US1151932A - Folding stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

. L. FILLIUS.

FOLDING STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1912.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET M INVENTOR A llorm WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANoGnm-H 60., WASHINGTON, uv c.

H. L. FILLIUS.

FOLDING STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. I912.

1,151,932. Pat ntedAug. 31,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

o 21 4/29 I g 1 I "I HmQiIH i! MUM I95 ,3; J6 J6 Jl6 J4 20 COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

HABRY L. FILLIUS, OF WASH INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOLDING STRETCI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 31 1915,

Application filed November 13, 1912. Serial No. 731,200.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PARRY L. FILLIUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The aim of my invention has been the production of a stretcher which may be folded and unfolded with the least number of operations, and without difliculty or delay even by the most unexperienced. And I have so far succeeded that the stretcher of my invention may be unfolded and in turn folded by two operations only, the one the simple and obvious unfolding longitudinally of the side poles, and the other the simple moving of the extended sidepoles apart from each other to stretch the canvas covering, or bringing them together to collapse the same.

The stretcher of my invention is complete in every detail, simply and strongly built, is mechanically most eliicient in operation and durable, and at the same time of simple, straight, attractive lines and of the light construction adapting it for ready transportationyet the two simple operations only are required for each ofits unfolding and folding movements, the unfolding and folding movements and the locking of allparts being controlled through the simple manipulation of the side poles as specified. The side poles may be most conveniently manipulated in all cases by direct grasp of the grips on their ends, which fact insures the preservation of order in the handling of the stretcher, prevents mishandling, and reduces to a minimum the time required. There is no chance of jockeying about for holds in the unfolding, or the feverish pulling and pushing of miscellaneous strapping, locking and bracing devices.

The details of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be described with reference thereto.

Of the drawingsFigure l is a perspective view showing the stretcher of my in vention with the canvas covering removed for the purpose of clarity. Fig. 2'shows one part of one of the side poles and a connected same. Figs. 6 and 7are transverse sections on lines 6+6 and 77 respectively of Fig. 5.

The side poles are designated generally 10l( They are each made in two halves a b connected together bythe downwardly opening hinges 1l11.

The side poles are spaced apart by folding spacing rods 12 pivotally connected at their opposite ends with the side rods 10 and folding inwardly at the middle as shown in dotted lines in Fig.1. ,To each end of each side pole is pivotally connected a leg adapted to be moved about its pivot into and out of position alongside of theside pole to which it is attached.

The canvas covering (not shown) is stretched over the top of the side poles, and is secured either to the outsi'des of the poles or totheir under sides as may bepreferred.

Within the body of the part a on each side pole (or within the body of the part b if preferred),are located close to the hinge pin 13, but on-the oppositeor under side of the pole, two oppositely moving transversely arranged locking boltsld, sliding in socket 15 which is extended through the adjacent side plates 16 of the hinge connected with member a. The side plates 17 of the hinge connected with the member 6 are extended to form projections or hinge ears 18, which when the side poles are extended as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, overlap the side plates 16 connected with the member a of the pole. In these overlapping portions are formed sockets 19 adapted to register with the socket 15 in the plates 16 connected with the member a when the pole is extended as shown, whereby the two transversely arranged sliding lockingbolts 14 may be moved in opposite directions into the registering sockets l519, to lock the hinged joint open and the side rod in extended position. Thus the side ,rod' cannot collapse when theload strain comes upon it. By suitably proportioning the size of the hinge plates and the size of the locking bolts 14: and hinge pins 13, I have succeeded in making the strengthof this joint as great as is needed for any service. The locking bolts 14 and the'registering sockets 15 and 19 are made circular and accurately fitting, whereby the joint is rigid. when locked in extended position. -l\foreover there is no wear at'the joint and it retains its rigidity substantially throughout the life of the stretcher.

The locking bolts 14: as aforesaid are locked on the interior of the part a of the pole, the View shown in Fig. 5 being taken with the covering plate 20 (see Figs. 6 and 7 removed. Through a transverse lever 21 pivoted at to the part a and connected by pins 23 to the scissors levers 2 which in turn are connected with the locking bolts 1 1 through slots 25 in which their ends bear, the locking bolts 14: may be operated from the exterior of the part a,by simply moving the operating lever 21 back and forth. The end of the operating lever 21 projects through a slot 26 in the hinge plates and the entire locking device is inclosed, rendering the structureof the hinge joint essentially simple and straight-lined, free of exterior parts which may catch and bind on the canvas covering and give trouble during the folding. The location'of the lock within the body permits folding of the side poles in the smallest compass which their substantially uniform cross section will permit.

The operating lever 21 is connected by rod 27 extending substantially parallel and on the inside of the side pole :(see Fig. 1) to one of the spacingrods 12' on one side of the pivotal connection of the spacing rod to the side pole, whereby, when the side poles have been extended, when they are moved apart, the movement of the spacing rod 12 operates the locking bolts 14 to lock the side poles in extended position.

- The legs, 121areconnected by rods 28 extending substantially parallel with the side poles, each to the part of the side pole opposite longitudinally to that to which it is attached. This connection 28 is made in each case from apivotal point 29 above the pivotal connection 30 of the leg with the side pole to the hinge ear 31 or other moving portion on the other end of the pole, where by when the side poles are folded and extended, the legs 121 have imparted to them movement to and from folded position. One of the connecting rods 28 of each side pole connects to the outside hinge ear of the opposite part of the rod (see Figs. 3 and 7 while the other rod 28 of the same side pole connects to the inside hinge ear through an arc-shaped slot 32in the outside hinge ear. Preferably the pivotal connection to the hinge ear is made by pins 33 fixed on the ends of the rods and held in sockets or pin holes 34 respectively in inner and outer hinge plates by means of a washer 35 or other means on the transversely extending hinge pin 13. Another construction may be employed if desired but this is simple and easily constructed and assembled.

Pivotally connected with each leg 121 is a brace 13d pivotally connected in turn with a small locking lever 35 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3), in turn pivotally connected at its outer end to the inside of side rod 10. By this outer pivotal connection the movement of the leg 121 into and out of folded position is unobstructed by the brace 13% for the reason that in its movement outwardly (see Fig. 3) the brace 134 carries thelocking lever 35 around its pivot to a folded position within the width of the side pole.

The inner end of the locking lever 35 is bent over to cooperate with the locking projection on the outside of spacing rod 12. The locking projection 35 on the spacing rod is in extended position shown in Fig. 1, hooks over the end of locking lever 35 and fixes it in position with respectto the side pole 10, whereby the brace 134 is made effective and the legs are rigidly positioned.

The spacing rods 12 are constituted toggles by the formation of their middle joints 36 as locking toggle joints. This is simply done by providing projections 37 and 38 on the hinge which permit the spacing rods to be unfolded to full length from their inner dotted line positions, and then just a little beyond their position of greatest length whereby the stretched canvas maintains the spacing rods in this extended position, their tendencyto collapse outwardly being prevented by the abutting projections 3738. In this position the pivot 36 is without the line of centers between the points of pivotal connection of the rods 12 to the poles 10. To collapse the rods 12 a slight pressure at the joints 36 only is necessary.

lVith this understanding of my invention,

its manipulation as above described will be most readily perceived. Assuming the stretcher folded, both side rods being folded together as the one side rod is shown in Fig. 3, the hand grips 39 at the ends of the poles are grasped, one pair by each of two persons, and with the side poles still closely side by side, they are unfolded at the hinge joint 11 in a manner similar entirely to the unfolding of the ordinary slide rule. The manipulators are then at opposite ends of the stretcher. By this simple act of unfolding, the legs 121 have been moved by the connecting rods 28 to extended position and the legs rest upon the floor or ground as the case may be. It is then necessary only that the side poles be moved apart as shown in dotted lines and as in full lines in Fig. 1, the manipulators simply moving the hand grips 39 apart by spreading their arms apart. By making these movements suddenly, the rods 12 lock automatically. As a result of this movement, the rod 27 has been moved by the unfolding of spacing rod 12 to throw the lockingbolts l4; and render the side poles rigid in extended position. So also the locking levers 35 have been engaged by projection 35 and the extended legs 121 are rigidly braced in position. The stretcher may be then immediately lifted and carried to a desired point ofservice, or having been unfolded at the point of serv ice, the burden may be placed upon it and transported to the desired point. It should be noted especially that the two operations just described follow each other consecutively and immediately. If desired a small downward pressure may be put on the grips 39 when the side poles are moved apart,

whereby the hinged joints 11 are kept fully open and the operation of the lock is unimpeded. The position ofthe legs 121 on the other hand may be such as respects the simply the reverse of that described, the

rods 12 being first collapsed and theside poles moved close together, whereupon they may be folded upon each other and together as shown in Fig. 8,

WVhile I have describedthebestf form of my invention now known tome, 1 wish to have it understood that my invention may be given other forms by those skilled in the art without departing iii any wise-from the generic spirit ofits' essential features, and that I desire to cover in the annexed claims all such modifications. i I e Having thus described my invention,-what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat'- ent is i 1. A side pole for stretchers made intwo portions hinged together andhaving overlapping hinge plates oneach of two opposite sides, said hinge plates" being provided with sockets adaptedto r'egister when the pole is extended, together with a pair of operatively connected oppositely 'moving locking bolts mounted transversely of one of said portions and adapted simultaneously to be slid into said sockets when they register to lock the pole in-extended position.-

2. A side pole for stretchers made in two portions hinged together, together with. a locking device located interiorly of one of said portions of the pole, adapted tolock ing said side poles and adapted to space the same apart, together with an operating connection between said locking devices and a part of said stretcher vwith respect to which the poles move when the stretcher is un' folded whereby the locks are automatically operated during the unfoldingoperation.

4. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles each made in two partshinged together, a locking device associated with I I each hinge joint and adapted to lock the parts of each pole together in extended po-- sitio-n, folding spacmg rods connectlng the two side poles and adapted to space the same apart and a connection between the aforesaid locks and one of the folding spacing rods whereby when the side poles are moved with respect to each other the locks are operated. I

5. A side pole i for a folding stretcher made in two parts hinged together and folding legs fixedly pivoted thereto connected with said side pole one on each side of the hinge joint and operated into and out of folded position '"through the relative movement of said two parts of the pole,

the connection to the legs ineach case when the pole is extended paralleling and lying substantially adjacent'to the body of the pole;

#6. Aside pole for folding stretchers comprising two parts hinged together and folding legs connected with saidpole one'on each "side-0f the hingejoint' and movable all the way into and out of folded" position through connection each with 'thatpart of thepole on the opposite side of the hinge joint itself, the said operating connections between the legs and the hinge when the pole is extended lying in substantially the same right line. Y a

7. Aside pole for stretchers comprising twoparts hinged together, the hinge connecting the parts haying integrally formed hinge-axis earsof considerable radius from the axis of the hinge, folding'legs connected therewith and connecting rods between the said legs and the ears of the hi 'ige connecting the parts, said connecting rods being con-' 8.,A side pole for stretchers comprising two parts hinged together, a folding leg on each part, a connection from the outer hinge ear on the one part to the folded leg on the other, an arc-shaped slot in said outer hing-e ear on the one part, and a connection through said arcuate slot from the inner hinge ear on the said other part to the folding leg on the one.

. 9. A side pole for stretchers comprising two parts hinged together, a folding leg on each part, and connecting rods extending from the said legs to the opposite hinge ears of the said hinge joint between the two parts and saidconnecting rods being eccentrically connected with said hinge ears whereby relative movement of said two parts of thepole causes the folding and unfolding of the said legs, together with means where,- by the; hinge pin maintains the two said connecting rods connected with the ears of the hinge.

10. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, legs onsaid side poles which are adapted to be moved from. folded positions substantially parallel with the rods to extended positions substantially transverse thereof, together with folding transverse spacing rods which when collapsed are free from the legs but which when extended engage and brace the legs in extended position. Y

11. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, a pair of folding spacing rods connecting said poles together and adapted tospace them apart, and in addition folding legs .on one of the aforesaid elements braced inextended position by the other of said elements, said spacing rods having connection with said poles independently of said legs.

12. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, a pair of folding spacing rods connecting them together adapted to space them apart when extended, and additional independently movable folding legs mount- A ed on one of said elements, and projections from the other group of said elements which engage and brace said legs mextended posltion.

13. A side pole for stretchers made of two portions hinged together and having in extended position overlapping parts, on opposite sides thereof, a pair of oppositely moving locking bolts mounted transversely of one of said portions and means for simulof collapsed position through relative move- 'ment of the parts of the poles, collapsible means connecting said poles together whereby said poles may be spread and braced apart or collapsed together at will, and abutments for bracing said legs operated into I and out of bracing position through the relative movement of said side poles when they are spread apart and collapsed.

16. A folding stretcher comprising a pair ofside poles each made in two parts hinged together, a folding leg connected with each part of each pole and operated into and out of collapsed position through relative movement of the parts of the poles, collapsible means connecting said poles together whereby said poles may be spread and braced apart or collapsed together at will abutments for bracing said legs operated into and out of bracing position through the relative movement of said side poles when they are spread apart and collapsed, together with a lock associated with the hin ed joint of each pole and also operated by the relative movement of said poles to lock the poles in extended position. I

17 A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles each made in two parts hinged together, collapsible means connecting said poles whereby said poles are adapted to be spread and braced apart or collapsed together atwill', folding legs connected with said side'poles and abutments adapted to brace said -legs,moved into and out of bracing position through the relative movements of said'side poles with respect to each other.

18. A side pole for stretchers comprising two portions hinged together and a lock adapted to retain said portions in extended positions comprising overlapping parts on each "side of the pole, oppositely moving transverse bolts adapted to engage each of the overlapping parts on one side of the pole, and means for simultaneously operating said bolts in opposite directions.

19. A side pole for stretchers comprising two sections hinged together a leg pivoted to a fixed point on each section and having a rotative movement about said fixed point from an extended position substantially normal to the pole to a folded position substantially parallel thereto, and a connection between-each leg and the section of the pole carrying the other leg, said connection being made between points on the leg and section 10 sections of its pole and independent collapsible connections between the poles having portions which when the connected stretcher is extended, brace the legs in their extended position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY L. FILLIUS. Witnesses:

J OHN P. TARBox, JAiwms H. MARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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