GB2489960A - A collapsible portable frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible frame providing an elevated bed surface in use; said frame being equipped with runners which run parallel to the bed surface. Optionally, detachable wheels may be provided mounted parallel to the bed surface.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

STEVE MORRIS

FOR

kCOLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE FRAME

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible frame, more particularly a collapsible

portable frame.

Backg{ound Increasing numbers of people are taking holidays that involve more daring outdoor activities.

In addition many people not historically accustomed to outdoor sleeping are taking to camping, such as at festivals and the like.

To transport the necessary equipment many users simply make a series of frequent trips to their vehicle, or pack light or struggle with a heavy backpack.

Air and rail travellers tend to use wheeled suitcases but these have small wheels and are ill-suited to rougher terrain and longer distances.

Many people who follow an itinerant, gypsy or traveller lifestyle use small, wheeled trolleys to transport their goods, for example at gypsy fairs.

However these are not appropriate for mainstream use as they are generally constructed of steel and are heavy and cumbersome, and difficult to store and/or transport when not in use.

Prior Art

Although sleds or toboggans, even in foldable form, are widely known, in the past some patent applications have been filed towards this or similar. These include the following: Canadian patent application CA 2 170 173 (PARKER) discloses a foldable sled comprising: (a) a pair of spaced apart parallel runners; (b) two or more pairs of bent cross members extending inwardly and upwardly at a decreasing upward slope up to a point equidistant between the runners, thereafter extending upwardly at an increasing slope up to a point within the interior of the longitudinal axes of the runners; (c) a pair of straight members extending horizontally from front to rear and weaving through lateral edges of a net; (d) wherein the runners and the pair of straight members connect with the cross members through connectors; Whereby the cross member pairs are pivotally connected to each other, swinging relative to each other from a sled-operative open position into an inoperative or folded position, and vice versa.

United States patent application US 5 553 875 (ULICNE et al) discloses a collapsible sled for transporting items, comprising: a front section; a rear section pivotally attached to said front section so as to position said front and rear sections in both a collapsed position and an operable position; a plurality of runners pivotally attached to said front and rear sections so as to allow said runners to be positioned in both said collapsed and operable positions relative to said front and rear sections; first locking means, connected to each of said runners and said front and rear sections, for automatically locking said runners in said operable position upon movement of said runners into said operable position from said collapsed position, said first locking means including a biased locking member having one end pivotally connected to one of a respective runner and one of said sections and an opposite end selectively engagable with an engagement member fixed to the other one of a respective runner and one of said sections, and second locking means for automatically locking said runners in said collapsed position upon movement of said runners into said collapsed position from said operable position; a major surface of said rear section being positioned substantially against said front section in said collapsed position so as to form a box-like structure, and said runners being positioned within said front and rear sections in said collapsed position; and said rear section being positioned substantially planar with a major surface of said front section in said operable position, and said runners being laterally outwardly extended from an inner surface of said front and rear sections in substantially perpendicular relation to said major surfaces in said operable position.

United States patent application US 3 429 582 (EMBRY) discloses a convertible device, comprising: a rigid sled invertible from a right-side up sledforming position to an upside-down multiuse position, said veiled sled having a bed frame characterized by a rectangular, open, perimetric frame composed of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally elongated side frame members rigidly interconnected by a pair of end members, a horizontal bed panel extending across the opening of the perimetric frame and supported thereby, and a pair of sled runners, one spaced below each side frame member and secured thereto; and means for selectively converting the sled into a wagon or wheelbarrow, said converting means including, when the sled is inverted, a wagon and wheelbarrow wheel mounted on one end of the perirnetric bed frame for manual movement from an inoperative position on and adjacent to one side of the bed panel to an operative ground-engaging position spaced from the other side of the bed panel, one pair of wagon-supporting members mounted on opposite sides of the perimetric bed frame near the other end of said bed frame for manual movement from an inoperative position spaced from the ground to an operative ground-engaging position, and one pair of wheelbarrow-supporting members mounted on opposite sides of the bed frame near the said other end thereof for manual movement from an inoperative position spaced from the ground to an operative ground-engaging position.

United States patent application US 3 319 972 (FARRELL) discloses a collapsible sled comprising a head section of a stiff sheet material with an upwardly curved nose and a substantially flat bed extending longitudinally for a portion of the length of said sled, and an inflatable load-supporting section comprising a substantially fiat casing formed of a flexible, gas-impermeable material having a bottom surface of a moisture and abrasion resistant material, said load-supporting section being attached to said head section and extending rearwardly from said flat bed.

In contrast the present invention provides an easy means to transport goods over a variety of terrain, including the facility to provide a comfortable place to sleep.

Summary of the invenlion

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible frame providing an elevated bed surface in use; said frame being equipped with runners which run parallel to the bed surface.

Preferably the runners or frame may be equipped in use with wheels, wherein said wheels provide the lowermost point of the frame in use thereby allowing a user to pull the frame along.

In summary the frame therefore provides a multi-purpose carrier, being useful for transporting heavy and/or multiple items even long distances, or across snow and ice, being able to additionally provide sleeping arrangements for a user, and being capable of easy and convenient storage or transportation when collapsed.

These wheels are ideally clip on and as such may be easily removed for storage or transport.

The runners in the alternative or in addition are provided with scooped ends and low friction faces where the faces are lowermost, so as to ensure that the runners may be used as a means to facilitate easy movement of the frame when pulled by a user, such as for example on snow, ice or grass.

Ideally this frame is formed of members that are supplied with spring loaded connectors, such that the members connect in a spring loaded fashion to form the frame when in use.

The members are typically formed of aluminium tubes, with hinged sections providing the means for collapsing the frame. Embodiments may be envisaged whereby the tubes have resiliently deformable or elastic tendons or internal strings or wires, wherein the tubes or members are pulled into a formation and held there by such tendons.

Ideally the bed platform is formed of a plurality of sections wherein the platform may be dismantled for transport or storage and when necessary may be constructed onto the frame.

These sections may connect to one another and/or to the frame in order to assume the platform. Clip-or click-fit using resiliently deformable connectors is preferable but further embodiments may be possible.

Further embodiments may have rollable and/or concertina sections or single section, which allow a user to minimise the platform.

Preferably there is provided on the frame a means through or in or by which a user can store items when the bed platform is in use. Ideally therefore it will provide a waterproof cover for the items so that for example a user may place items on the platform or frame when transporting the frame, and cover said items effectively.

Ideally this means may be utilised as a elastic cargo net, cover or container for items that are carried on the bed platform when it is not in use.

Accordingly the means may be a form of netting that may be fastened over the platform and items sitting thereon, and stored typically below the platform when not in such use.

In preferred embodiments the frames or platforms may be supplied with at least one interface clip to interface with other frames or platforms, such as to supply a double bed platform where required. Typically this clip allows a tight and secure detachable connection between the platforms in particular. Resiliently deformable parts may be included or necessary for the attachment and detachment of the clip(s), platforms and/or frames.

The frame ideally has lanyard attachment points or extendable lanyard or lead to provide a user with an ability to pull a loaded frame easily. Alternate embodiments may have two cords.

Ideally therefore in preferred embodiments a user may load up such a frame with items (typically with the platform attached) and pull it to a required location, where s/he may detach the netting, dismount the items, place them below the platform and the platform is ready for use as a bed.

Some embodiments may have umbrella holders or telescopic umbrella or shade integrated in order that a user may easily protect any carried items from rain or snow.

This may include positions or hook and loop connections, such as to attach windbreaks.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 show two isometric views of a preferred embodiment of the frame, in wheeled and sled forms; Figures 2 show two isometric views of the frame collapsed without a bed surface attached; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment without a bed surface attached; Figures 4 show a side view and view from beneath of the frame in sled format with a bed surface attached; And Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the frame with the wheels and bed surface attached, and a supplementary bed roll.

Detailed Descjpion of Figures The pictured embodiment as seen in Figure IA has a bed platform formed from the three clip-or click-together plates (1) on a structure formed by collapsibly sprung members 2, which are located on or provide a horizontal runner 3, wherein said runner may provide points of attachment for wheels (4) as in Figure IA. Alternatively in Figure 1 B scoops 5 are provided.

A pulling cord 6 is pictured, which attaches to the frame typically at lanyard attachment points. This cord 6 may be retractable, or extendable and may retract into the frame or members 2 when not in use.

Figure 2A shows the frame with the surface I detached, and all members 2 collapsed. Figure 2B shows the frame with the members 2 collapsed, but the runner 3 not collapsed.

Typically the platform measures 200cm by 60cm and is 40cm from the ground in use.

The collapsed frame ideally contains resiliently deformable clips that engage to prevent opening and typically forms a package 33cm deep by 96cm long and 67cm wide.

The pictured versions of the members 2 have braces that provide support for the platform as can be seen in Figure 3. Additionally the runners have similar braces 30.

Variation in the format and provision of such braces is envisaged in further embodiments, such as fold out struts instead of fixed braces, thereby allowing the frame to be made smaller when collapsed.

In Figure 5 a separately available or integrally supplied bed mat 10 is shown, which makes the platform I more comfortable for use as a bed. Additionally a detailed breakdown of the preferred embodiment's make up is shown. Variations are possible and envisaged, for instance scoops 5 may be provided at both ends of the runners 3. Jms

Claims (8)

1. A collapsible frame providing an elevated bed surface in use; said frame being equipped with runners which run parallel to the bed surface.

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein wheels are provided mounted parallel to the bed surface.

3. A frame according to claim 2 wherein the wheels are detachable.

4. A frame according to claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the bed surface may be detached from the frame.

5. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein more than one frame or bed may be interlocked.

6. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein the runners have scooped ends.

7. A frame according to any preceding claim wherein the frame is composed of a plurality of members which are spring-loaded to be collapsible.

8. A frame according to any preceding claim including a telescopic umbrella or umbrella holder.