GB2431360A - Stretcher/trolley ambulance parking station arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A stretcher/trolley (100) is parked in a station (50). The stretcher has a base (110) supported on wheels (112) mounted through swivel joints so that the stretcher is manoeuvrable in multiple directions. The stretcher also has a collapsible frame (120) and a cot (130). Latches (156,131) depend from the stretcher. The station has spaced hook catches (70,80), which face the same direction. In use, movement of the stretcher over the station direction engages the latches with the catches. The spacing between the wheels, the dimensions of the station, and the spacing between the latches and catches respectively, are arranged so that the stretcher is moveable in a direction transverse the station to position said latches in front of said catches and subsequently to engage by longitudinal movement. One latch (156) is part of the base (110), while the other latch (131) is part of the cot (130).

Description

I

Stretcher/trolley Ambulance Parking Station Arrangement This invention relates to stretcher trolleys and their interface with an ambulance.

BACKGROUND

Stretchers desirably convert to trolleys. That is to say, they comprise a collapsible frame so that the patient "cot" can be lowered to substantially ground level, so that a prone patient on the ground can lifted onto the cot. However, instead of having to carry the stretcher, although this is possible over rough ground for example, the frame can be raised so that the cot is at a convenient height above the ground. The frame is provided with wheels so that it behaves like a hospital trolley and can be manoeuvred in the same way.

To be transported by ambulance, it is necessary, generally to collapse the frame, lift the stretcher and patient up to the floor level of the ambulance, guide the stretcher on its wheels into the ambulance and then to locate the stretcher in securing arrangement fixed to the floor, referred to hereinafter as a parking station, where it can be locked.

Hitherto, parking stations comprise multiple independent elements secured to the ambulance floor (by bolting or clipping to tracks formed on the floor), and to which different parts of the stretcher are independently locked. Either this results in multiple tasks that have to be completed (that is, connecting one end of the stretcher to a first securing element and then the other end to a second, and so on) or the securing elements have to be very accurately positioned so that they can all be engaged simultaneously. Moreover, they pose several trip-hazards on the ambulance floor.

Some ambulances also have the feature that the wheel arch over each rear wheel of the vehicle intrudes into the floor space, making positioning of parking station elements problematic, and which might even require some or one element to be omitted. A further issue is that ambulances are required to carry a lot of different equipment and cupboard space is needed. Paramedic seats need also to be provided; indeed one, ideally, at the head end of a patient on a stretcher so that necessary attention and communication with a patient on the stretcher can be affected. These factors make the parking arrangements of the stretcher/trolley in the ambulance problematic.

P111800GB It is also desirable for safety purposes (and regulations may insist) that the stretcher is locked in its lowered position when disposed in the ambulance. The parking station locks may be inadequate to hold the stretcher in place if the centre of gravity of the trolley and its patient was substantially above floor level. This would be the case if the cot was in its trolley position. On the other hand, the integral locks that will usually be provided on the stretcher/trolley are there to support the weight of the base when the stretcher is used in its stretcher position and carried by operatives at each end. They may not be strong enough to withstand the forces, particularly tipping forces caused by braking and accelerating (when the stretcher is in line with the longitudinal direction of the ambulance), exerted when the ambulance is in motion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement that meets these, or at least some of these arrangements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a stretcher and parking station therefor, said stretcher comprising a base supported on wheels mounted through swivel joints whereby the stretcher is manoeuvrable in multiple directions parallel a plane defined by the wheels, and at least first and second latches depending from said stretcher; and said station comprising a unit provided with fixing means for connection thereof to a floor of an ambulance and at least first and second spaced hook catches, which hook catches face the same direction with respect to one another and open in a first direction parallel said plane; whereby, in use, movement of said stretcher over said station in said first direction engages said latches with said catches; and, wherein the spacing between said wheels, the dimensions of said unit, and the spacing between said latches and catches respectively, are arranged so that said stretcher is moveable in a direction transverse said first direction to position said latches in front of said catches and subsequently in said first direction to engage said latches and catches, without said wheels interfering with said unit.

P111800GB Preferably, said wheels are arranged on either side of said latches. Preferably, there are four wheels, two on either side of said latches. Preferably said first direction is parallel the longitudinal direction of the stretcher.

Preferably, at least one of said catches includes a selectively operable lock.

Preferably, said stretcher is a stretcher/trolley having a frame comprising a base, a linkage and a cot, the cot being raisable with respect to the base to a trolley position and lowerable to a stretcher position, and wherein the first latch is part of the cot and the second one is part of said base.

Preferably the station has a guide track arranged transversely of said first direction and the stretcher/trolley has a guide pin, wherein, when the stretcher/trolley is offered up to the station from an approximate position adjacent the station, the pin enters a relatively wide mouth of the track and is guided thereby to a position in which said depending latches of the stretcher trolley straddle the first catch so that the stretcher/trolley can be moved transversely without said catches and latches fouling. Preferably the guide track is two-stage, an opening stage being deeper than an end stage, and said pin is two- stage having a shallow outer pin element and a deep inner pin element, a gap in said guide track being provided between said opening and end stages positioned so that, when the outer pin element has traversed the opening stage, crossed the gap and traversed beyond a remote end of the end stage, the inner pin element contacts the end stage and is prevented from entering said stage by its shallow depth, whereupon the stretcher/trolley is moveable in said first direction to engage said latches and catches.

Preferably, said parking station comprises a single, integrated unit for connection to a floor. Preferably, said connection means comprises holes in a floor plate forming part of said unit, which holes are dimensioned to receive bolts by which the unit is fixed to an ambulance floor. Alternatively, said connection means may comprise elements to connect with a tracking system disposed in the floor of the ambulance. Preferably, said unit comprises said floor plate and a catch plate parallel to and spaced from said floor plate by fabrication plates to which each of said floor and catch plates are fixed (eg by welding), in which the floor plate has a recess, and said fabrication plates in the region of said recess are arched.

P111800GB Said recessed region of the floor plate and said arched fabrication plates are provided to accommodate a wheel arch intruding above a floor of an ambulance so that said unit can be placed on the floor in the region of the wheel arch while said floor plate remains flat against the floor and said catch plate parallel thereto. This permits the unit to be placed close to the wall of the ambulance in a longitudinal position in the ambulance that suits the typical layout of an ambulance.

More especially, because the stretcher can be parked on the station by transverse movement of the stretcher with respect to the first direction, the fact that the wheel arch is aligned with the station unit does not prevent the stretcher/trolley being docked therewith. This would be the case if the stretcher trolley was required to pass over the station entirely in the longitudinal, first direction. Indeed, even in the case where there is no wheel arch issue, with ambulance furniture potentially limiting the longitudinal movement of the stretcher/trolley relative to the ambulance and the parking station, the ability to load the stretcher transversely prior to a relatively short longitudinal movement to locate the latches in the catches enables furniture to be close to either end of the parked trolley.

Preferably, three hook catches are formed on said catch plate, wherein a first pair of front ones of said catches are spaced in said first direction from a rear one of said catches and from each other in a direction transverse said first direction, and said floor plate recess is disposed under one of said front catches.

Preferably, said front catches are spaced from said rear catch by the same amount.

Preferably said front catches are equally spaced on either side of a centre line extending in said first direction and passing through said rear catch.

Provided sufficient longitudinal space exists between the catch hooks, the trolley can be positioned over them transversely of said first direction without said depending latches fouling the upstanding catches, whereby the longitudinal movement needed to engage the latches with the catches is reduced. Equally preferably, the transverse spacing of the front catches is sufficient to allow passage in said first direction between them of the latch arranged to engage the rear catch.

Where there are two of said first catches, two first latches are provided on the stretcher.

Preferably each first latch comprises a pin disposed between plates spaced apart * P111800GB sufficiently to allow close passage of said catch, whereby, once the catch is engaged with the latch, substantial relative movement of the stretcher/trolley and station unit in a direction transverse said first direction is prevented.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a stretcher/trolley and parking station therefor, said stretcher/trolley having a frame comprising a base, a linkage and a cot, the cot being raisable with respect to the base to a trolley position and lowerable to a stretcher position, said base being supported on wheels, and at least first and second latches depending from said stretcher/trolley; and said station comprising a unit provided with fixing means for connection thereof to a floor of an ambulance and at least first and second spaced hook catches which hook catches face the same direction with respect to one another and open in a first direction parallel said plane; whereby, in use, movement of said stretcher over said station in said first direction engages said latches with said catches; and wherein a lock selectively retains the stretcher/trolley in engagement with the parking station when at least one of said latches engages its corresponding catch on the unit; and, said first latch is part of the cot and said second latch is part of said base.

By locking both the cot and the base to the station unit, the security of the arrangement is improved and reliance is not had exclusively on the security of any on-board (that is, integral to the stretcher/trolley) clips that retain cot and the base together in the stretcher position.

The lock may prevent movement of the stretcher/trolley in a direction opposite said first direction. Said lock may comprise means preventing disengagement of the cot latch from its catch.

Preferably, said lock comprises a spring-biased pin located in said unit and operable by a pedal to open said catch, release of said pedal permitting the pin to return by said spring bias to close the catch and prevent entry to or exit from said catch of said latch.

It is desirable to know how much a stretcher has been employed, so that appropriate service intervals and lifetime can be determined. While it is known to count the number P111800GB of times a stretcher is raised and lowered between stretcher and trolley positions, this is not necessarily the best measure, or indeed the only measure that can be employed.

Thus in another aspect, the present invention also provides a stretcher/trolley and parking station therefor in which the stretcher/trolley has a counter that counts the number of times the stretcher/trolley is docked with the station.

Preferably, a stretcher/trolley and station therefore has the features of some or all aspects of the present invention.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure Ia and b are respectively a side view, and part plan view, of an ambulance including a stretcher/trolley and parking station in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2a, b, c and d are respectively: a side view of the stretcher/trolley of Figure Ia in its trolley position; a side view in its parked stretcher position; a plan view of the base of the stretcher/trolley; and a front view in the direction of the arrow D in Figure 2a; P111800GB Figures 3a and b are respectively schematic illustrations in plan view, and side view, of the stretcher/trolley in relation to a parking station unit; Figure 4 is a plan view of the base of a parking station unit; Figure 5 is a side view, partly in section along the lines V-V of a slightly modified embodiment shown in Figure 6b; Figures 6a and b are, respectively, an end view in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 6b; and a plan view, (partly in section, bordered by line Y), of such modified parking unit; Figures 7a, b and c are respectively: a plan view (partly in section, bordered by line X); a section on the line B-B in Figure 7a; and a side view in the direction of arrow C in Figure 7a, of an alternative embodiment of parking station in accordance with the present invention; Figures 8a and b are a plan view of a parking station provided with a guide track, and a side view of the station with part of a stretcher/trolley immediately above; and, Figure 9 is a plan view of a stretcher/trolley base provided with a guide pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figures Ia and b, an ambulance 10 has occupant space 12 provided with a floor 14. Rear doors 16 admit entry to the space 12. Rear wheels 18 of the ambulance 10 are protected by a wheel arch 20 that intrudes (at 22) through the floor 14. A stretcher/trolley parking station 50 is fixed to the floor 14 adjacent to and overlapping one-wheel arch 22 on one side of the floor 14 with respect to its longitudinal direction (front 24 to back 16). A stretcher/trolley 100 is shown docked with the parking unit 50 and carrying a patient 102.

Other ambulance configurations are feasible but may result in the parking station 50 being located other than over any wheel arch intrusion into the floor space of the ambulance.

In Figure 2a, a trolley/stretcher 100 is shown. This comprises a base 110, a collapsible linkage 120 and a cot 130. The base 110 has four wheels 112, one at each corner, each being mounted through a swivel joint 114 permitting complete rotation of each wheel about its vertical swivel axis 116. The base can therefore be manoeuvred in any direction over a supporting surface.

P111800GB The linkage 120 comprises two parallel link arms 122,124 each being paired (122a,b,124a,b) across the width of the stretcher/trolley, as seen in Figure 2d and partly seen of arms 122a, b in Figure 2c. Each pair of arms 122,124 is pivoted at the base 110 to a mounting 118 about axes 123,125, which axes are parallel the plane 1111 (see Figure 2d) defined by the wheels 112 and transverse the longitudinal direction of the stretcher/trolley 100. At their other ends, the arms 122,124 are pivoted to cot 130 through a depending bracket 132 fixed securely to the cot 130 and forming a part thereof. The arms 122,124 are pivoted about axes 127, 129 to the cot bracket 132, which axes are parallel the axes 123,125.

Link arms 124 are fixed about the axis 125 to an actuator tube 111 which has an extension 113 (see Figure 2c) pivotally connected about pin 115 (see Figure 2b) to the actuator rod 117 (see Figures 2a and c) of an hydraulic cylinder 119. Cylinder 119 is driven by foot pedals 140 provided on either side of the trolley/stretcher to extend or retract the actuator rod 117 from the cylinder 119.

In Figure 2a, the actuator rod 117 is in its extended position and this serves to pivot the parallel linkage 120 lifting the cot 130 to its raised, trolley position, as shown. However, in Figure 2b, the actuator rod is shown withdrawn into the cylinder 119, and the cot 130 is in its lowered, stretcher position. In its stretcher position, pins 142 extending on the axis 127 of the link arm 122 are supported on yokes 144. Likewise, pins 146 on the side of the cot 130 are captured in yokes 148. Clips (not shown) selectively lock the cot in its stretcher position as shown in Figure 2b so that it cannot be raised from there without releasing them. This ensures that, when the stretcher is carried by operatives holding end handles 134, there is no possibility of the base 110 dropping.

The cot 130 comprises a body portion 136, a head portion 138 and a foot portion 139.

Although not forming part of the present invention, the foot portion 139 and head portion 138 are both pivotable with respect to the body portion 136 so that the trolley can convert into a wheel chair. The foot portion 139 is pivotable about axis 152 and the head portion 138 about an axis 154. A mattress 155 (see Figure 2d - not shown in the other figures) covers the cot 132 to provide comfort.

Link arms 124 are connected along their axes 129 by a cot latch bar 131. A pair of base latches 156 are provided on the base 110. Each latch 156 comprises a pair of plates 158a,b and between which is disposed a latch-pin 160.

P111800GB Turning now to Figures 3a and b, 4, 5 and 6a, b, a first embodiment of a parking station in accordance with the invention comprises a floor plate 52 and a catch plate 54 spaced therefrom by fabrication plates 56. Two angled fabrication plates 56a,b support the back sides of the unit 50, while an H-sectioned plate 56c supports the front parts.

Front fabrication plates 56c comprise side plates 56d,e and cross plate 56f. Plates 52, 54 and 56 are atl, preferably, aluminium and are welded together to provided a firm construction. Floor plate 52 is provided fixing means to enable the unit 50 to be affixed to the floor of the ambulance 10. Such fixing means comprises holes 58 to receive bolts or the like whereby the unit 50 may be retained in place. (Some ambulances have a floor tracking system, however, and any suitable means for cooperating therewith may be provided instead.) On the catch plate 54, holes 60 permit connection of a rear hook catch 70 to its upper surface by means of bolts 72. Likewise, holes 62 on each side of the catch plate 54, at its front end, permit connection of a pair of front catches 80a,b.

Each front catch 80a,b comprises a tapered catch hook 82 having a frontwardly opening mouth 84. At the throat of the mouth 84 is a springloaded yolk 86, which is held in the position shown in Figure 5 by a lock pin 88. The lock pin 88 slides in bores 90, 92 in either arm of the catch hook 82. A spring 94 urges the lock pin 88 towards the position shown in Figure 5 but is withdrawn downwardly therefrom by actuating a pedal 96. The pedal 96 is connected to a rod 98 pivoted in the front-side fabrication plates 56d,e. The rod 98 has a pair of actuators 102 (only one being visible in the drawings) connected at each end of the rod. Through a pin 104 (sliding in a slot (not visible) in the actuator 102), the actuators 102 pull the pins 88 (through each catch 80a,b) downwardly in Figure when the pedal 96 is pressed, also downwardly. This withdraws the pin 88 from the mouth 84 of the hook catch 82. When fully withdrawn, the yolk 86 is released to spring leftwardly in Figure 5 until a stop washer 106 abuts the rear side 108 of the catch 80.

The pin 88 is then prevented from returning under the bias of spring 94, even if the pedal 96 should be released.

However, when a stretcher/trolley 100 is brought into engagement with the parking station 50, the bar 111 on axis 129 between the link arms 124 enters mouth 71 of the rear catch 70 and, simultaneously, latches 56, or rather the pins 160 between the side plates 158a,b, enter the mouth 84 of the front hook catches 80a,b. When the pins 160 engage the yolks 86, they are pushed back (rightwardly in Figure 5) until the pin 88 is released from under the yolk 86 and can snap into engagement behind the pin 160 of the latch 156. The pin 88 thereby retains the latches 156 in place.

P111800GB The side plates 158a,b are separated by an amount sufficient to clear the width of the hooks 80a,b (which are tapered so as to guide the stretcher/trolley laterally into engagement therewith), but not so much that there is much play, laterally between them and the hooks 80a,b. Therefore, once the lock pins 88 snap into engagement behind the pins 160, the trolley is captivated in all directions parallel the plane 1111. Indeed, with the hooks 84 and 71, the stretcher/trolley 100 is locked in all three dimensions.

A particular aspect is that the cot 130 is locked to the station through bar 131 being in hook 71, so that tipping motions that would be common in an ambulance accelerating and braking are absorbed by the parking station and not by any on-board mechanism of the stretcher/trolley, such as the clips mentioned above, locking the cot to the base.

Thus, such clips only have to be secure enough to carry the weight of the base 110, such as when the stretcher is being physically carried by operatives over, for example, rough ground where the trolley mode cannot be employed.

Turning to Figures 7a, b and c, an alternative form of parking station 50' is shown. Here, floor plate 52' is cut away or recessed at 53. Moreover, front fabrication plates 56c' have an altered structure, as do rear plates 56a',b'. These plates are parallel and at the rear of the unit, and abut cross plate 56f'. Extending forwardly from plate 56f' are two, different, side front plates 56d'e'. Plate 56d' is arched (67) above recess 53 and supports catch plate 54' in cantilever fashion above recess 53, while plate 56e' supports the catch plate on floor plate 52' throughout the depth of the unit 50'.

While two front catches 80a',b' are provided, catch 80a' above recess 53 does not have any locking arrangement, instead this is limited to hook catch 80b' where the pedal 96' is pivoted about a pivot 98'. Slots 103 in sides 96a,b of the pedal 96' engage pin 104 in the lock pin 88, and which pin otherwise operates in the same fashion as described above with reference to Figure 5. The recess 53 and arched fabrication plate 56d' permit the parking station 50' to be located partially overlapping wheel arch 22 as shown in Figure 1 b so that the stretcher/trolley 100 can be appropriately positioned with stability in the ambulance 10.

The lateral space between the hooks 80a,b and 80a',b' is sufficient to permit passage between them of the bar 131 when the stretcher/trolley is in its stretcher position.

Moreover, the wheel 112 width-spacing W (see Figure 2d) is sufficient to clear the width P111800GB of the units 50,50'. Therefore, other than in the circumstances mentioned below, the stretcher/trolley 100 can roll over the station 50,50' entirely in the longitudinal direction in order to engage the latches 131,156 on the stretcher/trolley with the catches 80,70 on the parking station.

However, in the circumstances where the wheel arch intervenes, as shown in Figures la,b, this would involve one wheel having to roll over the wheel arch 22. This would destabilise the stretcher and obviously be of discomfort to any patient carried on the stretcher/trolley. Accordingly, it is another feature of the present invention that the longitudinal spacing (approximately L in Figure 2b) of the wheels 112 when arranged pointing transversely is not only sufficient to clear the length of the station 50,50', but is also sufficiently long to permit the wheels to pivot (by appropriate manoeuvre of the stretcher/trolley) between transverse and longitudinal alignment without fouling the station 50,50'. Furthermore, the relationship between the position of the wheels 112 and the latches 156,131 must be such that such transverse movement of the stretcher trolley over the station must be such that the latch 131 can pass between the catches 80,70, and with sufficient room to spare so that the direction of movement of the stretcher/trolley can be changed from transverse to longitudinal to engage the latches 156,131 with the catches 70,70'. Still furthermore, the wheels 112 must also be spaced to clear the wheel arch 22, although this is also a function, of course, of the ambulance in which the stretcher/trolley is designed to used.

Figure 2d shows a counter 200 on the latch bar 131 arranged to be actuated each time the bar enters the hook catch 70.

Turning finally to Figures 8a,b and 9, parking station 50" has a guide track 200 for side loading. How this guide track is arranged depends on from which side of the station it is intended that the stretcher/trolley 100' will be loaded. In Figure 8a it is from above, in the direction of the arrow P. Indeed, that is the side on which the pedal 96,96' is disposed, for when the stretcher/trolley is to be released. Of course, if the stretcher/trolley is to be loaded from the other side of the station, then the pedal 96 could easily be installed on that other side. Likewise, the guide track could be arranged the other way around. However, whether any stretchers and stations are actually made that are the mirror image of those illustrated in the drawings is a moot point, since most ambulances only have one stretcher and all will carry their stretchers on the same side P111800GB of the ambulance, and hence be loaded from the same side. However, it is straightforward to change this if desired.

Guide track 200 comprises two stages 202,204, a first, opening stage 202 comprising two guide blocks 206,208 bolted onto the top of catch plate 54". Between them is defined a guide path 210 having a wide mouth 212. A second, end stage 204 comprises an element spaced from the opening stage 202, separated therefrom by a gap 216. The end stage 204 also has infacing walls defining a path 220 but it is not as deep as the path 210. Indeed, a step 222 terminates the gap 216 before entering the path 220.

A composite guide pin 230 is disposed on part of the base 110 of the stretcher/trolley 100' (see Figure 9). This comprises, in fact, two downwardly depending pin elements 232,234, a first being a shallow, leading pin 232 (in the sense of the direction of side- loading of the stretcher/trolley, arrow P in Figure 9). A second pin element is a deep, following pin element 234. Both elements comprise rollers 238 mounted for free rotation about vertical axes (vertical in use as shown in Figure 8b) on pins 240 retained in brackets 236 bolted to the base 110.

In use, a stretcher/trolley 100' is positioned approximately with respect to the station 50" with leading pin 232 on the stretcher/trolley adjacent mouth 212 of the guide track 200.

The stretcher is then moved in the direction of arrow P and anymisalignment of the pin 232 with the guide track 200 is corrected by side walls of the mouth 212 and over which the shallow pin element 232, let alone the deep pin element 234, cannot pass. Once both pin elements enter the track, not only is the direction of movement of the stretcher/trolley assured, but also its orientation, since the separation of the pins 232,234 ensure that the stretcher/trolley is, and remains, at right angles to the station 50" and to said first direction A of entry of the catches 80,70.

The position of the guide pin 230, and the track 200, (distance F with respect to latch 156) is arranged such that the latches 156,131 are just in front (in the sense of the direction of arrow A) of their respective hook catches 80,70. Indeed, this means that the latches 156,131, and the base 110 between them, straddle the hook catches 80.

Indeed, it is because it is a reasonably close fit over the catches 80 that the guide track is desirable.

P111800GB When the leading pin 232 leaves the opening stage path 210 it continues across the gap 216 being guided only by the pin 234 remaining behind in the track. However, it eventually enters the end stage path 220, step 222 being insufficient to create a barrier.

However, the side walls guide the direction of movement although, by this stage, trailing pin 234 has by now also exited the opening stage 210 of the track 200. However, when it has crossed the gap 216, it is too deep to enter the track 220 and is prevented from doing so by step 222. At this time, however, shallow pin 232 has exited the far side of track 220 and so now there is nothing to prevent longitudinal movement of the stretcher/trolley with the pins 232,234 straddling the end stage 204 of the guide track 200. Such longitudinal movement in the direction of arrow A engages latches 156,131 with their respective catches 70,80, as described above.

On later release of the lock pins 88 (not shown in Figures 8a,b), gap 216 has a mouth 242 formed by appropriate shaping of the elements 208,204. This guides the deep pin element 234 into the gap 216 and, indeed, the stretcher/trolley could continue to be withdrawn in that direction (and, indeed, loaded in that direction in the first place), as the gap continues (216a) beyond path 210,220. Thus, if desired, the stretcher/trolley can be parked and unparked by movement entirely in the longitudinal direction (arrow A).

However, if entire movement in the longitudinal direction was not feasible for one reason or another, the part 216a of the path 216 could be blocked as shown by dotted lines so that, once the deep pin 234 had entered mouth 242, further longitudinal movement would be prevented and, instead transverse movement would be needed to bring pin 234 into path 210, and the shallow pin 232 into path 220.

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 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), 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.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or P111800GB 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 any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 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 (29)

P 111800GB CLAIMS

1. A combination of a stretcher and parking station therefor, said stretcher comprising a base supported on wheels mounted through swivel joints whereby the stretcher is manoeuvrable in multiple directions parallel a plane defined by the wheels, and at least first and second latches depending from said stretcher; and said station comprising a unit provided with fixing means for connection thereof to a floor of an ambulance and at least first and second spaced hook catches, which hook catches face the same direction with respect to one another and open in a first direction parallel said plane; whereby, in use, movement of said stretcher over said station in said first direction engages said latches with said catches; and, wherein the spacing between said wheels, the dimensions of said unit, and the spacing between said latches and catches respectively, are arranged so that said stretcher is moveable in a direction transverse said first direction to position said latches in front of said catches and subsequently in said first direction to engage said latches and catches, without said wheels interfering with said unit.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said first direction is parallel the longitudinal direction of the stretcher.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said wheels are arranged on either side of said latches.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, in which there are four wheels, two on either side of said latches.

5. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of said catches includes a selectively operable lock.

6. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said parking station comprises a single, integrated unit for connection to a floor.

P111800GB

7. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said connection means comprises holes in a plate forming part of said unit, which holes are dimensioned to receive bolts by which the unit is fixed to an ambulance floor.

8. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said stretcher is a stretcher/trolley having a frame comprising a base, a linkage and a cot, the cot being raisable with respect to the base to a trolley position and lowerable to a stretcher position, and wherein the first latch is part of the cot and the second one is part of said base.

9. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the station has a guide track arranged transversely of said first direction and the stretcher has a guide pin, wherein, when the stretcher is offered up to the station from an approximate position adjacent the station, the pin enters a relatively wide mouth of the track and is guided thereby to a position in which said depending latches of the stretcher trolley straddle the first catch so that the stretcher can be moved transversely without said catches and latches fouling.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9, in which the guide track is twostage, an opening stage being deeper than an end stage, and said pin is two-stage having a shallow outer pin element and a deep inner pin element, a gap in said guide track being provided between said opening and end stages positioned so that, when the outer pin element has traversed the opening stage, crossed the gap and traversed beyond a remote end of the end stage, the inner pin element contacts the end stage and is prevented from entering said stage by its shallow depth, whereupon the stretcher is moveable in said first direction to engage said latches and catches.

11. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said unit comprises a floor plate provided with said fixing means and a catch plate parallel to and spaced from said floor plate by fabrication plates to which each of said floor and catch plates are fixed (eg by welding).

12. A combination as claimed in claim 11, in which the floor plate has a recess, and said fabrication plates in the region of said recess are arched.

P111800GB

13. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a third hook catch is formed on said catch plate, wherein a first pair of front ones of said catches are spaced in said first direction from a rear one of said catches and from each other in a direction transverse said first direction.

14. A combination as claimed in claims 12 and 13, in which said floor plate recess is disposed under one of said front catches.

15. A combination as claimed in claim 13 or 14, in which said front catches are spaced from said rear catch by the same amount.

16. A combination as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, in which said front catches are equally spaced on either side of a centre line extending in said first direction and passing through said rear catch.

17. A combination as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16, in which the transverse spacing of the front catches is sufficient to allow passage in said first direction between them of the latch arranged to engage the rear catch.

18. A combination as claimed in any of claim 13 to 17, in which there are two first latches are provided on the stretcher.

19. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each first latch comprises a pin disposed between plates spaced apart sufficiently to allow close passage of said catch, whereby, once the catch is engaged with the latch, substantial relative movement of the stretcher and station unit in a direction transverse said first direction is prevented.

20. A combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a lock selectively retains the stretcher/trolley in engagement with the parking station when at least one of said latches engages its corresponding catch on the unit.

21. A combination of a stretcher/trolley and parking station therefor, said stretcher/trolley having a frame comprising a base, a linkage and a cot, the cot being raisable with respect to the base to a trolley position and lowerable to a P111800GB stretcher position, said base being supported on wheels, and at least first and second latches depending from said stretcher/trolley; and said station comprising a unit provided with fixing means for connection thereof to a floor of an ambulance and at least first and second spaced hook catches which hook catches face the same direction with respect to one another and open in a first direction parallel said plane; whereby, in use, movement of said stretcher over said station in said first direction engages said latches with said catches; and wherein a lock selectively retains the stretcher/trolley in engagement with the parking station when at least one of said latches engages its corresponding catch on the unit; and, said first latch is part of the cot and said second latch is part of said base.

22. A combination as claimed in claim 20 or 21, in which the lock prevents movement of the stretcher/trolley in a direction opposite said first direction.

23. A combination as claimed in claim 22, in which said lock comprises means preventing disengagement of the cot latch from its catch.

24. A combination as claimed in any of claims 20 to 23, in which said lock comprises a spring-biased pin located in said unit and operable by a pedal to open said catch, release of said pedal permitting the pin to return by said spring bias to close the catch and prevent entry to or exit from said catch of said latch.

25. A stretcher/trolley and parking station therefor in which the stretcher/trolley has a counter that counts the number of times the stretcher/trolley is docked with the station.

26. A stretcher trolley as claimed in any of claims I to 20 also having the features of any of claims 21 to 24, and/or claim 25.

27. A stretcher trolley as claimed in any of claims 21 to 24 also having the features of claim 25.

28. A stretcherftrolley combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

P111800GB

29. An ambulance incorporating the station of a combination of stretcher/trolley and station therefor as claimed in any preceding claim.