US3670750A

US3670750A - Sun cot

Info

Publication number: US3670750A
Application number: US74600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward W Johnston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-06-02
Filing date: 1970-09-23
Publication date: 1972-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-20
Also published as: CA891314A

Abstract

A sun cot for protecting a sun bather from the prying eyes of potential observers including a supporting bed, upstanding canvas end and side panels being provided and being supported on upstanding frame members. A zip fastener may be provided in one panel for entry of the sun bather.

Description

United States Patent Johnston 1 1 June 20, 1972 [54] SUN COT [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Edward W. Johnston, PO. Box 457, NITED STATES PATENTS Schefferville, Quebec, Canada I 964 461 6/1934 1221 Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 1,734,505 1 9 2,672,627 3/1954 21 Appl. No.: 74,600 3,278,953 10/1966 1,617,435 2/1927 Coleman et a] ..128/372 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg June 2, 1970 Canada ..084 435 Altomey10hns0ny Marcus &

52 us. or ..13s/s.1, 128/372, 5/1 13 [571 ABSTRACT [5 l Int. Cl ..A61g 9/00, A61 g 33/06, A670 79/00 A sun cot for protecting a sun bather from the prying eyes of [58] Field of Search ..5/l13, 121, 163, 344, 362; potential observers including a supporting bed, upstanding canvas end and side panels being provided and being supported on upstanding frame members. A zip fastener may be provided in one panel for entry of the sun bather.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EATENTED XZ IB Z 3,670,750

SHEET REF 3 Agents PATENTEnJuxzo 1972 3. 670.750

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Agents.

SUN cor This invention relates to sun cots.

Many people, particularly women, would like to sun bathe in privacy, particularly on private property, but are unable to do so because the property is overlooked. It is, of course, desirable to provide a sun cot within which a person may sun bathe in privacy and yet be exposed to the sun.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sun out within which a person may sun bathe in relative privacy and yet be able to adjust the sun cot to be exposed to the sun.

According to the invention, there is provided a sun cot having a base frame, a base panel for supporting a reclining person and secured to the periphery of the frame, members spaced around the periphery and extending upwards in a lengthwise direction, and opaque panel portions between said members to protect said person and provide relative privacy.

A sun cot according to the present invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sun cot;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the sun cot in FIG. 1 without the side and end canopies, and illustrating the adjustment of the side members; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective corner view of a portion of the sun cot shown in FIG. 1.

ln FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a sun cot having a rectangular base frame 1 comprising side portions 2 and 3, and end portions 4 and 5. A canvas base panel 7 for supporting a reclining person (not shown) is secured to the side portions 2 and 3 and the end portions 4 and 5. At each corner of the frame 1 there is disposed one of four corner members 8 to 11 extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction. Pivot means two of which are shown and designated 14 and 15 for corner members 9 and respectively, pivotally attaching each of the corner members 8 to 11 to its respective corner of the base frame 1 to pivot the corner members 8 to 11 as pairs designated 8, l1 and 9, 10 from positions upwardly sloping towards one another, such as shown designated 8a, 11a and 9a, 10a and dotted in H6. 2, to positions upwardly sloping away from one another, such as shown designated 8b, 11b and 9b, 10b and dotted in FIG. 2. Two upwardly extending canvas side panels 17 and 18 are each supported by the corner members 8. 9 and 10, 11 respectively, on one side of the base frame 1. Two upwardly extending

canvas end panels

20 and 21 each have upwardly extending folds 22 and 23 respectively and are supported by the corner members 8. l1 and 9, 10 respectively. It will be appreciated that, in some arrangements, the folds may be omitted from the ends panels. The canvas, may, of course, be any suitable material to allow for privacy, protection from cool winds, bugs, flies, and vermin, etc.

It will also be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to having a rectangular base, but that the base may be any convenient shape.

The base frame 1 is a conventional tubular folding cot having end sections 25 and 26 foldable upwardly in the directions of arrows Y and Z respectively over a central portion 27 after the corner members 8, 11 and 9, 10 have been folded in the directions of arrows W and X respectively. The base frame has tubular supports 29 and 32 which are foldable, 29 and 30 against end section 25 and, 31 and 32 against end section 26. A mattress 34 is disposed on the canvas base panel 7. If desired, anchoring chains such as those designated 36 may be attached to any of the supports 29 to 32 to anchor the as sembly during high winds.

Sway bars 38 and 39 are pivotally attached to corner members 8, 11 and 9, 10 respectively. The sway bar 38 is shown in two portions which telescope together in a bracket 41 on the end of the base frame 1. The sway bar 39 is also in two portions 39a and 39b, which telescope together in a bracket 42 on the opposite end of the base frame 1 and are locked together by wing nut 43 (FIG. 3) and nut 48. in this embodiment the comer members 8 to 11 are joined by top side bars 44 and 45, and

top end bars

46 and 47. The top side bars 44 and 45 are in two parts which are detachably connected together by coneach in two portions which telescope together at 52 and 53, respectively, and are held in a particular telescoped position by

fasteners

54 and 55 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the bars, etc. joining the ends of the side frames need not necessarily be in two telescoping por-, tions, e. g. 39a and 3912, but may instead be in one piece. Furthermore, instead of hinging bars such as 44 and 45 to members 8 through 11, the bars can be detachable therefrom to facilitate folding to the sun cot.

The side panels 17 and 18 are attached to their respective side portion 2 or 3 and top side bar 44 or 45. The side panel 18 is provided with a screened air vent 57 having a cover flap 58. The end panel 21 is in two parts which are held together by zip fastener 59 and are both slidably attached to sway bar 39 and top end bar 47.

The corner members 8 to 11 have an inverted U-shaped frame 60 pivotally attached to it at the ends of the arms 61 and 62 of the u so as to be capable of lowering or raising for greater privacy. A cross member 64 of the U shaped frame 60 is pivotally attached to the arms 61 and 62, is in two portions which telescope together at 68 and which are locked in a particular telescope position by fastener 65. The end panel 20 is slidably attached to the sway bar 38 and the cross member 64 and is thus supported by the corner members 8 and 11. Two tapering

canvas panels

66 and 67 are attached to their respective comer members 8 or 11 and arm 61 or 62. i i

If desired a side canopy and an end canopy 71 may be provided on top side bar 45 and top end bar 47. The side canopy 70 comprises a U-frame pivotally attached at the ends of the arms of the U to the top side bar 45. The canvas panel 75 is secured inside the U-shaped frame 73. An adjustable rod 76 connects the U-shaped frame 73 to the top side bar 46 to which the rod 76 may be secured at various positions (by means not shown) along the length of the top side bar 46 to adjust the angle of incline of the side canopy 70. The end canopy 71 comprises a U-shaped frame 78 pivotally attached at the ends of the arms of the U" to the top end bar 47. Tl-le U-shaped frame 78 is slidably mounted (by means not shown) on the top end 47 to accommodate lengthwise adjustment of the top end bar 47. A canvas panel 79 is secured inside the U- shaped frame 78. An adjustable rod 80 connects the U-shaped frame 78 to the top side bar 44. The adjustable rod 80 may be secured at various positions (by means not shown) to the top side bar 44 to adjust the angle ofincline of the end canopy 71.

In operation, the sun cot is arranged as shown. A sun bather enters the sun cot by opening zip fastener 59. By adjustments of the lengths of top bars 44 and 45 the side panels 17 and 18 are inclined to allow the sun bather in the sun cot to be within the suns rays, but not permit an observer such as 81 to ob serve the sun bather. The side canopy 70 and end canopy 71, when provided, may also be adjusted for this purpose. Adequate privacy may thus be provided to permit suntanning of the whole body while being screened from prying eyes. This may well have beneficial health effects to a person.

It will be appreciated that instead of using a canvas base panel 7 a spring-type of base panel may be used. Furthermore, the top side bars 44 and 45 may conveniently be telescopically constructed with an inner slidable adjustable rod which can be locked in position by any convenient means.

To facilitate the folding of the sun cot in a relatively flat storage position, the top side bars 44 and 45 may conveniently be each formed in two parts and separable at the center. By suitable hinging, and selection of length, the members 8 to 11 and the side bars can be placed on, and substantially parallel to, the base panel 7 so as to form a relatively compact folded sun cot for storage or carrying purposes.

I claim:

2 F t nectors 49 and 50 respectively. The top bars 44 and 45,are,jpivotally attached at their ends to the corner members 8 to], 11 so that by releasing the

connectors

49 and 50 the portions the corner. post 8 to 11 to which that portion is attached when j. i the cot is folded for storage. The top end bars 46. and 47 are.

l. A sun cot, comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base frame in which each side of said base frame comprises a central portion extending across the width of said base frame and two end portions, pivot means pivotally attaching said end portions to said central portions for collapsing said end portions towards one another, a base panel for supporting a reclining person and secured to side and end portions of said frame, at each corner of said frame one of four comers members extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction, pivot means pivotally attaching each said comer member to its respective comer of said frame to pivot said corner members as pairs from positions upwardly sloping towards one another across the ends of said frame to positions upwardly sloping away from one another and also for collapsing said corner members onto said frame, two top side bars, each side bar extends along one side of said base frame, between upper ends of said corner members, said top side bars each comprising two lengthwise extending portions, connecting means detachable connecting said top side bar portions, and a pivot joining each said side bar portion to the respective corner members, whereby said portions when disconnected from one another may be collapsed against their respective comer members, two top end bars, said top end bars extending along opposite ends of said base frame between upper ends of said comer members forming a pair, said top end bars each comprising two telescoping parts, locking means for locking said telescoping parts in a desired telescoped position, and pivot means attaching each telescoping part to its respective said comer member for accommodating angular movements of said corner members from one said sloping position to the other said sloping position, two upwardly extending side panels disposed on opposite sides of said base frame and each supported by the corner members on one side of said frame, two upwardly extending end panels disposed on opposite ends of said base frame, each said end panel being supported by the comer members forming one ofsaid pairs.

2. A sun cot according to claim 1 wherein said two upwardly extending end panels have upwardly extending folds.

3. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an inverted U- shaped frame at one end of said base frame, pivot means pivotally attaching the ends of the arms of said U-shaped frame to said comer members at said end of said frame for collapsing said U-shaped frame, from an inclined position, against said comer members, pivot means pivotally attaching a cross member forming the upper portion of said U-shaped frame to said arms, said cross member being in two telescoping portions, locking means for locking said telescoping portions in a desired telescoped position to accommodate together with said cross member pivot means movements of said corner posts from one said sloping position to another, two tapering side panels each on one side of said base frame and joined to one of said comer members and the corresponding arm of said U-shaped frame, and said end panel at the same end of said base frame as said U-shaped frame is joined to said U-shaped frame.

4. A sun cot, according to claim 1, including a zip fastener joining together two upwardly extending flexible sheets forming one of said end panels, to provide entry to said sun cot.

5. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable side canopy disposed along one side of said base frame, pivotal means pivotally attaching said side canopy to the upper ends of said comer posts on the same side of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said side canopy over said base frame.

6. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable end canopy disposed along one end of said base frame, pivotal means pivotally attaching said end canopy to the upper ends of said corner posts on the same end of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said end canopy over said base frame,

7. A sun cot according to claim 1, including a screened air vent in one of said panels, and an adjustable flap for opening said air vent.

8. A sun cot according to claim 1, including supports for supporting said base frame, pivotal means connecting said supports to said base frame for folding said supports against said base frame.

Claims

1. A sun cot, comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base frame in which each side of said base frame comprises a central portion extending across the width of said base frame and two end portions, pivot means pivotally attaching said end portions to said central portions for collapsing said end portions towards one another, a base panel for supporting a reclining person and secured to side and end portions of said frame, at each corner of said frame one of four corners members extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction, pivot means pivotally attaching each said corner member to its respective corner of said frame to pivot said corner members as pairs from positions upwardly sloping towards one another across the ends of said frame to positions upwardly sloping away from one another and also for collapsing said corner members onto said frame, two top side bars, each side bar extends along one side of said base frame, between upper ends of said corner members, said top side bars each comprising two lengthwise extending portions, connecting means detachable connecting said top side bar portions, and a pivot joining each said side bar portion to the respective corner members, whereby said portions when disconnected from one another may be collapsed against their respective corner members, two top end bars, said top end bars extending along opposite ends of said base frame between upper ends of said corner members forming a pair, said top end bars each comprising two telescoping parts, locking means for locking said telescoping parts in a desired telescoped position, and pivot means attaching each telescoping part to its respective said corner member for accommodating angular movements of said corner members from one said sloping position to the other said sloping position, two upwardly extending side panels disposed on opposite sides of said base frame and each supported by the corner members on one side of said frame, two upwardly extending end panels disposed on opposite ends of said base frame, each said end panel being supported by the corner members forming one of said pairs.

3. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an inverted U-shaped frame at one end of said base frame, pivot means pivotally attaching the ends of the arms of said U-shaped frame to said corner members at said end of said frame for collapsing said U-shaped frame, from an inclined position, against said corner members, pivot means pivotally attaching a Cross member forming the upper portion of said U-shaped frame to said arms, said cross member being in two telescoping portions, locking means for locking said telescoping portions in a desired telescoped position to accommodate together with said cross member pivot means movements of said corner posts from one said sloping position to another, two tapering side panels each on one side of said base frame and joined to one of said corner members and the corresponding arm of said U-shaped frame, and said end panel at the same end of said base frame as said U-shaped frame is joined to said U-shaped frame.

5. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable side canopy disposed along one side of said base frame, pivotal means pivotally attaching said side canopy to the upper ends of said corner posts on the same side of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said side canopy over said base frame.

6. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable end canopy disposed along one end of said base frame, pivotal means pivotally attaching said end canopy to the upper ends of said corner posts on the same end of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said end canopy over said base frame.