BED MATTRESS LIFT

Abstract

An aspect provides a method for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, including: actuating a fluid pump to inflate one or more inflatable bladder components with fluid; the one or more inflatable bladder components being disposed between the mattress and the underlying bedding component such that on inflation with the fluid, the one or more inflatable bladder components separates the mattress and the underlying bedding component. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Description

BACKGROUND

In changing bedding (sheets, covers and the like), lifting or elevating bedding components (for example, lifting a mattress with respect to an underlying box spring to change sheets) can be challenging. The challenge is magnified in certain settings (hotel, resort, cruise ship, et cetera), as professional housekeeping employees may need to turn around many rooms in short order, including changing sheets on many beds (for example, over 35 per day). Moreover, the lifts per room are many, as in a typical process, housekeeping employees repeatedly lift the bed mattress to tuck the sheets between the mattress and box spring, three sides for each bed, each working day. With little time to spare, housekeeping employees want to perform such lifts, in addition to other duties, quickly and efficiently.

Example solutions that have been proposed to address this lifting problem essentially include use of rigid implements or machinery to gain a mechanical advantage in making the lift. However, each conventional solution has attendant limitations and shortcomings.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect includes a method for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, comprising: actuating a fluid pump to inflate a bladder with fluid; the bladder being disposed between the mattress and the underlying bedding component such that on inflation with the fluid, the bladder separates the mattress and the underlying bedding component.

Another aspect includes a system for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, comprising: at least one bedding component; and one or more inflatable bladder components attached to the at least one bedding component; the one or more inflatable bladder components being disposed at a position such that, responsive to inflation of the one or more inflatable bladder components with a fluid, the one or more bladder components extend beyond a periphery of the at least one bedding component to provide separation between the at least one bedding component and another, separate bedding component.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A-B) illustrates side views of an example bed lift system.

FIG. 2(A-C) illustrates exploded side views of example bed lift systems.

FIG. 3(A-D) illustrates top plan views of example inflatable bladders.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of claimed embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various described embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

Conventional devices, such as rigid lifting devices for lifting a mattress and thus separating it from an underlying bedding component, such as a box spring, have significant drawbacks. Such devices require manual manipulation by the user and/or a complex array of parts. Thus, conventional approaches do not significantly reduce the manual involvement of the user in making the lift. Accordingly, the lifting remains problematic, as best appreciated by considering certain situations such as in a hotel or resort where repeated lifts of even reduced magnitude still contribute significantly to housekeeping employee fatigue. Moreover, complex mechanical contraptions heretofore proposed tend to be overly expensive and complex, thus counseling against their adoption.

An embodiment addresses these and other shortcomings of conventional approaches by providing an inflatable component system that simultaneously minimizes housekeeping employee manual involvement to essentially nothing and reduces the additional components necessary for completing the lifts. Thus, an embodiment provides an efficient, cost effective mechanism for lifting bedding components, such as causing separation between a mattress and box spring in order to change sheets, or other activities that involve accessing beneath the mattress.

Referring to FIG. 1(A-B), side views of an example bed lift system are illustrated. A first bedding component 101, such as a mattress and a second bedding component 103, such as a box spring, have disposed there-between a third component comprising an inflatable bladder 102. The inflatable bladder 102 may be inflated by provisioning a fluid (liquid or gas, for example air) thereto via a fluid pump 104, as connected to inflatable bladder 102 via a suitable line 106. The fluid pump 104 in turn may be actuated by a remote mechanism, such as via operation of a remote control device 105.

In a non-inflated configuration, FIG. 1A, the inflatable bladder 102 does not disrupt the first bedding component 101 or the second bedding component 103. As such, the inflatable bladder 102 may be left in place in the non-inflated condition without disturbing the normal bedding configuration. In one example, the inflatable bladder 102 may reside 10 or 12 inches inside of the perimeter of the bedding components (mattress/box spring). In an inflated configuration, FIG. 1B, the inflatable bladder 102 inflates or fills with fluid, as for example provided via the fluid pump 104. Responsive to inflation, the inflatable bladder 102 expands commensurate with the increased volume of fluid therein. This expansion in turn provides a configuration in which the first bedding component 101, such as a mattress, lifts or separates with respect to the second bedding component 103, such as a box spring. In such an inflated configuration, FIG. 1B, the underside of the first bedding component 101, such as a mattress, is partially exposed, allowing a housekeeping employee to readily change bedding material, such as a fitted sheet (not shown) or when changing flat (non-fitted) sheets.

The inflatable bladder component 102 may be formed of a flexible/stretchable material such as rubber or other elastic or synthetic type material such that, responsive to fluid provisioning under pressure via fluid pump 104, the inflatable bladder 102 expands in a similar fashion to a balloon. Alternatively or additionally, the inflatable bladder 102 may be less elastic or non-elastic, as compared to a material such as rubber or other comparable elastic or synthetic material. In such an embodiment, the inflatable bladder 102 may achieve expansion or inflation via filling without stretching to an appreciable degree, as for example in the fashion that a fire hose lies flat until filled with pressurized water, and changes shape or inflates under pressure.

The inflatable bladder component 202 may be integrated into the first bedding component 201, such as integrated into a mattress on one or both sides, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. The inflatable bladder component 202 may additionally or alternatively be integrated into the second bedding component 203, such as integrated into a box spring on a side that interfaces with a mattress, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. Alternatively or additionally the inflatable bladder component 202 may be provided as a separate, stand alone component that is placed in between the first bedding component 201 and the second bedding component 203, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

The inflatable bladder component 202 may be integrated into one or more of the bedding components 201, 203 in a variety of ways. During manufacture, the inflatable bladder component 202 may be adhered to one or both of the bedding components 201, 203. Such integration may be provided for example via a permanent bonding process using an adhesive, or permanent fastener, or via provisioning of a reversible attachment means, for example snaps, VELCRO portions (mating portions would thus be provided on each of the inflatable bladder 202 and the first bedding component 201 or the second bedding component 103, in a suitable combination), staples (for example, in an internal or border portion or component of the inflatable bladder 202 not to be filled with fluid), ties or the like. Moreover, a hybrid embodiment that balances integration with stand alone bladder capabilities may be provided, such as via fashioning a holding sleeve or like pocket for inclusion of a separate inflatable bladder portion 202 within one or both of the first bedding component 201 and the second bedding component 103. It is also contemplated that bladder portion 202 may be fitted underneath a fabric covering of bedding component 101 or 103 so long as the fabric covering has sufficient ability to be distorted from flat so that it allows the bladder portion to be inflated sufficiently for a particular application. Likewise fluid pump 104 could be positioned within a hollow portion of a bedding component 103 (e.g., in a hollow box spring). In this manner a box spring or mattress would appear to be conventional upon visual inspection as the devices implementing the present invention would be hidden from view. Alternatively, a stand alone inflatable bladder 202 may be provided and simply fitted between bedding components 201, 203, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.

The fluid pump 104 may take a variety of configurations. A fluid pump 104 as described herein takes the meaning of a device that provides pressurized fluid (liquid or gas) to the inflatable bladder in response to actuation. An example fluid pump 104 is an electric motor powered air pump. Another example of a fluid pump is a reservoir of compressed air. Fluid pump 104 may be provided or integrated with either bedding component 103/104, or provided as a separate unit, or integrated with a separate device such as a hospitality cart, vacuum cleaner, fan, or other available source that can be adapted to provide a flow of pressurized fluid. It is further contemplated that fluid pump 104 may be provided remotely and centralized to support multiple bladders 102 in different rooms with pressurized fluid being ported into individual rooms from the centralized source. This might be practical, for example, in a hospital or similar facility where pressurized gasses are already ported to individual rooms and beds.

Suitable means for actuating the fluid pump 104 include but are not limited to the following. A fluid pump 104 may be actuated via a manual switch or a control valve. A fluid pump 104 may be actuated via a remote control device 105. In the case of a remote control device, a fluid pump 104 may be actuated by a hand held remote control device 105 that can actively or passively provide information to the fluid pump 104 for actuation.

Examples of actively providing information to the fluid pump 104 for actuation include but are not limited to transmitting infrared or short-range wireless communication signal(s) to an actuation component of the fluid pump 104. Alternatively, information for actuating the fluid pump 104 may be provided actively through another type of network connection, such as via a wired or wireless network connection to an actuation component of the fluid component. Embodiments may provide centralized control of the system or components thereof via such networked connections. For example a remote signal may be communicated via a network connection to the fluid pump 104, via an actuation component including a processor and memory storing program instructions for pump actuation, which on receipt, causes the fluid pump to actuate or cease operation.

Examples of passively providing actuation information to a fluid pump 104 include but are not limited to providing information, such as a bar code, that can be read by a scanning component in communication with a fluid pump 104. Alternatively, an RFID reader may be provided that is in communication with the fluid pump 104, where an RFID device presented to the RFID reader causes actuation of a fluid pump 104.

For its part, the inflatable bladder may take on a variety of configurations, non-limiting (top plan view) examples of which are illustrated in FIG. 3(A-D). In one example embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3A, an inflatable bladder 302A may be formed of a unitary body with inflatable portion(s) or sub-component(s). The example illustrated in FIG. 3A shows a unitary body 302A in which a generally “U” shaped inflatable sub-component is provided. The “U” shaped inflatable sub-component may take a variety of shapes, including an “O”, an “X” or other shapes that require less volume to lift the mattress than a continuous bladder. The inflatable sub-component may be fashioned from the same or different material as that used for the non-inflatable portion, that is, the portion in the middle region of the unitary body 302A.

The inflatable portion may be formed via pressing or bonding the unitary body 302A such that fluid (gas or liquid) may only enter the inflatable portion of the unitary body 302A (via an appropriate valve or fitting) and be prevented from entering the non-inflatable portion, such that the inflatable portion is cordoned off from and not in fluid communication with the non-inflatable portion. This arrangement has the advantage of requiring less fluid volume (less than a bladder that does not include non-inflatable portion(s)) to achieve appreciable inflation of the inflatable bladder 302A.

In an alternative embodiment, the inflatable bladder (302B-302D) may take the form of a unitary body without sub-components or portions that are non-inflatable, as illustrated in FIG. 3B-D. In FIG. 3B, an example inflatable bladder 302B is formed of a single component that is inflatable and has a generally “U” shaped configuration. The example inflatable bladder 302D illustrated in FIG. 3D likewise takes the form of a unitary inflatable body that has a generally “X” shaped configuration. Alternatively, the inflatable bladder 302C may be formed from a plurality of separate components, as illustrated in FIG. 3C. Thus, the inflatable bladder 302C can be formed from two or more separate components, if desired. Furthermore, the separate components may be connected to one another, either with or without a means of fluid communication there-between.

In an example method, illustrated in FIG. 4, a suitable fluid pump is connected to an inflatable bladder 410. The connection can be made ahead of time, such as for example via integration of the fluid pump with one or more other system components, such as via inclusion of an integrated fluid pump in a box spring with an inflatable bladder at the time of manufacture. Alternatively, a separate fluid pump, such as carried on a housekeeping cart or provided via a vacuum cleaner attachment, may be attached to a fitting of an inflatable bladder just prior to each use. In any event, a connection is made between a suitable fluid pump and an inflatable bladder.

Next, a user will actuate the fluid pump such that the fluid pump may provide fluid to inflate the bladder 420. As described herein, the fluid pump may be actuated in a variety of ways. For example, if a compressed air cartridge is used, a simple release of a valve or connection of a compressed air cartridge may actuate the fluid pump. Likewise, a manual switch may be provided on the fluid pump, such as a switch to actuate an electric motor that pumps fluid into the inflatable bladder. Furthermore, other actuation means may be employed, such as for example use of a remote control, use of a bar code and bar code reader, an RFID arrangement, a centralized actuation over a network connection, or the like. In any event, a fluid pump is actuated to provide fluid to the inflatable bladder for inflation.

Once the inflatable bladder is filled to an acceptable amount, 430, the fluid pump may be stopped 440. By this it is meant only that additional fluid is no longer required, although the fluid pump may continue to be on or operable, for example operating to maintain an acceptable pressure. Alternatively, if a one way or reversible fitting/valve is employed, the fluid pump may be literally stopped and shut off, as the fluid will be prevented from reversing its course (that is, the fluid will not be able to escape from the inflatable bladder without further action). The fluid flow into the bladder component or components also may be stopped automatically, for example via use of a pressure sensitive or timing device.

With adequate separation of bedding components, such as between a mattress and underlying box spring, a housekeeping employee is better able to change the bedding 450. Once this task has been accomplished, the inflatable bladder may be deflated 460. The deflation of the inflatable bladder may be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as via releasing a valve or fitting and allowing the elasticity of the bladder to act to expel the fluid, releasing a valve or fitting and allowing the weight of the bedding component (mattress) to expel the fluid, or even actuation of a fluid pump (or a separate fluid pump) to actively expel the fluid. The release of the fluid may be actuated through a suitable control arrangement, for example a remote control, a bar code reader, an RFID arrangement, et cetera, and may even be a timed release (for example, automatically deflating after 5-10 minutes).

From the foregoing it should be understood that embodiments provide a convenient and cost effective way of separating or lifting bedding components such that bedding materials may be quickly and easily changed. The embodiments may be employed to great advantage at least in settings where repetitive lifting of bedding components is necessary and problematic.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, comprising:

actuating a fluid pump to inflate one or more inflatable bladder components with fluid;

the one or more inflatable bladder components being disposed between the mattress and the underlying bedding component such that on inflation with the fluid, the one or more inflatable bladder components separates the mattress and the underlying bedding component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes one or more of a liquid and a gas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the underlying bedding component is a box spring.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein actuating a fluid pump to inflate one or more inflatable bladder components with fluid further comprises operating a remote control device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein short-range communication includes one or more of broadcasting communication information to the actuation element of the fluid pump and presentation of readable communication information to a reading element associated with an actuation element of the fluid pump.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid pump comprises an active pump that actively pumps fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid pump comprises a container of compressed fluid that releases pressurized fluid.

8. A system for separating a mattress from an underlying bedding component, comprising:

at least one bedding component; and

one or more inflatable bladder components attached to the at least one bedding component;

the one or more inflatable bladder components being disposed at a position such that, responsive to inflation of the one or more inflatable bladder components with a fluid, the one or more bladder components extend beyond a periphery of the at least one bedding component to provide separation between the at least one bedding component and another, separate bedding component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one bedding component is a box spring, and further wherein the another, separate bedding component is a mattress.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more inflatable bladder components is integral to the box spring.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one bedding component is a mattress, and further wherein the another, separate bedding component is a box spring.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more inflatable bladder components is integral to the mattress.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a fluid pump in fluid communication with the one or more inflatable bladder components.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one bedding component is a box spring, and further wherein the another, separate bedding component is a mattress; and

the fluid pump is integral to the box spring.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the one or more inflatable bladder components comprise a fitting configured for attachment to the fluid pump; and

the fluid pump is housed in a separate mobile component and is attachable to the fitting to provide fluid communication with the one or more inflatable bladder components.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more inflatable bladder components comprise a single bladder component that is substantially U shaped.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more inflatable bladder components comprise a plurality of inflatable bladder components arranged at three sides of the at least one bedding component.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid pump comprises an active pump that actively pumps fluid.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid pump comprises a container of compressed fluid that releases pressurized fluid.