Apparatus for lifting a bed mattress

Abstract

Apparatus suitable for lifting a bed mattress, the apparatus comprising a carriage including a mattress support structure upon which a bed mattress can be carried and an elevating mechanism operatively connected to the mattress support structure for moving the mattress support structure between a lowered and a raised position. The apparatus further includes a bedding retention device operatively connected to the carriage so that when the mattress support structure is in the raised position, the bedding retention device is disposed at a lower position than the mattress support structure, and in the lowered position it is caused to adopt a retention position as a result of relative movement between the bedding retention device and the mattress support structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to apparatus for lifting a bed mattress. The invention finds particular application in the activity of bed making, although its application may extend beyond bed making to other activities such as, for example, the inspection, cleaning, airing and fumigation of mattresses of beds. DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART [0002] The typical height of a bed causes bed makers such as, for example, occupational bed makers in the hospitality industry to be prone to back injuries and other injuries. This is because of the continuous stooping required by the bed maker when making the bed. The injury risk is exacerbated by the requirement to lift the weight of the mattress to tuck the bedding under the sides and corners of the mattress. To try to alleviate this problem devices have been proposed to enable the mattress or whole bed to be raised to a suitable height during the bed making procedure. Such devices have generally suffered fr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] When in use with the mattress support structure in the raised position and with a mattress carried thereon, the mattress is positioned at a height which reduces the risk of back injury to the bed maker by allowing the bed maker to make the bed without the need to stoop. With the mattress support structure in this raised position, the bedding retention device is disposed at a lower position relative to the mattress support structure so that there is an unobstructed gap between an underside of the mattress or support structure and an upper side of the bedding retention device. During the bed making procedure with the mattress support structure raised used bedding can be removed from the gap without the physical effort normally required to un-tuck the bedding in the process of removing it from the bed. The gap allows the region below the mattress to be visually inspected for hypodermic syringes, used condoms and other dangerous or contraband items without any need for the bed maker to touch the bed in any way. The edges of the fresh bedding can then be tucked in by loosely locating them within the open gap. This may be achieved without requiring any part of the mattress to be physically lifted by the bed maker. When the mattress support structure is returned to the lowered position the arrangement is such that relative movement between the mattress support structure and the bedding retention platform causes the gap to be closed, the edges of the bedding thereby being captured and held in place within the closed gap.

Problems solved by technology

The typical height of a bed causes bed makers such as, for example, occupational bed makers in the hospitality industry to be prone to back injuries and other injuries.

The injury risk is exacerbated by the requirement to lift the weight of the mattress to tuck the bedding under the sides and corners of the mattress.

Such devices have generally suffered from being unduly complicated and have not overcome the problem of the bed maker still having to lift the weight of the mattress when tucking-in the bedding.

The devices which have been proposed to date do not overcome this problem.

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