This invention relates to drop-side cots.

The drop-side of a conventional drop-side cot is retained in its raised position by catches at each end of the cot. Both hands are needed to release the catches and lower the drop-side. This presents problems when a parent wishes to lower the drop-side while cradling a small child in one arm.

A cot is known from US patent specification No. 5201085 in which a mechanism for releasing the catches at each end of the drop-side may be operated by pressing on a kick bar. The kick bar is in the form of a rod which extends along the lower rail or frame member of the side and has bent-out portions at its centre and ends to form the kick and catch portions. The kick bar is expensive to construct and liable to distort during operation. Another problem is that small children often hide and play under cots. A mechanism such as that disclosed in US-PS 5201085 has a number of gaps into which a child may insert its fingers with risk of injury.

United States patent specification No. 3919728 avoids the use of a rod-like kick bar by employing a trip supported centrally on a stabiliser bar. The trip is engagable in slots in metal shoes projecting downwards from the lower rail or frame member of the drop-side. This mechanism depends for its efficacy on there being a relatively large clearance between the bottom rail of the drop-side and the frame member of the mattress base. The installation of this mechanism is not practicable in cots which comply with the manufacturing standards of those countries which prescribe a limited maximum

clearance at this point. The mechanism disclosed in this prior patent also incorporates sharp edged shoes which protrude beneath the drop-side and are a danger to a child hiding or playing beneath the cot.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cot with a mechanism for releasing a drop-side which is extremely simple and presents minimal risk of injury to a child.

The mechanism to be described hereinafter by way of example meets this object.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section through part of the frame of the mattress base and the lower rail of a drop-side showing an operating mechanism in accordance with the invention

Figure 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the mattress base of the cot, with the operating mechanism in its engaged condition,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the mechanism in its disengaged condition.

Referring to the drawings, a cot (only part of which is shown) has a mattress base with a wooden frame member 1. Herein, the side of the frame member 1 on the left in

Figure 1 is referred to as the front side. A drop-side having a lower horizontal wooden rail or frame member 3 is moveable vertically relative to the mattress base. The cot depicted in the drawings is assumed to be constructed to comply with British requirements and to have a clearance between the frame member 1 and 3 in the range of 5 to 20 mm. Substantially mid-way along its length the frame member 1 has a rectangular hole 5 into which is fitted the casing 7 of a catch mechanism. The casing 7 has a front plate 71 screwed to the front side of the frame member 1 to retain the casing in place. A catch member 72 protrudes from the front end of the catch casing and has a bevelled underside.

In the region of the catch member 72, L-sectioned fitting 31 is screwed to the frame member 3 and has a longitudinally extending rib 32 on its underside. The catch member 72 has a cutout 73 in its upper side. When the cot is in use with the drop-side in its "up" position, the drop-side is supported on the catch member with the rib 32 resting within the cut-out 73.

The catch mechanism is operated by rotating a shaft 74 of square cross-section which passes through the casing and has a radially extending arm 75. A circlip prevents withdrawal of the shaft from the casing. The catch member 72 has a hollow shank which is accommodated within the casing and has longitudinally extending slots in both its horizontal and vertical side walls. The shaft 74 passes through the slots in the horizontal side walls so that the catch member and its shank may move freely back and forth. The shaft is provided with a cam member which is disposed internally of the hollow shank and may bear against the rearward end of one of the slots in the vertical side wall of the shank. As the

shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3, the cam member presses on the end of the slot in the shank which is driven to the right in Figure 1 to retract the catch member. A compression spring is interposed between the front plate 71 and a stop rigid with the shank so as to tend to restore the catch member 72 to the position shown in Figure 1.

A foot plate 9 serving as a pressure member is articulated to the frame member 1 and may be moved by a foot from the rest position shown in Figure 3 to the depressed position shown in Figure 4. Brackets 91 screwed to the foot plate 9 are articulated to brackets 11 screwed to the frame member 1 so that the pivot axis 92 of the foot plate is spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of the frame member 1.

A bracket 93 screwed to the foot plate 9 has an angled upper extension 94 which, in the rest position of the foot plate, is located rearwardly of the arm 75 of the catch. Provided that the drop-side has first been raised from its "up" position into the position shown in Figure 1 to withdraw projection 32 from slot 73, rearwards pivoting movement of the foot plate 4 causes bracket 94 to press on the arm 75. The shaft 74 is thereby made to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2. The catch member 72 is retracted to release the drop-side which may be lowered with one hand into its "down" position. The vertical side of the fitting 31 has a bevelled upper edge 33 for contact with a bevelled underside of the catch member when the drop- side is subsequently raised from its "down" position into its "up" position. The catch member is thereby pressed back into its housing to allow the drop-side to pass it.

Because the rib 32 engages in the groove 73 when the drop-side is in its "up" position, the catch member cannot be retracted to release the drop-side unless the drop-side is first lifted slightly to disengage the rib from the groove. This action is easily accomplished by the use of one hand before the foot plate is depressed. Because the drop-side must be lifted slightly before it can be lowered into its "down" position, there is no risk of the foot plate being accidentally depressed or operated by a small child. Following retraction of the catch member, the drop-side may be lowered by the use of a single hand.

The lower and side edges of the foot plate 9 are rounded and its ends are curved, and the mechanism includes the minimum of projecting parts which may cause injury to a child playing beneath the cot. The catch mechanism may utilise a conventional door latch mechanism adapted by the use of a recessed catch member and the fitting of the actuating arm 75, thereby reducing the number of purpose-constructed components.

Modifications may be made to the arrangement shown in the drawings. In particular, the catch may be provided on a separate component which is fixed to the frame member of the mattress base. Other arrangements for causing the catch member to retract upon displacement of the foot plate may be provided. Thus, instead of arranging for the bracket 93 to press on the arm 75, the bracket may pass through a slot in the arm and draw the arm forward to effect withdrawal of the catch member. In any case, resilient means may be provided between the arm and bracket to absorb motion in the event that an attempt is made to displace the foot plate while the rib 32 is engaged with the groove 73.

It also falls within the scope of the invention for the foot plate and associated mechanism to be mounted on the drop-side and for the catch member to engage the upper side of a support piece on the mattress base.

For added security, the drop-side may be supported by a pair of spaced-apart catch members, each operable by the foot plate.

Suitable guides are, of course, provided for the ends of the drop-side but are not shown. Although the invention is particularly useful in connection with cots having frames made from wood and with a limited clearance between the rails 1 and 3, the invention is also applicable to cots having frames made from materials other than wood and with larger clearances.