Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for a stackable leg that includes a foot, a flat flange extending generally upwardly from the foot, a first side flange and a second side flange extending generally upwardly from the foot and flanking the flat flange, wherein the first side flange and second side flange are disposed at an angle compared to the flat flange, and at least one cavity.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an improved leg that is intended to be engaged to like stackable elements for forming a stackable arrangement, allowing easy removal of one stackable element from subsequent stackable elements. More generally, the present invention relates to a stackable cot leg that allows the cots to be removed from each other easily, expeditiously, and without damaging the leg. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Stackable elements, such as cots, usually are able to be stacked one-upon-the-other in the vertical direction for easy storage when space is at a premium. Generally, these stackable elements contain legs that are engaged to one another or in a nested arrangement for easy storage. The stackable elements are placed one-upon-the-other with their legs nested together. 
         [0003]    When the stackable elements are removed from one another, damage to the legs often occur. The current design of these legs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,548. The design of these legs requires the stackable element and all associated legs be lifted upwards in the vertical direction, at the same time, such that all legs are removed from the adjoining leg in the nested arrangement. Once all legs of the stackable element are not in the nested arrangement, the stackable element may be removed from the stack horizontally. 
         [0004]    This removal of the stackable elements is easier said than done. Typically, the user removing the stackable element will pull towards them horizontally and vertically, especially when the stackable elements are placed high in the vertical direction. This pulling in the horizontal direction when one or more of the legs are still nested, results in damage to the leg. Additionally, pulling in the horizontal direction when at least one leg is still nested, creates a risk of all stackable elements within the stack being pulled in the horizontal direction, and potentially falling on the user. Therefore, there is a need for a leg of a stackable element that will not likely be damaged when the stackable element is pulled in both the vertical and horizontal direction. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stackable leg that includes a foot, a flat flange extending generally upwardly from the foot, a first side flange and a second side flange extending generally upwardly from the foot and flanking the flat flange, wherein the first side flange and second side flange are disposed at an angle compared to the flat flange, and at least one cavity. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg is composed of plastic. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a rim disposed on the upper edge of the flat flange, first side flange, and second side flange. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes two cavities that extend substantially perpendicularly to each other in the horizontal plane. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a reception recess formed by the flat flange, first side flange, and second side flange. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a retention element that extends from the first side flange to the second side flange. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a generally square cavity. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a foot, a flat flange extending generally upwardly from the foot with a bottom side, a top side, and two opposed sides. A first side flange and a second side flange extends generally upwardly from the foot having a bottom side, a top side, and two opposed sides, wherein the first side flange extends outwardly at an angle from one opposed side of the flat flange and the second side flange extends outwardly at an angle from the other opposed side of the flat flange. The stackable leg includes two cavities. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a curved retention element that extends from the first side flange to the second side flange adjacent the foot. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a rim extending along and extending outwardly from the top side of the flat flange, first side flange, and second side flange. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the stackable leg includes a lip that extends between the cavities forming a top portion of the stackable leg. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cot assembly that includes two longitudinal elements each having two ends, two transverse elements each having two ends, and four stackable legs. The stackable legs include a foot, a flat flange extending generally upwardly from the foot, a first side flange and a second side flange extending generally upwardly from the foot and flanking the flat flange, wherein the first side flange and second side flange are disposed at an angle compared to the flat flange. A first cavity and a second cavity are disposed on the stackable leg, wherein the first cavity receives an end of the longitudinal element and the second cavity receives an end of the transverse element. A sheet is stretched across the longitudinal elements and transverse elements. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cot assembly includes a sheet having two longitudinal sides and two transverse sides, comprising a sheath on each longitudinal side and a sheath on each transverse side, whereby the sheaths on the longitudinal side receive the longitudinal elements and a sheath on the transverse side receive the transverse elements. 
         [0018]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the cot assembly includes longitudinal elements and transverse elements having a generally square cross-section and the cavities are generally square shaped. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the stackable leg; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the stackable leg; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the stackable leg; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the stackable leg in the nested arrangement; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a cot containing stackable legs; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cot with stackable legs; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of cots with stackable legs in a stacked arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
         [0028]    Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
         [0029]    Referring now specifically to the drawings, an improved leg for a stackable element is illustrated  FIGS. 1-4  and is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The leg  10  includes an upper portion  12 , a middle portion  14 , and a lower portion  16 . The middle portion  14  is open and contains angled sides that terminate into the lower portion  16 . The middle portion contains a flat flange  18  that has a first side and a second side. A first side flange  20  and second side flange  22  extends outwardly at an angle from the first side and the second side of the flat flange  18 . The flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  terminate in a flat foot  24 . A retention element  26  extends from an outer edge of the first side flange  20  to an outer edge of the second side flange  22 . As illustration in  FIG. 1 , the retention element  26  is substantially curved and extends upwardly from an outer edge of the foot  24  to a height on the first side flange  20  and second side flange  22 . 
         [0030]    The middle portion  14  is open and not enclosed. In other words, the flat flange  18  is exposed externally and the first side flange  20  and second side flange  22  extend outwardly at an angle from opposite sides of the flat flange  18  and away from each other. The flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  have an exterior side and an interior side, whereby the exterior side of the flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  faces outward and are not covered or enclosed. 
         [0031]    The flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  extend upwardly to a rim  28  of the upper portion  12 . The rim  28  extends along the top side of the first flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22 . As illustrated, the rim  28  extends from the top side of the first side flange  20  to the top side of the second side flange  22 . 
         [0032]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , the upper portion  12  comprises two cavities  30  that extend outwardly in the horizontal direction from the rim  28 . The cavities  30  extend substantially perpendicularly to each other in the horizontal plane. As illustrated, the cavities are generally square, but any shape and size desired by the user may be utilized. By way of example only and not meant to be limiting, the cavities  30  may be generally circular, rectangular and the like. A lip  32  extends in the horizontal plane between the upper exterior of the cavities  30 . 
         [0033]    The upper portion  12 , middle portion  14 , and lower portion  16 , as illustrated, may be a single piece of plastic that is injection molded. Alternatively, the upper portion  12 , middle portion  14 , and lower portion  16  may be at least two individual or separate pieces that are connected together and assembled by the user. The stackable leg  10  may also be composed of wood, metal, or any other material as desired by the user. 
         [0034]    The flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  collectively form a reception recess  33 . The reception recess  33  consists substantially of the middle portion  14  of the stackable leg  10 , and the flanges ( 18 ,  20 , and  22 ) form the three sides of the reception recess  33 . The width of the reception recess  33  is such that another stackable leg may be held laterally immobilized in the reception recess  33 . The adjacent stackable leg, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , slides within the reception recess  33 , such that the first flanges are adjacent, the first side flange is adjacent, and the second side flange is adjacent. 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the foot  24  may contain a bore  25  that extends from the top side to the bottom side. The bottom side of the foot  24  may receive a bumper made of rubber or like material. Alternatively, the bumper may be engaged to the bore  25  on the foot  24  or a recess on the bottom side of the foot  24  may receive the bumper. When the bumper is attached to the foot  24 , sliding on a tile, wood, or laminate floor is minimized. One side of the bumper may have an adhesive for engaging the adhesive side of the bumper to the boom side of the foot  24 . 
         [0036]    The stackable leg  10  of the present invention may be incorporated into a cot assembly  34  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 . The cot assembly  34  may consist of two elongated longitudinal elements  36  and two transverse elements  38 . The longitudinal elements are engaged to the transverse elements by the stackable leg  10 . A sheet  40  is stretched between the longitudinal elements  36  and transverse elements  38  to form the cot assembly  34 . The cot assembly  34  consists of four stackable legs  10 . Each longitudinal element  36  has two ends and each transverse element  38  has two ends. An end of a longitudinal element  36  is received within a cavity  30  of the stackable leg  10 , and an end of the transverse element  38  is received within the other cavity  30  of the stackable leg  10 . The cavity  30  receives and secures the longitudinal element  36  and transverse element  38 . 
         [0037]    The sheet  40  comprises two longitudinal sides and two transverse sides, including a sheath  42  on both longitudinal sides and a sheath  42  on both transverse sides. The sheath  42  is designed to receive and secure the longitudinal elements  36  and the transverse elements  38 . The sheet  40  contains four corners that are recessed for allowing the placement of the stackable leg  10  between the longitudinal elements  36  and transverse elements  38 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cot assemblies  34  may be stacked one-upon-the-other, whereby the stackable legs  10  are in a nested arrangement. A cot assembly  34  is first placed on the ground or other flat, stable surface and then a second cot assembly  34  is placed on top of the first cot assembly  34 . The stackable leg  10  of the second cot assembly  34  is placed within the reception recess  33  of the stackable leg  10  of the first cot assembly  34 . In this arrangement, the exterior sides of the flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  of the first cot assembly  34  are adjacent the interior sides of the flat flange  18 , first side flange  20 , and second side flange  22  of the second cot assembly  34   
         [0039]    The stackable leg  10  of the present invention allows for the stacked cot assemblies  34  to be easily removed from the adjacent cot assembly  34  and reducing the risk of breaking or damaging the stackable leg  10 . With the stackable leg  10  of the present invention, the top cot assembly  34  can be pulled in both the vertical and horizontal direction in removing the cot assembly  34  from the adjacent cot assembly  34 . Because of the shape and design of the stackable leg  10 , the stackable leg  10  does not securely engage the adjacent stackable leg  10 , leading to broken or damaged legs like the prior art. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.