GB2382994A - Folding rescue stretcher - Google Patents

Abstract

A mountain rescue stretcher comprising three hinged sections, whereby the two distal end sections may be folded inwardly onto the middle section. Preferably the carrying shafts rotate and lock in position to serve as handles or elevate the head end of the stretcher when it is stationary. The carrying shafts may also be positioned above the stretcher to hold medical equipment, or rest on the patient to provide extra security during lifting operations. Handles at either end of the stretcher may also serve as a head rest and foot restrainer respectively. The stretcher may have interior catches to keep it rigid, and runners on the underside to enable it to be used as a sled. The stretcher may be folded for carrying, and when folded the interior cavity may be used to carry equipment.

Description

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MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A COMPACT DOUBLE FOLDING STRETCHER FOR MOUNTAIN CASUALTIES, WHICH WHEN FOLDED CAN BE CARRIED BY ONE PERSON ON A PACKFRA. tv1E ON TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT TERRAIN.

WHEN UNFOLDED AND LOCKED IN POSITION IT CAN ACCOMMODATE A PERSON OF 2m IN HEIGHT.

MOUNTAIN STRETCHERS HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND TAKE VARIOUS FORMS FROM RIGID FRAMES, SPLIT MODELS AND HINGED VERSIONS. SOME STRETCHERS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC MOUNTAIN/CLIFF RESCUE TASKS WITH FOLDING OR TELESCOPIC SHAFTS, PART OR FULL LENGTH SKIDS, SHELL, TUBULAR DESIGN OR FLEXIBLE BED CONSTRUCTION. MANY HAVE THE FACILITY FOR LIFTING BY SLINGS FOR CLIFF LOWERING.

PRESENT MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHERS HAVE A SPECIFIC TERRAIN APPLICATION AND ARE NOT EXPEDIENT FOR ALL ASPECTS OF MOUNTAIN RESCUE.

ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT INVENTION, THERE IS PROVIDED A RANGE OF UNIQUE ASPECTS PERTINENT TO ALL MOUNTAIN RESCUE REQUIREMENTS. THE STRETCHER FOLDS INTO A COMPACT PORTABLE UNIT. IT CAN BE UNFOLDED AND LOCKED FOR PATIENT USE IN MINUTES AND IS SUITABLE FOR LONG HAUL, CLIFF, SNOW OR DEDICATED HELICOPTER USE. THE INNER SPACE OF THE FOLDED STRETCHER CAN BE USED FOR THE PERSONAL ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT OF THE RESCUER TRANSPORTING IT TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE, OR IN THE CASE OF HELICOPTER/DISASTER USE, FOR FIRST AID/OXYGEN ETC. THE ROTATING SHAFTS, OPERATING IN LINE WITH THE STRETCHER, PROVIDE A VARIETY OF CARRYING POSITIONS FOR THE BEARERS. THEY CAN ALSO FOLD OVER PATIENT FOR ADDED SECURITY DURING LIFTING OPERATIONS FROM HELICOPTERS AND CLIFF LOWERING. WITH THE STRETCHER IN NONPATIENT-CARRYING MODE, THE HEAD END SHAFTS CAN BE LOCKED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS WHICH PERMITS THE LESS CRITICAL PATIENT TO RESUME A RECLINING POSITION. (eg. VEHICULAR EVACUATION). ALSO THE SHAFTS WHEN LOCKED AT 90 DEGREES ABOVE PATIENT, CAN BE UTILISED FOR PATIENT IV AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT. THE FOLDFLAT HANDLES AT EACH END OF STRETCHER DOUBLE AS A HEAD PROTECTOR AT THE REAR AND FOOT RESTRAINER AT THE BOTTOM END.

TWO SQUARE RUNNERS UNDERNEATH CENTRE SECTION OF STRETCHER ACT AS DIRECTIONAL GUIDES WHEN SLEDGED ON SNOW/SAND.

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THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WILL NOW BE DESCRIBED BY WAY OF EXAMPLE WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING ILLUSTRATION IN WHICHFIGURE 1 SHOWS IN PERSPECTIVE THE FOLDED STRETCHER ATTACHED TO ITS PACKFRAME. THE PACKFRAME DOUBLES AS A CLIP-ON CARRYING HARNESS FOR HEAD END BEARER.

FIGURE 2 ILLUSTRATES THE FIRST UNFOLDING OPERATION.

FIGURE 3 ILLUSTRATES THE FOOT SECTION UNFOLDED.

FIGURE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE STRETCHER LOCKED INTERNALLY READY FOR USE

WITH CARRYING SHAFTS, HEAD GUARD (GRAB-HANDLE) AND FOOT RESTRAINER (GRAB-HANDLE) IN PATIENT READY POSITIONS.

FIGURE 5 ILLUSTRATES THE STRETCHER IN A RECLINING CONFIGURATION WITH THE REAR SHAFTS ROTATED TO ACT AS A LOCKED PROP FOR HEAD END OF STRETCHER.

REFERRING TO THE ILLUSTRATION THE STRETCHER COMPRISES A HINGED, PRESSED METAL OR COMPOSITE SHELL IN THREE SECTIONS WITH ROTATING CARRYING SHAFTS (8). THE HINGED STRETCHER SECTIONS ARE LOCKED (CATCHES NOT SHOWN) TO FORM A FLAT CASUALTY BED. THE PATIENT IS SECURED TO STRETCHER WITH BUILT-IN SECURITY STRAPS.

TO USE STRETCHER FROM ITS FOLDED TRANSPORT MODE THE PACKFRAME IS UNCLIPPED FROM THE UNIT AND THE STRETCHER IS FIRST UNFOLDED AT HEAD END, FOLLOWED BY FEET END. THE THREE STRETCHER SECTIONS ARE LOCKED TO FORM A FLAT PATIENT BED.

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THE TWO END-HANDLES (6 & 7) ARE RAISED AND LOCKED (CATCHES NOT SHOWN). THE PATIENT CARRYING SHAFTS (8) ARE ROTATED TO THE DESIRED POSITIONS FOR CASUALTY EVACUATION. FOR HELICOPTER WINCHING OPERATIONS THE SHAFTS ARE ROTATED INWARDS UNTIL THEY BEAR DOWN LIGHTLY ON PATIENT AND ARE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. WINCHING CABLES ARE CLIPPED TO ANCHOR POINTS CLOSE TO THE CORNERS OF STRETCHER.

FOR FOLDING STRETCHER AFTER USE THE PROCEDURE IS REVERSED.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 COMPRISING THREE HINGED SECTIONS
2. 2. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 OR CLAIM 2 WHEREIN CARRYING SHAFTS ROTATE AND LOCK IN A DESIRED POSITION TO FACILITATE TRANSPORTING A CASUALTY THEY ALSO CAN FUNCTION IN ELEVATING HEAD END OF STRETCHER WHEN STRETCHER IS STATIONARY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MONITORING INSTRUMENTS CAN BE ATTACHED TO CROSS BAR WHEN ROTATED TO A POINT ABOVE CASUALTY. FOR WINCHING OPERATIONS BOTH HANDLES CAN BE ROTATED ONTO PATIENT PROVIDING EXTRA SECURITY AND TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS DURING SUCH OPERATIONS.
3. 3. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 2 OR CLAIM 3 WHEREIN ATTACHED LOCKABLE HANDLES ARE LOCATED AT HEAD AND FOOT END OF STRETCHER WHICH DOUBLE AT HEAD END AS HEAD GUARD AND AT FOOT END AS FOOT RESTRAINER FOR VERTICAL LOWERS,
4. 4. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 3 OR CLAIM 4 WHEREIN INTERIOR CATCHMENTS MEANS IS PROVIDED ON THE STRETCHER FOR SECURING THE STRETCHER IN A RIGID PLANE FOR PATIENT TRANSPORT
5. 5. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER IS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 4 WHEREIN SHAFT SWIVEL UNITS ATTACHED TO SIDES OF STRETCHER AND CARRYING SHAFTS ENABLE MULTIPLE POSITIONING OF SHAFTS.
6. 6. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE STRETCHER SUBSTANTIALLY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN WITH REFERENCE TO FIGURES 1-4 OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING.