GB2175216A - Rescue stretcher - Google Patents

Abstract

The stretcher comprises a frame 15 divided into two parts which can be folded or laid flat, or disconnected. The parts have adjacent a pivot 13, at each side, a respective cheek 19,20 which cheeks overlap and have alignable pivot apertures 21,22 through which a stub shaft 23 can pass into a pivot shaft 14. Cheek 19 has a single pin-hole 27, and cheek 20 has two pin-holes 28,29 on opposite sides of pivot aperture 22, so that a pin 30 passed through pin-hole 27 and one of pin-holes 28,29 can secure the frame parts in alternative folded or flat positions. The frame parts can be disconnected by withdrawing stub shaft 23, which has a spring loaded pin 25 to engage in a pin-hole 26 in the pivot shaft 14. Alternative detachable and interchangeable handles as well as head and face, and limb guards are described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rescue stretcher This invention relates to rescue stretchers, such as may be used for evacuation of casualties from industrial, cliff or mountain accidents for example, by land, sea or air.

Stretchers for this purpose need to be at once light in weight, and robust to withstand stresses and impacts occurring in the course of a rescue. To meet these requirements, known stretchers may comprise frames of tubular section material, and may be either be hinged or be separable into two parts to form one or two back-pack loads. Alternatively, the stretcher may be foldable longitudinallky, or roll up, if canvas is used for a support bed.

One known stretcher is described in British Patent Specification No. 1430597 (Bell), and this comprises two equal halves which can be joined together or separated by clamps provided at each side of the stretcher at the abutting ends of the parts. The two parts cannot be folded relative to each other when joined together.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved rescue stretcher which is of light weight and good strength, and which is capable of being carried alternatively folded, or separated into sections or extended, thus achieving flexibility in use, and can quickly and easily be converted from one condition to another and prepared at the site of an accident to receive a casualty.

According to this invention, a rescue stretcher comprises a two part frame adapted to be alternatively folded with the two parts in an underside to underside relationship, or laid flat with the two parts disposed coplanarly, or the two parts separated, wherein the two frame parts are connectable pivotably to one another in such a manner that the weight of a casualty on the stretcher acts in the direction of unfolding and maintains the coplanar relationship of the two parts without load on locking means for securing the parts together, and have at each side overlapping members, one on each part, one member at each side having a first pin-hole therethrough, and the other said member at each side having two other pin-holes therethrough, said other pin-holes being disposed equidistantly from and in alignment with a pivot, whereby a pin passed through said first pin-hole, by passing through one or other of said other pin-holes locates the parts in alternative folded and unfolded positions, said pins comprising said locking means, said pivot being formed by a stub shaft at each side which can be withdrawn from and inserted into alignable pivot apertures in said members to a pivot shaft mounted on one frame part, whereby said frame parts may be quickly and easily disconnected and reconnected.

Advantageously, at each side one frame part may be provided with a locating nose projecting from an end of one tubular frame member, to locate in an open end of a corresponding frame member on the other frame part.

The stub shaft preferrably has flanges to prevent its outer end from passing through the pivot apertures, which may be sheet metal cheeks, said flange may advantageously bear a handle or grip to facilitate the entrance and insertion of the stub shaft. The inner end of the stub shaft has preferrably an occluded and rounded-off end to facilitate the entrance of the stub shaft. A spring loaded pin may pass from inside the stub shaft through alignable apertures in the stub shaft and pivot shaft, to locate and retain the stub shaft in the pivot shaft yet be easily disengageable with the pressure of a finger on the pin. An alternative demountable locating device may be used.

The stretcher is preferrably provided with detachable and interchangeable handles which may be in alternative forms, for example, a straight barred handle, having hooks to engage over an outer end spar of the stretcher frame, and a long handled form having a pair of handles extending in an 'A' or 'H' configuration, with a cross bar connecting the generally longitudinally extending handles. This form of handle may be used with the inner ends of the handles braced on the upper surface of an inner frame member, and the cross bar abutting the lower surface of an outer frame member, the cross bar having hooks to engage the upper surface of the outer frame member. In both cases, the hooks and the upper surface of the outer frame member may be provided with alignable pin-holes through which cotter pins may be passed to ensure the security of the respective handle.The same or different pattern handles may be used at both or either ends at any one time as required for handling purposes, and may be quickly changed to meet new needs.

A support bed for the casualty may be provided which may advantageously comprise a web of polycarbonate material, (so-called "Makrolon") secured to each part of the frame, and straps provided to secure the casualty to the stretcher, the straps being affixed to metal loops on the inner aspect of the stretcher frame, and in such numbers as to allow alternative patterns of strap connection for different injuries. Some of said straps can be positioned to enable their use in carrying the stretcher as a back-pack.

The frames of the parts preferrably include members configured to provide a ski or runners on the underside of the stretcher to enable the stretcher to be slid on snow or grass.

A head and face protection hood may advantageously be provided e.g. in the form of a web of polycarbonate or similar flexible sheet material having several projections which allow it to be lodged in position within the frame of the upper part of the stretcher, retaining itself by the natural resilience of the material, and advantageously by loose security straps, fastened in one example by nylon hook and loop material (So-called "Velcro").

A preferred embodiment of rescue stretcher according to the invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the rescue stretcher according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stretcher, folded; Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the stretcher showing the pivot of the stretcher when the stretcher is laid flat; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the pivot when the stretcher is folded; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pivot region, showing the components of the pivot; Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an end of the stretcher showing a first form of handle in place; and Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a second form of handle in place.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, a rescue stretcher according to the invention comprises a frame 10 composed of a head part 11 and a foot part 12 pivoted together at 13 on a pivot shaft 14 which is mounted on one of the parts 11 or 12.

Each part 11, 12 has an outer frame 15 of tubular alloy, or high tensile plastics material, the two frame parts when extending flat in a coplanar relationship forming a coffin shape. The outer frame 15 is braced by cross struts such as 16 and the pivot shaft 14. The underside of the stretcher is provided with a broad ski 17 on the head part 11, and runners 18 on the foot part 12. The ski 17 comprises a sheet metal member, bent into a suitable shape, whilst the runners 18 comprise suitably configured tubular members, one at each side of the frame.

The two parts 11, 12 are connected at the pivot 13 as shown with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 at each respective side As shown, each part 11, 12 has at each side a respective sheet metal cheek 19, 20 formed with a curved end and one locatable to overlap the other. The cheeks each have a respective pivot aperture 21, 22 which can be aligned with each other, and a stub shaft 23 passed through into the end of a tubular pivot shaft 14.

The stub shaft 23 has a flange 24 to prevent it from being passed through the pivot apertures, and is tubular and has a pin 25, spring loaded from inside the shaft 23, to extend into a pin-hole 26 in the wall of the pivot shaft 14 to releasably retain the stub shaft 23 in the pivot shaft 14. The flange 24 may bear a handle or grip to facilitate its manipu lation, and the end of the stub shaft 23 is tapered or rounded off to facilitate its entry into the pivot apertures 21, 22 and into the open end of pivot shaft 14.

Cheek 19 has a single pin-hole 27, and cheek 20 has two pin-holes 28, 29 forming a straight line with the centre of the respective pivot aperture 22, whereby a pin 30 can be passed through hole 27 into either hole 28 or 29 when the stretcher is alternatively laid flat (Figure 3) or folded (Figure 4).

Frame member 15a of part 11 terminates in a locating nose 31 which enters into the open end of frame member 15b of part 12 when the stretcher is laid flat.

Using the pin connections, and withdrawable stub shaft 23, the stretcher can quickly and easily be laid flat, folded or dismounted into separate parts, as required for use or portage. The pins 30 are preferrably tethered to prevent loss.

Turning now to Figures 6 and 7, two alternative handle configurations are shown. In Figure 6 a straight bar handle 33 is held by means of hooks 34 which engage over an end spar of frame 15, with the bar of handle 33 below the frame spar.

The hooks are secured on the frame spar by tethered pins 35 which pass through alignable pinholes in hooks 34 and the frame spar.

In Figure 7, an 'A' or divergent 'H' shaped forwardly or rearwardly extendible handle 36 is shown in longitudinal cross-section. The handle 36 has two parallel or divergent side members 37 connected by a cross-bar 38, the latter carrying hooks 39 with tethered pins 40. The inner ends of the side members 37 are braced on the upper surface of a lower transverse strut 41, and the crossbar 38 abutts the underside of an end spar or frame 15 over which the hooks 39 engage and are secured by the pins 40 passing through alignable pin holes in the hooks 39 and end spar.

The handles can be easily and quickly attached, detached or changed over, as handling requirements dictate, as distinct from the known prior art, such as British Patent Specification No. 1430597, which shows the usual simple straight handles as extensions of the side frame members of the stretcher. The rescue stretcher described is thus flexible in its configuration, both for carriage to the scene of a rescue, either as a single back pack when folded, or as two loads when separated. It can be readily reconnected or unfolded on reaching the casualty, and changed as required for vertical (feet down) or horizontal raising or lowering, or absailing, or for carriage over open country or down steep slopes, lifting into a helicopter, or sledging on snow or grass.

A body support platform is provided by a respective sheet of polycarbonate material, 42, 43 secured to the frame 15 in each respective part 11, 12 and shown in broken outline in Figure 1, and a plurality of straps 44 are provided to secure the casualty to the stretcher. Shoulder straps 45 are used to carry the stretcher as a folded backpack, and to secure the shoulders of the casualty.

A headguard may be provided by a sheet of polycarbonate or similar material, with projections which can be sprung downwards into abuttment with the inwardly facing surfaces of the frame member 15 of head part 11 and further secured by the fixing of straps around the frame tube of the frame 15. Body and leg guards of similar construction may also be provided.

Claims (8)

1. A rescue stretcher comprising a two part frame adapted to be alternatively folded with the two parts in a face-to-face relationship, or laid flat with the two parts disposed coplanarly, or the two parts separated, wherein the two frame parts are connectable pivotably to one another and have at each side overlapping members, one on each part, one said member at each side having a first pinhole therethrough, and the other said member at each side having two other pin-holes therethrough said other pin-holes being disposed equidistantly and in alignment with a pivot, whereby a pin passed through said first pin-hole, by passing through one or other of said other pin-holes locates the parts in alternative folded and unfolded positions, said pivot being formed by a stub shaft at each side which can be withdrawn from and inserted into alignable pivot apertures in said members to a pivot shaft mounted on one frame part, whereby said frame parts may be quickly and easily disconnected and reconnected.

2. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein one frame part has at each side a locating nose projecting from an end of a tubular frame member to locate in an open end of a corresponding frame member of the other frame part.

3. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein each of said stub shafts has a spring loaded pin biased to extend from within the stub shaft intp an alignable pin-hole in the pivot shaft to locate and retain the stub shaft in the pivot shaft yet be easily disengageable by pressing the pin into the shaft against the bias.

4. A stretcher according to claim 1 having one or more detachable handles, each cpmprising a bar extensible transversely of an end of the stretcher in abuttment with an undersurface of an end member of the frame, and having hooks to engage over said end member.

5. A stretcher according to claim 4 wherein securing pins are provided to pass through alignable pin-holes in the hooks and the upper surface of the end member.

6. A stretcher according to claim 4 wherein said handle is in the form of a straight bar.

7. A stretcher according to claim 4 wherein said handle comprises an 'A' or 'H' shaped assembly, having a pair of parallel or diverging legs, the inner ends of which abutt the upper surface of an inner strut of the frame, and having a cross-bar which forms said bar.

8. A rescue stretcher substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.