Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~305831
COHBINATION BACR AND COT
BACKGRQUND OF THE INVENTION
1 This invention relates to a combination cot and
backpack having two rigid frame sections which are hinged
together to pivot between an open cot position and a
closed backpack position.
Combination foldable cot and backpack structures
are well known in the art. U.S. patent no. 3,848,279 to
Ipsen, Jr. whlch issued November 19, 1974 shows an
arrangement having two portions connected by a connecting
device. U.S. patent no. 3,601,825 to Moorhead which
issued August 31, 1971 similarly discloses a foldable cot
having a pair of frame sections interconnected by a third
frame section. U.S. patent no. 3,619,827 to Mackenzie
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1 which issued November 16, 1971 also shows a foldable cot
with pivotal sections connected by an arm. In each case,
these prior arrangements have pivoted legs so the erected
cot is not as stable as is desirable and there is no
provision of an enclosure in the closed position.
U.S. patent no. 3,971,495 to Velazquez which
issued July 27, 1976 shows a combination tent, cot and
backpack having a telescopic frame on which the legs are
rigid to overcome this problem. However, in the backpack
mode, the legs project in an awkward and cumbersome
manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages
of the prior art by providing a combination cot and
backpack havlng two rigid frame sections which are hinged
together to pivot between an open position to provide an
elevated cot and a closed position to form an enclosed
backpack.
To thls end, in one of its aspects, the
lnvention provides a combination cot and backpack
structure having an open position to form an elevated cot
and a closed position to form a backpack comprising; first
and second rigid frame sections, each of which has first
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1 and second ends and a pair of parallel spaced side
portlons interconnected at the first and second ends
respectively by first and second u-shaped cross portions
which extend a predetermined distance downwardly in the
open positlon, first and second sheets of flexible
material mounted respectively on each of the first and
second frame sections to extend tautly across between the
side portions, connecting means to interconnect the first
and second frame sections in both the open position in
which the first end of ~he first frame section abuts the
first end of tne second frame section with the side
portions o~ the first and second frame sections
substantially aligned, and in the closed position in which
the side portions of the first and second frame sections
abut to form a backpack enclosure between the first and
second frame sections, and carrying harness attached to
the struceure in the closed position.
Further objects and advantages of the invention
will appear from the following description taken together
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the use of
a backpack according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention,
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1 Figure 2 is another similar view of the same
backpack,
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the same
backpack wi~hout the sheets of flexible material to show
the arrangement of the frame sections and the carrying
harness,
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the same
backpack showing the side flaps undone,
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the same
backpack which has been partially opened and the pouches
removed,
Figure 6 is a partial isometric view showing the
hinges connecting the frame sections together,
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the same
backpack which has been fully opened to convert it into a
cot,
Figure 8 is an isometric view of the same cot
showing the third frame section and the third sheet of
flexible matérial in the extended position,
Figure 9 is a sectional view showing one of the
push b~tton locks,
Figure lO is an isometric view showing the tent
erected on the co~,
Figure ll is an isometric view showing another
23 embodiment of the invention having a two person tent
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130S~331
1 erected on a pair of cots which are connected togethee in
a side-by-side relationship,
Figure 12 lS a partial isometric view showing
the frame sections clamped together according to another
embodiment of the inventlon, and
Figure 13 is an isometric view of the clamp seen
in Figure 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention relates to a combination cot and
backpack structure which converts between a closed
position where it forms a backpack 10 and an open position
where it forms a cot 12. Reference is first made to
Figures 1 - 3 which show the backpack 10 formed when the
structure is in the closed position. As can best be seen
in Figure 3, the structure has a first rigid tubular frame
section 14 connected to a second rigid tubular frame
section 16 by recessed hinges 18. The first rigid frame
section 14 has a first end 20 and a second end 22 with a
pair of parallel spaced side portions 24 interconnected at
the first end 20 by a first u-shaped cross portion 26 and
at the second end 22 by a second u-shaped cross portion
28. The first and second u-shaped cross portions 26,28
extend a selected distance l'dll inwardly in the closed
position shown in Figure 3 or downwardly in the open
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1 position shown in Flgure 7. Thus, this dimension "d"
determines the thickness of the backpack 10 in the closed
position and the height of the cot 12 in the open
position. The second rigid frame section 16 also has a
first end 30 and a second end 32 with a pair of parallel
spaced side portions 34 interconnected at the first end 30
by a first u-shaped cross portion 36 and at the second end
32 by a second u-shaped cross portion 38. The second
frame section 16 is the same size as the first frame
section 14, and the first and second u-shaped cross
portions 36,38 extend inwardly or downwardly the same
distance "d". Thus, when the first and second frame
sections 14,16 pivot together to the closed position on
the hinges 18 which connect the first u-shaped cross
portion 26 of the first frame section 14 to the first u-
shaped cross portion of the second frame section 16, the
second u-shaped cross portion 28 of the first frame
section 14 abuts against the second u-shaped cross portion
38 of the second frame section 16. The second frame
section 16 has a third rigid frame section 40 which
extends telescopically from its second end 32 as described
below. The third frame section 40 has a pair of parallel
spaced side portions 42 which are similarly interconnected
at their remote ends 44 by a u-shaped cross portion 46
which also extends inwardly or downwardly the same
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1 distance "d". The rigid frame sections 14,16 and 40 are
formed of tubular aluminum in this preferred embodiment,
but may also be made of other suitable strong lightweight
material.
In the embodiment shown, the backpack 10 has a
detachable carrying harness 48 with a pair of adjustable
shoulder straps 50,52 and a chest strap 54 having a
releasable buckle 56. The top ends 58,60 of the shoulder
straps 50,52 connect to a yoke extension 61 from a closure
strap 62 which in turn extends around the first and second
frame sections 14 and 16 and holds them securely together
in the closed position. The closure strap 62 also has a
releasable buckle 64 which is undone to open the pack 10
normally after the pack 10 has been lowered from the back
of the packer. The yoke extension 61 of the closure strap
62 is attached by an adjustable stabilizing strap 66 to
the middle of the second u-shaped cross portion 38 of its
second frame section 16. This stabilizing strap 66
prevents the pack from pulling away from the packers
shoulders thus destabilizing the load and can be adjusted
to a comfortable posit1on. The bottom ends 68,70 of the
shoulder straps 50,52 are connected by snaps 72,74 to
rings 76,78 on the first end 30 of the second frame
section 16. Thus, when the pack 10 is opened by undoing
the closure strap buckle 64, the carrying harness 48 can
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1 be detached completely by undoing the snaps 72,74 and the
stabili~ing strap 66. While the closure strap 60 is shown
in this embodiment, it is apparent that a clasp or some
other arrangement can be provided to releasably retain the
first and second frame sections 14,16 together in the
closed position.
As best seen in Figures 5, 7 and 8, the first
and second frame sections 14,16 are each covered with a
sheet of flexible material 80,82 which extends tautly
between the side portions 24,34 and faces outwardly in the
closed position. In this embodiment of the invention, the
first sheet 80 of flexible material on the first frame
section 14 is formed by a rectangular piece of flexible
material 84 which is wrapped around the two parallel
spaced side portions 24 of the frame section 14 and held
securely in place by lacing 86 extending through eyelets
88. Dome fasteners 90 are fixed to the material to extend
in selected locations along the sides of the sheet 80 as
described below. The second sheet 82 of flexible material
is formed by a specially shaped larger piece 92 of
flexible material which also provides a third sheet 94 of
flexible material which extends tautly across between the
side portions 42 of the third frame section 40 in the
extended position. As seen in Figure 5,one part 96 of
this piece 92 of material is wrapped around the two
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1 parallel spaced side portions 34 of the second frame
section 16 and held securely in place by lacing 98
extending through eyelets 100. Another part 102 of this
piece 92 of material folds back upon the second sheet 82
in the closed position and has flaps 104,106 extending
along each side 108,110. As seen in Figure 7, the flaps
104,106 have matching connectors 112,114 along their outer
edges 116,118, as well as dome fasteners 120 to match the
dome fasteners 90 on the first sheet 8Q of flexible
material... As seen in Figures 2 and 4, these flaps 104,106
each fold around one side portion 34,24 of each of the
first and second frame sections 14,16 to enclose the sides
122,124 of the pack 10, and are retained in this position
by dome fasteners 90,120. After the first and second
frame sections 14,16 are pivoted to the open position, the
telescopic third frame section 40 is extended from the
second frame section 16 to the position shown in Figure
8. As shown in Figure 9, it is held securely in this
position by springloaded pushbuttons 125 which extend
through holes 127 in the side portions 34 of the second
frame section 16. Then the other part 102 of the piece 92
of flexible material is unfolded over the extended third
frame section 40. The side flaps 104,106 are folded
underneath the spaced parallel side portions 42 of the
third frame section 40, and the connectors 112 are snapped
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I together. The straps 126 leading to the connectors
112,114 are adjustable in length so the third sheet 94 of
flexible material which is continuous from the second
sheet 82 is secured to extend tautly between the side
portions 42 of the third frame section 40 when it is in
the extended position.
As best seen in Figure 2, the side flaps 104,106
have rings 128 connected thereto to removably receive
carrying pockets 130 which are on the sides 122,124 of the
pack 10 in the close position. While these pockets 130
can be made to be an integral part of the pack, it is
preferable that they be removable as otherwise they are
located underneath the cot 12 in the open position. At
any rate, detachable carry pockets have b~en found to be
very convenient for occasional use separately from the
backpack 10. The pack also has elongated storage pouches
132 which fit in the enclosure 134 between the first and
second frame sections 14,16 in the closed position. ~hese
pouches 132 are formed of a flexible material with a
zipper or VELCRO (a trade mark of Velcro Industries B.V.
for a touch fastener) opening 136, and are removable when
the pack is opened so as to be portable to different
locations around the camp. While two pouches 132 are
shown in this embodiment, it may be desirable to have a
different number with dimensions to fill the enclosure 134
between the first and second frame sections 14,16.
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1 In the embodiment shown, the piece 92 of
flexible material which forms the second and third sheets
82,94 also has a fourth sheet 138 extending from it. In
the closed position seen in Figure 2, this fourth sheet
138 extends beneath the first and second frame sections
14,16 and is held in place by dome fasteners 140 to
provide a bottom 142 for the pack 10. In the open
position shown in Figure 8, the fourth sheet 138 extends
to bridge the gap 144 between the first and second sheets
80,82. The dome fasteners 140 connect to different ones
of the dome fasteners 90 on the first sheet 80 which are
located to hold the fourth sheet 138 tautly in place. In
the preferred embodiment, the first, second, third and
fourth sheets 80,82,94,138 and the pockets and pouches
130,132 are all made of light weight nylon. However, it
will be appreciated that they can be made of other
suitable strong flexible material. In order to provide
additional warmth on the elevated cot 12, thin flexible
sheets 146 of closed cell insulating foam are inserted
into the thin openings 148 formed between the first and
second nylon sheets 80~82 and the lacing 86,98 which holds
them in place.
The u-shaped cross portion 46 of the third frame
section 40 which is at the top of the pack 10 in the
retracted position has a flexible tent jacket 150 fastened
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1 to lt by screws (not shown). The jacket 150 lS closed by
dome fasteners 152 to hold a tent 154 and collaps1ble tent
rods 156 which are rolled up inslde in the closed
posltion. The tent floor (not shown) is fixed to the
jacket 150 (and thus indirectly to the third frame section
40) at one end and has a flap 158 projecting at the other
end which is secured by hooks 160 to eyelets 162 extending
from the second u-shaped cross portion 28 of the first
frame section 14 when the tent is erected. The tent rods
156 each have a number of interconnecting hollow sections
164 wlth a flexible cord (not shown) extending
theretnrouqh for ease of assembly. When the rods 156 are
assembled they are flexibly resilient and are mounted with
their ends in pockets 166 on opposite sides of the tent
1~ 154 as shown in Figure 10. The tent 154 is supported from
the rods 156 in a conventional manner by hooks 168 which
slide on each rod 156 and are inserted through eyelets 170
spaced along a fringe 172 extending over each end of the
tent 154. The tent 154 is also made of lightweight nylon
which i5 wa~erproof and can be rolled up into a small
space in the jacket 150. The tent 154 can have various
different shapes and features and can be made of other
su1table materials.
In use, the packer's provisions are loaded in
the pockets 130 and the pouches 132, and the ten~ 154 is
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l rolled in the jacket 150. The pouches 132 are loaded
inside the pack 10 before it is closed and the pockets 130
are mounted on the sides 122,124 of the pack. The
carrying harness 48 is adjusted to comfortably fit the
packer, who carries the loaded pack as shown in Figures 1
and 2. After a camping destination has been reached, the
pack 10 is lowered to the ground and opened by undoing the
buckle 64 on the closure strap 62 and the dome fasteners
120,140. After the harness 4~ and pockets 130 have been
de~ached and the storage pouches 132 removed, the first
and second frame sections 14,16 are pivoted around hinges
18 to the fully open position shown in Figure 7. The
third frame section 40 with the jacket 150 and the tent
154 attached to it is pulled out to the position shown in
Figure 8. The third sheet 94 is then unfolded over the
third frame section 40 with the side flaps 104,106 folded
beneath the side portions 42, and the connectors 112,114
are done up to hold them in place. The fourth sheet 138
is then snapped into place to bridge the gap 144 between
the first and second sheets 80,82 to form the cot 12 seen
in Figure 8. If the first, second and third sheets 80,82
and 94 are not sufficiently taut between the side portions
of the respective frame section, the lacing 86,98 and/or
connector straps 125 are tightened to the necessary
extent. After the cot is suitably located on the ground,
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1 the tent jacket 150 is undone and the tent is then
unrolled along the cot 12 where it is held in place by
attaching the hooks 160 to the eyelets 162 on the cross
portion 28. The tent 154 is then easily erected by
assembling the rods 154, mounting them in a flexed
position by locatiny their ends in pockets 166 and
stringing the hooks 168 through eyelets 170 on the tent
fringes 172. Erection of the cot and tent only takes a
few minutes and provides comfortable enclosed elevated
sleeping accommodation on even relatively rough terrain.
rhe rigid structure of the frame sections ensure that
the elevated cot 12 is solid and there is no danger of the
legs collapsing which is a very considerable improvement
over most previous collapslble cots.
In the morning, the tent 154 is taken down and
rolled up wlth the rods 156 in the tent jacket 150. Dome
fasteners 140 and connectos 112,114 are undone, and the
third sheet 94 is folded back over the second sheet 82.
After the third frame section 40 is retracted and the
storage pouches 132 loaded in position, the first and
second frame sections 14,16 are folded back to the closed
position to form the backpack 10. The buckle 64 on the
closure strap 62 is reconnected to hold them in place, and
the flaps 104,106 are snapped into position to form the
sides 108,110 of the pack. If the harness 48 was
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1 completely detached, it is reattached by doing up snaps
72,74 and the stabilizing strap 66. The fourth sheet 138
is then snapped into position to form the bottom 142 of
the pack 10.
Figure 11 illustrates an alternate embodiment of
the invention for two people who want to share a single
tent. In thiS case, each person has a pack the same as
that described above except that one pack has a larger two
person tent 174 and the other pack has none. Erection of
the tent 174 is the same as that described above except
that after the two cots 12 are set up they are connected
together by hooks or tethers (not shown) in a side-by-side
arrangement. The tent 174 is then unfolded over both cots
12 and secured in place by hooks 168. As shown, the
erected tent 174 covers both cots to provide comfortable
accommodation for both packers.
Figures 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment
of the invention in which the first cross portion 26 of
the first frame section 14 is connected to the first cross
portion 36 of the second frame section 18 by an elongated
clamp 176 having a u-shaped cross-section. The resilient
clamp is made of spring steel and is held in position
between stops 17a. This clamp 176 is removable which has
the advantage that the first and second frame sections
14,16 can be separated in camp to provide separate
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I seats. Of course, many other suitable means can be used
to connect the first and second frame sections 14,16
toqether in both the open and closed positions. As seen
in Fig. l4 similar releasable clampiny or connecting means
176 can be used to connect the second cross portion 28 of
the first frame section 14 to the second cross portion 38
of the second frame section 16 in the closed position if
the closure strap 62 with the buckle 64 is not used and
the carrying harness 48 is connected directly to the frame
sections. In yet another embodiment (not shown), a pair
of single clamps similar to clamps 176 can be hinged
together to provide a combined hinge/clamp connection.
While this description of the combination cot
and backpack has been given with respect to preferred
embodiments, it is not to be construed in a limiting
sense. Variations and modifications will occur to those
skilled in the art. For instance, rather than providing
the taut first and second support sheets 80,82 by lacing
the material underneath, continuous sleeves of material
which slip over the respective frame sections can be used
provided the material does not stretch unacceptably.
Various other ways of attaching the sheets to the frame
sections can also be used. A rain sheet to protect the
pack when being transported in a canoe can also be
provided. Reference is made to the appended claims for a
definition of the invention.
A
