Patent Publication Number: US-2013232698-A1

Title: Systems and methods for mattress lifting to aid bed-making

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&#39;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&#39;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  502 A-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  702 A-B are each on a surface of fluid container  102  that is adjacent to neither a mattress  104  nor a foundation  110 . Valve  702 C 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  802 A-D disposed beneath a mattress  104 . Vents  802 A-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  1002 A-C (collectively chambers  1002 ) and valves  1004 A and  1004 B (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  1002 A and  1002 C may be provided with fluid before chamber  1002 B is provided with fluid, which may cause mattress  1004  to sag over chamber  1002 B and thereby resist lateral motion. Likewise, when releasing fluid from fluid container  102 , fluid in chamber  1002 B may be released before fluid is released from chambers  1002 A and  1002 C. 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  1102 A and  1102 B (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&#39;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.