US1977944A

US1977944A - Invalid handler

Info

Publication number: US1977944A
Application number: US652727A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas H Haskett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-01-20
Filing date: 1933-01-20
Publication date: 1934-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1951-10-23

Description

Get. 23, 1934.

T. H. HASKETT INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 1934. T. H. HASKETT INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 23, 1'934. s rr 1,977,944

INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 T. H. HASKETT INVALID HANDLER Oct. 23, 1934.

Filed Jan. 20, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z? Hake Oct. 23, 1934. H, HA KETT 1,917,944

INVALID HANDLER Filed Jan. 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,977,944 INVALID HANDLER Thomas H. Haskett, Anaheim, Calif.

Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 652,727

3 Claims. .(Cl. 5-84) This invention relates to invalid handlers adapted for hospital and surgical use and has for an object to provide a device of this type which will promote the comfort of invalids and convenience in handling patients.

A further object is to provide an invalid handler having an adjustable frame in which the side bars of the frame and the posts at each end telescope so that the device may be easily adjusted to fit any length or height bed.

A further object is to provide wheeled posts which are locked stationary to the bed but may be readily disconnected from the bed to permit of the device being transported, the locking means comprising longitudinal bars which are so shaped as to embrace the legs of the bed and which telescope into the bottom end rails of the frame so that the frame may be made suiliciently narrow .to pass through doorways.

A further object is to provide novel raising and lowering devices for the stretcher, consisting of cables, drums and geared cranks at the foot of the frame adapted to be manipulated easily without exertion for the purpose of adjusting the sections of the stretcher to assume various desired angular relationships to each other, the raising and lowering means being provided with braking means which allow the operator to let go of the cranks at any time, while the stretcher will remain in the adjusted position regardless of how much weight is on the stretcher.

A further object is to provide a stretcher-sup-v porting frame which will have yokes at the bottom of the posts for straddling the head and foot sections of the bed to securely position the frame on a bed where it is not desired to move the device for transporting the patient.

A further object is to provide a novel stretcher which will include a frame and a canvas cover which is removably secured to the frame by zippers so that quick and easy removal and attachment of the cover may be effected when necessary.

A further object is to provide a stretcher having the frame jointed to preferably provide four hinged sections, such as a foot section, a hip section, a shoulder section, and a head section, all of which may be disposed by the raising and lowering cables of the superposed frame work at desired angular positions with respect to each other.

A further object is to provide a stretcher in which the sections are connected by novel hinges so constructed as to permit the sections being adjusted and locked at various angular positions to each other in a quick and expeditious manner,

A further object is to provide a stretcher having an adjustable foot rest which forms a spreader at the bottom of the stretcher.

A further object is to provide a stretcher having a mattress to promote the comfort of the patient, the mattress and canvas cover of the stretcher being provided with registering openings to permit of the bed pan being used, the openings normally being closed by a canvas flap carried by the stretcher cover and having a plug of the same material as the mattress adapted to enter the opening in the mattress and form a continuous surface.

A further object is to provide novel Winding drums and gear mechanisms for operating the drums, together with pulleys and cables so arranged that manipulation of the operating cranks will adjust the sections of the stretcher relatively to each other to assume various combinations of shapes hitherto. unobtainable by the use of ordinary invalid handlers.

A further object is to provide an invalid handler which will be light, strong and durable, will be portable and hygienic, and ,will present a neat and attractive appearance.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a perspective view of the invalid handler applied to a hospital bed showing the stretcher in raised horizontal position,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the stretcher and mattress, the latter being shown raised from the stretcher for the purpose of clearness,

Figure 3 is a cross section through the center oi the stretcher and mattress assembled,

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal section of the hinges showing two adjusted angular positions of the hinge,

Figure 5 is a detail section showing the hinge locked in rigid horizontal position,

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of Figure 5 showing the pivot of the hinge,

Figure '7 is an enlarged cross section with parts in elevation showing the cable, drums and gear mechanisms,

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 oi F gure '1.

Figure 9 is a detail cross section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 10-40 of Figure 7,

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on the line 11-'-11 of Figure 8,

Figure 12 is a cross section taken on the line 1212 of Figure 8,

Figure 13 is a detail cross section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 1,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention showing the posts of the frame equipped with downwardly opening yokes for attaching the frame to the head and foot sections of the bed, and

Figures 15 to 19, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing a few of the many adjustments of the stretcher which can be made.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, and more particularly to Figure 1, 10 represents a bed of the hospital type, although the invalid handler is adapted to be used in connection with all types of beds.

The invalid handler includes a frame comprising four corner legs 11, preferably formed of tubing. Each leg is formed of an upper and a lower section telescopically assembled and adapted to be held in various adjusted positions by a set screw 12. The legs at one end of the frame are connected preferably at three places by means of a lower cross bar 13, an intermediate cross bar 14, and a top'cross bar 15. The legs at the opposite end of the frame are connected by a lower cross bar 16 and an upperv cross bar 17. All of these bars are preferably formed of tubing. A pair of tubular side bars 18 are secured in any preferred manner to the top bars 15 and 1'7 and these side bars are adapted to extend above and longitudinally of the bed and form supports from which the stretcher, hereinafter described, is'suspended. The longitudinal bars 18 are each formed of sections which are telescopically united and held in various adjusted positions by set screws 19 so that the bars may be adjusted to suit any length bed.

The corner posts 11 are provided with wheels 20 which may be in the form of casters mounted on spindles 21, as shown in Figure 13, which are rotatably secured in bearings 22 and confined against accidental escape by set screws 23. These casters permit of the frame being placed over or removed from the bed as well as being transported from room to room when desired.

When mounted upon a bed the frame is locked stationary to the bed by means of bars 24 which extend longitudinally of the bed and are terminally provided with bowed portions 25 which embrace the legs of the bd. Preferably a pad 26 of suitable material is interposed between each bowed portion and corresponding leg of the bed, shown in Figure 13. Each bar 24 is provided beyond the bows with extensions 27 and 28 which extend at right angles to the bars and enter the

tubular bottom rails

13 and 16 of the frame, respectively. As clearly shown in Figure 13, the

extensions 27 and 28 are adapted to be secured in various adjusted positions in said bottom bars by means of set screws 29. Loosening of the set screws permits the bars 24 to be moved inwardly or outwardly to fit various widths of beds and also permit the frame to be moved through a narrow door of substantially the width of the frame as defined by the space between each pair of corner posts 11.

To permit. removal of either of the bars 24 so that the frame may be removed laterally from. the bed from either side, each bar is terminally equipped with an eye 30, as also shownin Figure 13, which receives the corresponding extension and is removably secured to the latter by means of a set screw 31.@ By simply urfastening the set screws 31 of the bar on one side of the bed the frame may be pushed oil! the bed in the direction of the opposite side of the bed whereupon the bar may be replaced to maintain rigidity of the frame during transportation of the patient.

B y referring more particularly to Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, it will be seen that each longitudinal bar 18 of the frame is equipped with preferably three

pulleys

32, 33 and 34, the pulley 32 being a double pulley, as shown best in Figure 12, while the

pulleys

33 and 34 are single pulleys. A wire cable 35 is trained over the pulley 34 and a similar wire cable 36 is trained over the pulley 33, both of these cables being thence trained over the double pulley 32 and carried downwardly to respective superposed spools or winding

drums

37 and 38, best shown in Figure 10. The free ends of the cable are equipped with snap hooks 39 and 40, of any preferred type, which are adapted to be hooked through suitable eyes carried by the stretcher frame, as will presently be described. The pulleys, cables, winding drums and snap hooks, just described, are arranged close to one of the posts 11 at the foot of the frame or bed and as the parts just described are duplicated adjacent to the opposite foot post 11 for the purpose of brevity the duplicate parts have been given the same numerals, as will be seen by referring to Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 10, the superposed winding drums are mounted in a suitable casing 41 and the cables are conducted through guide eyes from the drums out of the casing and thus kept separate and from tangling. The casing is provided on one side with a split clamp composed of complementary sections 42 secured together by bolts 43, as shown in Figure 9, which permit of the casing 41 being firmly secured to the corresponding corner post 11 of the frame.

The two top drums 37 are fixed to a common I ing up or 'unreeling of their respective cables, ac- V cording to the direction of rotation of the crank. Likewise, the top shaft 44 is equipped with a worm gear 50 which meshes with a worm pinion 51, as shown in Figure 7, the worm pinion being operated by a shaft and crank 52, as best shown in Figure 1. Upon rotation of the crank 52 both top drums 37 will be simultaneously actuated to reel or unreel their respective cables, according to the direction of rotation of the crank 52.

Gear cases 53 of identical construction, and shown best in Figure 9, house the worm gear and pinion gear of each transverse shaft, Just mentioned, these cases being suitably secured in any preferred manner to the corresponding winding drum casing 41. The worm gear and corresponding worm pinion of each train is preferably in the ratio of six to one so that the winding drums may be operated with little muscular effort. To prevent accidental retrograde movement of the drums when the corresponding cranks are released and to assure that the hereinafter described stretcher will remain in the desired adjusted positions,each worm pinion shaft is equipped with a friction brake, as best shown in Figure 8, comprising a helical spring 54 which is confinedon a projecting end of the crank shaft by means of

nuts

55 and 56 and bears against and forces a washer 57 into frictional engagement with the rear wall of the gear case 53. The spring is preferably surrounded by a housing 58. Tightening of the adjusting

nuts

55 and 56 causes the spring to be compressed and force the washer 57 into tight frictional engagement with the outer face of the gear case and thereby positively prevents accidental retrograde movement of the corresponding crank handle when the operator lets go of it.

As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, the winding drum casings 41, in addition to being clamped to the posts 11 of the frame, are also clamped to the intermediate transverse bar 14 of the frame by means of split ring clamps comprising complementary members 59 bolted together, as shown at 60. Consequently the winding drum units are so rigidly secured to the frame as to reduce vibration to a minimum so that long life and durability of the parts is assured.

In Figure 14, there is shown a modified form of frame in which the corner posts 61 are relatively short in length and are each equipped at the bottom with a yoke 62 which is adapted to fit-down upon the head or foot section of the bed, as the case may be. In this type of frame no provision is made for maneuverbility and this modification is therefore particularly adapted to home use where the patient will not be moved from room to room as is the case in hospitals.

The component parts of this modified form of the frame, as well as the raising and lowering apparatus carried thereby, is otherwise identical with the first-described form of the invention, and for the purpose of brevity and cleamess corresponding parts in both forms have been given similar numerals.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be seen that a stretcher is provided comprising parallel tubular side rails 63 connected at the head ends by a tubular cross rail 64 and connected at the foot ends by a combined stretcher spreader and adjustable foot rest. The foot rest preferably comprises spaced transverse tubular bars 65 connected at the ends by posts 66 which extend below the lowermost bar and terminate ineyes 67 which slidably receive the side rails 63 and are adjustably secured to the latter by set screws 68. The foot rail and support may thus be adjusted longitudinally of the side rails to accommodate patients of different heights.

The side rails are connected by a canvas cover 69 which, as best shown in Figure 3, is looped around the side rail 63 and stitched to the body of the cover, as shown at 70. The intermediate portion of the cover is removably attached to the looped ends by means of parallel rows of zippers 71, best shown in Figure 2. Spaced straps 72 are passed transversely across the intermediate portion of the cover and are stitched to said portion, as shown at 73 in Figure 3. The ends of the straps are passed under the side rails 63 and thence upwardly, as shown, and are terminally equipped with rings 74 adapted to be received in the above described snap hooks 39 and 40 of the raising and lowering apparatus.

The side rails 83 are jointed at three places, as shown in Figure 2,' by means of novel hinges, shown in detail in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, which hinges produce adjustable stretcher sections which may be inclined at various angular positions with respect to each other, as shown in Figures 15 to 19, inclusive, and which will hereinafter he referred to as the foot section 75, hip section 76, shoulder section 77 and head section 78. Each hinge preferably comprises a socket member 79 carried by a section 80 of the side rail, the socket member being open at one end and having the edge at the open end rounded to provide a tapered stop surface 81. The mating secti 82 of the side rail is provided with a head 83 w ich enters the socket member 79 and is secured therein by means of a pivot pin 84 passed transversely through the head and the socket member. The head is substantially elliptical in outline, as shown best in Figure 6, so that it may freely clear the inner wall of the socket member when the section 82 of the side rail is rocked upon the horizontal pivot 84.

The section 82 is provided adjacent the head with screw threads 85 which receive a lock nut 86; The lock nut is knurled on its surface, as shown at 87, and is tapered beyond the knurled surface to provide a substantially frusto conical stop surface 88. The purpose of the frusto conical stop surface is to permit of the lock nut being advanced towards the socket member 79 until said surface contacts with and binds against the stop surface 81 of the socket member and centers as well as locks the section 82 in the socket member in alignment with the section 80. In this position of the parts the stretcher will be substantially horizontal and rigid so that it can be raised vertically to lift the patient from the bed, as

shown in Figure 1, or tilted, as shown in Figure 14.

The lock nut 86 may be backed away from the socket member 79 until the stop surface 81 of the socket member will 'contact with only the smallest peripheral portion of the stop surface 88 of the nut, in which position of the parts the section 82 of the side rail may be swung upwardly, as shown by full lines in Figure 4, or downwardly, as shown by dotted lines in said figure, to extend at an angle to the section 80. By backing the lock nut 86 to its outer limit of movement on its threads 85 the nut will clear the socket member 79 and permit of a still greater angular inclination upwardly or downwardly of the section 82 with respect to the section 80.

Preferably to complete the stretcher, I provide a mattress 89 which serves as a pad for the canvas cover 69 of the stretcher and promotes comfort of the patient. The mattress is provided with an aperture 90 which registers with a similar aperture 91 in the stretcher cover 69 to permit use of the bed pan. A rubber sheet 92 is disposed transversely of the mattress around the opening 90 therein.

A canvas flap 93 is stitched at one edge, as shown at 94 in Figure 2, to the underneath face of the canvas cover 69 and carries a plug 95 of material removed from the mattress by the formation of the opening 90. Thus when the flap is rocked to closed position the plug will project through the opening 91 in the canvas stretcher cover and enter the opening 90 of the mattress to form a continuous surface; as will be understood. The flap 93 is provided with straps 96 which are secured by snap fasteners 97 to the underneath face of the stretcher cover 69.

vIn operation, the crank 52 on the right side of the frame rotates the upper shaft 44 to lengthen or shorten the cables 36 simultaneously so that the hip section '76 of the stretcher will be disposed at an angle with respect to the shoulder section 77, as best shown in Figures 16, 17 and 19. Rotation of the crank 49 on the left side of the frame actuates the lower shaft to lengthen or shorten the cables 35 and dispose the shoulder section 77 at various angular positions with respect to the hip section 76, as shown in Figures 15, 16, 17 and 19. Rotation of both cranks elevates or lowers the corresponding sections in unison so that not only will the sections be caused to assume desired angular positions with respect to each other, but also will be elevated to any desired extent above the bed, as shown in Figures 1, and

' 15 and 17. It is simply necessary to detach the snap hooks 39 and 40 from the eyes 74 on one side of the stretcher and then rotate both cranks in unison to tilt the stretcher upwardly on the opposite side, as best shown in Figure 14. This position of the stretcher allows the patient to be turned slightly on his side to rest and relieve the back and prevent bed sores.

It will thus be observed that by manipulation of the crank handles independently of each other or simultaneously with each other, the cables may be wound or unwound from their winding drums accordingly to produce ,predetermined angular positions of thestretcher, with respect to each other, on the bed, as well as with respect to the bed itself.

As shown in Figure 1, the stretcher has been made rigid by tightening the lock nuts 86 of the hinges and the patient is raised without the slightest discomfort in order that the bed linens may be changed or for other desired purposes.

As shown in Figure 18, the hinges have been made rigid and the stretcher has been elevated at one end at an angle, thus permitting use of the bed pan.

In Figure 15 the stretcher is shown as being made substantially rigid and raised at the foot with the head remaining on the bed, which position iii-especially suited for cases of hemorrhages, shocks, injuries and fractures.

In Figure 16 two pairs of the hinges have been unlocked and the foot and hip sections are elevated to place the patient in a position required in many cases of wounds, fractures and inflammation. This figure also shows the position of the stretcher to permit the patients legs to be raised and dispose the patients legs at an angle from the hips to the knees and then horizontally from the knees to the feet.

In Figure 19 the stretcher is shown as having two pairs of the hinges unlocked to adjust the patient so that the head and feet will be down while the abdomen will be raised, which position is required in certain cases of post-operations. The semi-reclining position of the stretcher is shown in Figure 17 which permits of complete relaxation of the patient sitting up, while convalescing, and for using the bed pan in a natural comfortable position.

Only a few of the many adjustments of the stretcher obtainable, have been illustrated and these by way of example only, it being obvious that many other positions may be secured by proper manipulation of the cranks to dispose the patient in suitable positions, exactly as the doctor desires, instead of approximately, as has been hitherto necessary with the ordinary available devices of this character.

By again referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that eyes 99 are secured to the side rafls 63 at the corners and that hooks 98 are secured to the corner posts 11 at the head of the frame. The hooks 98 may be engaged with the eyes 99 when the stretcher is elevated and after removal of the frame from the bed, so that the stretcher will not sway and thus the patient may be comfortably transported on the stationary suspended stretcher as the frame is rolled from place to place. It will be particularly noted that the two rows of zippers 71 extend the full length of the canvas cover of the stretcher so that by pulling the zippers the canvas cover can be quickly freed from the stretcher frame. Furthermore, it will be pointed out that the rings 74 and the ends of the straps 72 are used on the outside of the stretcher frame to connect with the wire cables except when the canvas cover alone is to be used, such as for lifting the patient from the bed into a chair. To accomplish this, the zippers are pulled to free the canvas cover from the stretcher frame and then the ends of the straps are passed inside of the stretcher frame and attached to. the wire cables. The patient may then be taken on the canvas alone to the chair while the stretcher frame is left lying on the bed until the patient is brought back, whereupon the canvas cover may be laid in the frame and the zippers again connected.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of my invention will be thoroughly understood without further explanation.

.What is claimed is:

1. An invalid handler comprising a frame having telescoping corner legs and telescoping longitudinal bars connecting the legs whereby the frame may be adjusted to various sizes of beds, wheels carried by the frame, side rails having curved portions adapted to embrace the legs of the bed and terminating beyond the curved portions in extensions, and means adjustably and removably securing said extensions to the frame for permitting the side rails being adjusted to fit.

various sizes of beds and to be removed therefrom for permitting the frame being maneuvered away from the bed.

2. An invalid handler comprising a frame, including corner posts, cross bars connecting the posts, upper longitudinal side bars connecting the posts, lower longitudinal side bars connecting the posts and telescopically united with the lowermost connecting cross bars of posts, wheels for the frame below the lowermost cross bars for supporting the frame over a bed, spaced pairs of winding drums carried by the frame and secured to one pair of the corner posts, pulleys carried by the upper longitudinal side bars, and cables carried by the drums and trained over the pulleys.

3. An invalid handler comprising a frame, including extensible corner posts, longitudinal upper side rails, lower side rails adiustably secured to the posts to be moved toward and away from the posts and having curved portions adapted to embrace the'legs of a bed, ,wheeis carried by the corner posts, pairs of superposed winding drums carried by the comer posts at one end of the frame, a common shaft upon which the upper drums of both pairs of drums are fixed, a common shaft upon which the lower drums of both pairs of drums are fixed, means for rotating both shafts, pulleys carried by the upper side rails of the frame,. and cables carried by the drums and trained over the pulleys.

THOMAS H. HASKETT. [r..s.]