Patent Publication Number: US-8528133-B2

Title: Bedmaking system, bed and method for making a bed

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of beds, especially the field of bedmaking. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bedmaking is labour intensive. Used sheets are stripped away and replaced by new sheets or reused to make the bed. The new or used sheet is tucked under the mattress to smooth out wrinkles and unevenness. The sheets are put into position by lifting the mattress and pushing the sheet under the mattress to hold it in position. Sometimes access to do the job properly is limited by a headboard or footboard. Further lifting of the mattress of a double bed is difficult. Taking into account that for making a double bed one needs access to the bed from at least two opposing sides, preferably all sides, a double bed cannot be placed in a narrow space. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a bedmaking system, which allows making the bed from only one side, also in case the bed is a double bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a bedmaking system for a bed provided with a base mattress, wherein the bed making system comprises:
         a flexible topping mattress for covering the base mattress;   two fastening feet for fastening the bed making system to the bed;   an essentially U-shaped brace defined by two parallel arms and a bar connecting one of the ends of the arms; the other ends of the arms each being mounted to a said fastening foot at a pivoting connection to be swingable around a common pivoting axis between a normal position and an assisting position; the normal position and assisting position lying, viewed in the width direction of the base mattress, at opposing sides of the pivoting axis;       

     wherein the length and width of the topping mattress essentially correspond to the length and width, respectively, of the base mattress; 
     wherein the interspace between the arms is larger than the length of the base mattress; 
     wherein the bar of the brace extends along the first length edge of the topping mattress and is mounted to said first length edge; 
     wherein the second length edge of the topping mattress extends along the second length side of the base mattress; 
     wherein, in the normal position, the bar of the brace extends along the first length side of the base mattress and the topping mattress lies flat on the base mattress; and 
     wherein, in the assisting position, the bar of the brace extends over the top face of the base mattress and the topping mattress is, partly, folded double. 
     In this application. the terms length (in length, length edge, length side, etc.) and width (in width, width edge, width side, width walls, etc.) are used to indicate the direction of extension of the respective member with respect to the bed, which is assumed to have an essentially rectangular shape defined by two mutually perpendicular directions. It gives the relative mutual relation, it does not imply that length is longer or shorter than width. Further, in this application, the terms first and second in relation to the words ‘side’ and ‘edge’ are only used to differentiate between one edge/side and the other edge/side. In the claims it was assumed that the second edge/side, is the one where the person making the bed stands, and that the first length edge/side, is the one which is not accessible for the person making the bed. 
     In the assisting position, a sheet can be brought into engagement with the topping mattress. This can be achieved by simply hooking, such as by loosely folding, a longitudinal edge part of the sheet around the first length edge of the topping mattress. Applicant learnt from practical experiments that loosely folding without attachment of the sheet to the topping mattress (or brace) suffices, but in case one prefers it is according to the invention also possible to fix the sheet to the first longitudinal edge of the topping mattress (or brace) by means of for example Velcron® or press fasteners. Hooking can also be done by means of an envelope formed along a longitudinal edge part of the sheet. This envelope engages around the first length edge of the topping mattress and/or brace. Additional advantage of fixation of the sheet to the topping mattress or use of an envelope, is that the brace can be brought from the normal position to the assisting position by just pulling the sheet. Once the sheet is hooked around the first length edge of the topping mattress or fixed to the topping mattress or brace, the brace is swung back to the normal position. This draws the sheet to extend over the base mattress whilst the opposing second longitudinal edge part of the sheet remains where it is. Subsequently, one can smooth the sheet by tightening it along the second longitudinal edge part. In all this the topping mattress functions to guide the sheet. Further, the topping mattress positions the brace by its weight in both the normal position and the assisting position. 
     Topping mattresses according to the invention are as such known and commonly used on top of so called box spring mattresses but also on top of other types of mattresses, such as foam mattresses, to increase the comfort or to provide a top mattress layer which can easily be changed or shaken out. In general a topping mattress will have a thickness of between about 1 to 7 cm, such as 4-6 cm. 
     According to a further embodiment, the arms of the brace each have a first segment abutting the pivoting connection, said first segment extending horizontally in the normal position and being connected with the bar through one or more further segments; and wherein, in the normal position and viewed in vertical direction, the bar lies higher than the first segments. This first segment provides in the normal position a rest for the brace, which limits the movement of the brace, whilst simultaneously the bar carrying the first longitudinal edge of the topping mattress and the hooked edge part of the sheet is supported at a higher vertical level preventing the bar to shift downward along the first length side of the base mattress. 
     According to another further embodiment, the vertical distance from the bar to the pivoting axis corresponds, in the normal position, with about the length of the vertical projection of the base mattress above the pivoting axis such that in the normal position the bar lies level with or just below the top face of the base mattress. This ensures on the one hand that the bar does not lie higher than the base mattress (which would be inconvenient) and on the other hand that the topping mattress and sheet are not drawn downwards along the first length side of the base mattress. 
     In order to keep the base mattress in position with respect to the bedmaking system, it is advantageous when the fastening feet are formed by sectional parts extending perpendicular to the pivoting axis, and when each of the sectional parts is provided with a stop for the first side of the base mattress. 
     In order to be able to remove the topping mattress, for example to exchange it for a new one, it is advantageous when the mounting of the first length edge of the topping mattress to the bar is a detachable mounting. In order to be able to use a removed topping mattress again, for example after turning it or after cleaning it, it is further advantageous when the detachable mounting is a mounting which is remountable after detachment. 
     Operation of the bedmaking system according to the invention can take place in several ways. It can be done manually. For example, a bedmaking person supports him/herself, if necessary, with one hand on the bed, grasps with the other hand an arm of the brace, and swings the brace from the normal position to the assisting position. Also use of a rod provided with an engagement member can be considered in order to bring the brace from its normal to its assisting position. In case the sheet is fixed to the topping mattress or brace or in case the topping mattress engages in an envelope formed along a longitudinal side of the sheet, it suffices to pull the sheet at the second length side of the base mattress. Swinging the brace back from its assisting position into its normal position can be done just by pushing it so that gravity allows it to fall back in the normal position. But, when swinging back, one can also guide the brace gently with the rod or the hand. In order to automate the operation of the brace, it is according to the invention advantageous when the bedmaking system further comprises a drive for swinging the brace as well as a control for operating the drive. 
     According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a bed comprising:
         a bedmaking system according to the invention;   a base mattress; and   a bed frame supporting the base mattress.       

     According to a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the bed comprises two width walls, each extending next to and spaced from a width side of the base mattress to form a gap between the respective width wall and respective width side of the base mattress; wherein the bed further comprises elongated filling pads for filling both the gaps. According to the invention those width walls can be formed by boards attached to the frame of the bed, can formed by the walls of the room where the bed is placed, can be formed by adjacent furniture, etc as longs as these width walls provide between the mattress and the width wall some gap which can be filled by filling pads. After placing the sheet on top of the topping mattress, swinging the brace into the normal position, and tightening the sheet along the second length edge of the topping mattress, the sheet can be tightened along the width edges of the topping mattress by inserting the filling pads into the gaps. 
     According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for making a bed according to the invention, comprising subsequently the following steps:
         a) swinging the brace from the normal position to the assisting position;   b) extending and laying a sheet along the second length edge of the topping mattress;   c) hook a first longitudinal edge part of the sheet on the first length edge of the topping mattress;   d) swinging the brace from the assisting position to the normal position to extend the sheet in the width direction over the base mattress.       

     According to a further embodiment of the third aspect, one removes preceding step b) a used sheet, and one uses in step b) a clean sheet. 
     According to another further embodiment of the third aspect, preceding step b) one:
         removes the topping mattress from the bed;   shakes out and/or turns around the topping mattress; and   remounts the topping mattress to the bar.       

     According to still another further embodiment of the third aspect, preceding step b) one:
         removes the topping mattress from the bed;   exchanges the topping mattress for another topping mattress; and   mounts the other topping mattress to the bar.       

    
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Next below the invention will be described further with reference to the enclosed drawing. In this drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of bed according to the invention with the bedmaking system in its assisting position; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of bed according to the invention with the bedmaking system in its assisting position with a sheet arranged on the bed; 
         FIG. 2A  shows in perspective view as a detail the engagement of the sheet with the topping mattress; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view similar to the one in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , however with the bedmaking system in its normal position; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the bedmaking system applied in  FIGS. 1-3   
         FIG. 5  shows, partly in cross section, a front view of the bed of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which bed is placed between two walls of a chamber; and 
         FIG. 6  shows, partly in cross section, a plan view of the bed according to  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 4  shows a bedmaking system  1  according to the invention. The bed making system  1  comprises an essentially U-shaped brace  2  formed by a bar  9  and two arms  3 . The free end of each arm  3  is mounted on a fastening foot  5  at a pivoting connection  7 . The pivoting connection allows swinging of the brace  2  with respect to the fastening feet  5  around pivoting axis  8 .  FIG. 4  shows the brace  2  in the so called normal position. From this position the brace  2  can swing to the so called assisting position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Optionally, a drive  14  and control  15  can be provided to operate the swinging of the brace  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the arms  3  each have a first segment  4 , which, in the normal position, extends horizontally. This first segment  4  provides support to keep the bar  9  at a vertical height X higher than the pivoting axis  8 . Further, the supporting feet  5  are in the form of elongate sectional members  5 , each having an L-shaped cross section. At their ends facing away from the pivoting connection  7 , the elongate sectional members  5  are each provided with a stop  6 . Each stop  6  is elongate and L-shaped in cross section. Optionally, the stops  6  can be connected to form one large, single stop. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bedmaking system  1  is mounted on the frame  16  of a bed  10 . This frame  16  supports a base mattress  11 , in this example a box spring mattress. 
     The base mattress  11  is essentially rectangular with a thickness Y. The base mattress has a width extending in the direction of double arrow W and a length extending in the direction of double arrow L. The base mattress has a first length side  22 , a second length side  23  parallel to the first length side  22 , and two parallel width sides  24 . 
     On top of the base mattress  11  there is provided a topping mattress  12 , which is flexible so that it can be folded double easily. The topping mattress  12  has a thickness d of about 1-7 cm, preferably about 4-6 cm. The topping mattress  12  has a first length edge  20 , a second length edge  21  parallel to the first length edge  20 , and two parallel width edges  29 . 
     In the direction L, the length of the base mattress  11  and topping mattress are about the same, for example about  2  m, and are both smaller than the interspace  13  ( FIG. 4 ) between the arms  3  of the brace. In the width direction W, the length—also called width to differentiate—of the base mattress  11  and topping mattress  12  are about the same, for example about 1.0 m to about 2.0 m. 
     As said above, in the normal position, the bar  9  is kept at a vertical height X above the pivoting axis  8 . This vertical height X will be smaller than or at most equal to vertical distance Y that the base mattress  11  projects above the bed frame  16 . In case the base mattress lies on top of the bed frame, this vertical projecting distance Y will be equal to the thickness of the base mattress. However in case the base mattress lies (partly) submerged in the bed frame  16 , this vertical projecting distance Y will be smaller than the thickness of the base mattress. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it is shown that, with a bedmaking system  1  according to the invention, the bed  10  can be placed in narrow spaces, such as between chamber walls  17  defining a space S which is only 10 cm wider than the length L of the mattress. As will become clearer below, the bedmaking system  1  enables a person to make the bed from a position in front of the bed somewhere between the lamps  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the sheet  25  is advantageously provided with an envelope  31  of say 10-25 cm depth. In the assisting position, this allows insertion of the second longitudinal edge  20  of the topping mattress  12  into the envelope  31  so that the sheet and topping mattress engage along said second longitudinal edge  20 . This provides advantages when one swings the brace from the normal position to the assisting position and when, with the brace in the normal position, the sheet is stretched to flatten out wrinkles 
     The operation of the bedmaking system is as follows:
         One swings the brace  2  from the normal position (shown in  FIG. 4  and with dashed lines in  FIG. 3 ) to the assisting position (which position could also be called the bedmaking position) as shown in  FIG. 1 ; this can be done by hand, with the help of a rod, by means of a drive  14  and control  15 , etc. A bedmaking person can do all this from a position in between the lamps  30 . So doing, the topping mattress is folded double and the first length edge  21  of the topping mattress is brought close to the bedmaking person. In case a sheet  25 —to be removed—is provided, this sheet  25  is preferably provided with an envelope  31  (or fixed to the topping mattress at the brace), which allows swinging of the brace to the assisting position just by pulling the sheet  25  in the direction of arrow Q (see  FIG. 2 ). On the end of the swing, the weight of the topping mattress will be able to keep the brace in the assisting position. In this respect it is advantageous when the topping mattress has a thickness of about 4-6 cm as this implies in practice sufficient weight.   Referring to  FIG. 2  and with the brace  2  in the assisting position, one places a sheet  25  on that part of the topping mattress  12  which extends along the position where the person stands and still lies flat on the base mattress. Conveniently, this sheet  25  is folded in a zigzag pattern so that a second longitudinal edge part  27  can be oriented along the second length edge  21  of the topping mattress, whilst the other first longitudinal edge part  26  of the sheet  25  can easily be placed to lie over the first length edge  20  of the topping mattress  12  and bar  9 . The first longitudinal edge part  26  of the sheet  25  can just be hooked around the first length edge  20 /bar  9  by loosely folding it around as shown in  FIG. 2 . Or in case an envelope is provided, this first length edge  20  is inserted into the envelope  31 . Note that having the sheet  25  folded in zigzag pattern is not necessary, as one can also just unfold the sheet and hook the first longitudinal edge part  26  of the sheet  25  around the first length edge  20 /bar  9  whilst the rest of the sheet lies on the ground before the bed in the region of the lamps  30 .   Subsequently, with the sheet  25  in lying in zigzag pattern or unfolded on the ground, one swings the brace  2  back from the assisting position to the normal position. Gravity, supported by the weight of the topping mattress, ensures that the brace returns to its normal position. Doing this, the topping mattress is folded open again, the brace  2  draws the sheet  25  over the topping mattress  12  and lays the sheet  25  flat over the topping mattress. Subsequently, a bedmaking person will stretch the sheet  25  by pulling at the second longitudinal edge part  27  smoothly in the draw direction of arrow Q (see  FIG. 2  for arrow Q). This smoothes out wrinkles and unevenness in the width direction W. In case the sheet is provided with an envelope  31 , this envelope will prevent the sheet from being pulled from the bed. Next the second longitudinal edge part  27  of the sheet can be folded under the part of the base mattress adjoining the second longitudinal edge part  23  of this base mattress.   Subsequently one can smoothen out wrinkles and unevenness of the sheet in the length direction L. One can do this by pushing the width edge parts  28  of the sheet  25  down along the width sides  24  of the base mattress. One can use a rod for this. But one can also use filling pads  19  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6  on the right side and  FIG. 3 ) which can be inserted into the gaps  18  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6  on the left side) between each width side  24  of the base mattress and an adjacent object, such as a chamber wall  17 .       

     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST OF REFERENCES USED IN THE DRAWING 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                  1 = 
                 bedmaking system 
               
               
                  2 = 
                 brace 
               
               
                  3 = 
                 arm of brace 
               
               
                  4 = 
                 first segment of arm 
               
               
                  5 = 
                 sectional part/fastening foot 
               
               
                  6 = 
                 stop 
               
               
                  7 = 
                 pivoting connection 
               
               
                  8 = 
                 pivoting axis 
               
               
                  9 = 
                 bar 
               
               
                 10 = 
                 bed 
               
               
                 11 = 
                 base mattress 
               
               
                 12 = 
                 topping mattress 
               
               
                 13 = 
                 interspace between arms 
               
               
                 14 = 
                 drive 
               
               
                 15 = 
                 control 
               
               
                 16 = 
                 bed frame 
               
               
                 17 = 
                 width wall 
               
               
                 18 = 
                 gap 
               
               
                 19 = 
                 filling pad 
               
               
                 20 = 
                 first length edge of topping mattress 
               
               
                 21 = 
                 second length edge of topping mattress 
               
               
                 22 = 
                 first length side of base mattress 
               
               
                 23 = 
                 second length side of base mattress 
               
               
                 24 = 
                 width side of base mattress 
               
               
                 25 = 
                 sheet 
               
               
                 26 = 
                 first longitudinal edge part of sheet 
               
               
                 27 = 
                 second longitudinal edge part of sheet 
               
               
                 28 = 
                 width edge part of sheet 
               
               
                 29 = 
                 width edge of topping mattress 
               
               
                 30 = 
                 lamp 
               
               
                 31 = 
                 envelope 
               
               
                 d = 
                 thickness of topping mattress 
               
               
                 L = 
                 length direction 
               
               
                 Q = 
                 arrow indicating draw direction 
               
               
                 W = 
                 width direction 
               
               
                 X = 
                 vertical distance between brace and pivoting axis, 
               
               
                   
                 in the normal position. 
               
               
                 Y = 
                 thickness of base mattress