GB2377978A

GB2377978A - Corner connector for a collapsible travel cot

Info

Publication number: GB2377978A
Application number: GB0118330A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Wood; David Scacchetti
Original assignee: Mamas and Papas Ltd
Current assignee: Mamas and Papas Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-27
Filing date: 2001-07-27
Publication date: 2003-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-27
Also published as: GB2377978B; GB0118330D0

Abstract

A corner connector for a collapsible travel cot includes a body member 5 shaped to accommodate end portions of bars of the cot in an anchoring portion. A cap portion (15) fits over the body member (5) to cover the anchoring portion.

Description

CONNECTING DEVICES This invention relates to connecting devices and especially to corner connectors for interconnecting tubular components. The invention is especially applicable to corner connectors for collapsible travel cots.

Collapsible travel cots incorporate upper and lower end and side frame members interconnected by corner posts or uprights which meet at the top four and bottom four corners of the cot. These corners require to have sufficient rigidity and also require to be constructed in a manner permitting collapsing of the cot by pivotal movement of the end and side members relative to the corner posts. Hitherto these components have been interconnected by corner pieces which serve primarily a functional purpose but leave parts of the components and the rivets, screws or other means by which they are interconnected visible at the corners. This results in a number of exposed projections which are unsightly, liable to snagging and the like and exposed to ingress of dirt or foreign objects.

According to the invention there is provided a corner connector for interconnecting three components at inclinations to one another, the connector comprising a body member shaped to accommodate end portions of the components and including an anchoring portion to which the end portions of the components may be connected, and a cap member adapted to be fitted over the body portion so as to cover the anchoring portion and thereby enclose the means by which the ends of the components are connected to the anchoring portion.

Preferably the body member incorporates a skirt portion extending from the anchoring portion, the outer surface of said skirt portion being adapted to lie flush with and form an extension of the outer surface of said cap member when the latter is fitted to the body portion.

Preferably the body member is adapted to permit pivotal movement of at

least two of said components relative thereto. Preferably apertures are provided in surfaces of said body member adjacent to said cap member to permit end portions of said pivotally mounted components to project through the body member on pivotal movement. Preferably also means is provided on said cap member or on said body member to maintain a clearance between same TO accommodate movement of the ends of said components during pivotal movement.

The cap member is preferably releasably connected to said body member to enable subsequent removal if required.

Preferably said body member and said cap member are formed from synthetic plastics material.

The invention also provides a collapsible travel cot having side, end and upright frame members interconnected by one or more corner connectors as aforesaid.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a corner connector showing a body portion and a cap member separated from one another; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembled body portion and cap member as viewed from the outside of an upper corner of a travel cot; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 from the inside of the corner.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a corner connector adapted to be fitted at the upper corner of a collapsible travel cot. The corner connector comprises a body member 5 and a cap member 6 adapted to interfit with one another as described hereafter. Both components are formed from plastics material by

injection moulding or other suitable technique.

The body member 5 has an upper anchoring portion 6 and a lower skirt portion 7. Each of the portions 6 and 7 comprises first and second arms or wings 8A and 8B extending outwardly at right angles to one another from a central post member 9. The upper portions of the arms 8A and 8B are of arcuate form adapted to embrace the ends of tubular side and end components of a travel cot. The post 9 is adapted to embrace a vertical tubular post or leg forming an upright interconnecting the top and bottom frames from which the travel cot is assembled. The travel cot will generally be of rectangular form provided with a corner connector at each of the upper and in some cases the lower corners.

The body member 5 serves to interconnect the three tubular frame members which meet at the corner. For this purpose the ends of the associated side and end members are engaged within the arcuate upper portions of the side members 8A and 8B and pivotally connected thereto by rivets, screws or other suitable fastening means inserted through apertures 10 in the respective side portions 8A and 8B. The associated corner post or upright is engaged with the post portion 9 of the connector and secured thereto in a rigid manner by a rivet, screw or the like inserted through an aperture 11. At this stage, therefore, the heads of the rivets, screws or other fastening members are visible at opposite sides of the attachment or anchoring portion 6 of the body member 5.

Apertures 12 in the upper surfaces of the side members 8A and 8B enable the ends of the tubular side and end components to project through the surface of the body member when pivoted around the associated rivets or the like into collapsed positions which they adopt when the travel cot is folded for transportation.

The cap member 15 comprises a pair of side members 16A and 16B projecting at right angles from a central post cover portion 17. The side members 16A, 16B and cover portion 17 are shaped and dimensioned to fit over the anchoring portion 6 of the body member 5 such that the outer surfaces of

the side members 16A and 16B lie flush with the outer surfaces of the skirt member 7 of the body member 5 to form a smooth external surface to the assembled connector. Depending lugs 18 at the lower edges of the side portions 16A and 16B are adapted to engage in slots (not visible) at the junction between the anchoring portion 6 and skirt portion 7 of the body member 5 in order to maintain the smooth outer surface along the mating edges of the components. The lugs 18 comprise extensions of arcuate ribs 20 extending around the inner surfaces of the side members 16A and 16B to provide strength and rigidity to the cap member 15.

Means is provided to maintain a clearance between the curved under surfaces of the side members 16A and 16B of the cap member 15 and the curved upper surfaces of the associated side members 8A and 8B of the body portion 5. The clearance is maintained by an internal central rib 21 projecting from the undersurface of the side portions 16A and 16B of the cap member 13 or by other suitable ribbed or like formations either on the cap member or on the body member 5. This maintains sufficient clearance to permit the ends of the tubular side and end components which project through the apertures 12 in the body member on folding of the travel cot to do so without disengaging the cap member 15 from the body member 5 and thus maintains the integrity of the corner connectors during collapsing and erection of the cot.

The cap member 15 is releasably attached to the body member 5 by a snap action catch comprising a flexible tongue 19A formed by cutting from the material of the anchoring portion 6 of the body member 5 and having a projection 19B at its lower end engageable with a slot 19C in the cap member 5. While it is generally envisaged that the cap member would remain in place after fitting, the catch 19 enables the cap member to be removed either for purposes of inspection or for replacement in the event of damage. While both the body member and cap member may be of a similar colour, they may advantageously be differently coloured so that if desired users may substitute a cap of one colour for that of another according to personal taste or to match other items.

By virtue of the arrangement described, the corner components of the travel cot may be securely interconnected in the desired manner and the rivets or other connecting means to be hidden from view by fitting of the cap member. This provides a neat external appearance to the assembled corner by hiding unsightly components from view and protecting the apertures in the body member from ingress of dirt or foreign objects. By maintaining a clearance between the cap member and the associated portions of the body member, pivotal movement of the frame components between erected and collapsed positions may take place without interfering with the integrity of the corner connector or requiring removal or attachment of additional components.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the shape and dimensions of the connector may be altered to suit different shapes and sizes of component to be interconnected, the cap member may be releasably engaged with the body connector by other means and the shape and size of the cap member and of the corresponding anchoring portion of the body member may vary from those shown in the drawings. Moreover while reference has been made above to fitting of the connectors to the upper corners of a travel cot, they may also or alternatively be fitted to the lower corners. Connectors according to the invention could also be used in other situations where three components required to be interconnected either pivotally or rigidly at right or other angles.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A corner connector for interconnecting three components at inclinations to one another, the connector comprising a body member shaped to accommodate end portions of the components and including an anchoring portion to which the end portions of the components may be connected, and a cap member adapted to be fitted over the body member so as to cover the anchoring portion and thereby enclose the means by which the ends of the components are connected to the anchoring portion.
2. A corner connector according to claim 1, wherein the body member incorporates a skirt portion extending from the anchoring portion, the outer surface of said skirt portion being adapted to lie flush with and form an extension of the outer surface of said cap member when the latter is fitted to the body portion.
3. A corner connector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body member is adapted to permit pivotal movement of at least two of said components relative thereto.
4. A corner connector according to claim 3, wherein apertures are provided in surfaces of said body member adjacent to said cap member to permit end portions of said pivotally mounted components to project through the body member on pivotal movement.
5. A corner connector according to claim 4, wherein means is provided on said cap member or on said body member to maintain a clearance between same to accommodate movement of the ends of said components during pivotal movement.
6. A corner connector according to any preceding claim, wherein cap member is releasably connected to said body member to enable subsequent removal if required.

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7. A corner connector according to any preceding claim, wherein said body member and said cap member are formed from synthetic plastics material.
8. A collapsible travel cot having side, end and upright frame members interconnected by one or more corner connectors according to any preceding claim.
9. A corner connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings.
10. A collapsible travel cot substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings.
li. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.