US2558056A

US2558056A - Cot fastener for ambulances

Info

Publication number: US2558056A
Application number: US90901A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mildred M Mitchell; Owner Sole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-05-02
Filing date: 1949-05-02
Publication date: 1951-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-26

Description

June 26, 1951 L. J. MITCHELL COT FASTENER FOR AMBULANCS Filed May 2, 1949 ...uA-u l.. Il

A fr0/@VEZ Patented June 26, 1951 COT FASTENER FOR AMBULANCES Lee J. Mitchell, deceased, late of Independence, Mo., by Mildred M. Mitchell, widow and solev owner, Independence, Mo.

Application May 2, 1949, Serial No. 90,901

2 Claims.

This invention relates to structure particularly adapted for use within ambulances and the like, taking the form of a 'rigidly mounted rack capable of receiving and holding a cot in the ambulance against displacement in any direction.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a rack for cots that includes an upstanding standard having spaced-apart elements for receiving the cot, there being provided manually releasable structure capable of permitting quick and easy movement of the cot to and from a position within the rack.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a cot having a standard provided with a hook at one end thereof for receiving a portion of the cot and manually releasable interengagable structure at the opposite ends of the standard and the cot for holding the latter in place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means on the standard and the cot adjacent one end thereof for holding the cot within an open hook located at the opposite end of the standard.

Other objects of the present invention will lbe made clear or become apparent as the fol lowing specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a cot rack for automobiles made in accordance with the present invention. l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view.

One of the most harassing problems commonly experienced by those in the business of operating and maintaining ambulance services is that of providing means for holding an invalid cot steady and against displacement within the ambulance as the latter is placed in motion. This problem is enhanced by the fact that such cots are usually provided with casters or wheels to permit movement of the same with a patient thereon to and from the ambulance. Since speed of movement of the cot into and out of the ambulance is highly important, and because of the fact that such movement must be with`care when a patient is on the cot, the rack forming the subject matter hereof has been especially designed to meet all of the problems.

In the drawing, there is illustrated a standard broadly designated by the numeral I having an elongated bar I2 disposed substantially horizontally and ordinarily parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ambulance with which the rack is to be used.

A raised, box-like platform I 4 is provided to rest directly upon the floor of the ambulance and may be affixed directly thereto if desired. The horizontal bar I2 of the rack I8 has a plurality of downwardly extending arms I6, each o f which is provided with an out-turned flange I8 at itslowermost end resting directly upon the platform I4.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the ilanges I 8 extend oppositely in staggered relationship and are affixed directly to the platform I4 by means of suitable fastening elements passing through openings 20 in flanges I8.

One end of the elongated bar I2 is provided with a hook 22 that may either constitute an integral part of the bar I2 or be secured thereto through the medium of bolts or the like 24. Hook. 22 extends laterally from one side of the bar I2 that faces the doors of the ambulance that are opened to permit movement of the cot into and out of the ambulance.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the open mouth of the hook 22 faces the opposite end of bar I2. Said opposite end of bar I2 is likewise provided with a relatively small hook 26 having its opened mouth facing in the same direction as the opened mouth of the hook 22.

The cot chosen for illustration is broadly designated by the numeral 28 and includes a rectangular frame having a caster wheel at each of the four corners respectively thereof. Two of such caster wheels are illustrated in Fig. 1 and designated by the numeral 30.

An upright frame piece 32 extends upwardly from each of the caster wheels 38 respectively and these frame pieces 32 are in turn joined by

horizontal frame pieces

34 and 36. The two upright frame pieces 32 of the cot 28 adjacent one end thereof are joined by a bar 38 between

frame pieces

34 and 36 by brackets 4I) and 42 that cooperate with the ends of the bar 38 in cornpletely circumscribing upright frame pieces 32.

Bolts or the like 44 and 46 for

brackets

40 and 42 respectively, hold the bar 38 clamped on the upright frame pieces 32. Bracket 4'2 is provided with an arcuate nger 48 that extends beyond the proximal end of the bar 38 and this end of bar 38 is also provided with an outwardly extending lug 50.

A trigger 52 having a hook on one end thereof is pivotally secured to the lug 50 through the medium of a bolt 54. An elongated rod 56 having a turnbuckle 58 therein for purposes of adjustment, joins the trigger 52 with a manually manipulable handle 6l) secured to the opposite end of the bar 38.

Handle 66 is pivotally held in place through the medium of one of the bolts 46 for bracket 42. Obviously, the rod 56 has pivotal connection at the ends thereof with the trigger 52 and with the handle 60 respectively.

A spring 62 interposed between the trigger 52 on oneside of the lug I) and the bar 38, yieldably holds the trigger 52 swung toward one end of its path of travel. Outwardly extending ears on the trigger 52 and on the bar 38 may be provided for receiving the coil spring 62 and holding the same in place.

The operators handling the cot 28, lift the same in position upon the platform I4 and roll the same by means of the caster wheels 30, to a position where one of the upright ramepieces `32 is received by the hook 22 of rack I0. This frame piece 32 will then readily rotate within the hook 22 to permit swinging of the opposite end of the cot toward the rack I6. The nger 48 will move into position on one side of the hook 26 proximal to hook 22 and serve to wedge the frame piece 32 Within hook 22 tightly in place.V Obviously, hook 22 serves to prohibit movement of the 'cot 28 in one direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of bar I2 and the nger 48 engagingthe hook 2B will hold the cot from movement in the opposite direction along bar I2.

The trigger 52 interlocked with respect to the hook 26 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, will assure that the ringer 48 will remain in engagement with the hook 26, and will also prohibit swinging movement of the cot 28 away from'the rack IU.

It is to be noted that the ends of the hook 26 and the trigger 52 are rounded to the end that as the operators swing the cot into position, trigger 52 will automatically snap into place against the action of spring 62. This spring 62 also serves in yieldably holding the trigger' 5 2 in a locked position until such time as the operators desire to release the cot by manipulation of the handle 66. It is clear that downward swinging movement of handle 60 will impart a pulling motion to the rod 56 to cause trigger 52 to swing on its axis 54 against the action of spring 62. It may be desirable to further hold the cot in position with respect to the rack I2 and the platform I4 and accordingly, such platform I4 is provided with an opening for receiving each of the caster wheels 30 respectively.

These openings are elongated and have an arcuate cup 64 disposed therewithin and extending downwardly below the uppermost face of the platform I4. Cups 64 are in turn provided with a continuous out-turned flange 66 that is inset with respect to the platform I4 and held in place by a plurality of screws or the like 68.

It is seen from the foregoing that the cot 28 may be easily and quickly moved into place with respect to the rack i0 and that once the same is so positioned, it will not move in any direction when the ambulance is placed in motion. Furthermore, when it is desired to remove the cot 28 with the patient thereon, the operator simply releases the trigger 52 by manipulation of handle 60, swings the cot outwardly to release the same from hook 22 and thereupon removes the cot from the ambulance.

lIt is apparent that many details of construction might be varied from the single modication herein illustrated without departing from the spirit of this invention as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1`.V A cot and rack assembly for ambulances comprising an elongated, horizontal bar adapted for mounting in an ambulance and having a pair of rigid, spaced-apart, unidirectional hooks Vextending laterally from one face thereof; a cot having a part insertable in one of the hooks; a projection on said cot and engageable with the other hooi; for holding said part of the cot within the one hook; and a latch separate from said projection and swingable on the cot to and from a position in locked engagement with said other hook.

2. A cot and rack assembly for ambulances comprising an elongated, horizontal bar adapted for mounting in an ambulance and having a pair of rigid, spaced-apart, unidirectional hooks extending laterally from one face thereof; a cot having a part insertable in one of the hooks; a projection on said cot and engageable with the other hook for holding said part of the cot within the one hook; and a latch separate from said projection and swingable on the cot to and from a position in locked engagement with said other hook, the said other hook being interposed between the projection and the latch when the cot is attached to the bar.

MILDRED M. NUTCHELL, Widow and the Sole Owner of the Estate of Lee J. Mitchell, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,859,480 Van Deest May 24, 1932 2,076,866 Runkle Apr. 13, 1937 2,375,896 COX May 15, 1945