Passive mattress management system

Abstract

A four-in-one passive mattress management system and method is disclosed for facilitating various tasks associated with beds of all sizes including making beds; rotating mattresses; holding a bed skirt in place while a mattress is rotated; installing or removing and re-installing a mattress, for example, in order to replace a bed skirt. Both single cover and two cover embodiments In addition, embodiments are disclosed in which the cover in accordance with the present invention is embedded in the underside of the mattress or the foundation. The invention is suitable for conventional beds on box springs or beds that are supported by fixed or variable platforms.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by a Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A passive management method for a mattress supported by a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover in place having a slick side and a non-slick side to said foundation with the slick slide in contact with the underside of said mattress;   (b) sliding the mattress off said cover on said foundation;   (c) removing said cover from said foundation;   (d) installing a new bed skirt on said foundation;   (e) re-securing said cover in place over said bed skirt on said foundation so that the non-slick side is in contact with the bed skirt;   (f) sliding said mattress in place over said cover; and   (g) securing said cover relative to said mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further including the step of removing an existing bed skirt from the foundation after said cover is removed and before said new bed skirt is placed over the foundation. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover by way of a stretchable band to said mattress or alternatively to said foundation. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover to said mattress or alternatively to said foundation by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover relative to said mattress or alternatively to said foundation by way of a draw string. 
     
     
         6 . A method for removing a mattress from a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover in place having a slick side and a non-slick side to said foundation with the slick slide in contact with the underside of the mattress;   (b) sliding the mattress off said cover that is on said foundation.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover by way of a stretchable band to the foundation. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the foundation by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover relative to the foundation by way of a draw string. 
     
     
         10 . A method for removing a mattress from a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover having a slick side and a non-slick side to a mattress with the slick slide facing away from the mattress;   (b) sliding said mattress off the foundation.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover by way of a stretchable band to the mattress. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the mattress by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the mattress by way of a drawstring. 
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a mattress on a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover having a slick side and a non-slick side in place relative to said foundation with said slick slide facing away from said foundation;   (b) sliding the mattress onto the cover until the mattress is in place over the foundation.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover by way of a stretchable band to the foundation. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the foundation by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the foundation by way of a drawstring. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further including the steps of:
 (c) securing the cover to the mattress.   
     
     
         19 . A method for installing a mattress on a foundation, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover having a slick side and a non-slick side to a mattress or a foundation with the slick slide facing outwardly and the non-slick side facing inwardly;   (b) sliding the mattress over the foundation until it is in place.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said securing step includes securing a said cover by way of a stretchable band relative to said mattress or said foundation. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to said mattress or said foundation by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover relative to said mattress or said foundation by way of a drawstring. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , further including the steps of:
 (c) un-securing said cover from the mattress or alternatively from said foundation after said mattress is in place; and   (d) securing said cover to the other of said mattress or said foundation.   
     
     
         24 . A method for facilitating bed making comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover having a slick side and a non-slick side to a mattress with the non-slick side in contact with the underside of the mattress and the slick side in contact with the foundation in order to reduce the friction between said cover and the foundation; and   (b) tucking a sheet between said cover and the foundation in order to make the bed.   
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover by way of stretchable bands. 
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said securing step includes securing said cover relative to the mattress by way of one or more fasteners. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said securing steps include securing said cover relative to the underside of the mattress by way of a draw string. 
     
     
         28 . A method for facilitating bed making comprising the steps of:
 (a) securing a cover in place having a slick side and a non-slick side to a foundation with the non-slick side facing toward said foundation and said slick side in contact with the underside of said mattress in order to reduce the friction between said mattress and said cover; and   (b) tucking a sheet between said cover and said mattress in order to make the bed.   
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28  wherein said securing step includes securing said cover by way of a stretchable band to said foundation. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 28  wherein said securing step includes securing said cover to the foundation by way of one or said fasteners. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 28  wherein said securing step includes securing said cover relative to said foundation by way of a drawstring. 
     
     
         32 . A mattress encasement comprising:
 a top panel and side panels integrated together forming an encasement for enclosing all but a bottom side of the mattress;   a removable bottom panel for closing said bottom side of said encasement having a slick surface on one side; and   a zipper system for removably securing said bottom panel to said encasement.   
     
     
         33 . A cover comprising:
 a panel having a slick side and a non-slick side, said panel formed with one or more side panels forming a box-top configuration.   
     
     
         34 . The cover as recited in  claim 33 , further including one or more fasteners for securing said cover to a mattress or alternatively to a foundation. 
     
     
         35 . The cover as recited in  claim 33 , further including a drawstring for securing said cover to a mattress or alternatively to a foundation. 
     
     
         36 . A cover comprising:
 a panel having a slick side and a non-slick side; and   one or more fasteners for securing said cover to a mattress or alternatively to a foundation.