AU2980001A - Improvements in cots - Google Patents

Description

P00011 Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act, 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: John Munro Joyce and Janette Lois Joyce John Munro Joyce Peter Maxwell Associates Level 6 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 IMPROVEMENTS IN COTS ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO(S): NIL The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 The present invention relates to cots for babies and young infants and, in particular, to a track assembly for a cot drop side. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cot having a drop side track assembly in which a track member and catch mechanism therefor are located flushly within a leg of the cot, but where an operating button for the catch mechanism is located externally of the leg for manipulation by the user.

The drop side of many conventional two handed operation cots have been designed to travel along tracks comprising upright metal rods located at **opposite ends of the drop side. The height to which the drop side may be 10 raised is determined by pivotal catches located adjacent respective upper 'portions of the rods. Each pivotal catch is adapted to be pushed aside by the upper cross member of the drop side as it slides upwardly and then to pivot downwardly under its own weight until it abuts against the adjacent rod. The drop side is thereby stopped from sliding downwardly after it has passed each pivotal catch by the physical impediment provided by the catch leaning on the adjacent rod.

Such an assembly, although widely used, suffers a number of serious safety shortcomings. Most notably, persons operating the pivotal catches for *I the purpose of raising or lowering the drop side often catch their fingers or articles of clothing between the pivotal catch and rod. Furthermore, the external nature of the track and catch assembly often provides an inviting plaything for babies and young infants located within the cot that may lead to injury, as well as to gradual structural or functional deterioration of the catch assembly that may compromise the safe operation of the drop side.

Recent changes to regulations governing the design and manufacture of cots have favoured cots in which the track member and catch mechanism of the cot drop side track assembly are generally concealed or non-projecting from the cot legs supporting the drop side, thereby facilitating the safe use of the catch mechanism and drop side.

The present inventor's Australian Patent No. 702,126 discloses one such cot drop side track assembly, in which there is a track member located flushly within a leg of the cot, and a track engaging member connected to the drop side is adapted to slide within a female track formed within the track member. The track comprises a vertical portion and an upper curved or inverted hook portion for supporting the track engaging member when the drop side is in a raised position, and there is a spring bias means so disposed within the track member and across the curved portion of the track as to resist the release of the track engaging from within the curved portion of the track. The drop side is lowered by a double action release procedure involving the user slightly lifting the drop side with his or her hands against a force exerted by the spring bias means whilst simultaneously pushing with his or her legs the bottom rail of the drop side so that the track engaging member in the curved portion of the track is forced sideways and causes the spring bias means, which is typically a flexible metal strip, to be flexibly distorted sufficiently to allow the track engaging member to be released from within the curved portion the track, whereupon the track engaging member may be allowed to fall, without further impediment, down the lower vertical portion of the track.

Although the cot drop side track assembly of Australian Patent No.

702,126 has proven to be safe, effective and popular, particularly among those users who appreciate the convenience of being able to single handedly lower the drop side, with the other hand being free to hold, say, the baby, the requirement to use the legs to push the bottom rail of the drop side before it can be lowered may impose some slight discomfort to certain users, particularly those with a disability of the lower body, and may cause the cot to I 4 be propelled in the direction of the force applied by the legs if there is insufficient resistance of the cot thereto.

However, cots employing the more conventional approach of two handed lowering of the drop side avoid these problems and remain popular with consumers and, so long as they conform to the safety regulations governing the design and manufacture of cots, are safe and reliable in use.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cot having a drop side track assembly that enables the drop side to be lowered and raised comfortably, quickly and without the imposition of any forces laterally or 10 unevenly against the cot that might shift its position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cot in which the .drop side track assembly comprising a track member and a catch mechanism are located flushly within a leg of the cot, save for an operating button for the catch mechanism which is located externally of the leg.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cot in which the aforementioned track assembly is located in each of the two legs of the cot which are positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the drop side of the cot so as to facilitate easy, two handed lowering and raising of the drop side.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cot having a drop side disposed between first and second legs of the cot and a track assembly for lowering and raising the drop side supported by each of the first and second legs, the track assembly comprising a track member and a catch mechanism therefor, both of which are located within a cavity formed into the leg so as not to project therefrom, and an operating button for the catch mechanism located externally of the leg, the drop side having connected thereto a track engaging member adapted to slide within a female track formed within the track member whereby the drop side can be lowered and raised, the catch mechanism comprising a pivotable flipper arm pivotally mounted to the track member so as to be disposed within the cavity, a biassing means so disposed within the cavity as to pivotally urge the flipper arm into a first position where it obstructs the female track and which allows the flipper arm to be pivoted into a second position where it no longer obstructs the female track when the bias thereof is overcome, the flipper arm being pivotally movable into the second position by the operating button, the arrangement being such that raising the drop side will cause the track engaging member to press against the flipper arm in a direction that will overcome the bias of the biassing means and allow the track engaging member to be raised above the flipper arm whereupon the biassing means will pivotally urge the flipper arm back to the first position and thereby prevent the .*lowering of the drop side, and such that pressing the operating button in a direction that will overcome the bias of the biassing means will allow the flipper S 00 arm to be pivotally moved to the second position and allow the track engaging member to be lowered below the flipper arm thereby allowing the lowering of the drop side, and whereupon release of the operating button will allow the biassing means to pivotally urge the flipper arm back to the first position.

Preferably, the biassing means comprises a coil spring, a first end of which is located within a recess formed within the flipper arm, and a second end of which abuts against a first wall surface of the cavity.

In a preferred form, the operating button is connected to the flipper arm by a shaft passing firstly through a slot communicating between an outer surface of the leg adapted to face the user when in use and a second wall surface of the cavity and secondly through an aperture formed in the flipper arm, the shaft being fixed to the flipper arm by a fastening means.

In order that the present invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 6 Fig 1 is a perspective view of a cot according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig 2 is an exploded perspective view of a track assembly and a portion of the cot of Fig 1, partly showing the drop side including a track engaging member and the upper part of the cot leg to the left of the drop side within which the track assembly is flushly located, Fig 3 is an exploded perspective view of a track assembly and a portion of the cot of Fig 1, partly showing the drop side including a track engaging member and the upper part of the cot leg to the right of the drop side within which the track assembly is flushly Solocated, Fig 4 is an exploded perspective view of a track assembly and a •portion of the cot of Fig 1, partly showing the drop side including a track engaging member and the lower part of the cot leg to the ~left of the drop side within which the track assembly is flushly located, *Fig 5 is an exploded perspective view of a track assembly and a portion of the cot of Fig 1, partly showing the drop side including a track engaging member and the lower part of the cot leg to the right of the drop side within which the track assembly is flushly located, Fig 6 is a side view of the catch mechanism mounted to the upper part of the track member (shown sectionally) of the track assembly of Fig 2, the track member being located within a cavity formed into the leg (shown sectionally) to the left of the drop side of the cot of Fig 1, with the flipper arm of the catch mechanism shown in its first position where it prevents the lowering of the drop side, and Fig 7 is a side view similar to that of Fig 6, but with the flipper arm of the catch mechanism shown in its second position where it allows the lowering of the drop side.

The cot 10 shown in Fig 1 has four legs 12, 14, 16, 18 which support opposed cot ends 20, 22 and opposed cot sides 24, 26. Each of the sides 24, 26 and ends 20, 22 comprise a plurality of vertically arranged, spaced apart, elongated members 28a, 28b, such as wooden rails, that are held in place in a conventional manner by upper and lower cross members. There are a plurality of horizontally arranged, spaced apart, weight bearing slats 30 held in place in a conventional manner by the lower cross members 31 of the opposed cot sides 24, 26.

The cot side 24 is adapted to serve as a cot drop side, whereas the other cot side 26 and the cot ends 20, 22 are immovable.

The cot drop side 24 is supported through four separate track assemblies 32, 34, 36, 38 (shown individually in Figs 2, 3, 4 and 5) which are adapted for lowering and raising the drop side 24. The track assemblies 32, 36 tag are supported by leg 12 and the track assemblies 34, 38 are supported by leg 14. The upper part of the legs 12, 14 have a cavity 40 formed therein for locating therewithin the track assemblies 32, 34 respectively (the cavity formed in the upper part of leg 14 is obscured in Fig and the lower part of the legs 12, 14 have a cavity 42 formed therein for locating therewithin the track assemblies 36, 38 respectively (the cavity formed in the lower part of leg 14 is obscured in Fig The track assemblies 32, 34 are of identical mirror image structure and are at identical heights along their respective legs. The track assemblies 36, 38 are also of identical mirror image structure and are at identical heights along their respective legs.

Each of the track assemblies 32, 34, 36, 38, shown in exploded detail in Figs 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, include a track member 44, 46, 48, respectively defining a female track 52, 54, 56, 58 formed therewithin as a continuous vertical groove. The track members 44, 46, 48, 50 may be fabricated of any inert material from which a groove may be formed, such as any resilient polymer suitable for die casting.

Each of the track members 44, 46 are fitted by screws 60, 62 located through a plurality of screw holes 64, 66 to a correspondingly positioned rear wall surface of the cavity 40 formed in the legs 12, 14 respectively. (Note, for the sake of clarity, not all of the screws 60, 62 are shown in Figs 2 and 3).

When so fitted, the outer surface 68 of each of the track members 44, 46 are flushly aligned or coplanar with the outer surface 70 of each of the legs 12, 14, respectively, facing the drop side 24 (see Figs 6 and 7).

Each of the track members 48, 50 are also fitted by screws 72 located through a plurality of screw holes 74, 76 to a correspondingly positioned rear o wall surface of the cavity 42 formed in the legs 12, 14 respectively. (Again note, for the sake of clarity, not all of the screws 72 are shown in Figs 4 and When so fitted, the outer surface 78 of each of the track members 48, 50 are flushly aligned or coplanar with the outer surface 80 of each of the legs 12, 14, respectively, facing the drop side 24. There are a pair of two co-operating screw holes 76a, 76b forming the screw holes 76. Each hole 76a, 76b is continuously formed through two constituent parts of the track member 48, namely through a removable portion 82 of the track member 48, 50 and through a cut out portion 84 of the track member 48, 50, which, when constituted together, maintain the flush alignment of the outer surface 78, of the track members 48, 50 with the outer surface 80 of the legs 12, 14.

Each of the female tracks 52, 54 of the track members 44, 46 are adapted to receive a respective track engaging member 86, 88 which aIs 9 comprises a head portion 90 and a shank portion 92. The shank portion 92 is drilled or otherwise inserted along nearly its full length into each one of the two vertical end faces of the upper cross member of the drop side 24 so that the head portion 90, which is spaced apart from the end face, may engage and slide within the adjacent female track 52, 54.

Each of the female tracks 56, 58 of the track members 48, 50 are also adapted to receive a respective track engaging member 86a, 88a of similar structure and disposition on the lower cross member of the drop side 24 so that the head portion 90a may engage and slide within the adjacent female track 56,58.

Each of the track assemblies 32, 34 located within the cavity 40 formed :in the upper part of the legs 12, 14, see Figs 2 and 3, also include a catch mechanism 94, 96 for the respective track member 44, 46. Each of the catch mechanisms 94, 96, shown in exploded detail in Figs 2 and 3 respectively, which, together with its respective co-operating track member 44, 46 do not project from the leg 12, 14, are of identical structure.

Referring specifically to catch mechanism 96 shown in Fig 3, the catch mechanism 96 comprises a pivotable member in the form of a flipper arm 98 pivotally mounted to the track member 46 and a biassing means in the form of a coil spring 100 adapted to pivotally urge the flipper arm 98 into a position (as shown in Fig 6) where it obstructs the female track 52. The flipper arm 98 has a main body portion 101, a circularly curved convex or hinge portion 102 that is adapted to frictionally, but rotatably, engage spaced apart circularly curved concave or socket portions 104 formed in respective seat portions 106 extending from opposite sides of the track member 46. The flipper arm 98 also has a tongue portion 108 that projects above the main body portion 101. As shown in Fig 6, the main body portion 101 and tongue portion 108 of the flipper arm 98 are urged by the coil spring 100 to extend across the female track 52, with the tongue portion 108 extending outwardly of the main body portion 101.

The flipper arm 98 is prevented from being urged by the coil spring 100 out of the cavity 40 by a physical impediment provided by a complementary shaped cut out portion 114 of the track member 46 against which the main body portion 101 abuts (see Fig 3).

The track engaging member 88 is prevented from exiting the female track 54 by the opposed side walls 110 defining a front portion of the female track 54 that is more constricted than a rear portion of the female track 54 defined by opposed side walls 112.

10 The track engaging member 88 may be introduced into the female track 54 by passing the head portion 90 through an enlarged aperture 116 at the bottom of the female track 54 so that the head portion 90 encounters a physical impediment elsewhere along the female track 54 to its withdrawal therefrom by the more constricted opposed side walls 110 in the front portion of the track 54 than in the rear portion of the track 54 as mentioned above.

The coil spring 100 has a first end located snugly within a blind recess 118 formed within the flipper arm 98 and a second end that abuts against rear wall surface 120 of the cavity There is an operating button 122 for the catch mechanism 96 which is located externally of the leg 14 and projects from an outer surface 124 thereof adapted to face the user when in use. The operating button 122 is connected to the flipper arm 98 by a shaft 126 passing firstly through a slot 128 communicating between the leg outer surface 124 and a side wall surface of the cavity 40 and secondly through a blind aperture 130 formed within the flipper arm 98. The shaft 126 is fixed to the flipper arm 98 by a fastening means in the form of a push-on fix clip 132 that is located in a slotted housing 134 formed within the flipper arm 98 and which crosses the blind aperture 130.

11 If 11 The push-on fix clip 132, when located in the slotted housing 134, forcibly engages the shaft 126 when located within the blind aperture 130.

The flipper arm 98 has two slotted housings 134 and two blind apertures 130 at symmetrical positions so that, although only one of each of the slotted housings 134 and blind apertures 130 are used, only one structure of flipper arm 98 need be manufactured to suit positioning of the flipper arm 98 in a track assembly to the left or right of the drop side 24.

The slot 128 is of sufficiently larger horizontal diameter than that of the shaft 126 to allow for horizontal or sideways displacement of the shaft 126 oooo 10 within the slot 128 as a result of the user applying horizontal pressure against S. the operating button 122 in a direction and of a magnitude sufficient to overcome the bias of the spring coil 100. In Figs 6 and 7, pressure applied by the user against the operating button 122 in the direction from right to left causes the flipper arm 98 to compress the spring coil 100 and pivot to a ooo.

retracted position where it no longer obstructs the female track 52.

:•.••Therefore, in order for the drop side 24 to achieve the locked position shown in Fig 6, the drop side 24 is raised by pulling upwardly the upper cross member 138 which causes the head portion 90 of the track engaging member 86 to press against the flipper arm 98 in a direction that, because of the position of the pivot axis 140 of the flipper arm 98, will cause the flipper arm 98 to compress the spring coil 100 and pivot to the retracted position whereby the track engaging member 86 can continue to slide up the female track 52 until it is raised above the flipper arm 98 and no longer presses horizontally thereagainst. The flipper arm 98 is then pivotally urged by the coil spring 100 back to its position as shown in Fig 6, thereby preventing the lowering of the drop side 24.

In order for the drop side 24 to achieve an opened position, the user first grips the upper cross member 138 and raises the drop side 24 slightly, only so far as is allowed by the small gap 141 that exists between the track engaging member 86 in the locked position and the upper end of the female track 52, so that the track engaging member 86 horizontally clears the tongue portion 108 of the flipper arm 98. The user then presses the operating button 122 in a direction towards the coil spring 100 so that the flipper arm 98 compresses the coil spring 100 and pivots to its retracted position (see Fig whereby the track engaging member 86 is able to be lowered below the flipper arm 98, thereby facilitating the lowering of the drop side 24 to its opened position.

Releasing pressure on the operating button 122 will then allow the spring coil 100 to pivotally urge the flipper arm 98 back to a position where it obstructs the female track 52.

Each of the track assemblies 36, 38 located within the cavity 42 formed in the lower part of the legs 12, 14 (see Figs 4 and 5) include a coil spring 142, 144 that is recessed vertically within the female track 56, 58. Each coil spring 142, 144 has a tail portion 146, 148, respectively, that engages within respective cut out portions 150, 152 of the track members 48, 50, respectively, for the purposes of anchoring and orientating the coil spring. Each coil spring 142, 144 is able to withstand substantial downward impact pressure provided by the track engaging member 86, 88 respectively.

Referring specifically to track assembly 36 shown in Fig 4, the track engaging member 86a may be introduced into the female track 56 by passing the head portion 90a through an enlarged gap 154 created by removing both of the removable portions 82 from their screwably secured positions within the cut out portion 84 of the track member 48. The enlarged gap 154 is located intermediate the ends of the female track 56. Elsewhere along the female track 56, the head portion 90a encounters a physical impediment to its withdrawal therefrom by the more constricted opposed side walls in the front It 1I 13 portion of the track 56 than in the rear portion of the track 56, as also mentioned earlier in relation to track 54.

The vertical distance between the enlarged gap 154 and the enlarged aperture 116 in, say, the lower track member 48 and the upper track member 44, respectively, is less than the distance between the respective track engaging members 86a, 86 which are passed therethrough for the assembly and disassembly of the drop side 24 to and from the remainder of the cot This necessitates that the upper track engaging members 86, 88 are firstly passed through the enlarged apertures 116 so that they engage the upper 10 tracks 52, 54, and the cot drop side 24 is then raised so that the lower track *ee* engaging members 86a, 88a can be passed through the enlarged gaps 154 so that they engage the lower tracks 56, 58. The location of the enlarged aperture 116 and gaps 154 along their respective tracks, coupled with the aforementioned "distance offsetting" of the track engaging members to the enlarged track portions are such that, when the cot drop side 24 is so engaged and the removable portions 82 resecured, there is a physical limit to the downward travel of the lower track engaging members 86a, 88a that prevents the upper track engaging members 86, 88 travelling far enough downwardly to realign with the enlarged apertures 116, thereby ensuring that the drop side 24 will never fall off the cot 10 by mistake or through mishandling.

Each of the track members 44, 46 and each of the track members 48, are symmetrical along a vertical axis so that only one structure of each of the two forms of track member (being an upper track member and a lower track member) need to be manufactured to suit positioning the particular form of track member to the left or right of the drop side 24.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A cot having a drop side disposed between first and second legs of the cot and a track assembly for lowering and raising the drop side supported by each of the first and second legs, the track assembly comprising a track member and a catch mechanism therefor, both of which are located within a cavity formed into the leg so as not to project therefrom, and an operating button for the catch mechanism located externally of the leg, the drop side having connected thereto a track engaging member adapted to slide within a female track formed within the track member whereby the drop side can be lowered and raised, the catch mechanism comprising a pivotable flipper arm pivotally mounted to the track member so as to be disposed within the cavity, a biassing means so disposed within the cavity as to pivotally urge the flipper arm into a first position where it obstructs the female track and which allows the flipper arm to be pivoted into a second position where it no longer obstructs the :OO..female track when the bias thereof is overcome, the flipper arm being pivotally movable into the second position by the operating button, the arrangement being such that raising the drop side will cause the track engaging member to press against the flipper arm in a direction that will overcome the bias of the biassing means and allow the track engaging member to be raised above the flipper arm whereupon the biassing means will pivotally urge the flipper arm back to the first position and thereby prevent the lowering of the drop side, and such that pressing the operating button in a direction that will overcome the bias of the biassing means will allow the flipper arm to be pivotally moved to the second position and allow the track engaging member to be lowered below the flipper arm thereby allowing the lowering of the drop side, and whereupon release of the operating button will allow the biassing means to pivotally urge the flipper arm back to the first position.

2. The cot of claim 1 wherein the biassing means comprises a coil spring, a first end of which is located within a recess formed within the flipper arm, and a second end of which abuts against a first wall surface of the cavity.

3. The cot of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the operating button is connected to the flipper arm by a shaft passing firstly through a slot communicating between an outer surface of the leg adapted to face the user when in use and a second wall surface of the cavity and secondly through an aperture formed in the flipper arm, the shaft being fixed to the flipper arm by a fastening means. S°Dated this 15th day of March 2001 •oooo John Munro Joyce and Janette Lois Joyce Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL ASSOCIATES