GB2084457A - Folding cot - Google Patents

Abstract

The cot when erected has two superposed horizontal rectangular frames, the lower frame (1) supporting the bedding (2) and the upper frame defining the ring flexible web (13) being stretched between the two frames (1, 3) to define the side walls; wherein each frame (1, 3) is foldable about its central transverse axis (19, 20) and at the four corner regions there are respective pairs of uprights (7, 9), pivotally connected to each of the frames (1, 3), each pair being arranged to form an X and one upright (7) of each pair being provided with a rocking lever (10) engageable on a stop (16) provided at the pivotal connection of the other upright (9) to the upper frame (3), the lever ends (11) also carrying rods (12) which support the web (13), whose resilience acts to retain the levers (10) in extreme configurations, which lock the cot in its erected state; the construction being such that, on folding, the X's (7, 9) flatten, the cot's head and foot come together, and the centres of the frames (1, 3) move together and cross. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding cot The present invention relates to a folding cot.

Cots of this kind have a framework or chassis which generally consists of metal and is articulated in various ways to enable the cot to be folded in order to facilitate transport, notably by vehicle.

The folding system should desirably be as simple as possible and practical in use, that is to say capable of being immediately and rapidly utilised by anybody without the assistance of tools.

According to the invention there is provided a folding cot comprising when erected for use: two vertically spaced superposed horizontally extending generally rectangular frames, each being foldable about a respective central transverse axis, the lower frame having means for supporting bedding, and the upper frame defining the upper edge of the cot; flexible web means extending between the frame to define the walls of the cot; four pairs of uprights in the four corner regions of the cot, each upright being pivotally connected to both frames, the uprights of each pair being in an X-configuration; and means for locking said uprights in respective Xconfigurations; and wherein in folding the cot the frames fold about their transverse axes so as to cross and overlap.

A cot embodying the invention may be foldable to very small overall dimensions, the operations of folding and unfolding being simple and rapid, not involving any disassembly or unscrewing.

By having the various component parts of the chassis of such a cot articulated by pin jointing, and the two frames arranged to fold in opposite directions so as to lap one another in concertina fashion, the cot may approach truly minimum overall dimensions.

The operation of folding the cot may be particularly simple and rapid. In a preferred embodiment it is sufficient to move the folding sides of the two frames towards one another in order to initiate the folding process, which automatically continues under the action of gravity. There may with advantage be provided across the mattress of the bedding a belt which is fixed to the lower frame in the immediate neighbourhood of its folding pin, folding of the cot being effected by a simple upward pull of the said belt.

With regard to the means for locking the uprights in the unfolded position of the cot, the means for each pair of uprights may consist of a lever pivotally mounted on a first one of the uprights and co-operating with a stop fast with the second. The lever is advantageously of the rocking type and arranged to be resiliently urged to one or other of two extreme positions so as always to have stable positioning either in the locked condition or in the unlocked condition.

In a preferred embodiment, such an elastic locking means consists of a lever pivotally mounted on a said first upright and having its upper end so shaped as to bear against a stop fast with the upper frame. The upper end of the lever is connected to the corresponding end of a like lever at the other side of the cot by a rod to which there is fixed that portion of the flexible web means which constitutes the vertical wall at the foot or head of the cot. The lower edge of this wall is fixed to the lower frame. The wall material is such that it has sufficient extensibility to perform the function of elastically urging the lever to one or other of its extreme positions.

In this embodiment, the said stop fast with the upper frame is, for example, the pin by which the second upright is jointed to the said frame, or quite simply the upper edge of the said second upright.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, which description is given solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a cot embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an inside corner of the upper portion of the chassis of the cot; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a lower portion; Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates the configuration of the bed at the beginning of the folding operation; and Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 but showing the folding almost completed.

Figure 1 shows the framework or chassis of a folding cot embodying the invention. For the sake of clarity, only the chassis is shown, while the fittings or elements provided in the make-up of this cot are omitted or sketched in broken lines as far as is necessary for an understanding of the folding structure and its mode of use.

The chassis of the illustrated cot comprises, when erected, two superposed horizontal rectangular frames 1 and 2. The lower frame 1 is intended to support the bedding, of which only the mattress 2 is symbolically indicated, while the upper frame 3, serves as a hand rail and defines the upper edge of the cot.

The frames 1 and 3 may consist, for example, of tubular metal sections.

As seen from Figure 3, the frame 1 is bridged by a number of cross members 4 (e.g. of metal), for supporting the mattress 2 and holding it in position. The frame 3 can be a simple rectangle having rounded corners.

The frame 1 comprises two symmetrical portions 1 a and 1 h adapted to be folded about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cot. The necessary articulation at the centre of the frame 1 is effected with the aid of two shackles 5 situated opposite one another on either side of the cot, to which the opposed ends of the portions 1 a and 16 are freely pin-jointed at 5a and 5b respectively (Figure 1). The shackles 5 are so designed and arranged that the portions 1 a and 1 b can be folded only downwards in relation to the shackles, which form an abutment maintaining the said portions I a and 1 b in prolongation when the cot is in the erected state as illustrated in Figure 1.

Likewise, the frame 3 comprises two symmetrical portions 3a and 3b foldable about an axis situated in the vertical plane containing the folding axis of the frame 1. The articulation of the two portions 3a and 3b is identical to that of the portions 1 a and 1 b, except that the two shackles 6 are disposed oppositely to the shackles 5, so that the portions 3a and 3b can be folded only upwards in relation to them.

The frames 1 and 3 are connected by four corner uprights 7 are provided at their lower ends (which extend beneath frame 1) with steerable casters 8 or the like transport means. The uprights 7 are pivoted freely to the frames 1 and 3.

The frames 1 and 3 are also connected by four further uprights or bracing rods 9 pivoting freely on the frames. The rods 9 are not connected to the uprights 7. Corresponding rods 9 and uprights 7 are situated on opposite sides of the tubes forming the frames 1 and 3 (Figure 2) to permit folding.

The rods 9 are disposed laterally in relation to the cot so as each to form an X with the upright 7 when the bed is erected as in Figure 1. The uprights are lockable in their X configurations to maintain the cot erected by means of levers 10 pivotally mounted on the uprights 7. The pivoting is achieved by each lever 10 having its lower end portion 14 bent over to form a pivot pin which engages a bore in an upright 7.

The uprights 7 are not straight, but are shaped so that, when the cot is in the erected position, their lower end portions (which provide feet at their ends) are substantially vertical, while the upper portions are inclined towards the direction of the centre of the cot so as to form theX configurations with the rods 9. However, it is to be understood that these uprights could have other forms fulfilling the same functions.

The locking levers 10 have upper end portions 11 shaped to co-operate with the upper ends of the rods 9 which provide abutments on which the end portions 11 are slidable. At each end of the cot the opposed levers 10 are connected at their upper end portions by a rod 12 (which may be integral with the two levers at that end) on which there is engaged the upper edge of a length of cloth 1 3 having some extensibility. The cloth 1 3 is stretched between the rod 12 and an end cross member 1 C of the lower frame 1.

The two lengths of cloth 1 3 define the vertically extending walls at the foot and head of the cot, the other two lateral walls being formed of two other lengths of cloth (not shown) stretched between the frames 1 and 3, to which they are secured by any appropriate means.

Of course, the material of which these walls of the cot consist may be varied. It should preferably be a thin sheet of flexible material, such as a woven or non-woven fabric. The end walls need some extensibility. If the material itself is inelastic; this could be achieved by incorporating an elastic zone, e.g. resilient elements interposed between the cloth and the rod 12 and/or cross member 1 c.

The relative extensibility of the two lengths of clot or walls 1 3 enables them to urge the levers 10 elastically into either of two stable extreme positions. Figure 2 illustrates one of these positions (locked position of the X-system (7, 9) in the open condition with the cot erected).

This position is stable since, if the lever 10 is moved slightly away from the rod 9 (towards position 10' in Figure 1), the stretched cloth 13' tends to return it into its initial position, the pivot pin 14 of the lever aiways being situated on the same side of the plane of the cloth 1 3.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate stages in the folding of the bed. They show diagrammatically the principal parts of the chassis of the bed and the pivoting axes. Thus, the uprights 7 are pivotally connected to the frames 1 and 3 by respective connections 1 5 and 1 6. The rods 9 are pivotally connected to the frames 1 and 3 by respective connections 1 7 and 1 8. The lower frame portions 1 a, 1 h are pivotally connected by connections 19, and the upper frame portions 3a, 3b are pivotally connected by connections 20.

In order to facilitate the folding of the cot, there is advantageously provided a transverse belt 21 which is fixed to the lower frame 1 in the immediate neighbourhood of the folding axis 1 9 of the frame 1. The said belt 21 may form, for example, a loop through which the mattress 2 extends.

For folding the bed from the unfolded position, it is necessary first to unlock the locking levers 10.

For this purpose, it is sufficient to bring the two head and foot rods 12 of the cot towards the centre of the latter, so that they pass beyond the rocking point of the levers 10 (when the axes 14 are in the plane of the cloth section 13). The levers 10 then come into the position diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4. The belt 21 is then pulled upwards in order to cause the frames 1 and 3 to fold in opposite directions towards one another (see Figure 4). As the pull on the belt 21 is continued, the frames 1 and 3 cross and lap one another in concertina fashion (Figure 5). At the same time, urged by gravity, the X-connections (7, 9) close while moving towards the centre of the bed.

Figure 5 does not show the cot in its completely folded position in which it is completely flattened so as to be reduced to extremely small overall dimensions.

The flexible side walls consisting of fabric or the like do not in any way interfere with the folding process.

For unfolding the cot from its completely folded position, it is sufficient to bring it into the upright position on its feet by means of the belt 21, and to unfold the frames 1 and 3 again by simply pressing on the mattress at the region of the axis of the connections 1 9 until the position of Figure 1 is obtained after passing through the position of Figure 4. The locking position of the levers 10 is produced almost instantaneously by passing from the position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 1.

The belt 21 may also serve for carrying the folded cot.

The cot according to the invention is therefore particularly practical both in regard to its use and in regard to transport and storage. It can have low weight together with remarkable solidity and rigidity when erected.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described in the foregoing, but can be varied within the scope of the invention.

In particular, other means could be employed for the locking of elements 7 and 9 in their Xconfigurations, as will be clear to one skilled in the art.

Claims (9)

1. A folding cot comprising when erected for use: two vertically spaced superposed horizontally extending generally rectangular frames, each being foldable about a respective central transverse axis, the lower frame having means for supporting bedding, and the upper frame defining the upper edge of the cot; flexible web means extending between the frame to define the walls of the cot; four pairs of uprights in the four corner regions of the cot, each upright being pivotally connected to both frames, the uprights of each pair being in an X-configuration; and means for locking said uprights in respective Xconfigurations; and wherein in folding the cot the frames fold about their transverse axes so as to cross the overlap.

2. A cot according to Claim 1 including a belt disposed transversely to the cot and fixed to the lower frame adjacent its folding axis, the said belt being grippabie to facilitate folding of the cot and carrying it in the folded state.

3. A cot according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for locking the uprights comprises a lever pivotally mounted on one of the uprights and cooperating with a stop fast with the other upright of that pair.

4. A cot according to Claim 3, wherein said lever is a rocking lever and is resiliently urged into one or other of two extreme positions.

5. A cot according to Claim 4 wherein said cot has like rocking levers at both corner regions of the head and/or foot of the cot, and each said rocking lever consists of a lever which is pivotally mounted at a lower region on an upright, and which has an upper portion which is so shaped as to bear against a stop fast with the upper frame of the cot and is connected to a corresponding upper portion of said like rocking lever of the transversely spaced corner region by a rod to which there is fixed that portion of the said web means which constitutes the wall at the head or foot of the cot, this portion being fixed at its bottom to the lower frame; and having sufficient elasticity to effect said resilient urging of the rocking levers.

6. A cot according to Claim 5, wherein the said stop fast with the upper frame consists of the upper end of that upright of the pair to which the lever is not pivotally connected.

7. A cot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one upright of each pair extends beneath the lower frame to provide a groundengaging foot.

8. A cot according to claim 7 wherein said feet bear caster means.

9. A folding cot substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.