GB2078529A - Stretcher - Google Patents

Abstract

A stretcher consists of a canvas sheet (12) on a tubular frame (11) with webbing (13) for holding an animal on the sheet. There are open ended tubes (15) at the corners of the frame through which passes an endless rope (21) with plenty of slack so that it can be looped for carrying in different ways. The tubes (15) can act as feet or axial bearings for wheels (18). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION d Stretcher This invention relates to a stretcher, for example for an animal, perhaps a calf which is injured and requires to be brought in from the fields.

According to the present invention a stretcher comprises a support surface and a carrying rope coupled to the surface by being slideably mounted within open-ended tubes secured to the surface.

Conveniently the surface is defined by flexible sheet material on a fixed or foldable frame which could be of aluminium tube to be very light. Then the open ended tubes could be welded or otherwise secured to the frame.

If there are four open ended tubes one at each corner of the frame, or perhaps two spaced apart along two opposite sides, then the carrying rope can be an endless rope extending in turn through all four tubes with plenty of slack so that loops can be drawn together either from midway between the two sides, or from the two ends, or indeed four loops can be brought together from ends and sides to be convenient before lifting the stretcher with its load. That arrangement is also suitable for being carried by a hook on a winch which may be mounted in a helicopter.

There may be straps or the like secured to the support surface for holding an animal or other load firmly in position.

The open ended tubes could be of depending V or U shape so that at their lower ends they can carry tubes or other means defining axle bearings for wheels which may be removable. Thus the stretcher can be wheeled on four wheels, one near each corner, being pulled by a loop of the carrying rope at one end, or can be lifted up and wheeled on two wheels near one end.

The stretcher can be very light and indeed of very small weight as compared with that of say a calf, so that is does not add much to the load to be carried, but does enable the load to be carried very conveniently. Such a stretcher can be quite cheaply manufactured and can be folded and stowed away when not in use.

It may also be used as a form of baby carriage or for carrying parcels or other loads.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be briefly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the single view is a sketch of a stretcher for an animal.

The stretcher comprises a tubular aluminium frame 11 having secured around it a canvas sheet 12 constituting a support surface. There is also webbing 13 secured to the sides of the frame for holding an animal securely on the support surface.

Near the end of each of the two opposite longer sides 14 are depending V-shaped open-ended tubes 15 also of aluminium and brazed or otherwise secured to the sides of the frame 11.

At the bottom of each V is a transverse horizontal tube 16 defining a bearing for an axle 17 carrying a removable wheel 18. The inner ends of the axles could carry nuts or releasable self-engaging clips so that the wheels can be very quickly and easily fixed and removed from the frame.

The stretcher is carried by an endless rope 21 which might be about 20 or 30 feet long and which passes in turn through each of the open ended tubes 15 to be capable of easy sliding within the tubes. The rope is not fixed at any part of the stretcher frame so that the slack can be pulled out at any one or more of the four spaces between neighbouring tubes 15.

That means that loops can be pulled out just along the two opposite sides for carrying the stretcher in the manner of a carry-cot using the two loops in one hand. Alternatively, the loops can be pulled out at two opposite ends, or again loops can be pulled out at the four spaces and brought together so that they can be easily carried by a hook on a winch perhaps on a helicopter.

Loops at opposite ends of the stretcher can be pulled out to different extents so that the carrying point does not have to be at the level of the stretcher.

Indeed whether there are four or two wheels used, the stretcher can then be pulled by a loop pulled out at one end.

It would also be possible to have skids instead of wheels for pulling the stretcher over ice or snow, or over boggy ground. It might also be possible to support inflatable bags or other floating devices between the tubes 15 so that the stretcher can be supported on the water.

1. A stretcher comprising a support surface and a carrying rope coupled to the surface by being slidably mounted within open ended tubes secured to the surface.

2. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 1 in which the surface is defined by flexible sheet material on a fixed or foldable frame.

3. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 2 in which the open ended tubes are secured at the edges of the frame.

4. A stretcher as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the carrying rope is an endless rope extending in turn thorough all of the tubes with plenty of slack.

5. A stretcher as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which there is an open ended tube at each corner of the support surface, which is generally of depending 'V' or 'U' shape for acting as a foot or an axial bearing.

6. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 5 including wheels which can be removably mounted in axial bearings defined by the open ended tubes.

7. A stretcher constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION d Stretcher This invention relates to a stretcher, for example for an animal, perhaps a calf which is injured and requires to be brought in from the fields. According to the present invention a stretcher comprises a support surface and a carrying rope coupled to the surface by being slideably mounted within open-ended tubes secured to the surface. Conveniently the surface is defined by flexible sheet material on a fixed or foldable frame which could be of aluminium tube to be very light. Then the open ended tubes could be welded or otherwise secured to the frame. If there are four open ended tubes one at each corner of the frame, or perhaps two spaced apart along two opposite sides, then the carrying rope can be an endless rope extending in turn through all four tubes with plenty of slack so that loops can be drawn together either from midway between the two sides, or from the two ends, or indeed four loops can be brought together from ends and sides to be convenient before lifting the stretcher with its load. That arrangement is also suitable for being carried by a hook on a winch which may be mounted in a helicopter. There may be straps or the like secured to the support surface for holding an animal or other load firmly in position. The open ended tubes could be of depending V or U shape so that at their lower ends they can carry tubes or other means defining axle bearings for wheels which may be removable. Thus the stretcher can be wheeled on four wheels, one near each corner, being pulled by a loop of the carrying rope at one end, or can be lifted up and wheeled on two wheels near one end. The stretcher can be very light and indeed of very small weight as compared with that of say a calf, so that is does not add much to the load to be carried, but does enable the load to be carried very conveniently. Such a stretcher can be quite cheaply manufactured and can be folded and stowed away when not in use. It may also be used as a form of baby carriage or for carrying parcels or other loads. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be briefly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the single view is a sketch of a stretcher for an animal. The stretcher comprises a tubular aluminium frame 11 having secured around it a canvas sheet 12 constituting a support surface. There is also webbing 13 secured to the sides of the frame for holding an animal securely on the support surface. Near the end of each of the two opposite longer sides 14 are depending V-shaped open-ended tubes 15 also of aluminium and brazed or otherwise secured to the sides of the frame 11. At the bottom of each V is a transverse horizontal tube 16 defining a bearing for an axle 17 carrying a removable wheel 18. The inner ends of the axles could carry nuts or releasable self-engaging clips so that the wheels can be very quickly and easily fixed and removed from the frame. The stretcher is carried by an endless rope 21 which might be about 20 or 30 feet long and which passes in turn through each of the open ended tubes 15 to be capable of easy sliding within the tubes. The rope is not fixed at any part of the stretcher frame so that the slack can be pulled out at any one or more of the four spaces between neighbouring tubes 15. That means that loops can be pulled out just along the two opposite sides for carrying the stretcher in the manner of a carry-cot using the two loops in one hand. Alternatively, the loops can be pulled out at two opposite ends, or again loops can be pulled out at the four spaces and brought together so that they can be easily carried by a hook on a winch perhaps on a helicopter. Loops at opposite ends of the stretcher can be pulled out to different extents so that the carrying point does not have to be at the level of the stretcher. Indeed whether there are four or two wheels used, the stretcher can then be pulled by a loop pulled out at one end. It would also be possible to have skids instead of wheels for pulling the stretcher over ice or snow, or over boggy ground. It might also be possible to support inflatable bags or other floating devices between the tubes 15 so that the stretcher can be supported on the water. CLAIMS

1. A stretcher comprising a support surface and a carrying rope coupled to the surface by being slidably mounted within open ended tubes secured to the surface.

2. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 1 in which the surface is defined by flexible sheet material on a fixed or foldable frame.

3. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 2 in which the open ended tubes are secured at the edges of the frame.

4. A stretcher as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the carrying rope is an endless rope extending in turn thorough all of the tubes with plenty of slack.

5. A stretcher as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which there is an open ended tube at each corner of the support surface, which is generally of depending 'V' or 'U' shape for acting as a foot or an axial bearing.

6. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 5 including wheels which can be removably mounted in axial bearings defined by the open ended tubes.

7. A stretcher constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawing.