FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a furniture kit that can be assembled as a cot or a bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children typically outgrow a cot by the time they reach two years of age. This furniture thus becomes obsolete within the home, in the absence of a younger sibling that can use the cot.

Australian Patent Publication No AU 2005202054 A1 , published 30 November 2006 in the name of Boori International Pty Ltd describes a furniture kit that can be assembled as a cot or a bed. The contents of this publication are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The kit described in this publication has, however, a number of limitations.

First and foremost, the conversion process is somewhat confusing and convoluted, and not sufficiently straightforward.

Furthermore, the kit requires a number of 'extra pieces' that serve no purpose other than for the purpose of converting a cot to a bed. These extra pieces are used to convert existing cot pieces into pieces used for subsequent assembly into a bed. Owing to this belaboured conversion process, and the number of pieces involved, the transformation process is overly complicated and time consuming.

There is also a real risk that one or more of the abovementioned 'extra pieces' can become misplaced during the period when the kit is used as a cot, thereby effectively removing the possibility that the kit can be reassembled as a bed. This is a significant disadvantage for owners, as a key attraction and feature of the kit is lost.

Also, when assembled as a bed, the kit can only accommodate a single size of bed.

Finally, based upon costings, the design described is relatively expensive to manufacture, and consequently, the final product is not economically competitive in the market. There is a need, in light of the foregoing, for a furniture kit that at least attempts to address these and other limitations of existing furniture kits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept resides in a recognition that a furniture kit that converts between a cot and a bed is advantageously arranged so that there are minimum of pieces that are superfluous to either design.

The furniture kit described herein is provided in 'ready-to-assemble' or 'flat- pack' form, which has noted cost advantages as regards transport and storage, and relies upon dowels, fasteners and fixings as required to secure assembly.

The present invention, in one aspect, comprises a furniture kit comprising pieces able to be alternatively assembled as a cot or a bed using fasteners that removably secure the pieces as required, the kit comprising: two side panels; two end panel assemblies each having a pair of returns; multiple base panels; and two rails; wherein, when assembled as a cot, the multiple base panels and rails are used to form a cot base, and wherein, when assembled as a bed, the end panel assemblies are oriented to define respective ends of a bed base, and the rails are attached to facing returns of the end panel assemblies to support at least of the base panels, which thereby completes the bed base.

Preferably, the kit further comprises wings in the form of generally T- shaped pieces that are attached to one of the base panels on its underside, as reinforcing members when the kit is assembled as a cot, and alternatively used to accommodate and frame differently sized mattresses when the kit is assembled as a bed. The wings are preferably attached to an underside of the middle of three base panels when the kit is assembled as a cot, and in this configuration the wings reinforce the middle panel, and provide greater structural rigidity as a result. When assembled as a bed, the wings are attached to the supporting rails, and used to support and frame a bed mattress in conjunction with at least one of the base panels.

Preferably, the wings are of a general T-shaped arrangement, and preferably each have a workpiece attached at an internal corner thereof so that, when assembled as a bed, mattresses of different widths can be accommodated depending upon which side of the wing pieces are used to support and frame a bed mattress.

Preferably, the returns have lugged ends that act as feet when the kit is assembled as a bed, and as ornamental features between which the side panels are located when the kit is assembled as a cot.

Preferably, the side panels act as bed heads when the kit is assembled as a bed.

The kit, as configured, preferably relies— for assembly as a bed— upon no pieces other than those used in assembly of the cot. Consequently, when as is typical the kit is reassembled from a cot to a bed, there are no ancillary pieces that are required for reassembly as a bed, thereby obviating the possibility that any such ancillary pieces can be misplaced in the intervening period and frustrating reassembly as a bed. This represents a significant advantage compared to other kits that rely upon, for assembly of a bed, use of additional, extra or ancillary pieces or assemblies that can be readily misplaced or inadvertently discarded prior to reassembly as a bed. Consequently, no such additional pieces, conversion kit or other parts need be stored separately while the kit is assembled as a cot.

Preferably, the side panels and end panels are of boxed and slatted construction, but can also be of other constructions, such as a traditional treatment having a beaded grooves or profiles formed in relief or projection.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figs. 1 A and 1 B depict a furniture kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, assembled as a cot and bed respectively.

Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C depict components of a cot base assembly of the furniture kit.

Figs. 3A and 3B depict a cot end panel assembly and a cot side panel of the furniture kit of Figs. 1 A and 1 B.

Figs. 4A and 4B depict a framework of the cot, comprising respective pairs of the cot end panel assemblies and side panels, in unassembled and assembled form respectively. Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C depict progressive completion of a cot framework to a finished cot.

Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C depict progressive partial assembly of the furniture kit as a bed, in which the cot end panel assemblies form part of a bed base, and the cot side panels form optional bed ends.

Figs. 7 A to 7D depict further assembly of the furniture kit as a bed.

Fig. 8 depicts completed assembly of the furniture kit as a bed.

Fig. 9 and 10 are flow charts that outline steps involved in assembling the furniture kit as a cot and bed respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1 A and 1 B depict a furniture kit respectively assembled as a cot 100 and bed 100', provided to draw contrast between these alternative assembled forms of the furniture kit. Components of the furniture kit are supplied in ready-to- assembly or flat-pack form.

As is typically the case with flat-pack furniture, components are optionally but preferably pre-drilled with suitably sized and located bores that permit assembly using a series of suitable fasteners, which for convenience are supplied with the furniture kit.

As an example, such fasteners may comprise broad-headed screws or connecting bolts comprising heads that having formed therein a hex socket operable by a suitably sized hex key, which for convenience is also supplied with the furniture kit. This allows for attachment without any further specialty or power tools.

Locating dowels and complementary holes may optionally be used as required. As is understood, dowels can assist in co-locating and securing kit components in a desired orientation, in addition to fasteners which provide more positive engagement.

While pre-drilled bores are preferably formed during manufacture for ready assembly, the customer can also drill these bores during assembly (for example, using a power drill, under direction from assembly directions).

While the furniture kit can be assembled in either form, the primary appeal of the kit to prospective purchasers is that the kit can be successively assembled in one form and then another form, more particularly a cot and then a bed, as an infant grows to a child.

Figs. 2A to 2C depict components of a cot base assembly of the furniture kit. The cot base assembly comprises supporting rails 210, which when assembled in cot form directly supports three base panels 220, 225, comprising a middle panel 220 and two end panels 225. The middle panel 220 has on its underside removably attached wings 235, which have as depicted a generally T- shaped configuration.

The wings 235 may not appear to be of direct use in assembly of the cot 100, but are attached to the underside of the middle panel 220, which assists in reinforcing the cot base. The mid-section of the cot base is subject to the greatest strain, and accordingly the middle panel 220 benefits from being reinforced by the wings 235. The wings 235 lend the middle panel 220 greater structural rigidity during use.

The panels 220, 225 are oriented transversely to the rails 210, which bridge all three panels 220, 225, and are positioned at the side ends of the panels 220, 225 when assembled, as subsequently described.

The base panels 220, 225 preferably have— at least approximately— common widths and lengths. The width of the panels 220, 225 is conveniently shared, as this is the distance required to bridge the rails 210 in the cot base assembly 200, but there is no particular requirement that the lengths of the base panels 220, 225 be equal. Consequently, alternative embodiments may elect to use base panels 220, 225 having different lengths— such as two or three different lengths, which can be selectively used to advantage when reassembling the kit as a bed 100', to accommodate mattresses of different length, as described below.

Figs. 3A and 3B depict a cot end panel assembly 300 and a cot side panel 400 respectively, which collectively form a framework of the assembled cot 100. The cot end panel assembly 300 comprises an end panel 310 which is coextensive with the width of the assembled cot 100, and returns 320 that frame the end panel 310 at its side edges.

The returns 320, of which are two of substantially identical construction, have a length co-extensive with the height of the end panel 310, and a width that is preferably 150mm to 300mm. Preferably, as depicted, the returns 320 have projecting lugs at their opposite ends. As will become apparent, these projecting lugs form feet when the kit is assembled as a bed 100'.

The side panel 400 comprises as depicted a frame with slats extending between major longitudinal edges of the frame.

Figs. 4A and 4B depict a framework 500, in unassembled and assembled form respectively, comprising two opposed cot end panel assemblies 300 bridged by two opposed cot side panels 400. These components are attached together to form the cot framework 500.

The cot side panels 410 are in length generally co-extensive with the length of the cot 100, and the height of the cot side panels 400 is comparable to the height of the cot end panel assembly 300.

As depicted, the height of the cot side panels 400 is dimensioned to be generally coextensive with the length of the returns 320, between the projecting lugs formed thereon.

Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C depict further construction of the cot 100. Fig. 5A depicts attachment of supporting rails 210 to respective cot side panels 400, though only one supporting rail 210 is clearly visible in Fig. 5A. The supporting rails 210 when attached extend along a major portion of the length of the cot side panels 400, at a level horizontal height. The supporting rails 210 can be attached at different heights, according to preference, which consequently determines adjusts the depth of the cot mattress in the resulting cot 100.

With both supporting rails 210 in place, as most clearly depicted in Fig. 5B, the base panels 220, 225 can be attached to the supporting rails 210, as also depicted in Fig. 5B. The cot base and indeed the cot 100 is thus completed, as depicted in Fig. 5C.

As now described, the kit can be re-assembled (or assembled in the first instance) in the form of a bed 100'.

Figs. 6A to 6C depict first steps in assembly of the bed 100'.

First, the cot end panel assemblies 300 are attached to the cot side panels 400 as depicted in Fig. 6A. This forms part of the bed base - with the cot end panel assemblies 300 forming part of the bed base proper, and the cot side panels 400 forming optional bed ends. These components are removably secured together using fasteners referred to above. Supporting rails 210 are removably secured as depicted at multiple points to the returns 320 of the cot end panel assemblies 300, as depicted in Fig. 6B. The rails 210 extend along a substantial length of the return 320, parallel to its corner with the cot end panel 310 proper, and a small distance offset (for example, 25mm) therefrom, as best depicted in Fig. 6C.

Figs. 7A to 7D represent further steps involved in completing assembly of the bed 100'

Fig. 7A in particular depicts disassembly of a middle base panel 225 and its attached wings 235, referred to above, as used in construction of the base of the assembled cot 100.

As depicted in Fig. 7B, the two ends of the bed 100' (formed by cot end panel assemblies 300 and cot side panels 400) are arranged facing each other at a certain distance apart. This arrangement forms a greater part of the (as yet incomplete) bed base. The side panels 400 forming bed ends will be facing each other, as will facing returns 320 of the cot end panel assemblies 300. The facing returns 320 have attached thereto the supporting rails 210, as depicted in Fig. 6C.

The distance between the facing returns 320 is adjusted to allow the two wings 235 described above with reference to Fig. 7A to bridge this distance, and be supported by and attached to the rails 210 attached at the sides of the cot end panel assemblies 300 that form the base of the bed 100'.

Fig. 7C is provided as an alternative to Fig. 7B, in which the wings 235 are attached on their opposite side. As depicted in the view of Fig. 7C, the wings 235 have attached on one side a workpiece 240 at the internal corner of the T-junction of the wings 235. Attaching the wings 235 in this orientation is an alternative to the orientation selected in Fig. 7B, and is suitable if a narrower mattress is to be used with the bed 100'. The width of the workpieces 240 can be adjusted as required to accommodate prevailing standard mattress sizes that are in common use.

As a final step, a base panel 225 is conveniently used to span the gap between the two attached wings 235, also supported by and attached to the rails 210, to complete a working surface for the bed base, as depicted in Fig. 7D. Fig. 8 depicts the bed 100' as so completed. All that remains is for a mattress to be placed upon the bed base.

Depending upon personal preference, the bed 100' of Fig. 8 can be formed without bed ends, at either or both ends, if desired, thus providing a less formal style.

As is apparent to one skilled in the art, various components of the kit can be dimensions as required to accommodate mattresses of standard or particular dimensions. As an example, the kit can be advantageously configured to accommodate a mattress of 'standard double' width dimensions as default.

The width of the surrounds of the cot end panel assemblies 300 can be varied to accommodate bed mattresses of varying width, and the width of the cot end panel assemblies 300, and that of the wings 235 and base panel 225 varied to accommodate a particular bed mattress length.

Fig. 9 and 10 are flow charts that outline steps, by way of overview, of the steps described with reference to accompanying Figs. 1 to 8 involved in assembling the furniture kit as a cot and bed respectively.

First, with reference to Fig. 9, the cot end panel assemblies 300 and side panels 400 are assembled in step 20. The supporting rails are then attached in step 30, and the base panels 220, 225 attached to the supporting rails 210 in step 40 to complete assemble of the cot 100.

When the cot 100 is no longer required, its constituent pieces can be reassembled, with reference to Fig. 10 to form the bed 100'. The cot base assembly 200 is separated or de-assembled in step 20'. Then, the cot end panel assemblies 300 and cot side panels 400 are assembled in step 30', preparatory to assembly the entire bed 100'. Next, in step 40', the rails 210 from the de- assembled cot base assembly 200 are attached to the returns 320 of the cot end panel assemblies 300. Finally, the middle panel 220 is used to bridge the supporting rails 210, and the wings 235 used to complete the bed 100'.

Various modifications can be made to the kit described above. As an example, the cot end panel assemblies 300, and side panels 400 are depicted as being of a boxed and slatted construction, but can similarly be provided as having a planar construction. Similarly, the base panels 220, 225 are depicted as being of planar construction, but can conversely be provided as boxed and slatted construction.