Apparatus and methods for lifting bed mattresses and/or tucking in bed covers

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.

1 . A method of tucking a portion of a bed cover under a mattress of a bed comprising:
 sliding a sloped surface of a wedge apparatus under said mattress of said bed lifting at least a portion of said mattress;   pressing a tucking surface of a tuck apparatus against a surface of said bed cover; and   sliding said tucking surface under said mattress in order to tuck said surface of said bed cover under said mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the method is for tucking said bed cover in between said mattress and a box spring mattress. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wedge apparatus comprises a wedge member having said sloped surface, and a first handle member connected to said wedge member. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress of said bed comprises locating a wedge member of said wedge apparatus adjacent said bed mattress, and sliding said sloped surface under said mattress of said bed while said wedge member is oriented in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress is accomplished by grasping said first handle member and forcing said wedge apparatus under said mattress. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wedge apparatus comprises a mattress receiving surface oriented in non-parallel relation with respect to said sloped surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress comprises orienting a wedge member in a substantially vertical plane, sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress, and abutting said mattress against said mattress receiving surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wedge apparatus comprises a substantially planar stabilizing surface which is wider than said sloped surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress comprises orienting said wedge member in a substantially vertical plane, orienting said substantially planar stabilizing surface in a substantially horizontal plane, sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress, and abutting a box spring mattress against said substantially planar stabilizing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress reduces a force to be supplied by a user to lift said portion of said mattress. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the force to be supplied by a user to lift said portion of said mattress is reduced substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tucking surface is substantially linear. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of pressing said tucking surface of said tuck apparatus against said surface of said bed cover comprises orienting said tucking surface in a substantially horizontal plane and pressing said tucking surface against said surface of said bed cover. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tuck apparatus comprises a second handle member connected to a tuck member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said steps of pressing and sliding said tucking surface are accomplished by grasping said second handle member and forcing said tucking surface to move. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tuck apparatus comprises a tuck member which is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said substantially triangular tuck member is substantially planar. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sliding said tucking surface under said mattress comprises sliding said tucking surface between said mattress and a box spring mattress in order to tuck said bed cover in between said mattress and said box spring mattress. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of sliding said tucking surface under said mattress reduces a force to be supplied by a user to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the force to be supplied by a user to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress is reduced substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus under said mattress comprises sliding said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus in a substantially center area of a side portion of said mattress. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of sliding, at separate times, said sloped surface of said wedge apparatus into substantially center areas of three side portions of said mattress lifting said three side portions of said mattress at said respective separate times. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of sliding said tucking surface from a substantially center area of a side portion of said mattress to an end portion of said mattress. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the step of sliding, at separate times, said tucking surface of said tuck apparatus from substantially center areas of three side portions of said mattress to three respective end portions of said mattress in order to tuck said bed cover under said three sides of said mattress. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 orienting a tuck member of said tuck apparatus in a non-horizontal plane;   pressing said tucking surface of said tuck apparatus against another surface of said bed cover in between a head-board and said mattress; and   sliding said tucking surface in between said head-board and said mattress to tuck said another surface of said bed cover in between said head-board and said mattress.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first handle member of the wedge apparatus is not positioned over the sloped surface. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the wedge apparatus further comprises a first connecting member connecting said first handle to said wedge member, and said first handle member is at an angle substantially between 30 degrees to 120 degress relative to said first connecting member.