US20060117478A1

US20060117478A1 - Collapsible baby cot

Info

Publication number: US20060117478A1
Application number: US11/005,965
Authority: US
Inventors: Ka Cheung
Original assignee: Merit Sign Inc
Current assignee: Merit Sign Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-07
Filing date: 2004-12-07
Publication date: 2006-06-08

Abstract

A collapsible baby cot has a support frame consisting of a first closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining a periphery of a cot base, a second closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining an upper edge of a cot wall and an open hoop of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops and forming a cot handle. A fabric material substantially covers the cot base the cot wall. The support frame is collapsible to a series of circular loops that are smaller than the closed hoops.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to baby cots and a particular to collapsible baby cots.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Approximately 4 million babies are born in the United States each year. New born babies have no distinct sleep pattern and will sleep on and off during day and night. From one to two years distant sleep patterns emerge with toddlers mostly sleeping at night. However, up to the age of three years regular daytime naps are required. For this reason parents will take a cot or pushchair for a child to sleep in when away from home even for short periods.
Most modern portable pushchairs and cots are collapsible. However, they are made from hinged rigid frames and even in collapsed form they are bulky to store and transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible baby cot that overcomes or ameliorates the above problem. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cot that collapses into a small generally circular package for easy storage and transportation.
According to the invention there is provided a collapsible baby cot comprising:
a support frame comprising a first closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining a periphery of a cot base, a second closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining an upper edge of a cot wall and an open hoop of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops and forming a cot handle,
a fabric material substantially covering the cot base the cot wall, and
the support frame having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, respectively forming a baby cot in the expanded configuration and collapsing to a series of circular loops in the collapsed configuration, the circular loops being smaller than the closed hoops.
Preferably, the open hoop first and second ends are connected to the first closed hoop and the open hoop is connected to the second closed hoop intermediate its first and second ends.
Preferably, the open hoop is detachably connected to the second closed hoop.
Preferably, the detachable connection comprises a ring affixed to one of the open hoop or second closed hoop and a toggle attached to the other of said hoops for removably inserting through the ring.
Preferably, the open hoop defines an edge of a cot canopy, the cot canopy substantially covered by a fabric material.
Preferably, the cot further comprises a second open hoop of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops.
Preferably, the cot further comprises a removable stiff panel dimensioned to fit on the cot base.
Preferably, the cot further comprises a circular bag for storing the cot in the collapsed configuration.
Preferably, the cot further comprises a mesh fabric material substantially supportable between parts of the open hoop and the second closed hoop.
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible baby cot according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a view of a support frame for the baby cot,
FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the baby cot,
FIG. 4 shows a stiff base plate for the baby cot,
FIG. 5, illustrates how to collapse the cot,
FIG. 6 is a storage bag for the baby cot,
FIG. 7 illustrates a detachable connection for members of the support frame, and
FIG. 8 illustrates various arrangements for a support frame of a collapsible baby cot according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings there is depicted a collapsible baby cot 1 consisting of a resilient flexible support frame, covered with a fabric material, that can be collapsed into a plurality of smaller circular loops for compact storage and transportation.
The support frame comprises first and second generally circular closed hoops 2, 3 of resilient flexible material that define the periphery of the cot base 5 and upper edge of the cot wall 6, and a generally U-shaped open hoop 4 of the resilient flexible material that forms the cot handle 7. The open hoop 4 also defines the edge of a cot canopy 21. The first and second ends 8, 9 of the open hoop 4 are flexibly connected to diametrically opposite points of the base hoop 2. The open hoop 4 is also detachably connected to the second closed hoop 3 at similar diametrically opposite points 10, 11 intermediate its first and second ends 8, 9. The cot base 5, wall 4 and canopy 21 made of a fabric material substantially covering the support frame.
The detachable connections 12, 13 between open hoop 4 and closed hoop 3 is shown in FIG. 7. Each comprises a ring 14 affixed to the open hoop 4 by a material strap 15 and a toggle 16 attached to the closed hoop 3 by a second material strap 17 for removably inserting through the ring 14.
FIG. 4 illustrates a removable stiff panel 18 having the same dimensions as the cot base 5 and which is placed inside the cot, on the base 5, to provide a firmer surface for the baby to lay on.
The support frame has an expanded configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and a collapsed configuration in which the frame is collapsed in to series of circular loops smaller than the closed hoops 2, 3.
The steps of collapsing the cot are shown in FIG. 5. The detachable connections comprising rings 14 and toggles 16 is released and the support frame collapsed to a flat arrangement. Diametrically opposite sides of close hoops 2, 3 are twisted in opposite directions as shown by arrows A and B in order to form a series of smaller circular loops which can be inserted into a small circular bag 19, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for storing the collapsed cot.
In FIG. 2 the cot 1 has a mesh fabric material 20 closing the open area of the cot between the second closed hoop 3 and open hoop 4. This protects a baby from mosquitoes and other insects and is not essential to the invention.
Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or elements having known equivalents then such are included as if individually set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention have been described, however it is understood that variations, improvement or modifications can take place without departure from the scope of the appended claims. For example, FIG. 8 illustrate various other arrangements for the support frame wherein the shape of the hoops is circular, oval and rectangular. There may also be additional open hoops of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops.

Claims

1. A collapsible baby cot comprising:

a support frame comprising a first closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining a periphery of a cot base, a second closed hoop of resilient flexible material defining an upper edge of a cot wall and an open hoop of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops and forming a cot handle,

a fabric material substantially covering the cot base the cot wall, and

the support frame having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, respectively forming a baby cot in the expanded configuration and collapsing to a series of circular loops in the collapsed configuration, the circular loops being smaller than the closed hoops.

2. The cot of claim 1 wherein the open hoop first and second ends are connected to the first closed hoop and the open hoop is connected to the second closed hoop intermediate its first and second ends.

3. The cot of claim 2 wherein the open hoop is detachably connected to the second closed hoop.

4. The cot of claim 3 wherein the detachable connection comprises a ring affixed to one of the open hoop or second closed hoop and a toggle attached to the other of said hoops for removably inserting through the ring.

5. The cot of claim 1 wherein the open hoop defines an edge of a cot canopy, the cot canopy substantially covered by a fabric material.

6. The cot of claim 1 further comprising a second open hoop of resilient flexible material having first and second ends connected to one of the closed hoops.

7. The cot of claim 1 further comprising a removable stiff panel dimensioned to fit on the cot base.

8. The cot of claim 1 further comprising a circular bag for storing the cot in the collapsed configuration.

9. The cot of claim 1 further comprising a mesh fabric material substantially supportable between parts of the open hoop and the second closed hoop.