COTS FOR BABIES

Abstract

A cot is designed to be used positioned against the side of a parent bed. A folding leg arrangement enables the height of the cot sleeping base to be matched with the parent bed. The leg arrangement uses support struts and sliding connections to the cot support base to maintain its footprint at all heights. The end walls and side walls are all foldable relative to the sleeping base. The cot can be folded flat by folding the side walls onto the base and the end walls in on top of them. The leg arrangement can also fold flat. One side wall can be folded out to lie on the adjacent parent bed, bridging the gap. It can also be folded at half height to provide partial access when upright, or a shorter bridge when folded out.

Description

This invention has to do with cots for babies. Particular issues addressed in the application include foldable wall arrangements for a cot, an optional foldable stand, and adaptation useful for arrangements in which the cot is to be positioned closely adjacent a parent bed.

BACKGROUND

Over the years, there have been innumerable proposals for constructions of cribs, cradles and cots for babies and small children. These include designs which are readily folded or dismantled, designs with drop sides or removable sides, and design of cots specially adapted to be held up against the side of a parent bed. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,348, EP-A-1704799, U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,435, GB2412309, DE20307464U, GB2340386 and US2003/0177574A.

In this application, we put forward various new and useful proposals for cots, particularly relating to the aspects mentioned above, i.e. the operation of cot sidewalls, and refinements of this suitable for use in a situation where the cot is positioned adjacent a parent bed, foldability of the cot into a compact condition, and a new foldable stand structure for a cot.

General aspects of our proposals are as follows.

(1) Folding Cot

In a first aspect we propose a cot comprising a sleeping base, opposed side walls and opposed end walls mounted to the sleeping base. Each wall has a stable upright condition, in which in combination the walls form an upstanding surround for the cot. Each wall is releasable from the upright condition. Generally they are discrete, independently movable walls. The end walls are mounted pivotally to (or relative to) the sleeping base so that when released they can pivot inwardly to overlie the sleeping base. The released side walls can also lie on the base, retained beneath the end walls. One or both of the side walls is desirably pivotally mounted to the sleeping base, so that when released it can pivot in to lie on the base and the end walls then be pivoted in to overlie both. The cot is typically oblong in plan; since the end walls and side walls are typically of the same or similar heights, usually the side walls overlap one another in the folded-down condition whereas the end walls do not.

Desirably the inner (forward) faces of the end walls are recessed to enhance their containment and/or protection of the top of the sleeping base and of objects on it. The sleeping base will typically carry or include a mattress, and there may be loose bedding such as a quilt or blanket. The released side walls are also contained.

Alternatively stated, the side edges of the end walls project forwardly relative to their central parts, so that in the folded-down position they project down adjacent to the sides of the sleeping base to help enclose the space above it. Flange-form side projections combine good containment with simplicity and safety. Thus, a preferred form of end wall has side edges which are forwardly curved or angled over most or all of their height. A preferred form of end wall is a generally rigid shell, desirably of closed construction (rather than an open lattice, grille or mesh). By contrast, it is preferred that one or both side walls be of lighter and/or more open construction than the end walls (e.g. comprising mesh, grille or lattice).

The sleeping base may comprise a support board for a mattress, with thicker reinforcing portions extending along its side edges. Pivot engagements at each side of each end wall may conveniently be made with these side reinforcing portions.

(2) Folding Legs

Another aspect herein is an advantageous extensible folding leg arrangement in a cot, or suitable for a cot. According to this cot aspect a cot has a support base (which may be a sleeping base e.g. as described in other aspects herein, or may be a support platform of a discrete stand, on which a cot having its own sleeping base is to be supported). Desirably first and second extensible leg arrangements are provided at respective first and second ends of the support base.

For each end of the support base, the corresponding leg arrangement has a main leg member and a support strut having a lower end connected pivotally at an intermediate point of the main leg member. The top end of the support strut is connected to the support base at a fixed pivot proximal to the corresponding end of the support base. The top end of the main leg member is connected to the support base at a pivot connection which is longitudinally slideable along a track relative to the support base, over a range of positions, and which is further from the respective end of the support base than the fixed top end of the strut. The lower part of the main leg member extends beyond the intermediate point to a foot having transversely-spaced extremities, so that the cot can be stably supported on the two feet of the first and second leg arrangements.

In a closed or folded position, the leg and strut lie generally parallel against the base, with the top slider at its position most remote from the end. On extension of the leg, as its foot is swung downwardly away from the base the top slider moves along its track out towards the end, the angle between leg and strut closes and the intermediate pivot point also moves (more slowly) out towards the end. The longitudinal position of the foot beneath the support base varies little or not at all so that, by locking the slider at a selected position along its track, a desired height can be chosen without compromising the longitudinal footprint of the first and second legs.

Taking into account typical cot dimensions and cot heights, there will be longitudinal overlap of the first and second main leg members in the folded position, in addition to the longitudinal overlap of the main leg members and their corresponding struts. To provide compact folding, it is preferred that the main leg members are shaped so that they lie against the base without mutual superimposition. There are numerous possibilities for such shapes, as a skilled reader will appreciate, but generally the plan shape of each folded main leg member should leave clearance for the extreme of the slider movement at the top of the other main leg member, and generally be not more than complementary in shape relative to the other leg member in plan, so as to avoid superimposition.

Preferably the slider track for each main leg member is positioned towards a respective side of the support base, and the top of the leg member approaching the slider connection is narrow compared with the foot at the other end of the leg member. A suitable corresponding shape for the main leg member (in folded plan) is an “L” shape, or a shape tapering from bottom to top, e.g. triangular, (such as a right-angled triangular shape, with the respective hypotenuses of the first and second legs approaching one another when folded down. As regards the struts, again it is desired to achieve flat folding so, if they have appreciable thickness, their plan shapes do not extend beyond complementarity with the main leg member shapes, i.e. they lie in clearances thereof in the folded condition. With the preferred form of the main leg members, the strut may be positioned and shaped to lie within an internal opening (e.g. a through-aperture) of the main leg member when folded flat.

The slider pivot of each main leg has means for locking its position on the corresponding track to fix the height of the leg. Lockable positions may be available in a continuous range, or at a limited number of predetermined positions along the track. The locking means are not critical, but preferably the slider has a releasable clamp engageable with the track e.g. so that a continuous adjustment is possible. The track may be marked with indicia to help select the height. In one variant, a movable marker (e.g. another slider) may be provided which can be fixed at a predetermined position on the track so that the leg can be extended promptly to a length already known to be suitable.

Desirably the slider is operable from the top or side of the support base for user convenience. In a preferred version, the support base is a support platform for a separate cot and the sliders are exposed for operation at its top surface but covered when the cot is in position on top so that the mechanism is not inadvertently moved or released.

It will be understood that while suitable for a cot, this folding leg arrangement in itself has wider uses, and is an independent aspect herein.

(3) Cot and Stand

As mentioned, the construction may have a discrete stand which provides a support top e.g. a platform, on which the cot is positioned. The cot should connect securely to the support, so that it is not inadvertently pushed or tilted off, and yet is easy to put in place.

Generally speaking this can be by means of plural projections of the cot underside which fit closely onto, into or around corresponding holes, recesses, clearances or extremities of the support platform. The reverse arrangement (i.e. projections upwardly from the support platform) may be used but is less preferred.

One possibility is a plurality of pegs on one component, fitting into corresponding holes on the other. Pegs and/or holes may have entry tapers to facilitate insertion by reducing criticality of positioning.

Another particular preference is that bottom parts of opposed surround walls of the cot, e.g. opposed end walls, project down below the sleeping base level and that these downward projections fit around correspondingly shaped edges of the support base. Such constructions are easy for a user to sight into place, and may in themselves facilitate alignment of supplementary engagements such as pegs and holes.

For example, end walls of the preferred construction defined above, having forwardly-projecting side flanges, provide a positive and easily-fitted engagement onto complementarily-shaped end edges of a support platform.

(4) Pivotable/Foldable Walls

This applies to either or both of the side walls.

Another aspect relates to the provision of one or more side walls for a cot, where a side wall can be released from its upright condition and pivoted down to a generally horizontal position, either inwards onto the sleeping base or outwards, e.g. to bridge a gap to a parent bed as described elsewhere herein.

At its simplest, such a function requires a pivotal mounting at the bottom of the side wall—which may engage the sleeping base, a static frame, or a supplementary mounting attached to either of these—and one or more releasable fasteners or engagements which hold the wall in the upright condition.

(A) Usually this includes one or more releasable catches engaging between the side wall at or adjacent its top and the adjacent end wall or corner frame member, at each end of the cot. We prefer to use such catches. The exact form is not critical, provided that it is simple, effective and safe for children. In particular, release should involve a combination of thought, coordination and action to operate the mechanism which is selected to be beyond young children.

A preferred type of fastener, which is an independent aspect of our proposals here in the context of cot side walls, has complementary releasably interlockable components, one on each of the side wall and end wall/frame component, with one of them—preferably that on a side wall—mounted elastically so that it must be pulled against resilient force to bring the components to a releasable position. For simplicity, economy and safety the elastic resilience may be provided by deformation of an elastomeric material, e.g. by mounting one of the interlock members to the side wall or other component via a piece of elastic material such as elasticised fabric.

A desirable interlock has an aperture in one member and on the other member a projecting element with a head shaped to fit relatively closely in the aperture and a neck shaped to fit relatively loosely in the aperture, at least, in the direction of extension of an elastic connector as mentioned above. After stretching the connector to pass the head through the aperture for locking, elastic recovery hooks it behind the wall surrounding the aperture. To release it, the user must pull the head out against the elasticity to the appropriate alignment with the aperture so that it can be withdrawn. The more closely shaped the head and aperture, the more critical—and hence childproof—it is to match their positions for release.

(B) A separate proposal here is for a release mechanism operating at the bottom of the side wall, in which a pivot mechanism connecting between the bottom of the side wall and the sleeping base (or adjacent frame, or end wall) has a locked condition in which it holds the side wall upright and a released condition in which the side wall can pivot down as mentioned previously. The mechanism is shifted from the locked condition to the released condition by a bodily—and preferably translational—movement of the side wall itself relative to the sleeping base. In particular, we prefer that the mechanism is released by lifting the side wall from a downward rest condition, which is the locked condition. Thus, gravity helps to keep it locked.

Accordingly, the pivot mechanism may incorporate first and second interfitting components or formations, one on each of the side wall and the adjacent structure, which in a first alignment engage one another so as to prevent rotation of one component relative to the other, and in a second alignment where one is rotatable around the pivot's operational axis relative to the other. The skilled reader will appreciate that a wide variety of mechanisms is able to provide this basic function. For example a non-round component may be received in an opening of the other component having a region of correspondingly non-round cross-section, where the first component cannot rotate, but communicating with a different region having a wider or round cross-section where the first component can rotate. Or, a longitudinal bar, rail or edge at or near the bottom of the side wall may drop into a trough, channel or other detent means below a pivot engagement which allows vertical play, so that the upright side wall can be dropped into or lifted out of the engagement which holds it upright.

While the choice of mechanism is not critical from the functional point of view, there are considerations of simplicity, economy and also of safety for the fingers of parents, children and babies. It is desirable to provide a pivot mechanism having the desired behaviour without requiring specially-shaped components, and avoiding pinching hazards.

One particular proposal is that for each pivot engagement (usually at each of the lower corners of the side wall) one of the two components is tubular, with a tube axis desirably held aligned with the side wall length, and having a slot cross-section, desirably oriented vertically (i.e. higher than it is wide), and with rigid opposed side walls. The other component is a rigid bar with a free end projecting into the mouth of the slot tube, and mounted pivotally to its own structural component so that the free end can swing in a limited range within the slot tube, in the slot plane thereof. When the bar free end extends transversely or obliquely in the tube, relative rotation around the operational axis (the longitudinal direction of the cot side wall) is prevented by the opposed walls of the tube. This is the locked condition. By moving the tube in the length direction of the slot (e.g. with a vertical slot, by lifting the side wall to which one of the two components is mounted) an engagement of the bar and tube swings the bar into alignment with the operational axial direction of the tube (and/or of the lower edge of the cot wall) so that relative rotation is allowed. Since this construction can be made using a flat tube of uniform cross-section and a simple bar of uniform cross-section, and since the relative movement can be largely confined to the interior of the tube where fingers cannot reach, it is a good way of providing the relevant function.

(5) Displaceable Side Walls

Dropside cots are in themselves very well known. To facilitate access to the baby, it has been known for many decades for one side of the cot to be removable from or displaceable in the structure, either by lifting it out, pivoting it out gate-wise or releasing it to slide downwardly on a frame (in the case where a cot has a tall support frame).

One particular situation in which a displaceable side is relevant is where the cot is to be used in a co-sleeping arrangement with the cot positioned close up against the side of a parent bed, and the mattresses of the two at the same level. Earlier proposals of this kind were mentioned above. When the baby is in the cot, a cot side wall at the parent bed side can prevent the baby from rolling onto the parent mattress, and prevent a sleeping parent from inadvertently throwing a limb onto the cot area. When the parent is awake, however, there may be value in removing or displacing that side wall, e.g. to enhance companionship and feeling of security for the baby or parent, or to facilitate adjusting the bed clothes, or the baby's position or clothing, in the cot area. Some parents may prefer to keep this wall removed all the time.

(A) One of our proposals herein is that the side wall in question be pivotably mounted at or adjacent the cot sleeping base level so that it can be pivoted down and outwardly to lie on the parent bed. This offers various advantages. It bridges the gap which is likely to exist, whatever the construction of parent bed or cot, between the edges of the parent mattress and the cot mattress even when the two are held as close together as possible. By having a sympathetic surface material, e.g. a fabric covering on the side wall, this “drawbridge” can safely and comfortably be left in place. Because of the pivot action, the gap is effectively bridged even if the heights of the two mattresses are not exactly matched, and the bridge is held against sliding out of place. The pivot of the side wall may be provided by a mechanism as proposed above in 4(B).

Of course this is generally combined with an adjustable height of the cot support or stand, e.g. an extensible leg arrangement such as that proposed above.

(B) A further proposal here is that, at least one side of the cot, a side wall can itself be folded along a fold line at an intermediate height of the side wall, preferably at about half-height and in general desirably between one-third and two-thirds height of the side wall, so that an upper part of the side wall can be folded down while leaving the lower part of the side wall erect. Providing this intermediate height has particular value in that it improves ease of access into the cot space from outside, while preserving some barrier e.g. to prevent the baby from rolling out onto the parent bed in a co-sleeping arrangement. In a co-sleeping arrangement, the intermediate height option is also attractive in offering the possibility for a parent easily to reach an arm into the cot area e.g. to comfort the baby, without having to remove all barrier between the two sleeping areas.

For a co-sleeping arrangement, it is preferred to combine both the facility to fold the side wall down to an intermediate height and the additional facility to pivot the side wall at its base, so that both full-height, intermediate-height and fully folded-down conditions are available, and moveover in the fully folded-down condition, either the full-height or the reduced height (folded) extent of the side wall may be extended out to bridge to the parent bed.

In the intermediate-height feature, it is preferred that the folding mechanism of the side wall permits the top part of the wall to be folded only outwardly relative to the lower.

For the intermediate-height pivot mechanism, we prefer pivots e.g. between frame members of the upper and lower portions of the side wall, that engage frictionally so that little or no additional moving parts are needed to lock or release the folding function. Since the side wall will generally have fasteners at its upper region connecting to the adjacent structure, e.g. end walls or frame, adequate security is present.

(6) Side Wall Construction: General

For a convenient, lightweight construction, we prefer to provide one or both side walls of the cot in the form of rigid frame elements forming a frame defining one or more openings occupied by flexible fabric material e.g. cloth or mesh, or a combination of these. A preferred version uses frames comprising stiff rods of metal (or perhaps tough plastics) shaped into open hoops e.g. of generally rectangular form. These can be covered with fabric coverings.

One convenient form has the fabric covering as an envelope with opposed walls into which the frame is inserted. The fabric envelope may be removable for cleaning. Desirably at least one central region of a side wall is transparent, e.g. mesh. For example a border of closed fabric may extend around the frame elements to provide dimensional strength and durability, with a central “window” for transparency.

These frame/fabric constructions are readily adaptable to the foldable and intermediate-height proposals put forward above. Where the wall has an intermediate folding mechanism and a fabric covering is on the outside of the fold, it should be provided with sufficient elasticity or slack to accommodate increased length on folding.

(7) Retention Against Parent Bed

In prior proposals, various means have been proposed for holding a cot against the side of a parent bed. A difficulty is that beds come in many types and sizes, so that no kind of convenient securement can be universal. Previous means proposed have included straps securing to the cot's stand or sleeping base which pass under the parent mattress, lateral frame extensions of the cot—sometimes doubling as legs—which can be inserted under the parent mattress, and various kinds of clamps for securing to the edge of the frame of the parent bed.

Cots as proposed herein may in general be secured to a parent bed by any suitable means, such as e.g. straps, and the present proposals are not particularly limited in this respect. However we have a further novel proposal for a securement device, which is a rigid L-section member, having a first flat arm of the L which lies under the parent mattress so that the second arm stands upright next to the mattress. The upstanding arm of the L has one or more upstanding projections—preferably plural longitudinally-spaced projections—which are engageable with the cot e.g. by passing up into or through corresponding openings or recesses thereof, e.g. through one or more slots extending longitudinally along the side of the cot.

Since the retaining projection(s) can be formed as a simple integral part of a flat or plate-form member, no moving parts are needed and the construction is simple and economical. It is useable with many kinds of bed, even where the mattress is partly encased by a surround wall. A preferred refinement has both arms of the L provided with corresponding projections so that either can be used in the upstanding position to retain the crib, the two arms being of different length for use with beds of different heights.

The retention still works if the outstanding projections hook behind or beneath a structure of the cot, rather than passing through an opening, but sliding passage through an opening has the advantage of maximising the available range of height differences (between the cot and the bottom level of the parent mattress) over which the device is useable.

THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the above proposals are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cot on its extended stand;

FIG. 2 shows the cot removed from the stand, with its mattress removed;

FIG. 3 shows the extended stand alone;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cot minus mattress, also showing section lines for subsequent figures;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the cot, at V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a top fastener for a side wall;

FIG. 7 shows the cot folded down;

FIG. 8 is an underneath view of the cot folded down;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections of the cot side wall structure (simple side), at IX-IX and X-X of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a detail of a side wall pivot release mechanism (foldable side), in the locked position;

FIG. 12 shows the side wall pivot release mechanism in the unlocked position;

FIG. 13 shows the unlocked foldable side wall pivoted down and outwardly, in the folded condition;

FIG. 14 shows a detail of the foldable wall frame hinge;

FIG. 15 shows the cot erect, with the foldable side wall complete (fabric-covered) and at half height;

FIG. 16 shows the half height side wall pivoted outwardly;

FIG. 17 shows how the foldable side wall can lie on a parent bed;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the stand in its extended condition;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal section through the stand at one of the slider tracks, at XIX-XIX of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the stand folded flat;

FIG. 21 is an underneath view of the stand and cot folded flat together;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an optional fitting for securing to a parent bed, and

FIG. 23 shows the same fitting in an alternative orientation.

FIG. 1 shows a cot 1 on a stand 10 with the stand in extended position. Referring additionally to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cot's main components are a sleeping base 2 carrying a mattress 21, a pair of opposed end walls 3, a simple side wall 4 and a foldable side wall 5. In these figures only the frames of the side walls are shown, so that their construction can be understood. In the finished product they are covered with fabric covers as explained below with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17.

The main elements of the stand 10 are a top platform 9 (see FIG. 3) on which the sleeping base 2 of the cot rests, and a pair of pivoted legs 7 which are extensible to a desired height.

The cot 1 is now described in more detail. With reference additionally to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeping base 2 with mattress 21 removed comprises a flat board 23 with longitudinal reinforcing edge members 22. These may all be wood.

The end walls 3 are single shaped sheets of closed rigid material e.g. of plywood, with handle openings 31 at the top centre and side edges which curve forwardly as flanges 32. The side flanges 32 are connected to the side members 22 of the base by pivots 33 at the corners. Each pivot 33 has an axle pin 330 which also provides a mounting for a side wall pivot locking mechanism described later.

The bottom edges 34 of the end walls 3 project below the sleeping base and lie in a plane so that, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, they act as support feet for the cot when it rests by itself on a flat surface.

Catches 26 are provided at the centre at each end of the sleeping base board 23; each is a strong flexible plastics element having a projecting lug 28 engageable in a corresponding recess in the inner face of the end wall 3, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, to prevent the end wall 3 from pivoting relative to the base. By pressing a flexible actuating area 29 of the catches 26 their retaining lugs 28 are swung out of engagement and the end walls 3 can be folded forward to the position seen in FIG. 7. The catch actuating areas are recessed into the board 23 and lie under the mattress, so that they can be released only by lifting the mattress and deliberate pressing.

At the top of each end wall side flange 32 is a shaped recess 36 forming one part of a top fastener arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Because the part of the fastener 58 on the side wall is incorporated in the fabric element thereof, it is not seen in the other figures here.

An elastic fabric strip or tab 581 is sewn to the top corner of each side wall, and carries a rigid interlock formation 582 having an enlarged circular “mushroom” head 583 on a stem 584. The diameter of the circular head 583 is only slightly less than the height of the slot 36. Because the elastic holds the formation hooked into the forward end of the slot 36, it can be released only by extension against the elastic force while at the same time positioning the head 583 carefully in relation to the slot 36 so that it can be withdrawn.

The two side walls 4,5 are attached to the end pivot axes 330 by mechanisms (described below) which allow the wall to pivot inwardly or outwardly. To fold the cot, the side walls are released and pivoted inwardly to lie overlapping on the mattress. As shown in FIG. 7, the end walls 3 can then pivot inwardly and, because of their curved shape with the end flanges 32, securely enclose the space beneath them with the mattress and side walls.

The pivoting mechanism at the bottom of each side wall is now described, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13. FIGS. 9 and 10 are for the simple side wall 4, FIGS. 11 to 13 are for the folding side wall 5 but the pivot mechanism is the same for both.

Each side wall has a respective frame 41,51 of generally open form made of simple round metal rods bent to form the requisite rectangular closed shapes. In the finished cot, as indicated in FIG. 15, a fabric cover 42,52 is fitted over each side wall frame. The fabric cover has a strong closed fabric surround 421,521 into which a window 422,522 of mesh is sewn. The cover 42,52 is formed as an envelope open at its bottom edge, so that it can be slid down over the frame. It may then be closed at its bottom end by hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, press studs or the like.

At each side, the wall is supported by its bottom frame element which is an elongate tube 11 of slot cross-section, with the long axis of the slot in the plane of the wall, i.e. vertical when the wall is vertical. The other members of the frame above have their lower ends fixed down into the top of the tube 11. The tube 11 is supported on the cot at each end through a moveable interlock member 12 having an eye 121 pivotally mounted to the sleeping base (in this example, on the same axle pin 330 as the end wall mountings 33) and a free rod end 122 projecting as a pivot bar into the open mouth 111 of the tube 11. Section view FIG. 10 shows the complete shape of the interlock element 12, which is made from simple round stock. Its diameter is only slightly less than the width (narrow axis) of the tube slot.

In the rest position (see FIGS. 9 to 11) the weight of the wall 4,5 bears on the end 122 of the pivoted member 12 so that it extends obliquely down in the slot interior (FIG. 10). Because of the close fit, rotation between the two is prevented; the wall is held vertical and will remain vertical against a displacement force even when the top fasteners are undone. To keep the wall centred between the respective interlock members 12 at each end, their free ends are formed with a bend 124 and a stop projection 125 (see FIG. 12) which rides on a guide surface 115 at the tube mouth so that neither bar can extend too far into the end of the tube 11.

Lifting the wall lifts the bar 122 and swings the interlock member 12 around its pivot to the position shown in FIG. 12 where the end 122 is horizontal and coaxial with the tube 11 which is thereby freed to swing inwardly or outwardly, e.g. to the position seen in FIG. 13 (outward) or inwardly to the folded position shown in FIG. 7.

The foldable wall 5 has its frame hinged at half-height so that it can be folded down. This is achieved by a plastic friction hinge fitting 53, one at each end of the wall, seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 13 in more detail in FIG. 14. The metal rod frame is formed as a complete lower loop 511, with one of the hinge elements 53 slid onto it at each end of its upper span, and a further upper loop 512 forming the upper area of the wall, and whose inturned lower ends also fit into the hinge elements.

Each hinge element 53 has a tight-fitting bore for the respective frame rod piece. The outer mouths of these are longitudinally staggered and the upper and lower frames are slightly different width, so that (as indicated in FIG. 13) the upper and lower rods 512,511 can nest in next to one another and fold to a near-flat condition. Additionally each hinge element has a rear stop plate 532, extending behind the elbows 514,513 of the upper and lower frame elements, which prevents the top part 512 from being folded inwardly relative to the lower part. Generally it is undesirable to allow the wall to fold into and obstruct the cot interior.

FIG. 15 shows the foldable wall 5 folded down while held in the upright condition by the locking base pivot, the top fasteners having been undone to enable folding.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the half-height folded wall 5 pivoted outwardly, and in FIG. 17 resting on the mattress of a parent bed to provide a bridge in a co-sleeping arrangement. With the wall at half-height in this arrangement, there is an intermediate level of access for a parent while the baby cannot roll out.

Next, the stand is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 18 to 21. In this example the whole stand is made from plywood.

The underside of the sleeping base board 23 carries four downwardly-projecting pegs 27 with rounded ends, which are for engagement with the support platform 9.

The platform 9 is generally rectangular, and has end edge extremities 98 shaped to conform to the inner contour of the cot end walls 3 where these project down, so that the cot 1 can be positioned easily by moving one end wall 3 into engagement with a platform end 98 and then lowering the other end. This also registers the downward pegs 27 on the cot with their fitting holes 97 on the platform 9. The pegs have rounded ends and annular base enlargements 271, with corresponding enlarged entry regions of the openings 97 on the platform, so that engagement can begin with approximate alignment and move to a close fit. In combination with adequate depth, this prevents a sideways push from tilting the cot off the platform.

The stand has a pair of legs 7 each of generally triangular form, with a central triangular opening 71, a horizontal bottom member 72 constituting a wide foot for the leg—the same width as the cot—and inner and outer uprights 73 tapering gradually together in the triangular form. These meet at a top portion 74 which connects to a slider 75. The triangles are substantially right-angled (rather than isosceles) so that although their feet are centred their top portions 74 connect at respective opposite sides of the platform 9. An elongate slot track 91 extends along each side of the platform 9 and receives the slider which, as seen in FIG. 19, takes the form of a two-part releasable clamp having upper and lower parts 751,752. By the action of a cam locking lever 753, these can either grip a flange 911 running along the track 91 or be released to slide freely along the track 91.

Half-way up each leg 7 a transverse pivot 78 connects to the lower end of a support strut 8 half the length of the leg. The upper end of the support strut 8 is connected to a fixed pivot 81, central near the end of the platform 9. The action of the legs will be apparent from the drawings and the previous general description. When folded flat, the legs 7 and their struts 8 take the form seen in FIGS. 20 and 21. The struts are shaped as triangles which fit within the triangular openings 71 of the legs 7. The triangle of one leg 7 complements the triangle of the other when folded flat, as seen in FIG. 21. The whole leg arrangement lies in a single layer thickness of the wood used to make it. Advantageously both legs 7 and their struts might be cut from a single sheet of wood to reduce waste.

By releasing the slider 75 the leg 7 may be swung down to any desired height, and the slider secured to hold the selected position. This may be to adjust to match the height of a parent bed. The legs are independent, so a slight tilt can be provided if wished. The slider/strut mechanism maintains the longitudinal footprint of the pair of legs 7 irrespective of the particular height chosen.

The slide levers 753 are accessible only from the top and are completely covered when the cot is in place. They cannot then accidentally be released e.g. by a child.

The combined stand and cot can be folded flat together as shown in FIG. 21 e.g. for putting in a carrying case.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show an L-shaped connector 90, having two longitudinally-spaced L members 91 connected by rigid rods 92. Each L member 91 has a longer flat arm “a” and a shorter flat arm “b”. Either the long side or the short side can lie on the parent bed base 101, as shown in these two figures. The parent mattress (not shown) is lain on top to hold it securely in orientation. A supplementary strap 95 may tie it through to the other side of the bed, as known per se. The upstanding projections can then be used to engage longitudinal clearances formed in the cot.

Claims

1. A cot suitable for use positioned adjacent the side of a parent bed, the cot comprising a sleeping base to be positioned substantially level with the parent bed, and having a side wall mounted pivotably at or adjacent the sleeping base level so that it can be pivoted outwardly and down to lie on the parent bed.

2. A cot according to claim 1 including a stand with an extensible leg arrangement adjustable in height.

3. A cot according to claim 1 comprising securement means for holding it against the side of a parent bed in use.

4. A cot according to claim 1 in which said side wall is itself foldable along a fold line extending along the side wall at an intermediate height thereof so that a top portion of the side wall can be folded down.

5. A cot according to claim 1 comprising a release mechanism at the bottom of said side wall which is adjustable, by lifting the side wall, from a locked condition in which the mechanism holds the side wall upright to a released condition in which the side wall can be pivoted down and outwardly.

6. A cot according to claim 5 in which said release mechanism comprises first and second interfitting components on respective ones of the side wall and adjacent structures of the cot, one said component having an upright slot cross-section with a mouth, and the other having a rigid bar mounted pivotally and projecting into the mouth of the upright slot, wherein in the released condition the bar is aligned with the operational pivot axis of the side wall while in the locked condition the bar extends transversely to that axis, the bar being pivoted between the transverse and aligned orientations by said lifting of the side wall.

7. A cot according to claim 1 in which said side wall has a fabric covering.

8. A cot according to claim 1 in which said side wall comprises one or more rigid frame elements defining one or more openings occupied by flexible fabric material.

9. A cot according to claim 1 having a support base which is the sleeping base, or on which the sleeping base may rest, the support base having first and second extensible leg arrangements respectively at first and second ends thereof,

each extensible leg arrangement comprising a main leg member and a support strut,

the main leg member having at its lower end a transversely-extending foot, and at its top end being connected to the support base at a pivot connection which is longitudinally slidable along a track of the support base and lockable at a selected position on the track, corresponding to a desired height,

the support strut having a lower end connected pivotally to the main leg member at an intermediate point thereof, and an upper end connected to the support base at a fixed pivot proximal to the respective end of the support base.

10. A cot according to claim 9 in which the main leg members and support struts are shaped such that the leg arrangements can be folded flat against the support base without mutual superimposition of the main leg members or support struts, the support struts lying in recesses or clearances of the main leg members.

11. A cot according to claim 1 in which the cot comprises a discrete stand providing a support base on which a sleeping base of the cot is removably positionable, preferably by means of pegs on one of the support base and sleeping base fitting into corresponding holes on the other, and/or by bottom parts of opposed end walls of the cot projecting down below the level of the sleeping base and fitting around corresponding edges of the support base.

12. A cot according to claim 1 having discrete opposed end walls and opposed side walls, the side walls being releasable from an upright position to lie on the sleeping base overlapping one another, preferably by means of pivoting along their bottom edges, and the end walls being pivotably mounted to the sleeping base and releasable from the upright position to fold inwardly and down and overlie the sleeping base and the side walls lying on it.

13. A cot according to claim 12 in which the end walls have inner faces which are recessed in shape for containment of the space above the sleeping base in the folded-down condition.

14. A cot comprising a sleeping base, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, each said wall having a stable upright condition in which in combination said walls form an upstanding surround for the cot, and each wall being releasable from its upright condition to lie over the sleeping base in a folded or collapsed condition in which the side walls lie on the sleeping base overlapping one another, the end walls being pivoted relative to the sleeping base and foldable down to overlie the sleeping base and the overlapped side walls lying on it, and the end walls having side edges which project forwardly relative to their central parts so that in the folded position they project down adjacent the sides of the sleeping base to enclose the space above it.

15. A cot comprising a support having an extensible leg arrangement of adjustable height, the leg arrangement comprising first and second extensible legs respectively at first and second ends of the support,

each extensible leg comprising a main leg member and a support strut,

the main leg member having at its lower end a transversely-extending foot, and at its top end being connected to the support at a pivot connection which is longitudinally slidable along a track of the support and lockable at a selected position on the track, corresponding to a desired height,

the support strut having a lower end connected pivotally to the main leg member at an intermediate point thereof, and an upper end connected to the support at a fixed pivot proximal to the respective end of the support.