Patent Application
20060059620
The present invention is directed to portable beds, and more specifically to cots.
In general, a cot is a collapsible bed, typically formed of fabric stretched on a frame. One example of a cot includes U-shaped legs attached to a frame. A canvas covering extends over the frame. Hinges are provided at the center of the cot for folding the cot in half in a manner known in the art. When folding such a cot, the legs fold inward underneath the tubing for cot frame, and the cot frame folds in half so that the U-shaped legs on opposite ends of the cot frame align against one another. Thus, in a folded configuration, the cot has a thickness of the outer tubing of the head end of the cot, the legs at the head end of the cot, the legs at the foot end of the cot, and the outer tubing for the foot end of the cot.
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In accordance with an embodiment, a bifold cot is provided having a frame that is configured so that one end, such as the head end of the cot, is recessed within the other end, i.e., the foot end of the cot, when the cot is folded. As an example, the legs of one end may recess into the legs of the other end. To this end, the bifold cot may include a head portion having a tapered section forming a narrowed head end. This narrowed head end, or a leg or legs associated therewith, is received within the frame for the foot portion of the bifold cot when the bifold cot is folded. As such, the bifold cot is capable of being folded to a more compact configuration than prior art cots.
In accordance with another embodiment, a trifold cot is provided that also has a tapered portion. The trifold cot additionally includes an extension. The extension also has a width that is narrower than the frame of the trifold cot at the foot portion. In this manner, the extension may be folded against the head portion, and the extension and the head portion may be folded and recessed at least partly within the frame at the foot portion of the cot. In this manner, the trifold cot may also be folded more compactly than prior art cots.
Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,
The bifold cot 20 includes a head portion 26 (to the right in
A foot end U-shaped leg 30 is attached toward the end of the foot portion 28 via hinges 32. Similarly, a head end U-shaped leg 34 is attached at an outer end of the head portion 26 via hinges 36.
The foot portion 28 is connected to the head portion 26 via central hinges 38. Center legs 40 extend downward from the central hinges 38 in a manner known in the art.
In accordance with an embodiment, the head portion 26 includes a tapered section 42 at which the width of the head portion 26 decreases. In the embodiment shown, for the tapered section 42, the width of the head portion 26 is greater adjacent to the central hinges 38 than at an outer portion of the head portion 26. To this end, a head end 44 of the head portion 26 has a narrowed width with respect to a central section 45 of the head portion 26.
In accordance with an embodiment, the narrowed head end 44 provides advantageous compact folding of the bifold cot 20. A folding sequence for the bifold cot 20 is shown in
Beginning at
When the bifold cot 20 is folded, in accordance with an embodiment, the narrowed head end 44 fits within the frame 24 at a foot end 54 of the foot portion 28. In the embodiment shown in
Recessing the head end U-shaped leg 34 into the foot end U-shaped leg 30 and/or the frame 24 at the foot end 54 of the foot portion 28 permits compact folding of the bifold cot 20. As can be seen, the foot end 54 and the head end 44 are aligned very closely to one another in
The compact folding arrangement permits the bifold cot 20 to be stored in a smaller container, and permits more bifold cots 20 to be shipped in a particular container. As such, the configuration saves shipping costs and thus overall costs of the bifold cot 20.
A trifold cot 120 in accordance with an embodiment is shown in
To fold the trifold cot 120, the extension 146 is folded over a top portion of the head portion 126. The foot end and head end U-shaped legs 130, 134 are then folded in the same manner as described above with respect to the bifold cot 20. This folding is shown by the arrows 160, 162 in
The head portion 126 and the foot portion 128 are then folded together in much the same manner as the bifold cot 20. When folded together, as with the bifold cot 20, the foot and head portions 128, 126 of the trifold cot 120 are arranged so that the head end U-shaped leg 134 may recess within the foot end U-shaped leg 130. Thus, like the bifold cot 20, the head portion 126 and the foot portion 128 may be compactly folded. Moreover, because the trifold cot 120 is provided in three foldable sections (i.e., the head portion 126, the foot portion 128, and the extension 146), the trifold cot 120 may be folded into a configuration resulting in a cot that is advantageously shorter than the folded bifold cot 20, in accordance with an embodiment.
Moreover, because the extension 146 is narrower than the central section 145 of the head portion 126, the extension 146 may partially recess against the top surface of the head portion 126. That is, the frame for the extension 146, when folded into a storage configuration, extends against the fabric 122 and not against the frame 128 of the trifold cot 120. Because the fabric 122 is flexible, the extension 146 may fold more tightly against the rest of the trifold cot 120, as is shown in
Although the bifold cot 20 and the trifold cot 120 are described with reference to a head end being narrower than a foot end, such a description is for convenience only. It is to be understood that a user may position his or her head at either end of either cot. Moreover, although the trifold cot 120 includes the extension 146 at the head portion 126, an extension may alternatively or additionally be provided at the foot portion 128.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
