Nestable cot and end connector therefor

In a cot comprising a web of material on which an occupant of the cot can lay and a frame to which the web of material is attached, the frame including as plurality of rods one of which extends along each side of the web, the improvement comprising end connectors for connection to the respective ends of the adjacent rods to interconnect the rods and complete the frame, each end connector including elongated housing means having a top and further having an opening at each end in which respective ends of the adjacent rods are received, each housing means having an inner face thereof, support means for supporting the cot in an elevated position off the ground, said support means including a pedestal formed intermediate the length of the housing means and disposed inwardly from the inner face thereof, said pedestal from its top extending downwardly a sufficient distance to elevate the web of material and support the cot off the ground, the height of the pedestal being greater than the distance between the top of the pedestal and the top of the housing means, the top of the pedestal being below the top of the housing so as to form a shelf upon which the lower end of the pedestal on an end connector for a second cot can rest for the second cot to be nested with the first said cot in a vertical stacked arrangement, a pad means attachable to the lower end of each pedestal, the pedestal being hollow and the pad means including a pad having a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base, said stem fitting within the pedestal, and means for interlocking the pad and the pedestal, said interlocking means including a flexible latch member formed on one side wall of the stem and having an outwardly projecting finger, and the pedestal has a corresponding notch formed on an inner wall thereof in which the finger is received.

An integral end connector for use on a cot having a web of material on which an occupant of the cot can lay and a frame to which the web of material is attached, the frame including a plurality of rods, one of which extends along each side of the web, the end connector comprising:

• elongate housing means having a top and further having an opening at each end in which respective ends of adjacent rods are received, said housing means having an inner face thereof;
• support means for supporting the cot in an elevated position off the ground, said support means including a pedestal formed intermediate the length of the housing means and disposed inwardly from the inner face thereof, said pedestal from its top extending downwardly a distance sufficient to elevate the web of material and support the cot off the ground, the height of the pedestal being greater than the distance between the top of the pedestal and the top of the housing means, the top of the pedestal is below the top of the housing means, so as to form a shelf upon which the lower end of the pedestal on an end connector for a second cot can rest for the second cot to be nested with the first said cot in a vertical, stacked arrangement, the pedestal being hollow and the end connector further including pad means attachable to the lower end of the pedestal, the pad means including a pad having a base and a stem extending upwardly from the base, said stem fitting within the pedestal, and means for interlocking the pad and the pedestal, the interlocking means including a flexible latch member formed on one side wall of the stem, and having an outwardly projecting finger, and the pedestal having a notch formed on a corresponding inner wall thereof in which the finger is received.

A nestable cot comprising:

• a web of material in which an occupant of the cot can lay;
• a frame to which the web of material is attached, said frame including a plurality of rods, one of which extends along each side of the web;
• end connectors for connection to the respective end of the adjacent rods to interconnect the rods and complete the frame, each end connector including an elongate housing means having a top and further having an opening at each end in which the respective ends of the adjacent rods are received, each housing means having an inner face thereof, and support means for supporting the cot in an elevated position off the ground, said support means including a pedestal formed intermediate the length of the housing means and disposed inwardly from the inner face and integrally with said housing means thereof, said pedestal from its top extending downwardly a distance sufficient to elevate the web of material off the ground, the height of the pedestal being greater than the distance between the top of the pedestal and the top of the housing means whereby the end connector on one cot can fit upon the pedestal of the end connector means on a subjacent cot, the top of each pedestal forming an upper surface, which upper surface is below the top of the housing means, with said pedestal upper surface forming a shelf upon which the lower end of the pedestal on an end connector for a second cot arranged there above can rest and to maintain the second cot in a nested position with said first cot in a vertical and stacked arrangement.