Abstract:
The invention discloses differing embodiments of apparatus, and methods for their use, which are designed to aide in lifting bed mattresses and tucking in bed covers. In some embodiments, kits are disclosed which include wedge apparatus for lifting bed mattresses, and tuck apparatus for tucking in bed covers. In other embodiments, wedge apparatus for lifting portions of bed mattresses are disclosed. In still other embodiments, tuck apparatus for tucking in bed covers are provided. Additional embodiments disclose methods for using the kits, wedge apparatus, and tuck apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/464,719 filed Aug. 15, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The process of making a bed, including lifting a bed mattress and/or tucking in bed covers between the bed mattress and box spring mattress, or other support structure, can be physically taxing. Most often, beds are made manually without the aide of bed-making apparatus. Many of the known bed-making apparatus and methods of use experience one or more problems. Some representative problems with these bed-making apparatus and methods may include: requiring strenuous bed-making activity potentially resulting in fatigue and injury, requiring excessive time to make the bed, leading to poor quality made-beds, and/or other types of problems. 
         [0003]    Bed-making apparatus and methods for their use are needed which may solve one or more problems in one or more of the existing bed-making methods and apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the invention, a kit is provided for tucking at least a portion of one bed cover under a mattress of a bed. The kit includes a wedge apparatus which comprises a wedge member for lifting a portion of the mattress of the bed. The wedge member includes a bottom surface and a sloped surface which form an acute angle. A first handle member is connected to the wedge member. The kit further includes a tuck apparatus. The tuck apparatus comprises a tuck member for tucking the portion of the bed cover under the mattress of the bed. At least one tucking surface is at one end of the tuck member. A second handle member is connected to the tuck member. At least one of the first and second handle members is oriented in non-parallel relationship with respect to the bottom surface of the wedge member and the tuck member respectively. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided of tucking a portion of a bed cover under a mattress of a bed. In one step, a sloped surface of a wedge apparatus is slid under the mattress of the bed in order to lift at least a portion of the mattress. In another step, a tucking surface of a tuck apparatus is pressed against a surface of the bed cover. In yet another step, the tucking surface is slid under the mattress in order to tuck the portion of the bed cover under the mattress. 
         [0006]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bed-making kit under the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial, perspective view showing the step of positioning the wedge apparatus of  FIG. 1  with respect to a bed mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partial, perspective view showing the step of sliding the wedge apparatus of  FIG. 2  under the bed mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a partial, perspective view showing the step of positioning a tuck apparatus with respect to the bed mattress of  FIG. 3  under one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partial, perspective view showing the step of sliding the tuck apparatus of  FIG. 4  under the bed mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a partial, perspective view showing the step of sliding the tuck apparatus of  FIG. 5  under and along one side of the bed mattress under one method embodiment for making a bed under the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a kit  10  is provided for tucking at least a portion of a bed cover under a bed mattress. For purposes of this application, the word “tucking” or “tuck” is defined as locating and/or positioning a portion of a bed cover under a bed mattress. The kit  10  may include a wedge apparatus  12  and a tuck apparatus  14 . The wedge apparatus  12  may be adapted to aide in lifting a portion of a bed mattress in an upwardly direction off a box spring mattress in order to make it easier for a person making the bed to tuck in one or more bed covers between the bed mattress and box spring mattress. In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus  12  may be adapted to lift a portion of a bed mattress off other types of supporting structures. The tuck apparatus  14  may be adapted to tuck one or more portions of one or more bed covers under a bed mattress. 
         [0015]    The wedge apparatus  12  of the kit  10  may comprise a wedge member  16  having a bottom surface  17 , a sloped surface  18 , and a first handle member  20  connected to the wedge member  16 . The bottom surface  17  and the sloped surface  18  may be adjoining, and may form an acute angle  19  which facilitates the sloped surface  18  engaging a surface of a bed mattress, and facilitates lifting of the bed mattress. The wedge member  16  may be adapted for lifting a portion of a bed mattress. Two holes  22  and  24  may define the wedge member  16 , and may extend horizontally through a cross-section of the wedge member  16 . The holes  22  and  24  may be used to reduce the weight of the wedge apparatus  12 , and may be circular or in other configurations, shapes, or quantities. A first connecting member  26  may connect the first handle member  20  to the wedge member  16 . In other embodiments, the first handle member  20  may be connected to the wedge member  16  directly, or through other means. The first connecting member  26  may be substantially rectangular, round, oval, or in other configurations or shapes. For ergonomic reasons, the first handle member  20  may be in non-parallel relation with respect to the first connecting member  26 , bottom surface  17 , wedge member  16 , and/or other portion of wedge apparatus  12 . The first handle member  20  may be at an angle  28  with respect to the first connecting member  26  in substantially the range of 30 degrees to 120 degrees. In other embodiments, angle  28  may be substantially in the range of 60 to 90 degrees. A grip member  30  may cover one or more portions of the first handle member  20 . The grip member  30  may be made of foam, rubber, or other materials. 
         [0016]    Sloped surface  18  may be substantially linear, may begin at an end  32  of the wedge member  16 , and may end at a mattress receiving surface  34 . The mattress receiving surface  34  may be oriented in non-parallel relation with respect to sloped surface  18 . The wedge member  16  may include a substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  having a width  38  wider than a width  40  of the sloped surface  18 , and/or other portion of the wedge member  16 . One or more portions  41  of the substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  may be curved. Both the mattress receiving surface  34  and the substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  may be adapted to be oriented in substantially horizontal planes when the sloped surface  16  is slid under a bed mattress and/or above a box spring mattress. The substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  may be oriented in parallel alignment with the mattress receiving surface  34 . The first handle member  20  may be oriented in non-parallel alignment with both the substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  and the mattress receiving surface  34 . In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus  12  and/or wedge member  16  may include one or more stop members (not shown) which may prevent the wedge member  16  from slipping out of a position in between a bed mattress and/or a box spring mattress. 
         [0017]    When the wedge member  16  is upright, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so that it is oriented in a substantially vertical plane, the sloped surface  18  of the wedge member  16  may be adapted to be slid in between a bed mattress and a box spring mattress, locating one or more portions of the sloped surface  18  under the bed mattress and above the box spring mattress. In such manner, the bed mattress may be lifted upwardly off the box spring mattress due to the bed mattress being forced to slide up the sloped surface  18  of the wedge member  16 . The described movement of the wedge member  16  may be achieved by a person grasping the first handle member  20  to apply a force to the wedge member  16  in order to slide the sloped surface  18  under a bottom surface of the bed mattress and above a top surface of the box spring mattress. The substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  may be slid on top of the box spring mattress forcing the bed mattress to be slid up the sloped surface  18  until the bed mattress comes to rest on top of the mattress receiving surface  34 . In such manner, the bed mattress may be stabilized in a raised position on top of the mattress receiving surface  34  due to the use of the wedge apparatus  12 . 
         [0018]    The use of the wedge apparatus  12  may reduce the force required to lift the bed mattress off the box spring mattress. In some embodiments, the force required to lift the bed mattress off the box spring mattress may be reduced substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. In other embodiments, the force may be reduced by varying percentages. 
         [0019]    The wedge apparatus  12  may be made of plastic or other types of materials. In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus  12  may be of varying shapes, sizes, configurations, and orientations, with differing numbers and types of sloped surfaces  18 . 
         [0020]    The tuck apparatus  14  of the kit  10  may comprise a tuck member  42  having a tucking surface  44 , and a second handle member  46  connected to the tuck member  42  by a second connecting member  52 . The tuck member  42  may be adapted for tucking a portion of a bed cover under a bed mattress. In other embodiments, the second handle member  46  may be directly connected to the tuck member  42 , or connected by other means. The second handle member  46  may be in non-parallel relation with respect to tuck member  42 , or other portion of tuck apparatus  14 . The tuck member  42  may comprise a substantially planar, triangular surface  48 . The tucking surface  44  of the tuck member  42  may lie at one end  50  of the tuck member  42 , may be substantially linear, and may be substantially perpendicular to the second connecting member  52 . A width  54  of the tucking surface  44  may be wider than a width  56  of the second connecting member  52  in order to allow contact with a greater portion of the bed cover being tucked in. The second connecting member  52  may be substantially rectangular, round, oval, or in other configurations or shapes. For ergonomic reasons, the second handle member  46  may be at an angle  58  with respect to the second connecting member  52  and/or tuck member  42  in substantially the range of 30 degrees to 120 degrees. In other embodiments, angle  58  may be substantially in the range of 60 to 90 degrees. A grip member  60  may cover one or more portions of the second handle member  46 . The grip member  60  may be made of foam, rubber, or other materials. 
         [0021]    When the sloped surface  18  of the wedge member  16  of the wedge apparatus  12  is located under a bed mattress and the tuck member  42  is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  is adapted to be pressed against one or more surfaces of one or more bed covers overhanging the bed mattress. While in this position, the tucking surface  44  may be adapted to be slid under a surface of the bed mattress and above a surface of the box spring mattress, in order to force a portion of the bed cover in between the box spring mattress and mattress, thereby tucking in that portion of the bed cover. Movement of the tucking surface  44  in such manner may be achieved by a person grasping the second handle member  46 . 
         [0022]    The use of the tuck apparatus  14  and/or wedge apparatus  12  may reduce the force required to tuck a portion of the bed cover under the bed mattress into a position in between the mattress and box spring mattress. In some embodiments, the force required to tuck the portion of the bed cover under the mattress may be reduced substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. In other embodiments, the force may be reduced by varying percentages. 
         [0023]    The tuck apparatus  14  may be made of plastic or other types of materials. In other embodiments, the tuck apparatus  14  may be of varying shapes, sizes, configurations, and orientations, with differing numbers, types, and configurations of tucking members  42  and tucking surfaces  44 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for tucking at least a portion of at least one bed cover under a mattress of a bed. The method may be used to tuck the bed cover in between a bed mattress and a box spring mattress, or other support structure. In one step of the method, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wedge apparatus  12  of  FIG. 1  may be positioned adjacent to one or more bed covers  62  overhanging a bed mattress  64  and a box spring mattress  66 , or other support structure. In this position, a wedge member  16  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be aligned for engagement with a bottom surface of the bed mattress  64  and a top surface of the box spring mattress  66 . In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus  12  may be positioned adjacent bed and box spring mattresses  64  and  66  without the presence of bed covers  62 . The wedge apparatus  12  may be positioned adjacent a substantially center area  65  of a side portion  67  of the bed mattress  64 . In other embodiments, the wedge apparatus  12  may be positioned at different areas of the bed mattress  64 , such as the corners or other areas of the bed mattress  64 . The wedge apparatus  12  may comprise any of the wedge apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification. 
         [0025]    In another step of the method, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid under the bed mattress  64 , and above the box spring mattress  66  or other support structure, in order to lift at least a portion of the bed mattress  64  upwardly. The sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid under the substantially center area  65  of the side portion  67  of the bed mattress  64 . In other embodiments, the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid under different areas of the bed mattress  64  in order to lift different portions of the mattress  64  upwardly. For instance, the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid, at separate times, into substantially center areas of three different sides of the bed mattress  64  in order to aide in tucking in bed covers  62  on three sides of the bed mattress  64 . In other embodiments, the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid into varying areas of any side of the bed mattress  64 . The wedge apparatus  12  may be slid by a person grasping and applying a force to a first handle member  20  of the wedge apparatus  12  and sliding the sloped surface  18  under a bottom surface of the mattress  64  and above a top surface of the box spring mattress  66  or other support structure. 
         [0026]    During this step, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the wedge member  16  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be oriented upright in a substantially vertical plane, and both a mattress receiving surface  34  and a substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  of the wedge apparatus  12  may be oriented in substantially horizontal planes. As the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  is slid under the bed mattress  64 , the insertion of the sloped surface  18  may force a portion of one or more bed covers  62  overhanging the bed mattress  64  to be tucked between the bed mattress  64  and box spring mattress  66  in the area where the sloped surface  18  is inserted. After the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  is slid under the bed mattress  64 , the bed mattress  64  may abut against the mattress receiving surface  34  of the wedge apparatus  12 , which may be oriented in a substantially horizontal plane  36  to stabilize the mattress  64  in its position against the wedge apparatus  12 . Similarly, after the sloped surface  18  of the wedge apparatus  12  is slid under the bed mattress  64 , the box spring mattress  66  may be abutted against the substantially planar stabilizing surface  36  of the wedge apparatus  12 , which may be oriented in a substantially horizontal plane to stabilize the wedge apparatus  12  in its position against the box spring mattress  66 . 
         [0027]    In yet another step of the method, as shown in  FIG. 4 , after the wedge apparatus  12  is slid under the bed mattress  64 , a tuck member  42  of a tuck apparatus  14  may be oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, and a tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be positioned adjacent and pressed against a surface of one or more of the bed covers  62  overhanging the bed mattress  64  and box spring mattress  66 , or other support structure. The tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be positioned adjacent and pressed against a substantially center area  65  of the side portion  67  of the bed mattress  64 , just to the side of the location of the inserted wedge apparatus  12 . In other embodiments, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be positioned in a variety of positions with respect to the bed mattress  64 , bed cover  62 , and/or wedge apparatus  12 . In still other embodiments, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be positioned adjacent and pressed against different surfaces of the bed covers  62  along different areas of the bed mattress  64  in order to place the tucking surface  44  in position to tuck different portions of the bed covers  62  under different areas of the mattress  64 . For instance, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be positioned adjacent and pressed against, at separate times, substantially center areas on three different sides of the bed mattress. 
         [0028]    Movement of the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be accomplished by a person grasping a second handle member  46  of the tuck apparatus  14 . When the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  is positioned adjacent and pressed against a surface of one or more of the bed covers  62 , the tuck member  42  may be oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. In other embodiments, the tuck member  42  may be oriented in various configurations or orientations. For instance, the tuck member  42  may be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and/or horizontal plane and the tucking surface  44  may be positioned adjacent and pressed against a portion of bed cover  62  lying in between a bed headboard (not shown) and the bed mattress  64 . It should be noted that the tuck apparatus  14  may comprise any of the tuck apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification. 
         [0029]    In another step of the method, as shown in  FIG. 5 , after the wedge apparatus  12  is slid under the bed mattress  64 , the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid, while the tuck member  42  is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, under the bed mattress  64  and above the box spring mattress  66  or other support structure, in order to tuck a portion of the bed covers  62  in between the bed mattress  64  and box spring mattress  66  in the area where the tucking surface  44  is inserted. The tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid under a substantially center area  65  of the side portion  67  of the bed mattress  64 , just to either side of the location of the inserted wedge apparatus  12 . In other embodiments, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid under varying portions of the bed mattress  64  in varying positions relative to the placement of the wedge apparatus  12 . For instance, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid under, at separate times, substantially center areas on three different sides of the bed mattress in order to tuck in different portions of the bed covers  62  at different areas of the bed mattress  64 . In another embodiment, the tucking surface  44  may be slid in between a bed headboard (not shown) and the bed mattress  64  in order to tuck a portion of bed cover  62  in between the bed headboard and bed mattress  64 . Movement of the tucking surface  44  may be accomplished by a person grasping the second handle member  46  of the tuck apparatus  14  in order to move the tucking surface  44  as described. 
         [0030]    In still another step of the method, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid, while the tuck member  42  is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, under and along one side of the bed mattress  64  from its position shown in  FIG. 5  to its end position  69  under the bed mattress  64  shown in  FIG. 6 . In such manner the bed covers  62  may be tucked in between the bed mattress  64  and box spring mattress  66 , or other support structure, along the entire length of the bed mattress  64  that the tucking surface  44  is slid. In order to tuck in bed covers  62  along varying sides of the bed mattress  66 , the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid along various sides of the bed mattress  66 . For instance, the tucking surface  44  of the tuck apparatus  14  may be slid, at different times, from substantially center areas of three side portions of the mattress to three respective end portions of the mattress  64  in order to tuck in the bed covers  62  along three different sides of the mattress  64 . In other embodiments, the tucking surface  44  may be slid into and along different areas of varying sides of the bed mattress  66 . For instance, the tucking surface  44  may be slid in between, and along, a bed headboard (not shown) and the bed mattress  64  in order to tuck bed cover  62  in between the bed headboard and bed mattress  64 . 
         [0031]    The wedge apparatus  12  and tuck apparatus  14  may be used in conjunction with each other to tuck in bed covers  62  around the entire mattress  64 . For instance, a portion of the wedge apparatus  12  may be slid under a portion of the mattress  64  on one side of the mattress  64 . The tuck apparatus  14  may be pressed against a portion of the bed covers  62  on that side of the mattress  64 . The tuck apparatus  14  may then be slid under and along that side of the mattress  64  in order to tuck in the bed covers  62  along that side of the mattress  64 . Subsequently, the wedge apparatus  12  may be removed from that side of the mattress  64  and slid under a portion of the mattress  64  on a second side of the mattress  64 . The tuck apparatus  14  may be pressed against a portion of the bed covers  62  on the second side of the mattress  64 . The tuck apparatus  14  may then be slid under and along the second side of the mattress  64  in order to tuck in the bed covers  62  along the second side of the mattress  64 . This process may be repeated to tuck in bed covers  62  along as many sides of the bed mattress  64  as desired in order to fully make the bed. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, the invention may comprise the wedge apparatus  12  shown in  FIG. 1  without the tuck apparatus  14 . The wedge apparatus  12  may allow a portion of a bed mattress  64  to be lifted off a box spring mattress  66 , or other support structure. The structure of the wedge apparatus  12  may comprise any of the wedge apparatus  12  embodiments disclosed within this specification. 
         [0033]    In still another embodiment, the invention may comprise the tuck apparatus  14  shown in  FIG. 1  without the wedge apparatus  12 . The tuck apparatus  14  may allow one or more portions of one or more bed covers  62  to be tucked in between a bed mattress  64  and box spring mattress  66 , or other support structure. The structure of the tuck apparatus  14  may comprise any of the tuck apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification. 
         [0034]    In yet another embodiment, the invention may comprise a method of sliding the wedge apparatus  12  of  FIG. 1  under a bed mattress  64  in order to lift one or more portions of the mattress in an upwardly direction off a box spring mattress  66  or other support structure. The method may not include use of tuck apparatus  14 . The structure of the wedge apparatus  12  may comprise any of the wedge apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification. Similarly, the method of use of the wedge apparatus  12  may comprise any of the methods of use of the wedge apparatus as described in this specification. 
         [0035]    In an additional embodiment, the invention may comprise a method of tucking a portion of at least one bed cover  62  under a bed mattress  64  utilizing the tuck apparatus  14  of  FIG. 1 , without the use of wedge apparatus  12 . The structure of the tuck apparatus  14  may comprise any of the tuck apparatus embodiments disclosed within this specification. Similarly, the method of use of the tuck apparatus  14  may comprise any of the methods of use of the tuck apparatus as described in this specification. 
         [0036]    One or more embodiments of the disclosed wedge and tuck apparatus and/or methods of the invention may solve one or more problems in lifting bed mattresses and/or tucking in bed covers. The invention may make it less difficult to make a bed, may decrease the force required to make a bed, may decrease the fatigue a person experiences in making a bed, may decrease the likelihood of injury a person may experience in making a bed, may improve efficiency in making a bed, may improve the quality of the made bed, may improve the accuracy, repeatability, and consistency of making a bed, and/or may address other types of problems known in the art. 
         [0037]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.