Patent Application
20230389709
The present disclosure relates generally to camping furniture. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cot that has a simple structure in both the extended and stowed position and is easily movable between these positions.
Cots are often used to make sleeping while camping or away from home more comfortable by elevating the user off the ground. Because cots are typically used away from home in a travel setting, features such as reduced weight, simple storage, and easy set-up are desirable.
According to the present disclosure, a cot includes: a cloth having horizontal poles inserted into both ends thereof; a plurality of lateral support bars for supporting a load in contact with the ground, at least one of the plurality of lateral support bars comprising a support bar first portion pivotally connected to a support bar second portion such that the support bar has a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position; and a plurality of connection bars connected to both ends of each support bar and respectively having clips at terminals thereof to receive the horizontal poles.
According to another aspect, a first hub can be in connection with a first end of the support bar and a second hub can be in connection with a second end of the support bar, the plurality of connection bars connected to both ends of each support bar through at least one of the first hub and the second hub.
In some configurations, the first hub comprises a first interior void for receiving the first end of the support bar, a second interior void for receiving a first leg when the first leg is in a stowed position, a third interior void for receiving a second leg when the second leg is in a stowed position, and a fourth interior void for receiving the connection bar when the connection bar is in a stowed position.
According to yet another aspect, one or more of the hubs can include a superior void for receiving the connection bar in an extended position and a slot extending from the superior void to the fourth interior void, the slot for facilitating movement of the connection from the extended position to the stowed position. One or more of the hubs can include a first inferior void for receiving a first leg in an extended position and a second inferior void for receiving a second leg in an extended position and a slot extending from the first inferior void to the second interior void and a slot extending from the second inferior void to the third interior void, the slots for facilitating movement of the first leg and second leg from the extended position to the stowed position.
The drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the disclosure which is defined by the appended claims. Not every element of the disclosure can be clearly displayed in a single drawing, and as such not every drawing shows each element of the disclosure. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The following provides a detailed description of particular embodiments of the present disclosure. The description is only exemplary of the principles of the disclosure, and should not be viewed as narrowing the scope of the claims which follow, which claims define the full scope of the disclosure. Various aspects discussed in one drawing may be present and/or used in conjunction with the embodiment shown in another drawing, and each element shown in multiple drawings may be discussed only once. The described features, structures, or characteristics of configurations of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more configurations. In some cases, detailed description of well-known items or repeated description of substantially the same configurations may be omitted to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art by avoiding an unnecessarily redundant description. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
Each of the first end 30a and second end 30b of the support bar 30 is in connection with a connection bar 35. The connection bars 35 have clips 39 for receiving at least a portion of the horizontal poles 18. Clips 39 can be any suitable shape or size. In one configuration the clips are c-shaped clips, and a portion of the horizontal poles can be snapped into place within the c-shaped clip without the need to open or close the clip. In some configurations, the clips 39 are at the terminal ends of the connection bars 35, and in other configurations, the clips are at other locations such that the connection bar 35 extends past the clips 39. Extending the connection bar 35 past the clip 39 can allow for other products, such as a storage container, etc., to be attached to the connection bar 35.
In some configurations, one or more legs 44 are also in connection with the first end 30a and second end 30b of the support bar 30. In configurations where legs 44 are provided, weight can be transferred from the support bar 30 to the ground through legs 44. In other configurations, the support bar 30 can contact the ground, and weight or load applied to the cloth 14 is transferred to the connection bars 35 and to the ground through the support bar 30.
The support bar 30 has a first, locked position in which the support bar first portion 30c and support bar second portion 30d are substantially horizontal.
The support bar first portion 30c is pivotally connected to the support bar second portion 30d such that the portions of the support bar can pivot relative to each other. Any suitable hinge, pivot, or other foldable joint or bendable connection or other locking mechanism can be used to connect the support bar first portion 30c to the support bar second portion 30d. The locking mechanism can allow the support bar first portion 30c to remain pivotally connected to the support bar second portion 30d in both the extended and stowed position. In other examples, the support bar first portion 30c can be fully removed from the support bar second portion 30d when in the stowed configuration.
In the configuration shown in
In some configurations, the support bar 30 is in direct connection with the connection bars 35 on each end of the support bar 30. Or the support bar 30 can be integral to the connection bars 35. In other configurations, the support bar 30 can be connected at each end to a connection bar 35 through a hub 60. Similarly, the support bar 30 can be in direct connection with one or more legs 44 on each end of the support bar 30. Or, the legs can be connected through a hub 60. Hub 60 can also provide for simple and compact storage of the support 20.
A second interior void 65″ can receive a first leg 44 when the first leg 44 is in a stowed position. Similarly, a third interior void 65′″ can receive a second leg 44 when the second leg 44 is in a stowed position. And a fourth interior void 65″″ can receive the connection bar 35 when the connection bar 35 is in a stowed position. These interior voids 65 allow all appendages (legs 44, connection bar 35, etc.) of the hub 60 to be facing an interior side in a stowed position and aligned in parallel when in the stowed position. With voids to receive each appendage in a stowed position, no additional straps are needed to keep the support 20 in this stowed and compact position.
Voids for the non-stowed or extended position are also provided. For example, two or more inferior voids 68′ and 68″ can be provided along a bottom side of the hub 60 for the legs 44 to be connected when in the extended position. Similarly, a superior void 72 can house the connection bar 35 when the connection bar is in the extended position. In some configurations, there can be a slot 75 between the superior void 72 for the connection bar in the extended position, and the interior void 65″″ for the connection bar in the stowed position. Slot 75 can guide the connection bar 35 between the two positions for easy set-up and takedown of the cot 10. Slot 75 can be formed with one or more structures to easily guide this transition. Similarly, slots 78 can be provided between the two positions for the legs 44 to easily guide legs 44 between the extended position and the stowed position.
In some configurations, one or more of the legs 44 and/or connection bars 35 are connected to the hub 60 via an elastic cord or other similar mechanism that keep the legs 44 and/or connection bars 35 temporarily secured in their respective voids within the hub 60, and also allows them to be removed from the voids while still remaining connected to the hub 60. The same elastic cord is used to hold the pieces in the extended and the stowed positions. Elastic cord connections like this are known, for example, for connecting tent poles and have the advantage of reducing instances of lost pieces where the pieces become permanently separated. When the legs 44 and/or connection bars 35 are in the extended/use position, the elastic cord is not visible and is entirely protected by the legs 44 and/or connection bar 35. But when the legs 44 and/or connection bars 35 are in the stowed position, some of the elastic cord can be exposed.
By providing slots 75, 78, within the hub 60, the elastic cord can be protected by the hub when the legs and/or connection bars 35 are in the stowed position. The slots 75, 78 create a mechanism where the same elastic cord used in the extended position can also keep the legs 44 and/or connection bars 35 temporarily secured in their respective voids when in stowed position. The hub 60, therefore, in connection with the slots 75, can both route the elastic between positions (stowed vs. in-use) and also protect the elastic when the connection bar 35 is in the stowed position. Similarly, the hub 60, in connection with the slots 78, can both route the elastic between positions (stowed vs. in-use) and also protect the elastic when the legs are in the stowed position.
In use, the cot 10 may be deployed by first inserting horizontal poles 18 through the voids on one or more end(s) of the cloth 14. One horizontal pole 18 can be inserted into a first lateral void 16 on a first 14a of the cloth 14 and a second horizontal pole 18 inserted into a second lateral void 17 on a second 14b of the cloth 14. Next, the cloth 14 can be laid on the ground such that it is upside down (that is, with the bottom side, or the side the user does not contact when laying on the cot, facing up).
In configurations where a hub is used, the legs 44 are moved from their interior voids to the inferior voids, and the connection bar 35 is moved from its interior void to the superior void. These movements can be facilitated by the one or more slots, 78 and 75, respectively. As the legs 44 and connection bar 35 is moved from the stowed position to the used position, the slots 78 and 75 facilitate routing and protecting the elastic that connects the legs and connection bar.
Next, the clips 39 of the connection bars 35 can be connected to the horizontal poles 18. With the clips 39 in connection with the poles 18, the support bar 30 can be moved into a locked position. This is done by pushing downwardly on the bracket cover 47, until the projection 56 of the support bar first portion 30c is aligned with the void 51 of the bracket cover 47 of the support bar second portion 30d. Once in this locked position, the support bar 30 will remain locked until a user pushes the projection 56 out of the void 51. The projection 56 is biased to stay within the void 51 and only exits void when pressure is exerted on the projection 56 to overcome the bias.
After all supports are in place and each support bar 30 is in a locked position, the cot can be flipped to allow a user to recline or rest on the upper surface of the cloth 14 (
Any suitable material can be used to form the cot. For example, the support bar can be made of steel or any other metal alloy or plastic. Aluminum may be used for its weight and strength. For example, the legs and/or the connection bar can be made of aluminum or other alloys. Hubs 60 can be injection molded.
Aspect 1: A cot comprising:
Aspect 2: The cot of Aspect 1, wherein in the first, locked position, the support bar first portion and the support bar second portion are substantially planar and in the second, unlocked position, the support bar first portion and the support bar second portion are substantially parallel.
Aspect 3: The cot of Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, wherein the clips are open toward the outside.
Aspect 4: The cot of any of Aspects 1-3, further comprising a first hub in connection with a first end of the support bar and a second hub in connection with a second end of the support bar, the plurality of connection bars connected to both ends of each support bar through at least one of the first hub and the second hub.
Aspect 5: The cot of any of Aspects 1-4, further comprising a plurality of legs in connection with both ends of each support bar.
Aspect 6: The cot of any of Aspects 1-5, wherein the first hub comprises a first interior void for receiving the first end of the support bar, a second interior void for receiving a first leg when the first leg is in a stowed position, a third interior void for receiving a second leg when the second leg is in a stowed position, and a fourth interior void for receiving the connection bar when the connection bar is in a stowed position.
Aspect 7: The cot of Aspects 1-6, wherein the first hub comprises a superior void for receiving the connection bar in an extended position and wherein the first hub further comprises a slot extending from the superior void to the fourth interior void, the slot for facilitating movement of the connection from the extended position to the stowed position.
Aspect 8: The cot of any of Aspects 1-7, wherein the first hub comprises a first inferior void for receiving a first leg in an extended position and a second inferior void for receiving a second leg in an extended position and wherein the first hub further comprises a slot extending from the first inferior void to the second interior void and a slot extending from the second inferior void to the third interior void, the slots for facilitating movement of the first leg and second leg from the extended position to the stowed position.
Aspect 9: The cot of any of Aspects 1-8, wherein the first leg is attached to the first hub via an elastic material, and wherein the elastic material resides at least partially within the slot extending from the first inferior void to the second interior void when the first leg is in the stowed position.
Aspect 10: The cot of any of Aspects 1-9, wherein the second leg is attached to the first hub via an elastic material, and wherein the elastic material resides at least partially within the slot extending from the second inferior void to the third interior void when the second leg is in the stowed position.
Aspect 11: The cot of any of Aspects 1-10, wherein the connection bar is attached to the first hub via an elastic material, and wherein the elastic material resides at least partially within the slot extending from the superior void to the fourth interior void when the connection bar is in a stowed position.
Aspect 12: The cot of any of Aspects 1-11, wherein the elastic material resides entirely within the slot extending from the superior void to the fourth interior void when the connection bar is in the stowed position.
Aspect 13: A cot comprising:
Aspect 14: The cot of Aspect 13, wherein the clips are open toward the outside.
Aspect 15: A cot comprising:
Aspect 16: The cot of Aspect 15, wherein the first portion of the lateral bar and the second portion of the lateral bar are pivotally connected.
Reference in the specification to “one configuration” “one embodiment,” “a configuration” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the configuration is included in at least one configuration, but is not a requirement that such feature, structure or characteristic be present in any particular configuration unless expressly set forth in the claims as being present. The appearances of the phrase “in one configuration” in various places may not necessarily limit the inclusion of a particular element of the invention to a single configuration, rather the element may be included in other or all configurations discussed herein.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, singular forms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a support” may include one or more of such supports, and reference to “the connection bar” may include reference to one or more of such connection bars.
As used herein, the term “generally” refers to something that is more of the designated adjective than not, or the converse if used in the negative. As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint while still accomplishing the function associated with the range, for example, “about” may be within 10% of the given number or given range. Similarly, “substantially” may be within 10% of the given number or given range. Such that two objects which are “substantially” planar are either exactly planar (form an angle of 0°) or nearly planar (such as forming an angle from −10° to 10°). As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member.
Numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described. Additionally, the word “connected” and “coupled” is used throughout for clarity of the description and can include either a direct connection or an indirect connection.
While methods are described herein in discrete steps in a particular order for the sake of clarity, the steps do not require a particular order and more than one step may be performed at the same time. For example, a later step may begin before earlier step completes. Or, a later step may be completed before an earlier step is started.
Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, such as use of the system in a camping cot, it will be appreciated that other applications are contemplated and these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments and configurations may be employed separately or in combination. Accordingly, all additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced thereby. The scope of each claim is indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.
Furthermore, if any references have been made to patents and printed publications throughout this disclosure, each of these references and printed publications are individually incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
A claim for priority to the Jun. 6, 2022 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/349,448 titled COT (“the '448 Provisional Application”), is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). The entire disclosure of the '448 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63349448 | Jun 2022 | US |
