Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to cots and playpens for children, and in particular travel cots or playpens.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventional travel cots are foldable, so that the cot can be collapsed when not in use. Generally they are rectangular in shape, comprising four corner legs and collapsible top and bottom frame assemblies, whereby the cot can be folded to a compact configuration for storage and portability. Travel cots are often used also as playpens.  
         [0003]     The cot walls are usually made of fabric. To attach the cot walls to the cot frame, the walls usually have an elongate tube of fabric attached along each corner. Each fabric tube can receive a corner leg of the frame, to secure the cot walls to the frame.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to the invention, there is provided a cot comprising a support frame, a wall, and at least one attaching means for connecting the wall to the support frame, the attaching means comprising an elongate member and a corresponding groove in the support frame, the elongate member being fixed to the wall and located in the groove.  
         [0005]     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an intermediate connection means for connecting a cot wall to a cot frame, the intermediate connection means comprising an elongate member, the elongate member being attachable to the cot wall and insertable in a corresponding groove in the cot frame.  
         [0006]     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of attaching a cot wall to a cot frame, the method comprising the steps of attaching an elongate member to the cot wall and inserting the elongate member in a corresponding groove in the cot frame.  
         [0007]     An advantage of the present invention is the improved attachment of the cot walls to the cot frame, allowing the cot to withstand strong loads without the walls becoming detached from the support frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A cot or playpen embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, without limitation to the scope of the invention, and with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a cot of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the cot showing one corner of the cot;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the vertical support bar of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of the one of the vertical support members, showing the attachment to the intermediate connection. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cot  10  of the present invention has four vertical support members  20  and a cot wall comprising four fabric side walls  30 . Each of the vertical support members  20  is connected to the side walls via intermediate connection members  11 , which act as attaching means for attaching the walls to the cot frame.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , one of the vertical support members  20  is shown, connected to two of the side walls  30 , using an intermediate connection member  11 .  
         [0015]     Each of the side walls  30  of the cot comprises a separate rectangular piece of fabric. The intermediate connection member  11  consists of a cord  13  wrapped in a cover  12 , forming a long cylindrical portion (the cord  13 ) with an extending planar portion  14 .  
         [0016]     The cover  12  is an elongate rectangular piece of flexible PVC or strong fabric.  
         [0017]     Preferably the cover is extruded around the cord so that the cord is disposed in the cover, with its axis parallel to the long axis of the cover. Alternatively the cover is wrapped around the cord and glued to the cord. The overlapping edges of the cover are glued to each other. The cord is a flexible, fibrous cord or rope. A rod of plastic or metal could of course be used in place of the cord and preferably the rod would be made of a flexible material. The rod would preferably have a uniform cross-section, and is preferably cylindrical, but a rod of non-circular cross-sectional shape could be used.  
         [0018]     The edge of each of the side walls  30  is stitched onto the planar part  14  of the intermediate connection member  11 , one on each side of the cover  12 , such that the edge of the side walls  30  and the planar part  14 . The side walls  30  are secured to the intermediate connection member  11  by a seam of stitching  21 . The fabric of the side walls  30  could alternatively be glued onto the planar part of the intermediate connection member  11 . The cot walls  30  can be attached to the intermediate connection members  11  in a different manner from that shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the four cot walls  30  may be formed from a continuous piece of fabric, the four intermediate connection members being glued or stitched to the outside surface of the fabric at the required locations.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the vertical support bar  20  is a hollow, cylindrical, extruded tube. The bar  20  has a groove  23  along its axis, on one side of the bar, such that the bar  20  has a lune-shaped cross-section. The groove  23  has a circular cross-section. The cross-section of the groove  23  is just larger than the cross-section of the cord part  13  of the intermediate connection member  11 . The width W of the opening of the groove is narrower than the cord&#39;s cross-sectional diameter. The cord part  13  of the intermediate connection member  11  can therefore be inserted in the end of the vertical support bar  20 , and is retained in the groove  23  by the opening. The diameter of the cord  13  is larger than the width W of the opening, so that the cord  13  is retained in the groove  23 .  
         [0020]     To attach the intermediate connection member  11  to the vertical support bar  20 , one end of the cord part  13  can be inserted into the groove  23 , at the end of the bar  20 . The cord part  13  of the intermediate connection member  11  can then be fed along the groove  23 .  
         [0021]     The cord  13  is flexible, therefore it can easily be inserted in the groove  23  of the vertical support bar  20 . The cord  13  has a high tensile strength along its length, therefore it can withstand the loads exerted on it due to a child standing or jumping up and down inside the cot. When a child is in the cot, forces are also exerted on the cord  13  perpendicular to its length, tending to pull the cord against the sides of the opening. The cord  13  is able to withstand these forces due to its compressive strength perpendicular to its length, and therefore the cot can withstand reasonable loads without risk of the cot walls becoming detached from the frame. The opening in the bar  20  must also be sufficiently strong and rigid, so that it does not deform and allow the cord  13  to come out of the opening, when forces are exerted on it.  
         [0022]     Preferably the diameter of the cord part  13  of the intermediate connection member and the diameter of the corresponding groove  23  in the bar  20  are such that the cord  13  fits firmly in the groove  23 , and there is friction control during fitting of the connection member in the groove.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one vertical support bar  20  is shown, with two side walls  30  attached, via the intermediate connection member. The planar part  14  of the intermediate connection member is visible, as is the line of stitching  21 . A corner cover  50  can be secured to the top end of each vertical support bars  20 . This can be used to ensure that the cord  13  cannot slide out of the top of the groove  23 . Similarly, at the bottom of each vertical support member there is a foot  24  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), which supports the cot and also prevents the cord  13  from sliding out of the bottom end of groove  23 . Means (not shown) may be provided for securing the top of the intermediate connection member  11  to the top of the bar  20 , so that the cord  13  does not slide down the groove  23  when a child is placed in the cot.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , through using an intermediate connection member  11 , having an extending planar part  14 , to attach the cot walls to the vertical support bars  20 , the bars  20  are located a distance d away from the inner vertical edges of the cot  31 . In this way, a baby placed in the cot is protected from banging against the bars  20 , and injuring itself. When a baby is in the cot, if the baby touches or bangs against the inner walls or inner edges of the cot, the baby will not come into contact with the vertical support bars  20 .  
         [0025]     Intermediate connection members may be used to attach the cot walls  30  to the upper and lower horizontal bars in the cot support frame, as well as to the vertical support bars. Each of the horizontal bars in the frame will have a groove into which intermediate connection means are inserted, to secure the fabric of the cot to the frame. Use of intermediate connection members provides a strong connection between the fabric cot walls and the support frame. This allows the cot fabric to withstand greater loads without becoming detached from the frame.  
         [0026]     The intermediate connection means described could be used to attach the cot walls to any type of cot frame. Grooves could be included in the support members of any type of cot frame, for insertion of the intermediate connection means, to attach the cot walls to the frame.  
         [0027]     Alternative embodiments using the principles disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon studying the foregoing description and the drawings. It is intended that such alternatives are included within the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims.

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