GB2447210A - Stretcher - Google Patents

Abstract

A stretcher or other equipment comprising: a surface 10 on which a patient may be laid bounded by first, second and further edges; the first edge being pivotally attachable 12 to a fixed object 14 enabling it to move between a stowed position and usable position; second edge 16 having a leg structure pivotally attached adjacent thereto, movable between a folded and supporting position; the leg structure including a linkage 18 pivotally connected between a first point located below the first pivot point and a second point on the leg structure, the second point being lower than the first point when the surface is in its usable position to move the legs 15 from the folded to the supporting position in an extended sweep. Preferably the linkage comprises a strut 18 pivotally mounted to leg 15 and may include locking rings. The extended sweep may prevent legs 15 interfering with a bath 50 during operation.

Description

STRETCHER

The present invention relates to stretchers. More particularly it relates to wall and bath mounted stretchers.

There are already known stretchers that attach to a fixed object, typically a wall or bath, and fold down from a stowed position to a use position in which a patient can be laid on the stretcher for washing, dressing or examination. Such stretchers typically measure around 750 x 1900mm and typically have a use surface about 900mm from the floor. A folding stretcher allows efficient use of space by allowing it to be stowed out of the way when not in use. If the stretcher is mounted over a bath there is a second advantage in that the bath can double as a water collection tray, both while washing the patient and also while drying them, possibly after using the bath for washing.

Most folding stretchers have floor-standing legs that fold out to support the front edge of the stretcher, with the back edge supported by the wall or bath, although some folding stretchers are cantilevered from a wall. Existing stretchers with legs have each leg unfolded manually by the carer once the stretcher is moved from its stowed to its use position. This is an awkward operation, involving holding the stretcher in a use position with one hand while using the other to unfold the two legs. This procedure needs to be reversed when the stretcher is stowed.

Astor-EIannerman's patent application filed concurrently with the present application discloses a mechanism to move the legs automatically between their folded and supporting positions as the stretcher is moved between its stowed and use positions.

A particular problem arises when a stretcher is mounted over a bath, in that the legs should not interfere with or hit the bath when they are folded and unfolded. Because the bath lakes up a large amount of the space under the stretcher this presents a considerable problem both with manually stowed legs and with mechanically stowed legs as disclosed in the Astor-Bannerman application.

According to the present invention there is provided a stretcher or other equipment comprising a surface on which a patient may be laid, the surface bounded by first, second and further edges, the said first edge being pivolally attachable to a fixed object to move between a stowed and a use position and the second edge having a leg structure pivotally attached adjacent thereto, movable between a folded and a supporting position, the stretcher characterised by a linkage pivotally connected between a first point located below the said first pivot point and a second point on the leg structure which second point is lower that the said first point when the surface is in its use position, whereby the linkage moves the legs from the folded to the supporting position in an extended sweep when the surface is moved from the stowed and the use position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the linkage comprises a Strut which lies substantially parallel to the plane of the surface when it is in its stowed position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the strut is pivotally mounted directly to a leg forming part of the leg structure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a ring which can slide down over the strut and leg to retain the surface in its stowed position.

A stretcher incorporating aspects of the invention removes the need to unfold and fold the legs manually when the surface is unstowed and stowed, considerably improving the safety and usefulness of the stretcher.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a known stretcher in its use position, with one leg in its supporting position and one leg partly folded Figure 2 shows in its use position a stretcher incorporating a first embodiment of the invention Figures 3,4 and 5 show schematic views of the stretcher of Figure 2 showing the sweep of the legs as the stretcher moves from its stowed to its use position.

Figure 6 shows in its and use position a stretcher incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention and Figure 7 shows in its use position a stretcher incorporating a third embodiment of the present invention.

The stretcher of Figure 1 comprises a surface 1 formed by a membrane 2 of nylon or a similar material stretched within a perimeter frame 3. The frame has pivot mechanisms 4, 4 fixed to it adjacent a first edge of the surface. The other leaves 5, 5 of the pivots are fixed to a wall 6 which supports the stretcher. The stretcher also has legs 7, 8 pivotally mounted to the frame near a second, front edge 9 of the surface. Each leg folds down from a folded position to a position in which it supports the front edge of the stretcher. In the picture, the first leg 7 is shown in the supporting position while the other leg 8 is shown partly folded. When the legs are fully folded they are retained in their position by retaining clips. Once legs are fully folded the stretcher can be stowed without the legs protruding.

In use, a carer will fold the stretcher down from the wall then unfold each leg with one hand while holding the stretcher surface just above horizontal with the other hand. Once both legs are folded out the surface can be lowered to the horizontal, the legs touching the floor. A patient can then be laid on the surface for washing, dressing or changing. After the patient is removed from the surface, the surface can be lifted just above horizontal, the legs folded away and the surface then stowed.

In other known variants, the surface land frame 3 may be replaced by a single moulded part of plastics or other material. This part may also incorporate part of the pivot mechanisms 4.

Figure 2 shows in its use position a stretcher incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention. The stretcher of Figure 2 comprises a surface 10 formed by a membrane of nylon or a similar material stretched within a perimeter frame 11. The frame has pivot mechanisms 12, 12 fixed to it adjacent a first edge of the surface. The other leaves 13, 13 of the pivots are fixed to a wall 14 which supports the stretcher. The stretcher also has legs 15, 15 pivotally mounted to the frame near a second, front edge 16 of the surface. Each leg folds down from a folded position to a position in which it supports the front edge of the stretcher. A transverse member 17 extends between the two legs 15, 15 and is joined to them a little way below the points at which they are pivoted to the frame. Pivotally attached to the transverse member 17 is one end 19 of a linkage strut 18. The other end 20 of the linkage strut 18 is pivotally connected to a plate 21 fixed to the wall 14 a little way below the pivot mechanisms 12,12 but higher than the transverse member 17. The stretcher is shown installed over a bath 50.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show schematically the operation of the stretcher of Figure 2. In figure 3, the stretcher is nearly stowed. It is shown a little forward of the fully stowed position for clarity. The surface 10 lies roughly parallel to the wall 14 and the linkage strut 18 and legs 15 lie in line with each other also roughly parallel to the wall. Figure 4 shows the surface in an intermediate position between stowed and use. In the position shown the Strut 18 is roughly horizontal. The feet 51 of the legs are at this point markedly in front of the front edge 16 of the surface. Figure 5 shows the stretcher with the surface in its use position. By this position the strut has swept through more than 90 degrees and has pulled the legs back to a roughly vertical stance. Because the sweep of the legs is extended as the unit is stowed and unstowed they do not interfere with the bath 50 during the operation.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the surface is provided by a moulded plastic unit 22 having deep sides 23 to provide rigidity and strength. The unit is pivoted to a wall 24 in the same way as the previous embodiment.

However, one leaf of each pivot mechanism 25, 25 is formed as part of the moulded unit 22. The legs 26, 26 are formed as part of a single bent framework 28 which is pivoted to the moulded unit by means of bearings moulded into the lower surface of the moulded unit some way back from the front edge of the stretcher. In this embodiment the transverse member 29 forms part of the bent framework 28 rather than being joined directly to the legs. A linkage strut 30 is pivotally connected at one end to the transverse member 29. At its other end it is pivotally connected to a plate 31 fixed to the wall 24 a little way below the pivot mechanisms 25, 25 but higher than the transverse member 29.

This embodiment works in the same way as the first embodiment: when the surface is folded down, the strut causes the legs to move from their folded to their supporting position. Because the strut moves through more than 90 degrees as the surface is folded down, the legs travel through an extended sweep and do not interfere with the bath. The strut also holds the legs in position while the stretcher is used. When the surface is stowed, the strut causes the legs to move back to their stowed position. Advantageously the moulded unit 22 can include a clip moulded into its underside that will clip to the transverse member 29 when the unit is stowed, thereby to hold it more securely in a stowed position.

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the stretcher comprises a surface 32 formed by a membrane of nylon or a similar material stretched within a perimeter frame 33. The frame has pivot mechanisms 34, 34 fixed to it adjacent a first edge of the surface. The other leaves 35, 35 of the pivots are mounted to plates 43, 43 fixed to a waIl 36 which supports the stretcher. The stretcher also has legs 37, 37 pivotally mounted to the frame near a second, front edge 38 of the surface. Each leg folds down from a folded position to a position in which it supports the front edge of the stretcher. A transverse member 39 extends between the two legs 37, 37. Pivotally attached to the respective legs are linkage struts 41, 41. The other ends 42, 42 of the linkage struts are pivotally connected to the respective plates 43, 43 a little way below the pivot mechanisms 34, 34 but higher than the points 52, 52 at which the struts connect to the legs.

In use, as the bed surface is pivoted down from its stowed to its use position, the struts 41, 41 cause the respective legs to unfold. Because the struts move through more than 90 degrees as the surface is folded down, the legs travel through an extended sweep and do not interfere with the bath. Once the surface is in its use position the struts also serve to lock the legs in line, allowing the stretcher to carry heavier loads with safety. When the surface is stowed the struts cause the legs to fold back to their stowed position.

Advantageously this embodiment may include a ring 44 loosely around one leg 37.

When the surface is stowed the strut 41 and the leg become broadly vertical and in parallel and the ring slides down over the strut, locking the surface in its stowed position.

To release the surface, the ring is slid up the leg until it no longer holds the leg and strut together. The invention may also be applied to other equipment besides stretchers. 4. a

Claims (5)

1. I. A stretcher or other equipment comprising a surface on which a patient may be laid, the surface bounded by first, second and further edges, the said first edge being pivotally attachable to a fixed object to move between a stowed and a use position and the second edge having a leg structure pivotally attached adjacent thereto, movable between a folded and a supporting position, the stretcher characterised by a linkage pivotally connected between a first point located below the said first pivot point and a second point on the leg structure which second point is lower that the said first point when the surface is in its use position, whereby the linkage moves the legs from the folded to the supporting position in an extended sweep when the surface is moved from the stowed and the use position.
2. 2. A stretcher as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the linkage comprises a strut which lies substantially parallel to the plane of the surface when it is in its stowed position.
3. 3. A stretcher as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the linkage comprises a strut which is pivotally mounted directly to a leg forming part of the leg structure.
4. 4. A stretcher as claimed in either of claims 2 or 3 including a ring which can slide down over the strut and leg to retain the surface in its stowed position.
5. 5. A stretcher substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.