EP1357824B1

EP1357824B1 - Travel cot and playpen

Info

Publication number: EP1357824B1
Application number: EP02710578A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Campbell Douglas Gower; Arnold Mensinga
Original assignee: Lifemarque Ltd
Current assignee: Lifemarque Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-03
Filing date: 2002-01-03
Publication date: 2009-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-03
Also published as: EP1357824A1; EP1357824A4; WO2002052994A1; DE60232306D1; ATE431089T1

Abstract

An enclosure (1) for use as a child's cot or playpen which, when in an assembled state, comprises an enclosure means (2) and flexible but resilient pole means (6, 7, 15), the enclosure means (2) having a base portion (5) and a wall portion (3, 4), the enclosure (1) being formed such that when it is in use at least part of the pole means (6, 7) can assume a bent, stressed, state wherein the pole means (6, 7) contacts the enclosure means (2) and impart tension to the enclosure means (2) to cause the wall portion (3, 4) to assume a substantially upright orientation substantially around the base portion (5) such that the base portion (5) provides an area confining an infant or child.

Description

This invention relates to enclosures of the kind for an infant or child, having adjoining walls of flexible material which are stretched upwardly from the base of the enclosure by resiliently flexible poles that are bowed upwardly to tension the wall-material to stand up from the base, and in which ends of the poles are attached to the base for restraining them in the bowed condition
An enclosure of the above-specified kind is known from GB-A-2299268 in which a canopy to an inflated, rectangular base of a child's play area, is formed by netting fabric attached to four resiliently flexible poles. An upper end of each pole is engaged within a common, central fitting that forms an apex to the canopy, whereas the other, lower ends of the poles are sprung into respective fittings at the four corners of the base so that the poles bow upwardly from the base. The bowing of the poles stretches the netting fabric between them upwardly from the base to the apex so that above the base the play area is enclosed within the canopy formed by the four adjoining walls of tensioned netting fabric.
In the context of camping or travelling generally, it can be difficult to provide suitable sleeping or safe playing facilities for a young child or infant accustomed to occupying and sleeping in a conventional cot or crib. Portable, collapsible enclosures for such children are known, for example from US-A-4538309 , 4899496 , 6035466 and 6041455 , but these like the known structure referred to above, tend to have the disadvantages of being unduly heavy, suitable only for indoor use, and/or occupy undue storage or luggage space.
It is an object of the invention to provide an enclosure of the said above-specified kind that may be used to avoid these disadvantages.
According to the present invention an enclosure of the said above-specified kind is characterised in that at least one of the poles is restrained bowed in an are with its two ends captured by respective elongate horizontal flexible elements attached to corners of the enclosure, and that each of these pole-ends is captured by its respective flexible element at a location spaced from the base lengthwise of that flexible element so that the flexible elements are tensioned to extend outwardly away from one another on opposite sides of the enclosure.
The enclosure according to the invention may have two opposite-end walls that are tensioned respectively by the two bowed poles of a first pair of the poles, and two opposite-side walls that are longer than the end walls and are tensioned respectively by the two bowed poles of a second pair of the poles. In these circumstances, each pole of the first pair of poles may extend in the plane of its respective end wall outwardly beyond the side walls on either side of the base. Furthermore, four flexible strips or other elements may be attached to the four corners respectively of the enclosure, and the two ends of each bowed pole of the first pair of poles may then be engaged with individual ones of the four flexible elements for restraining the two ends of the respective pole from moving apart from one another. More particularly, engagement of the two ends of the respective pole with their individual flexible elements may in these circumstances tension these two elements to extend outwardly in opposite directions from one another either side of the base. Also, the two ends of each bowed pole of the second pair of poles may be engaged with individual ones of the four flexible elements for restraining those two ends from moving apart from one another.
The walls of the enclosure may be of fabric material or materials, and may include mesh fabric.
The enclosure may have a top that is readily detachable, and may in this respect be attached with snap fasteners or by hooks or loops. The top may be of a mesh that allows some light to penetrate but offers protection against insects and ultra-violet light.
A preferred form of enclosure according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the enclosure according to the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are end views from opposite ends of the enclosure of figure 1; and
Figure 4 shows poles used in the enclosure of figure 1.

Referring to figure 1, the enclosure 1 in this example is described as a cot, however, it will be readily appreciated that in the form described it can just as easily, and indeed would often be used as, a child's playpen.
The cot 1 comprises a fabric enclosure 2 having two side walls 3, two end walls 4, and a base 5. As shown, the enclosure 2 is in an open top box-like shape when the cot is in an assembled, in-use, situation.
The cot 1 also has two side poles 6 and two end poles 7. The end poles 7 are each in a bent stressed state, or arc, to impart tension to the enclosure 2. The side poles 6 are also in a stressed arc shape, and also impart tension to the enclosure 2. The tension imparted by the side and end poles 6 and 7 serves to maintain the enclosure 2 in the open top box-like shape.
With reference to figures 2 and 3, each lower corner of the enclosure 2 has an extension 8 in the form of a web strip with apertures therein. The edges of each aperture are strengthened by metallic rings 9.
Each end wall 4 has a sleeve 10 which retains a respective one of the end poles 7. As shown, the end parts 11 of the end poles 7 pass through respective outer apertures of the extensions 8 to contact a ground surface.
Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3, the side poles 6 also extend between the extensions 8, but pass through inner apertures of the extensions to contact the ground surface. Additionally, the side poles 6 are held against the side walls 3 by way of loops 12 (i.e. small sleeves) forming a part of the side walls. More particularly, the side poles 6 pass through the loops 12 such that medial upper parts of the side poles 6 are retained within the loops 12.
Referring to figures 2 and 3, there are connectors 13 in the form of lengths of webbing extending between the end wall sleeves 10 and the extensions 8. The connectors 13 serve to enhance the tension in the enclosure 2 and the end poles 7 when the cot is in use. Two of the connectors, i.e. one at each end of the cot, have fasteners 14 which can be opened (i.e. so that the associated connectors are in two separate parts) and subsequently closed. This is of assistance when assembling the cot as the fasteners 14 can be opened while threading the end poles 7 through the sleeves 10 to relieve tension in the enclosure 2, and then closed when the end poles 7 are in place to impart the relieved tension. Relieving the tension during assembly enables one to more easily erect the cot 1.
To enhance the structural integrity of the cot 1 there are two side wall edge poles 15, each of which runs in straight line along the upper edge parts of a respective one of the side walls 3 between the two end walls 4. More particularly, the side wall edge poles 15 pass through and are retained by a series of loops (not shown).
Referring to figure 4, each side pole 6 is formed from sections held together by a length of internal elastic thread 16. The arrangement is such that each of the sections can be pulled apart from one another so that the side poles 6 can assume a compact (e.g. folded) form. The elastic thread 16 keeps the sections associated when separated, and pulls the sections together when it is desired to place the sections in end to end relationship to cause the side poles 6 to assume a single length. Optionally each of the sections is permanently in the form of a slight arc so that the side poles 6 are correspondingly in the form of a permanent slight arc. The arc shaped side poles 6 are capable of being further, and resiliently, bent so that they assume a bent stressed state. Alternatively, the poles 6 can be straight in the "rest" or unstressed position. The end poles 7 are configured in a similar fashion to the poles 6, each being in sections which can be straight or slightly arced.
Preferably the side poles 6, the end poles 7, and the side wall edge poles 15, are predominantly formed from a suitable resilient light weight material, such as fibreglass or carbon fibre, and have metal ends 17, each shaped to engage with a said metal ring 9 of a said extension 8.
Preferably the enclosure is sewn from a flexible synthetic or natural fabric or fabrics, which may or may not include mesh fabric.
The cot 1 can further include an inflatable mattress (not shown) which is laid over the base 5 between the two end walls and the two side walls.
Preferably the cot 1 can be disassembled and stored in a carry bag for storage or transport, such as in a backpack or the like for camping.
Disassembling the cot 1 involves withdrawing the side, end, and edge wall poles 6, 7, and 15 from the sleeves and loops of the enclosure 2. The side, edge, and end wall poles 6, 7, and 15, may then be separated into sections if desired. Thereafter the enclosure 2 is simply folded up, the pole sections laid out, and the whole disassembled package inserted into a carry bag.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, along with some preferred features by way of example, it should be appreciated that improvements and modifications can occur without departing from the scope of the above-described invention as claimed.

Claims

An enclosure for an infant or child, having adjoining walls (3,4) of flexible material which are stretched upwardly from the base (5) of the enclosure (2) by resiliently flexible poles (6,7) that are bowed upwardly to tension the wall-material to stand up from the base (5), and in which ends (11;17) of the poles (6,7) are attached to the base (5) for restraining them in the bowed condition, characterised in that at least one of the poles (7) is restrained bowed in an arc with its two ends (11;17) captured by respective elongate horizontal flexible elements (8) attached to corners of the enclosure (2), and that each of these pole-ends (11;17) is captured by its respective flexible element (8) at a location (9) spaced from the base (5) lengthwise of that flexible element (8) so that the flexible elements (8) are tensioned to extend outwardly away from one another on opposite sides of the enclosure (2).
An enclosure according to Claim 1 having two opposite-end walls (4) that are tensioned respectively by the two bowed poles (7) of a first pair of the poles, and two opposite-side walls (3) that are longer than the end walls (4) and are tensioned respectively by the two bowed poles (6) of a second pair of the poles, and wherein each pole (7) of the first pair of poles extends in the plane of its respective end wall (4) outwardly beyond the side walls (3) on either side of the base (5).
An enclosure according to Claim 2 wherein four flexible elements (8) are attached to the four corners respectively of the enclosure (2), and the two ends (17) of each bowed pole (7) of the first pair are engaged with individual ones of the four flexible elements (8) for restraining the two ends (17) of the respective pole (7) from moving apart from one another, engagement of the two ends (17) with their individual flexible elements (8) tensioning these two elements (8) to extend outwardly in opposite directions from one another either side of the base (5).
An enclosure according to Claim 3 wherein the two ends (17) of each bowed pole (6) of the second pair are engaged with individual ones of the four flexible elements (8) for restraining those two ends (17) from moving apart from one another.
An enclosure according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein each of the flexible elements is a strip (8) of flexible material.
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the flexible elements (8) have apertures therein for capturing the ends (17) of the poles (6,7).
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein each pole (7) of the first pair is retained within a sleeve (10) of its respective end wall (4) for tensioning that wall.
An enclosure according to Claim 7 wherein the sleeve (10) is attached to the wall-material of the respective end wall (4) and extends in opposite directions from it outwardly beyond the side walls (3).
An enclosure according to Claim 8 wherein the ends of each sleeve (10) have individual connectors (13,14) for use in anchoring those ends to the ground.
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein the bowed poles (6) of the second pair are retained within sleeves (12) of their side walls (3) for tensioning the side walls (3).
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 2 to 10 wherein poles (15) extend along the tops of the side walls (3) between the end walls (4) to enhance structural rigidity of the enclosure (2).
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the walls (3,4) are of fabric material or materials.
An enclosure according to Claim 12 wherein the walls (3,4) are of fabric materials that include mesh fabric.
An enclosure according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the enclosure (2) has a detachable top.