EP1328231B1 - Ambulance cot lock - Google Patents
Ambulance cot lock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1328231B1 EP1328231B1 EP00976818A EP00976818A EP1328231B1 EP 1328231 B1 EP1328231 B1 EP 1328231B1 EP 00976818 A EP00976818 A EP 00976818A EP 00976818 A EP00976818 A EP 00976818A EP 1328231 B1 EP1328231 B1 EP 1328231B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lever arm
- frame
- elongate lever
- cot frame
- securing system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G1/00—Stretchers
- A61G1/06—Supports for stretchers, e.g. to be placed in or on vehicles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
- A61G3/08—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers
- A61G3/0816—Accommodating or securing stretchers
- A61G3/0875—Securing stretchers, e.g. fastening means
- A61G3/0891—Securing stretchers, e.g. fastening means by preventing longitudinal movement
Definitions
- This invention relates to securing systems and, more particularly, to an ambulance cot frame securing system for an ambulance or other type of patient transport vehicle.
- Ambulance cot frame securing systems are known, examples of which are U.S. Patent Nos. 1 477 815, 5 092 722, 5 205 601 and 5 913 559.
- the cot frame securing systems are basically either floor mounted systems or wall mounted systems- A combination of floor and wall mounted systems are also known.
- US5,779,296 shows an apparatus which is given at least two patient supports within a vehicle during transport.
- the support is secured to trays that are telescopically removable from bases on the floor of a vehicle. They also pivotally attached to a base with pivotable movement about an axis perpendicular to the floor.
- the ambulance cot securement mechanism must be able to hold the ambulance cot in place during acceleration forces of 20 G's in the forward direction, 10 G's in the vertical direction, 10 G's in the lateral direction and 10 G's in the rearward direction, to meet the nationally recognized crash/impact standards.
- the mechanism for facilitating the aforesaid securement of the ambulance cot frame to the ambulance or other type of patient transport vehicle is expensive and requires operable mechanisms to facilitate the securement mechanism in place during travel of the vehicle. It has been experienced that these mechanisms, over time, operate hesitatingly which is unacceptable in emergency situations.
- an ambulance cot frame securing system that will accommodate cot frame distortions during periods of time where there occurs a sudden acceleration or deceleration by the patient transport vehicle. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an ambulance cot frame securing system for a patient transport vehicle which facilitates only during instances where G forces in at least one of several specific directions, caused by a rapid change in velocity of the patient transport vehicle, exceeds a predetermined value to cause a self-activating, inertia responsive, locking mechanism to be deployed to lock the cot frame at the other end, thus at both ends, to the vehicle. Otherwise, and under normal driving conditions, the cot frame is secured only at one end for preventing movement of the cot frame relative to the floor along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cot frame.
- an ambulance cot frame securing system for a patient transport vehicle which includes a floor frame adapted to be secured to a floor of the patient transport vehicle.
- the floor frame has at a first end thereof a fixed angled restraint inclined upwardly and in a direction toward a second end of the floor frame to define an overhang spaced upwardly from the floor frame so as to provide a gap into which is adapted to be received a first part of the cot frame.
- the floor frame additionally has a releasable latch mechanism adapted to be releasably coupled to a second part of the cot frame so as to hold the cot frame in a fixed lengthwise location relative to the floor frame.
- the securement system additionally has a self-activating, inertia responsive, locking mechanism activatable in response only to acceleration or deceleration G forces on the patient transport vehicle which exceed a predetermined value to additionally securely lock the first part of the cot frame relative to the patient transport vehicle.
- An ambulance cot frame securing system 10 is illustrated in Figure 1 and includes a pair of parallel elongate frame members 11 interconnected at a first end 12 by a plate-like member 13 and at a second rear (right) front (left) end 14 by a releasable latch mechanism 16.
- the ambulance cot frame securing mechanism 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted to be secured to the floor of a patient transport vehicle utilizing a plurality of bolts (not illustrated) received in a plurality of holes schematically indicated at various locations by center lines 17.
- the releasable latch mechanism 16 is oriented adjacent a rear access opening into the cargo area of the patient transport vehicle and can be of any conventional type adapted to be releasably securable to a downwardly depending pin or post provided as standard equipment on ambulance cot frames.
- the downwardly depending pin is generally circular in cross-section and is indicated at 18 in Figures 2, 4 and 5.
- the releasable latch mechanism 16 includes a latch frame 19 secured to the frame members 11 by fasteners 21.
- the latch frame 19 includes a pair of opposing surfaces 22 which serve to guide the pin 18 into the pin receiving area 23 whereat is located a releasable latch 24.
- the latch 24, which is illustrated in more detail in Figure 3, includes a pair of rotatably supported locking members 26 and 27 each supported on respective axles 28 and 29.
- the locking member 26 is urged in a clockwise direction by a torsion spring 31 whereas the locking member 27 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a torsion spring 32.
- the locking members 26 and 27 have, respectively, mutually opposing surfaces 33 and 34, when in the closed position thereof illustrated in Figure 3, to close off the opening 36 in the latch frame 19 when the pin 18 on the cot is received therein as illustrated in Figure 2.
- the locking members 26 and 27 are prevented from moving in their respective opposite rotative directions by a cam member 37 rotatably supported on an axle 38 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction about the axle 38 by a torsion spring 39.
- the locking member 26 has a recess 41 in a peripheral edge thereof into which is received a tongue 42 on the cam member 37.
- the latch frame 19 also has a push button 43 reciprocally mounted thereon which is operatively connected by a link 44, schematically illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5, to an extension 46 on the cam member 37.
- a push button 43 reciprocally mounted thereon which is operatively connected by a link 44, schematically illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5, to an extension 46 on the cam member 37.
- a force is transmitted through the link 44 to the extension 46 to urge the cam member 37 clockwise against the urging of the torsion spring 39 to release the locking member 26.
- locking members 26 and 27 will spring open to the Figure 5 position so that the pin 18 on the cot can be urged toward the access opening into the cargo area of a patient transport vehicle as depicted by a movement of the cot pin from the Figure 4 position to the Figure 5 position.
- releasable latch mechanism 16 is only one exemplary embodiment for securing the pin 18 on the cot to the ambulance cot frame securing system 10.
- Other varieties of releasable latch mechanisms can also be employed.
- a pair of laterally spaced cot frame hold-down members 47 and 48 there is provided on the plate 13 a pair of laterally spaced cot frame hold-down members 47 and 48.
- the left cot frame hold-down member 47 is illustrated in an initial position whereas the right cot frame hold-down member 48 is illustrated in a tripped position, both positions of which will be explained in more detail below. It is to be understood that it generally will be the case where both cot frame hold-down members 47 and 48 will simultaneously be in the same position, namely, an initial position such as is illustrated at the left side of Figure 1 and a tripped position illustrated at the right side of Figure 1.
- each cot frame hold-down member 47 and 48 Figures 6-9 illustrate the structure thereof. More specifically, and since each cot frame hold-down mechanism 47 and 48 are the mirror image of each other, only one such cot frame hold-down member, such as the hold-down member 47, will be described in detail.
- the cot frame hold-down member 47 includes a base 49 configured for securement to the plate 13 using the same fasteners that effect a fastening of the securing system 10 to the floor of the patient transport vehicle through openings indicated by axes 17.
- the forward end 51 of the base 49 corresponding to the forward portion of the cargo area of the patient transport vehicle, includes an upstanding column 52 having at the upper end thereof a cantilevered member 53 overhanging the base 49 so as to define a gap 54 between the underside of the cantilevered member 53 and the upper surface of the base 49 into which is adapted to be received a cot frame part 56 schematically illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
- a rubber or other elastic material bumper 57 is secured to the upstanding column 52 within the gap 54 by a fastener 58.
- an elongate trough 59 into which is located an elongate lever arm 61 pivotally secured to the base 49 about an axle 62 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ambulance cot frame securing system 10.
- the elongate lever arm 61 is configured to have a center of gravity CG initially oriented forwardly of the axis 63 of the axle 62 a distance X, and above the axis 63 a distance Y, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this particular embodiment, and when the elongate lever arm 61 is in the initial position thereof illustrated in Figure 8, the distance X 1 exceeds the distance Y 1 .
- the distances X 1 and Y 1 serve to regulate the amount of acceleration in the direction of left to right in Figure 8 that is needed in order to deploy the elongate lever arm 61 from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to the position illustrated in Figure 9.
- a deceleration force would exist in the reverse direction causing the elongate lever arm 61 to move from the Figure 8 position to the Figure 9 position.
- the orientation of the center of gravity as aforesaid, and an adjustment of the spring force of a spring 76 described in more detail below, causes the G force required to deploy the elongate lever arm 61 to be preset to exceed a predetermined value in the forward and rearward directions, such as 5 G.
- the elongate lever arm 61 is, therefore, a self-activating, inertia responsive, cot locking mechanism.
- the rear end 64 of the elongate lever arm 61 is adapted to abut a surface 66 also adjacent the rear end 67 of the base 49.
- the elevation of the surface 66 and the location of the rear end 64 of the elongate lever arm 61 are proportioned so as to define a limit of inclination of the elongate lever arm when in the deployed position illustrated in Figure 9 so that the front end 68 of the elongate lever arm 61 becomes oriented closely adjacent the downwardly facing surface 69 of the cantilever member 53.
- a latch pin 71 (see Figures 10-12) reciprocally mounted in a hole 72 provided in the base 49, the axis of the hole 72 extends in a direction parallel to the axis 63.
- the hole 72 has an internal thread 73 into which is received an externally threaded plug 74 having the latch pin 71 reciprocally supported therein and resiliently urged by a spring 76 into,engagement with a side wall 77 of the elongate lever arm 61.
- a detent 78 is provided in the side wall 77 of the lever arm 61 and the nose 79 of the latch pin 74, which is spherical in configuration, is received into the detent 78.
- the spring force of the spring 76 urging the spherical nose 79 into the detent 78 is adjusted in a conventional way to prevent inadvertent deployment of the lever arm 61 from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to the position illustrated in Figure 9 until the G force on the patient transport vehicle exceeds a predetermined value in the vertical direction, such as 5 G.
- a manually engagable handle 81 is provided on the end of the latch pin 71 remote from the elongate lever arm 61. By manually pulling outwardly (leftwardly in Figure 10) on the handle 81, the spring 76 can be compressed to effect a withdrawal of the pin into the hole 72 for reset purposes described below.
- the latch pin 71 In operation of the latch pin 71, the latch pin 71 will be urged to a fully extended position illustrated in Figure 12 wherein the nose 79 thereof is in the path of movement of the elongate lever arm 61 thereby preventing it from returning from the deployed position of Figure 9 to the initial position thereof illustrated in Figure 8.
- the peripheral surface 82 of the latch pin 71 as depicted in Figure 9 engages an opposing surface 83 on the underside of the elongate lever arm 61.
- the cot frame will distort due to the rear end thereof being fixedly secured to the floor of the vehicle by reason of the pin 18 being engaged in the latch 24. As a result, the cot frame part 56 will tend to move, due to flexure of the entire cot frame, rearwardly out from under the cantilever member 53.
- the elongate lever arm 61 In instances where the patient transport vehicle becomes oriented upsidedown, it will be desirable for the elongate lever arm 61 to deploy. In this instance, the deployment will occur only in response to a rapid change in velocity of the patient transport vehicle, as aforesaid, causing the G force on the cot to exceed the predetermined value and in a direction having a component of motion that is perpendicular away from the floor to prevent the free removal of the cot frame part 59 from the gap 54 due to deflection of the cot frame as described above.
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- Public Health (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to securing systems and, more particularly, to an ambulance cot frame securing system for an ambulance or other type of patient transport vehicle.
- Ambulance cot frame securing systems are known, examples of which are U.S. Patent Nos. 1 477 815, 5 092 722, 5 205 601 and 5 913 559. As the aforementioned patents illustrate, the cot frame securing systems are basically either floor mounted systems or wall mounted systems- A combination of floor and wall mounted systems are also known.
- US5,779,296 shows an apparatus which is given at least two patient supports within a vehicle during transport. The support is secured to trays that are telescopically removable from bases on the floor of a vehicle. They also pivotally attached to a base with pivotable movement about an axis perpendicular to the floor.
- It is widely accepted that ambulance cots supporting patients thereon need to be firmly restrained in the ambulance or other type of patient transport vehicle in order to keep the ambulance cot firmly restrained in the event that the vehicle undergoes sudden driving maneuvers, or crashes. When a rapid change of velocity occurs, such as will occur during a crash or impact, significant acceleration or deceleration to the patient transport vehicle occurs to cause forces to be applied to the ambulance cot frame causing it to bend, when only one end thereof is secured in place, under the G-force caused by the rapid change in velocity. This distortion in the cot frame will cause the frame to move from its normal engagement with the securing structure on the floor of the patient transport vehicle. The ambulance cot securement mechanism must be able to hold the ambulance cot in place during acceleration forces of 20 G's in the forward direction, 10 G's in the vertical direction, 10 G's in the lateral direction and 10 G's in the rearward direction, to meet the nationally recognized crash/impact standards.
- The mechanism for facilitating the aforesaid securement of the ambulance cot frame to the ambulance or other type of patient transport vehicle is expensive and requires operable mechanisms to facilitate the securement mechanism in place during travel of the vehicle. It has been experienced that these mechanisms, over time, operate hesitatingly which is unacceptable in emergency situations.
- Thus, it is desirable to provide an ambulance cot frame securing system that will accommodate cot frame distortions during periods of time where there occurs a sudden acceleration or deceleration by the patient transport vehicle. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an ambulance cot frame securing system for a patient transport vehicle which facilitates only during instances where G forces in at least one of several specific directions, caused by a rapid change in velocity of the patient transport vehicle, exceeds a predetermined value to cause a self-activating, inertia responsive, locking mechanism to be deployed to lock the cot frame at the other end, thus at both ends, to the vehicle. Otherwise, and under normal driving conditions, the cot frame is secured only at one end for preventing movement of the cot frame relative to the floor along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cot frame.
- The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing an ambulance cot frame securing system for a patient transport vehicle according to claim 1, which includes a floor frame adapted to be secured to a floor of the patient transport vehicle. The floor frame has at a first end thereof a fixed angled restraint inclined upwardly and in a direction toward a second end of the floor frame to define an overhang spaced upwardly from the floor frame so as to provide a gap into which is adapted to be received a first part of the cot frame. The floor frame additionally has a releasable latch mechanism adapted to be releasably coupled to a second part of the cot frame so as to hold the cot frame in a fixed lengthwise location relative to the floor frame. The securement system additionally has a self-activating, inertia responsive, locking mechanism activatable in response only to acceleration or deceleration G forces on the patient transport vehicle which exceed a predetermined value to additionally securely lock the first part of the cot frame relative to the patient transport vehicle.
- Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is an isometric view of an ambulance cot frame securing system embodying the invention;
- Figure 2 is an enlarged top view of a fragment of the cot frame securing system illustrated in Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a top view of a releasable latch mechanism oriented adjacent the rear access opening into the interior of a patient transport vehicle;
- Figure 4 is a top view similar to Figure 2;
- Figure 5 is a top view similar to Figure 2;
- Figure 6 is an enlarged isometric fragment of a part of the ambulance cot frame securing system in a first position thereof;
- Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but in a second position thereof;
- Figure 8 is a lengthwise central sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 6;
- Figure 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 7; and
- Figures 10-12 illustrate an operative sequence of the structure illustrated in Figures 6-9.
- Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words "up", "down", "right" and "left" will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "in" and "out" will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. The words "front" and "rear" will refer to the patient transport vehicle and directions relative to the vehicle configuration. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.
- An ambulance cot
frame securing system 10 is illustrated in Figure 1 and includes a pair of parallelelongate frame members 11 interconnected at afirst end 12 by a plate-like member 13 and at a second rear (right) front (left)end 14 by areleasable latch mechanism 16. The ambulance cotframe securing mechanism 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted to be secured to the floor of a patient transport vehicle utilizing a plurality of bolts (not illustrated) received in a plurality of holes schematically indicated at various locations bycenter lines 17. - The
releasable latch mechanism 16 is oriented adjacent a rear access opening into the cargo area of the patient transport vehicle and can be of any conventional type adapted to be releasably securable to a downwardly depending pin or post provided as standard equipment on ambulance cot frames. The downwardly depending pin is generally circular in cross-section and is indicated at 18 in Figures 2, 4 and 5. Thereleasable latch mechanism 16 includes alatch frame 19 secured to theframe members 11 byfasteners 21. Thelatch frame 19 includes a pair ofopposing surfaces 22 which serve to guide thepin 18 into thepin receiving area 23 whereat is located areleasable latch 24. - The
latch 24, which is illustrated in more detail in Figure 3, includes a pair of rotatably supportedlocking members respective axles locking member 26 is urged in a clockwise direction by atorsion spring 31 whereas thelocking member 27 is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a torsion spring 32. Thelocking members surfaces opening 36 in thelatch frame 19 when thepin 18 on the cot is received therein as illustrated in Figure 2. Thelocking members cam member 37 rotatably supported on anaxle 38 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction about theaxle 38 by atorsion spring 39. Thelocking member 26 has arecess 41 in a peripheral edge thereof into which is received atongue 42 on thecam member 37. - The
latch frame 19 also has apush button 43 reciprocally mounted thereon which is operatively connected by alink 44, schematically illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5, to anextension 46 on thecam member 37. Upon manually pushing thepush button 43 in the direction of the arrow F, a force is transmitted through thelink 44 to theextension 46 to urge thecam member 37 clockwise against the urging of thetorsion spring 39 to release thelocking member 26. As a result, lockingmembers pin 18 on the cot can be urged toward the access opening into the cargo area of a patient transport vehicle as depicted by a movement of the cot pin from the Figure 4 position to the Figure 5 position. - The above-described
releasable latch mechanism 16 is only one exemplary embodiment for securing thepin 18 on the cot to the ambulance cotframe securing system 10. Other varieties of releasable latch mechanisms can also be employed. - It is to be understood that the
locking members torsion springs 31 and 32. Only when apin 18 enters the area between the twolocking members tongue 42 can enter therecess 41 to lock thelocking members - Referring to the
first front end 12 of the ambulance cotframe securing system 10, there is provided on the plate 13 a pair of laterally spaced cot frame hold-downmembers member 47 is illustrated in an initial position whereas the right cot frame hold-downmember 48 is illustrated in a tripped position, both positions of which will be explained in more detail below. It is to be understood that it generally will be the case where both cot frame hold-downmembers - Turning now in more detail to the structure of each cot frame hold-down
member down mechanism member 47, will be described in detail. - Referring to Figure 6, the cot frame hold-down
member 47 includes abase 49 configured for securement to the plate 13 using the same fasteners that effect a fastening of the securingsystem 10 to the floor of the patient transport vehicle through openings indicated byaxes 17. Theforward end 51 of thebase 49, corresponding to the forward portion of the cargo area of the patient transport vehicle, includes anupstanding column 52 having at the upper end thereof a cantileveredmember 53 overhanging thebase 49 so as to define agap 54 between the underside of the cantileveredmember 53 and the upper surface of thebase 49 into which is adapted to be received acot frame part 56 schematically illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. A rubber or otherelastic material bumper 57 is secured to theupstanding column 52 within thegap 54 by afastener 58. - Rearwardly of the
base 49, namely, in a direction away from theupstanding column 52, there is provided anelongate trough 59 into which is located anelongate lever arm 61 pivotally secured to the base 49 about anaxle 62 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ambulance cotframe securing system 10. Theelongate lever arm 61 is configured to have a center of gravity CG initially oriented forwardly of theaxis 63 of the axle 62 a distance X, and above the axis 63 a distance Y, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this particular embodiment, and when theelongate lever arm 61 is in the initial position thereof illustrated in Figure 8, the distance X1 exceeds the distance Y1. The distances X1 and Y1 serve to regulate the amount of acceleration in the direction of left to right in Figure 8 that is needed in order to deploy theelongate lever arm 61 from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to the position illustrated in Figure 9. Similarly, if the patient transport vehicle were moving in the reverse direction and collided with an abutment, a deceleration force would exist in the reverse direction causing theelongate lever arm 61 to move from the Figure 8 position to the Figure 9 position. The orientation of the center of gravity as aforesaid, and an adjustment of the spring force of aspring 76 described in more detail below, causes the G force required to deploy theelongate lever arm 61 to be preset to exceed a predetermined value in the forward and rearward directions, such as 5 G. Theelongate lever arm 61 is, therefore, a self-activating, inertia responsive, cot locking mechanism. - In the deployed position of the
elongate lever arm 61 as illustrated in Figure 9, it will be noted that the center of gravity is still spaced forwardly of theaxis 63 of the axle 62 a distance X2 less than the distance X1 mentioned above. Similarly, the dimension Y2 in the deployed position of theelongate lever arm 61 is greater than the dimension Y1. As a result, there will exist a moment urging theelongate lever arm 61 back toward its initial position illustrated in Figure 8, if the patient transport vehicle is still in the upright position, due to the influence of gravity thereon. - The rear end 64 of the
elongate lever arm 61 is adapted to abut asurface 66 also adjacent therear end 67 of thebase 49. The elevation of thesurface 66 and the location of the rear end 64 of theelongate lever arm 61 are proportioned so as to define a limit of inclination of the elongate lever arm when in the deployed position illustrated in Figure 9 so that thefront end 68 of theelongate lever arm 61 becomes oriented closely adjacent the downwardly facingsurface 69 of thecantilever member 53. - Once the
elongate lever arm 61 has moved to the deployed position illustrated in Figure 9, it is desirable that thelever arm 61 be maintained in the deployed position. To accomplish this task, there is provided a latch pin 71 (see Figures 10-12) reciprocally mounted in ahole 72 provided in thebase 49, the axis of thehole 72 extends in a direction parallel to theaxis 63. In this particular embodiment, thehole 72 has an internal thread 73 into which is received an externally threadedplug 74 having thelatch pin 71 reciprocally supported therein and resiliently urged by aspring 76 into,engagement with aside wall 77 of theelongate lever arm 61. In this particular embodiment, adetent 78 is provided in theside wall 77 of thelever arm 61 and thenose 79 of thelatch pin 74, which is spherical in configuration, is received into thedetent 78. The spring force of thespring 76 urging thespherical nose 79 into thedetent 78 is adjusted in a conventional way to prevent inadvertent deployment of thelever arm 61 from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to the position illustrated in Figure 9 until the G force on the patient transport vehicle exceeds a predetermined value in the vertical direction, such as 5 G. A manuallyengagable handle 81 is provided on the end of thelatch pin 71 remote from theelongate lever arm 61. By manually pulling outwardly (leftwardly in Figure 10) on thehandle 81, thespring 76 can be compressed to effect a withdrawal of the pin into thehole 72 for reset purposes described below. - In operation of the
latch pin 71, thelatch pin 71 will be urged to a fully extended position illustrated in Figure 12 wherein thenose 79 thereof is in the path of movement of theelongate lever arm 61 thereby preventing it from returning from the deployed position of Figure 9 to the initial position thereof illustrated in Figure 8. Theperipheral surface 82 of thelatch pin 71 as depicted in Figure 9 engages an opposingsurface 83 on the underside of theelongate lever arm 61. In order to facilitate removal of thecot frame part 56 from its location between the deployedlever arm 61 and theforward end 68 thereof and thebumper 57, it is necessary to reset the self-actuatinglocking mechanism 10 by pulling leftwardly (Figure 12) on thehandle 81 to urge thelatch pin 71 leftwardly until thenose 79 thereof is moved leftwardly beyond thesurface 77 so that theelongate lever arm 61 will be free to rotate clockwise about theaxis 63 in Figure 9 due to the aforementioned position of the center of gravity CG being oriented forwardly of theaxis 63 of theaxle 62. - During a rapid change in velocity of the patient transport vehicle indicative of an impact/crash, the cot frame will distort due to the rear end thereof being fixedly secured to the floor of the vehicle by reason of the
pin 18 being engaged in thelatch 24. As a result, thecot frame part 56 will tend to move, due to flexure of the entire cot frame, rearwardly out from under thecantilever member 53. In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to timely deploy theelongate lever arm 61, due to a strategic placement of theelongate lever arm 61 on thebase 49, from the Figure 8 position to the Figure 9 position, but only in response to G forces which exceed the aforesaid preset level, so that thecot frame part 56 will engage thefront end 68 of thelever arm 61 as depicted in Figure 9. The deployedlatch pin 71, as depicted in Figure 12, will hold the deployedelongate lever arm 61 in the position illustrated in Figure 9. The only way that the ambulance cot frame will be able to be removed from the cargo area of the patient transport vehicle will be for an attendant to manually pull on thehandles 81 on each hold-down member latch pin 71 to facilitate the return under the influence of gravity of theelongate lever arm 61 from the deployed position illustrated in Figure 9 back to the initial position illustrated in Figure 8. Thereafter, the manual engagement of thehandle 81 can be released so that thelatch pin 71 will be driven by thespring 76 until thenose 79 thereof reenters thedetent 78 as depicted in Figure 10. - In instances where the patient transport vehicle becomes oriented upsidedown, it will be desirable for the
elongate lever arm 61 to deploy. In this instance, the deployment will occur only in response to a rapid change in velocity of the patient transport vehicle, as aforesaid, causing the G force on the cot to exceed the predetermined value and in a direction having a component of motion that is perpendicular away from the floor to prevent the free removal of thecot frame part 59 from thegap 54 due to deflection of the cot frame as described above. - Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail of illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.
Claims (11)
- An ambulance cot frame securing system (10) for a patient transport vehicle comprising a floor frame adapted to be secured to a floor of the patient transport vehicle, said floor frame having at a first end thereof a fixed angle restraint inclined upwardly and in a direction toward a second end of said floor frame to define an overhang spaced upwardly from said floor frame so as to provide a gap into which is adapted to be received a first part of the cot frame, said floor frame additionally having a releasable latch mechanism (16) adapted to be releasably coupled to a second part of the cot frame so as to hold the cot frame in a fixed lengthwise location relative to said floor frame, characterised by a self-activating, inertia responsive, locking mechanism (26,27) activatable in response to acceleration or deceleration of the patient transport vehicle to effect a preventing of the free removal of first said part of the cot frame from beneath said overhang.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 1, characterised in that said self activating locking mechanism includes an elongate lever arm (61) pivotally supported between said floor frame and said overhang for movement about a pivot axis (62) between first and second positions, said first position facilitating free and unobstructed movement of said first part of the cot frame, when oriented beneath said overhang and said releasable latch mechanism (16) is released, toward said second end of said floor frame, said second position obstructing movement of the first part of the cot frame, when oriented beneath said overhang, toward said second end.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 2, characterised in that said elongate lever arm (61) has a center of gravity oriented spaced forwardly of and above said pivot axis.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 3, characterised in that a longitudinal axis of said elongate lever (61) arm is oriented parallel to a plane of said floor frame and has a sufficient length on a side forwardly of said pivot axis (62) to cause a forward distal end of said elongate lever arm to become oriented out of a plane of said floor frame and adjacent said overhang when in said second position thereof.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 3, characterised in that said center of gravity of said elongate lever arm is, when in said first position thereof, spaced further forward of a vertical plane containing said pivot axis than the spacing above a horizontal plane containing said pivot axis.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 5, characterised in that said center of gravity of said elongate lever arm is, when in said second position thereof, spaced further above said horizontal plane containing said pivot arm than the spacing forwardly of said vertical plane containing said pivot axis.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 2, characterised in that said self activating locking mechanism further includes a latch pin (74) reciprocally mounted on said floor frame for movement in a direction parallel to said pivot axis of said elongate lever arm, an elastically yieldable member (76) operatively coupled to said latch pin for continually urging said latch pin axially toward and into engagement with a side wall of said elongate lever arm when said elongate lever arm is in said first position thereof.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 7, characterised in that said latch pin (71) is movable axially under an influence of said elastically yieldable member (76) to a position beneath said elongate lever arm when said elongate lever arm is in said second position thereof to prevent unwanted movement of said elongate lever arm from said second position toward said first position thereof.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 8, characterised in that said latch pin (71) includes a handle (81) for facilitating manual engagement thereof to effect an axial movement of said latch pin against an urging of said elastically yieldable member (76) to withdraw said latch pin from beneath said elongate lever arm to enable a movement of said elongate lever arm from said second position toward said first position.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 7, characterised in that the predetermined value is preset by said elastically yieldable member at 5G.
- The ambulance cot frame securing system according to claim 1, wherein the rapid change in velocity is indicative of a crash or impact.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2000/030204 WO2002034192A1 (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2000-10-27 | Ambulance cot lock |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1328231A1 EP1328231A1 (en) | 2003-07-23 |
EP1328231B1 true EP1328231B1 (en) | 2007-01-17 |
Family
ID=21741956
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00976818A Expired - Lifetime EP1328231B1 (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2000-10-27 | Ambulance cot lock |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1328231B1 (en) |
AU (2) | AU2001214541B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60033064T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002034192A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE202013004194U1 (en) | 2012-05-07 | 2013-08-08 | Stollenwerk und Cie. GmbH Fabrik für Sanitätsausrüstungen | Device for fixing a stretcher and / or a stretcher trolley in a vehicle |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2830437B1 (en) * | 2001-10-04 | 2004-09-10 | Rts Chapuis | ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR STRETCHER AND / OR STRETCHER CARRIAGE ON A SURFACE, PARTICULARLY ON THE FLOOR OF AN AMBULANCE |
GB0214812D0 (en) * | 2002-06-27 | 2002-08-07 | Ferno Uk Ltd | Stretcher retention |
GB2431360A (en) * | 2005-10-24 | 2007-04-25 | Vw Company Ltd | Stretcher/trolley ambulance parking station arrangement |
CN111374839B (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2022-07-12 | 华创车电技术中心股份有限公司 | Vehicle-mounted fixing device of wheel type auxiliary tool |
FR3100712A1 (en) * | 2019-09-13 | 2021-03-19 | Cdc Group | MOTORIZED LOADING AND / OR EXTRACTION SECURING DEVICE OF A TROLLEY CARRYING A STRETCHER, RECEIVER AND ASSOCIATED AMBULANCE |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1477815A (en) | 1922-10-26 | 1923-12-18 | Denning David | Cot-retaining device for ambulances |
GB1567751A (en) * | 1975-09-16 | 1980-05-21 | Gkn Sankey Ltd | Securing wheelchairs in vehicles |
US4265478A (en) * | 1979-05-09 | 1981-05-05 | Korsgaard Carl E | Safety locking mechanism for wheelchairs |
FR2547194B1 (en) * | 1983-06-09 | 1986-09-05 | Baboulin Rene | STRETCHER MOORING FOR AMBULANCE |
US5092722A (en) | 1991-05-07 | 1992-03-03 | Ferno-Washington, Inc. | Automatically adaptable fastening system for wheeled cots and similar devices |
US5205601A (en) | 1991-08-30 | 1993-04-27 | Ferno-Washington, Inc. | Ambulance lock |
JP3265660B2 (en) * | 1992-12-16 | 2002-03-11 | アラコ株式会社 | Wheelchair fixing device |
US5779296A (en) * | 1993-06-04 | 1998-07-14 | Vancouver Island Helicopters, Ltd. | Patient transport system |
US5628595A (en) * | 1995-03-22 | 1997-05-13 | Associated Partnership Ltd. Inc. | Wheelchair lock-down device |
US5913559A (en) | 1997-03-19 | 1999-06-22 | Ferno-Washington, Inc. | Fastening track, cot transport vehicle adapted to secure the fastening track, and cot fastening system incorporating same |
DE19730189C2 (en) * | 1997-07-15 | 2000-06-29 | Ferno Transportgeraete Gmbh | Device for the detachable connection of a stretcher on a stretcher trolley |
-
2000
- 2000-10-27 WO PCT/US2000/030204 patent/WO2002034192A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-10-27 DE DE60033064T patent/DE60033064T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-10-27 AU AU2001214541A patent/AU2001214541B2/en not_active Expired
- 2000-10-27 AU AU1454101A patent/AU1454101A/en active Pending
- 2000-10-27 EP EP00976818A patent/EP1328231B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE202013004194U1 (en) | 2012-05-07 | 2013-08-08 | Stollenwerk und Cie. GmbH Fabrik für Sanitätsausrüstungen | Device for fixing a stretcher and / or a stretcher trolley in a vehicle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2002034192A1 (en) | 2002-05-02 |
EP1328231A1 (en) | 2003-07-23 |
AU2001214541B2 (en) | 2005-09-01 |
DE60033064D1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
AU1454101A (en) | 2002-05-06 |
DE60033064T2 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
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