System for lifting and retaining a mattress
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for lifting the four corners of a conventional mattress away from the foundation supporting the mattress and includes extendable and retractable lifting members that raise and lower the mattress near the four corners of the mattress. The base of the lifting member is supported on a frame member of the conventional foundation support for the mattress so that the upper end of the lifting member fits into a female receptacle like member on the underside of the mattress so that when the lifting member is extended the mattress becomes lifted away from the supporting foundation. The lifting member may include an electrical linear actuator having a body, a base, an electrical motor and a lifting member so that when the linear actuator is actuated the mattress is lifted away from and retained on the supporting foundation.
1 . A system for lifting and retaining a mattress, the mattress being supported on a foundation, comprising:
a) a mattress being generally rectangular shaped and having a plurality of corners;
b) a plurality of downwardly disposed receptacles embedded on an underside of said mattress, so that one said receptacle is proximate to each said corner;
c) a foundation disposed underneath said mattress for supporting said mattress, said foundation having a plurality of frame members;
d) a lifting member disposed on one of said frame members, said lifting member including a shaft having a retracted position and an extended position, an upper end of said shaft extending from said lifting member and configured for insertion into one of said receptacles when said lifting member is in said extended position; and
e) wherein said mattress is lifted above and retained on said foundation when said lifting member is in said extended position.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one said lifting member is disposed proximate each said corner of said mattress.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said lifting member further comprises a linear actuator.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said lifting members operate independently.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said lifting members operate simultaneously.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical controller for controlling the operation of said lifting member.
7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said linear actuator further comprises a threaded ball screw connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of said shaft, a cover enclosing said ball screw, a ball nut interlocked to said cover to prevent rotation of said ball nut, said ball nut threadably engaged with said ball screw so that said ball nut moves linearly along said ball screw when said ball screw is rotated, so that movement of said ball nut along said ball screw causes said shaft to either extend or retract depending on direction of rotation of said ball screw.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of receptacles are attached to said mattress by sewing.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of receptacles are attached to said mattress by ultrasonic welding.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said upper end of said shaft is pivotable.
11 . A method for lifting and retaining a mattress, the mattress being supported on a foundation, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a mattress being generally rectangular shaped and having a plurality of corners;
b) providing a plurality of downwardly disposed receptacles embedded on an underside of the mattress, so that one receptacle is proximate to each corner;
c) providing a foundation underneath the mattress for supporting the mattress, the foundation having a plurality of frame members;
d) mounting a lifting member on one of the frame members, the lifting member including a shaft having a retracted position and an extended position, an upper end of the shaft extending from the lifting member and configured for insertion into one of the receptacles when the lifting member is in the extended position; and
e) wherein the mattress is lifted above and retained on the foundation when the lifting member is in the extended position.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of mounting one said lifting member proximate each corner of the mattress.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lifting member further comprises a linear actuator.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the lifting members operate independently.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the lifting members operate simultaneously.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of providing an electrical controller for controlling the operation of the lifting member.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the linear actuator further comprises a threaded ball screw connected at a distal end thereof to a proximal end of the shaft, a cover enclosing the ball screw, a ball nut interlocked to the cover to prevent rotation of the ball nut, the hall nut threadably engaged with the ball screw so that the ball nut moves linearly along the ball screw when the ball screw is rotated, so that movement of the ball nut along the ball screw causes the shaft to either extend or retract depending on direction of rotation of the ball screw.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are attached to the mattress by sewing.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are attached to the mattress by ultrasonic welding.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the upper end of the shaft is pivotable.