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.

We claim: 
     
         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.