US3136429A

US3136429A - Method of handling mattresses

Info

Publication number: US3136429A
Application number: US196129A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kleinschmidt Albert Adolph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-06-12
Filing date: 1962-05-21
Publication date: 1964-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-09

Description

J 9, 1964 A. A. KLEINSCHMIDT METHOD OF HANDLING MATTRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 12, 1958 r 5 l 1m m h QM. C WW E m Q i m mm K d m A h J/ W n w I mm M W g A,

June 1964 A. A. KLEINSCHMIDT 3,136,429

I METHOD OF HANDLING MATTRESSES Original Filed June 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A/berf 14, ff/e/h 56/2/77 id?" l -Qfi United States Patent I 3,136,429 METHOD OF HANDLING MATTRESSES Albert Adolph Kleinschmidt, 9 E. Main St., Dundee, Ill. Original application June 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,645, now Patent No. 3,047,305, dated July 13, 1962. Divided and this application May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,129

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This application is a division of my application Serial No. 741,645 filed June 12, 1958, now Patent No. 3,047,- 305 issued July 31, 1962.

The present invention relates to improvements in moving mattresses and bed springs which are rather unwieldy for handling by a lone person or even by a plurality of persons.

In a household, small store and the like where a person must often rely upon his own manual effort to move an unwieldy mattress or bed spring a series problem is encountered, especially where such person is frail or not permitted to engage in lifting of heavy or awkward articles. Mattresses are especially unwieldy for one person to handle and are even awkward for two persons to handle because of the generally flexible nature and substantial weight involved.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of moving mattresses and bed springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method for removing a mattress from a bed for movement to another location, or replacement upon the bed in a turned position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of removing a mattress from a bed and moving the mattress to a new location as for airing the same, or other purposes.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device as it appears when handling a mattress or like article;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device in collapsed, folded condition;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a more or less schematic perspective view showing how a mattress may be loaded onto or unloaded from the moving device, according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top portions of two of the opposed supporting stakes and the connecting members therebetween.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a device especially well adapted for use in the practice of the invention of the present invention includes an elongated base section in the formof a horizontal panel and serving as the principal or main member of the device to which other members are arranged to be connected. As a base extension from the base member 15 is an elongated similarbase section member 17 with the ends of the members adjoining in alignment. Separable hinged connection between the

members

15 and 17 is effected by means of coupling structure, in the present instance comprising

respective hinge members

18 and 19 having usual complementary aligned hinge curls and with readily removal connecting pins 20 extending through the aligned hinge curls. By having the coupling assemblies on the upper faces of the aligned

base panel members

15 and 17, the base panel members are adapted to be folded in collapsed relation upon one another in face-to-face relation as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

In a preferred arrangement, the device is of generally L-shape with the

base panel sections

15 and 17 providing one arm and on the end portion of the main base panel 15 opposite to the connection with the base panel extension member 17, a right angular upstanding supporting structure providing the other arm and comprising a first elongated panel section member 21 of the same Width as the base member 15 and supporting on its upper end a second upright panel section member 22. Hinged, separable coupling of the

panel members

21 and 22 is effected similarly as described in connection with the

base panel members

15 and 17, as best seen in FIGURE 3, comprising herein

respective hinge sections

23 and 24 and readily removable connecting

pins

25, 26 to extend through the complementary aligned hinge curls. A similar disconnectable hinge coupling structure 27 is utilized to connect the lower end portion of the upright member 21 to a supporting and spacer bar 28 carried fixedly upon the adjacent end portion of the base panel 15 and of sufficient width to enable folded collapsed disposition of the panel

upright members

21 and 22 upon the folded base panel member 17 as best seen in FIGURES Z and 3, with the upright panel 22 folded in upon the inner face of the panel 21 and then the two upright panel members folded down upon the members 17, with all of the members lying substantially parallel in the folded relationship. Since the upright dimension of the device need not be as long as the base dimension, the two

upright panel members

21 and 22 may be shorter and of substantially the same length as shown. By having the base extension member 17 a little shorter than the main base member 15, a limited space or gap is afforded between the free end of the member 17 and the supporting and spacer bar 28 to provide a storage space 29 within the collapsed device.

To facilitate movement of the device, it carries wheel means, herein in the form of transversely aligned pairs of casters 30. By preference the main base panel member 15 has secured to its underface adjacent to its opposite ends respective pairs of the casters'30, while the extension base member 17 carries on its underface adjacent to its free end a pairof the casters 30, the remaining, attached end of the extension base member in this instance relying upon the adjacent set of casters on the base member 15 for rolling support through the hinge connection between the two base members.

In order to enable the device to be up-ended for rolling support on the

uprights

21 and 22, a pair of the casters 3% is carried by the outer side of the supporting and spacer bar 28, and the upper of the uprights 22 carries respective pairs of the casters 30 adjacent to its opposite ends and attached to its outer face. The lower of the upright panel members 21 could also be supplied with such casters but that is not necessary since rolling support is afforded by the casters adjacent to the opposite ends thereof on respectively the spacer bar 28 and the upper of the members 22.

In order to enable as flat as possible collapsing of the several members of the device, provision is made for receiving of the casters 30 on the base member 17 within respective clearance apertures 31 in the upper of the upright members 22 (FIGS. 1 and 3), and the casters 30 on the folded-under upright member 22 are received through clearance apertures 32 in the folded base member 17.

For convenience in handling the device both in its set up utility condition and in its collapsed condition, the several panel members are provided with suitable transverse hand hole slots 33. These slots are so disposed on the several panels as to be in registration in the collapsed condition of the panels as shown in FIG-

URES

2 and 3. In addition, the free end portion of the upright panel member 22 is provided with one of the hand hole slots 33 to provide a convenient handle 34 on the free end of the member. Adjacent to its free end, the base extension panel member 17 is also provided with one of the hand hole slots 53 to aiford a handle 35;. p

In the exemplary form shown, the device is dimensioned for conveniently supporting and moving a stand ard double bed mattress 37 shown in phantom outline in FIGURE 1. For this purpose, the combined length of the

base members

15 and 17 is preferably slightly greater than the total length of such amattress and the total length of the

upright members

21 and 22, together with the supporting base bar 28 is preferably slightly greater than the transverse, narrower dimension of the mattress and the mattress is adapted to be supported on edge on the base members and against the upright members.

For retaining the mattress 37 upon the device and against collapsing, removable upright supporting bars or stakes 33 are provided. These are constructed and arranged for removable attachment to the

base members

15 and 17 so that not only may the base members he used as supporting dolly type Wheeled carriages without the stakes, but the stakes in preferred number may be mounted in a preferred relationship on the base members and in relation to one another selectively.

Removable attachment of the stakes 38 tothe base.

members is effected in any preferred manner as by having the lower ends of the stakes equipped to engage in respective marginal socket holes 4%; (FIG. 2). Suitable latching means are provided for detachably retaining the stakes comprising, for example, means inciuding outwardly opening notchesll in the margins of the panels and foot bracket structure 43 carried by the lower end portions of the stakes and clamping or latching structure 4'7, as best seen in FIG. 1. Through this arrangement the stakes are readily attachable and detachable as desired.

By preference, provision is made for connecting the stakes 38 by opposed pairs to the

respective base member

15 or 17, with one of the stake members of each pair located on each opposite longitudinal margin of the base member. In a convenient arrangement for multiple utility, two longitudinally spaced pairs of the stake members 38 are arranged to be supported by the main base panel member 15, while. one pair of the stake members 38 is arranged to be supported by the extension base panel member 17. Thus, the mainbase member 15 supports one of the pairs of stake members 38 adjacent to one end of the base member and the other pair of stake members thereon adjacent to the opposite end while the pair of stakes 38 carried by the extension base member 17 are supported near its free end and thus suitably spaced from the'nearest pair of stakes on the base panel member 15. This affords desirable support for the opposite broad faces of the mattress 37 adjacent to its opposite ends and also adjacent to its middle, retaining the mattress against buckling or snaking but maintaining it centered on the median vertical plane of the mover device.

While the mattress 37, or other article or articles to be moved may eifectively be supported on the moving device between the stakes 38 without any connection between the upper ends of the stakes, it is desirable, especially where the mattress or other article is to be moved a substantial distance and possibly through a more or less irregular passage or up and down stairs or through doorways where the device must be up-ended to wheel the same on the casters carried by the upright end panel members '21 and 22 and the spacer bar 28, to provide hold-down and latching means for at least the up-ended longitudinal edge of the mattress or other article and preferably also for the free end thereof which extends up from the free end portion of the extension base panel member 1'7. To this end, referring to FIGURES l and 5, cross-over quick-releasable latching means are provided her 17 as shown in FIGURE 1.

. 4 to extend between and connect the upper end portions of the respective pairs of stakes 38.

In one desirable form, such latching means comprise respective flexible rope-like latching members 49 suitably secured at one end portion to the associated stake adjacent to the upper extremity of the stake and of a length to extend across the gap between the upper end portions of the pair of stakes and engage latchingly in a laterally opening latch slot or notch 50 formed in the vertical edge of the opposing stake below and adjacent to the point at which the companion flexible latch member 49 is attached. On their free end portions, the flexible latch members 49 are provided with respective handles 51 which conveniently may be in the form of a loop as shown, with suitable light-frictional-resistance means located adjacent to the loop ineach instance for engagement with the surface areas adjacent to the notch 5% into which the free end portion of the latch member is engaged. In a desirable form, such friction means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced enlargements or knots 52 related to the thickness of the engaged stake to have suflicient light fricitonal grip on the portion of the stake therebetween when the length of the latch member between the knots is engaged within the respective notch 50, thereby retaining the free end portion of the flexible latch member against unintentional displacement.

While perhaps one flexible latch member 49 between each pairof staices' would be suflicient for most purposes, by having a pair of such latch members with one carried by each of the stake end portions and disposed to be latchingly related in crossing relation as shown and with the retaining notch 50 in each instance disposed on the respectively opposite side of the confronting stake member, double assurance against unintentional unlatching is had since even though one of the latch members 49 may slip out of its latching notch 50, the remaining latch member will adequately hold the latching, retaining relationship.

Additional retaining means, where desired, may comprise a flexible retaining strand member 53 which may be or rope-like form to extend between the upper end portion of the upright member 22 at one end of the device and over the mattress or other article and down along the opposite end of the mattress and secured to the free end portion of the base panel extension mem- Attachment of the retaining member 53 to the upright panel member 22 may be by looping the associated end of the member 53 through the handle hole 33 or around under the adjacent casters 3%, or as shown through the adjacent caster clearance apertures 31. Thence the retaining member 53 is carried over the mattress 37 longitudinally and may be looped around the upper or head end portion of the stakes 33 as shown with respect to the two center stakes in FIGURE 1, the loop being engaged within the mouth end portions ofthe latch notches 50, and in suitable retaining notches 54 in the opposite respective edges of the stakes. From there the retaining member 53 is carried over the upper edge of the mattress 37 and may be directed diagonally thereacross to the upper or head 'end portions of the stakes 38 carried by the base panel member 17 where the retaining member 53'is again looped around thestake heads in the

notches

50 and 54 thereof and may be looped over and under the crossing flexible latch members 49 and thencarried on down over the free end of the mattress and secured to the adjacent end portion of the extension base panel member 17 as for example by looping the end portion of the member 53 through the adjacent caster clearance apertures 32, as shown. By looping the retaining rope-like member 53 about the head portions of the stakes 38 as described, of course, the associated flexible latch members 49 are locked against any possibility of unintentional release until the loop of the retaining member 53 is unwound from the stake heads and more particularly out, of the notches 5d and 54.

While the

handles

34 and 35, as well as the hand holes 33 in the

upright end members

21 and 22 and the hand holes 33 in the

base members

15 and 17 are available for gaining convenient hand hold upon the device for manipulating the same, loaded or unloaded, additional handle means may be provided, such as a spaced series of handle loops 55 on the portion of the retaining member 53 which extends over the outer end portion of the mattress. Additionally, a suitable handle 57 may be provided on the outer side of the vertically disposed end spacer bar 28.

As a further aid in maintaining the supported article on the device, suitable friction facing material may be carried by the article engaging faces of the several components of the device. For example, on the article supporting faces of the

base panel members

15 and 17, friction material in the form of a longitudinal strip 58 may be applied in a width that leaves the opposite margins of the base panel members free substantially as shown. Similar strip frictional facing material 59 may be carried by the article opposing faces of the stakes 38. Similar frictional facing material may be carried by the article opposing faces of the

upright panel members

21 and 22. A suitable soft rubber or rubber-like material of high coefficient of friction may be used. Althoughsuch material may be supplied in strip form and adhesively. secured in place, a suitable painted or sprayed on friction facing material may be employed.

According to the present invention, the mattress 37 can'be loaded or unloaded by a single individual with a minimum of physical effort. This is especially important for persons who suffer from physical disability or impairment which precludes any heavy lifting. Thus, referring to FIGURE 4, the moving device with one or more of the stakes 38 attached to only one margin of the base assembly is wheeled into position alongside a bed 69 from which the mattress 37 is to be removed or onto which the mattress is to be placed. Because the overall width of the moving device is'only a little greater than the thickness of the usual mattress, the device can be moved into position in what may be a very narrow space between the bed and an adjacent wall. In any event,

' after the device has been placed in position with the stakes 38 carried thereby on the margin remote from the bed, the mattress can easily be slid off of the bed until the edge of the mattress nearest the moving device-as it leaves the bed tilts down and moves directly into engagement onto the base structure provided by the

members

15 and 17 of the device. Since this action is primarily a dropping or gravity induced action, only the moderate effort to slide the mattress off the bed is required. Then, when the adjacent longitudinal edge of the mattress has come to rest upon the base structure of the device, the remainder of the mattress can be easily tilted by swinging it over into upright position against the one or more stakes 38 opposing the same.

To facilitate such movement of the mattress into upright on-edge position on the device, a pull rope 70 may be secured at its ends to the usual side carrying handle loops adjacent to the opposite ends of the edge of the mattress to be up-ended. By pulling on such rope the mattress is slid toward its opposite edge and then can be brought to its upright plane with its face that was up- 1 ward on the bed against the supporting stake or stakes 38. Then by looping the rope over the stakes the mattress can be held in position until the stakes 38 have been attached to the opposite margin of the

base members

15 and 17 of the device and thus fully support the mattress in its upright on-edge position on the device.

Of course, return of the mattress 37 to the bed after airing, cleaning or the like involves merely a reversal of the procedure just described. If at this time it is desired to have the mattress in reverse or turned over position relative to that from which it was removed from the bed, that can easily be done by placing the moving device on the opposite side of the bed and placing in down position on the bed that face of the mattress which was up at the time the mattress was removed from the bed.

In generally similar fashion a bed spring 71 on the bed 69 is adapted to be removed from or replaced on the bed, or even initially handled by means of the moving device and placed upon the bed. Thus, the bed spring can be slide generally horizontally with respect to the bedstead and its edge tilted downwardly onto the .properly located moving device base. The spring unit is then swung into a vertical plane, similarly as described in respect to the mattress 37. Loading of the spring unit 71 onto the moving device is thereby readily effected. Reversal of these steps will result in either initial placing of the spring on the bed from the moving device or replacement of the spring onto the bedstead as, for example, where the bed must be moved from one place to another, or for cleaning purposes, or the like.

When the moving device is to be put away or stored, it is readily collapsed into the folded condition shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 wherein it provides a compact package which can be placed in a small storage, space. Any loose ropes can be accommodated in the storage space 29 within the folded unit.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a method of moving a mattress from a bed,

attaching a pull member to one side of the mattress adjacent to opposite ends of the mattress, pulling and sliding the mattress toward its opposite side and over that side of the bed ,by pulling on said pull member in the direction of said opposite side until 4 the mattress as it leaves the bed bends down from said one side of the bed and said opposite side of the mattress dips down toward the floor by gravity induced action,

and receiving said opposite side of the mattress directly in engagement on a wheel mattress moving device base disposed below the bed and close tov the floor adjacent to said side of the bed,

continuing pull on said pull member until the mattress is entirely off of the bed and upstandingly restson said opposite side of said device,

and securing the mattress on the device in such standing relation thereto for transportation by said device.

2. In a method of moving a mattress from a bed,

attaching a pull member to one side of the mattress adjacent to opposite ends of the mattress,

placing a mattress moving device alongside the bed on the opposite side from said one side of the mattress and with a base structure of the moving device substantially below the bed-supported level of the mattress and closely adjacent to the floor, removing upright retaining means from the side of the base structure nearestthe bed and leaving in place upright retaining means on the base structure on the remote side thereof from the side adjacent the bed, pulling and sliding the mattress toward its said opposite side and over that side of the bed by pulling on said pull member in the direction of said opposite side ofthe mattress until the mattress bends down from the bed and said opposite side of the mattress dips down toward and gravitationally engages said base structure,

continuing pull on said pull member untilthe mattress is entirely off of the bed and upstandingly rests on said base structure and resting against said in place upright retaining means,

and securing said removed retaining means on said base structure against the mattress to retain it in place on the mattress mover for movement away from the bed.

3. In a method of moving a mattress from a bed,

attaching a pull member to one side of the mattress adjacent, to opposite ends of the mattress, locating a mattress moving device alongside the bed adjacent to the opposite sidetof the mattress, with a mattress receiving narrow base struc'ture of'the moving device adjacent to the floor and substantially below the bed-supported level of the mattress, removing upright stake members from the side of the base structure nearest the bed and leaving in place upstanding stake members on the base structure at the opposite side thereof from the side of the base structure nearest the bed, pulling and sliding the mattress toward the moving device until the mattress bends down from the bed and its side opposite to said one side gravitationally engages said base structure, continuing pull on the mattress until the face of the mattress whichwas uppermost on the bed engages said stake members, retaining the mattress in upstanding positionby engag ing said pull member on said in place stake members, and securing said removed stake members to the base structure and in engagement with the opposite face of the mattress to retain the mattress onthe moving member. 4. In a method of moving generally rectangular members, such as a mattress, bed spring unit and the like;

Wheeling a moving device having a receiving base adjacent to floor level into position along one side of a bed having the member thereon at an elevation substantially above said base, the side of the base nearest 'the'bed being free to receive the member thereon directly from the bed; sliding the member off of :the bed toward said one side of the bed until the member as it leaves the bed dips down toward the floor andtcontinuing such movement until the low edge of the member gravitationally directly engages said base; then continuing movement of the member by swinging it away from the bed until it is fully loaded onto the device and upstanding on said edge on said base; and retaining the member in said upstandingposition on the base structure device for movement therewith. 5. In a method of moving generally rectangular members, such asa mattress, bed spring unit and the like;

wheeling a moving device having a receiving base adjacent to floor level into position along one side of a bed having the member thereon at an elevation substantially above said base, the side of the base nearest the bed being free to receive the member thereon directly from the bed; t sliding the member off of the bed toward said one side of the bed until the member as it leaves the bed dips down toward the floor and continuing such movement until the low edge of the member gravitationallydirectly engages-said base; then continuing movement of the member'by swinging it away from the bed until it is fully loaded onto the device and upstanding on said edge on said base; retaining the member in said upstanding position on the base structure device for movement therewith; and thereafter returning the member to the bed by releasing it from said upstanding position and swinging it toward the bed and then sliding it back onto the bed in the reversedirection from the direction of movement in loading the member onto the moving device. 6. In a method of handling a mattre s,

sliding the mattress from the bed sidewardly until it bends down over said side of the bed and its edge adjacent to the moving device dips downwardly gravitationally directly onto said base structure, continuing movement of the mattress and swinging it away from the bed until it stands up on edge on said base structure and with its face that was upwardly facing restingagainst said upright retaining structure, retaining the mattress in said edge standing position on the .base structure and against said upstanding retaining structure and securing upstanding retaining structure on said side of said base structure nearest the bed and retainingly against the opposite face of the mattress, and moving said handling device with the mattress thereon away from the bed. 7. In a method of handling a mattress, placing in position substantially parallel along one side of a bed a mattress handling device comprising an elongated base structure located adjacent to the floor and substantially below the level of the bed, the base structure having along its side remote from the bed a retaining structure standing upright and being free from any'retaining structure on its side nearest the bed, sliding the mattress from the bed sidewardly until it bends downvover said side of the bed and its edge adjacent to the moving device dips downwardly gravitationally directly onto said base structure, continuing movement of the mattress and swinging it away from the bed until it stands up on edge on said base-structure and with its face that was upwardly facing resting againstvsaid upright retaining structure, retaining the mattress in said edge standing position onthe base structure and against said upstanding retaining structure and securing upstanding retaining structure on said side of said base structure nearest the bed and retainingly against the opposite face of the mattress, moving said handling device with the mattress thereon about and realigning it with-the bed with the originally upwardly facing face of the mattress adjacent to one 'side of the bed, removing the first mentioned upright standing retaining structure from said originally upwardly facing face, and swinging and bending the mattress over onto the bed and sliding it back onto the bed off of said handling device and with said originally upwardly facing face of the mattress now facing downwardly on the bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT oFrTcE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTTGN Patent No. 3,136,429

June 9, 1964 Albert Adolph Kleinschmidt It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 18, for "series" read serious column 4, line 41, for "or" read of column 6, line 8, for "slide" read slid line 40, for "wheel" read wheeled line 45, for "of" read on Signed and sealed this 20th day of October 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. IN A METHOD OF MOVING A MATTRESS FROM A BED. ATTACHING A PULL MEMBER TO ONE SIDE OF THE MATTRESS ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE MATTRESS, PULLING AND SLIDING THE MATTRESS TOWARD ITS OPPOSITE SIDE AND OVER THAT SIDE OF THE BED BY PULLING ON SAID PULL MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE UNTIL THE MATTRESS AS IT LEAVES THE BED BENDS DOWN FROM SAID ONE SIDE OF THE BED AND SAID OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MATTRESS DIPS DOWN TOWARD THE FLOOR BY GRAVITY INDUCED ACTION. AND RECEIVING SAID OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MATTRESS DIRECTLY IN ENGAGEMENT ON A WHEEL MATTRESS MOVING DEVICE BASE DISPOSED BELOW THE BED AND CLOSE TO THE FLOOR ADJACENT TO SAID SIDE OF THE BED,