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 tuck apparatus for tucking at least a portion of one bed cover under a mattress of a bed comprising:
 a tuck member having at one end at least one substantially linear tucking surface, wherein said tucking surface is adapted to be, while said tuck member is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, pressed against a surface of said bed cover and slid under said mattress in order to tuck said surface of said bed cover under said mattress; and   a handle member connected to said tuck member, wherein said handle member is positioned in non-parallel relationship with respect to said tuck member and said handle member is adapted to be grasped to allow sliding of said tucking surface under said mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tuck apparatus is made of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said tuck member is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         4 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tuck member is substantially planar. 
     
     
         5 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a connecting member connects said handle member to said tuck member. 
     
     
         6 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said connecting member is at least one of substantially rectangular, substantially round, and substantially oval. 
     
     
         7 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said substantially linear tucking surface has a wider width than said connecting member. 
     
     
         8 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said substantially linear tucking surface is substantially perpendicular to said connecting member. 
     
     
         9 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tucking surface is adapted to be, while said tuck member is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, pressed against said surface of said bed cover and slid between said mattress and a box spring mattress in order to tuck said surface of said bed cover in between said mattress and said box spring mattress. 
     
     
         10 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said handle member is at an angle substantially between 30 degrees to 120 degrees relative to said connecting member. 
     
     
         11 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a grip member covers at least a portion of said handle member. 
     
     
         12 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said grip member is made of at least one of foam and rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said tuck member is adapted to reduce a force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress. 
     
     
         14 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said tuck member is adapted to reduce the force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress by substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         15 . A method of tucking a portion of a bed cover under a mattress of a bed comprising:
 providing a tuck apparatus comprising a tuck member comprising a tucking surface and a handle member connected to said tuck member, wherein said handle member is oriented in non-parallel relationship with respect to said tuck member;   orienting said tuck member of said tuck apparatus in a substantially horizontal plane;   pressing said tucking surface of said tuck apparatus against a surface of said bed cover; and   sliding said tucking surface under said mattress to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the method is for tucking said portion of said bed cover in between said mattress and a box spring mattress. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said tucking surface is substantially linear. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said tuck member is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said substantially triangular tuck member is substantially planar. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  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 portion of said bed cover between said mattress and said box spring mattress. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of sliding said tucking surface under said mattress reduces a force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress is reduced substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said step of sliding said tucking surface under said mattress comprises 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 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 15  further comprising the steps of:
 orienting said 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 . A tuck apparatus for tucking at least a portion of one bed cover under a mattress of a bed comprising:
 a substantially planar tuck member comprising a tucking surface for tucking in said bed cover under said mattress; and   a handle member connected to said tuck member, wherein said handle member is positioned in non-parallel relationship with respect to said tuck member and said handle member.   
     
     
         27 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said tuck member is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         28 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said tucking surface is substantially linear. 
     
     
         29 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein a connecting member connects said handle member to said tuck member. 
     
     
         30 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said connecting member is at least one of substantially rectangular, substantially round, and substantially oval. 
     
     
         31 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said tucking surface has a wider width than said connecting member. 
     
     
         32 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said tucking surface is substantially perpendicular to said connecting member. 
     
     
         33 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said handle member is at an angle substantially between 30 degrees to 120 degrees relative to said tuck member. 
     
     
         34 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein a grip member covers at least a portion of said handle member. 
     
     
         35 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said grip member is made of at least one of foam and rubber. 
     
     
         36 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said tuck member is adapted to reduce a force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress. 
     
     
         37 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 36  wherein said tuck member is adapted to reduce the force required to tuck said portion of said bed cover under said mattress by substantially in the range of 10 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         38 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 36  wherein said tuck member is substantially triangular and said tucking surface is substantially linear. 
     
     
         39 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 38  wherein a connecting member connects said handle member to said tuck member. 
     
     
         40 . The tuck apparatus of  claim 39  wherein said handle member is at an angle substantially between 30 degrees to 120 degrees relative to said connecting member.