CONVERTIBLE BACKPACKING COT-CHAIR

Abstract

A piece of camping furniture with a flexible structure allowing the user to easily assemble, disassemble, and carry both a cot and a chair with a minimum amount of weight. The piece of furniture consists of cloth, longitudinal poles, and moveable cross pieces that can be configured as both a cot (for sleeping) and a chair (for sitting) depending on the spacing of the cross pieces and the angulation of the longitudinal poles.

Claims

1. A single piece of furniture which comprises the following pieces and which can be utilized as both a cot and a chair: a. A cloth b. Longitudinally-oriented poles that attach to the cloth c. A mechanism for creating an angle in the longitudinally-oriented poles d. Moveable cross-pieces which can serve to elevate the longitudinally-oriented poles above the ground as well as provide oppositional force on the longitudinally-oriented poles that comprise the chair back.

2. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein cord material is utilized to support the chair back, by creating tension between the chair seat and chair back.

3. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the cord material is adjustable in length and can be adjusted to change the angle between the chair back and the chair seat.

4. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinally-oriented poles contain a hinge allowing the cot to be converted to a chair by changing the angle of the hinge.

5. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinally-oriented poles utilized by the chair is formed using a molded piece.

6. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinally-oriented poles utilized by the chair is formed by a piece of cloth.

7. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the chair has no back.

8. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein additional cloth material, which is contiguous with the cot, is utilized to support the chair back.

9. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein a separate piece of cloth, not part of the cot, is utilized to form both the seat and the back of the chair.

10. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the cloth sleeve has openings that allow two cot sheets to be dovetailed together, such that two cots only require three horizontal poles, and three cots only require four horizontal poles.

11. The cot-chair according to claim 1, wherein the cloth material has an inflatable bladder attached underneath.

Description

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

[0014] FIG. 1 depicts the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the cot formation, as viewed from above

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the cot formation, as viewed from the side

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the cot formation, as viewed from the front

[0017] FIG. 4 depicts the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the chair formation, as viewed from both above and the side

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the chair formation, as viewed from the side

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates the design of a convertible backpacking cot-chair in the chair formation, as viewed from the front

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0020] 100—cloth material used in cot [0021] 101—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0022] 102—attachment point between longitudinally-oriented poles and cross-pieces [0023] 103—longitudinally-oriented poles [0024] 104—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0025] 200—longitudinally-oriented poles [0026] 201—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0027] 202—attachment point between longitudinally-oriented poles and cross-pieces [0028] 203—cross-piece [0029] 300—longitudinally-oriented poles [0030] 301—cloth material used in cot [0031] 302—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0032] 303—cross-piece [0033] 400—cord material utilized to support the chair back [0034] 401—back component of cloth when used as a chair [0035] 402—seat component of cloth when used as a chair [0036] 403—attachment point between longitudinally-oriented poles and cross-pieces [0037] 404—longitudinally-oriented poles [0038] 405—cross-piece [0039] 500—cord material utilized to support the chair back [0040] 501—cloth material used in cot (but not needed for chair, in this view rolled) [0041] 502—cross-piece [0042] 503—longitudinally-oriented poles [0043] 504—attachment point between longitudinally-oriented poles and cross-pieces [0044] 505—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0045] 600—cross-piece [0046] 601—longitudinally-oriented poles [0047] 602—sleeve utilized to connect cloth to longitudinally-oriented poles [0048] 603—attachment point between longitudinally-oriented poles and cross-pieces [0049] 604—back component of cloth when used as a chair [0050] 605—seat component of cloth when used as a chair

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Two longitudinally-oriented poles (103) are connected to a rectangularly-shaped cloth material (100) using sleeves (101) or other attachment devices (e.g. hooks). In order to suspend the cloth and poles above the ground, as well as provide tension to keep the cloth firm, the longitudinal poles are attached to cross-pieces using attachment points (102).

[0052] The cloth material (100) comprises several contiguous segments, with a variety of potential attachment points that allow the full body weight of the applicant to be distributed over the contact area between the occupant and the cloth. The segments include a cephalad aspect of cloth material when used as a cot (104), a back component of cloth when used as a chair (106), and seat component of cloth when used as a chair (107). The back and seat components are attached at an intersection line (105) between seat and back components of cloth when used as a chair.

[0053] Importantly, the cloth (100) allows for the cross pieces to attach to the longitudinally-oriented poles (103) at different locations, to accommodate the different loading forces that are applied when lying down (cot configuration) or sitting (chair configuration).

[0054] The cross pieces (203, 302) elevate the longitudinally-oriented poles (300) off of the ground, and also project and outwardly-direct force on the longitudinally-oriented poles (300) so that tension is applied to the cloth (301).

[0055] When utilized as a chair, the cross-pieces can be reconfigured to distribute the load of the occupant over the smaller area of the seat (107) while the occupant sitting, as opposed to the entire piece of cloth (100+106+107) when they occupant is lying down on the cot.

[0056] To control the angle between the seat and back of the chair, a piece of cord (400) can be utilized to provide constant tension between the two. Alternatively, a rigid angled structure that attaches to two sections of the longitudinally-oriented poles (one section in the seat, one section in the back) can also control the angle between the seat and back of the chair.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0057] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to one embodiment of the invention, I have provided the description of a lightweight, durable piece of furniture that is suitable for use in a backpacking environment as both a sleeping cot and a camping chair.

[0058] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, it is possible that the modular cross pieces and tubular structures could also be utilized in the construction of a foot rest or a stool.

[0059] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.