Passive Mattress Spinner

Abstract

A system is disclosed for facilitating rotation of a mattress in a horizontal plane carried by a box spring or a platform. In order to facilitate rotation, slick surfaces between the mattress and the box spring or platform are selectively placed in engagement with each other, in one embodiment of the invention. The slick surfaces may be provided by two (2) separate covers; one cover for the mattress and one cover for the box spring, platform or bed skirt. One cover is provided with a slick and non-slick surface. The other cover may be the same as the first cover or may have sock surfaces on two sides. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, one of the covers may be provided as a protective cover that encapsulates the entire mattress. In another alternate embodiment, one cover may be provided that cooperates with a suck surface that is integrally provided on one or the other of the mattress or box spring or platform. In yet another alternate embodiment of the invention, slick surfaces may be provided on both the mattress and the box spring or platform. In this embodiment, in order to prevent movement of the mattress with respect to the box spring or platform, the mattress is secured relative to the box spring or platform by removable fasteners in a normal mode of operation.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by a Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A cover for facilitating rotation of a mattress supported by a box spring or a platform, the cover comprising:
 a panel having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said panel configured to be disposed between the underside of said mattress and a top side of said box spring or said platform; and   at least one band disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel configured to be disposed adjacent to the sides of said mattress or alternatively to be disposed adjacent to the sides of said box spring or platform, wherein said at least one band is formed from a different material than said panel.   
     
     
         8 . The cover is recited in  claim 7 , wherein said material for said panel is non-elastic. 
     
     
         9 . The cover as recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of one side of said material for said panel is coated with slick coating forming a slick surface. 
     
     
         10 . The cover as recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of one side of said material for said panel is coated with a non-slick coating forming a non-slick surface. 
     
     
         11 . The cover as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said different material used for said one or more band is a stretchable material. 
     
     
         12 . A rotatable mattress system comprising:
 a mattress and a box spring or platform, said box spring or platform for supporting said mattress, wherein at least one of the underside of said mattress or the top side of said box spring or platform include a slick surface that enables said mattress to be selectively rotated with respect to said box spring or platform.   
     
     
         13 . The rotatable mattress system as recited in  claim 12 , further including
 a fastener system configured to enable selective attachment of said mattress to said box spring or platform in order to prevent unintended rotation of said mattress with respect to said box spring or said platform in a normal mode of operation, and further configured to allow selective detachment of said mattress from said box spring or platform in order to allow selective rotation of said mattress with respect to said box spring or said platform in a rotate mode of operation.   
     
     
         14 . The rotatable mattress system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said fastener system includes one or more fasteners for attaching said mattress and said box spring or said platform together. 
     
     
         15 . The rotatable mattress system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said fastener system includes at least one Velcro® fastener. 
     
     
         16 . A cover for facilitating rotation of a mattress supported by a box spring or platform, the cover comprising:
 a panel having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said panel configured to be disposed between the underside of said mattress and a top side of said box spring or platform; and   at least one band securely attached adjacent to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, said at least one band configured to be disposed adjacent to the sides of the mattress or alternatively to be disposed adjacent to the sides of the box spring or platform, wherein said band is formed from the same material as said panel.   
     
     
         17 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one band is integrally formed with said panel. 
     
     
         18 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one band includes at least one cut out. 
     
     
         19 . The cover as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said at least one cut-out is bridged together by a material. 
     
     
         20 . The cover as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said bridge material is an elastic material. 
     
     
         21 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , further including an attachment for selectively securing said at least one band to the sides of the mattress or alternatively securing said at least one band to the sides of the box spring or platform. 
     
     
         22 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said attachment includes a drawstring. 
     
     
         23 . The rotatable mattress system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said fastener system includes fastener strips disposed around the periphery of said mattress and said box spring or platform for selectively securing said mattress to said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         24 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one band is formed as a continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         25 . The cover as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one band is discontinuous. 
     
     
         26 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-stick surface on an opposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, the cover disposed between a top side of a box spring or platform and an underside of said mattress so that its slick surface is in contact with a surface on the underside of said mattress, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing said at least one band so as to be adjacent to the sides of said box spring or platform; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said surface on said underside of said mattress is a slick surface that is embedded in the underside of said mattress. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said cover is a protective cover that encapsulates said mattress having a slick surface adjacent the underside of said mattress. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , further including an additional cover wherein said slick surface on said underside of said mattress is formed on one side of said additional cover. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , further including the step of preventing unintended rotation of said mattress after the mattress has been rotated relative to the box spring or platform. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 disposing said at least one band of said first cover so that it is disposed adjacent the sides of the mattress.   
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 attaching said at least one band of said cover to a side of said mattress.   
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 securing said mattress to said box spring or platform.   
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 securing said mattress to said box spring or platform by way of at least one fastener.   
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said disposing step includes the step of removably attaching said at least one band of said cover to the sides of said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         36 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, said cover disposed between a top side of a box spring or platform and an underside of said mattress so that its slick surface of said cover is in contact with a surface on the top side of said box spring or platform, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing said at least one band so as to be adjacent to the sides of said mattress; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said surface on the top side of said box spring or platform is a slick surface that is embedded in the top side of said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said slick surface on the top side of said box spring or platform is part of a protective cover that encapsulates said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said slick surface on the top side of said box spring or platform is formed on one side of an additional cover. 
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , further including the step of preventing unintended rotation after the mattress has been rotated relative to the box spring or platform. 
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 disposing said at least one band of said cover so that it is disposed adjacent a side of said mattress.   
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 attaching said at least one band of said cover to a side of said mattress.   
     
     
         43 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 securing said mattress to said box spring or platform.   
     
     
         44 . The method as recited in  claim 40 , wherein the step of preventing unintended rotation includes the step of:
 securing said mattress to said box spring or platform by way of at least one fastener.   
     
     
         45 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said disposing step includes the step of removably attaching said at least one band of said cover to the side of said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         46 . The method as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said disposing step includes the step of removably attaching said at least one band of said cover to the side of said box spring or platform. 
     
     
         47 . A cover that can be used to facilitate the rotation of a mattress supported by a box spring or platform, the cover comprising:
 a piece of material having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side configured to be disposed between an underside of said mattress and a top side of said box spring or platform so that the slick side of the piece of material is in contact with the top side box spring or platform and the non-slick side of the piece of material is in contact with the mattress;   an attachment device for securing the piece of material relative to the mattress or alternatively to a box spring or platform, wherein in a normal mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material relative to said box spring or platform to prevent rotation of said cover and in a rotate mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material to the underside of the mattress to enable the cover to rotate with the mattress.   
     
     
         48 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein the attachment device is formed as part of the piece of material. 
     
     
         49 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein the attachment device is at least partially formed from the same material as said piece of material. 
     
     
         50 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein the attachment device is at least partially formed from a different material than said piece of material. 
     
     
         51 . The cover as recited in  claim 50 , wherein said material is at least partially formed from an elastic material. 
     
     
         52 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said piece of material is formed as a generally rectangular panel. 
     
     
         53 . The cover as recited in  claim 52  wherein said attachment device includes at least one hand. 
     
     
         54 . The cover as recited in  claim 53  wherein said band is at least partially attached to the periphery of said rectangular panel. 
     
     
         55 . The cover as recited in  claim 53 , wherein said at least one band is integrally formed with said rectangular panel. 
     
     
         56 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said attachment device includes a drawstring. 
     
     
         57 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said attachment device includes at least one hand attached to one or more edges of said piece of material wherein said at least one band is formed with a cutout, further including a flexible material attached to said at least one hand to bridge the cut out. 
     
     
         58 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said attachment device is formed as a continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         59 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said attachment device is discontinuous. 
     
     
         60 . The cover as recited in  claim 57 , wherein said flexible material is elastic. 
     
     
         61 . The cover as recited in  claim 47 , said piece of material is formed from a bendable material that has a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side. 
     
     
         62 . The cover as recited in  claim 61  wherein said material is formed from cloth. 
     
     
         63 . The cover as recited in  claim 61 , wherein said material is not coated. 
     
     
         64 . The cover as recited in  claim 61 , wherein said material is coated. 
     
     
         65 . A cover that can be used to facilitate the rotation of a mattress supported by, a box spring or platform, the cover comprising;
 a piece of material having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side configured to be disposed between an underside of said mattress and a top side of said box spring or platform so that the slick side of the piece of material is in contact with the underside of the mattress and the non-slick side of the piece of material is in contact with the top side box spring or platform;   an attachment device for securing the piece of material relative to the mattress or alternatively to a box spring or platform, wherein in a normal mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material relative to said the underside of said mattress to prevent unintended rotation of said cover and said mattress and in a rotate mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material relative to the top side of the box spring or platform to prevent the cover from rotating and enable the mattress to rotate relative to the box spring or platform.   
     
     
         66 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein the attachment device is formed as part of the piece of material. 
     
     
         67 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein the attachment device is at least partially formed from the same material as said piece of material. 
     
     
         68 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein the attachment device is at least partially formed from a different material than said piece of material. 
     
     
         69 . The cover as recited in  claim 68 , wherein said material is at least partially formed from an elastic material. 
     
     
         70 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said piece of material is formed as a generally rectangular panel. 
     
     
         71 . The cover as recited in  claim 70  wherein said attachment device includes at least one band. 
     
     
         72 . The cover as recited in  claim 71  wherein said band is at least partially attached to the periphery of said rectangular panel. 
     
     
         73 . The cover as recited in  claim 71 , wherein said at least one band is integrally formed with said rectangular panel. 
     
     
         74 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said attachment device includes a drawstring. 
     
     
         75 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said attachment device includes at least one band attached to one or more edges of said piece of material wherein said at least one band is formed with a cutout, further including a flexible material attached to said at least one band to bridge the cut out. 
     
     
         76 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said attachment device is formed as a continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         77 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , wherein said attachment device is discontinuous. 
     
     
         78 . The cover as recited in  claim 75 , wherein said flexible material is elastic. 
     
     
         79 . The cover as recited in  claim 65 , said piece of material is formed from a bendable material that has a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side. 
     
     
         80 . The cover as recited in  claim 79  wherein said material is formed from cloth. 
     
     
         81 . The cover as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said material is not coated. 
     
     
         82 . The cover as recited in  claim 79 , wherein said material is coated. 
     
     
         83 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, said box spring or platform covered by a bed skirt, said cover disposed between an underside of the mattress and a top side of said bed skirt so that said slick surface is in contact with an underside of said mattress, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing said at least one band to be adjacent to the sides of said box spring or platform; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         84 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, said cover disposed between a top side of said box spring or platform and a bottom side of a bed skirt disposed on top of said cover, wherein said slick surface is in contact with the top side of said box spring or platform, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing said at least one band and said bed skirt so as to be adjacent to the sides of said mattress; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         85 . A cover that can be used to facilitate the rotation of a mattress supported by a box spring or platform, said box spring or platform covered by a bed skirt, the cover comprising:
 a piece of material having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side configured to be disposed between an underside of said mattress and a top side of a bed skirt covering said box spring or platform so that the slick side of the piece of material is in contact with an underside of the mattress;   an attachment device for securing the piece of material relative to the mattress or alternatively to the bed skirt and the box spring or platform, wherein in a normal mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material relative to the underside of the mattress to prevent unintended rotation of said mattress and in a rotate mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material and the bed skirt to the top side of the box spring or platform to enable the mattress to rotate without disturbing the bed skirt.   
     
     
         86 . A cover that can be used to facilitate the rotation of a mattress supported by a box spring or platform, the cover comprising:
 a piece of material having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side configured to be disposed between a top side of said box spring or platform and a bottom side of said bed skirt so that the slick side of the piece of material is in contact with the top side box spring or platform;   an attachment device for securing the piece of material relative to the mattress or alternatively to a box spring or platform, wherein in a normal mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material relative to said box spring or platform to prevent unintended rotation of said mattress and said cover and in a rotate mode of operation, the attachment device secures the piece of material and the bed skirt relative to the sides of the mattress to allow the cover and the mattress to rotate relative to the box spring or platform.   
     
     
         87 . A device for facilitating horizontal rotation of a mattress with respect to a box spring or platform comprising:
 a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said first cover configured to be attached to an underside of a mattress so that its non-slick surface is in contact with the underside of the mattress in a rotate mode of operation; and   a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said second cover configured to be attached to a top side of said box spring or platform in a rotate mode of operation such that its slick surface is in contact with said slick surface of said first cover,   wherein in a normal mode of operation, said first cover is folded down over said second cover and said box spring or platform so that the non-slick surface of said first cover is in contact with the underside of said mattress.   
     
     
         88 . A device for facilitating horizontal rotation of a mattress with respect to a box spring or platform comprising:
 a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said first cover configured to be attached to an underside of a mattress so that its non-slick surface is in contact with the underside of the mattress in a rotate mode of operation; and   a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said second cover configured to be attached to a top side of said box spring or platform in a rotate mode of operation such that its slick surface is in contact with said slick surface of said first cover,   wherein in a normal mode of operation, said second cover is folded up over said first cover and said mattress so that said non-slick surface of said second cover is in contact with a top side of said box spring or platform.   
     
     
         89 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side and a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said first cover and said second cover disposed between an underside of the mattress and a top side of the box spring or platform so that their respective slick surfaces are in contact with each other, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing said first cover to said mattress so that said first cover will rotate with the mattress;   (b) securing said second cover to a top side of said box spring or platform so that said second cover will not rotate with respect to said first cover; and   (c) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         90 . The method as recited in  claim 89  further including the steps of:
 detaching the first cover from said mattress; and 
 securing said first cover to said second cover over said box spring or platform so that said first cover will not rotate with respect to said second cover. 
 
     
     
         91 . The method as recited in  claim 89  further including the steps of:
 detaching the second cover from said box spring or platform; and 
 securing said second cover so that said first cover will not rotate with respect to said second cover. 
 
     
     
         92 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side and a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said box spring or platform covered by a bed skirt, said first cover and said second cover disposed between an underside of the mattress and said bed skirt on top of a top side of the box spring or platform so that their respective slick surfaces are in contact with each other, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing said first cover to said mattress so that it rotates with said mattress ;   (b) securing said second cover to said box spring or platform over said bed skirt cover so that said bed skirt is does not move relative to the box spring or platform; and   (b) rotating said mattress without disturbing said bed skirt.   
     
     
         93 . The method as recited in  claim 92  further including the steps of:
 detaching said second cover from said bed skirt and said box spring or platform; 
 securing said second cover to said underside of said mattress over said first cover so that said first cover will not rotate with respect to said second cover. 
 
     
     
         94 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side and a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, wherein a bed skirt is disposed to be in contact with the underside of the mattress and said first cover and said second cover disposed between an underside of said bed skirt on the underside of the mattress and a top side of the box spring or platform so that their respective slick surfaces are in contact with each other the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing said first cover to an underside of said mattress over said bed skirt so that the bed skirt is held in place against the sides of the mattress, wherein said bed skirt and said first cover will rotate with said mattress; and   (b) securing said second cover to said box spring or platform so that said second cover will not rotate with respect to the box spring or platform; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         95 . The method as recited in  claim 94 , further including the steps of:
 detaching said first cover from said mattress;   attaching said first cover to said box spring or platform over said second cover so that said first cover will not rotate with respect to said second cover; and   folding down said bed skirt over said first cover.   
     
     
         96 . The method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side and a protective cover encasing said mattress having a slick surface on an underside, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing said cover to a top side of said box spring or platform so that said slick surface faces outwardly and is in contact with the slick surface on the underside of the protective cover encasing the mattress; and   (c) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         97 . The method as recited in  claim 96  further including the steps of:
 detaching the cover from said top side of said box spring or platform; and 
 securing said cover to the underside of said protective cover encasing said mattress so that its non-slick surface is in contact with the box spring or platform. 
 
     
     
         98 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said cover further comprising a panel with at least one band attached to at least a portion of the periphery of said panel, the cover disposed between a top side of a box spring or platform and a protective cover encasing said mattress having a slick surface on its underside, said cover disposed so that its slick surface is in contact with the slick surface on the underside of said protective cover, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing said at least one band so as to be adjacent to the sides of said box spring or platform; and   (b) rotating said mattress.   
     
     
         99 . A method for facilitating rotation of a mattress while being supported by a box spring or platform by way of a first cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side and a second cover having a slick surface on one side and a non-slick surface on an opposing side, said bed skirt disposed on top of said first cover and said second cover adjacent said box spring or platform, said first cover and said second cover disposed so that their respective slick surfaces are in contact with each other, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) folding up the sides of said bed skirt and said cover so as to be disposed adjacent the sides of the mattress, thereby holding up said bed skirt against the sides of the mattress;   (b) rotating said mattress and said bed skirt with respect to the box spring or platform.