GB2421684A

GB2421684A - Stand for a baby's cot including a stanchion and floor-engaging feet such that the stand is mounted for at least horizontal movement relative to the stanchion

Info

Publication number: GB2421684A
Application number: GB0500012A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Robert Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-04
Filing date: 2005-01-04
Publication date: 2006-07-05
Also published as: GB0500012D0

Abstract

A cot 30 may be supported on a stand 10 which includes a stanchion 14 and floor-engaging feet (16,18,20) secured to the stanchion and extend away therefrom. A cot support 22, which is mounted on the stanchion at a position above and spaced from the feet, is mounted for at least horizontal movement relative to the stanchion. The stand may be placed against an adult bed (24,Fig.2), with the feet of the stand under the bed in one position thereof so as to take up significantly little additional floor space in a bedroom. The height of the cot above the bedding (28,Fig.3) of the bed may be altered by adjustment of a pivot collar 26 on the stanchion.

Description

STA}ID FOR A BABY'S COT

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a stand for a baby's cot.

Background of the invention

It has become common practice for young babies to sleep in the same bedroom as their parents. This is convenient if there is a need to attend to the baby during the night, for example for feeding, changing or comforting the baby when distressed. Cots in which young babies sleep take a number of forms. For example, they may be permanently located floor standing cots or portable "carry-cots" supported on a stand.

Such a stand for a carry-cot is described in British patent specification GB 1061089 (Mothercare Limited) Whatever form the cot has, it takes up significant floor space in the bedroom. Floor space is often at a premium in modern houses, and the cot is therefore liable to be in the way of other furniture or facilities in the room.

The present invention seeks to overcome such disadvantages by providing a stand for a baby's cot which takes up significantly little additional floor space in the bedroom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a stand for a baby's cot comprising: (i) a stanchion; * * *b. * S * * * * S S S S S * * S S **S * * S S* * S S S 55 S * * S * ** S * S PS. S S *5S S (ii) a base secured to the stanchion and extending away therefrom; (iii) a cot support mounted on the stanchion at a position above and spaced from the base, the cot support being mounted for at least horizontal movement relative to the stanchion.

The stand should preferably be so dimensioned that, in use, it is capable of being placed against an adult bed, with at least part of the base of the stand under the bed and the cot support capable of being positioned above the bed.

The movement of the cot support relative to the stanchion may be movement in a direction generally towards and away from the stanchion. However, more preferably, the cot support is mounted on the stanchion for at least limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis, such as about the axis of the stanchion. The cot support may be mounted on the stanchion for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, between a first position where the cot support is spaced from the stanchion in the first direction (for example in a direction across the bed) and a second position where the cot support is spaced from the stanchion in a second direction (for example along the side of the bed), substantially at right angles to the first direction.

Preferably, the base comprises at least two floor- engaging feet extending away from the stanchion. In one embodiment, at least one of the feet extends away from the stanchion in the first direction. For optimum * * IS* S S * S S S * * S S S * * S S 555 5 5 S S* S S S S ** S S * S S 55 5 5 5 5.5. S 5.5 5 stability, part of that foot should preferably be located substantially below the cot support when the latter is spaced from the stanchion in the first direction, or if more than one foot is provided extending in the first direction the cot support should be above the floor area defined by those feet.

A further foot may be provided to extend away from the stanchion in the second direction. For optimum stability, part of that foot should preferably be located substantially below the cot support when the latter is spaced from the stanchion in the second direction.

Preferably there are no feet extending away from the stanchion in a direction opposite to the first direction, thereby reducing the possibility that, when placed against an adult bed, the stand constitutes an obstruction.

The feet may be provided with castors, or other means for easing the movement of the stand. Preferably such means should be lockable, to prevent undesired movement of the stand when in use.

The stand may further comprise a cot supported by, secured to, or integral with, the cot support. The cot may, for example, have a generally open-topped rectangular or oval configuration. In one example, the cot support may be in the form of a frame, into which a generally open-topped rectangular carry-cot of standard dimensions can be placed. In an alternative embodiment, the cot support is in the form of a * * **. * * * * S S * * S * S * S * S 555 5 5 5 5S S S S * *e S S S S S *S S S * SSS S S 5.5 5 horizontal platform upon which a carry-cot can be placed, the platform preferably including devices for releasably securing the carrycot thereto, to prevent it sliding off the platform as a result of the movement of the baby. In a further alternative embodiment, the cot support may be in the form of a support bar, from which the cot is suspended.

Means may be provided for adjusting the height of the cot support above the base and/or adjusting the limits of movement of the cot support relative to the stanchion and/or adjusting the position of the feet relative to the stanchion and to each other.

The invention will now be further described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric diagrammatic representation of a baby's cot stand according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the stand shown in Figure 1, positioned adjacent an adult bed; and Figure 3 is a side view of the stand shown in Figure 1, positioned adjacent an adult bed.

As shown in the Figures, the stand 10 includes a flat base 12 to which is attached a stanchion column 14 of circular cross-section. The base 12 includes three floor-engaging feet 16, 18, 20 are secured to the stanchion column 14 and extend away therefrom. Two of * S **S S S * S S S S * * S S * * S S 555 5 S S S. * S S S SS S S S S S 55 5 5 5 S.. * S*S * -5-.

the feet 16, 18 extend away from the stanchion column 14 in a direction X. The third foot 20 extends away from the stanchion column 14 in the direction Y, at right angles to the direction X. None of the feet 16, 18, 20 extends away from the stanchion column 14 in a direction opposite to the direction X. Although not shown, means may be provided for adjusting the position of the feet 16, 18, 20 relative to the stanchion column 14 and relative to each other, to optimise the stability of the stand.

The stanchion column 14 carries a collar-like pivot member 26 which can be adjusted in position along the length of the stanchion column 14 and fixed thereto in a desired position. A cot support 22 is mounted on the pivot member 26 for limited horizontal pivotal movement about a vertical axis A. The cot support 22 is in the form of a frame, into which a generally open-topped rectangular carry-cot 30 of standard dimensions can be placed. Alternatively a cot may be permanently secured to the frame 22.

The pivotal movement of the frame 22 extends between a position where the frame 22 is spaced from the stanchion column 14 in the direction X above the feet 16, 18 and a position where the frame 22 is spaced from the stanchion column 14 in a direction Y, above the foot 20.

In use, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the stand 10 is placed against an adult bed 24, with two of the feet 16, 18 of the stand 10 under the bed 24 and the cot 30 * . *** S * * I * * S * * S S * S * S 555 S S I SI S S S S 55 5 5 * S * 55 0 * * 555 S 5 5** * above the bed 24, at least in one position of the frame 22. As none of the feet extends in a direction away from the bed 24, the stand occupies substantially no additional floor space and presents no obstruction to adults moving around the bed.

By adjusting the position of the pivot collar 26 on the stanchion column 14, the height of the cot 30 above the bedding 28 of the bed 24 can be adjusted.

Although not shown, means may be provided for adjusting the limits of movement of the frame 22 relative to the stanchion column 14, for example so that the stand can be adjusted for use selectively to the right or to the left of the bed 24.

Should a baby in the cot 30 need attention during the night, while its parents are in the bed 24, the parent on the adjacent side of the bed can either sit up and attend to the baby without moving the cot 30 or alternatively can pivot the frame 22 through about 900 in the direction D (Figure 2) so as to bring the cot 30 to the side of the bed to more easily gain access to the baby in the cot.

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Claims

1. A stand for a baby's cot (30) comprising: (1) a stanchion (14) (ii) a base (12) secured to the stanchion (14) and extending away therefrom; (iii) a cot support (22) mounted on the stanchion (14) at a position above and spaced from the base (12), the cot support (22) being mounted for at least horizontal movement relative to the stanchion (14)

2. A stand according to claim 1, wherein the cot support (22) is mounted on the stanchion (14) for at least limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis (A).

3. A stand according to claim 1 or 2, the stand being so dimensioned that, in use, the stand is capable of being placed against an adult bed (24), with at least part of the base (12) of the stand under the bed (24) and the cot support (22) above the bed (24), at least in one position thereof.

4. A stand according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cot (30) secured to, or integral with, the cot support (22)

5. A stand according to claim 4, wherein the cot (30) has a generally open-topped rectangular or oval configuration.

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6. A stand according to any preceding claim, further comprising means (26) for adjusting the height of the cot support (22) above the base (12).

7. A stand according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for adjusting the limits of movement of the cot support (22) relative to the stanchion (14)

8. A stand according to any preceding claim, wherein the base (12) comprises floor-engaging feet (16, 18, 20) extending away from the stanchion (14)

9. A stand according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the feet (16) extends away from the stanchion (14) in a first direction (X)

10. A stand according to claim 9, wherein the cot support (22) is mounted on the stanchion (14) for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, between a first position where the cot support (22) is spaced from the stanchion (14) in said first direction (X) and a second position where the cot support (22) is spaced from the stanchion (14) in a second direction (Y), substantially at right angles to the first direction (X)

11. A stand according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein none of the feet (16, 18, 20) extend away from the stanchion (14) in a direction opposite to the first direction (X) * S **S S * * . S S S S S S S * S S S SS* * * S S* S * S S 55 5 S S S p *. * * 5 **. S S *55 *

12. A stand according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one of the feet (20) extends away from the stanchion (14) in the second direction (Y)

13. A stand according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising means for adjusting the position of the feet (16, 18, 20) relative to the stanchion (14) and relative to each other.

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