GB2113987A

GB2113987A - Children's cots

Info

Publication number: GB2113987A
Application number: GB08226453A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margaret Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-02
Filing date: 1982-09-16
Publication date: 1983-08-17
Also published as: GB2113987B

Abstract

A child's cot having a partition 14 to vary the effective length of the cot. The partition, comprising side bars 10, 12 and a panel located therebetween, is slidable along the cot and securable thereto, by providing the side bars at their upper and lower ends with hooked portions, the hooked portions at the upper ends of the side bars being slidable along the side walls of the cot, the hooked portions at the lower ends of said side bars carrying means e.g. clamping screws, to secure the partition in a selected position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Children's cots This invention relates to children's cots.

It is conventional practice, in order to allow for a child to grow, to make cots of a greater length than would otherwise be required when a cot is first occupied. This practice, leaving as it does considerable free and unoccupied space along the length of the cot, makes it possible for a child occupying the cot to work its way down the length of the cot and under any bed-clothes on the cot.

Thus the child is liable to suffocation or what is more commonly referred to as "cot death".

There has been a prior proposal to obviate the above disadvantage of known children's cots, such prior proposal consisting of a low transverse partition which was capable of being clipped to the vertical side rails of the cot so as to reduce the effective length of the cot. Whilst the proposal has its advantages, it is found that the position of the partition is determined by the positions and spacings of the vertical side rails of the cot. Thus there may still be some spare length in the cot which could, in some circumstances, still enable the child to work its way under the bedclothes.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved form of child's cot which will lessen the tendency of cot deaths to occur, According to the present invention, there is provided a child's cot including a substantially vertical movable partition extending across the width of the cot, said partition being slidable along the normal side walls of the cot and being securabie in a selected position so as to vary the effective length of the cot.

Preferably, said partition will be composed of a synthetic plastics material and will preferably comprise opposed side bars having a panel extending therebetween. Said side bars will each preferably have hooked portions at their upper and lower ends, said hooked portions extending in opposed directions.

Means will preferably be provided to lock the partition in position relative to the side walls of the cot.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child's cot embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation, to a larger scale, of part of the child's cot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view on Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a child's cot comprising a base 2, a mattress 4, and side walls 6 and 8, either or both of said side walls being movable vertically in conventional manner by means (not shown) relative to the base 2 and mattress 4. A partition, indicated generally by reference numeral 4, is seen in position in the cot.

Resting upon the horizontal upper surfaces of the side walls 6 and 8 and lying within said side walls, are side bars 10 and 12 of the cot partition 14. As will be seen, the partition 14 consists of a laminar panel 1 6 secured to the side bars 10 and 12, the opposed side edges of the panel 1 6 being located in elongate grooves in said side bars and adhesively secured therein. Each side bar 10 and 1 2 has an upper hooked portion 1 8 and a lower hooked portion 20, the lower hooked portions 20 each having clamping screws 22 therein for engagement with the underside of the base 2 of the cot.

The side bars 10 and 12 and the panel 16 of the partition 14 are composed of a synthetic plastics material, and the side bars 10 and 12 will be of round or non-angular cross-section so as to avoid the presence of any sharp corners which might otherwise harm the child.

By slackening off the clamping screws 22 from the base 2 of the cot, the partition 1 4 may then be moved relative to the base 2 and mattress 4 by sliding the partion along the side walls 6 and 8 of the cot, such sliding movement being facilitated by the upper hooked portions 1 8 of the side bars 10 and 1 2. Thus, the effective length of the child's cot may be varied and set to the required length, thereby preventing the child moving down the cot.

By means of the invention, a simple yet effective means of varying the length of a child's cot is provided which if used and set correctly should obviate the common tragedy of "cot death".

It will be appreciated that the partition 1 4 may be made of material other than a synthetic plastics material, for example wood, and that the clamping screws may be provided on the upper hooked portions 1 8 in place of or in addition to those on the lower hooked portions 20 if desired.

1. A child's cot including a substantially vertical movable partition extending across the width of the cot, said partition being slidable along the normal side walls of the cot and being securable in a selected position so as to vary the effective length of the cot.

2. A child's cot according to Claim 1 wherein said partition comprises opposed side bars and a panel extending between and secured to said side bars.

3. A child's cot according to Claim 2, wherein each of said side bars has an upper hooked portion for slidable engagement with the side walls of said cot and a lower hooked portion carrying means for fastening said partition in a selected position.

4. A child's cot according to Claim 3, wherein said means comprise threaded screws which engage a base of the cot to fasten the partition in the selected position.

5. A child's cot according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said side bars and said panel are composed of a synthetic plastics material.

6. For use in combination with a child's cot, a partition for varying the effective length of said cot, said partition comprising opposed side bars

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Children's cots This invention relates to children's cots. It is conventional practice, in order to allow for a child to grow, to make cots of a greater length than would otherwise be required when a cot is first occupied. This practice, leaving as it does considerable free and unoccupied space along the length of the cot, makes it possible for a child occupying the cot to work its way down the length of the cot and under any bed-clothes on the cot. Thus the child is liable to suffocation or what is more commonly referred to as "cot death". There has been a prior proposal to obviate the above disadvantage of known children's cots, such prior proposal consisting of a low transverse partition which was capable of being clipped to the vertical side rails of the cot so as to reduce the effective length of the cot. Whilst the proposal has its advantages, it is found that the position of the partition is determined by the positions and spacings of the vertical side rails of the cot. Thus there may still be some spare length in the cot which could, in some circumstances, still enable the child to work its way under the bedclothes. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved form of child's cot which will lessen the tendency of cot deaths to occur, According to the present invention, there is provided a child's cot including a substantially vertical movable partition extending across the width of the cot, said partition being slidable along the normal side walls of the cot and being securabie in a selected position so as to vary the effective length of the cot. Preferably, said partition will be composed of a synthetic plastics material and will preferably comprise opposed side bars having a panel extending therebetween. Said side bars will each preferably have hooked portions at their upper and lower ends, said hooked portions extending in opposed directions. Means will preferably be provided to lock the partition in position relative to the side walls of the cot. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a child's cot embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation, to a larger scale, of part of the child's cot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view on Figure 2. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a child's cot comprising a base 2, a mattress 4, and side walls 6 and 8, either or both of said side walls being movable vertically in conventional manner by means (not shown) relative to the base 2 and mattress 4. A partition, indicated generally by reference numeral 4, is seen in position in the cot. Resting upon the horizontal upper surfaces of the side walls 6 and 8 and lying within said side walls, are side bars 10 and 12 of the cot partition 14. As will be seen, the partition 14 consists of a laminar panel 1 6 secured to the side bars 10 and 12, the opposed side edges of the panel 1 6 being located in elongate grooves in said side bars and adhesively secured therein. Each side bar 10 and 1 2 has an upper hooked portion 1 8 and a lower hooked portion 20, the lower hooked portions 20 each having clamping screws 22 therein for engagement with the underside of the base 2 of the cot. The side bars 10 and 12 and the panel 16 of the partition 14 are composed of a synthetic plastics material, and the side bars 10 and 12 will be of round or non-angular cross-section so as to avoid the presence of any sharp corners which might otherwise harm the child. By slackening off the clamping screws 22 from the base 2 of the cot, the partition 1 4 may then be moved relative to the base 2 and mattress 4 by sliding the partion along the side walls 6 and 8 of the cot, such sliding movement being facilitated by the upper hooked portions 1 8 of the side bars 10 and 1 2. Thus, the effective length of the child's cot may be varied and set to the required length, thereby preventing the child moving down the cot. By means of the invention, a simple yet effective means of varying the length of a child's cot is provided which if used and set correctly should obviate the common tragedy of "cot death". It will be appreciated that the partition 1 4 may be made of material other than a synthetic plastics material, for example wood, and that the clamping screws may be provided on the upper hooked portions 1 8 in place of or in addition to those on the lower hooked portions 20 if desired. CLAIMS

6. For use in combination with a child's cot, a partition for varying the effective length of said cot, said partition comprising opposed side bars and a panel extending therebetween, said side bars each having an upper hooked portion for slidable engagement with the side walls of said cot and a lower hooked portion carrying means to secure the portion in a selected position, relative to the cot

7. A child's cot substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

8. For use in combination with a child's cot, a partition substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawing.