Abstract:
A cot and airbed combination. In accordance with an embodiment, a sleeve is provided for receiving the airbed, and attachment mechanisms, such as straps, clips, clasps, or other mechanisms, are provided for attaching the airbed and sleeve to the cot. The sleeve may be configured so that the sleeve and the airbed may be folded and stored with the cot. The sleeve may include protective covers that extend over hinges for the cot to protect the airbed when folding the cot and the airbed. An expandable sleeve or covering is also provided which may receive airbeds of varying thicknesses. The expandable sleeve includes an expansion section that permits the sleeve to be expanded from a first, smaller size, to a second, larger size. A closure may be provided for maintaining the expansion section in the first position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to airbeds, and more specifically to structures for supporting airbeds.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An airbed is a large rectangular rubber or plastic (e.g., vinyl) bag that is filled with air so that it may be used as a bed. Airbeds are well known in the art and have proven themselves to be very useful. On the one hand, an inflatable airbed may be deflated and folded to store the airbed in a closet or basement. On the other hand, when guests arrive or when the owner of the airbed takes a trip to a place where there is no bed, the airbed may be inflated and may be used as a bed.  
         [0003]     Although airbeds work well for their intended purpose, one downside to the use of airbeds is that most conventional airbeds are only 4-10 inches tall. Thus, if an airbed is inflated and placed on the floor, the user must lower himself or herself to get on the airbed, and getting out of the airbed may also be difficult.  
         [0004]     One airbed that has been used to address this problem is the double-high style. As the name suggests, these airbeds are approximately twice as tall as conventional airbeds, and thus are spaced from the floor an amount that is more like a conventional bed. Although these double-high airbeds work well, typically they are provided as double, queen or king sized beds, because a smaller bed, such as a single bed, does not have enough width to be sturdy. In addition, the double-high style airbeds tend to take much space, leaving little room for storage of other items.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.  
         [0006]     One embodiment of the present invention provides a cot and airbed combination. In accordance with the embodiment, a sleeve is provided for receiving the airbed, and attachment mechanisms, such as straps, clips, clasps, or other mechanisms, are provided for attaching the airbed and sleeve to the cot. In accordance with one embodiment, the sleeve is configured so that the sleeve and the airbed may be folded and stored with the cot. To this end, the sleeve may include protective covers that extend over hinges for the cot to protect the airbed when folding the cot and the airbed.  
         [0007]     In accordance with another embodiment, an expandable sleeve or covering is provided which may receive airbeds of varying thicknesses. The expandable sleeve includes an expansion section that permits the sleeve to be expanded from a first, smaller size, to a second, larger size, to accommodate, for example, a 4-inch high airbed or an 8-inch high airbed. A closure may be provided for maintaining the expansion section in the first position.  
         [0008]     Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an airbed and cot combination in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded side perspective view showing a sleeve and associated connectors for the airbed and cot combination of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the sleeve and connectors of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is diagrammatic representation of attachment of one of the connectors of  FIG. 2  with the cot of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of an expandable sleeve for an airbed in accordance with an embodiment, the expandable sleeve shown attached to a cot; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the expandable sleeve of  FIG. 5 , with the expandable sleeve shown in an expanded state to receive a larger airbed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.  
         [0016]     Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows an airbed and cot combination  20  in accordance with an embodiment. As can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , the airbed and cot combination  20  includes an airbed  22  attached to a cot  24  by a sleeve  26 .  
         [0017]     In general, the sleeve  26  may be any configuration that is capable of attaching the airbed  22  to the cot  24 , and serves as a “sleeve” only in that the sleeve extends at least partly over the airbed  22 . In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the sleeve  26  extends over the top portion of the airbed  22  and includes end flaps  28  that extend around to a bottom portion of the airbed  22 , as can be seen in  FIG. 3 . Similarly, side flaps  30  extend downward and cover a portion of the bottom of the airbed  22 . Corner straps  32  extend between the end flaps  28  and the side flaps  30  to hold the respective flaps in position. In addition, a center strap  34  having a buckle  36  extends across a center portion of the airbed  22  and attaches central portions of the side flaps  30  to one another.  
         [0018]     In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the corner straps  32  utilize hook and loop fasteners, permitting the straps to be disconnected. In an alternate embodiment, the corner straps  32  may be permanently attached. In yet another embodiment, the side flaps  30  and end flaps  28  may be connected without using straps, for example by sewing the flaps together. Other connections may be used.  
         [0019]     In addition, although the embodiment shown utilizes end flaps  28  and side flaps  30 , the sleeve  26  may alternatively extend around and cover the entire bottom of the airbed  22 . However, such an embodiment would include more fabric, and thus may be more expensive than the embodiment shown in the drawings. Moreover, the sleeve  26  may extend only partly over the top of the airbed  22 , and may include straps as the only structure that extends over the airbed.  
         [0020]     In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the sleeve  26  includes corner clips  38  at each corner. A valve opening  40  is provided through which a valve  42  for the airbed  22  extends. If desired, a zipper (not shown) may be provided at one or both ends of the sleeve  26  to aid in insertion of the airbed  22  in the sleeve  26 .  
         [0021]     In general, the sleeve  26  is arranged to be attached to a cot, such as the cot  24 . By cot, we mean a collapsible bed, typically formed of fabric stretched on a frame. One example of a cot is the cot  24  shown in  FIG. 2 . This cot  24  includes U-shaped legs  48  attached to a frame  50  having rounded corners. A canvas covering  54  extends over the frame  50 . The canvas covering  54  includes openings  56  at the attachment of each of the U-shaped legs  48  to the frame  50 . A hinge  58  is provided at the center of the cot  24  for folding the cot  24  in half in a manner known in the art.  
         [0022]     An alternate embodiment of a cot  124  to which the sleeve  26  and the airbed  22  may be attached is the scissor-style cot  124  shown in  FIG. 6 . This type of cot includes scissor legs  148  attached to a frame  150  having a canvas covering  154  extending thereover. Again, openings  156  (not clearly shown, but known in the art) are provided at the attachment of the scissor legs  148  to the frame  150 . There may also be openings  156  at hinges (not shown, but known in the art) that permit folding of the scissor-style cot  124 .  
         [0023]     Yet another example of a cot  224  is shown in  FIG. 5 . This cot  224  includes separate legs  248  attached to a frame  250 , again having a canvas covering  254 . Openings  256  are provided at the attachment of the canvas covering  254  to the frame  250  and at hinges  258  for the cot  224 .  
         [0024]     The three cots  24 ,  124 , and  224  are three examples of different kinds of cots to which the sleeve  26  and airbed  22  may be attached. However, a sleeve in accordance with the present invention may be adapted to fit a wide variety of cots. In general, “cot” is meant to mean a structure on which a user may typically sleep without the need for additional structure, such as an airbed. Thus, by cot, we are distinguishing from frames that are designed specifically to suspend an airbed. The sleeve  26  is specifically designed for attachment to a cot, such as the cot  24 , the cot  124 , or the cot  224 , and although it may be utilized with a frame, its specific purpose is for attachment to a cot.  
         [0025]     In use, a user inserts an uninflated airbed, such as the airbed  22 , into the sleeve  26 . In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the user may simply extend the uninflated airbed  22  through the back or bottom portion of the sleeve  26 , and arrange the airbed  22  so that the valve  42  aligns with the valve opening  40  on the sleeve  26 , and otherwise arrange the airbed  22  to align with the sleeve  26 . If the sleeve  26  is arranged differently than shown in the drawing so that it is fully enclosed, then the airbed  22  may be inserted in an appropriate manner, such as by an opening created by a zipper or another suitable closure. If desired, to ease insertion of the airbed  22 , the buckle  36  on the center strap  34  may be undone.  
         [0026]     In an alternate embodiment, the airbed  22  is fully encased in the sleeve  26  when purchased by a user. However, in such an embodiment, the user may not use the airbed  22  without the sleeve  26 . Such use may be desired in some settings, such as when the airbed  22  is taken for use in a tent that does not have room for a cot such as the cot  24 .  
         [0027]     In any event, after the airbed  22  is fully inserted into the sleeve  26 , the airbed  22  is inflated in a manner known in the art, for example by a pump. As an alternative to this method, the sleeve  26  may be attached to an inflated airbed.  
         [0028]     After inflation or before inflation of the airbed  22 , the sleeve  26  may be attached to the cot  24 . To do so, the corner clips  38  are attached to the rounded corners of the frame  50  of the cot  24 . If another embodiment of a cot, such as the scissor-style cot  124  or the six-legged cot  224  is used, then the corner clips  38  may be otherwise attached, such as at the corners of the frames  150 ,  250 , those cots. In addition, instead of clips, the sleeve  26  may include another appropriate structure for attachment of ends of the sleeve  26  to a cot, such as clasps, hook and loop fasteners, other fasteners, ties, or any other suitable structure for attaching the sleeve  26  to the cot  24 . In addition, if desired, the sleeve may be attached in another location to a cot, such as spaced from the corners of the cot.  
         [0029]     In addition to the corner attachments provided by the corner clips  38 , the sleeve  26  may be attached to a central portion of the cot  24 . For example, the buckle  36  may be unclasped and the two ends of the center strap  34  may be extended through the central openings  56  on the cot  24  and then the buckle  36  re-attached on a bottom portion of the cot  24 . In this manner, the center strap  34  extends on an opposite side of the canvas covering  54  of the cot  24  than the sleeve  26 , serving as another attachment of the sleeve  26  and airbed  22  to the cot  24 .  
         [0030]     In accordance with an embodiment, the side flaps  30  are of sufficient width to cover hinges for the cots, such as the hinges  58  or  258  of the cots  24  and  224 , when the sleeve  26  is connected to the respective cot. In this manner, the side flaps  30  protect the airbed  22  from operation of the hinges  58  and/or  258 . The side flaps  30  and/or the end flaps  28  may similarly be situated to protect the airbed  22  from operation of the legs  48 ,  148 , or  248 .  
         [0031]     After the airbed  22  has been attached to a top of the cot  24 , a user may sleep on top of the airbed  22 , with the airbed  22  being spaced from the floor by the cot  24 . The sleeve  26  ensures firm connection between the airbed  22  and the cot  24 , ensuring that the airbed  22  does not slide off the cot  24 .  
         [0032]     The sleeve  26  may also be used on the airbed  22  without the cot  24 . This feature permits one user to sleep on the cot  24 , and another on the airbed  22 . In addition, the sleeve  26  provides a smoother, and perhaps softer, surface for a user than just sleeping on the airbed  22 , whether the airbed is on a cot or not.  
         [0033]     When a user is done sleeping on the airbed  22 , the user may deflate the airbed  22  while the airbed  22  is still in the sleeve  26 . The cot  24  may then be folded with the airbed  22  and the sleeve  26  still attached to the cot  24 . During folding of the cot  24 , the ends of the airbed  22  and sleeve  26  move inward, and the clips  38  may be designed to permit such movement, such as by using elastic straps or another suitable structure.  
         [0034]     A second embodiment of an airbed and cot combination  70  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In this embodiment, an airbed (not shown) is attached to the cot  124  in  FIG. 4  and the cot  224  in  FIG. 5  by an expandable sleeve  76 . The airbed is enclosed in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and thus is not visible. The sleeve  76  may also be utilized to attach the airbed  72  to other cots, as well as frames or other structures.  
         [0035]     In accordance with an embodiment, the expandable sleeve  76  includes an expandable section  78  (best shown in  FIG. 6 ). In an embodiment, the expandable section  78  is made, for example, of a fabric, which is collapsible in an accordion fashion. Other structures may be provided for the expandable section  78 .  
         [0036]     In an embodiment, a closure  80  is provided for locking the expandable section  78  in an unexpanded, or collapsed state. In the embodiment shown, the closure  80  is a zipper but other structures may be used. These closures may be re-attachable, such as the zipper, in that the expandable section  78  may be moved between the expanded state and the collapsed state after being opened. Alternatively, the closures may be removably attachable, such as by a removable tab, so that the expandable section  78  remains in the expanded state after the closure is opened by a user. Other examples of closures include, but are not limited to, straps, ties, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, hooks, loops and toggles, tearable strips, tapes, and releasable fasteners.  
         [0037]     In use, the expandable sleeve  76  may receive an airbed therein. In the collapsed state, shown in  FIG. 5 , the expandable sleeve  76  receives a smaller airbed, such as a 4-inch high airbed. In the expanded state, shown in  FIG. 6 , the closure  80  is released and the expandable section  78  is allowed to expand so that a taller airbed, such as an 8-inch high airbed may be received in the expandable sleeve  76 . In this manner, the expandable sleeve  76  is capable of handling multiple different heights of airbeds. If desired, the expandable section  78  may be configured so that airbeds of intermediate sizes may also be received in the expandable sleeve  76 . For example, elastic straps may be used for the closure, or other suitable structure may be provided so that an intermediate sized airbed, such as an airbed that is six inches tall, may be received within an expandable sleeve  76  that is configured to receive airbeds from four to eight inches tall.  
         [0038]     The expandable sleeve  76  may be attached to a suitable frame, or a cot, such as the cots  24 ,  124 , or  224 . The expandable sleeve  76  may be attached in much the same manner as the sleeve  26 , or may be permanently attached, for example by sewing of the expandable sleeve  76  to a canvas covering  54  for the cot  24 . The attachment of the expandable sleeve  76  to a cot or frame may be permanent or temporary.  
         [0039]     In the embodiment shown, the expandable sleeve  76  fully receives an airbed, but the expandable sleeve  76  may alternatively be configured to receive only portions of the airbed, such as corners, ends, or outer edges of the airbed. In addition, much like the embodiment of the sleeve  26  described above, the bottom may be partially open to save fabric costs.  
         [0040]     The expandable sleeve  76  may also be used on an airbed without a cot or frame. This feature permits one user to sleep on the cot, and another on the airbed. In addition, the expandable sleeve  76  provides a smoother, and perhaps softer, surface for a user than just sleeping on the airbed.  
         [0041]     The use of either the sleeve  26  or the expandable sleeve  76  with a cot, such as the cot  24 , the cot  124 , or the cot  224 , provides an advantage over prior airbeds in that if the airbed is accidentally deflated, the user is still suspended by a comfortable bedding surface; e.g., the fabric covering  54 . In addition, in both embodiments, storage space is available under the airbed and cot combination. Such storage space is not available under a conventional airbed.  
         [0042]     Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0043]     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
         [0044]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0045]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.