IE46168B1

IE46168B1 - A folding cot

Info

Publication number: IE46168B1
Application number: IE2390/77A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Eamonn Burke
Priority date: 1977-11-25
Filing date: 1977-11-25
Publication date: 1983-03-09
Also published as: IE46168L; GB1578716A

Description

The present invention relates to a folding cot for a young child or baby.

An object of the invention is to provide a cot which may be folded so that it takes up little space when not in use. A further object is to provide a cot of adjustable height so it may be made convenient for the height of the person attending to the child and, when in its lowermost adjusted position, . contribute to the small space required to stow the cot when not in use.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a folding cot comprising two ends, two sides, and four corner posts forming a rectangular frame, a removable floor adapted to be supported at the base of the frame, and four legs connected to the four corner posts supporting the frame above the ground, the connection between the legs and corner posts being adjustable in the vertical direction to permit the frame to be positioned at a desired height above the ground and, when the frame is in its lowermost position, to enable the cot to take up the least possible space as measured in the vertical direction, and the two ends having hinged joints at their centres and also at positions in the vicinity of the corner posts so that the ends - 2 46168 may be folded inwardly about vertical axes between the two cot sides.

Preferably, one side of the cot is in two parts hinged together about a horizontal axis so that the upper part may be folded down over the lower part to facilitate access to a child or baby in the cot.

Releasable catches normally hold the upper part of the two-part side in its upright unfolded condition, these catches being constructed so that they cannot be easily released by the occupant of the cot.

An embodiment of a cot according to the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:FIGURE 1 is a view of the cot when in its erected condition, and, FIGURE 2 is a view of the cot when in its partially folded condition.

As shown, the cot comprises a rectangular framework having sides 1 and 2 and ends 3 and 4 joined by corner posts 5, the ends and sides being provided with slots 6. The ends 3 and 4 comprise upper and lower rails 7 which bridge end rails 7a. The upper and lower rails 7 are divided at their mid-positions and the two rail halves are connected together by hinges 8. The outer ends of the rails 7 are hingedly connected to the corner posts 5 or the ends of the cot sides 1 and 2 and thus the cot ends 3 and 4 may be folded inwardly between the sides as shown in Figure 2'.

The cot ends are each locked in the position of use, Figure 1, by a releasably catch means comprising a bar 9 pivoted to one half of the upper rail 7 and carrying a clamping screw 11 which is adapted to enter a complementary slot 10 provided in the other half of the upper rail 7.

The cot sides have upper and lower rails 12 and side 2 also has intermediate rails 13 hinged together to enable an upper portion 14 of side 2 to be folded down over a lower portion 15, as shown in Figure 1. This folding feature facilitates access to cot occupant and obviates the need for a cot side to be bodily movable up and down on slides as in many conventional cots. The upper portion 14 of the side 2 is retained in its upright position by snap-catches (not shown) which releasably connect the portion 14 to the adjacent corner posts 5.

The rectangular framework formed by the sides 1, 2 and ends 3, 4 is adjustably supported on legs 16 by means of clamping screws and wing-nuts 18 mounted on the corner posts 5 and cooperating with slots 17 in the legs. As shown in the drawings the cot is in its uppermost position, but for storage or convenience in attending to the child or baby the clamping screws and wing-nuts 18 may be loosened and lowered in the slots 17 to reduce the cot height. With the legs 16 in their lowermost position the cot may also serve as a playpen for the child or baby.

The cot is also provided with a detachable floor 19, and when it is required to fold the cot this floor is lifted and placed against the cot side 1 as shown in Figure 2, the floor being retained against the side by a pair of springs (not shown). In use, the floor is supported around its periphery by the lower rails 7 and 12 of the ends and sides.

The cot is preferably manufactured from wood except for the 5 floor 19 which may be alternatively made from hardboard.

Claims

1. CLAIMS:1. A folding cot comprising two ends, two sides, and four corner posts forming a rectangular frame, a removable floor ' adapted to be supported at the base of the frame, and four legs 5 connected to the four corner posts supporting the frame above the ground, the connection between the legs and corner posts being adjustable in the vertical direction to permit the frame to be positioned at a desired height above the ground and, when the frame is in its lowermost position, to enable the cot to 10 take up the least possible space as measured in the vertical direction, and the two ends having hinged joints at their centres and also at positions in the vicinity of the corner posts so that the ends may be folded inwardly about vertical axes between the two cot sides. 15

2. A folding cot as claimed in Claim 1 in which one side of the cot is in two parts hinged together about a horizontal axis so that the upper part may be folded down over the lower part to facilitate access to a child or baby in the cot.

3. A folding cot as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the 20 cot ends in use comprise upper and lower rails, bridging end rails, the upper and lower rails being divided at their mid-positions and the two halves of each rail being connected by a hinge, releasably catch means being provided to lock the hinge on the upper rail in the position of use. 25

4. A folding cot as claimed in Claim 3 in which releasable catch means comprises a bar pivotally connected to one half of the upper rail, said bar carrying a clamping screw which is adapted to enter a complementary slot provided in the other half of the upper rail to lock said upper rail in position for use.

5. A folding cot substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.