WO2024232933A1

WO2024232933A1 - Bedmaking tools and methods of making and using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2024232933A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/079062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Travis R. LEWIS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-05-09
Filing date: 2023-11-08
Publication date: 2024-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-09

Abstract

Bedmaking tools (10) and the methods of making and using the bedmaking tools (10).

Description

BEDMAKING TOOLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

This application is being filed as a PCT International Patent Application in the name of Travis R. Lewis, a U.S. citizen, on 09 November 2023, designating all countries, and claiming the benefit of priority to (i) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/465,030 filed on May 09, 2023 entitled “BEDMAKING TOOLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME,” and (ii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/529,045 filed on July 26, 2023 entitled “BEDMAKING TOOLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME,” the subject matter of both of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bed-making tools, and the use of bedmaking tools to make a bed.

BACKGROUND

Bed mattresses are cumbersome to work with, heavy, awkward, and many times a source for potential back strain and other injuries. Some people are not physically capable of moving and maneuvering bed mattresses due to their size and weight.

There is a need in the art for tools that can assist a person moving and/or maneuvering a bed mattress. Efforts continue to further develop tools that can assist a person moving and/or maneuvering a bed mattress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to bed-making tools. In some embodiments of the present invention, the bedmaking tool comprises: a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, the tool body comprising

(a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component, (ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and (iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component,

(b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end, wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end of the wedge component to the first end of the tool handle component when the wedge component is connected to the tool handle component in a locked, use configuration.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the bedmaking tool comprises: a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, said tool body comprising (a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component, (ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and (iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component, (b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end, wherein at least a portion of the wedge component at the wedge component connecting end is hollow such that the tool handle component connecting end of the tool handle component is positionable therein, wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end of the wedge component to the first end of the tool handle component when the wedge component is connected to the tool handle component in a locked, use configuration.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the bedmaking tool comprises: a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, said tool body comprising (a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component, (ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and (iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component, (b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end, wherein the wedge component is hollow from the wedge component connecting end to (i) the bottom surface, or (ii) the rear major surface, or (iii) a location between the bottom surface and the rear major surface (i.e., a rear surface of heel as shown, for example, in FIG. 2), and the tool handle component connecting end of the tool handle component is positionable therein, and wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end of the wedge component to the first end of the tool handle component when the wedge component is connected to the tool handle component in a locked, use configuration.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the bedmaking tool comprises: a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, said tool body comprising (a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component, (ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and (iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component, (b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end, wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end of the wedge component to the first end of the tool handle component when the wedge component is connected to the tool handle component in a locked, use configuration, and (c) a locking component, the locking component being connectable to (i) the tool handle component and/or (ii) the wedge component, and enabling connection of the tool handle component to the wedge component.

The present invention is also directed to methods of making bed-making tools. In some embodiments of the present invention, the method of making a bed-making tool comprises: forming a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, the tool body comprising (a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component,

(ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and

(iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component, (b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end, said forming step comprising at least one of: a thermoforming step, a machining step, a molding step, and an extrusion step.

The present invention is further directed to methods of using bed-making tools. In some embodiments of the present invention, the method of using a bed-making tool comprises: positioning a bedmaking tool proximate a mattress, the bedmaking tool comprising: a tool body having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, the tool body comprising (a) a wedge component comprising (i) a wedge portion comprising a tool front edge (or nose) at a first end of the wedge component, (ii) a wedge component connecting end opposite the first end of the wedge component, and (iii) a heel positioned between the wedge portion and the wedge component connecting end, the heel comprising a heel surface portion having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion of the wedge component, (b) a tool handle component comprising (i) a tool handle (or cantilever arm) at a first end of the tool handle component, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end opposite the first end of the tool handle component, the tool handle component connecting end being connectable to the wedge component connecting end, (c) a front major surface extending from the tool front edge towards the wedge component connecting end, (d) a bottom surface extending from the tool front edge to the heel surface portion, and (e) a rear major surface extending from the heel surface portion towards the wedge component connecting end; inserting the wedge portion of the bed-making tool between a mattress and a box spring; and at least one of: positioning a sheet between the mattress and the box spring using the wedge portion of the bed-making tool, lifting the mattress by pushing down on the tool handle (or cantilever arm) of the bed-making tool, moving the mattress relative to the box spring using the bed-making tool, connecting the wedge component to the tool handle component, and locking the wedge component in a connected, locked position with the tool handle component.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an exemplary bed-making tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from a lower (i.e., bottom) side of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left-side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary bed-making tool along view 4A-4A shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1 with a tool handle component of the exemplary bed-making tool extending within and through a wedge component of the exemplary bed-making tool;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a left-side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 1 with the tool handle component of the exemplary bed-making tool extending and the wedge component of the exemplary bed-making tool separated from and unattached to one another;

FIG. 9 is a left-side profile view of another exemplary bed-making tool of the present invention shown in a compacted (i.e., storage) state;

FIG. 10 is a left-side profile view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 9 but shown in an expanded (i.e., use) state;

FIG. 11 is a perspective front view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a left-side profile view of another exemplary bed-making tool of the present invention shown in an expanded (i.e., use) state;

FIG. 14 is a perspective rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 13; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another exemplary bed-making tool of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a left-side profile view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 16 with (i) the tool handle component of the exemplary bed-making tool and (ii) the wedge component of the exemplary bed-making tool separated from and unattached to one another, and shown in an expanded (i.e., use) state;

FIG. 19 is a perspective rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 16 with (i) the tool handle component of the exemplary bed-making tool and (ii) the wedge component of the exemplary bed-making tool separated from and unattached to one another, and shown in a compacted (i.e., storage) state;

FIG. 20 is a side view of another exemplary bed-making tool, similar to the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 13, but with additional tool components, namely, an exemplary launch pad, and an exemplary knee pad;

FIG. 21 is a front view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective front view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a perspective rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a close-up view of the exemplary launch pad storage set-up for the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20 positioned on the exemplary launch pad during use;

FIG. 26 is a perspective rear view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20 positioned on the exemplary launch pad during use;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the components used to form the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20, and assembly thereof;

FIG. 27A is a perspective view of another exemplary wedge component of the exemplary bed-making tool, wherein a front major surface of the wedge component comprises grooves therein;

FIG. 28 is a top view of an exemplary mattress and sheet assembly;

FIG. 29 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a front edge of the exemplary bed-making tool under a mattress;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 20 in a use position with a front edge of the exemplary bed-making tool under a mattress and positioned along an exemplary launch pad; FIG. 31 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a lower portion of the exemplary bed-making tool under and lifting a mattress;

FIG. 32 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a lower portion of the exemplary bed-making tool lifting and holding up a mattress with a tool handle portion pushed under the mattress;

FIG. 33 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a lower portion of the exemplary bed-making tool lifting and holding up a mattress with a tool handle portion pushed under the mattress, and a sheet positioned over the mattress;

FIG. 34 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a sheet portion extending under the mattress between the mattress and a lower portion of the exemplary bed-making tool;

FIG. 35 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a front edge of the exemplary bed-making tool guiding a sheet along an upper surface of a mattress; and

FIG. 36 is a side view of the exemplary bed-making tool shown in FIG. 5 in a use position with a front edge of the exemplary bed-making tool guiding a sheet along a side surface of a mattress and under the mattress.

The features of the present bed-making tool and methods are set forth in part in the following preferred embodiments. This overview is intended to provide nonlimiting descriptions of the present subject matter and is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation. The preferred embodiments below provide further information about the bed-making tools and methods of the present invention as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bedmaking tools. The bedmaking tools can be used to assist someone in dressing, making, moving, handling, and/or preparing a bed that utilizes industry standard mattresses, such as a mattress with box springs. Exemplary bedmaking tools are shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-27A.

As shown in FIGS. 1-27A, exemplary bedmaking tool 10 comprises: a tool body 11 having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, and an overall thickness T_o. Exemplary tool body 11 comprises a wedge component 120 comprising (i) a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of wedge component 120, (ii) a wedge component connecting end 121 opposite the first end 14 of the wedge component 120, and (iii) a heel 17 positioned between the wedge portion 12 and the wedge component connecting end 121. The heel 17 comprises a heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and represents a rear major surface portion 129 of the wedge component 120. Exemplary tool body 11 further comprises a tool handle component 150 comprising (i) a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) at a first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end 151 opposite the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150. The tool handle component connecting end 151 is connectable to the wedge component connecting end 121.

Exemplary tool body 11 further comprises a front major surface 20 extending from the tool front edge 13 towards the wedge component connecting end 121, a bottom surface 21 extending from the tool front edge 13 to the heel surface portion 18, and a rear major surface 19 extending from the heel surface portion 18 towards the wedge component connecting end 121

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-8, in some embodiments, exemplary bedmaking tool 10 has a front major surface 20 that forms a first acute angle A with the bottom surface 21 along the wedge portion 12 of the tool body 11 (see, for example, FIG. 3). As shown in FIGS. 9-27A, in other embodiments, exemplary bedmaking tool 10 has a front major surface 20 that is substantially parallel with the bottom surface 21 along the wedge portion 12 of the tool body 11 (see, for example, FIG. 9).

The tool handle portion 15 of the cantilever arm 15 provides a non-slip grip for operational use, and may comprise a hole 22 where a cord (not shown) could be inserted to allow for hanging and storing. As shown in FIGS. 9-27, in some embodiments, tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) of the tool handle component 150 further comprises a hand-gripping opening 65 extending through the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150 (see, for example, FIG. 9).

The designed profile of the bedmaking tools 10 provides a number of advantages. The bedmaking tools 10 may comprise a solid profile as shown in FIGS. 9-27, a hollow shell profile as shown in FIGS. 1-8, and/or an “I-Beam” like cavity appearance as shown in FIGS. 1-8, which provides manufacturing advantages and efficiencies, as well as structural and mechanical advantages over some other methods. For example, by manufacturing with cavities, the method provides injection molding advantages for releasing from molds as well as better control over wall thicknesses, and structural integrities. In addition, the arc of curvature along the heel 17, as represented by the heel surface portion 18, desirably has an arc of curvature having a radius of about 6.0 inches (or any radius ranging from about 4.0 inches to 8.0 inches, in increments of 0.1 inch, with 6.0 inches being the preferred radius), which provides stability when lifting a mattress as discussed below. As discussed herein, the present invention is directed to a cosmetically, visually pleasing home utility bedmaking tool 10 that assists a user in various aspects of making a bed and maneuvering a mattress. The bedmaking tool 10 of the present invention provides at least the following ways of helping with a mattress:

1. Handling of a Mattress

Method steps of shifting, lifting, and prying are necessary to make the chore of working with a mattress more manageable and less of a safety risk. For example, the step of aligning a mattress with its matching box spring underneath requires, at a minimum, shifting the mattress, and in some cases lifting the mattress. In addition, mattress makers prefer that a mattress be rotated and flipped often to prevent wear, settlement, and fatigue in the engineered materials of the mattress, and to refresh the mattress and provide a better sleeping experience for the user.

Many users find it difficult to initiate these endeavors due to the low height of the mattress to the ground, its proximity to the box spring, and the distance required to get underneath the mattress to initiate a better lift angle. To assist in these endeavors and potentially prevent further back strain, the bedmaking tools 10 of the present invention provide the ability to shift a bed mattress more easily (i.e., as shown, for example, in FIGS. 29-30), and at least partially lift the mattress (i.e., as shown, for example, in FIGS. 31-33). It also provides enough lift to allow a user to get underneath the mattress and get a better strong hold when rotating out and/or attempting to flip a mattress (see, again, FIG. 31).

2. Installation of Fitted Sheets

Making a bed (i.e., working with sheets) and putting fitted sheets on mattresses (see FIG. 28) can be a source of frustration and prove to be difficult to nearly impossible if the sheets that are being installed are not sized correctly for the mattress that is being dressed. Consumer purchased sheets do not always hold to the same tolerance guidelines (nor do mattress makers), and so there is an obvious opportunity for variance and installation ease or difficulty. With various methods of designing a mattress to provide market advantages, as well as the result of engineered intent, mattress thicknesses often widely vary. This alone results in most sheeting to fit differently between beds. However, even if a sheet fits correctly, working with a mattress and fitted sheets still present challenges. Some of the challenges to consider, regardless of whether the sheet is a proper fit or not, are as follows: a. there may be external objects and items in the way of the corner or side of the mattress, which proves to make the chore difficult to complete; b. headboards, as well as footboards, may be tight to a mattress and may prove difficult to work within; c. mattress may be too heavy to maneuver for the person whether it be due to age, injury, physical limitations, or any combination thereof; and d. the experience of pulling even correctly fitted sheets over the mattress can be made even easier.

In order to solve this issue, a user must get the corner (often last corner) of the fitted sheet over their mattress and hope that they have done a good enough job so that it does not release from the corner once the person gets into the bed. The disclosed bedmaking tools 10 solve this problem by allowing the user to lift and lock up a comer (see FIG. 33) of the mattress and shortening the corner-to-corner distance (36) (see FIG. 28), allowing for further reach of the fitted sheet to the mattress. If the mattress diagonal corner to diagonal corner distance is X when it is in a flat state (37), by lifting and bending a corner with the tool, it naturally brings the corner to a shorter distance <X (36). By doing this, it allows more fitted sheeting material to reach further into the mattress and creates a more accessible (due to it being raised to a more manageable height and away from interferences) and attainable environment for a successful sheet installation. The device locks the mattress up, freeing the hands to work with the sheets. As shown in FIG. 32 the force of mattress weight (27) is supported by bedmaking tool 10 (see again FIG. 32).

3. Adjusting Bed Skirting

In the same way that the bedmaking tool lifts a mattress corner, making it more accessible, the bedmaking tool can also be installed and used in the middle of a mattress, allowing the user to lift the entire side of the mattress to work with and adjust decorative bed skirting. It is often difficult, as stated above, to work with the weight of a mattress. Often with bed skirting, lifting is required in order to make proper adjustments for a good cosmetically appealing dress. The bedmaking tools of the present invention provide an accessible way to pry or even lift and lock up the mattress to provide access to the open edge of the bed. As mentioned before, the bedmaking tool locks the mattress up (i.e., in a lifted position as shown, for example, in FIGS. 31-33), freeing the user’s hands to work with the bed skirting.

4. Adjustment of Sheet Tensioners

Various tension bands are used in the industry to help hold corners of fitted sheets. When using these tension bands, it is cumbersome to work with and adjust to get the correct positioning and tension adjusted without having to maneuver and lift and adjust the mattress (i.e., in a similar manner when lifting the corner of the mattress to install a fitted sheet). One can use the bedmaking tool of the present invention to lift each corner of the mattress and install sheet tensioners. The bedmaking tool of the present invention makes relatively easy work for adjusting and installing fitted sheet corners with these tension bands. Allowing for an “under the hood” approach to working with adjustments and correcting.

5. Tucking the Perimeter of the Bed Sheets

For those who suffer from back injuries or choose to be preventative in these matters, there are further challenges in tucking the hanging tail of the loose bed sheet and the fitted sheet into the perimeter of the bed. This requires one to bend over, putting undue strain on one's back and working the sheets between the mattress and the box spring, tucking in the perimeter tail of these sheets. Often it is required that one has to lift the mattress to get the sheet neatly tucked between the two. With the bedmaking tool of the present invention, a user can do this while still standing upright.

6. Quick Flipping the Comers

The bedmaking tools 10 of the present invention enable a quick installation method for getting tight fitted sheets over the corner of a bed mattress either to quickly make a bed or the initial step of getting extremely tight sheets over the mattress to then be lifted and then adjusted with the comer lift method. The bedmaking tool 10 of the present invention provides a quick and leveraged way of working with an aggravating tight corner and flipping the sheet over the edge of this corner as shown in FIGS. 35-36.

The bedmaking tools 10 of the present invention may further comprise one or more of the features shown in FIGS. 1-36, and described below: eye 22 for hanging bedmaking tool 10 on, for example, a nail head; a handle butt 23 for reducing the tendency for the users’ hand to slip; a hand-gripping opening 65 extending through the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150 (see, for example, FIG. 9); the ability to stand upright and not fall over when left on a floor (or another flat surface); a gripping portion 15’ along the tool handle 15; a rear surface 19 having a locking curvature that allows the tool 10 to past below a horizontal plane 32 as shown in FIGS. 31-33; heel 17 that provides a pivot radius upon which the levering action rolls and pivots. This heel rolls on the box spring and allows the mattress to be moved upward by a cam-like action. It’s radius size, for example, of about 0.25 inches (in) or greater, typically, 0.25 in or greater, and more typically 0.5 in or greater, and even more typically, about 1.0 in or greater, makes for a gradual transition for smooth rotation; tool may, for example, have an overall height H_o of about 20 in to about 28 in, when assembled for use, which allows for proper leverage; tool may, for example, have an overall height H_o of about 10 in to about 20 in, when assembled and compacted for storage and/or use (see, FIGS. 5 and 33); the distance from (i) a pivot point on the heel 17 and (ii) a point where the user’s hand holds tool handle 15 provides leverage so the weight of the mattress 36 is reduced; a wedge portion 12 having a flat, solid profile wherein front major surface 20 is substantially parallel with the bottom surface 21 between the front edge or nose 13 of wedge portion 12 of the tool body 11 and the heel 17 (see, for example, FIG. 9); a wedge portion 12 having grooves 207 within the front major surface 20; when present, grooves 207 typically extend in an overall length L_o direction from a front edge or nose 13 of wedge portion 12 to or beyond a first concave curvature portion 24 of the wedge portion 12 (see, for example, FIG. 27A); a first angle A of about 15°, when present (i.e., when wedge portion 12 has an angled side profile as shown in FIGS. 1-8), which enables the tool 10 to (i) easily slide in between (i.e., be wedged between) mattress 36 and box spring 37, (ii) start the mattress 36 lifting sequence, and (iii) tightly tuck a sheet 35 in between the mattress 36 and box spring 37; a front edge or nose 13 of wedge portion 12 is sized and designed to (i) be inserted in between (or wedged between) the mattress 36 and box spring 37, (ii) support a mattress 36 once locked upward, (iii) not be too sharp of an edge (i.e., to puncture or cut a sheet 35 or mattress 36), but still have enough edge to perform a suitable sheet tucking function; a front edge or nose 13 of wedge portion 12 having a nose radius of about 3/16 in; a launch pad 75 that may be temporarily connected to a wedge component 120 (discussed below; see, for example, FIG. 20) or a tool handle component 150 (discussed below), and is used to provide a guided path of less resistance when inserting (“wedging”) the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37 (see, for example, FIG. 30); a knee pad 85 that may extend over a portion of the wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIG. 20), and provide a more comfortable contact for a user when inserting (“wedging”) the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37 (see, for example, FIG. 30); an angled handle butt 23 with a hand-gripping opening 65 therein at the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150 (see, for example, FIG. 13), wherein the angled handle butt 23 with hand-gripping opening 65 therein forms an angle B with a “foot portion” of a tool handle component 150 (discussed below), and angle B typically ranges from about 120° to about 150°, but could be any value between about 100° to about 180°; a wedge component 120 (discussed below; see, for example, FIG. 20) having an angle C between (i) a substantially flat portion 20’ extending along a wedge portion 12 of wedge component 120 away from a tool front edge 12, and (ii) a substantially flat portion 20” extending along the wedge component 120 towards a wedge component connecting end 121 of the wedge component 120 (or the tool handle component 150 when the tool handle component 150 is connected to the wedge component 120), and angle C is typically less than 90°, more typically from about 80° to about 89°, and even more typically about 84°; and a “stop” location 24 along wedge portion 12 for the tucking of the wedge portion 12 under a mattress 36.

The bedmaking tools 10 of the present invention may be used in one or more steps as shown in FIGS. 28-36, and described below.

Tucking Function arrow 33 shown in FIG. 30 shows the driving force performed by a user’s knee or leg 34 during the tucking of sheet 35 under mattress 36 (i.e., between mattress 36 and box spring 37); wedge portion 12 has a length that enables (i) penetration between the mattress 36 and box spring 37, and (ii) pushing of excess sheet 35 under the mattress 36; pushing the tool 10 up to shoulder 24 along wedge portion 12 provides enough length to perform an efficient “tuck” and creates a stopping point 11 for mattress 36 along tool 10.

Insertion of the Tool for Tucking and Initial Lifting Steps arrow 38 shown in FIGS. 29-30 shows a pull direction of the handle 15 once the tool 10 has been properly inserted to stopping point 11 for mattress 36 along tool 10 to (i) start a mattress 36 lift, or to be used for shifting the mattress 36; arrow 33 shown in FIGS. 29-30 shows the driving force performed by a user’s knee or leg 34 during the tucking of sheet 35 under mattress 36 (i.e., between mattress 36 and box spring 37); wedged space 39 shown in FIGS. 29-30 is created by tool 10 and/or launch pad 75, and represents the location where tucking takes place; for lifting, lever force shown arrow 38 is included to lift the mattress 36 with the tool

10

Lifting Rotation Moment arrow 40 shown in FIG. 31 shows the motion that lifts mattress 36, using the radiused heel 17 as a rolling pivot; arrow 41 shown in FIG. 31 shows the counter-moment in which the weight of the mattress 36 exerts down and causes the tool handle 15 to push down into the box spring 37, “locking” the tool 10 into place and keeps the mattress 36 up; in some embodiments, a distance Dp from (i) the front edge or nose 13 of wedge portion 12 to (ii) a pivot point pp along a portion of rear major surface 19 along heel 17 is approximately 9.0 in; Other Details of Operation Shown in the Figures a foot 46 of the tool 10, which comprises wedge portion 12 and heel 17, is shown in FIG. 32, and includes the anatomy of the tool 10 to the right of the break line 45; break line 45 is a plane in which the edge/tip 13 of the wedge portion 12 is in line or to the left of the heel 17; stopping point 47 is where box spring 37 meets curved neck 15 of tool 10; in some embodiments, tool 10 desirably has enough curve in the tool handle 15 area (i.e., along rear major surface 19) to allow enough swing angle for the wedge portion 12 and its supporting nose or front edge 13 to clear the break line 45 so that a desired rotational moment occurs to keep the tool 10 under the mattress 36 and locked down; in some embodiments, if the nose or front edge 13 is to the right of the break line 45, the tool 10 is pushed out from the mattress 36 and does not stay up on its own; horizontal break line 32 for tool handle 15 is shown in FIG. 32, and desirably tool handle 15 passes through and/or aligns with horizontal break line 32 to allow for a full rotation so that tool handle 15 is near or below the horizontal break line 32 when it is in a locked state;

FIG. 33 shows fitted sheet 35 being applied over a corner of mattress 36 with corner 48 of the fitted sheet 35 to be pulled over the comer of the mattress 36 once the corner of the mattress 36 is up and locked; sitting point 49 shown in FIG. 33 is where nose or front edge 13 meets mattress 36, and desirably, at this point, mattress 36 can envelope the nose or front edge 13 and keep the tool 10 in place securely;

FIG. 29 shows mattress 36 with fitted sheet 35 being installed thereon, with distance Di showing the distance that fitted sheet 35 extends once positioned using tool 10, and distance DR represents a length of a partially installed fitted sheet 35 in a relaxed state during normal installation circumstances

FIGS. 35-36 show a quick comer flip sheet installation, wherein pulling moment 50 is used to flip a corner 48 of the fitted sheet 35 over the corner 51 of the mattress 36 (as shown in FIG. 35), with sheet material take-up 58 represent sheet material 35 that tool 10 will position past a pinch point 59; pinch point 59 is the “hinge” or “pinch” point at which the nose or front edge 13 of tool 13 will pivot into the mattress 36 (i.e., along corner 51 of mattress 36); and the elastic portion of fitted sheet 35 will snap and spring over the heel 17 of the tool 10 and be diverted to the lowest point on the corner 48 that the sheet material take-up 58 will allow, which is referred to herein as “shooting the corner,” namely, the tension in the elastic will slide off the heel 17 and spring down the side of the mattress 36. Additional Embodiments:

Bedmaking Tools

1. A bedmaking tool 10 comprising: a tool body 11 having an overall height H_o, an overall width Wo, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, said tool body 11 comprising (a) a wedge component 120 comprising (i) a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of said wedge component 120, (ii) a wedge component connecting end 121 opposite said first end 14 of said wedge component 120, and (iii) a heel 17 positioned between said wedge portion 12 and said wedge component connecting end 121, said heel 17 comprising a heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion 129 of said wedge component 120, (b) a tool handle component 150 comprising (i) a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) at a first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end 151 opposite said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, said tool handle component connecting end 151 being connectable to said wedge component connecting end 121, (c) a front major surface 20 extending from said tool front edge 13 towards (i) said wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when said tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to said wedge component connecting end 121, towards said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, (d) a bottom surface 21 extending from said tool front edge 13 to said heel surface portion 18, and (e) a rear major surface 19 extending from said heel surface portion 18 towards (i) said wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when said tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to said wedge component connecting end 121, towards said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, wherein said overall length L_o comprises a distance from said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150 when said wedge component 120 is connected to said tool handle component 150 in a locked, use configuration (i.e., as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 10-13, 16-17, 25-26, 29-30, and 34-36).

2. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 1, wherein a portion of said tool body 11 comprises an I-beam type construction comprising (a) a front I-beam member 201 providing a portion of said front major surface 20, (b) a rear I-beam member 191 providing a portion of said bottom surface 21 and/or a portion of said rear major surface 19, and (c) an intermediate I-beam connecting member 271 extending between said front I-beam member 201 and said rear I-beam member 191, said front I-beam member 201 being a distance d from said rear I-beam member 191 along said overall length L_o of said tool body 11. See, for example, FIGS. 1-8.

3. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 2, wherein said portion of said tool body 11 that comprises an I-beam type construction comprises a portion of the wedge portion 12, a portion of the heel 17, a portion of the tool handle 15, or any combination thereof. 4. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 2 or 3, wherein said portion of said tool body

11 that comprises an I-beam type construction comprises a portion of the wedge portion 12, and a portion of the heel 17. See again, for example, FIGS. 1-8.

5. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein said wedge portion

12 has a flat profile (i.e., not angled) such that the front major surface 20 is substantially parallel with the bottom surface 21 between the tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) of wedge portion 12 and the heel 17 (see, for example, FIGS. 9-27).

6. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein said front major surface 20 comprises (i) a substantially flat portion 20’ extending along said wedge portion 12 away from said tool front edge 12, (ii) a first concave curvature portion 24 extending from said substantially flat portion 20’ towards said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iii) a substantially flat portion 20” extending along said wedge component 120 between said first concave curvature portion 24 and said wedge component connecting end 121. In some embodiments, front major surface 20 further extends along said tool handle component 150 when said tool handle component 150 is connected to said wedge component 120.

7. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein a combined rear major surface 190 comprises (i) said bottom surface 21, (ii) said heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing said rear major surface portion 129 of the wedge component 120, (iii) said rear major surface 19 extending from said heel surface portion 18 towards said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iv) a rear surface portion 19” extending along said tool handle component 150 when said tool handle component 150 is connected to said wedge component 120. As discussed above, the arc of curvature along heel 17, representing heel surface portion 18, desirably has an arc of curvature with an arc radius of about 0.25 inches (or any radius ranging from about 0.25 inches to 4.0 inches, in increments of 0.1 inch, with 1.0 inches being the preferred radius).

8. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, and 6 to 7, wherein a first portion 20’ of said front major surface 20 forms a first acute angle A with said bottom surface 21 along said wedge portion 12 of said wedge component 120,

9. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 8, wherein first acute angle A is less than about 45°.

10. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 8 or 9, wherein first acute angle A is from about 10° to about 30°.

11. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 8 to 10, wherein first acute angle A is about 15°. 12. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 2 to 11, wherein said distance d varies from about 0 at said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) up to about 3.0 inches (in) along said portion of said tool body 11 comprises an I-beam type construction. It should be noted that distance d can be any length greater than 0 up to 3.0 in, in increments of 0.1 in, e.g., about 2.2 in, or any range of values between 0 and 3.0 in, in increments of 0.1 in, e.g., from about 0.1 in to about 2.8 in.

13. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 2 to 12, wherein said distance d varies from about 0 at said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) up to about 2.0 in along said overall length L_o of said tool body 11.

14. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, and 12 to 13, wherein said distance d is substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17 of said tool body 11.

15. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein said overall height H_o ranges from about 6.0 inches (in) to about 48.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.0 in to about 6.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.15 in to about 4.0 in, and said overall length L_o ranges from about 9.0 in to about 60.0 in. It should be noted that the (i) overall height H_o, (ii) overall width W_o, (iii) overall thickness T_o, and/or (iv) overall length L_o of the herein-described bedmaking tool 10 can be any value, and especially any value within a given range of values, in increments of 0.1 in. In addition, a length of the foot portion LF can range from about 6.0 in to about 12.0 in (or any value or range of values between 6.0 in and 12.0 in, in increments of 0.1 in, with a preferred length of about 9.0 in.

16. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein said overall height H_o ranges from about 12.0 in to about 30.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.5 in to about 4.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.2 in to about 3.5 in, and said overall length L_o ranges from about 18.0 in to about 45.0 in.

17. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein said overall height Ho is about 24.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.5 in to about 3.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.2 in to about 0.8 in (e.g., about 0.5 in when angle A is about 0°, or a range of from 0.5 in to 1.5 in when angle A is greater than 0° up to about 15°), and said overall length L_o is about 21.0 in.

18. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein said overall width W_o remains substantially constant along said tool body 11.

19. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein said overall width

Wo varies along said tool body 11. 20. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17 and 19, wherein said overall width Wo (i) remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17, and (ii) decreases along said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

21. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17 and 19, wherein said overall width Wo (i) remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17, (ii) decreases along said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iii) increases along said tool handle component 150 from said tool handle component connecting end 151 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

22. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, 19, and 21, wherein said overall width W_o is greatest along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17. See, for example, FIGS. 1 and 5.

23. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, 19, and 21, wherein said overall width W_o is greatest at said first end 16. See, for example, FIG. 15.

24. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 23, wherein said overall thickness T_o varies along said tool body 11.

25. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein said overall thickness T_o is greatest (i) along said heel 17 of said wedge component 120 (see, for example, thickness TF shown along heel 17 in FIG. 7), or (ii) along a locking location 124 of said wedge component 120 (see, for example, thickness Ts shown along locking location 124 in FIG. 7). See, for example, FIGS. 7, 9, 13, and 17.

26. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, 6 to 13, and 14 to 25, wherein said overall thickness T_o gradually increases along said wedge portion 12, reaches a first greater thickness along said heel 17, remains substantially constant from said heel 17 to a second greater thickness at a locking location 124 of said wedge component 120, and decreases along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said locking location 124 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

27. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 26, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

28. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, 12 to 25, and 27, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17 of said tool body 11. See again, for example, FIGS. 9-27. 29. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, 12 to 25, and 27 to 28, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to beyond said heel 17 towards said wedge component connecting end 121 of said tool body 11. See again, for example, FIGS. 9- 27.

30. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, 12 to 25, and 27 to 29, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17, and ranges from about 0.15 in to about 0.8 in (e.g., 0.5 in).

31. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, 12 to 25, and 27 to 30, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to beyond said heel 17 towards said wedge component connecting end 121 of said tool body 11 (see, for example, thickness Ts shown in FIG. 7), and ranges from about 0.3 in to about 0.6 in. See again, for example, FIGS. 9-27.

32. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 31, wherein each of (i) an overall length of said wedge component 120, and (ii) an overall length of said tool handle component 150 independently ranges from about 6.0 in to about 24.0 in.

33. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 32, wherein each of (i) an overall length of said wedge component 120, and (ii) an overall length of said tool handle component 150 independently ranges from about 11.0 in to about 19.0 in.

34. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 33, wherein (i) said wedge component 120, or (ii) said tool handle component 150, or both (i) and (ii) comprises one or more connecting features at said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151 to enable said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

35. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 34, (i) said wedge component 120, or (ii) said tool handle component 150, or both (i) and (ii) comprises one or more connecting features at said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151 to enable said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120, said one or more connecting features comprising a mechanical connector (e.g., a hook, a hinge, a pin/bolt/screw, etc.), one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said wedge component 120 and/or said tool handle component 150, a locking device 180 that temporarily locks said wedge component 120 to said tool handle component 150, a channel 125 at and/or along said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151, or any combination thereof.

36. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 35, wherein at least a portion of said wedge component 120 at said wedge component connecting end 121 is hollow such that said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 is positionable therein.

37. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 36, wherein said wedge component 120 is hollow from said wedge component connecting end 121 to said heel 17.

38. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 37, wherein said wedge component 120 is hollow from said wedge component connecting end 121 to (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19 (see, for example, in FIG. 20), or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19 (i.e., a rear surface of heel 17 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2).

39. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 38, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises a channel 125 extending from said wedge component connecting end 121 to (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19 (i.e., a rear surface of heel 17 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2). See also, for example, exemplary channel 125 shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 8, 10, and 13. It should be understood that although the bedmaking tool 10 is described as comprising a wedge component 120 with a channel 125 extending thru and/or along the wedge component 120 so that a portion of the tool handle component 150 slides within and/or thru the channel 125 along the wedge component 120, the bedmaking tool 10 of the present invention may alternatively comprise a tool handle component 150 with a channel 125 extending thru and/or along the tool handle component 150 so that a portion of the wedge component 120 slides within and/or thru the channel 125 along the tool handle component 150.

40. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 39, wherein a portion of an overall length LTH of said tool handle component 150 slides within and/or thru a channel 125 of said wedge component 120 that extends from (a) said wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19 (i.e., a rear surface of heel 17 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2). See, for example, exemplary channel 125 in FIG. 5. It should be noted that any amount of the overall length LTH of tool handle component 150 may slide within and/or thru channel 125 of the wedge component 120 (e.g., from 10% to 100% of an overall length LTH of the tool handle component 150, in increments of 1.0%, such as 20.1% or 50.0%, etc. up to 100%). 41. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 40, wherein 100% of an overall length LTH of said tool handle component 150 slides within and/or thru a channel 125 of said wedge component 120 that extends from (a) said wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19 (i.e., a rear surface of heel 17 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2).

42. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 41, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises a channel 156 that extends from (a) said tool handle component connecting end 121 to (b)(i) said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, or (ii) a point between said tool handle component connecting end 121 and said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

43. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 42, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See, for example, exemplary connecting opening or hole 155 shown in FIGS. 8 and 27.

44. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 43, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises (1) a channel 156 that extends from (a) said tool handle component connecting end 121 to (b)(i) said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, or (ii) a point between said tool handle component connecting end 121 and said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, and (2) one or more connecting openings or holes 155 extending from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

45. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 44, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said wedge component 120 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See, for example, FIGS. 8, 13, and 27.

46. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 45, wherein (a) said tool handle component 150 comprises a connecting opening or hole 155 within a portion of said front major surface 20 along said tool handle component 150, and (b) said wedge component 120 comprises a connecting opening or hole 127 within a portion of said front major surface 20 along said wedge component 120 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See again, for example, exemplary connecting opening or hole 155 shown in FIG. 8. 47. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 46, further comprising a locking component 180, said locking component 180 being connectable to and/or connected to (a) said tool handle component 150 and/or (b) said wedge component 120, and enabling connection of said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120. See, for example, exemplary locking component 180 shown in FIGS. 8 and 27.

48. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 47, wherein said locking component 180 is connectable to and/or connected to said wedge component 120. See again, for example, exemplary locking component 180 shown in FIGS. 8 and 27.

49. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 47 or 48, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a locking member 182 that is moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said locking member 182 locks (i.e., connects) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIG. 1) to (b) a disengaged position in which said locking member 182 is positioned to not lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIG. 5). See again, for example, exemplary locking device 180 shown in FIGS. 8 and 27.

50. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 49, wherein said locking member 182 comprises one or more locking projections 184, said one or more locking projections 184 being moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said one or more locking projections 184 extends thru

(i) one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and/or

(ii) to one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to lock (i.e., connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIG. 1) to (b) a disengaged position in which said one or more locking projections 184 does not extend thru (i) one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and/or (ii) one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 so as not to lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

51. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 47 to 50, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more locking component connectors 186 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to (a) said tool handle component 150 and/or (b) said wedge component 120.

52. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 47 to 51, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more locking component connectors 186 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to said wedge component 120. 53. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 51 or 52, wherein said one or more locking component connectors 186 comprise one or more locking component connectors 186 along opposite side edges 187 of said locking component 180.

54. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 51 or 52, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises one or more wedge locking component connectors 128 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to said wedge component 120. In some embodiments, the one or more locking component connectors 128 comprise holes and/or indentations 128 as shown in FIG. 8.

55. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 51 to 54, wherein said locking component 180 is connected to said wedge component 120 in a spring-loaded condition in which said locking component 180 is moving towards an engaging position (e.g., into an engaged position) in which said locking projection 184 extends (i) thru one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and (ii) to one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to lock (i.e., fix in a connected position) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

56. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 39 to 55, wherein said channel 125 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See, for example, FIGS. 10, 13, and 20.

57. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 39 to 56, wherein said channel 125 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 along opposite side surfaces 131/132 of said channel 125 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See, for example, FIGS.

10, 13, and 20.

58. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 56 or 57, wherein said one or more connecting openings or holes 127 comprising from 2 to 24 connecting openings or holes 127.

59. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 39 to 58, wherein said channel 125 comprises two rows of connecting openings or holes 127 along opposite side surfaces 131/132 of said channel 125 with each row comprising from 2 to 8 connecting openings or holes 127 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120. See again, for example, FIGS. 10, 13, and 20.

60. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 39 to 59, further comprising a locking component 180 comprising a V-shaped clip 183 having locking projections 184 extending from each end of said V-shaped clip 183, each of said locking projections 184 being moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said locking projection 184 extends thru one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 to lock (i.e., connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIGS. 9-10, 13, and 20) to (b) a disengaged position in which said locking projection 184 does not extend thru the one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 so as not to lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIGS. 5-8, 10, and 27). See, for example, exemplary V- shaped clip 183 shown in FIG. 10A.

61. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 60, wherein each of said locking projections 184 extend thru a connecting opening or hole 155 within an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

62. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 60 or 61, wherein each of said locking projections 184 extends thru a connecting opening or hole 155 that extends from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

63. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 60 to 62, wherein said V-shaped clip 183 is positioned within said channel 156 with locking projections 184 of said V-shaped clip 183 positioned within connecting opening or holes 155 that extend from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

64. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 63, further comprising a launch pad 75 that provide a guided path for the bedmaking tool 10 when inserting (“wedging”) the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37 (see, for example, FIG. 30).

65. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 64, wherein said launch pad 75 comprises a launch pad upper surface 76, a launch pad lower surface 78 opposite said launch pad upper surface 76, and spaced apart guide rails 77 positioned along said launch pad upper surface 76, said spaced apart guide rails 77 providing a guided path for insertion of said bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37 (see, for example, FIG. 30).

66. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 65, wherein said launch pad 75 further comprises a launch pad connecting end portion 79, said launch pad connecting end portion 79 forming an angle D with said launch pad upper surface 76, said angle D ranging from about 80° to about 110°. See, for example, FIG. 22.

67. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 66, wherein said launch pad connecting end portion 79 extends substantially perpendicular to said launch pad upper surface 76 (i.e., angle D is about or exactly 90°). See, for example, FIG. 20.

68. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 64 to 67, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said bedmaking tool 10. 69. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 64 to 68, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said tool handle component 150.

70. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 64 to 69, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said wedge component 120.

71. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 64 to 70, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said locking projections 184 of said V-shaped clip 183 positioned within said channel 156 and extending out of connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120.

72. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 64 to 71, wherein said launch pad 75 further comprises launch pad connectors 81 positioned along said launch pad 75 for connecting said launch pad 75 to said bedmaking tool 10.

73. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 72, wherein said launch pad connectors 81 comprise loops 81 positioned along said launch pad 75.

74. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 72 or 73, wherein said launch pad connectors 81 comprise loops 81 positioned along said launch pad connecting end portion 79. See, for example, FIG. 27.

75. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 74, further comprising a knee pad 85, said knee pad 85 being (i) sized so as to extend over a portion of the wedge component 120 (see, for example, FIG. 20), and (ii) designed to provide cushioned contact for a user when inserting (“wedging”) the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37 (see, for example, FIG. 30).

76. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 75, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a tubular material.

77. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 75 or 76, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a knitted or woven material. In some embodiments, knee pad 85 comprises a thick neoprene material made into a sleeve. In other embodiments, knee pad 85 comprises a textile material similar to sweat wrist bands, that use a tightly woven thick fabric that is in the shape of a tube. In other embodiments, knee pad 85 comprises a looped cotton terry fabric with Lycra or an elastic therein. Typically, knee pad 85 has a pad length of about 3.0 to about 4.0 in.

78. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 75 to 77, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a foam component (not shown, but the foam component could be positioned so that a user’s knee contacts the foam component).

79. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 78, wherein said bedmaking tool 10 stands upright on a flat surface via said bottom surface 21. See, for example, in FIG. 1. When configured as shown, for example, in FIG. 7, the bedmaking tool 10 may or may not stand upright on a flat surface via said bottom surface 21 alone; however, typically all bedmaking tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1-27 stands upright on a flat surface via said bottom surface 21

80. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 79, further comprising a hole 22 extending through said tool handle component 150 at said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, said hole 22 being sized to accept a cord or string (not shown) that enables said bedmaking tool 10 to be stored on a nail (or similar item)(not shown).

81. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 80, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises one or more materials selected from a polymer, a fiber- reinforced polymer, a metal, a ceramic, a cellulosic material (e.g., wood), a foam material, or any combination thereof.

82. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 81, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises a polymer or a fiber-reinforced polymer. It should be understood that any polymer may be used to form the bedmaking tool 10 as long as the resulting bedmaking tool 10 has a desired amount of stiffness, rigidity, and lifting capacity. Suitable polymers include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymers and copolymers, etc.

83. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 82, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises polypropylene.

84. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 83, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises fiber-reinforced polypropylene. It should be understood that any reinforcing fiber may be used including, but not limited to, glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, etc., or any combination thereof. The fibers may be incorporated into the bedmaking tool 10 as individual fibers, unidirectional fibers, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a knit fabric, or any combination thereof.

85. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 82, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

86. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 82 and 85, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises fiber-reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 87. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 84, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently consists essentially of polypropylene.

88. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 84, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently consists essentially of fibers and polypropylene.

89. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 81, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises a metal. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum (cast or fabricated), stainless steel, iron, cast magnesium, or any combination thereof.

90. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 35 to 89, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more materials selected from a polymer, a metal, a ceramic, a cellulosic material (e.g., wood), a foam material, or any combination thereof.

91. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 35 to 90, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a polymer or metal.

92. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 35 to 91, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a polypropylene.

93. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 35 to 91, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a metal (e.g., any of the metals mentioned above).

94. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 60 to 91 and 93, wherein said V- shaped clip 183 comprises a metal (e.g., any of the metals mentioned above).

95. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 94, wherein said wedge portion 12 further comprises grooves 207 within said front major surface 20.

96. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 95, wherein said wedge portion 12 further comprises grooves 207 within said front major surface 20, said grooves 207 extending along said overall length L_o of said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 towards said wedge component connecting end 121.

97. The bedmaking tool 10 of embodiment 95 or 96, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to a first concave curvature portion 24 of said wedge portion 12 (see, for example, FIG. 27A).

98. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 95 to 97, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to a point beyond a first concave curvature portion 24 of said wedge portion 12 (see, for 1 example, FIG. 27A).

99. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 95 to 98, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 said wedge component connecting end 121.

100. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 95 to 99, wherein said grooves 207 comprise from about 4 to about 16 grooves 207.

101. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 95 to 100, wherein said grooves 207 comprise from about 8 to about 12 grooves 207.

102. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 101, wherein said bedmaking tool 10 further comprises one or more features recited in any one of embodiments 1 to 45 discussed in U.S. Utility Patent Application Serial No. 17/983,628 filed on November 9, 2022, and entitled “BEDMAKING TOOLS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME,” the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Methods of Making Bedmaking Tools

103. A method of making the bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 102, said method comprising at least one of: a thermoforming step, a machining step, a welding step, a molding step, and an extrusion step.

104. A method of making a bedmaking tool 10, said method comprising: forming a tool body 11 having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, the tool body 11 comprising: (a) a wedge component 120 comprising (i) a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of the wedge component 120, (ii) a wedge component connecting end 121 opposite the first end 14 of the wedge component 120, and (iii) a heel 17 positioned between the wedge portion 12 and the wedge component connecting end 121, the heel 17 comprising a heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion 129 of the wedge component 120, (b) a tool handle component 150 comprising (i) a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) at a first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end 151 opposite the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, the tool handle component connecting end 151 being connectable to the wedge component connecting end 121, (c) a front major surface 20 extending from the tool front edge 13 towards (i) the wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when the tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to the wedge component connecting end 121, towards the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, (d) a bottom surface 21 extending from the tool front edge 13 to the heel surface portion 18, and (e) a rear major surface 19 extending from the heel surface portion 18 towards (i) the wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when the tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to the wedge component connecting end 121, towards the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end 14 of the wedge component 120 to the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150 when the wedge component 120 is connected to the tool handle component 150 in a use configuration, said forming step comprising at least one of a thermoforming step (e.g., polymers or metals), a machining step, a welding step, a molding step, and an extrusion step.

105. The method of embodiment 104, further comprising: forming a launch pad 75 as described in embodiments 64 to 74.

106. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 105, wherein each of said forming steps independently comprises a thermoforming step (e.g., polymers or metals) or molding step. It should be noted that although the exemplary wedge components 120, and the exemplary tool handle components 150 shown in FIGS. 1-27 are shown as being one, single, integrally-formed (e.g., via injection molding) component, in other embodiments, each of wedge component 120, and tool handle component 150 may independently comprise two or more components joined/bonded to one another. For example, wedge component 120 could be formed from two separate pieces, such as (1) a receiving tube (i.e., which forms channel 125 within wedge component 120), and (2) an L shaped solid tucking foot (i.e., which forms front surfaces 20/20720” and wedge portion 12 of wedge component 120), welded to one another. The two or more components may be manufactured from metal, flat bars, cast aluminum or magnesium, etc.

107. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 106, wherein said forming step comprises one or more channel-forming steps that result in (i) a channel 125 extending thru the wedge component 120, (ii) a channel 156 extending thru the tool handle component 150, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

108. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 107, further comprising a hole-forming step, said hole-forming step being used to form a hole 22 through tool body 11 at second end 16

109. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 108, further comprising: forming a locking component 180, the locking component 180 being connectable to (a) the tool handle component 150 and/or (b) the wedge component 120, and enabling connection of the tool handle component 150 to the wedge component 120. See again, for example, exemplary locking component 180 shown in FIG. 8. 110. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 109, further comprising: forming grooves 207 within the front major surface 20 of wedge portion 12, wherein grooves 207 extend along the overall length L_o of the wedge portion 12 from the tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at the first end 14 of the wedge component 120 towards the wedge component connecting end 121

111. The method of any one of embodiments 103 to 110, further comprising any additional step, if any, needed to provide one or more features as described in embodiments 1 to 102.

Methods of Using Bedmaking Tools

112. A method of using the bedmaking tool 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 102, said method comprising: inserting a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of the wedge component 120 of the bed-making tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37.

113. The method of embodiment 112, further comprising at least one of: positioning a sheet 35 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 using the wedge portion 12 of the bed-making tool 10, lifting the mattress 36 by pushing down on a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) of the bed-making tool 10, and moving the mattress 36 relative to the box spring 37 using the bedmaking tool 10.

114. The method of embodiment 112 or 113, further comprising: connecting the tool handle component 150 to the wedge component 120.

115. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 114, further comprising: inserting the tool handle component 150 into a hollow portion of the wedge component 120 at the wedge component connecting end 121.

116. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 115, further comprising: adjusting a position of the tool handle component 150 within channel 125 of the wedge component 120 that extends from (a) the wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) the bottom surface 21, or (ii) the rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between the bottom surface 21 and the rear major surface 19 (i.e., a rear surface of heel 17 as shown, for example, in FIG. 2).

117. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 116, further comprising: locking the tool handle component 150 in a position along the wedge component 120.

118. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 117, further comprising: pushing the tool handle component 150 into channel 125 of the wedge component 120 after said lifting step so as to reduce the likelihood that a user bumps into the tool handle component 150 of the bedmaking tool 10. See, for example, FIG. 23. 119. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 118, further comprising: inserting a launch pad 75 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 prior to inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37.

120. The method of embodiment 119, wherein said step of inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 comprises inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and an upper surface 76 of the launch pad 75.

121. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 120, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the bedmaking tool 10.

122. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 121, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the tool handle component 150.

123. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 122, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the wedge component 120.

124. The method of any one of embodiments 112 to 123, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from locking projections 184 of a V-shaped clip 183 positioned within the channel 156 and extending out of connecting openings or holes 127 within the wedge component 120.

The present invention is described above and further illustrated below by way of examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations upon the scope of the invention. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that resort may be had to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description herein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or the scope of the appended claims.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of Bedmaking Tool

Exemplary bedmaking tools having one of more features (i) as shown in FIGS. 1-27A and/or (ii) as described in embodiments 1 to 102 above were prepared using conventional steps (e.g., one or more thermoforming steps, one or more machining steps, one or more 3D printing steps, one or more connection/assembly steps, one or more cutting steps, etc.).

EXAMPLE 2

Use of a Bedmaking Tool

Bedmaking tools formed in Example 1 were used in methods of making beds and/or manipulating a sheet 35, a mattress 36, and/or a box spring 37 as shown in FIGS. 28-36. It should be understood that although the above-described bedmaking tools, and/or methods are described as “comprising” one or more components or steps, the above-described bedmaking tools, and/or methods may “comprise,” “consists of,” or “consist essentially of’ any of the above-described components, features, or steps of the bedmaking tools, and/or methods. Consequently, where the present invention, or a portion thereof, has been described with an open-ended term such as “comprising,” it should be readily understood that (unless otherwise stated) the description of the present invention, or the portion thereof, should also be interpreted to describe the present invention, or a portion thereof, using the terms “consisting essentially of’ or “consisting of’ or variations thereof as discussed below.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” “contains,” “containing,” “characterized by” or any other variation thereof, are intended to encompass a non-exclusive inclusion, subject to any limitation explicitly indicated otherwise, of the recited components. For example, a bedmaking tool, and/or method that “comprises” a list of elements (e.g., components, features, or steps) is not necessarily limited to only those elements (or components or steps), but may include other elements (or components or steps) not expressly listed or inherent to the bedmaking tool, and/or method.

As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists of’ and “consisting of’ exclude any element, step, or component not specified. For example, “consists of’ or “consisting of’ used in a claim would limit the claim to the components, materials or steps specifically recited in the claim except for impurities ordinarily associated therewith (i.e., impurities within a given component). When the phrase “consists of’ or “consisting of’ appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, the phrase “consists of’ or “consisting of’ limits only the elements (or components or steps) set forth in that clause; other elements (or components) are not excluded from the claim as a whole.

As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists essentially of’ and “consisting essentially of’ are used to define a bedmaking tool, and/or method that includes materials, steps, features, components, or elements, in addition to those literally disclosed, provided that these additional materials, steps, features, components, or elements do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. The term “consisting essentially of’ occupies a middle ground between “comprising” and “consisting of.”

Further, it should be understood that the herein-described bedmaking tools, and/or methods may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any of the herein-described components and features, as shown in the figures with or without any feature(s) not shown in the figures. In other words, in some embodiments, the bedmaking tools, and/or methods of the present invention do not have any additional features other than those shown in the figures, and such additional features, not shown in the figures, are specifically excluded from the bedmaking tools, and/or methods. In other embodiments, the bedmaking tools, and/or methods of the present invention do have one or more additional features that are not shown in the figures.

While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A bedmaking tool 10 comprising: a tool body 11 having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, said tool body 11 comprising

(a) a wedge component 120 comprising (i) a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of said wedge component 120, (ii) a wedge component connecting end 121 opposite said first end 14 of said wedge component 120, and (iii) a heel 17 positioned between said wedge portion 12 and said wedge component connecting end 121, said heel 17 comprising a heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion 129 of said wedge component 120,

(b) a tool handle component 150 comprising (i) a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) at a first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end 151 opposite said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, said tool handle component connecting end 151 being connectable to said wedge component connecting end 121,

(c) a front major surface 20 extending from said tool front edge 13 towards (i) said wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when said tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to said wedge component connecting end 121, towards said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150,

(d) a bottom surface 21 extending from said tool front edge 13 to said heel surface portion 18, and

(e) a rear major surface 19 extending from said heel surface portion 18 towards (i) said wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when said tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to said wedge component connecting end 121, towards said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, wherein said overall length L_o comprises a distance from said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150 when said wedge component 120 is connected to said tool handle component 150 in a locked, use configuration.

2. The bedmaking tool 10 of any claim 1, wherein said wedge portion 12 has a flat profile (i.e., not angled) such that the front major surface 20 is substantially parallel with the bottom surface 21 between the tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) of wedge portion 12 and the heel 17.

3. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 1 or 2, wherein said front major surface 20 comprises (i) a substantially flat portion 20’ extending along said wedge portion 12 away from said tool front edge 12, (ii) a first concave curvature portion 24 extending from said substantially flat portion 20’ towards said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iii) a substantially flat portion 20” extending along said wedge component 120 between said first concave curvature portion 24 and said wedge component connecting end 121.

4. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a combined rear major surface 190 comprises (i) said bottom surface 21, (ii) said heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing said rear major surface portion 129 of the wedge component 120, (iii) said rear major surface 19 extending from said heel surface portion 18 towards said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iv) a rear surface portion 19” extending along said tool handle component 150 when said tool handle component 150 is connected to said wedge component 120.

5. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 1 or 4, wherein a first portion 20’ of said front major surface 20 forms a first acute angle A with said bottom surface 21 along said wedge portion 12 of said wedge component 120.

6. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 5, wherein first acute angle A is less than about 45°.

7. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 5 or 6, wherein first acute angle A is from about 10° to about 30°.

8. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein first acute angle A is about 15°.

9. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said distance d is substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17 of said tool body 11.

10. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said overall height H_o ranges from about 6.0 inches (in) to about 48.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.0 in to about 6.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.2 in to about 4.0 in, and said overall length L_o ranges from about 9.0 in to about 60.0 in.

11. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said overall height H_o ranges from about 12.0 in to about 30.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.5 in to about 4.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.3 in to about 3.5 in, and said overall length L_o ranges from about 18.0 in to about 45.0 in.

12. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said overall height H_o is about 24.0 in, said overall width W_o ranges from about 1.5 in to about 3.0 in, said overall thickness T_o ranges from about 0.3 in to about 3.2 in, and said overall length L_o is about 21.0 in.

13. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said overall width W_o remains substantially constant along said tool body 11.

14. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said overall width W_o varies along said tool body 11.

15. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12 and 14, wherein said overall width Wo (i) remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17, and (ii) decreases along said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

16. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12 and 14, wherein said overall width W_o (i) remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17, (ii) decreases along said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said wedge component connecting end 121, and (iii) increases along said tool handle component 150 from said tool handle component connecting end 151 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

17. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12, 14, and 16, wherein said overall width Wo is greatest along said wedge portion 12 and said heel 17.

18. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 12, 14, and 16, wherein said overall width Wo is greatest at said first end 16.

19. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said overall thickness T_o varies along said tool body 11.

20. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein said overall thickness T_o is greatest (i) along said heel 17 of said wedge component 120, or (ii) along a locking location 124 of said wedge component 120.

21. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1, 4 to 8, and 10 to 20, wherein said overall thickness T_o gradually increases along said wedge portion 12, reaches a first greater thickness along said heel 17, remains substantially constant from said heel 17 to a second greater thickness at a locking location 124 of said wedge component 120, and decreases along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said locking location 124 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

22. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said heel 17 to said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

23. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 4, 9 to 20, and 22, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17 of said tool body 11.

24. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 4, 9 to 20, and 22 to 23, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to beyond said heel 17 towards said wedge component connecting end 121 of said tool body 11.

25. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 4, 9 to 20, and 22 to 24, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to said heel 17, and ranges from about 0.15 in to about 0.8 in.

26. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 4, 9 to 20, and 22 to 25, wherein said overall thickness T_o remains substantially constant along at least a portion of said overall length L_o from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) to beyond said heel 17 towards said wedge component connecting end 121 of said tool body 11, and ranges from about 0.2 in to about 0.6 in.

27. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein each of (i) an overall length of said wedge component 120, and (ii) an overall length of said tool handle component 150 independently ranges from about 6.0 in to about 24.0 in.

28. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein each of (i) an overall length of said wedge component 120, and (ii) an overall length of said tool handle component 150 independently ranges from about 11.0 in to about 19.0 in.

29. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein (i) said wedge component 120, or (ii) said tool handle component 150, or both (i) and (ii) comprises one or more connecting features at said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151 to enable said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

30. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 29, (i) said wedge component 120, or (ii) said tool handle component 150, or both (i) and (ii) comprises one or more connecting features at said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151 to enable said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120, said one or more connecting features comprising a mechanical connector (e.g., a hook, a hinge, a pin/bolt/screw, etc.), one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said wedge component 120 and/or said tool handle component 150, a locking device 180 that temporarily locks said wedge component 120 to said tool handle component 150, a channel 125 at and/or along said wedge component connecting end 121 and/or said tool handle component connecting end 151, or any combination thereof.

31. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein at least a portion of said wedge component 120 at said wedge component connecting end 121 is hollow such that said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 is positionable therein.

32. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein said wedge component 120 is hollow from said wedge component connecting end 121 to said heel 17.

33. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein said wedge component 120 is hollow from said wedge component connecting end 121 to (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19.

34. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises a channel 125 extending from said wedge component connecting end 121 to (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19.

35. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein a portion of an overall length LTH of said tool handle component 150 slides within and/or thru a channel 125 of said wedge component 120 that extends from (a) said wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19.

36. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein 100% of an overall length LTH of said tool handle component 150 slides within and/or thru a channel 125 of said wedge component 120 that extends from (a) said wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) said bottom surface 21, or (ii) said rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between said bottom surface 21 and said rear major surface 19.

37. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises a channel 156 that extends from (a) said tool handle component connecting end 121 to (b)(i) said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, or (ii) a point between said tool handle component connecting end 121 and said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150.

38. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

39. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein said tool handle component 150 comprises (1) a channel 156 that extends from (a) said tool handle component connecting end 121 to (b)(i) said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, or (ii) a point between said tool handle component connecting end 121 and said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, and (2) one or more connecting openings or holes 155 extending from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

40. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said wedge component 120 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

41. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein (a) said tool handle component 150 comprises a connecting opening or hole 155 within a portion of said front major surface 20 along said tool handle component 150, and (b) said wedge component 120 comprises a connecting opening or hole 127 within a portion of said front major surface 20 along said wedge component 120 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

42. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 41, further comprising a locking component 180, said locking component 180 being connectable to and/or connected to (a) said tool handle component 150 and/or (b) said wedge component 120, and enabling connection of said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

43. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 42, wherein said locking component 180 is connectable to and/or connected to said wedge component 120.

44. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 42 or 43, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a locking member 182 that is moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said locking member 182 locks (i.e., connects) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 to (b) a disengaged position in which said locking member 182 is positioned to not lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

45. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 44, wherein said locking member 182 comprises one or more locking projections 184, said one or more locking projections 184 being moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said one or more locking projections 184 extends thru (i) one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and/or

(ii) to one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to lock (i.e., connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 to (b) a disengaged position in which said one or more locking projections 184 does not extend thru (i) one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and/or (ii) one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 so as not to lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

46. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 42 to 45, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more locking component connectors 186 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to (a) said tool handle component 150 and/or (b) said wedge component 120

47. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 42 to 46, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more locking component connectors 186 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to said wedge component 120.

48. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 46 or 47, wherein said one or more locking component connectors 186 comprise one or more locking component connectors 186 along opposite side edges 187 of said locking component 180.

49. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 46 or 47, wherein said wedge component 120 comprises one or more wedge locking component connectors 128 that enable connection of said locking component 180 to said wedge component 120.

50. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 46 to 49, wherein said locking component 180 is connected to said wedge component 120 in a spring-loaded condition in which said locking component 180 is moving towards an engaging position (e.g., into an engaged position) in which said locking projection 184 extends (i) thru one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120, and (ii) to one or more connecting openings or holes 155 within a surface of said tool handle component 150 to lock said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

51. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 34 to 50, wherein said channel 125 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

52. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 34 to 51, wherein said channel 125 comprises one or more connecting openings or holes 127 along opposite side surfaces 131/132 of said channel 125 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

53. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 51 or 52, wherein said one or more connecting openings or holes 127 comprising from 2 to 24 connecting openings or holes 127.

54. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 34 to 53, wherein said channel 125 comprises two rows of connecting openings or holes 127 along opposite side surfaces 131/132 of said channel 125 with each row comprising from 2 to 8 connecting openings or holes 127 to enable said tool handle component connecting end 151 of said tool handle component 150 to be connected to said wedge component 120.

55. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 34 to 54, further comprising a locking component 180 comprising a V-shaped clip 183 having locking projections 184 extending from each end of said V-shaped clip 183, each of said locking projections 184 being moveable from (a) an engaged position in which said locking projection 184 extends thru one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 to lock (i.e., connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120 to (b) a disengaged position in which said locking projection 184 does not extend thru the one or more connecting openings or holes 127 within a surface of said channel 125 so as not to lock (i.e., not connect) said tool handle component 150 to said wedge component 120.

56. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 55, wherein each of said locking projections 184 extend thru a connecting opening or hole 155 within an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

57. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 55 or 56, wherein each of said locking projections 184 extends thru a connecting opening or hole 155 that extends from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

58. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 55 to 57, wherein said V-shaped clip 183 is positioned within said channel 156 with locking projections 184 of said V-shaped clip 183 positioned within connecting opening or holes 155 that extend from said channel 156 to an outer surface 157 of said tool handle component 150.

59. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 58, further comprising a launch pad 75 that provide a guided path for the bedmaking tool 10 when inserting the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37.

60. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 59, wherein said launch pad 75 comprises a launch pad upper surface 76, a launch pad lower surface 78 opposite said launch pad upper surface 76, and spaced apart guide rails 77 positioned along said launch pad upper surface 76, said spaced apart guide rails 77 providing a guided path for insertion of said bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37.

61. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 60, wherein said launch pad 75 further comprises a launch pad connecting end portion 79, said launch pad connecting end portion 79 forming an angle D with said launch pad upper surface 76, said angle D ranging from about 80° to about 110°.

62. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 61, wherein said launch pad connecting end portion 79 extends substantially perpendicular to said launch pad upper surface 76.

63. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 59 to 62, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said bedmaking tool 10.

64. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 59 to 63, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said tool handle component 150.

65. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 59 to 64, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said wedge component 120.

66. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 59 to 65, wherein said launch pad 75 is connectable to and separatable from said locking projections 184 of said V-shaped clip 183 positioned within said channel 156 and extending out of connecting openings or holes 127 within said wedge component 120.

67. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 59 to 66, wherein said launch pad 75 further comprises launch pad connectors 81 positioned along said launch pad 75 for connecting said launch pad 75 to said bedmaking tool 10.

68. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 67, wherein said launch pad connectors 81 comprise loops 81 positioned along said launch pad 75.

69. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 67 or 68, wherein said launch pad connectors 81 comprise loops 81 positioned along said launch pad connecting end portion 79.

70. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 69, further comprising a knee pad 85, said knee pad 85 being (i) sized so as to extend over a portion of the wedge component 120, and (ii) designed to provide cushioned contact for a user when inserting the bedmaking tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37.

71. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 70, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a tubular material.

72. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 70 or 71, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a neoprene material formed into a sleeve, or a knitted material, or a woven fabric.

73. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 70 to 72, wherein said knee pad 85 comprises a foam component.

74. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 73, wherein said bedmaking tool 10 stands upright on a flat surface via said bottom surface 21.

75. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 74, further comprising a hole 22 extending through said tool handle component 150 at said first end 16 of said tool handle component 150, said hole 22 being sized to accept a cord or string that enables said bedmaking tool 10 to be stored on a nail.

76. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 75, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises one or more materials selected from a polymer, a fiber-reinforced polymer, a metal, a ceramic, a cellulosic material (e.g., wood), a foam material, or any combination thereof.

77. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 76, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises a polymer or a fiber-reinforced polymer.

78. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 77, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises polypropylene.

79. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 78, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises fiber-reinforced polypropylene.

80. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 77, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

81. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 77 and 80, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises fiber-reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

82. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 79, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently consists essentially of polypropylene.

83. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 79, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently consists essentially of fibers and polypropylene.

84. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 76, wherein each of (i) said tool handle component 150, (ii) said wedge component 120, and (iii) said launch pad 75, when present, independently comprises a metal.

85. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 30 to 84, wherein said locking component 180 comprises one or more materials selected from a polymer, a metal, a ceramic, a cellulosic material (e.g., wood), a foam material, or any combination thereof.

86. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 30 to 85, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a polymer or metal.

87. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 30 to 86, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a polypropylene.

88. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 30 to 86, wherein said locking component 180 comprises a metal.

89. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 55 to 86 and 88, wherein said V-shaped clip 183 comprises a metal.

90. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 89, wherein said wedge portion 12 further comprises grooves 207 within said front major surface 20.

91. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 90, wherein said wedge portion 12 further comprises grooves 207 within said front major surface 20, said grooves 207 extending along said overall length L_o of said wedge portion 12 from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 towards said wedge component connecting end 121.

92. The bedmaking tool 10 of claim 90 or 91, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to a first concave curvature portion 24 of said wedge portion 12.

93. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 90 to 92, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 to a point beyond a first concave curvature portion 24 of said wedge portion 12.

94. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 90 to 93, wherein said grooves 207 extend from said tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at said first end 14 of said wedge component 120 said wedge component connecting end 121.

95. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 90 to 94, wherein said grooves 207 comprise from about 4 to about 16 grooves 207.

96. The bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 90 to 95, wherein said grooves 207 comprise from about 8 to about 12 grooves 207.

97. A method of making the bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 96, said method comprising at least one of: a thermoforming step, a machining step, a welding step, a molding step, and an extrusion step.

98. A method of making a bedmaking tool 10, said method comprising: forming a tool body 11 having an overall height H_o, an overall width W_o, an overall thickness T_o, and an overall length L_o, the tool body 11 comprising:

(a) a wedge component 120 comprising (i) a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end 14 of the wedge component 120, (ii) a wedge component connecting end 121 opposite the first end 14 of the wedge component 120, and (iii) a heel 17 positioned between the wedge portion 12 and the wedge component connecting end 121, the heel 17 comprising a heel surface portion 18 having an arc of curvature thereon, and representing a rear major surface portion 129 of the wedge component 120,

(b) a tool handle component 150 comprising (i) a tool handle 15 (or cantilever arm 15) at a first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, and (ii) a tool handle component connecting end 151 opposite the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, the tool handle component connecting end 151 being connectable to the wedge component connecting end 121,

(c) a front major surface 20 extending from the tool front edge 13 towards (i) the wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when the tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to the wedge component connecting end 121, towards the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150,

(d) a bottom surface 21 extending from the tool front edge 13 to the heel surface portion 18, and

(e) a rear major surface 19 extending from the heel surface portion 18 towards (i) the wedge component connecting end 121, and (ii) when the tool handle component connecting end 151 is connected to the wedge component connecting end 121, towards the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150, wherein the overall length L_o comprises a distance from the first end 14 of the wedge component 120 to the first end 16 of the tool handle component 150 when the wedge component 120 is connected to the tool handle component 150 in a use configuration. said forming step comprising at least one of a thermoforming step (e.g., polymers or metals), a machining step, a welding step, a molding step, and an extrusion step.

99. The method of claim 98, further comprising: forming a launch pad 75 as described in claims 59 to 69.

100. The method of any one of claims 97 to 99, wherein each of said forming steps independently comprises a thermoforming step (e.g., polymers or metals) or molding step.

101. The method of any one of claims 97 to 100, wherein said forming step comprises one or more channel-forming steps that result in (i) a channel 125 extending thru the wedge component 120, (ii) a channel 156 extending thru the tool handle component 150, or (iii) both (i) and (ii).

102. The method of any one of claims 97 to 101, further comprising a hole-forming step, said hole-forming step being used to from a hole 22 through tool body 11 at second end 16.

103. The method of any one of claims 97 to 102, further comprising: forming a locking component 180, the locking component 180 being connectable to (a) the tool handle component 150 and/or (b) the wedge component 120, and enabling connection of the tool handle component 150 to the wedge component 120.

104. The method of any one of claims 97 to 103, further comprising: forming grooves 207 within the front major surface 20 of wedge portion 12, wherein grooves 207 extend along the overall length L_o of the wedge portion 12 from the tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at the first end 14 of the wedge component 120 towards the wedge component connecting end 121.

105. A method of using the bedmaking tool 10 of any one of claims 1 to 96, said method comprising: inserting a wedge portion 12 comprising a tool front edge 13 (or nose 13) at a first end

14 of the wedge component 120 of the bed-making tool 10 between a mattress 36 and a box spring 37.

106. The method of claim 105, further comprising at least one of: positioning a sheet 35 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 using the wedge portion 12 of the bed-making tool 10, lifting the mattress 36 by pushing down on a tool handle

15 (or cantilever arm 15) of the bed-making tool 10, and moving the mattress 36 relative to the box spring 37 using the bed-making tool 10.

107. The method of claim 105 or 106, further comprising: connecting the tool handle component 150 to the wedge component 120.

108. The method of any one of claims 105 to 107, further comprising: inserting the tool handle component 150 into a hollow portion of the wedge component 120 at the wedge component connecting end 121.

109. The method of any one of claims 105 to 108, further comprising: adjusting a position of the tool handle component 150 within channel 125 of the wedge component 120 that extends from (a) the wedge component connecting end 121 to (b) (i) the bottom surface 21, or (ii) the rear major surface 19, or (iii) a location between the bottom surface 21 and the rear major surface 19.

110. The method of any one of claims 105 to 109, further comprising: locking the tool handle component 150 in a position along the wedge component 120.

111. The method of any one of claims 105 to 110, further comprising: pushing the tool handle component 150 into channel 125 of the wedge component 120 after said lifting step so as to reduce the likelihood that a user bumps into the tool handle component 150 of the bedmaking tool 10.

112. The method of any one of claims 105 to 111, further comprising: inserting a launch pad 75 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 prior to inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein said step of inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and the box spring 37 comprises inserting the wedge portion 12 of the wedge component 120 between the mattress 36 and an upper surface 76 of the launch pad 75.

114. The method of any one of claims 105 to 103, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the bedmaking tool 10.

115. The method of any one of claims 105 to 114, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the tool handle component 150.

116. The method of any one of claims 105 to 115, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from the wedge component 120.

117. The method of any one of claims 105 to 116, further comprising: disconnecting a launch pad 75 from locking projections 184 of a V-shaped clip 183 positioned within the channel 156 and extending out of connecting openings or holes 127 within the wedge component 120.