GB2463887A

GB2463887A - Support stand for cot

Info

Publication number: GB2463887A
Application number: GB0817649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Brittain; Sonia Brittain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-26
Filing date: 2008-09-26
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: GB0817649D0

Abstract

A cot stand includes a base 11 with a counterweight system 4 that enables the cot support 2 to be moved in both the x-axis and y-axis horizontal planes and the vertical plane simultaneously to a new position. The stand may contain leg extensions 6 for extra stability. The stand may have a mechanism to allow the stand itself to vary in height. The stand may have a handle 3 for increased ease of movement. The movement may be restricted to one side of the stand to reduce risk of overbalancing. The stand may incorporate a counterweight system to allow the cot to be swung away from the base of the stand and over the bed, without the stand falling over.

Description

Stand for a Baby's Cot

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a stand for a baby's cot.

Background

Parents commonly sleep in the same room as their newborn babies. This is particularly convenient when there is a need to attend the baby at night, for example during feeding or comforting the baby when distressed. Cots in which babies may sleep include permanent floor-standing cots, and 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 takes, parents often find them difficult to access at night, particularly after the mother has undergone a Caesarian section delivery or complicated natural delivery.

Statement of Invention

To overcome these difficulties in access, the present invention proposes an infant cot stand which will enable the cot to be swung out of the stand, and up and over the bed, and then to be slid up or down parallel to the stand, without the stand falling over. The cot stand will comprise a base secured underneath a counterweight system, with a cot support on top, to hold a baby cot securely and in such a way that the cot may be moved to a new position in both the x-axis and y-axis horizontal planes, and in a vertical plane simultaneously or one plane at a time.

Advantages The stand will allow easier access to the cot by reducing the strain and movement which the user has to undergo.

The stand will have a counterweight system to prevent overbalancing.

The cot will only move to one side of the stand, thus reducing the risk of the cot over balancing on return to the primary position.

Description and Drawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows the cot, cot support, and cot stand in the primary position, * Figure 2 shows the cot stand and cot support from a side-on perspective in the primary position, * Figure 3 shows the cot stand and cot support from a side-on perspective, with the cot support moved away from the stand in the y-axis horizontal plane, * Figure 4 shows the cot stand and cot support from a side-on perspective, with the cot support moved away from the stand in the y-axis horizontal plane, and vertical planes, * Figure 5 shows the cot stand and cot support from a bird's eye perspective, with the cot support moved away from the stand in the x-axis and y-axis horizontal planes.

With reference to figures 1,2,3,4 and 5, the baby cot stand will be described.

According to the invention, there is provided a stand for a baby's cot comprising a base (11), a counterweight system (4,9,10), and a cot support (2) mounted on the counterweight system at a position above the base.

The stand should be so dimensioned that, in use, it is capable of being positioned against an adult bed, with the cot support being able to be moved and re-positioned both in the horizontal and vertical planes above the bed.

The movement of the cot support relative to the base may be in a direction towards and away from the base. The cot support system is mounted on the counterweight system in such a way as to allow vertical movement and horizontal movement away from the stand without overbalancing.

Preferably, the base comprises at least four floor-engaging legs (5). In one embodiment, there may be additional, low-level feet (6) attached to each leg to provide additional stability.

The legs (5) and feet (6) may be provided with castors, or other means for moving the stand. These should preferably be lockable.

The stand may comprise a cot supported by, secured to, or integral with, the cot support (2). The cot may, for example, be generally open-topped and oval or rectangular in configuration. The cot support may be in the form of a frame, into which a carry-cot of standard dimensions can be placed. Alternatively, the cot support is in the form of a horizontal platform upon which a carry-cot can be placed, whereby the platform includes devices for releasably securing the carry-cot thereto, to prevent it sliding off the platform.

Means may be provided to adjust the height of the cot support above the base.

Means may be provided to adjust the height of the legs of the base.

Means may be provided to limit the movement of the cot support away from the base.

As shown by way of an example in the figures, the stand includes a base (11) with legs (5) and further supportive feet (6) to increase the supportive surface area. The feet (6) may be extendable length-wise and may be rotatable around their attachment to the legs (5) to provide additional stability in the case of limited space. The legs (5) are further strengthened by support struts (7,8).

In this example, the cot support (2) is permanently attached to the counterweight system (4,9,10). The cot support has a handle (3).

The counterweight (4) is attached to the base (11) via the baseplate (9) and a connecting strut (10). The connecting strut (10) also connects the baseplate (9) to the cot support (2). The connecting struts (10) may be extendable telescopically, as in this example, or extendable in any other manner so as to provide support for the cot and counterweights.

Claims

Claims 1) A baby cot stand (12) which will comprise a base (11) secured underneath a counterweight system (4,9,10), with a cot support (2) on top, to hold a baby cot securely and in such a way that the cot may be moved to a new position in both the x-axis and y-axis horizontal planes, and in a vertical plane simultaneously or one plane at a time.
2) A stand referred to in 1) will be balanced by a mobile counterweight system (4,9,10).
3) A stand referred to in 1) will enable the cot to be lifted in a vertical plane.
4) A stand referred to in 1) will enable the cot to be moved in both x-axis and y-axis horizontal planes.
5) A stand referred to in 1) will enable the cot to be moved in a manner referred to in 3) and 4) simultaneously and\or independently.
6) A stand referred to in 1) will have feet extensions (6) for the legs (5) for extra stability.
7) A stand referred to in 1) with feet extensions as in 6) will have castors on the feet and\or legs to ease movement 8) A stand referred to in 1) will enable the cot to be moved as referred to in 3) and 4), without overbalancing due to the counterweights referred to in 2) and extensions to the legs referred to in 7).9) A stand referred to in 1), and according to any preceding claim, further comprising means to enable the cot support to vary in height above the floor.10)A stand referred to in 1), and according to any preceding claim, further comprising means to enable the legs (5) to be altered in height 11)A stand referred to in 1) will have a handle (3) to enable the cot to be moved more easily as in 3) and 4).12)A stand referred to in 1) will enable the cot support to be moved away from the stand on only one side of the stand to prevent it being pushed and swinging out, in an unsafe manner, on the other side.13)A stand referred to in 1) will be so dimensioned that, in use, the stand may be placed adjacent to an adult bed.14) A stand according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cot (1) secured to, or integral with, the cot support (2), 15)A stand according to claim 14, wherein the cot has a generally open-topped rectangular or oval configuration, 16) A stand according to any previous claim, whose feet extensions (6) may be adjusted relative to the legs and relative to each other.17) A stand, according to any previous claim, whose counterweight (4) is connected by a strut (10) to a baseplate (9) on the base (11), and to the cot support (2).18) A stand, according to any previous claim, whose strut (10) may be extendable.