SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MATTRESS LIFTING TO AID BED-MAKING

Abstract

Sheets on a mattress having a sleeping surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the sleeping surface may be changed using a fluid container. The fluid container has an outer surface including a resilient material that may be displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container. The fluid container is provided with a predetermined quantity of fluid and disposed such that the resilient outer surface is adjacent to a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower surface of the mattress. The resilient outer surface is displaced by a volume, allowing a portion of a sheet to be inserted between the outer surface and the lower surface of the mattress. The outer surface is allowed to refill the displaced volume and thereby engage the portion of the sheet against the lower surface of the mattress.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/634,925, filed on Mar. 8, 2012, entitled “Systems and Methods for Mattress Lifting to Aid Bed-Making,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The systems and methods described herein relate, among other things, to beds, and particularly to changing bed sheets.

BACKGROUND

Bed making typically includes removing and replacing sheets and other bed materials such as blankets, bed covers and pillow cases. In some cases, a water-resistant layer may also be used to protect the mattress from fluids. Bed materials may be placed on a mattress in a desired order and held in place by friction, but at least bottom sheets and water-resistant layers require stronger attachment if they are to stay in place. Such items may be attached by placing a portion of the item between the mattress and the foundation on which the mattress lies. The weight of the mattress tends to increase the friction holding these objects in place, even while a person may be moving on top of the mattress. But placing a portion of an item between a mattress and its foundation requires pushing the object between the mattress and foundation. The friction between the mattress and the foundation then resists the tucking gesture, often requiring lifting a corner of the mattress to tuck in the sheet.

Unfortunately, even healthy, younger people may find bed making difficult, especially when the bed includes a heavy modern mattresses such as a latex mattress. Those with physical disabilities and the elderly may find it impossible to tuck in a sheet. But there are almost 40 million people aged 65 or older in the United States, almost 13% of the population, and there are projected to be more than 72 million older persons in the U.S. by 2030. While health care providers may aid those with physical disabilities and the elderly, bed making often requires such a health care provider to lift a corner of the mattress with a bent back, contributing to the prevalence of back injuries in health care and hotel service work.

As such, there remains a need for improved systems and methods for lifting a mattress when making a bed.

SUMMARY

It is a realization of the inventor that a fluid container with a resilient surface capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container may allow a user to change the sheets on a bed without requiring the user to lift the mattress. Placing such a fluid container beneath a mattress and providing it with an appropriate quantity of fluid may reduce the force required to insert an object beneath the mattress. Rather than lifting a heavy mattress up, a user may displace a small volume of fluid contained in the fluid container by pressing down, allowing the user to insert a sheet or any other item beneath the mattress. As the user's hand is withdrawn, the fluid returns to the displaced volume, engaging the sheet against the mattress. The fluid container thereby allows the user to change sheets by leaning forward rather than lifting up, and thus reduces both the effort required and the risk of injury entailed in changing the sheets.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the systems and methods described herein relate to changing sheets on a mattress having a sleeping surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the sleeping surface. A fluid container including an outer surface is arranged such that when the fluid container contains a predetermined quantity of fluid, the outer surface is adjacent to a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower surface of the mattress. The outer surface of the fluid container includes a resilient material capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container, and engages against a surface adjacent to the outer surface of the fluid container with a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container when the fluid container contains at least the predetermined quantity of fluid. The fluid container may be provided with at least the predetermined quantity of fluid and the outer surface of the fluid container containing the resilient material displaced by a volume. A portion of a sheet may be inserted into the displaced volume and the outer surface allowed to refill the displaced volume and engage the sheet against a surface adjacent to the outer surface. In some implementations, a pump may provide fluid to the fluid container, and the fluid container may include at least one vent providing fluid communication to the pump and allowing release of a fluid.

In some implementations, the fluid container may occupy a first volume when the fluid container contains the predetermined quantity of fluid and a second, smaller volume when the contained fluid has been released. In some such implementations, the fluid container may support the mattress at a predetermined height while occupying the first volume, wherein the predetermined height is greater than the height at which the mattress is supported while the fluid container occupies the second volume. In some such implementations, the predetermined height may be no greater than a predetermined limit, which may be four inches. In some implementations where the fluid container may occupy a first or a second, smaller volume, each surface of the fluid container may lie substantially underneath the lower surface of the mattress when the fluid container occupies the second volume. In some implementations where the fluid container may occupy a first or a second volume, a first portion of the outer surface and a second portion of the outer surface may be discontiguous. In some implementations where the fluid container may occupy a first or a second volume, at least one resilient strap may hold the fluid container to the mattress.

In some implementations with a pump, a hose may be connected to a surface of the fluid container which is not adjacent to the lower surface of the mattress, the hose providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid container. In some implementations with a pump, an indicator may identify the operational status of the pump.

In some implementations with the pump, a gauge may measure at least one of a volume and a pressure of fluid in the fluid container. In some such implementations, a controller may adjust the amount of fluid provided by the pump based on the output of the gauge. In some implementations with the gauge, an indicator may be provided to identify a change in a status of at least one of the volume and the pressure of fluid in the fluid container.

In some implementations, the fluid may be a liquid. In such implementations, the liquid may be stored in a storage unit, or liquid may be drawn from and returned to a plumbing system.

In some implementations, the fluid may be a gas. In some such implementations, the predetermined quantity of fluid is the quantity of gas required to inflate the fluid container to a predetermined pressure. In some implementations where the fluid is a gas, the fluid container includes at least one vent to release gas. In some such implementations, one or more vents are located adjacent to the lower surface of the mattress. In some implementations with a vent, at least one vent is a relief valve.

In some implementations, a temperature controller is provided to control the temperature of the fluid.

In some implementations, the outer surface of the fluid container engages against the lower surface of the mattress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The systems and methods described herein are set forth in the appended claims. However, for the purpose of explanation, several embodiments are set forth in the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a bed-making system in which a sheet is being tucked in;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a bed-making system featuring valves;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a bed-making system featuring vents;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a bed-making system;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a bed-making system with a chambered fluid container;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a bed-making system with fluid container restraints; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a bed-changing method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous details are set forth for the purpose of explanation. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the use of these specific details and that the embodiments described herein may be modified, supplemented, or otherwise altered without departing from the scope of the invention.

The systems and methods described herein relate, in certain embodiments, to changing sheets on a mattress having a sleeping surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the sleeping surface. A fluid container with a resilient outer surface is disposed beneath the mattress such that the outer surface of the fluid container is adjacent to a portion of the perimeter of the lower surface of the mattress when the fluid container is provided with fluid. Users may displace a small volume of fluid contained in the fluid container to insert an item beneath the mattress. As users withdraw their hands, the fluid returns to the displaced volume, engaging the sheet against the mattress.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 100. As depicted, system 100 includes a fluid container 102 disposed between a mattress 104 and a foundation 110. Fluid container 102 is a container capable of holding at least a predetermined quantity of fluid. For clarity, fluid container 102 is depicted as being vertically separated from mattress 104, foundation 110, and sheet 112, but in practice, a portion of an outer surface of fluid container 102 is adjacent to a lower surface 106 of mattress 104 when fluid container 102 contains a predetermined quantity of fluid. In some implementations, the predetermined quantity of fluid is the volume of fluid container 102 filled with gas at a predetermined pressure. Mattress 104 has a sleeping surface 108 and a lower surface 106 disposed opposite sleeping surface 108. Foundation 110 is an object supporting fluid container 102 and mattress 104, and may be a box, a bed frame, a set of box springs, a floor, or other suitable object. In some implementations, foundation 104 may include safety devices such as a railing to mattress 104 from sliding off of fluid container 102. Sheet 112 may be a bedsheet, a fitted sheet, or any other object that may be tucked under mattress 104. Pump 114 may control the volume of fluid contained in fluid container 104 through hose 116, which may be detachable or permanently attached to fluid container 102 and provides fluid communication between fluid container 102 and pump 114. Gauge 118 may measure the volume of fluid in fluid container 102, the pressure of the fluid in fluid container 102, or both. Gauge 118 may be connected to a controller 120, which may control the output of pump 114 based on the output of gauge 118. Temperature controller 122 may control the temperature of fluid in fluid container 104.

Fluid container 102 may include an air mattress, a water bed, or some other suitable fluid container with an outer surface that may include a resilient material capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in fluid container 102. In some implementations, fluid container 102 may be integrated with mattress 104, with foundation 110, or both. As described in relation to FIG. 2, when a hand is inserted between the resilient outer surface of fluid container 102 and a substantially solid surface such as lower surface 106, the hand may displace a volume of fluid container 102 substantially equal to the hand. Fluid container 102 may be filled with a fluid at 0.1 pounds per square inch (PSI), 0.25 PSI, 0.5 PSI, or some other suitable pressure. As depicted, an outer surface of fluid container 102 engages sheet 112 against lower surface 106, but in some implementations an outer surface of fluid container 102 may engage sheet 112 against foundation 110. In some implementations, there may be more than one fluid container 102, or fluid container 102 may be composed of two or more chambers. In some of the latter implementations, chambers may be in fluid communication with each other through valves that a user may open or close.

Pump 114 may be a squirrel-cage blower, an air compressor, a bicycle pump, a foot pump, or some other pump suitable for providing fluid to fluid container 102. Pump 114 may provide the predetermined quantity of fluid to fluid container 102 through hose 116, and may be placed in a condition to allow escape of fluid from fluid container 102 or to pump fluid out of fluid container 102. Fluid container 102 may occupy a first volume while containing the predetermined quantity of fluid and a second, smaller volume when the contained fluid has been released. When fluid container 102 occupies such a first volume, it may support mattress 104 at a predetermined height greater than the height at which mattress 104 is supported while the fluid container occupies the second volume. In some implementations, the predetermined height may be chosen to reduce the risk to small children, which may be less than or equal to 4 inches. In some implementations, fluid container 102 support mattress 104 at a height greater than 2.5 inches only if fluid container 102 is provided with fluid at a pressure chosen to reduce risk to young children, which may be 2.5 PSI, 5 PSI, or some other suitable pressure. In some implementations, fluid container 102 may include two chambers, a low-pressure chamber adjacent to mattress 104 and a height-controlling chamber disposed between the first chamber and the foundation. In such implementations, the low-pressure chamber may contain fluid at a pressure below 1 PSI and occupy a volume no greater than 2.5 inches thick, while the height-controlling chamber may at the same time contain fluid at a pressure above 5 PSI or some other suitable pressure and support the first chamber at a height greater than four inches. In certain implementations, there may not be a pump 114, in which case fluid container 102 may be permanently or semi-permanently sealed with the predetermined quantity of fluid. In some implementations, there may be an audible or visual indicator of the status of pump 114. In some implementations, pump 114 may provide fluid at a pressure such that the rate at which pump 114 supplies fluid to fluid container 102 decreases based on the amount of fluid contained in fluid container 102.

Gauge 118 may be a piston pressure gauge, a capacitive pressure gauge, a flow meter, a strain gauge, a height sensor, or some other gauge suitable for determining the quantity of fluid pump 114 has provided to fluid container 102. Gauge 118 may measure one or more of a volume and a pressure of fluid in fluid container 102. The volume of fluid container 102 may be measured by summing the volume of fluid provided to fluid container 102 and subtracting the volume of fluid released from fluid container 102, or by an indirect measurement such as weighing the fluid container 102 and dividing the measured weight by the density of the contained fluid. In some implementations, measurements generated by gauge 118 may be used as the criteria for activity of an indicator device. As illustrative examples of such implementations, an alarm may sound or a light may flash if gauge 118 detects a pressure above a predetermined threshold, or if there is a predetermined change of pressure within a predetermined time interval consistent with a sleepwalker leaving the bed. In some implementations, there may not be a gauge 118. In some implementations, gauge 118 may be further configured to detect a respiration rate or a heart rate of a bed user through fluctuations in the pressure applied to the fluid container 102.

Controller 120 may be a switch, a timer, a dedicated or programmable circuit, or some other suitable mechanism for controlling the operation, power, or duty cycle of pump 114. As depicted, controller 120 may receive measurements from gauge 118 and control pump 114 accordingly, such as by reducing the flow generated by pump 114 as the pressure in fluid container 102 increases. In some implementations, controller 120 may act without user input, such as by causing fluid container 102 to be inflated and deflated on a predetermined schedule. In some other implementations, controller 120 may control pump operation based on user input from a user interface. As an illustrative example of such implementations, a user may select a desired mattress height using a knob or other suitable control, and controller 120 may respond by operating pump 114 to bring mattress 104 to the designated height. In some implementations, controller 120 may only allow direct user control, such as a switch that the user may use to toggle pump 114 between on and off, or between fill, empty, and off. In some implementations, controller 120 may prevent accidental or unauthorized use of pump 114, such as by requiring a key, a combination, a password, or some other suitable mechanism to reduce the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized use of pump 114.

Temperature controller 122 may include a resistive heater, a water cooler, a Peltier heating and cooling system, or some other suitable device for altering the temperature of a fluid, and an output control such as a switch, a dial, an integrated temperature control circuit, or some other suitable device for controlling the energy consumption of temperature controller 122. As depicted, temperature controller 122 controls the temperature of the fluid in fluid container 102, and may receive feedback from one or more thermocouples or other suitable temperature measurement devices used to maintain the fluid at a user-defined or predefined temperature. In some implementations, temperature controller 122 may be integrated with pump 114, and may control the temperature of the fluid supplied to fluid container 102 by pump 114.

System 100 aids in bed-making by reducing the force required to insert a portion of sheet 112 beneath lower surface 106 of mattress 104. A user may displace a resilient portion of the outer surface of fluid container 102 with a pressure similar to the pressure of the fluid in fluid container 102. If fluid container 102 is provided with at least a predetermined quantity of fluid, whether using pump 114 or otherwise, the resilient portion of the outer surface of fluid container 102 will engage against an adjacent surface. Thus, the user may displace a resilient portion of the outer surface of fluid container 102, insert a portion of sheet 112 into the displaced volume, and then allow the resilient portion of the outer surface to engage the sheet against the adjacent surface, allowing bed-making without the user personally lifting mattress 104.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 200 in which a sheet is being tucked in. Referring to FIG. 1, system 200 includes a fluid container 202 like fluid container 102, a mattress 204 like mattress 104, a foundation 206 like foundation 110, and a sheet 208 like sheet 112. As depicted, a user's hand 210 is displacing a portion of the resilient outer surface of fluid container 202 while inserting a portion of sheet 206 between fluid container 202 and mattress 204. Sheet 208 is thereby inserted beneath mattress 204 without lifting mattress 204. As the user removes hand 210, the outer surface of fluid container 202 will refill the volume hand 210 is depicted as occupying, engaging sheet 208 against mattress 204. Bed-making system 200 thus allows a bed to be made without requiring users to lift mattress 204, and may allow a bed to be made using only one hand. In some implementations, the resilient outer surface of fluid container 202 may be composed of or coated with a low-friction material, which may include polyvinyl chloride vinyl plastic, silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, or some other suitable material that has a lower coefficient of friction against hand 210 than does mattress 204 or foundation 206. The low-friction material may further reduce the force required to insert sheet 208 and hand 210 between the resilient outer surface of fluid container 202 and an adjacent surface. In some such implementations, an outer surface of fluid container 202 adjacent to mattress 204 may have a different friction coefficient than an outer surface of fluid container 202 adjacent to foundation 206. Such implementations may reduce the force required to insert sheet 208 while reducing the likelihood of fluid container 202 slipping relative to an adjacent item.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 300. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 300 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but omits certain elements of bed-making system 100 for clarity. As depicted, outer surface 302 of fluid container 102 is substantially adjacent to the lower surface 106, and may thus engage a sheet 112 against lower surface 106 near the outer perimeter of lower surface 106.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 400. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 400 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but omits certain elements of bed-making system 100 for clarity. As depicted, outer surface 402 of fluid container 102 is substantially adjacent to only the outer perimeter of lower surface 106, and may thus engage a sheet 112 against the lower surface 106 near the outer perimeter of lower surface 106.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 500. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 500 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but omits certain elements of bed-making system 100 for clarity. As depicted, portions 502A-D (collectively, portions 502) of the outer surface of fluid container 102 are adjacent to lower surface 106 of mattress 104, but each portion 502 is discontiguous from the other portions 502. As depicted, each portion 502 is substantially adjacent to one of the four corners of lower surface 106, and thus fluid container 102 may engage a sheet against lower surface 106 at the four corners of lower surface 106. Each portion 502 may be part of a single fluid container 102, in which case each portion of the volume of the fluid container 102 is in fluid communication with every other portion of the volume of the fluid container 102. In some implementations, each portion 502 is associated with a distinct fluid container 102. In some implementations, portions 502 may be different in one or more of size, shape, number, position, or orientation. As an illustrative example of such implementations, portions 502 may comprise four ‘L’-shaped surfaces, one at each corner of lower surface 106.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 600. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 600 is an implementation of bed-making system 100. FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of bed-making system 600, but omits certain elements of bed-making system 100 for clarity. As depicted, outer surface 602 of fluid container 102 is substantially adjacent to only two edges of lower surface 106, and may thus engage a sheet against lower surface 106 along two sides of the outer perimeter of lower surface 106. As outer surface 602 is not in contact with lower surface 106 in the middle of mattress 104, mattress 104 may sag in the middle and therefore provide greater resistance to lateral movement relative to a mattress 104 on a level surface. As depicted, each portion of the volume of fluid container 102 is in fluid communication with every other portion of the volume of fluid container 102. As such, if outer surface 602 is displaced on one side of mattress 104, the change in the volume of fluid container 102 is relatively smaller than it would be if fluid container 102 were physically divided into separate compartments. Thus, the depicted outer surface 602 may be displaced with less pressure than two or more separate fluid containers 102 with the same total volume. In some implementations, one or more of the shape, orientation, and surface area of outer surface 602 may be modified.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 700 featuring valves. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 700 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but for clarity FIG. 7 depicts only fluid container 102 and mattress 104. In bed-making system 700, fluid container 102 includes valves 702 A-C, collectively valves 702. Valves 702 are valves that may be switched between allowing and preventing fluid flow, and may include ball valves, quarter turn plug valves, or other suitable valves. A valve 702 may include an adapter allowing a hose 116 to connect to the valve and thereby be placed in fluid communication with fluid container 700. In some implementations, one or more valves 702 may be a pressure relief valve, and may thus prevent fluid container 102 from being overfilled with fluid. In some such implementations, one or more valves 702 may be a hole in an outer surface of fluid container 102 positioned such that the hole is open only when fluid container 102 contains a predetermined volume of fluid. As depicted, valves 702A-B are each on a surface of fluid container 102 that is adjacent to neither a mattress 104 nor a foundation 110. Valve 702C is depicted as being disposed on an outer surface of fluid container 102 opposite mattress 104. Thus if one valve 702 is not readily accessible by a user, a second valve may be. There may be a different number of valves 702 than are here depicted, and valves 702 may be disposed in different locations than are here depicted.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 800 featuring vents. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 800 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but for clarity FIG. 8 depicts only fluid container 102. In bed-making system 800, fluid container 102 includes vents 802A-D disposed beneath a mattress 104. Vents 802A-D are collectively referred to as vents 802. Vents 802 may be configured such that when fluid container 102 stores a gas at a predetermined pressure, vents 802 may release the gas at the same rate as pump 114 provides the gas. In some implementations, vents 802 may be pressure release valves. The gas released by vents 802 may serve to warm or cool a mattress 104, and in some embodiments may create an air bearing that reduces the friction between fluid container 102 and mattress 104.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 900. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 900 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but for clarity FIG. 9 depicts only fluid container 102. As depicted, fluid container 102 includes side walls 902. Referring to FIG. 1, side walls 902 are outer surfaces of fluid container 900 that are adjacent to neither mattress 104 nor foundation 110. As depicted, side walls 902 are designed to bow inwards when the pressure of the fluid inside fluid container 900 is lower than the pressure of the fluid outside fluid container 900. Thus, when the fluid in fluid container 900 is released, each surface of fluid container 900 may lie substantially underneath lower surface 106 of mattress 104.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 1000 with a chambered fluid container. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 1000 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but for clarity FIG. 10 depicts only fluid container 102. As depicted, fluid container 102 includes chambers 1002A-C (collectively chambers 1002) and valves 1004A and 1004B (collectively valves 1004). Each chamber 1002 is a fluid container that may be placed in fluid communication with or isolated from at least one other chamber 1002 by the action of a valve 1004. Valves 1004 may be similar to the valves 702 depicted in FIG. 7, and may be remotely controlled by the user or by controller 120 through one or more cables kept under tension, electrical signals, or through some other suitable method.

As depicted, chambers 1002 may be provided with different quantities of fluid in order to stabilize a mattress 104. When providing fluid to the depicted fluid container 102, chambers 1002A and 1002C may be provided with fluid before chamber 1002B is provided with fluid, which may cause mattress 1004 to sag over chamber 1002B and thereby resist lateral motion. Likewise, when releasing fluid from fluid container 102, fluid in chamber 1002B may be released before fluid is released from chambers 1002A and 1002C. In certain implementations, chambers 1002 may differ in number, size, shape, and orientation than the chambers 1002 here depicted. Similarly, in some implementations there may be valves 1004 may differ in number or position from the valves 1004 here depicted.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative block diagram of a bed-making system 1100 with fluid container restraints. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making system 1100 is an implementation of bed-making system 100, but for clarity FIG. 11 depicts only fluid container 102 and foundation 110. As depicted, fluid container 102 is detachably coupled to foundation 110 with resilient bands 1102A and 1102B (collectively, resilient bands 1102). Resilient bands 1102 may be fixed to fluid container 102, and may secure fluid container 102 in a position relative to foundation 110. In some implementations, there may be a different number of resilient bands 1102 than are depicted. In some implementations, resilient bands 1102 may be positioned differently than depicted. Illustrative examples of such implementations include orienting resilient bands 1102 along the perpendicular axis, having resilient bands 1102 cross each other at an angle, fixing one end of each resilient band 1102 to foundation 110 rather than fixing each end to fluid container 102, and fixing one end of a resilient band 1102 to foundation 110 and the other end to mattress 104. In some implementations, resilient bands 1102 may instead secure fluid container 102 to mattress 104.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative flow chart of a bed-making process 1200. Referring to FIG. 1, bed-making method 1200 begins with step 1201, which provides a fluid container 102. The outer surface of fluid container 102 includes a resilient material capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container. Step 1202 disposes fluid container 102 such that the outer surface of fluid container 102 is adjacent to a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower surface 106 of a mattress 104 when the fluid container contains a predetermined quantity of fluid. In step 1203, pump 114 provides fluid container 102 with at least the predetermined quantity of fluid, in some implementations lifting the mattress 104 to a predetermined height. In some implementations, step 1203 may be performed manually by a user. In some implementations, fluid container 102 may be permanently sealed with the predetermined quantity of fluid, in which case step 1203 will have been accomplished with step 1201.

In step 1204, an object such as the user's hand is used to displace a volume of the outer surface of fluid container 102, as depicted in FIG. 2. In step 1205, a portion of a sheet or some other object meant to be tucked underneath the mattress is inserted into the volume displaced in step 1204. In step 1206, the displacing object of step 1204 is removed, allowing the outer surface of fluid container 102 to refill the displaced volume and engage the sheet against a surface adjacent to the outer surface. In some implementations, the fluid in fluid container 102 may then be released, which return the mattress to its original height. Process 1200 may then be complete.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. For example, a fluid container may be used to allow access to the lower surface of items other than mattresses, or one or more fluid containers may be used to lift objects from one height to another. An implementation of the systems and methods described herein may be made independently of or combined with another implementation. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the disclosure described herein may be employed in practicing the disclosure. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the disclosure and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

1. A system for changing sheets on a mattress having a sleeping surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the sleeping surface, comprising:

a fluid container including an outer surface arranged adjacent to a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower surface of the mattress when the fluid container contains a predetermined quantity of fluid;

the outer surface of the fluid container including a resilient material capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container; and

the outer surface of the fluid container engaging against a surface adjacent to the outer surface of the fluid container with a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container when the fluid container contains at least the predetermined quantity of fluid.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump for providing fluid to the fluid container, and

at least one vent in the fluid container providing fluid communication to the pump and allowing release of a fluid.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid container occupies a first volume when the fluid container contains the predetermined quantity of fluid and a second smaller volume when the contained fluid has been released.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a first portion of the outer surface and a second portion of the outer surface are discontiguous.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one resilient strap for holding the fluid container to the mattress.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the fluid container supports the mattress at a predetermined height while occupying the first volume, wherein the predetermined height is greater than a height at which the mattress is supported while the fluid container occupies the second volume.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined height is no greater than four inches.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein each surface of the fluid container lies substantially underneath the lower surface of the mattress when the fluid container occupies the second volume.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a hose connected to a surface of the fluid container not adjacent to the lower surface of the mattress, the hose providing fluid communication between the pump and the fluid container.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a gauge to measure at least one of a volume and a pressure of fluid in the fluid container.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a controller to adjust the amount of fluid provided by the pump based on the output of the gauge.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an indicator of a change in a status of at least one of the volume and the pressure of fluid in the fluid container.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising an indicator to identify the operational status of the pump.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a gas.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the predetermined quantity is the quantity of gas required to inflate the fluid container to a predetermined pressure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fluid container includes at least one vent to release gas.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein one or more vents are located adjacent to the lower surface of the mattress.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one vent is a relief valve.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller to control the temperature of the fluid.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer surface engages against the lower surface of the mattress.

22. A method for changing sheets on a mattress having a sleeping surface and a lower surface disposed opposite the sleeping surface, comprising:

providing a fluid container including an outer surface, the outer surface of the fluid container including a resilient material capable of being displaced in response to a pressure similar to the pressure of fluid contained in the fluid container;

disposing the fluid container such that the outer surface of the fluid container is adjacent to a portion of an outer perimeter of the lower surface of the mattress when the fluid container contains a predetermined quantity of fluid;

providing the fluid container with at least the predetermined quantity of fluid;

displacing the outer surface of the fluid container containing the resilient material by a volume;

inserting a portion of a sheet into the volume displaced from the outer surface; and

allowing the outer surface to refill the displaced volume and engage the sheet against a surface adjacent to the outer surface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

lifting the mattress to a first predetermined height by providing the fluid container with the predetermined quantity of fluid; and

returning the mattress to a second predetermined height by releasing the contained fluid.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising measuring at least one of a volume and a pressure of fluid in the fluid container.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising indicating a predetermined change in a status of at least one of the volume and the pressure of fluid in the fluid container.