WO2004037049A1

WO2004037049A1 - Inflatable cot

Info

Publication number: WO2004037049A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/004459
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joanne Bradford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-23
Filing date: 2003-10-14
Publication date: 2004-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2005-04-23
Also published as: GB0224736D0; AU2003301652A1

Abstract

A Travel cot includes base circular section that can be filled with water. Two side panels, one with 14 sections inflatable in pairs and the other with a integral mesh window and 6 holes for airflow, both having rounded top sections that inflate separately for safety. Two end panels are provided with arched tops that inflate with the relevant corner sections for stability and safety.

Description

INFLAMMABLE COT

Background.

Being a Product Design student at University and a mother of three I am aware of products available for babies and toddlers. I noticed that all travel cots were quite clumsy when dismantled, large and space consuming, even when packed in a customised case. They weighed quite a lot too when you have a baby, buggy and other equipment to transport. This made me considerer the problems faced when going on holiday with packing space at a premium.

I noted that no company I researched had considered an inflatable travel cot. I just could not find one. So I played around with the idea and put some preliminary designs together, researchmg materials, possible toxic and safety problems and came up with a solution.

My travel cot solves the problem of awkward heavy dismantled cots, packs readily into a small bag which will be supplied with it. With no sharp edges or metal parts that could cause injury to the child. It is lightweight, easy to use and put away for storage. Made from non-toxic materials and has an integral night light type feature.

The essential features of this cot are the fact it is inflatable, made from Rayon flocked vinyl with NO toxic additives mainly DEHP phthalate. An non toxic plasticiser is available. It inflates in individual sections to prevent any one puncture from causing total collapse, the bas can be filled with water to add stability for the older child and prevent the cot from toppling over and special pockets on the comers under the cot can have weights inserted to add to the stability. The water filled base section is externally connected to the rest of the product to prevent any seepage into the cot should a split occur.

All seams are high strength and there are special non return valves fitted for inflation.

There is an integral night light type feature is in the form on non toxic glow in the dark printing on the upper arch of the top and bottom of the design, to include moons, stars, the product logo and teddy shaped images.

One side of the cot includes a mesh window to allow the baby to be easily monitored. There are holes running diagonally up each side of this to strengthen the side panel and allow air flow. The opposite side has upright panels inflatable in pairs to further add to the safety of the design. The two end panels are topped with an inflatable arch which again improves structure and the sides have a inflatable round top panel which integrates with the corner panels.

The base panel of the cot is one piece with holes for air flow and stability this is again inflated separately and sits off the floor supported by the water filled bottom panel which runs all the way around the cot.

Page 4 of this description contains three drawings all of which are three dimensional representations of the design of the cot, they indicate essential features as follows :-

Al The two end panels are topped with an integral arch to add to the stability, these are individually inflated with a non returnable valve located on the outside at the bottom.

A2 The two sides have round inflatable top panels which integrates with the side support panels, again individually inflated for safety.

A3 The front side has 6 circular holes through it to add to stability and allow air to circulate inside the cot.

A4 The base round panel runs around the outside of the cot and can be filled with water to prevent toppling when an older baby uses the cot. This is situated above ground level joined onto the base and sides of cot.

A5 The top end panel of the cot has 5 circular holes through it to add stability and allow air to circulate, this panel inflates separately.

A6 The back side panel of the cot has 14 upright panels in it, these inflate in pairs again for safety.

A7 The base end panel of the cot has 6 upright panels in it, these inflate in pairs for safety.

A8 The front side panel has an integral mesh window to allow monitoring of the child while in the cot.

A9 The Bottom panel of the cot is situated off ground level and has three rows of integral circular holes to improve stability and allow air flow. AlO The end arched panels of the cot are decorated with non toxic glow in the dark designs to act as an integral night light. These include the logo for the cot stars, moon and teddy bear shapes.

As I am a Product Design University student this is an ongoing project and a full and detailed specification will be sent within 12 months.

Claims

1. A Travel cot which is made of Rayon flocked P VC with non toxic qualities and inflatable for use, deflatable for storage.

2. A Travel cot as stated in claim 1 that has separate inflatable sections as detailed in the description to prevent total collapse should any w poartt A d _e__^•fl_-!a r_-t_-_e__.

3. A Travel Cot as detailed in claim 1 and 2 that has a base panel that can be filled with water to add to stability.

4. A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-3 that has pockets on the underside of the corner panels to allow weights to be added for additional stability.

5. A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-4 that has non return valves fitted in each section for safe inflation and to prevent deflation through the valve without pressure being applied.

6. A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-5 that has an integral mesh window on the front side to allow monitoring of the child using the cot.

7. A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-6 that has six circular integral holes in the side detailed in claim 6 to improve stability and allow air flow.

8. A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-7 that has the two end panels topped with an arched panel that are integral to the corner panels to improve stability and safety.

9. A Travel Cot that has round inflatable tops on the side panels to improve stability and safety, these are individually inflated.

10. A travel cot as detailed in claims 1-9 that has a top end panel with 5 circular integrated holes to improve stability and airflow. Claims continued

11 A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-10 that has glow in the dark designs applied to the two top end panels to act as a night light and in the shapes of the logo, moons, stars and teddy bears.

12 A Travel cot as detailed in claims 1-11 that has a back side panel with 14 upright panels in it that inflate in pairs for safety.

13 A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-12 that has a base end panel with 6 upright sections that again inflate in pairs to increase safety.

14 A Travel Cot as detailed in claims 1-13 that has a bottom panel that is situated above floor level, with three rows of integrated holes to allow airflow and increase stability.

15 A Travel cot substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings made from any inflatable plastic or rubber suitable for the application.