Portable Cot

Abstract

A foldable cot ( 10 ) includes an upper peripheral frame ( 16 ) and first and second supporting leg structures ( 20 ). The A foldable cot ( 10 ) includes an upper peripheral frame ( 16 ) and first and second supporting leg structures ( 20 ). The peripheral frame ( 16 ) comprises a first U-shaped frame portion ( 20 ) and a second U-shaped frame portion ( 20 ) wherein the first U-shaped frame portion and the second U-shaped frame portion each have first and second ends ( 24, 26 ). The first ends ( 24 ) substantially meet at a first junction ( 28 ) and the second ends ( 26 ) substantially meet at a second junction ( 30 ) to thereby define a substantially closed loop peripheral frame. The first and second U-shaped frames ( 20 ) are pivotable relative to the first and second junctions ( 28, 30 ) to adjust from an erected configuration to a folded configuration. The first supporting leg structure ( 20 ) supports the peripheral frame ( 16 ) at the first junction ( 28 ) and the second supporting leg structure ( 20 ) support the peripheral frame ( 16 ) at the second junction ( 30 ). Each of the first and second supporting leg structures ( 20 ) comprise two support legs ( 32, 34 ) which are pivotable relative to the associated junction ( 28, 30 ) to adjust from a configuration whereby the two support legs ( 32, 34 ) diverge in the downward direction at an included angle, to a collapsed configuration with the support legs arranged at a lesser included angle. The support legs ( 32, 34 ) are length adjustable. The length adjustment of the two support legs ( 32, 34 ) may be operable in unison in the collapsed configuration.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A foldable cot comprising:
 a support frame having two spaced supporting leg structures, each of which comprises two support legs which are pivotable relative to one another between an angled configuration whereby the support legs extend at an included angle, and a collapsed configuration whereby the support legs extend at a lesser included angle, wherein each of the support legs is length adjustable with the length adjustment of the two support legs of each support leg structure being operable in unison in the collapsed configuration.   
   
   
       21 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 20  wherein each support leg of each support leg structure includes a length adjustment actuator, wherein the actuators are disposed to interact with each other when in the collapsed configuration. 
   
   
       22 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the length adjustment actuators are arranged on the respective support legs to face each other and to hit against each other in the collapsed configuration. 
   
   
       23 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the support legs are telescopic to effect the length adjustment in unison. 
   
   
       24 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 20  including:
 an upper peripheral frame comprising a first U-shaped frame portion and a second U-shaped frame portion wherein the first U-shaped frame portion and the second U-shaped frame portion each have first and second ends, wherein the first ends substantially meet at a first junction and the second ends substantially meet at a second junction to thereby define a substantially closed loop peripheral frame, the first and second U-shaped frames being pivotable relative to the first and second junctions to adjust from an erected configuration to a folded configuration;   wherein the upper peripheral frame is supported by the support frame.   
   
   
       25 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the support legs are length adjustable between a shortened length and an extended length, wherein the shortened length is commensurate with the length of the U-shaped frame portions in their folded configuration. 
   
   
       26 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the first supporting leg structure is connected to the first junction and the second supporting leg structure is connected to the second junction wherein the pivotal mounting of the first ends at the first junction is arranged in a plane which is offset from the plane of the pivotal mounting of the support legs of the first supporting leg structure and the pivotal mounting of the second ends at the second junction is arranged in a plane which is offset from the plane of the pivotal mounting of the support legs of the second supporting leg structure such that the folding of the U-shaped frame portions does not interfere with the folding of the support legs. 
   
   
       27 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 24  further including bracing mechanisms each of which extend between one of the support legs and an adjacent part of the upper peripheral frame, each bracing mechanism comprising two pivotally joined links which are foldable between an aligned configuration wherein the two links are substantially aligned with each other and a folded configuration. 
   
   
       28 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 27  wherein each bracing mechanism includes a lock mechanism which may be selectively deactivated by a user actuator which is located at the join between the two links. 
   
   
       29 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the user actuator faces away from the inside of the cot. 
   
   
       30 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 20  further including a lower frame supported at or adjacent each of its four corners from the support legs. 
   
   
       31 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the lower frame comprises two frame loops which are pivotally connected along a transverse centre line of the cot and are foldable about this transverse centre line. 
   
   
       32 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the pivotal interconnection is in the form of the 4-bar linkage. 
   
   
       33 . A foldable cot comprising a base comprising two frame portions which are pivotally interconnected to be foldable from a co-planar configuration to define a support for a mattress, to a folded configuration, wherein the pivotal interconnection is in the form of a 4-bar linkage. 
   
   
       34 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the two frame portions comprise two loops which are pivotally interconnected about a transverse centre line of the cot. 
   
   
       35 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the pivotal interconnection between the two frame portions includes support feet which in the co-planar configuration of the two frame portions assist in supporting the base of the cot. 
   
   
       36 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the 4-bar linkage comprises:
 two upper links, each of which is fixedly connected to a part of a respective one of the frame portions; and   two lower links which are longer than the upper links and incorporate respective support feet.   
   
   
       37 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the links interfere with each other in the co-planar configuration to limit movement beyond the co-planar configuration. 
   
   
       38 . The foldable cot as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the two frame portions are pivotally mounted to the support legs of the cot.