comprise components of a system consistent with the present invention resting between a floor and mattress support.

FIGS. 1A through 1D illustrate different examples of how varying the positioning and orientation of components of a system consistent with embodiments of the present invention provides a great deal of versatility to the system, as it allows an end of a mattress support (and thus a mattress resting on the mattress support) to be raised by a variety of different heights, as desired or preferred. For example, if a certain elevation for a head of a mattress support is desired, components 120 and 130 can be oriented such that the longer sides are horizontal and the shorter sides are vertical relative to the floor on which the bed is placed and the component 120 may represent a “large” component of the system positioned closest to the head of the bed while component 130 may represent a “medium” component of the system (terminology introduced with respect to FIG. 2) positioned closer to the center of the length of the bed, as illustrated in FIG. 1A. However, if a lower elevation for a head of a mattress support is desired, the “medium” component 130 may be positioned closest to the head of the bed and a “small” component may be positioned closer to the center of the length of the bed, as illustrated in the arrangement 100b of FIG. 1B. If, however, a higher head elevation is desired relative to that illustrated in FIG. 1A, the arrangement 100c of FIG. 1C illustrates that component 130 may be positioned closer to the center of the length of the bed while component 120 may be positioned closer to the head of the bed (as in FIG. 1A) but the two components can be oriented such that the shorter sides are horizontal and the longer sides are vertical relative to the floor on which the bed is placed. As further illustrated in arrangement 100c, the height of the elevation may still be further adjusted by sliding the component nearest to the head of the bed away from the edge of the mattress support and closer to the center of the length of the bed (i.e., sliding this component closer to the center of the length of the bed will result in a slightly higher elevation).

As illustrated in the arrangement 100d of FIG. 1D, in some configurations, three components of a system consistent with some embodiments of the present invention may be positioned along each side of a bed. As should be understood, in some embodiments only one component of the system may be used along each side of the bed as well, for very small elevations (e.g., the “small” component 140 may be positioned nearest to the end of the bed to be elevated and no other component may be positioned closer to the center of the length of the bed). One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the system of the present invention allows for a wide variety of elevations to be achieved based upon how many and which components are positioned along each side of a bed between a bed frame and a mattress support, and the orientation of such components and the positioning of such components relative to the edge of the end of the bed desired to be elevated.

As further illustrated in the arrangement 100d, a couple of benefits of embodiments of the present invention are directed towards preserving the aesthetics of a bed when one end of a mattress is elevated. For example, placement of the components between a bed frame 102a and a mattress support 110 allows the edge of a bed skirt 150 to remain parallel (or relatively parallel) to the floor upon which the subject bed is resting and a head board 106 of the bed to remain parallel to a wall 106 against which the subject bed may be positioned. Alternative systems that are positioned between the bed frame and the floor result in the entire bed being tilted away from a wall at an angle when the bed is elevated, thus unnecessarily and undesirably impacting the aesthetics of the bed. It should further be noted that an additional benefit of the systems described herein is that the benefits of inclined bed therapy may be achieved irrespective of whether a bed frame includes wheels on one or more of its feet since in other solutions that elevate the bed frame by placing materials under the feet of a bed frame, wheels on the feet of the bed frame may prevent such a solution from being easily implemented.

It should be noted that a system of the present invention may be utilized with a variety of different types of bed frames. For example, FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1D illustrate, as one example, a typical adjustable metal bed frame 102a. In another example, FIG. 1C illustrates a different type of bed frame 102c, which also includes a supporting side rail 104c, a head board 106c and a footboard 108c but one that may comprise a wooden frame, such as a sleigh bed. The example bed frame 102c includes a side rail 104c that not only includes a supporting surface for supporting a mattress support (and one or more components consistent with embodiments of systems described herein) but also a raised portion (shown by the dotted line in arrangement 100c) that may hide a portion of one or more components resting upon the supporting surface of the side rail. So long as a bed frame includes a supporting surface upon which components of the systems of the present invention may rest, it is compatible with the systems of the present invention. Of course, a head board or foot board is not necessary for any embodiments described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is a plan view of three exemplary components 220, 230 and 240 of a system of 200, consistent with some embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a complete system of the present invention consists of two copies of component 220, two copies of component 230 and two copies of component 240. As described with respect to FIG. 1A, a system of the present invention may in one embodiment consist of six components, three for use on each side of a bed. It should be understood that not all six components may be needed or desired and in many instances only two or four components may be used (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1A, two components may be used on each side of the bed, for a total of four components in use at a given time). However, having three components of varying dimensions available for use on each side of a bed provides a great variety of different heights by which a mattress support may be elevated. At least some of the components illustrated in FIG. 2 may comprise example embodiments of the components of FIG. 1A. For example, component 220 may comprise an example embodiment of component 120 of FIG. 1A and component 230 may comprise an example embodiment of component 130 of FIG. 1A.

Each of components 220, 230 and 240 is in the shape of a trapezium which includes two sets of opposing sides in which opposing sides are not necessarily parallel to one another. The solid frame-like structure of each component is illustrated via the hatch-marked portions 225, 235 and 245. A hollow interior portion of each component is illustrated via portions 227, 237 and 247. Component 220 includes four sides: side 222a, side 222b, side 222c and 222d. In one example embodiment, side 222a is between 135 millimeters long and 203 millimeters long, side 222b is between 87 millimeters long and 131 millimeters long, side 222c is between 93 millimeters long and 141 millimeters long and side 222d is 102 millimeters long and 154 millimeters long. For example, side 222a is approximately 169 millimeters long, side 222b is approximately 109 millimeters long, side 222c is approximately 117 millimeters long and side 222d is approximately 128 millimeters long. Sides 222a and 222c are opposing sides and sides 222b and 222d are opposing sides. Component 230 includes four sides: side 232a, side 232b, side 232c and side 232d. In one example embodiment, side 232a is between 76 millimeters long and 114 millimeters long, side 232b is between 58 millimeters long and 88 millimeters long, side 232c is between 81 millimeters long and 123 millimeters long and side 232d is between 60 millimeters long and 92 millimeters long. For example, side 232a is approximately 95 millimeters long, side 232b is approximately 73 millimeters long, side 232c is approximately 102 millimeters long and side 232d is approximately 76 millimeters long. Sides 232a and 232c are opposing sides and sides 232b and 232d are opposing sides. Component 240 includes four sides: side 242a, side 242b, side 242c and side 242d. In one example embodiment, side 242a is between 48 millimeters long and 72 millimeters long, side 242b is between 24 millimeters long and 38 millimeters long, side 242c is between 45 millimeters long and 69 millimeters long and side 242d is between 28 millimeters long and 42 millimeters long. For example, side 242a is approximately 60 millimeters long, side 242b is approximately 31 millimeters long, side 242c is approximately 57 millimeters long and side 242d is approximately 35 millimeters long. Of course it should be understood that all measurements provided herein are non-limiting examples, Sides 242a and 242c are opposing sides and sides 242b and 242d are opposing sides. As used in the specification and the claims, the term approximately shall mean that the value is within 10% of the stated value, unless otherwise specified.

The three components may be designed in relatively decreasing sizes in some embodiments, such that component 220 may be considered the “large” component, component 230 may be considered the “medium” component and component 240 may be considered the “small” component. The lengths of the sides of the components may be manufactured/designed such that the longer sides of component 220 (i.e., sides 222a and 222c) are longer than the corresponding longer sides of component 230 (i.e., sides 232a and 232c), which are in turn longer than the corresponding longer sides of component 240 (i.e., sides 242a and 242c). Similarly, the components of a given system may be manufactured such that the lengths of the shorter sides of component 220 (i.e., sides 222b and 222d) are shorter than the corresponding shorter sides of component 230 (i.e., sides 232b and 232d), which are in turn shorter than the corresponding shorter sides of component 240 (i.e., sides 242b and 242d).

Such a design of relatively decreasing sizes allows for a spectrum of heights by which an end of a mattress support (and thus the mattress which is resting upon it) may be raised, as will be illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 1A through 1D. For example, component 220 may be designed such that orientation of it between a supporting rail of a bed frame and a mattress support may raise the mattress support by a height A (e.g., five inches) if the component 220 is oriented such that side 222c is resting along the side rail of the bed frame or alternatively by a higher height B (e.g., seven inches) if component 220 is oriented such that side 222b is resting against the side rail of the bed frame. Similarly, component 230 offers two alternate heights C (e.g., three inches) and D (e.g., four inches) depending on whether side 232c or side 232b is resting against the side rail of the bed frame. And component 240 also offers two alternate heights E (e.g., one inch) and F (e.g., two inches) depending on whether side 242c or side 242b is resting against the side rail of the bed frame.

In one embodiment, the slopes of the different sides of a given component are different from one another, thus further increasing the range of possible inclines by which a mattress may be raised. For example, side 222d may have a different slope than side 222b of component 220, thus allowing for different inclines depending on whether side 222b is resting against the bed frame while side 222d is supporting the mattress support or whether side 222d is resting against the bed frame while side 222b is supporting the mattress support. Upon reading the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that varying the lengths of the sides and the interior angles of a given component may be one manner of varying the possible inclines available from a given system consistent with the present invention.

In one embodiment, for each set of opposing sides (i) the sides are not parallel to one another; and (ii) one side has a slope of zero (meaning it is horizontal and neither increasing or decreasing) when resting against a surface (e.g., against a support rail of a bed frame) while the opposing side has a slope that is not zero. As will be understood based on the description herein, the opposing side of a given set of opposing sides that has a slope that is not zero may be positioned such that the slope is positive if the subject component is positioned to elevate the head of the mattress support (meaning the line is increasing or going up as you look at a two-dimensional drawing of it from left to right) and a slope that is negative if the subject component is positioned to elevate the foot of the mattress support (meaning the line is decreasing or going down as you look at a two-dimensional drawing of the drawing of it from left to right).

It should be noted that in most embodiments, each of components 220, 230 and 240 of a given system is made to include the same degree of slope for a given set of opposing sides, such that the two components when used together allow the mattress support (and thus the mattress resting on the mattress support) to be elevated at a given slope and allow the mattress support to lie flush or substantially flush against a sloped side of a given component. For example, if component 220 and 230 were to be used and oriented such that the sides 222c and 232c were resting flush or substantially flush against a support rail of a bed frame while sides 222a and 232a were flush against the bottom of a box spring or other mattress support, sides 222a and 232a would be the same slope, such that the box spring or other mattress support would be oriented at a particular slope when resting upon these two components.

In one embodiment, each of the components 220, 230 and 240 may be manufactured in a frame-like design that leaves the interior of the frame open. In the example of system 200, the hashed portion of each plan view represents the material comprising each component, with the interior and non-hashed portion being open. This allows the components to be nested within one another for easy portability (as illustrated in FIG. 4) and reduces the weight of the components as well as the amount or volume of materials needed to manufacture the components. In one embodiment, the components 220, 230 and 240 may be made of, for example, wood, plastic, a lightweight polymer or metal. In one embodiment, the components may be designed from a material and volume of material sufficient to support, when four of the components are used together (two components on each side of a bed) to support up to approximately 800 pounds of weight. Of course, the components may be designed and manufactured to support any other maximum weight by adjusting, for example, the material, shape or volume of material used for each component.

It should be noted that although system 200 is illustrated as comprising components in the shape of trapeziums, other shapes that satisfy some of the benefits of system 200 are contemplated (e.g., pentagon, hexagon, etc.). For example, any shape that allows for the portability and ease of height adjustment by varying the orientation and/or positioning of the components is envisioned. Further, in some embodiments a shape of a component may be such that a surface of the component does not lie flush or substantially flush against another surface (e.g., against a surface of a bed frame and/or against a surface of a mattress support). For example, in some embodiments a component may be in a shape such that two or more points of the shape serve to support the underside of a mattress support, rather than a surface that lies flat against the underside of the mattress support.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is a three dimensional view of a component 300 of a system consistent with some embodiments, positioned along a side rail 304 of a bed frame. The side rail 304 includes a surface 305 upon which component 300 rests, as well as a raised portion behind which the component 300 is positioned. Of course, as described above with reference to FIG. 1A, such a side rail is merely one example of a type of side rail or bed frame design with which systems of the present invention are compatible.

As illustrated via component 300, in some embodiments a component may include a plurality of apertures via which the component may be fastened or attached to a side rail 304 to prevent lateral movement of the component relative to the bed frame. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in component 300, each side of the component includes four apertures, with a set of two apertures positioned close to each end of the side. Side 322a includes a set of apertures 326a, side 322b includes a set of apertures 326b, side 322c includes a set of apertures 326c and side 322d includes a set of apertures 326d. It should be noted that four apertures per side is not necessary. In fact, no apertures are necessary. In one embodiment, a component of a system consistent with embodiments of the present invention is not attached or fastened to a side rail of a bed frame at all but merely rests against a surface of the side rail. In another embodiment, a single aperture per side may be included. In yet another embodiment, a fastener that does not necessitate an aperture may be used to fasten or attach a component to a surface of a side rail of a bed frame (e.g., a clamp, clip, glue, double-sided tape, hook and loop fastener or a combination of methodologies). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, a screw such as screw 370 may be used in one or more of the apertures to fasten or attach the subject component to a side rail of the bed frame. It should be noted that although a plurality of apertures per side may be available in some embodiments, not all such available apertures per side may be used in a given configuration. For example, in some embodiments, only one or two of four available apertures on a given side may be used to attach or fasten the component to a side rail of a bed frame.

In one embodiment, rather than (or in addition to) being fastened or attached to a side rail of a bed frame, one or more of the apertures 326 may be used to attach or fasten a component to the underside of a box spring or other mattress support (e.g., a screw can be used to attach a component to a wooden portion of a mattress support such as a box spring).

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment a component 300 may include a surface or lip 320 that protrudes into the interior of the frame formed by the sides of the component 300. Such a protruding surface or lip allows, depending on the material used to manufacture the component, to increase the strength of the component and the weight supported by the component while simultaneously minimizing the volume of material used to manufacture the component.

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated therein is a set 400 of three components nested within one another for easy portability and storage. The set 400 consists of three components: component 420 (the “large” component), component 430 (the “medium” component) and component 440 (the “small” component). As discussed herein, in one embodiment the components of a system consistent with the present invention may be in a shape that is hollow inside, thus allowing for storage of smaller components within any given component when it is not in use elevating a mattress support. This allows the components to be nested within one another, thus decreasing the space necessary to store and transport a set of components. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a set of components in one embodiment may be small enough to easily be placed in a briefcase 450, thus allowing convenient portability for the system (e.g., such that a traveler may easily bring a system of the present invention along with them and use it to elevate a bed in a hotel room).

It should be understood that the embodiments illustrated and described herein are exemplary only and should not be taken in a limiting fashion. For example, in some embodiments in which a mattress and mattress support rest directly on a floor rather than a bed frame, the components of the present invention may be placed between the mattress support and the floor rather than between the mattress support and the bed frame. It should further be noted that although many of the embodiments described herein obtain the benefits of an inexpensive, easy to install and adjust, highly portable system that allows for a great variety of different heights/inclines to be easily obtained by varying the orientation and/or positioning of the components, not all of these benefits need be satisfied in order for a system to be encompassed by the present invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A system for elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support, the system comprising:

a brace, wherein the brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side;

wherein opposing sides of the brace are not parallel to one another; and

wherein the brace is configured to support at least a portion of the weight of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first side is between 135 millimeters long and 203 millimeters long;

the second side is between 93 millimeters long and 141 millimeters long;

the third side is between 102 millimeters long and 154 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is between 87 millimeters long and 131 millimeters long.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first side is approximately 169 millimeters long;

the second side is approximately 117 millimeters long;

the third side is approximately 128 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is approximately 109 millimeters long.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first side is between 76 millimeters long and 114 millimeters long;

the second side is between 81 millimeters long and 123 millimeters long;

the third side is between 60 millimeters long and 92 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is between 58 millimeters long and 88 millimeters long.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the first side is approximately 95 millimeters long;

the second side is approximately 102 millimeters long;

the third side is approximately 76 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is approximately 73 millimeters long.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first side is between 48 millimeters long and 72 millimeters long;

the second side is between 45 millimeters long and 69 millimeters long;

the third side is between 28 millimeters long and 42 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is between 24 millimeters long and 38 millimeters long.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first side is approximately 60 millimeters long;

the second side is approximately 57 millimeters long;

the third side is approximately 35 millimeters long; and

the fourth side is approximately 31 millimeters long.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the brace includes metal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the brace is substantially hollow.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the sides includes one or more apertures.

11. A system for elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support, the system comprising:

a first brace, wherein the brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side;

wherein opposing sides of the first brace are not parallel to one another;

wherein the first brace is configured to support a portion of the weight of a first side of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position;

a second brace, wherein the second brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side, wherein the first side of the second brace is the same length as the first side of the first brace; a second side, wherein the second side: is opposite the first side; and is the same length as the second side of the first brace; a third side, wherein the third side: connects the first side to the second side; and is the same length as the third side of the first brace; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side: connects the first side to the second side; is opposite the third side; and is the same length as the fourth side of the first brace;

wherein opposing sides of the second brace are not parallel to one another; and

wherein the second brace is configured to support a second portion of the weight of the mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a third brace, wherein the third brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side, wherein the first side of the third brace is shorter than the first side of the first brace; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the second side of the third brace is shorter than the second side of the first brace; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side, wherein the third side of the third brace is shorter than the third side of the first brace; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side, wherein the fourth side of the third brace is shorter than the fourth side of the first brace;

wherein opposing sides of the third brace are not parallel to one another; and

wherein the third brace is configured to support the weight of a portion of the mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth brace, wherein the fourth brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side, wherein the first side of the fourth brace is the same length as the first side of the third brace; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side,

wherein the second side of the fourth brace is the same length as the second side of the third brace; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side, wherein the third side of the fourth brace is the same length as the third side of the third brace; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side, wherein the fourth side of the fourth brace is the same length as the fourth side of the third brace;

wherein opposing sides of the fourth brace are not parallel to one another; and

wherein the fourth brace is configured to support the weight of a portion of the mattress or mattress support in a sloped position.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first frame in the first brace; and

a second frame in the second brace.

15. A method of elevating a portion of a mattress or a mattress support, the method comprising:

placing a side of a brace on a supporting surface of a mattress or mattress support, wherein the brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side;

wherein opposing sides of the brace are not parallel to one another;

wherein the brace is configured to support the weight of a mattress and mattress support in a sloped position; and

placing a mattress or mattress support, wherein placing the mattress or mattress support includes: placing a portion of the mattress or the mattress support on a side of the brace opposite the side resting on the supporting surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein placing a mattress or mattress support further includes:

placing a second portion of the mattress or the mattress support on the supporting surface.

17. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

placing a side of a second brace on the supporting surface of a mattress or mattress support, wherein the second brace is trapezium shaped and includes: a first side, wherein the first side of the second brace is the same length as the first side of the second brace; a second side, wherein the second side is opposite the first side, wherein the second side of the second brace is the same length as the second side of the second brace; a third side, wherein the third side connects the first side to the second side, wherein the third side of the second brace is the same length as the third side of the second brace; and a fourth side, wherein the fourth side connects the first side to the second side and is opposite the third side, wherein the fourth side of the second brace is the same length as the fourth side of the second brace;

wherein opposing sides of the second brace are not parallel to one another;

wherein the second brace is configured to support the weight of a mattress or mattress support in a sloped position; and

placing a mattress or mattress support, wherein placing the mattress or mattress support includes: placing a second portion of the mattress or the mattress support on a side of the second brace opposite the side resting on the supporting surface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the supporting surface of the mattress or mattress support includes a bed frame.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the supporting surface of the mattress or mattress support includes a floor.

20. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

attaching the brace to the supporting surface of the mattress or mattress support.