PORTABLE BABY COT
Technical field
The present invention relates to a portable baby cot. Prior art
The use of baby cots has become more and more popular in recent times. Many small and folding cots are among the most popular designs as they can be disassembled and are easy to carry around. Most of them are, however, collapsible only when the bed frame and the supporting frame are disassembled. Such products are therefore prone to damage and their parts could be lost in transit, not to mention the inconvenience caused by the need to fold and re-assemble.
Scope of the invention
There is a need for an improved baby cot. Such a cot may reduce inconvenience in folding and/or transporting prior baby cots.
According to one aspect there is provided a portable baby cot as set out in the accompanying claims.
According to one aspect there is provided a portable baby cot, comprising a body frame tubing onto which the cot body is assembled and supporting stands provided on both sides of the said body frame tubing, wherein the said supporting stands, one on the left and the other on the right, comprise adjustable and turning devices each hinged on the said body frame tubing, and have a detachable stabilising base frame provided in between so that upon the detachment of the said stabilising base frame the left supporting stand and the right supporting stand can be so rotated and adjusted
by means of the adjustable and turning devices at the hinges on the body frame tubing that they align with the body frame tubing into which they collapse.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein the said adjustable and turning device consists of a knuckle articulated to the body frame tubing and a connector connected to the supporting stand, with a stop provided on the upper protrusion of the inner wall of the said knuckle and with a pin provided on the said body frame tubing which couples to the knuckle of the said adjustable and turning device, and the two ends of the said pin are each encased in a coupling which connects to the knuckle and is provided with a restricting block which works in coordination with the stop within the said knuckle of the said adjustable and turning device which rotates around the pin fitted to the body frame tubing to such an extent that it is restricted by the relative position of the block and the stop, allowing the opened cot to collapse and vice versa.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein the left supporting stand comprises an L1 supporting leg and an L2 supporting leg, both of which are articulated to the connectors of the said adjustable and turning devices and can rotate around the connectors relative to each other.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein the right supporting stand comprises an R1 supporting leg and an R2 supporting leg, both of which, along with L1 and L2, are provided with four insertion slots at the same height for the insertion of the said stabilising base frame so that the left and right supporting stands are relatively fixed and stabilised.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein a height adjustment device for adjusting the height difference between the said body frame tubing and the said supporting stands is fitted between the knuckle and the connector of the said adjustable and turning device.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein a coordinating inclined surface structure is provided on one side of the main body of the said installation, and the said height adjustment device consists of an adjustment block which is connected to the knuckle of the said adjustable and turning device, while an insertion cavity is provided in the connector of the said adjustable and turning device for the insertion of the adjustment block and the said connector is provided with a plurality of vertically arranged slots, the said adjustment block is provided with a male connector which works with the said connectors so that the height of the cot is adjusted by changing the slot in the connector into which the male connector is inserted.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described, wherein the said adjustment block is provided with an adjustment button and a movable block controlled thereby to the bottom end of which the said male connector is connected, the said adjustment button is linked to the movable block directly with a control cord so that one end of the cord is tied to the adjustment button and the other to the top part of the movable block, of which the lower end has an inclined surface with a counterpart inclined surface provided at the end where the said male connector and the movable block are connected so that by lifting the adjustment button the movable block in the adjustment block is pulled upwards by the control cord, and the male connector, which has a corresponding inclined surface, slides towards the adjustment block so that it is dislodged from the slot of the connector and allows the adjustment block to move into the insertion cavity of the connector for height adjustment; the said adjustment button, movable block and male connector are all fitted with an elastic resetting device.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein a detachable support tubing equipped with a one-click detachment device is fitted to one side of the said body frame tubing.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein the said one-click detachment device is provided at the end where the support tubing is connected to the body frame tubing, and comprises a second connector, one end of
which is connected to the support tubing, and a lockbar, which protrudes from the second connector at the end facing the body frame tubing, in which a lock hole is provided for the insertion of the said lockbar, while an unlock button, which controls the movement of the said lockbar, is also provided in the said second connector, through the bottom of which the said unlock button extends beyond the support tubing, provided on the said lockbar is an elongated ridge, into which a dowel provided on the said unlock button is inserted; by lifting the unlock button to initiate the dowel and the elongated ridge mechanism, the lockbar moves towards the second connector and detaches from the lock hole in the body frame tubing so that the support tubing becomes detached with a one-click action from the body frame tubing; an elastic resetting component is provided between the said lockbar and second connector.
Optionally there is provided the portable baby cot as described above, wherein an insert is located at the end of the said body frame tubing facing the second connector, an insertion slot corresponding to the said insert is provided at the end of the said second connector facing the said body frame tubing and the said lock hole is located in the insert.
When compared to prior art, certain embodiments of the present invention may offer one or more the advantages below:
1 . The baby cot may be made collapsible by enabling its supporting stands to rotate the body frame tubing inwards by means of adjustable and turning devices, a design that is simple and easy to use and allows the right supporting stand to be placed on the same horizontal plane as the body frame tubing so that the bottom of the collapsed baby cot is flat and levelled for easy storage and transportation, while it readily opens by simply rotating the supporting stands outwards from within the body frame tubing and placing the stabilising base frame in between the supporting stands when required.
2. The baby cot may be provided with a height adjustment device that allows its height to be varied for the convenience of the caretakers of the baby in the cot.
3. The baby cot may be provided with a body frame tubing, one side of which is detachable with a click of a button so that when used with zip-up cot side bumpers, the cot can be placed at the bedside of a caregiver, and by adjusting its height, they can sleep with the baby on the same bed, giving the product a human touch.
Description of the drawings:
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a baby cot;
Figure 2 is an exploded diagram 1 of a baby cot;
Figure 3 is an exploded diagram 2 of a baby cot;
Figure 4 is an exploded diagram of the structure of the adjustable and turning device of a baby cot;
Figure 5 is an exploded diagram 1 of the structure of the height adjustment device of a baby cot;
Figure 6 is an exploded diagram 2 of the structure of the height adjustment device of a baby cot;
Figure 7 is an exploded diagram 1 of the structure of a one-click detachment device of a baby cot;
Figure 8 is an exploded diagram 2 of the structure of a one-click detachment device of a baby cot;
Figure 9 is a diagram of a collapsed baby cot;
Figure 10 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the collapsing of the baby cot; Figure 1 1 shows a cot comprising a cot body and a tray.
In order to further illustrate the technical issues solved by the present invention, its technical solution and advantages, the drawings will be referred to in conjunction with the embodiments hereunder to give a detailed description of the present invention. It should be appreciated that embodiments are merely provided for the purpose of illustration, with the present invention not being limited to the specific embodiments herein described.
As shown in Figure 1 , the portable baby cot, consists of a body frame tubing 1 and supporting stands provided on both sides of the said body frame tubing, further comprising adjustable and turning devices 3 hinged on the said body frame tubing, while the said supporting stands, one on the left 201 and the other on the right 202, are each provided with the said adjustable and turning device 3 and have also a detachable stabilising base frame 4 provided and connected thereto in between so that upon the detachment of the said stabilising base frame 4, the left supporting stand and the right supporting stand can be so rotated and adjusted by means of the adjustable and turning devices at the hinges on the body frame tubing that they align with the body frame tubing into which they collapse. The stabilising base frame 4 ensures that the left and right supporting stands are locked together into their own respective positions so that the baby cot remains fully open. Upon the removal of the stabilising base frame, the left and right supporting stands become movable and can be made to rotate by means of the adjustable and turning devices 3. A fully open cot is fully collapsed when the left supporting stand is rotated clockwise while the right
anti-clockwise so that the stabilising base frame is placed inside the cot body. As a result all parts of the cot are placed inside of the cot when it is fully collapsed, making it portable and easier to transport.
Furthermore, the said adjustable and turning device 3 consists of a knuckle 301 articulated to the body frame tubing and a connector 302 connected to the supporting stand, with a stop 301 1 provided on the upper protrusion of the inner wall of the said knuckle 301 and with a pin 101 provided on the said body frame tubing 1 which couples to the knuckle of the said adjustable and turning device, and the two ends of the said pin are each encased in a coupling 102 which connects to the knuckle 301 and is provided with a restricting block 1021 which works in coordination with the stop 301 1 within the said knuckle 301 of the said adjustable and turning device which rotates around the pin fitted to the body frame tubing to such an extent that it is restricted by the relative position of the block and the stop, allowing the opened cot to collapse and vice versa. When the baby cot is fully opened, the stop 301 1 in the knuckle 301 is rotated to the left so that the surface of its left end comes into contact with the surface of the right end of the restricting block 1021 of the coupling 102, preventing the knuckle from further movement in an anti-clockwise direction around the pin 101 and ensuring that the supporting stands stop moving likewise after having rotated by a certain degree in a certain direction. Similarly, when the cot is being collapsed, the stop on the knuckle is rotated in a clockwise direction until the surface of its left end meets with the surface on the left end of the restricting block of the connector so that the supporting stands are swung, folded into and aligned with the inner side of the body frame tubing, a simple structure designed for the convenience of its users.
Furthermore, the left supporting stand 201 comprises an L1 supporting leg 201 1 and an L2 supporting leg 2012, both of which are articulated to the connectors of the said adjustable and turning devices and can rotate around the connectors relative to each other. When the cot is fully open, the said L1 and L2 supporting legs spread out to form a trestle so that the baby cot firmly sits on the floor. To collapse the cot, the widely
opened L1 and L2 supporting legs are twisted relative to where they are hinged so that they come close to each other to allow themselves to be folded up.
Furthermore, the right supporting stand 202 comprises an R1 supporting leg 2021 and an R2 supporting leg 2022, both of which, along with L1 201 1 and L2 2012 are provided with four insertion slots 5 at the same height for the insertion of the said stabilising base frame so that the left and right supporting stands are relatively fixed and stabilised. The four supporting legs are held in place and the baby cot is held steady simply by inserting the four legs of the stabilising base frame into the insertion slots, whereas the pusher block 501 fitted in each insertion slot is used to assist disassembly of the stabilising base frame, which can be easily removed by pressing the said pusher block.
Specifically, a height adjustment device for adjusting the height difference between the said body frame tubing 1 and the said supporting stands is fitted between the knuckle 301 and the connector 302 of the said adjustable and turning device, allowing the height of the cot to be varied for the convenience of the caretakers of the baby in the cot.
Furthermore, the said height adjustment device consists of an adjustment block 601 which is connected to the knuckle 302 of the said adjustable and turning device, while an insertion cavity is provided in the connector 302 of the said adjustable and turning device 3 for the insertion of the adjustment block and the said connector 302 is provided with a plurality of vertically arranged slots 602, while the said adjustment block is provided with a male connector 603 which works with the said connectors so that the height of the cot is adjusted by changing the slot in the connector into which the male connector 603 is inserted. The exterior of the said connector is also fitted with an observation hole used to display the height level adjusted to and the exterior of the said adjustment block is also provided with a height indicator on which numbers corresponding to the slots are given to indicate various height levels, so that when the adjustment block is raised, the height indicator is similarly pulled upwards by the
adjustment block to reveal to the user through the observation hole the height level, making height adjustment even easier.
Furthermore, the said adjustment block is provided with an adjustment button 604 and a movable block 605 controlled thereby to the bottom end of which the said male connector 603 is connected, while the said adjustment button is linked to the movable block directly with a control cord 606 so that one end of the cord is tied to the adjustment button 604 and the other to the top part of the movable block 605, of which the lower end has an inclined surface 6051 with a counterpart inclined surface 6031 provided at the end where the said male connector 603 and the movable block are connected so that by lifting the adjustment button 604 the movable block in the adjustment block is pulled upwards by the control cord, and the male connector, which has a corresponding inclined surface, slides towards the adjustment block so that it is dislodged from the slot of the connector and allows the adjustment block to move into the insertion cavity of the connector for height adjustment; the said adjustment button, movable block and male connector are all fitted with an elastic resetting device. A supporting bracket 3000 attached to the bottom of the said adjustment block is extended to the exterior of the connector to support the base of the cot body so that the said supporting bracket follows the movement of the adjustment block upon height adjustment and thereby avoids deformation of the cot body.
Specifically, a removable support tubing 103 with a one-click detachment device is fitted to one side of the said body frame tubing. Upon detachment of the support tubing, the cot can be used in conjunction with zip-up cot side bumpers and placed at the bedside of a caregiver, allowing them to sleep with the baby on the same bed, thereby giving the product a human touch.
More specifically, the said one-click detachment device is provided at the end where the support tubing 103 is connected to the body frame tubing 1 , and comprises a second connector 701 , one end of which is connected to the support tubing, and a lockbar 702, which protrudes from the second connector at the end facing the body
frame tubing 1 , on which a lock hole 703 is provided for the insertion of the said lockbar, while an unlock button 704, which controls the movement of the said lockbar 702, is also provided in the said second connector, through the bottom of which the said unlock button extends beyond the support tubing, provided on the said lockbar is an elongated ridge 7021 , into which a dowel 7041 provided on the said unlock button is inserted; by lifting the unlock button to initiate the dowel and the elongated ridge mechanism, the lockbar moves towards the second connector and detaches from the lock hole in the body frame tubing so that the support tubing becomes detached with a one-click action from the body frame tubing; an elastic resetting component is provided between the said lockbar and second connector.
More specifically, an insert 706 is located at the end of the said body frame tubing facing the second connector, an insertion slot 707 corresponding to the said insert is provided at the end of the said second connector facing the said body frame tubing and the said lock hole 703 is located in the insert. The support tubing can be quickly fitted to the body frame tubing by engaging the insert with the insertion slot and set in place by inserting the lockbar into the lock hole so that it can be assembled or disassembled fast.
When the cot body is to be closed, with all its walls upright, the detachable rail portion 103 is connected to the remainder of the upper rim 1 . In order to facilitate access to the interior of the cot body, the detachable rail portion can be detached from the remainder of the upper rim, in the manner described above. Then the detachable rail portion can be lowered with respect to the remainder of the upper rim and, optionally, clipped in that lower position. It may be clipped in that position by releasable attachment to one or more of the legs or by releasable attachment to the crib body.
The operating principle of the present invention is as follows:
Folding, collapsing and opening: Detach the stabilising base frame, align the opened L1 and L2 supporting legs so that they become parallel to each other and likewise with
R1 and R2, before rotating clockwise the supporting stands with the adjustable and turning device so that they are swung to the inner side of the cot body, and likewise with the right supporting legs but in an anti-clockwise direction until they fold into the cot body and their continual rotation is prevented as the stop in the knuckle is caught by the restricting block in the connector. As the previously detached stabilising base frame can also be placed within the cot body, storage and transportation is made even easier. Similarly, to open the cot, simply turn the left and right supporting stands outwards from inside the cot body and insert the stabilising base frame into the slots of the four supporting legs to ensure that they remain fully open.
Height adjustment: By lifting the adjustment button the movable block in the adjustment block is pulled upwards by the control cord, and the male connector, which has a corresponding inclined surface, slides towards the adjustment block so that it is dislodged from the slot of the connector and allows the adjustment block to move into the insertion cavity of the connector for height adjustment.
It will be noted that when the cot is fully deployed, at one end of the cot the feet of legs 201 1 and 2012 are splayed apart from each other and at the other end of the cot the feet of legs 2021 and 2022 are splayed apart from each other. This provides stability to the deployed cot. It will also be noted that the legs 201 1 and 2012 at one end of the cot are adjusted for height by a single height adjustment mechanism and that the legs 2021 and 2022 at the other end of the cot are adjusted for height by a single other height adjustment mechanism. In this way the cot can be given substantial stability without the need for one height adjustment mechanism being provided for each of the legs. This reduces complexity and weight, making the cot easier to deploy and to carry. The legs at each end of the cot are both hinged with respect to their respective height adjustment mechanism, allowing them to be swung apart to deploy the cot or swung together to being the cot into a compact configuration, e.g. for transportation.
A receptacle or cot body 3002 (see figure 1 1 ) for receiving a baby can be attached to and suspended from rail 1 . The receptacle may be rigid or flexible. Conveniently it
can be formed of flexible fabric sheet. The receptacle may have walls that extend substantially vertically downward from the rail 1 , and a base that extends substantially horizontally between the bottom edges of each of the walls to close the bottom of the receptacle. The base of the baby receptacle may rest on brackets 3000, one of which may be provided on each of the ends of the crib. The brackets extend in the longitudinal direction of the cot so as to be capable of providing support to the receptacle. Preferably the brackets, in combination, extend over only part of the longitudinal extent of the crib. This can make the crib more compact in its folded configuration. A strut may run between the brackets 3000 on opposite ends of the crib so as to provide additional support to the base of the receptacle.
In the embodiments described above, the stabilising base frame 4 can clip into the fixings 5 on the legs in order to resist the legs moving inward. The frame 4 resists the legs on one end of the cot moving towards each other in a lateral direction (in other words, it resists (a) legs 201 1 and 2012 moving towards each other and (b) legs 2021 and 2022 moving towards each other) and also resists the legs on both ends of the cot moving longitudinally towards each other (in other words it resists legs 201 1 and 2012 moving towards legs 2021 and 2022). The stabilising base frame is attached to each of the legs 201 1 , 2012, 2021 , 2022. This means that it can serve the joint purposes of (i) resisting motion of the pair of legs at a single end of the cot towards each other and (ii) resisting motion of the legs at opposite ends of the cot towards each other.
A fabric sheet may be draped across the stabilising base frame. The fabric sheet may be attached to the base frame in a detachable manner (e.g. by press-fit clips or by hook-and-loop fasteners). Alternatively, it may be fixed to the frame in such a manner that it is not readily detachable (e.g. by sewing). The fabric sheet may extend across the stabilising base frame in such a way that it can serve as a shelf under the baby receptacle.
As an alternative to the base frame 4, a rigid sheet 3002 may be provided. The rigid sheet can be clipped to each of the legs 201 1 , 2012, 2021 , 2022, for example by means of fixings 5 or any other suitable fixings. The rigid tray can resist relative motion of the legs of the cot, both at a single end and between ends. The rigid tray may also provide a storage shelf below the baby receptacle. The rigid tray may be attached to the legs in any suitable manner. In one example, the underside of the tray may be provided with cups or C-clips which engage with correspondingly-shaped protrusions on each of the legs. In another example, the corners of the tray may be provided with protruding nibs which engage with correspondingly shaped holes in fixing structures on each of the legs. In another example, the ends of the tray may be provided with rails which clip into correspondingly shaped cups on each of the legs. The tray may be formed of any suitable material. For example, it may be moulded from a plastics material such as EVA. The tray may have a well in its interior to help retain objects in place. Side-walls of the well may help to stiffen the tray. The well may have a rigid, horizontal base for supporting miscellaneous objects.
Whereas the description above provides with specific contents one or certain embodiments of the present invention, the present invention shall not be limited to the description of such embodiments. Any embodiment similar or identical to the present invention such as in terms of its method and structure, or certain technical development or replacements arising from the design of the present invention shall be deemed to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.
The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident
to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.