WO1996001066A1

WO1996001066A1 - Collapsible camp-bed or dog's bed

Info

Publication number: WO1996001066A1
Application number: PCT/IT1995/000105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi Giacalone
Original assignee: Gilpet S.N.C. Di Luigi Giacalone E Figli
Priority date: 1994-07-01
Filing date: 1995-06-20
Publication date: 1996-01-18
Also published as: AU2752295A; ITRM940124U1; IT233164Y1; ITRM940124V0

Abstract

This invention relates to a collapsible camp-bed or dog's bed structure, comprising a frame formed from angular members (6, 7, 8 and 9) connectable to longitudinal members (2, 3) and to adjustable-length cross members (4, 5), the angular members being provided with rotatable members arranged to form the feet (10, 11, 12 and 13) of the camp-bed or dog's bed and associated with auxiliary cross members (15, 16) operating eccentrically to put a load-bearing cloth sheet under tension; the angular members being arranged to co-operate with the rotatable members via a releasable snap-locking arrangement to form when in its mounted state a rigid structure which can be taken apart and which represents an easily mountable and collapsible unit. There are also provided members for providing a hinged additional intermediate support (30, 40, 40a) for prolonging and folding the structure.

Description

Collapsible camp-bed or dog's bed

— ooo — This invention relates to a collapsible camp-bed or dog's bed.

More particularly, the invention relates specifically to a collapsible dog's bed that may be disassembled, however the structure described hereinafter can, by the necessary modifications in terms merely of dimensions and strengthening the points at which forces act, be usefully used, while respecting the same inventive principle, as a collapsible bed for use in camping or emergency situations because of its minimum bulk when in the collapsed state.

According to the present invention there is provided a camp-bed or dog's bed structure consisting of a frame formed from angular members connectable to longitudinal members and to adjustable-length cross-members, the angular members being provided with rotatable members arranged to form the feet of the camp-bed or dog's bed and associated with auxiliary cross-members operating eccentrically to put a load-bearing cloth sheet under tension; the angular members being arranged to co-operate with the rotatable members via a releasable snap-locking arrangement to form when in its mounted state a rigid structure which can be taken apart and which represents an easily mountable and collapsible unit.

According to the invention, there is provided for that the longitudinal members are constituted of two parts that can be assembled together by means of hinge elements that can be coupled to an additional support member so as to allow the lengthening of the load-bearing structure and to provide an intermediate supporting member that increases the rigidity of the structure, when this latter rests on the floor.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter by way of example in that modifications can be made there to within the inventive concept, reference being made to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the camp-bed or dog's bed of the present invention in its operating state; Figure 1A shows the structure of Figure 1 having an increased length and comprising hinge elements with an additional support member;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 2A is a side elevation view of the structure shown in Figure 1A;

Figure 3 is a partial view from above showing certain constructional details;

Figure 4 schematically shows the tensioning of the cloth sheet;

Figure 5 is a partial side schematic view of the arrangement of one of the feet of the camp-bed or dog's bed;

Figure 6 is a partial view from above showing the arrangement of one of the feet of camp-bed or dog's bed;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show constructional details of members of the camp-bed or dog's bed according to the present invention;

Figures 10 and 11 show a front view and a lateral section, respectively, of the hinge element with the additional intermediate supporting member; and

Figures 12 and 13 show a lateral section and a front view of the corner member being part of the hinge elements.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the general appearance of the camp-bed or dog's bed of the present invention, comprising a collapsible frame indicated overall by 1 and formed from a pair of longitudinal members 2 and 3 and a pair of cross-members 4 and 5. The members 2, 3 and 4, 5 are connected together by angular members 6, 7, 8 and 9, on which the feet 10, 11, 12 and 13 are pivotally mounted, these being connected to further cross- members 15 and 16.

A cloth sheet 17 forming the surface of the camp-bed or dog's bed is stretched between the members 2, 3 and 4, 5. As can be seen in Figure 2, the cloth sheet 17 is shown partly wrapped about the cross-members 4 and 5 at which it is secured as described hereinafter, it being provided with sewn lateral "sleeves" through which the longitudinal members 2 and 3 pass.

The feet 11, 13 (and 10, 12) are rotatably mounted to rotate on an axis indicated by 18 and 19 respectively.

The cloth sheet 17 is tensioned longitudinally by passing it about the cross- members 4 and 5 and inserting rods 20 and 21 into further sleeves 17' and 17", these rods having been previously inserted through suitable holes in the feet 10, 11 and 12, 13, as shown in greater detail in Figures 5 and 6.

With particular reference to Figure 5, which shows the arrangement of one of the legs relative to the rest of the structure, the other corresponding parts operating in the same manner, in order to mount the bed the cloth sheet 17 is connected to the foot 11 via the sleeve 17", through which the rod 21 is passed after being passed trough suitable holes in the foot 11 and in the corresponding foot 10. When the foot 11 is rotated in the direction of the arrow F, the rod 21 passes though a part of a circumference having its centre at 19. It is therefore apparent that by rotating the foot 11 and the other corresponding feet, the cloth sheet 17 is put under tension to form a consistent resting surface.

To prevent the foot 11 returning to its slackened position, a stop tooth 22 is provided releasably engageable with a latch 23 preferably formed integrally with the angular member 8. A tooth 24 prevents excessive elastic deformation of the latch 23 while maintaining sufficient yieldability.

With reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, the cloth sheet 17 is put under tension in the direction perpendicular to that described by rotating the cross- member 4 relative to the camp-bed or dog's bed structure.

On one end of the cross-member 4 there is screwed a threaded member 25 provided with a bolt-shaped head, the head being housed in a recess 26 provided in the angular member 8. On rotating the cross-member 4 relative to the angular member 8, the threaded member 25 is screwed inwards or outwards to cause the longitudinal members 2 and 3 to move apart by reaction, so tensioning the cloth sheet 17. For ease of manufacture, the angular members 6, 7, 8 and 9 are all made identical, and the cross-members 4 and 5 are provided with projections 27 which engage in corresponding cavities 28 to enable the user to feel and hear when the tensioning has reached its maximum acceptable level.

In addition, the co-operation between the projections 27 and cavities 28 prevents any undesirable screwing-in of the threaded member 25 as a result of periodic stressing, with consequent relaxation of the tension in the cloth sheet 17.

The longitudinal members 2 and 3 are preferably a non-circular cross- section, and in particular comprising ribs, not visible on the drawings, which provide greater rigidity and engage in a corresponding shaping 29 provided in the angular members 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Such shapings 29 are provided with raised portion 29a that engage corresponding shapings, not shown, of the tubular members with which they mate.

In a preferred embodiment the cloth sheet 17 is of conventional textile material. If desired, it can be in the form of a semi-elastic fabric, elastic in one or two axial directions according to requirements.

Figures 10 and 11 show, respectively, a front view and a lateral section of the hinge member with the additional intermediate rest member.

As it can be seen in particular in Figures 1A and 10, these is provided an intermediate supporting o rest member 30 provided with a seat 31 for a reinforcing and cloth tensioning member 4a, similar to the cross-members 4 and 5 above described with reference to Figure 1.

The intermediate support member 30 is provided on its ends with a pair of eye-shaped parts 32 and 33, respectively, arranged for receiving the coupling members that will be illustrated with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

The eye-shaped parts 32 and 33 are provided with a cavity or recess 34 and 35, that extends circumferentially for about 90° for a better housing and a better positioning safety of the coupling members that will be illustrated with reference to Figures 12 and 13.

These coupling members are shaped as an inverted "L" or a smoker's pipe, comprising a portion 40 arranged for engaging the longitudinal members 1 and 2, not shown in the Figure, which is internally provided with ribs 41 for the engagement with complementary ribs provided in the concerned longitudinal members.

The portion 40 is connected by means of a connecting portion 42 with a sleeve 43 arranged for engagement with the eye-shaped part 32 and 33 of the intermediate supporting member 30 above discussed with reference to Figures 10 and 11.

A plurality of elastic stop teeth is provided in the sleeve 43 that prevent from becoming loose the inteπnedate support member, for reaching a stable locking thereof. A lock member 45, provided on the part 40 below the sleeve 43, is inserted into the cavity or recess of the intermediate supporting member 30 (Figure 10), in order to maintain locked the support itself in a vertical position when the bed is arranged open in its operational position.

The angular members 6, 7, 8 and 9 are also provided with holes 36 for inserting a possible headboard, not shown, to protect the walls against which the described camp-bed or dog's bed may rest.

Claims

1. A collapsible camp-bed or dog's bed, characterised by comprising a frame formed from angular members (6, 7, 8 and 9) connectable to longitudinal members (2, 3) and to adjustable-length cross-members (4, 5), the angular members (6-9) being provided with rotatable members arranged to form the feet (10, 11, 12 and 13) of the camp-bed or dog's bed and associated with auxiliary cross-members (15, 16) operating eccentrically to put a load-bearing cloth sheet (17) under tension; the angular members being arranged to co-operøte with the rotatable members via a releasable snap-locking arrangement (22, 23, 24) to form, when in its mounted, state a rigid structure which can be taken apart and which represents an easily mountable and collapsible unit.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the longitudinal members (2, 3) are divided into a first and a second longitudinal member arranged for coupling with intermediate support members (30, 32, 33; 40, 42, 43) provided with hinge members for permitting to increase the length of the camp-bed or dog's bed and/or folding the structure when the same is not in an operative condition.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cross- members (4, 5) are provided with a profiled rotatable element (25) arranged to engage in a complementary seat (26) in the structure, the arrangement being such that by rotating the cross-members the distance between the longitudinal members can be varied to put the load-bearing cloth sheet under transverse tension.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the auxiliary cross-members (15, 16) are mounted in a through seat which enables them to be inserted and extracted on mounting and collapsing the structure respectively.

5. A structure as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the angular members (6-9) are provided with seats (36) for applying a head board to protect walls with which it is in contact.

6. A structure as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cloth sheet (17) is an unextendable fabric.

7. A structure as claimed in claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cloth sheet (17) is a semi-elastic fabric, elastic in one or two axial directions.

8. A structure as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the longitudinal members (2, 3) have a ribbed cross- section to be inserted into a seat (29) of complementary shape within said angular members (6-9).

9. A structure as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cross-members (4, 5) are provided at their ends with a plurality of projections (27) arranged to engage in corresponding cavities (28) in the seats which receive them, to enable the user to feel and/or hear when the cloth sheet (17) has been put under tension, and also to prevent its accidental slackening.

10. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the intermediate auxiliary supporting members (39) are provided with a seat (31) arranged for housing a cross-member for the transversal (4a) stiffening of the structure, when the same is assembled, as well as for putting under tension the cloth (17).

11. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cross-member (4a) is provided in correspondence with its ends, with a plurality of projections (27) arranged for engagement with a plurality cavities (28) of seats (31) which receive them, in order to provide a feel and audible feedback of the occurred tensioning of the cloth in the central area of the camp-bed or dog's bed and for preventing an undesired slackening.

12. A structure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the auxiliary and/or intermediate supporting members (30, 32, 33; 40, 42, 43) are rotatably coupled each other and are provided with controlled-insertion assembly members with snap-action elastic coupling members (34, 35; 44, 45).