Abstract:
A stackable, portable cot apparatus is easily assembled and disassembled preferably without the use of any tools. The portable cot apparatus preferably includes a flexible support, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of connectors. Alternatively, the portable cot apparatus also includes a plurality of extension legs. When assembled together, the plurality of support members and the plurality of connectors form a cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the flexible support is configured to support the weight of a user and includes three permanent fasteners and a detachable fastener. The permanent fasteners and the detachable fastener preferably and removably attach the flexible support to the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the detachable fastener is selectively attachable both prior to and after the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus is already assembled. The detachable fastener is preferably a hook and loop fastener. The permanent fasteners are preferably selectively attachable to the plurality of connectors prior to assembling the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Once the cot frame, the permanent fasteners, and the detachable fastener are properly assembled, the flexible support is configured to support a user while utilizing the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the plurality of connectors are configured to maintain the cot frame a predetermined distance above the ground such that the flexible support does not contact the ground while the user rests on the portable cot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of cots. More particularly, this invention relates to cots that are both stackable and portable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Cots have many uses and have been well known for many years. Cots have widespread use in conjunction with such outdoor activities as mountain climbing, fishing, boating, hunting, camping, and the like. Further, such portable cots can be utilized as an extra bed in a home, napping area at a day care facility, and any location where a temporary sleeping/resting device is sometimes needed.  
           [0003]    Some portable cots have hinged bars along the side of the portable bed and leg members hingedly affixed to the side rails. These portable cots are cumbersome to assemble and uncomfortable to utilize. Further, these portable cots are generally not stackable.  
           [0004]    Other portable beds that are stackable generally require the use of tools during assembly and disassembly. One example of such a portable cot is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,390. The portable cot shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,390 requires the use of tools to either assemble or disassemble this portable cot. When completely assembled, this portable cot utilizes numerous screws to securely hold components of the portable cot together. A screw driver is therefore necessary in order to assemble or disassemble this portable cot.  
           [0005]    Portable cots are also made from aluminum tubing. This aluminum tubing is light in weight and allows the portable cot to have legs which are hingedly attached. An example of such a portable bed is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,754. However, the portable cot described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,754, can neither be disassembled nor stackable with other portable cots.  
           [0006]    Many of these prior portable beds are either difficult to assemble, difficult to disassemble, and/or not stackable. What is needed is a portable bed apparatus which is easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools. What is also needed is a portable bed apparatus that is easily stackable for storage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A stackable, portable cot apparatus is easily assembled and disassembled preferably without the use of any tools. The portable cot apparatus preferably includes a flexible support, a plurality of support members, and a plurality of connectors. Alternatively, the portable cot apparatus also includes a plurality of extension legs. When assembled together, the plurality of support members and the plurality of connectors form a cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the flexible support is configured to support the weight of a user and includes three permanent fasteners and a detachable fastener. The permanent fasteners and the detachable fastener preferably and removably attach the flexible support to the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the detachable fastener is selectively attachable both prior to and after the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus is already assembled. The detachable fastener is preferably a hook and loop fastener. The permanent fasteners are preferably selectively attachable to the plurality of connectors prior to assembling the cot frame of the portable cot apparatus. Once the cot frame, the permanent fasteners, and the detachable fastener are properly assembled, the flexible support is configured to support a user while utilizing the portable cot apparatus. Preferably, the plurality of connectors are configured to maintain the cot frame a predetermined distance above the ground such that the flexible support does not contact the ground while the user rests on the portable cot.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a connector within the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates two portable cots without legs configured to stack on top of each other.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 illustrates two portable cots with legs configured to stack on top of each other.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is a portable cot apparatus  100  which preferably allows a user to conveniently assemble and disassemble the portable cot apparatus  100  without utilizing any tools. While assembled, the portable cot apparatus  100  provides the user with a comfortable place to rest and/or sleep. Further, while still assembled, the portable cot apparatus  100  is designed to allow multiple portable cot apparatuses  100  to stack within each other to save space when the cots are not being utilized. The portable cot apparatus  100  can be disassembled by separating its components, making the portable cot apparatus  100  easy to transport. Preferably, this disassembly is also performed without the use of any tools.  
         [0013]    The portable cot apparatus  100  comprises a frame structure  190  and a flexible support  120 . The frame structure includes corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  and rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160 , and  165 . A perspective view of a corner connector  200  is illustrated in FIG. 2. The corner connector  200  is representative of the corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113 . The corner connector  200  preferably has four openings, including two horizontal frame openings  210  and  220  and two vertical support openings  230  and  240 . The corner connector  200  also includes an integrated leg  235 . Each of the horizontal frame openings  210  and  220  is preferably configured to accept an end of a rail structure such as the rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160 , and  165  (FIG. 1). The vertical support opening  240  is preferably configured to accept the integrated leg  235  of another corner connector of another cot when two or more cots are stacked together. The vertical support opening  230  extends through the integrated leg  235 . Together, the vertical support openings  230  and  240  form a single vertical passage through the connector  200 . Within an alternate embodiment, the vertical support opening  230  accepts an extension leg, such as the legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183  (FIG. 1). These extension legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183  are added to the frame structure  190  to raise the frame structure  190  to a predetermined height above the ground. This predetermined height is adjusted by varying the length of the extension legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183 .  
         [0014]    Preferably, each of the horizontal frame openings  210  and  220  is also configured to securely and snugly hold an end of an appropriate rail structure without the use of any tools or the need for additional hardware such as clamps, screws, bolts, brackets, or the like. Both of the horizontal frame openings  210  and  220  are capable of securely holding any of the rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160 , and  165  when the appropriate rail structure is pushed into place within one of the openings  210  and  220  by the user. This process of pushing the appropriate rail structure into one of the openings  210  and  220  requires no tools. Additionally, the resulting connection between the one of the openings  210  and  220  and the end of the appropriate rail structure preferably remains firmly coupled and is referred to as “pressure fitted”. Similar to the process of coupling, each of the openings  210  and  220  is also preferably configured to release the appropriate rail structure without any tools. Because the appropriate rail structure and one of the openings  210  and  220  are pressure fitted together, to disassemble a rail structure from a connector, the user pulls the appropriate rail structure away from the appropriate opening  210  or  220  to release the pressure holding the pieces together.  
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the rail structure  150  is coupled between the corner connectors  111  and  112  to form a side of the frame structure  190 . Additionally, the rail structure  155  is coupled between the corner connectors  110  and  113  to form a side of the frame structure  190 . The rail structure  160  is preferably coupled between the corner connectors  112  and  113  to form an end of the frame structure  190 . The rail structure  165  is preferably coupled between the corner connectors  110  and  111  to form an end of the frame structure  190 . Each of the rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160 , and  165  are configured to removably couple with the appropriate corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  to preferably form a cot frame  190 . Preferably, the rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160 , and  165  and the corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  hold the cot frame  190  together. Further, the cot frame  190  is also preferably held together, in part, by the flexible support  120  as discussed in detail below.  
         [0016]    In an alternate embodiment, the cot frame  190  is raised above a ground level and rests on the extension legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183 . Each of these legs is inserted into and held within the vertical support opening  230  of the appropriate corner connector. For example, the extension leg  180  is coupled to the corner connector  110 ; the extension leg  181  is coupled to the corner connector  111 ; the extension leg  182  is coupled to the corner connector  112 ; and the extension leg  183  is coupled to the corner connector  113 .  
         [0017]    Preferably, the cot frame  190  is capable of being assembled and disassembled without any tools. The corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113  are preferably configured to retain an end of an appropriate rail structure through the pressure fitted connection. Also, preferably a sufficient length of the end of the rail structures are held within the horizontal openings of the connectors to provide sufficient rigidity and strength to the overall frame structure, without requiring the use of any additional securing devices, such as screws or bolts. Alternatively, a bolt, screw or other securing device is utilized to provide additional support to the combination of the horizontal opening and the end of the rail structure.  
         [0018]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to utilize any number of support members, connectors, or legs to comprise the cot frame  190 . Although not specifically stated, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art to utilize any appropriate combination of dimensions for the rail structures and legs.  
         [0019]    The flexible support  120  preferably comprises permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172 , and a detachable fastener  130 . Each of the permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172  are preferably configured to couple with the rail structures  165 ,  150 , and  155 , respectively. Preferably, the permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172  are formed by wrapping a portion of the flexible support  120  over and onto itself and securing an edge of this portion back onto the flexible support  120  by heat sealing, thereby forming a sleeve. Alternatively, the edges of the flexible support  120  are also sealed by reinforced stitching. The permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172 , preferably have sufficient strength to remain coupled with their respective rail structure while supporting the weight of the user.  
         [0020]    The detachable fastener  130  preferably comprises a loop fabric portion  140  and a hook fabric portion  145 . Preferably, the loop fabric portion  140  and the hook fabric portion  145  are configured to removably and selectively couple with each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the loop fabric portion  140  is preferably attached to an edge portion of the flexible support  120 . Further, the hook fabric portion  145  is shown attached to the flexible support  120 . Both the loop fabric portion  140  and the hook fabric portion  145  are preferably attached to and positioned on the flexible support  120  such that the detachable fastener  130  is configured to selectively and securely couple to the rail structure  160  by wrapping around the rail structure and securing the hook fabric portion  145  to the loop fabric portion  140 . Further, the detachable fastener  130  also preferably has sufficient strength to remain secured around the rail structure  160  while supporting the weight of the user. The flexible support  120  can be tightened or loosened, as appropriate, by adjusting the relationship of the hook fabric portion  145  to the loop fabric portion  140 .  
         [0021]    The preferred embodiment utilizes the detachable fastener  130  which includes the interlocking hook and loop fabric portions  145  and  140 . In alternate embodiments, as should be apparent to those skilled in the art, different types of appropriate detachable fasteners such as zippers, snaps, quick-releases, and the like can be utilized in place of the interlocking hook and loop fabric found in the detachable fastener  130 .  
         [0022]    In alternate embodiments, any combination of the permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172  can be substituted with a detachable fastener similar to the detachable fastener  130 . Further, the detachable fastener  130  can also be substituted for a permanent fastener similar to the permanent fasteners  170 ,  171 , and  172 .  
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment, a receptacle  250  is located in close proximity to the vertical support opening  240  of the connector  200 , as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the receptacle  250  is configured to retain an integrated leg  235  from a corner connector of a different portable cot. The receptacle  250  is preferably utilized to allow more than one portable cot apparatus  100  (FIG. 1) to neatly and securely stack within each other by inserting an appropriate integrated leg  235  of a corner connector of one portable cot apparatus within the receptacle  250  of another portable cot apparatus. Specific details of stacking and nesting are described in detail below and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates two portable cots without extension legs which are configured to securely stack together in a vertical stack to conserve space. Bottom and top portable cots  300  and  350  are similar to the portable cot apparatus  100  (FIG. 1) without the extension legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183 , as shown in FIG. 1. The bottom portable cot apparatus  300  is preferably configured to allow a top portable cot apparatus  350  to securely nest within the bottom portable cot apparatus  300 . By nesting the top apparatus  350  within the bottom apparatus  300 , the present invention allows two portable cots to be securely stored while conserving space. The bottom portable cot apparatus  300  includes a plurality of connectors  310  wherein each of the plurality of connectors  310  further includes the receptacle  250  including the vertical support opening  230 . This receptacle  250  is also described above and illustrated in FIG. 2. Each vertical support opening  230  is preferably configured to securely hold a caster. By utilizing a caster at each vertical support opening  230 , the bottom portable cot apparatus  300  in a stack is configured to be easily moved across the ground. Alternatively, any cot apparatus can include casters, as appropriate, at each vertical support opening  230 , for easy relocation of the cot apparatus.  
         [0025]    The top portable cot apparatus  350  preferably includes a plurality of connectors  360  wherein each of the plurality of connectors  360  further includes an integrated leg  235 . The top apparatus  350  is configured to securely nest within the bottom apparatus  300  by resting each of the integrated legs  235  of the connectors  360  of the top apparatus  350  within a corresponding receptacle  250  of the bottom apparatus  300 . Each of the receptacles  250  within the connectors  310  securely hold the integrated legs  235  of the connectors  360  to prevent the cot  350  from being knocked off or slipping from the portable cot  300 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment showing two portable cots including extension legs which are configured to securely stack together in such a manner to conserve space. Bottom and top portable cots  400  and  450  are similar to the portable cot apparatus  100  (FIG. 1). The bottom portable cot apparatus  400  is configured to allow a top portable cot apparatus  450  to securely nest within the bottom portable cot apparatus  400 . By nesting the top apparatus  450  within the bottom apparatus  400 , the present invention allows two portable cots to be securely stored while conserving space. The bottom portable cot apparatus  400  includes a plurality of corner connectors  410  wherein each of the plurality of corner connectors  410  further includes the vertical support opening  240 . This vertical support opening  240  is also described above and illustrated in FIG. 2. The top portable apparatus  450  includes a plurality of legs  460 . The top apparatus  450  is configured to securely nest within the bottom apparatus  400  by positioning each of the plurality of extension legs  460  of the top apparatus  450  within a corresponding vertical support opening  240  within the corner connectors  410  of the bottom portable cot apparatus  400 .  
         [0027]    To assemble the portable cot apparatus  100 , the cot frame  190  (FIG. 1) is assembled with the flexible support  120 . To begin this assembly, the rail structure  150  is preferably slipped through the permanent fastener  171 . Next, the corner connectors  111  and  112  are appropriately coupled to the rail structure  150  by inserting each end of the rail structure into an appropriate horizontal support opening within the corner connectors  111  and  112  thereby forming a pressure fit between the end of the rail structure and the corresponding horizontal support opening. The rail structure  155  is then slipped through the permanent fastener  172 , and the corner connectors  110  and  113  are appropriately coupled to the rail structure  155  by inserting each end of the rail structure into an appropriate horizontal support opening within the corner connectors  110  and  113  thereby forming a pressure fit between the end of the rail structure and the corresponding horizontal support opening.  
         [0028]    The rail structure  165  is then slipped through the permanent fastener  170 . Next, the rail structure  165  is appropriately coupled to the corner connectors  110  and  111  by inserting each end of the rail structure into an appropriate horizontal support opening within the corner connectors  110  and  111  thereby forming a pressure fit between the end of the rail structure and the corresponding horizontal support opening. The rail structure  160  is then coupled to the corner connectors  112  and  113  by inserting each end of the rail structure  160  into an appropriate horizontal support opening within the corner connectors  112  and  113  thereby forming a pressure fit between the end of the rail structure and the corresponding horizontal support opening.  
         [0029]    To complete the assembly of the cot frame  190 , the detachable fastener  130  is wrapped around the rail structure  160  and secured by attaching the loop fabric portion  140  to the hook fabric portion  145 . In an alternate embodiment, the extension legs  180 ,  181 ,  182 , and  183  are coupled to the corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112 , and  113 , respectively.  
         [0030]    As described above, the assembly of the portable cot apparatus  100  is preferably performed without the use of tools. Complete disassembly of the portable cot apparatus  100  is a convenient, simple process that is also preferably accomplished without any tools. To disassemble the portable cot apparatus  100 , a user reverses the steps outlined above to assemble the portable cot apparatus  100 , by separating the corner connectors  110 ,  111 ,  112  and  113  from the rail structures  150 ,  155 ,  160  and  165 .  
         [0031]    In order to remove the flexible support  120 , disassembling the entire portable cot  100  is unnecessary. The corner connectors  110  and  111  must be disconnected from the rail structures  150 ,  155 , and  165  in order to separate the flexible support  120  from the frame structure  190 . Because connections between each rail structure and corresponding corner connectors are formed by a pressure fit, these connections are disconnected without the use of tools. By disconnecting the corner connectors  110  and  111  from the rail structures  150 ,  155 , and  165 , the permanent fastener  170  is removed from the rail structure  165 . The detachable fastener  130  is disengaged from the rail structure  160  by pulling the loop fabric portion  140  and the hook fabric portion  145  away from each other. The flexible support  120  is then removed from the portable cot  100  by sliding the flexible support  120  such that the permanent fasteners  171  and  172  are disconnected from the rail structures  150  and  155 , respectively.  
         [0032]    The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0033]    Specifically, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the device of the present invention could be implemented in several different ways and the embodiments disclosed above are only exemplary of the preferred embodiment and the alternate embodiments of the invention and is in no way a limitation. In particular, the detachable fastener utilizing hook and loop fabric can be substituted by other detachable fasteners such as zippers, snaps, quick-releases, and the like.