AU745424B2 - Ambulance stretcher/chair - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 399797

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: DHS Pty Ltd 28 Exceller Avenue Bankstown New South Wales 2200

AUSTRALIA

Bob Carruthers Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Invention Title: Ambulance Stretcher/Chair ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [31] Application No(s) [33] Country P03630 AU [32] Application Date 14 November 1996 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 AMBULANCE STRETCHER/CHAIR Field of the Invention The following invention relates to an ambulance stretcher/chair. More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to an ambulance stretcher and/or chair which in an extended configuration, is operable as a stretcher, and in a retracted configuration is operable as a chair and thus supports a patient.

It is known to provide ambulance stretchers which are convertible from a stretcher configuration to a chair configuration. Some such known devices are cumbersome in design and can present difficulties to ambulance operators when a change of configuration is required.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages and/or more generally provide a useful alternative.

Disclosure of the Invention A patient support for an ambulance comprising: a main frame comprising a main patient support having opposite ends, a backrest pivotally attached to the main frame and configurable in a first position to extend upwardly with respect to the main patient support at a position intermediate said opposite ends, and a second position extending from one of said ends so as to be substantially parallel and co-planar with the main patient support; and wherein the backrest is pivotally attached to the main frame by means of an intermediate member adapted to allow movement of the backrest past one of said ends.

Preferably, the patient support further includes an extension frame connected to the main frame and adapted to extend therefrom to increase the overall length of the patient support.

Preferably, the extension and main frames each include a handle by which the support can be lifted as a stretcher.

Preferably, the extension and main frames each include wheels.

i[RAL1BD]02629.doc:JMT 2 Preferably, the intermediate member can be locked into one of two preselected orientations with respect to the main frame.

Preferably, an angle adjustment device connects the intermediate member with the backrest.

Preferably, the main frame comprises seat-belt securing means.

Preferably, the extension frame is adapted to be secured to the main frame in one of two preselected configurations, in one the handle is in close proximity with the main frame, and in another the handle is extended away from the main frame by at least the i0 extent of the backrest when in said second position.

Preferably, the main frame comprises locking lug means by which the patient support can be secured to the floor of an ambulance.

Preferably, said main patient support includes first and second patient supports.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a stretcher/chair in a chair configuration, Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of the stretcher/chair of Fig. 1 in a stretcher configuration Fig. 3 is a schematic partial plan view of the stretcher/chair in the stretcher configuration, though with the backrest not shown for clarity, Fig. 4 is a schematic cross sectional end elevational view of the stretcher/chair taken at IV-IV in Fig 3, Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a backrest angle adjustment mechanism, Fig. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. with its associated activation lever, and Fig. 7 is a schematic cross sectional end elevational view of a locking mechanism by which the position of the extension frame forming part of the stretcher/chair can be set relative to the main frame thereof.

~A/T ~[R:\LIBD]02629.doc:JMT S 1" 2a Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a stretcher/chair The device 10 forms a patient support for an ambulance and comprises a main frame 11 typically fabricated from mild steel or aluminium or other strong material. Main frame 11 comprises a pair of laterally opposed structural rails also shown at 11 in Fig. 3.

Upon the main frame 11 there is affixed a leg support cushion 12 and a body support cushion 13. In the chair configuration as depicted in Fig. 1, the body support cushion 13 acts as a seat.

As shown at the left hand end of Fig. 1, a handle 14 is secured to the main frame 11.

Pivotally attached to the main frame 11 at 21 is an intermediate backrest support member 20 to which there is pivotally attached a backrest support 17. An angle adjustment device 19 connects the backrest support 17 to the intermediate member 20 so as to allow the angle of the backrest to be adjusted for comfort. Attached to the backrest support member 17 is a backrest cushion 16 and a headrest 18. To the support frame 17, and oppositely disposed with respect to the backrest support cushion 16, is a head support cushion 26 which, in the configuration depicted in Fig. 2, is adapted to support the shoulders and/or head of a patient.

[R:\LIBD]02629.doc:JMT An extension frame 23 is slidably received within the main frame 11. At the right hand position in Fig. 1, a further handle 14 is depicted. This handle also serves as a means by which the stretcher can be lifted by an ambulance officer.

A seat belt buckle 15 is secured to the main frame 11. Buckle 15 is adapted to receive the locking plate of a lap/sash seat belt provided within an ambulance. In a lap only configuration, an inertia reel can be affixed to the other side of the main frame 11.

At the underside of the main frame 11 there is provided a pair of laterally opposed locking catches 24 each adapted to cooperate with a transversely extending bar affixed to but spaced slightly above the floor of an ambulance.

Toward the head end of the stretcher/chair (right-hand end as shown in Fig. 1), a transversely extending bar 25 has its respective ends affixed to respective downwardly depending tabs. Bar 26 is adapted to be received by a pair of locking tabs situated upon the floor of an ambulance. A lever actuated locking device can be associated with catch 24 and/or the catches which cooperate with transverse bar A pair of castor wheels 22 extend from the foot end of the main frame 11 as shown. Similarly, a pair of wheels 22 depends from the extension frame 23.

Extension frame 23 as shown in Fig. 3 comprises a pair of extension arms 27 forming part of an extension arm support frame 28. Frame 28 is adapted to slide i longitudinally of and within the main frame 11. To this end, a pair of rollers 31 (Fig.

4) is provided at the inside edge of one of the main frame longitudinal rails 11.

One or both of the extension arms 27 have provided therein a pair of holes 29.

These holes serve as a means by which the position of the extension frame 23 can be set with respect to the main frame 11. A locking mechanism 30 is provided so as to cooperate with each of holes 29. This mechanism is best depicted in Fig. 7 in which one of the main frame members 11 is depicted. This member comprises a first C channel connected by means of rivets 35 to a second channel 36. Welded or otherwise secured to the channel 36 is a further C channel 32 within which the extension arm 26 and extension arm support frame 28 slide. C channel 32 comprises an aperture 33 to be selectively aligned with one of the holes 29 in the extension arm 27.

30 Welded or otherwise secured to the main frame arm 11 is a plate 38 to which there is pivotally attached an activation lever and pin combination 37. A spring 34 biases the combination 37 into a position wherein its pin 45 passes through aligned apertures 33 and 29. The handle portion of the combination 37 can be pushed in the direction indicated by arrow A to release the pin 45 from the aligned apertures so as to allow extension/retraction of the extension frame 23 from the main frame 11.

The backrest angle adjustment mechanism is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This mechanism comprises a transversely extending shaft 46 which is fixed to the intermediate member 20 at pivot axis 21. Fixed to the transverse shaft 46 is an [N:\LIBLL0OO647:KEH adjustment plate 39. Plate 39 is generally arcuate and comprises a pair of notches The angle between each notch as measured from pivot axis 21 is typically about 1000.

Pivotally mounted at pivot point 43 to frame 11 is an arm 41 comprising a pin or bolt 42 receivable by each notch 40. Arm 41 comprises a handle 44 which, when moved in the direction indicated by arrow B, effects removal of pin or bolt 44 from the respective notch 40 so as to allow rod 46 to be rotated by manually raising/lowering the backrest intermediate support member 20. That is, upon movement of the handle 44 in the direction indicated by arrow B, the entire backrest comprising backrest support 17 and intermediate member 20 can be pivotally manoeuvred into one of the two desired orientations as described above.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.

For example, the backrest angle adjustment mechanism 19 can comprise a rotary handle associated with a planetary gear of the type used in many automobiles. As an alternative, a release lever can be associated with a ratchet mechanism as used in other motor vehicles for example.

oQ o•.

*oo. a [N:\LIBLL1OO647:KEH

Claims (11)

1. A patient support for an ambulance comprising: a main frame comprising a main patient support having opposite ends, a backrest pivotally attached to the main frame and configurable in a first position to extend upwardly with respect to the main patient support at a position intermediate said opposite ends, and a second position extending from one of said ends so as to be substantially parallel and co-planar with the main patient support; and wherein the backrest is pivotally attached to the main frame by means of an intermediate member 0to adapted to allow movement of the backrest past one of said ends.

2. The patient support of claim 1, further including an extension frame connected to the main frame and adapted to extend therefrom to increase the overall length of the patient support.

3. The patient support of claim 2 wherein the extension and main frames each include a handle by which the support can be lifted as a stretcher.

4. The patient support of claim 2 wherein the extension and main frames each include wheels.

The patient support of any one of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate member can be locked into one of two preselected orientations with respect to the main frame.

6. The patient support of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an angle adjustment device connects the intermediate member with the backrest.

7. The patient support of any one of the preceding claims wherein the main frame comprises seat-belt securing means.

8. The patient support of claim 3 wherein the extension frame is adapted to be secured to the main frame in one of two preselected configurations, in one the handle is in close proximity with the main frame, and in another the handle is extended away from the main frame by at least the extent of the backrest when in said second position. [R:\LIBD]02629.doc:JMT

9. The patient support of any one of the preceding claims wherein the main frame comprises locking lug means by which the patient support can be secured to the floor of an ambulance.

The patient support of claim 1, wherein said main patient support includes first and second patient supports.

11. A patient support for an ambulance, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 27 December 2001 DHS Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON -d 3, ~J [R:\LIBD]02629.doc:JMT