US1201785A - Stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

J. C. WILLlANlS.

STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. I916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

ATTORNEY JOHN G. WILLIAats, or WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

. STRETCHER.

morass.

Specification of Letters Patent...

Patented Oct. 17, 1916 Application filed April 1, 1916. Serial No. 88,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. WILLIAMS,

- a citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of Wheeling, county of Ohio, and State of WVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements n Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stretchers of that character employed for carrying the bodies 'of persons, as when-,injured or dead; and

it has for its primary object to provide a stretcher having a body composed of two similar fabric parts or sections wh ch are conveniently separable for permitt ng the person carried thereby to be depos1ted d1- rectly upon a table, bed, or the like without bodily lifting such person from the stretcher.

A further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned wherein the fabric sections are joined by means of a longitudinally withdrawable strap and in wh ch no portion of said strap contacts either with the body or clothing of a person restmg thereon, thus providing for the removal of said strap without occasioning such person discomfort or annoyance.

A still further object is to provide. a stretcher having a central longitudinal hinge-like joint between the fabric sections and in which the latter are so formed that joint overlaps are provided which effectually prevent the separation of vsaid sections under the influence of a weight imposed thereon to such an extent as will expose open or gaping slits.

With these and other important ob ects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged transverse section on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is-a longitudinal sectional view, still further enlarged, said section being taken on line 3 3, Fig- 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectlon on line 44, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is anenlarged fragmentary view showing in top plan the connecting edges of the fabr c sect ons. I

Referring to said drawings, n which like designating characters distinguish hke parts as shown.

throughout the several views, 1 indicates two similar sections of a flexible fabric, as heavy canvas, each of which has its outer lateral edge turned back and stitched to its body to form a sleeve 2 designed for the reception of a handle 3. The opposite lateral edge of each section is in like manner turned or'doubled back underneath the body and is stitched to the latter to form a permanent flat fold of suitable width, afterwhich a plurality of substantially rectangular pieces are cut from the outer edge of said fiat fold to form a series of alternate loops 4 and rectangular notches 5. The said notches are located at equidistant intervals, and have a length corresponding with that of the intervening loops; and the positions of the notches of one fabric section register accurately with the loops of the other so that said sections will interengage or articulate in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the sections have been placed in interfitting relation, a flexible strap 6 of leather, rubber or other appropriate material, is threaded lengthwise through the alternate loops of the two sections for connecting the latter. -The depth of the notches is somewhatless than the width of the fold in which they are formed, so that separated flaps 7 are left between the notch and the seam or stitching of said fold, said flaps being designed to overlie and underlie respectively the ends of the loops 4 of the opposite section received in said notches, thus closing or concealing the slits or interstices formed between .the loops of one section and the edge of the opposite section due to the tension of a weight sustained by said sections. A suitable flap, as 8, is fixed to one of the fabric sections adjacent to each of its ends, the same having a spring clasp socket 9 upon its free end adapted for clamping engagement with a clasp button 10 fixed onthe opposite'section. A binding tape 11 is preferably sewed along the inner edge of each fabric section,

Clasp buttons 12 are fixed to the sleeves 2 at suitable points, the same being designed to be received by clasp sockets 13 attached to the outer edge portions of sheets 14 of Waterproof fabric 14 which are adapted to loosely overlie the fabric sections 1. Said sheets 14 which may or may not be used, as desired, are designed to have their inner edges disposed in overlapped relation for preventing the fabric sections 1 from becoming soiled or stained by blood.

For bracing the stretcher body against undue sagging while being carried, and also for supporting said body and handles when set down, brace-like metal spreaders or supports 15 are removably mounted on the projecting portions of the handles at points adjacent to the ends of the latter, handleembraeing rings or sleeves 16 being provided upon the upright terminals of said supports, as shown. As is obvious, the said supports may be mounted in reversed positions-that is, upside downwhen it is necessary to pass a loaded stretcher through openings of limited depth.

As is apparent, the fabric sections may be conveniently disconnected and the handles withdrawn from the sleeves thereof, whereupon said sections become as readily washable as an ordinary heavy towel. Thus, the device is ofsuch haracter'that it may be easily kept in a perfectly sanitary condition.

What is claimed is- A stretcher comprising two similar fabric sections each of which has its inner lateral edge doubled back and attached to the body thereof to form a permanent longitudinal fold, said fold being dentated by the provision of notches therein, said notches being of less depth than said fold so that a pair of separated outwardly extendin flaps are left between each notch and the adjacent fold connection, the dentated margins of the sections being disposed in articulated relation, with the ends of the loops formed between the notches of each section received between the flaps of the opposite section, and a flexible connecting member removably threaded through the alternating marginal loops of said sections.

In testimon whereof, Iaflix my signature in presence 0 two? subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. WILLIAMS.

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