GB2390062A

GB2390062A - Patient transportation apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2390062A
Application number: GB0315058A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shahid Saleem; David Whyman; Robert Williamson
Original assignee: Ferno UK Ltd
Current assignee: Ferno UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-27
Filing date: 2003-06-27
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-27
Also published as: GB0315058D0; GB2390062B; GB0214813D0

Abstract

A patient transportation apparatus, in the form of a stretcher is provided with at least one electrical connector which, in use, is automatically connected to an electrical connection in a vehicle (e.g. an ambulance). The connection in the vehicle is capable of transferring power whereby a battery provided on the stretcher may be charged. The connection is preferably made by virtue of the stretcher being moved forwards. The stretcher may have a pair of spaced contacts (220, 222), on a plate (210) mounted on the axle (218) of the stretcher, arranged to be brought into engagement with charging points (224, 226), a micro switch being activated when the connection is made. The charging points are preferably spring biased to urge the contact points into engagement.

Description

À 2390062

Patient Transportation Apparatus The present invention relates to a patient transpiration apparatus, a vehicle with a patient transportation 5 apparatus located therein and a method of electrically connecting a patient transportation apparatus to vehicles.

It will be appreciated that "vehicles" includes ambulances, aircraft and helicopters, for instance.

10 When patient transportation apparatus is manoeuvred into and out of ambulances this is often done in a hurry as the patient transportation apparatus operatives may need to treat the patient urgently. Consequently the operatives will naturally concentrate on the patient rather than any 15 peripheral activity. Their prime concern is to the patient. Thus if a patient transportation apparatus has a battery this will often be left to discharge rendering the 20 operation of the battery useless.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

25 According to one aspect of the present invention, a patient transportation apparatus is provided with at least one electrical connector arranged, in use, to be automatically connected to an electrical connection in a vehicle, the connection in a vehicle being arranged to be capable of 30 transferring power to the connector of the patient transportation apparatus whereby a battery on the patient transportation apparatus may be charged.

The patient transportation apparatus may be arranged to be 35 releasably retained in the vehicle.

The connector on the patient transportation apparatus may be arranged to be connected to the connection of the vehicle by virtue of forward movement of the patient transportation apparatus into the vehicle. The connector 5 of the patient transportation apparatus may be arranged to face forwardly with respect to the movement of a patient transportation apparatus into a vehicle.

At least one of the connection or the connector may be 10 biased, for instance spring biased, such that, in use, when the connection is made, the connector and connection are urged into contact with each other.

At least one of the connection or connector may diverge outwardly towards the other. At least one of the connection or connector may flex during connection such as against a resilient force and may flex outwardly when receiving the other of the connection or connector.

20 In use, when the connector and connection are connected, the vehicle may include a sensor such as a micro switch that determines that the connection is made.

The connector may be provided on a lower frame or upper 25 frame of a patient transportation apparatus, the upper frame and the lower frame being movable relative to each other from a first position, in which the frames are spaced from each other and a second position in which the frames are closer together.

The connector may be provided on a downwardly extending leg of a patient transportation apparatus from which a wheel of the patient transportation apparatus depends.

Alternatively, the connector may be provided on a cross 35 member of a stretcher such as an axle, for instance a loading wheel axle of the stretcher.

The patient transportation apparatus may include two connectors arranged, in use, to be connected to two connections in an ambulance.

5 The present invention also includes an ambulance with a patient transportation apparatus located in the vehicle with the patient transportation apparatus being as herein referred to, the or each connector of the patient transportation apparatus being connected to the or each 10 connection of the vehicle.

The battery may be arranged to be charged when, in use, the connector of the patient transportation apparatus is connected to the connection of the vehicle and power is IS being supplied from the connection to the connector.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of electrically connecting a patient transportation apparatus to a vehicle to supply power to a battery on the 20 patient transportation apparatus comprises automatically causing that electrical connection to be made.

The method may comprise moving the patient transportation apparatus relative to the vehicle with that relative 25 movement automatically causing the connection to be made.

The method may comprise moving the patient transportation apparatus into the vehicle to cause the connection to be made. 30 The method may comprise guiding that movement during loading to ensure electrical connection is made.

The method may further comprise automatically causing electrical disconnection of the patient transportation 35 apparatus from the vehicle when the stretcher commences movement out of the vehicle.

The present invention also includes a method as herein referred to when the patient transportation apparatus is as herein referred to.

5 The patient transportation apparatus may comprise a stretcher. The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but several embodiments will now be described 10 by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the front end of a first embodiment of a stretcher trolley in a partially raised 15 position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure It Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the upper frame 20 in the fully collapsed position; Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative stretcher trolley in the raised position; 25 Figure S is a view similar to Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative stretcher trolley in a raised position; 30 Figure 7 is a detailed view showing the trolley in Figure 6 in a fully collapsed position; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing more clearly the operative components that allow the trolley of Figure 6 35 to be raised and lowered;

Figure 9 is a detailed view showing the pivot points for an hydraulic cylinder and one of the cross members; Figure 10 is a side view from underneath showing the 5 corporation of one of the cross members and the pivot point of the hydraulic cylinder with the lower frame; Figure 11 is a view showing the hydraulic pump of the trolley together with a pivot point of the other cross lo member; Figures 12 and 13 are views of a trolley in a raised and lowered position respectively; 15 Figures 14 and 15 are a plan and a side view respectively of a locating bracket mounted on an ambulance floor; and Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the parts of the stretcher and the ambulance that cooperate to charge a 20 battery on the stretcher.

Figures 1 to 11 are as described in our copending application number 99 07160.7 published under number 2 348 359 the contents of which are hereby incorporated.

Like components will be given the same reference numeral in the different figures.

In Figures 1 to 3 a lower frame 10 is connected to an upper 30 frame 12 by a first pair of parallel cross links 14 and a second pair of parallel cross links 16. The links 14 and 16 are pivotally connected at an intermediate location by a rod (not shown). The upper frame is connected to each of the links by a pivot 20 (only the pivot for the second 35 cross links 16 is shown). The lower end of each of the cross links 14 and 16 are connected to the lower frame by a

pivot 22 (only the pivot 22 with the cross links 14 is shown). The pivot 22 for the cross links 14 is provided by having 5 an "I" shaped bar 24 extending across the two spaced parallel side members 26 of the lower frame 10. The bar 24 engages each of the side members 26 by a tube 28 surrounding the side members 26 and being secured thereto.

The central round portion of the "I" bar that extends 10 between the side members 26 is engaged by the cross links 14 with a tubular section at the end of those cross links 14 pivotally surrounding the bar 24. Similar "I" shaped bars engage the other points of pivotal connections at the upper end of each of the cross links and at the lower end 15 of the other cross link 16 (not shown). In addition though for the lower connection of the cross link 16, instead of the tube 28 being fastened to the side member 26, at the location where the lower end of the cross link 16 is connected to the side member 26, that tube is able to slide 20 along the side member 26 towards or away from the point of connection of the cross link 14 to the lower frame.

It can be seen that the upper frame can be raised or lowered away from or towards the lower frame with the 25 movement being guided by the pivotal connections of the cross links with the respective frames and with the connection of the cross link 16 to the side member 26 sliding respectively towards or away from the connection of the cross link 14 to the frame.

In the lower position shown in Figure 3 parallel side members 30 of the upper frame rest on upstanding pillars 32 that extend from each of the four corners of the lower frame. Wheels 34 depend downwardly from each of the four 35 corners of the lower frame to provide the means for manoeuvring the stretcher trolley.

The upper frame has a mattress 36 located thereon to support patients whilst they are being manoeuvred.

All of the above description relates to conventional well

5 known stretcher trolleys.

In addition though the stretcher trolley shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes means for raising and lowering the upper frame without the operator having to lift and lower the 10 upper frame directly. These means comprise an hydraulic cylinder 38 that is pivotally connected to the "I" shaped bar 24, between the locations where the cross links 14 are connected to that bar. A piston 40 from the cylinder 38 is pivotally connected to the "I" shaped bar to which the 15 upper ends of the cross links 14 are connected to the upper frame, between those points of connection. Thus it can be seen that when the piston 40 is extended from the cylinder 38 the upper frame will be raised with the motion of the links being as described above. Conversely, when a piston 20 40 is retracted into the cylinder the upper frame will move down towards the lower frame, ultimately reaching the position shown in Figure 3.

Fluid to cause the hydraulic cylinder to move is provided 25 by a pump 42. This pump 42 is connected to a cross member 44 that extends between the side members 26 of the lower frame at a location towards the front of the trolley.

A pump lever 64 extends from the pump 42 towards the front 30 of the trolley and a parallel release lever 48 extends adjacent to the pump lever 64 in the same direction.

The pump lever 64 is pivotally mounted on the pump 42 and is biased towards an upper position. An operator standing 35 at the front of the trolley can depress the pump lever repeatedly to cause fluid from the pump to flow through a flexible tube 50 to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder

38 to force the piston 40 out of the housing to raise the trolley. If desired there can be a restriction neck in the fluid 5 flow, either in the pump or in the housing, to ensure that, in spite of the fact that the pump lever is being repeatedly depressed and then raised and then depressed again, the increase in fluid in the hydraulic cylinder is at a substantially constant rate to allow the trolley to be 10 raised evenly. The pressure alone in the hydraulic cylinder can, if necessary, be sufficient for the upper frame to remain in a raised, or the upper position.

The hydraulic system may include a restrictor that is 15 arranged to come in to operation when a patient in excess of 27 stones or 181.4kg is placed on the trolley. The restrictor may act to block the hydraulic fluid flow necessary to push the hydraulic piston out of the cylinder to prevent the upper frame from being raised. This 20 safeguards the trolley and ensures that it operates within its normal limits, without undue strain and prevents operators from abusing the trolley.

In order to cause the upper frame to move towards the lower 25 frame the release lever can be depressed by the operator.

This release lever may either be fully depressed or may be partially depressed to control the rate of descent. In this respect, the partial depression of the release lever will allow a slower rate of descent. Alternatively, there 30 may be a restriction in the fluid flow from the hydraulic cylinder to the pump to ensure that the rate of descent is even and, alternatively or additionally, to ensure that the rate of descent does not exceed a predetermined speed, for example, for a given weight on the upper frame.

Raising of the upper frame from the bottom position to the top position may be arranged to be achieved by twelve

depressions of the pump lever 64. A restrictor may be included in the hydraulic cylinder such that, in the event that the flexible tube 50 fractures or in the event that there is a leak elsewhere in the system, descent of the 5 trolley is slow and at a safe speed.

Although not shown, a sensor may be provided to give an indication of the weight of a patient on the trolley. This sensor may comprise a strain gauge located at an 10 appropriate place, for instance on the piston 40. The sensor alternatively could be a sensor of the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder or the pump which is proportional to the weight of a person on the trolley. The sensor could be arranged to indicate the weight of that person and, 15 alternatively or additionally, could indicate when a person is too heavy for the specified weight of the trolley.

The trolley shown in Figures 4 and 5 will now be described.

However, it will be appreciated that this trolley may have 20 any of the features of the above described trolley as indeed may the trolley shown in Figures 6 to 11.

In Figures 4 and 5 the upper pivot mountings of the cross links 14 and 16 are as described above. The lower pivot 25 point of the links 16 though is provided by pivotally connecting the links with a central beam 52 that is connected to the lower frame 10 at each end and that extends between and parallel to the side members 26.

30 The forward end of the cross links 14, at the lower end thereof, are pivotally connected to the beam 52 and are also slidable along a rail mechanism 54 in the directions shown by the arrows 56.

35 The hydraulic cylinder 38 is pivotally connected to the beam 52 by a rod 58. The pivot 58 is located between the points of connection of the cross links 14 and 16 to the

beam 52. The upper end of the piston 40 is connected to a cross member 60 that extends between the cross links 14 towards the top of those links. The beam 52 includes an opening 62 that the cylinder can move into when the upper 5 frame is moved back down towards the lower frame.

The pump 42 is located towards the front of the trolley.

In this embodiment though a single operating lever 64 is biased towards an intermediate position whereby, repeated 10 depression of the lever 64 against a resilient bias causes fluid to enter the cylinder to power the piston out and to move the upper frame away from the lower frame. In addition the lever 64 can be raised from the position shown to cause fluid to be able to move from the hydraulic 15 cylinder back into the pump thereby allowing the upper frame to move down towards the lower frame.

Restrictions can be provided as referred to in the first embodiment. It can be seen that the frame can be lifted and lowered under a controlled force without an operator ever having to touch the upper frame to urge it upwardly, or to resist its upward movement or to push the upper frame downwardly or to 25 support the upper frame whilst it is moving downwardly.

In the embodiment referred to in Figure 6 to 11 cross links 16 are pivotally connected to the base frame on the right hand side of those drawings by the pivot 22 shown in Figure 30 11. The other end of the cross links 16 are connected to the upper frame 12 by a pivot 66. This pivot 66 is mounted on a pair of grooved wheels 68 that are able to roll along a horizontal slot 70 depending downwardly from each side of the upper frame 12. The slot 70 is closed at either end.

A pair of parallel cross links 14 are pivotally connected to the upper frame by the pivot 20. The cross links 14 are

pivotally connected to the lower frame and are also able to slide horizontally relative to the lower frame.

Figure 9 shows how the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder S 38 and the cross link 14 are connected to the lower frame.

A pair of spaced parallel square section bars extend between the ends of the lower frame and within the lower frame. From the lower end of those bars projects a slide edge 76. A U-shaped bracket 78 has the top end of the U 10 turned over to extend over each of the slide edges 76 with the bracket 78 then extending downwardly, beneath the bars 74 and across the bars 74.

The cross links 14 are connected to the bracket 78 by a 15 pivot 72. The axis of the pivot 72 is beneath the lowermost extent of the bars 74. In this respect, the distance from the downwardly facing surface of the bars 74 to the floor is 248mm and the distance from the pivot 72 to the floor is 213mm. The hydraulic cylinder 38 is connected by a pivot 80 to a Ushaped bracket 82 that is connected to the top of the bars 74 and extends over the upwardly facing surfaces of those bars and then downwardly, beneath those bars and 25 across those bars 74. The pivot 80 is at a distance of 213mm from the floor.

As shown in Figure 11, the cross links 16 are connected by the pivot 22, to a bracket 84 and extends downwardly from 30 the side members of the lower frame. The height of the pivot 22 from the floor is 233mm.

When the upper frame moves to the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7, the cross links move 35 about their pivotal connections to the upper and lower frames respectively. The cross links 14 also move about their pivots 72 with the bracket 78 sliding along the edges

76, to the left when viewed in Figure 9. Also at the same time the cross links 16, at the upper end, move about the pivot 66 with the grooved wheels 68 rolling along the slot 70, to the left when viewed in Figure 6.

In use, the head of the patient is arranged to be approximately over the forward wheels 44 of the trolley.

Most of the weight of a patient is in their upper torso.

Accordingly, most of the weight of the patient, when the 10 trolley is in the raised position, will be in the region of or between the points of connection of the cross links 14 and 16 with the upper and lower frames. Thus the support is provided for the patient by the cross links where it is most needed.

Furthermore, when the upper frame is raised relative to the lower frame, because of the action of the grooved wheels and the U-shaped frame 78, the upper frame is not tilted to any noticeable degree during the raising and lowering. In 20 addition, the upper frame remains in its point of alignment with the lower frame so that only vertical movement occurs rather than the upper frame moving in the forward or rearward direction relative to the lower frame during raising and lowering. These are important features, 25 particularly where the trolley is used in an ambulance for the reasons described below.

In an ambulance, space is extremely constricted. In the past, the trolleys have occupied a collapsed position only 30 in the ambulances. That is because the trolleys have to be loaded into the ambulance in the collapsed position, and there is then not room for personnel to be located at either end within the ambulance to lift and lock and then lower the trolley. In the present invention, because of the 35 hydraulic lift and lowering mechanism that is provided, it is only necessary for one operator to stand at the end of the trolley and then pump the lever with their foot. The

operator does not have to bend down and accordingly any space restriction behind the operator caused by that bending is not of relevance.

5 Furthermore, the hydraulic action allows the trolleys to be elevated to any height between the bottom and the top positions and held in those positions. Tests have shown that with the weight double that which can normally be expected on the trolley, there is no detectable descent of 10 the trolley from a raised position over a 24 hour period.

The action of the trolley is assisted by the following dimensions of the cross links from their pivot points to the location of the pivot 86 where the cross links 14 and 15 16 are connected together.

The length of the cross link 14 from the pivot 72 to the pivot 86 is 431mm and the length of those links from the pivot 86 to the pivot 20 is 508mm. The length of the cross 20 member 16 from the pivot 22 to the pivot 86 is 43Ornm and the length from that pivot 86 to the pivot 66 is 496mm.

Figure 7 shows the extent to which the upper frame can be lowered relative to the lower frame. From the top of the 25 upper frame members 12 to the ground, in a collapsed position shown in Figure 7, is 422mm (with the distance from the lower portion of the lower frame to the ground being 248mm). The distance of the top of the upper frame members from the ground in the raised position is 900rran.

30 This gives an idea of the versatility of the trolley.

The pivots 72, 80 and 22 are all located a significant distance beneath the lower frame allowing the trolley to occupy the compact position as shown in Figure 7. This also 35 affords a mechanical advantage both for the hydraulic cylinder and the cross links 14 and 16 allowing the cross links to be able to be pushed up from that extremely

collapsed position, in which the cross links 14 and 16 appear almost parallel to each to the raised position shown in Figure 6.

5 Figures 12 and 13 show modifications that can be made to any of the previously described embodiments. In these figures, the forward end of the cross links 16 is connected to the upper frame 10 at a location forward of that shown in the previous figures. Adjustments to the lengths of the 10 other cross links 14 and of the pivot point between the cross links may also be made, as may the connections of the hydraulic unit.

The forward end of the cross links 16 enter and are fast 15 with an angled bracket 100. The bracket 100 is pivotally mounted about its angled part and support wheels 102 are connected to the bracket by an arm 104. Consequently, as the lower support moves up from the position shown in Figure 12 and to the position shown in Figure 13 the wheels 20 102 move from being relatively close to the upper frame to a position in which the wheels are spaced from the upper frame. Figure 12 shows the stretcher about to be loaded onto the 25 floor 106 of a vehicle such as an ambulance. Prior to the stretcher reaching that position an operative will push the rear of the stretcher towards the ambulance such that the wheel 102 is clear of the floor of the ambulance. The operative can then lower the upper frame towards the lower 30 frame as previously described until the wheels 102 at either side of the front of the stretcher rest on the floor 106. At that time lowering can be halted. As the wheels are relatively close to the upper frame in this position, the height that the upper frame has to be raised to allow 35 the wheels to rest on the floor is minimised. This is advantageous as the greater the height of the upper frame, the more unstable the stretcher is.

With the operative supporting the rear of the stretcher, without any lifting of the upper frame, the lower frame can then be moved relative to the upper frame until the 5 stretcher is in the position shown in Figure 13 at which time the stretcher can be pushed in, again without lifting, to load the stretcher into the ambulance with the weight of the stretcher being transferred onto the wheels 34.

10 In the ambulance, although Figure 13 shows the wheels 102 being at a slightly greater height than the wheels 34, in practice the wheels 102 will be at the same height as the wheels 34 or very slightly higher.

15 To remove the stretcher the above described process is reversed. When the operative pulls the stretcher out it will eventually be supported by the wheels 102 alone. As these are almost at the same height as the wheels 34 there will be no sudden jolt which would be the case if the 20 stretcher were to be dropped down when transferring the load from the wheels 34 to the wheels 102. The lower frame can then be moved relative to the upper frame as previously described, again without any raising or lowering of the upper frame by the operator, until the wheels 34 rest on 25 the ground at which time the stretcher can be moved away from the ambulance.

It will be appreciated that, in the operative mode described in Figures 12 and 13, when the lower frame is 30 brought up towards the upper frame, the hydraulic circuit will need to be powered as the weight of the lower frame has to be raised rather than in Figures 1 to 11 where the weight of the upper frame assists in the collapsing movement. Conversely, when the lower frame is being moved 35 away the upper frame, power will not necessarily be required in Figures 12 and 13 as compared to Figures 1 to

11 where the weight of the upper frame and the patient has to be lifted.

If desired suitable valves may be provided, which, may be 5 manually or automatically operated to control the direction in which power is supplied or to allow a slow bleed of the fluid. In place of the front pump lever 84 to power the hydraulic 10 circuit, a motor 200 (shown in Figure 6) may be used. Thus an operative, who may be at the rear of the trolley, may be able to actuate a switch 202, (shown in Figure 4) to cause the motor to raise the lower frame up to the upper frame, when loading. Alternatively or additionally, an operative 15 may be able to actuate a switch 204 at the rear of the trolley to allow pressure to be released or to cause the motor to be powered to cause the lower frame to move downwardly. With such a mode of operation, an electric actuator may be used in place of the hydraulic actuator.

20 Such an electric actuator may comprise a threaded member whose effective length can be increased or decreased upon motor driven rotation of a member or a linear actuator in a used known manner.

25 During loading or unloading, one or two operatives may be able to support the weight of the stretcher from the rear of the stretcher with one operative operating the switch to raise and lower the upper and lower frame as required. One or two operatives can support the weight at the rear of the 30 stretcher and push the stretcher in to load, or pull to the stretcher out to unload.

Actuation of the hydraulic lever or the battery powered actuation to cause the raising and lowering of parts of the 35 trolley may also be used in any of the embodiments and the lever could be at any convenient location. In addition or

alternatively, the battery could be used to power other components on the stretcher such as lights, for instance.

As the stretcher is pulled into the ambulance, tubes 206 5 that support the forward wheels 34 engage forwardly and inwardly inclined channels 208 shown in Figure 14 until they rest against the rearwardly facing ends 210 of those channels. Means (not shown) are provided for maintaining the stretcher in that position. The channels 208 are 10 provided on an outer frame or antlers 212 that is secured to the floor 214 of an ambulance such that the channels 208 are at an appropriate spacing to receive the tubes 206.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of part of the stretcher 15 loading wheel axle 218 and a floor mounted charging block 216 located beneath the antler 212.

The battery 200 that powers the up and down movement of the frames is charged from the ambulance as described below.

As shown in Figure 16 the loading wheel axle 218 is provided with a plate 210 that extends upwardly from a mid point of the axle. The plate includes a pair of spaced contacts 220,222 that are arranged to be brought into 25 engagement with corresponding charging points 224,226 on the ambulancemounted block when the stretcher is, or is nearly, fully located into the ambulance. A micro switch 228 is activated when the connection is made in order that charging of the battery 200 may commence, either 30 continuously, or when the ambulance battery is above a certain charge level or when the power being supplied to the battery of the ambulance is sufficiently high or any combination thereof.

35 The antlers 212 ensures accurate alignment of the contacts with the charging points and accurate longitudinal relative location. The charging points are spring biased by means

(not shown) such that, as contact begins to be made, the charging points 224,226 retreat slightly into the block to ensure that contact is maintained, even though the stretcher may move slightly whilst fixed to the ambulance.

S Alternatively or additionally, the charging points may be tapered slightly to allow the contacts to take up any remaining slight misalignment upon initial engagement.

Alternatively or additionally, the points may diverge outwardly against a resilient force during engagement of 10 the contacts and points.

The charging points 224,226 may comprise a positive and a negative charge each. Alternatively one point may be negative and the other positive.

The connectors on the contact plate 210 are connected to the battery 200 on the stretcher by, for instance, wires which may extend through the tubes of the loading wheel axle and through other tubes on the frame.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and

which are open to public inspection with this 25 specification, and the contents of all such papers and

documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), 30 and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

35 Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same,

equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any

10 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. Patient transport apparatus provided with at least one electrical connector arranged, in use, to be automatically 5 connected to an electrical connection in a vehicle, the connection in the vehicle being arranged to be capable of transferring power to the connector of the patient transportation apparatus whereby a battery on the patient transportation apparatus may be charged.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the

transportation apparatus is arranged to be releasably retained in a vehicle.

15

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the connector on the patient transportation apparatus is connected to the connection of the vehicle by virtue of forwards movement of the patient transportation apparatus into the vehicle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector of the patient transportation apparatus faces forwardly with respect to the movement of the patient transportation apparatus into a vehicle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the connection or the connector is biased such that, in use, when the connection is made, the connector and the connection are urged into contact with 30 each other.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the connection or the connector diverges towards the other.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the connection or the connector is arranged to flex during connection.

5

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which the connection or connector which flexes does so against a resilient force.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which, 10 in use, when the connector and the connection are connected, the vehicle includes a sensor determining that the connection has been made.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which 15 the connector is provided on one of the lower or upper frame of a patient transportation apparatus, the upper frame and the lower frame being movable relative to each other from a first position, in which the frames are spaced from each other and a second position in which the 20 frames are closer together.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector is provided on a downwardly extending leg of a patient transportation apparatus from which a wheel of 25 the patient transportation apparatus depends.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector is provided on a cross member of a stretcher.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including two connectors arranged, in use, to be connected to two connections in an ambulance.

35

14. Patient transportation apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.

15. An ambulance incorporating patient transportation apparatus located in the vehicle with the patient transportation apparatus being as claimed in any of Claims 5 1 to 14, the or each connector of the patient transportation apparatus being connected to the or each connection of the vehicle.

16. A method of electrically connecting a patient 10 transportation apparatus to a vehicle to supply power to a battery on the patient transportation apparatus comprising automatically causing the electrical connection to be made, 15

17. A method as claimed in Claim 16 comprising moving the patient transportation apparatus relative to the vehicle with that relative movement automatically causing the connection to be made.

20

18. A method as claimed in Claim 16 or 17 comprising moving the patient transportation apparatus into the vehicle to cause the connection to be made.

19. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 18 25 comprising moving the patient transportation apparatus into the vehicle whereby the apparatus is automatically releasably retained in the vehicle.

20. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 19 30 comprising guiding the movement during loading to ensure electrical connection is made.

21. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 20 comprising automatically causing electrical disconnection 35 of the patient transportation apparatus from the vehicle when the stretcher commences movement out of the vehicle.

22. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 21 comprising automatically causing electrical connection to be made to a stretcher.

5

23. A method as claimed in any of Claims 16 to 22 comprising moving the patient transportation apparatus on wheels in the vehicle.

24. A method of electrically connecting a patient 10 transportation apparatus to a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of electrically connecting a patient 15 transportation apparatus to a vehicle when the apparatus is as referred to in any of Claims 1 to 15.