Abstract:
An improved sleeping or camping cot construction is provided in which the end rails of the cot frame are pivotally mounted along their center along a channel member so that downward forces on the cot in its normal operating position improves the stability of the cot by forcing the end rails into engagement with the channel member. The channel member also encloses the pivot points of the end rails from inadvertent contact a user during the pivot operation of the end rails.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/228,181 filed Jul. 24, 2009, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to camping equipment and more particularly, to cots which may be disassembled into a small lightweight package. While the invention is described in particular detail with respect to use in a camping environment, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider applicability of the inventive principles disclosed hereinafter. 
         [0004]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0005]    Portable cots have been known for many years. The typical light weight camp cot includes a rectangular body or frame supporting a sheet; the body typically including a pair of long opposed side rails and a pair of opposed end rails which together the side rails support the sheet. 
         [0006]    There are prior art constructions that have been developed in an attempt to fashion a low-cost cot design which will support the user properly, and yet can be disassembled and carried in a compact package between cot setups. Conventionally, the side rails of the cot are formed in two pieces, which are disassembled or folded for transporting the cot. In prior some prior art designs, the end rails themselves were detachable from the side rails for a similar purpose. 
         [0007]    Because a certain portions of the supporting frame were detachable from others, it was not unusual for the end user to lose or misplace portions of the supporting frame over time, making the cot nonfunctional. The removal of the end rails each time the cot is folded and their replacement when the cot is extended constitutes an objectionable operation even if the end rails are available. One solution to the problem presented when portions of the cot are detachable from other members of the cot structure is address in co pending Application Number PCT/US2009/050130 assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. While various aspects of that Application works well for its intended purpose, the construction and design of the cot provides a somewhat more difficult procedure for assembling and disassembling the cot described hereinafter, particularly when only one person is available to assemble the cot for use and latter disassemble or fold the cot for transportation or storage. 
         [0008]    There are cots which have end rails comprising sections centrally hinged for folding movement. The present disclosure utilizes an improved hinge construction which is simple to manufacture and utilize with a simplified attachment to the end rails of the cot construction. The central hinge of the present disclosure is designed so that the weight of a use of the cot exerts forces which act to improve the stability of the frame structure, a result not seen in prior art devices. 
         [0009]    The embodiment disclosed hereinafter provides a simple mechanism for cot set up, while maintaining the end rails connected to other frame members, so that the end rails cannot be misplaced, while the entire structure of the cot is still foldable into a compact package for transportation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with this disclosure, generally stated, a portable, collapsible cot construction is provided with a frame which provides a foldable cot for a user and enables the structural components forming the cot frame to remain attached in a manner enabling the frame to be compacted into a relatively small bundle. In the preferred embodiment, the frame includes side rails and end rails, the end rails being interconnected with the side rails along their respective ends, while both the side rails and end rails are foldable against one another so that the cot may be compacted with the associated supporting leg assemblies, end rails and side rails enclosed and protected by the fabric of the body support sheet and to be rolled up as a compact bundle of relatively small diameter having a length approximately half the length of the cot in its un-collapsed body supporting condition. 
         [0011]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of cot construction of the present invention, shown in its normal body supporting position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view in perspective illustrating the frame construction of the cot shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view in perspective, partly broken away, taken about the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a view in perspective, partly broken away, of the folded position of one illustrative and rail. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a view in perspective, partly broken away, taken about the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0018]    FIGS. 5 Å-E are views in perspective of the cot embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  showing the folding sequence of the cot shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  indicates one illustrative embodiment of the cot of the present invention. The cot  1  includes a plurality of support struts  2  which in turn are interconnected to respective ones of a pair of side rails  4  and  5  respectively. The side rails  4  and  5  in turn are closed by a pair of end rails  6  and  7  respectively. Finally, a bed sheet  10  extends along and is supported by respective ones of the end rails  6 ,  7  and side rails  4 ,  5  of the cot  1 . 
         [0022]    Each support strut  2  includes a one piece member  13  and a split member  15  and  15 ′. The members  13 ,  15  and  15 ′ are interconnected to one another by a z-shaped bracket  17 . The bracket  17  permits the split members  15  and  15 ′ prime to close toward one another in the storage position of the cot  1 , for example. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the length of the various members can be altered or changed in order to vary the height of the cot  1  from a supporting floor or ground position. The member  13  and the split member  15 ′ each also are attached to the respective side rail  4  or  5  by an L-shaped bracket  20  ( FIG. 4 ) which is pivotally attached to the respective side rails at a pivot point  21 , permitting the support struts  2  to be rotated against the respective side rails in the stored or carried position of the cot  1 . 
         [0023]    While the number of struts  2  used for support of the cot  1  may vary in other embodiments of the invention, a three strut arrangement works well for the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the construction arrangement of the struts  2  preferably are the same for each of the struts  2  employed with the cot  1 , the intention being to permit the cot  1  to be folded simply into a relatively light weight carry package for use by campers or others who might require easy set of a sleeping accommodations. One of the features of the side rails  4 ,  5  and strut  2  construction is that the more weight placed on bed sheet  10 , for example, the more the weight acts to maintain the cot  1  in an unfolded or extended position, thereby added to the stability of the cot  1  in application use. 
         [0024]    As shown in the  FIG. 2 , the side rails  4  and  5  in turn are rotatably mounted with respect to one another along a bracket  25  which in the preferred embodiment also is arranged to mount one of the struts  2 . That is to say, each of the side rails  4  and  5  may be rotated toward itself other along the bracket  25 , which preferably bisects each of the side rails  4 ,  5  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  Each of the side rails  4 ,  5  and the bracket  25  is attached to the respective sections of the end rails along pivot points  31  and  32 . Conventional fasteners may be used to provide a pivoting motion, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other techniques will be employed if desired. 
         [0025]    Revering now to  FIG. 3 , the end rails  6  and  7  are of two piece construction, having a reduced size part  40  along the central part or the respective end rails  6  and  7 . The part  40  is sized for reception in a generally U-shaped channel  41 . Other channel shapes may be used if desired. From an esthetic standpoint, it is preferable that the channel  41  generally be level with the end rails in the deployed condition of the cot  1 . In addition, from a safety standpoint, it is important that the pivot point of the end rails be enclosed by the channel  41  to prevent inadvertent injury to the hand or fingers of the user when the cot  1  is either set up or taken down for storage. The parts  40  are pivotally attached to the channel  41  along pivots  44 . This construction greatly increases the stability of the cot in applicational use. First, a downward force F, referenced to  FIG. 3 , exerted for example by someone using the cot for its intended purpose, locks or prevents movement of the end rails because of the interaction of the channel  41  and the parts  40  of the end rails. Second, the force F also is transmitted by the end rails to the bracket  17 , which further locks the member with respect to the bracket  17 . 
         [0026]    As will appreciated by those skilled in the art, the bed sheet  10  maybe made adjustable by using a bed sheet construction similar to that described and shown in Application No incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0027]    The operation of the cot  1  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As there shown, the end rails  6  and  7  are raised to the position shown in  FIG. 5   a . The cot  1  then is rotated as shown in  FIG. 5B  and the side rails  4 ,  5  are collapsed toward one another as shown in  FIG. 5  C. Then the end rails are rotated into position against the side rails ( FIG. 5D ) and the side rails and are pivoted toward the center strut  2  as shown in  FIG. 5E . In each step, the cot  1  remains relatively stable to enable a single user to either compact the cot after use or deploy the cot for use 
         [0028]    The bed sheet  10  can be used to hold the entire cot structure in relatively compact form, and a carrying case, not shown, preferably is provided to carry the cot between intended uses. 
         [0029]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Merely by way of example, other pivoting and/or rotating arrangement for the end rails and their relationship to the side rails will occur to those skilled in the art. As indicated, the dimensions of the cot  1  may be varied. Likewise, other structural forms for use as tensioning devices will occur to those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. These variations are merely illustrative.