Abstract:
A collapsible cot with support legs that folds under the cot. This allows the cot support fabric to be attached at the ends of the support rails and keep the support fabric tight. This eliminates the need to have and extra support bar across the front and back of the cot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates in general to support devices for sleeping, and more particularly, to such portable sleeping devices as cots or moveable beds designed to be folded and unfolded quickly and made portable to be carried by humans over long distances under severe environmental conditions, such as hiking or backpacking, but is equally adaptable as a light cot structure to be used around the home, taking up little space and more easily stored than the usual type structure heretofore furnished. It has long been a problem in this field to achieve the desired results of a folding cot which can be easily carried, but which also folds into a single unit and provides foot and head support without rigid cross members. 
         [0002]    Existing folding leg cots attach the legs at the end of the side rail supports. This allows the legs to rotate from the bottom of the cot to the top of the cot (approximately 270°) around the end of the side rail support. As a result, none of the support webbing can be attached to the end of the support rails because it will interfere with the leg rotation. This results in the webbing sagging at the front and back of the cot. 
         [0003]    To overcome this sagging, existing cots use a rigid bar at the front and back of the cot. The rigid bar is uncomfortable because it places pressure on the head and feet when the cot is in use. Additionally, the rigid bars must be removed and separated from the cot structure when folding the cot. Consequently, these rigid bars can become lost and they increase the time required to fold and unfold the cot. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Embodiments of a cot are described. In one embodiment, the cot is a first side rail with a first member coupled with a hinge to a second member and a second side rail with a first member coupled with a hinge to a second member. The first and second side rails are positioned parallel to each other with a flexible body supporting sheet suspended between the side rails; 
         [0005]    A first pair of legs with a first and second leg, with the first leg coupled with a hinge to the first member of the first side rail and to the second leg. The second leg is coupled with a hinge to the first member of the second side rail. 
         [0006]    A second pair of legs with a first and second leg, with the first leg coupled with a hinge to the first member of the second side rail and to the second leg. The second leg is coupled with a hinge to the first member of the first side rail. 
         [0007]    A third pair of legs with a first leg and second leg with the first leg coupled, with a hinge, to the second member of the first side rail and to the second leg. The second leg is coupled with a hinge to the second member of the second side rail. 
         [0008]    A fourth pair of legs with a first leg and a second leg with the first leg coupled with a hinge to the second member of the second side rail and to the second leg. The second leg is coupled with a hinge to the second member of the first side rail. 
         [0009]    A fifth pair of legs with a first and second leg with the first leg coupled with a hinge to the first side rail hinge and to the second leg. The second leg is coupled with a hinge to the second side rail hinge. Other embodiments of the system are also described. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of a method are also described. In one embodiment, the method is a method for folding a cot. This includes moving a first member of a first side rail and a first member of a second side rail until they are parallel with a second member of the first side rail and a second member of the second side rail. Moving a first pair of legs and second pair of legs toward a bottom of the cot until they are parallel with first side rail and the second side rail. Moving a third pair of legs and a fourth pair of legs toward a bottom of the cot until they are parallel with first side rail and the second side rail. Moving a fifth pair of legs and causing the first side rail and the second side rails to meet together. Other embodiments of the method are also described. 
         [0011]    Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts the top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a cut section for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts and end view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts perspective view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts a top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  depicts a method for folding the collapsible cot. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts the top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1  having a first side rail  4  and a second side rail  8 . A center pair of legs  12  and cross supporting legs  20  and cross supporting legs  16 . In one embodiment the first side rail  4  and the second side rail  8  is made out of aluminum or steel but it is understood that any rigid suitable material may be used. In one embodiment the center legs  12  and the cross supporting legs  20  and the cross supporting legs  16  are made out of aluminum or steel but it is understood that any rigid suitable material may be used. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1  with second side rail  8 . Second side rail  8  has first member  9  and second member  10  which are joined by hinge  11 . Hinge  11  can rotate around pivot points  36   a  and  36   b . One of the cross supporting legs  16  is attached to second member  10  and can pivot around joint  44 . Support leg  28  is joined to second member  10  and can pivot around joint  40 . Support leg  28  is joined to one of the cross supporting legs  16  and can pivot around joint  32 . 
         [0024]    Joint  40  is mirrored for the connection between support leg  24  and first member  9 . Joint  44  is mirrored for the connection between one of the cross supporting legs  20  and first member  9 . Joint  32  is mirrored for the connection between one of the cross supporting legs  20  and support leg  24 . Leaders  48  show the rotation for the joints  40 ,  44 , and  32  and the mirrored joints not labeled. Cross supporting legs  20 , support leg  24 , cross supporting legs  16  and support leg  28  are rotated toward the bottom of the cot and first member  9  and second member  10  rotate toward the center axis of the cot. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts a cut section for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . The center pair of legs  12  has first leg  61  and second leg  62  which can pivot on joint  52 . Second leg  62  is joined to the second side rail  8  and can pivot around joint  56 . Joint  56  is mirrored for the connection between first leg  61  and first side rail  4 . Foot pads  63  are attached to the bottom of first leg  61  and second leg  62 . In one embodiment the foot pads  63  are made from high density poly ethylene, ABS plastics or a suitable combination of both but it is understood that any suitable material may be used. 
         [0026]    Leaders  60  show the rotation of joint  52 . First leg  61  and second leg  62  are rotated and first side rail  4  and second side rails  8  are brought together. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  depicts an end view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . Cross supporting legs  20  has first leg  76  and second leg  80  which can pivot on joint  64 . Second leg  80  is attached to second side rail  8  and support leg  84 . Second leg  80  can pivot on second side rail  8  by joint  68 . Second leg  80  and support leg  84  can pivot on foot pad  88   b . First leg  76  is attached to first side rail  4  and support leg  24 . First leg  76  and support leg  24  can pivot on foot pad  88   a  through joint  72 . First leg  76  can pivot on first side rail  4 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment the foot pads  88  are made from high density poly ethylene, ABS plastics or a suitable combination of both but it is understood that any suitable material may be used. 
         [0029]    Leader  92  shows the rotation of joints  64 ,  72  and  68  and corresponding joints not labeled. First rail  4  and second rail  8  are brought together and foot pads  88  are brought together and fold under the cot. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  depicts perspective view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . First side rail  4  and second side rail  8  support flexible sheet  96 . In one embodiment the flexible sheet  96  is made from canvas, polyester, or nylon material but it is understood that any suitable material may be used. Strap  90  may be wrapped around collapsible cot  1 . 
         [0031]    As can be seen from  FIG. 5  joint  68  is located closer to the second side rail  8  front face than joint  81  and joint  82  is located closer to the second side rail back face than joint  40 . Joint  87  is closer to the first side rail  4  front face than joint  86  and joint  85  is closer to the first side rail  4  back face than joint  83 . The position of these joints in relation to each other allows the legs to be folded under the cot instead of over and on top of the cot. This allows the flexible sheet  96  to be connected to the side rails at the ends. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  depicts a top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . Straps  100  are attached to flexible sheet  96  and may be used to lift flexible sheet  96 . In place of straps  100  any suitable lifting means may be used such as a handle or loop of material. The strap may be single pieces of material where one end of the material is attached to flexible support sheet  96 . The handle may be single piece of material where two ends of the material are attached to flexible support sheet  96 . The loop may be single piece of looped material where two ends of the material are attached to flexible support sheet  96  at the same location. This embodiment shows two straps  100  but one or more straps, handles or loops may be used. The strap, handle, or loop of material may be of the same material as flexible sheet  96  or any other suitable material may be used. Using straps  100  has of the advantage to prevent flexible sheet from snagging on the legs during folding and allows the collapsible cot  1  to be more easily folded by one person. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  depicts a top view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . Finger holes  104  are located on flexible sheet  96  and may be used to lift flexible sheet  96 . This has the advantage to prevent the flexible sheet  96  from snagging on the legs during folding without the use of something attached to the flexible sheet  96 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view for one embodiment of the collapsible cot  1 . A hole  108  is located in support leg  28  and side rail  8 . A pin  112  may be inserted through the hole  108  to prevent the cot from folding. In one embodiment only two holes are required and may be placed at the hole locations  116  ( FIG. 7 ) but it should be understood that in other embodiments more holes may be used. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  depicts a method for folding the collapsible cot. The steps include removing the pin from the hinge, using the handle to lift the supportive web, bending the side rails until they are parallel, moving the first and the second pair of legs toward the bottom of the cot, moving the fourth pair of legs toward the bottom of the cot, moving the fifth pair of legs to make the side rails close, wrapping the strap around the folded cot. 
         [0036]    As can be seen above, the collapsible cot can maintain the flexible support material tight at both ends of the cot without the use of an additional support bar. This is because the flexible material can be attached at the end of the side rails because the support rail folds under the cot not over the cot. Additionally, the collapsible cot folds into a single unit with no loose parts. This allows the cot to be transport and stored more effectively. 
         [0037]    Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner. 
         [0038]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.