Patent Publication Number: US-7581270-B1

Title: Mattress lifting device and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for lifting a portion of a mattress from a corresponding mattress support for individuals who have difficulty performing this task during periodic dressing of a bed. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   For individuals who have limitations in strength and body movement, the task of lifting a mattress from a mattress support can be difficult if not impossible. Without having the mattress lifted while dressing the bed with sheets and a blanket, the dressings cannot be properly tucked into position, making for an improperly made bed. 
   There have been several devices which have been developed to reposition a mattress with respect to a mattress support so that a person lying on the mattress may have a section of their body elevated. This includes tilting the entire mattress so that it is evenly inclined, or raising a center or end portions of the mattress to help change blood circulation patterns in the lying persons body. However, these devices do not permit easy use to change or dress a bed, or portability and storage between uses. There has been a need for a device which does not have these limitations, especially for those individuals who do not want to feel dependent on another for tasks such as making a bed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mattress lifting device and method which permits an individual with limited strength or movement to dress and change a bed. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a mattress lifting device which may be easily positioned to lift a mattress from a mattress support. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a mattress lifting device which is portable and which may easily be stored between uses. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
   The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a device for separating a mattress from a corresponding mattress support, the mattress lifting device comprising a stationary member and a lifting member. The lifting member includes a lift plate adapted to slide in and out between the mattress and mattress support and a handle for moving the lift plate with respect to the stationary member. When a force is applied to the handle, the lift plate moves with respect to the stationary member and exerts a force sufficient to separate at least a portion of the mattress from the mattress support. 
   In one embodiment, the mattress lifting device of the present invention comprises a stationary member including a guide plate adapted to slide in and out between the mattress and mattress support. The guide plate may have a hollowed inset portion to accommodate the lift plate when the lift plate is in a retracted position The stationary member may include a back adapted to rest against a side or end of a mattress support when the lift plate has been inserted sufficiently far between the mattress and mattress support. The lifting member may be pivotally attached to the stationary member. The mattress lifting device of the present invention preferably includes a locking mechanism adapted to secure the lift plate in at least one position with respect to the stationary member. An end of the lift member opposite the handle may have rollers adapted to slide along a surface of the lift plate and may include a guide bar adapted to maintain the lift plate in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
   Alternatively, the stationary member may comprise a floor stand positioning the lift plate at a height above the floor corresponding to the lower surface of the mattress. The lifting member may be a hydraulic cylinder wherein the force on the handle is a pumping action for moving the lift plate with respect to the stationary member. 
   In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for separating a mattress from a corresponding mattress support thereunder. The method employs a device for separating a mattress from a corresponding mattress support comprising a stationary member including a guide plate adapted to slide in and out between the mattress and mattress support. The guide plate may have a hollowed inset portion to accommodate the lift plate when the lift plate is in a retracted position The stationary member may include a back adapted to rest against a side or end of a mattress support when the lift plate has been inserted sufficiently far between the mattress and mattress support. The lifting member may be pivotally attached to the stationary member. The mattress lifting device of the present invention preferably includes a locking mechanism adapted to secure the lift plate in at least one position with respect to the stationary member. The method includes sliding the lift plate between the mattress and a mattress support at a location where the mattress and mattress support are to be separated. A force is exerted on the handle sufficient to move the lifting member with respect to the stationary member thereby separating at least a portion of the mattress from the mattress support. 
   Preferably, the mattress lifting device has a stationary member with a guide plate adapted to slide in and out between the mattress and mattress support. The guide plate may have a hollowed inset portion to accommodate the lift plate when the lift plate is in a retracted position. The stationary member may include a back adapted to rest against a side or end of a mattress support when the lift plate has been inserted sufficiently far between the mattress and mattress support. The lifting member may be pivotally attached to the stationary member. The method may include the device having a locking mechanism adapted to secure the lift plate in at least one position with respect to the stationary member. The lift member opposite the handle may have rollers adapted to slide along a surface of the lift plate and may include a guide bar adapted to maintain the lift plate in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
   The stationary member may alternatively comprise a floor stand positioning the lift plate at a height above the floor corresponding to the lower surface of the mattress. 
   The lifting member may comprise a hydraulic cylinder wherein the force on the handle is a pumping action for moving the lift plate with respect to the stationary member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the mattress lifter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 1 , the lift plate in the retracted position. 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 1 , the lift plate in the lifting position. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the mattress lifter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 4   
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 4 , the lift plate in the retracted position and in phantom lines, the lift plate in the lifting position. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the mattress lifter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 7 , the lift plate in the retracted position. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 7 , the lift plate in the lifting position. 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 7   
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of a hydraulically assisted mattress lifter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of a floor stand usable with the previous embodiments of the mattress lifter before it is inserted between the mattress and mattress support. 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the floor stand mattress lifter shown in  FIG. 12  in the lifting position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to  FIGS. 1-13  of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of the invention. 
   The present invention is a method and apparatus for lifting a portion of a mattress from its corresponding mattress support. Although the mattress support is usually a box spring, the invention may be used for any mattress support which has an upper surface corresponding to a lower surface of the mattress and supporting substantially the entire mattress. The mattress and mattress support have substantially similar lengths and widths, with the mattress sides extending along the mattress length and mattress ends extending across the mattress width, and the mattress support sides extending along the mattress support length and mattress support ends extending across the mattress support width. The mattress and mattress support end and side surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces of the corresponding mattress and mattress support. 
   A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The mattress lifting apparatus  10  of the present invention includes a stationary member  20  with a flat guide plate or portion  42  and a back plate or portion  30  attached to the guide portion at approximately right angles along corresponding edges. The guide plate  42  has a tapered nose end  22  distal from the stationary member and an opposite heel end connected to the stationary member back  30 . The stationary member guide plate  42  has a thickness sufficient to allow it to be slidable between the mattress  12  and the underlying mattress support  14 , here shown as a conventional box spring. The stationary member back  30  functions as a stop indicating when the guide has been inserted sufficiently far between the mattress and mattress support, as the stationary member back  30  contacts a mattress support end or side. 
   The lifting member  16  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  is an elongated component having a handle  18  at one end and a flat lift plate  26  attached opposite the handle. The lifting member  16  may be formed from any material which resists bending, preferably being a tube  28  with a cylindrical or rectangular cross section. The lifting member is pivotally attached to the stationary member such that when force is applied downward on the handle, an upward force is produced by the lift plate. When the lifting member  16  is in the retracted position, lifting member lift plate  26  is co planar with the stationary member guide plate  42 , with the guide plate  42  having an inset portion  40  hollowed to accommodate the lift plate  26  and tube  28 , and the lift plate  26  being configured to fit within the hollowed opening  40 . The thickness of the guide plate  42  and retracted lift plate  26 , and the taper of end  22 , is sufficient to permit easy sliding insertion between mattress  12  and mattress support  14 . The lifting member  16  is pivotally attached to the stationary member  42  by notched lock plates  32  attached substantially perpendicular along the stationary member  42  back and a pivot pin  36  through the tube and lock plates. A locking collar  38  is attached to the tube  28  near the lock plate  32 , the locking collar having a lock bar  34  slidingly attached and a tension spring (not shown) urging the lock bar  34  toward the notches of the lock plate  32 . Typically guide plate  42  is slid under mattress  12  along its side, where the bed is normally accessible by the user, rather than along the mattress end. In this embodiment of the invention, the lifting member tube  28  is perpendicular to the side of the mattress  12  and mattress support  14  when the lifting member is in the retracted position. 
   In operation, the mattress lifter embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3  is adapted to be slid between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14  at any location along the sides or ends thereof. The lifting member  16  and lift plate  26  are initially in the retracted position, positioned in a co-planar position within the inset portion  40  of the guide plate  42 , and the stationary member guide plate  42  is in a horizontal position with the stationary member back  30  below the plane of the guide plate  42 . The lock bar  34  is seated within the top notches of the lock plate  32 , securing the lifting member in the retracted position. Grasping the lifting member handle  18 , the user then inserts the nose  22  of the guide plate  42  between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14  at a location along the ends or sides where the mattress portion is to be lifted, preferably along the mattress sides normally accessed by the user, and insertion is terminated by the contact of the stationary member back  30  with the end or the side of the mattress support  14  where the mattress lifter was inserted.  FIG. 2  shows the mattress lifter after this insertion step has been completed, showing the front face of the back  30  in substantially full contact with the end or side of the mattress support  14 . 
   The lock bar within collar  38  is then pulled by the user in a direction toward the handle  18 , compressing the tension spring and releasing the lock bar  34  from the notch in the lock plate  32 . The user then applies force to the handle  18  in a downward direction, thereby moving the lift plate  26  in an upward direction by pivoting movement around guide pin  36  relative to the still stationary guide plate  42 . As the lift plate moves upward, the portion of mattress  12  at and near the location of insertion is lifted. The force on the handle  18  needed to lift the mattress  12  to the desired position is the holding force. The lock bar  34  is then released, causing the lock bar to snap into a lock plate  32  notch.  FIG. 3  shows a portion of the mattress  12  lifted by the lift plate  26  and the lock bar  34  securing the lifting member  26  after this step has been completed. The user then performs the operation for which the mattress was raised, for example removing or inserting a mattress sheet. Subsequently, while exerting a force downward on the handle  18  substantially equal to the holding force, the user then pulls the lock bar  34  from the notches of the lock plates  32 , and slowly releases the force applied to the handle until the lift plate  26  is lowered and retracted within the guide plate inset  40 . The lock bar  34  is released by the user and the lock bar  34  snaps into the top notch of the lock plate. The user then removes the mattress lifter  10  by a sliding movement from between the mattress  12  and mattress support  24 . 
   Another embodiment of the mattress lifter of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , wherein the mattress lifter  10   a  includes a stationary member  20   a  with a flat guide plate or portion  42   a  and a back portion  30   a  attached to the guide portion  42   a  at approximately right angles along corresponding edges. The guide plate  42   a  has a tapered nose end  22   a  and an opposite heel end connected to the stationary member back  30   a . The stationary member guide  42   a  has a thickness sufficient to allow it to be slidable between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14 . The stationary member back  30  functions as a stop indicating the guide has been inserted far enough in, between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14 , as the stationary member back contacts a mattress end or side. The lifting member is parallel to the side or end of the mattress when the lifting member is in the retracted position. 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-6 , the lift member is a tubular end portion  26   a  having a width smaller than the length, with the lift tube  26   a  length substantially perpendicular to the elongated tubular component of the lifting member  28   a . The guide plate  42   a  has an inset portion  40   a  hollowed to accommodate the lift tube  26   a  when the lift tube  26   a  is in the retracted position. The lifting member  28   a  is pivotally attached to the stationary member  20   a  by notched lock plates  32   a  attached substantially parallel along the stationary member back  30   a  and a pivot pin  36  through the elongated component  28   a  and lock plates  32   a . The locking plate  32   a  here parallel to the stationary member back is different than locking plate  32  in the first embodiment wherein the latter locking plates are perpendicular to the back. As shown in the inserted position in  FIG. 4 , the elongated tubular component  28   a  of the second embodiment is disposed in an orientation parallel to the mattress  12  and mattress support  14  side or end where the mattress portion is to be raised. A sliding locking collar  38  is attached over the tube  28   a  near the lock plate  32   a , and has a lock bar  34  slidingly attached and a tension spring urging the lock bar  34  toward the notches of the lock plate  32   a . Handle  18   a  is an end portion of tube  28   a  extending perpendicularly therefrom, away from mattress  12   
     FIG. 6  shows the mattress lifter  10   a  in the retracted position and, in phantom lines, the mattress lifter  10   a  and the mattress  12  in the raised position. In operation, the lift tube  26   a  is initially placed in the retracted position, positioned within the inset portion  40   a  of the guide plate  42   a , and the stationary member guide plate  42   a  is in a horizontal position with the stationary member back  30   a  below the plane of the guide plate  42   a . The lock bar  34  is seated within the top notches of the lock plate  32   a , securing the lifting member  16   a  in the retracted position. The nose  22   a  of the guide plate  42   a  is then inserted in between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14  at a location along the ends or sides where the mattress portion is to be lifted, and insertion is terminated by the contact of the stationary member back  30   a  with the end or the side of the mattress support where the mattress lifter was inserted. The front face of the back  30   a  is in substantially full contact with the end or side of the mattress support  14  when the mattress lifter is in the fully inserted position. 
   The lock bar within collar  38  is pulled by the user in a direction toward the handle  18   a , compressing the tension spring and releasing the lock bar  34  from the notch in the lock plate  32   a . Force is then applied to the handle  18   a  in a downward direction moving the lift member  22   a  in an upward direction by pivoting movement around guide pin  36  relative to the stationary guide plate  42   a . As the lift tube  22   a  moves upward, the mattress  12  portion at and near the location of insertion is lifted. The lock bar  34  is then released and snaps into a lock plate  32   a  notch as the force on the handle  18   a  is released. Then, when the mattress edge is to be lowered, the user exerts a force downward on the handle  18   a  about equal to the holding force, pulls the lock bar  34  from the notches of the lock plates  32   a , and slowly releases the force applied to the handle until the lift tube  26   a  is retracted within the inset  40   a  of the guide plate  42   a . The lock bar is released and snaps into the top notch of the lock plate  32   a . The mattress lifter  10   a  is then removed by sliding it out from between the mattress  12  and mattress support  14 . In this embodiment, the lifting member  28   a  in the retracted position is parallel to the side or end of the mattress to be raised, in contrast to the first embodiment where the lifting member  28  is perpendicular to the side or end of the mattress to be raised. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . The stationary member  20   b  of mattress lifter  10   b  includes a flat guide portion  42   b  and a back portion  30   b  attached to the guide portion at approximately right angles along corresponding edges. Lift plate  26   b  is also flat and is disposed over and in contact with guide plate  42   b  when in the retracted position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The lift plate  26   b  and stationary member guide  42   b  have a combined thickness sufficiently thin to allow them to be slidable between the mattress and mattress support. In this embodiment, the stationary member back  30   b  has a front portion  70  parallel with a rear portion  72 , and separated by a distance d. The space between the front and back portions  70 ,  72  accommodates a guide bar  50  attached substantially perpendicular to the guide plate  42   b , with the guide bar  50  slidingly fitting between the front and rear portions  70 ,  72 . Filler blocks  60  constrain the guide bar  50  from moving only in an upright orientation. Preferably, thin Teflon shims are placed along the filler blocks  60  and the front and rear portions  70 ,  72  where the guide bar slides. The lifting member  16  includes an elongated tubular component  28  with a handle  18  at one end. 
   The opposite end of the lifting member  16  has rollers  90  attached by a roller pin  92  so that the rollers are the only portions of the lifting member  16  contacting the lifting plate  26   b . The lifting member tube  28  is pivotally attached to the stationary member  20   b  by notched lock plates  32  attached substantially perpendicular along the stationary member back  30   b  and a pivot pin  36  through the elongated tube  28  and lock plates  32 . A locking collar  38  is attached to the elongated component near the lock plate  32 , the locking collar  38  having a lock bar slidingly  34  attached and a tension spring  80  urging the lock bar  34  toward the notches of the lock plate  32 . 
   In operation, the embodiment of the present invention presented in  FIGS. 7-10  permits the lifting plate  26   b  to remain in the horizontal position while it is raised, by means of operation of rollers  90  on the lifting member  16  end and guide bar  50  supported in the vertical direction by the front and rear portions  70 ,  72  of the stationary member back  30   b . Operation begins with the mattress lifter  10   b  in the retracted position, with the stationary member  20   b  guide plate  42   b  and lift plate  26   b  in contact in a horizontal position, and the stationary member back  30   b  below the plane of the guide plate  42   b . The lock bar  34  is seated within the top notches of the lock plate  32 , securing the lifting member  16  and lift plate  26   b  in the retracted position. The nose  22   b  of the guide plate  42   b  is then inserted in between the mattress and mattress support at a location along the ends or sides where the mattress portion is to be lifted, and insertion is terminated by substantially full contact of the front portion  70  of stationary member back  30   b  with the end or the side of the mattress support where the mattress lifter was inserted. 
   The lock bar  34  within locking collar  38  is pulled in a direction toward the handle  18 , compressing the tension spring  80  and releasing the lock bar  34  from the notch in the lock plate. Force is then applied to the handle  18  in a downward direction, causing the roller  90  to exert a force on the underside of the lift plate  26   b . The roller  90  urges the lift plate  26   b  upward, with the lift plate maintaining a horizontal orientation by virtue of the attached guide bar  50  constrained within the front and rear back portions  70 ,  72  and filler blocks  60 . Lift plate  26   b  remains essentially parallel with respect to guide plate  42   b  throughout its movement. As the lift plate  26   b  moves upward, the mattress portion at and near the location of insertion is lifted. As before, the lock bar  34  is then released and snaps into a lock plate  32  notch as the force on the handle  18  is released. When the mattress needs to be lowered, the user again exerts a force downward on the handle  18  about equal to the holding force, pulls the lock bar  34  from the notches of the lock plates  32 , and slowly releases the force applied to the handle  18  until the lift plate  26   b  is retracted to a position in contact with the top side of guide plate  42   b . The lock bar  34  is released and snaps into the top notch of the lock plate  32 . The mattress lifter  10   b  is then removed by sliding it out from between the mattress and mattress support. 
     FIG. 11  shows a hydraulically assisted embodiment of the mattress lifter  10   c  of the present invention. The stationary member is a flat guide plate  42   c  attached to an enclosure  94  containing a hydraulic cylinder  96  and hydraulic rod  98 . A flat lift plate  26   c  is disposed over and in contact with guide plate  42   c . The hydraulic cylinder  96  is vertically positioned in the enclosure  94  such that when the hydraulic rod  98  is forced out of the cylinder by hydraulic pressure, the upper rod end moves in an upward direction, forcing the lift plate  26   c  to extend away from the guide plate  42   c . A hydraulic handle  18   c  is used to pressurize hydraulic fluid, forcing the rod  98  to extend upward. The handle  18   c  may also be used to release hydraulic pressure from the rod  98 , allowing the rod to retract. 
   In operation, the nose  22   c  of the stationary member guide plate  42   c  is inserted in between the mattress and mattress support at a location along the ends or sides where the mattress portion is to be lifted, and the guide plate  42   c  and adjacent lift plate  26   c  are slid inward. Insertion is terminated by the contact of the enclosure  94  with the end or the side of the mattress support where the mattress lifter was inserted. Force is then applied to the handle  18  with a pumping action, moving the lift plate  22   c  in an upward direction away from the stationary member  42   c  seated against the mattress support. Lift plate  26   c  remains essentially parallel with respect to guide plate  42   c  throughout its movement. As the lift plate  26   c  moves upward, the mattress portion at and near the location of insertion is lifted. After the mattress no longer needs to be raised, a hydraulic release (not shown) releases hydraulic pressure within the cylinder  96 , allowing the hydraulic rod  98  to retract into the cylinder, and lowering the lift plate  26   c  to a position close to or in contact with the stationary member guide plate  42   c . The mattress lifter  10   c  is then removed from between the mattress and mattress support. 
   Any of the mattress lifter embodiments discussed above may be modified to use a floor standing apparatus for lifting the mattress. Using the embodiment of  FIG. 11  as an example, the mattress lifting device  10   d  shown in  FIGS. 12-13  includes a base plate  102  attached at the bottom portion  100   a  of vertically extending body or housing  100 . Top housing portion  100  is slideable with respect to bottom portion  100   a , so as to hold the lift plate  26   c  at a fixed or adjustable distance from the base plate  102  sufficient to permit the lift plate  26   c  to be positioned at a height near the lower surface of the mattress when the lift plate  42   c  is in its retracted position. A stationary plate  42   c  may optionally be included in this embodiment of the invention, but is also at a fixed or adjustable location corresponding to the upper surface of the mattress support  14 . The body  100  of the device  10   d  includes any of the mechanisms for raising the lift plate  22   c  in accordance with the embodiments previously described. 
   In operation, any of the embodiments modified to form a floor standing apparatus for lifting a mattress use the floor as a surface to apply an upward force to the lift plate. This is in contrast to the previous embodiments using contact of the stationary member guide plate with the mattress support to provide the base for upward movement of the lift plate. With the floor stand base feature of the present invention, a stationary member guide  42   c  is optional. The lifting plate  22   c  in the retracted position is level with the lower surface of the mattress  12 . After insuring that it is positioned at the proper height, lifting plate  22   c  is inserted at a location along the ends or sides where the mattress portion is to be lifted, and insertion is terminated by the contact of the body  100  with the end or the side of the mattress support  14  where the mattress lifter was inserted. The base maintains contact with the floor during substantially the entire operation of the mattress lifter  10   d . The lifting mechanism of any of the previous embodiments is activated to raise and lower the mattress using the lift plate. The lift plate is then removed from in between the mattress and mattress support by sliding the floor stand away from the bed. 
   Thus, the mattress lifter of the present invention permits a mattress to be easily raised and lowered from a mattress support, thereby permitting individuals with limited strength or mobility to make the bed or perform other required activities. Additionally, the present invention may be used by any individual, not just one having a disability, to facilitate making of the bed. The mattress lifter is portable, easily inserted into the side of the bed normally accessed by the individual, and may be easily stored away between uses. 
   While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.