US3104116A - Rescue toboggan - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1963 Filed April 18, 1961 D. S. KNIGHT, JR

RESCUE TOBOGGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD S. KNIGHT JR.

I f az cv- W Sept. 17, 1963 D. s. KNIGHT, JR

RESCUE .TOBOGGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DONALD S. KNIGHT JR.

Filed April 18, 1961 p 1963 D. s. KNIGHT, JR 3,104,116

RESCUE TOBOGGAN Filed April 18, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

FIG.6 IECWI/W DONALD S. KNIGHT JR.

P 1963 D. s. KNIGHT, JR 3,104,116

RESCUE ,TOBOGGAN Filed April 18, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. DONALD S. KNIGHT JR.

BY;%% 60. W

United States Patent 3,104,116 RESQUE TOBOGGAN Donald S. Knight, in, Montgomery County, Pa. (1609 Upland Ava, .lenirintown, Pa.) Filed Apr. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 193,391 6 (Ilaims. ((Il. 28i)-18) This invention relates to a rescue toboggan for use on snow covered terrain and more particularly to an improved rescue toboggan particularly suitable for transporting injured or incapacitated personnel over snow and ice.

Due to the ever increasing interest in and number of persons enjoying winter sports, particularly skiing, it becomes of particular importance to provide satisfactory means for transporting injured skiers from the scene of an accident to a base where proper medical treatment can be administered. Not only does the present equipment find great utility at ski resorts but it may be used under any conditions where it is required to transport heavy loads or injured personnel over snow or ice. Mountain climbers, victims of airplane accidents, and even motorists or others who have been snowbound in inaccessible places can be safely carried by means of the improved rescue toboggan which is the subject matter of the present invention.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a rescue toboggan particularly suitable for transporting injured personnel over snow and ice.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a rescue toboggan of the type described an improved braking mechanism which is operable from the forward or towing position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rescue toboggan having suitable means for transporting injured personnel with a minimum of injury thereto.

A still further object is to provide in a rescue toboggan detachable cushions and mattresses whereby various parts of the anatomy of an injured person may be safely maintained in a position during transportation.

A further object is to provide a combination rescue toboggan and litter for carrying injured personnel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rescue toboggan which is readily transportable, lightweight and strong.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings in which,

H6. 1 is a perspective of an improved rescue toboggan constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing the toboggan of FIG. 1 arranged to accommodate a skier with a leg injury,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing a portion of the tail section of the toboggan partly broken away and the manner in which it is secured to the nose section,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail as seen at 4d of FIG. 1 partly sectioned showing one of the clamping means for connecting the nose and tail sections of the toboggan,

PEG. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail as seen at *':35 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail as seen at 6-6 of FIG. 2 or" the cushions and their securing means,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail partly sectioned as seen at 77 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a modified brake operating mechanism.

The invention comprises essentially the provision of .a lightweight formed. aluminum nose section having a curved forward dash which serves as a pocket or storage receptable for the cushions. Two towing arms connected to the nose section control a sprag type brake on either side of the nose section of the toboggan through ice a worm and sector or alternatively by means of a hydraulic pump. The tail section of the toboggan, provided with runners extending part way forward from the rear end, has suitable locking and disconnecting segments .to clamp to the nose section. A mattress is secured on the top of the assembly with a suitable line and is provided with snap fasteners by means of which the cushions may be attached to the mattress.

Referring now to FlGS. 1-3, my improved toboggan incorporates a nose section it formed of a curved sheet of aluminum having a plurality of reinforcing ridges 11, lit. The aluminum or other strong sheet-like material is formed around and secured to T-section frame elements 1'2 and 13 having apertures 14 and 15, respectively, through which the towing and brake actuating handles 16 and 17 extend. The lower portion of the cowl id is secured to a cross member 24} having a plurality of dowels or pins 21, 21 pointing rearwardly as seen clearly in FIG. 3. The T-section frame members 12. and 13 terminate at brake housings 22 and 23 on each side of the cross section, as seen also in FIGS. 1 and 3. A stub frame member 24 is secured or formed integrally with the brake housing 23 and a corresponding stub member 2-5 is likewise secured to or formed integrally with brake housing 22.

The tail section of my improved toboggan comprises a pair of hollow rails 3d and 31 having a bed or body 32 connected therebetween. The body 32 is formed of lightweight sheet material such as aluminum and is dimpled at 33, 33 (FIG. 5) to provide suitable rigidity and strength. A plurality of T- section runners 35, 36 and 37 are secured to the rear bottom portion of the body 32 and these runners are tapered at their forward ends also as shown in FIG. 5. The forward portion of the body 32 is provided with a cross member 43 having suitable slots or holes 41 which are in alignment with and fit over the pins 21, 21. With the tail section secured to the nose section as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 any suitable clamping means may be employed such as pivoting handles or levers 42 and 43 and mounted on tabs 44 and 45, respectively, and which maybe locked securely in notches 4s and 47 on the stub frame rails 24 and The braking device on my improved toboggan is of particular importance and can be set or released by the operator while he is pulling or otherwise guiding the toboggan. Each of the handles 16 and i7 terminates in a universal joint 5i) connected to a stub shaft 51 journaled in housings 2.2 and 23. The worm 52 on shaft 51 meshes with a sector 53 journaied on a shaft 54- and having an elongated sprag or extension 55 having a plurality of teeth or serrations 55 on the underside thereof. Rotation of handle 17 by the operator serves to raise or lower the sprag 55 to provide the optimum braking angle for solid ice, hard packed snow, or an icy crust. The right and left hand brakes are constructed in the same manner and it will be understood that the actuation of the braking element in housing 2 2 is identical to that shown in housing 23 (FIG. 7). The ability to selectively control the brake on either the right and left runners individually as well as simultaneously also assists in guiding the toboggan under extreme icing conditions. Furthermore, the individual brakes cooperate with the runners 35-37 to prevent the toboggan from sliding sidewise.

A modified form of brake actuating mechanism is shown in FIG. 8 in which handle 17 serves as a pump handle for a hydraulic pump piston 60 secured in the housing 61. Hydraulic fluid is delivered to the master cylinder 62. from a reservoir 63 by means of aconduit 64'. The fiuid is then forced under pressure past the check valve 6-5 and into conduit 66 to displace piston 67in cylinder 6%. This displacement of the piston 67 pivots sprag 55 on its fulcrum 54 in much the same manner as shown in connection with FIG. 7. In the form of FIG. 8, however, right hand sprag 55 and left hand sprag 70 operate together since the hydraulic fluid is forced through conduit 71 housing 72, conduit 73 and cylinder 74 in exactly the same way as described in connection with cylinder 68. The left hand piston 75 in cylinder 74 controls the pivoting movement of sprag 70 through the piston rod 75'. Compression springs 76 and 77 in cylinders 74 and 68, respectively, urge their pistons 75 and 67 to the right to release the brakes or sprags 55 and when the operator turns the left hand handle 16 to open the pressure relief valve 78 the fluid is permitted to return to reservoir 63 through orifice 80 in housing 72 and lateral conduit 81. Handle 17 is pivoted to housing 61 at 8 2 but handle 16 is provided with a universal joint 83 to permit the operator to control the hydraulic relief valve 78.

When completely assembled, my rescue sled is provided with a suitable mattress 85 which has a blanket or cover 86 secured along one edge thereof as shown in FIG. 2. A line 87 may be secured to the side rails as shown in FIG. 1 to lash the mattress and blanket in place or to secure the injured person in position to prevent rolling off, if such is indicated. Where circumstances are such that a signal is useful I attach light 18 which may have both constant and blinker control circuits to the cowl 10.

A particular feature of the present rescue toboggan involves the use of a series of foam rubber or resilient pads or cushions 90-95. The cushions 90, 91, 94 and 95 are in the shape of truncated cylinders having flat faces and a semicircular back whereby they may be stored in the curved recess formed by the cowl 10. Cushions 92 and 93 are provided with double concave surfaces as shown clearly in FIG. 6 so that cushions 90, 91 and 92 may be secured by means of snap fasteners 96 to the mattress 85 and to each other to form a single level or double level resilient cushion to support a leg of the injured person, as shown in FIG. 2. Two of the remaining cushions 94 and 95 may be fastened near the top or head of the mattress 85 to prevent the patients head or neck from rolling or twisting sidewise. It will be understood that a suitable number of fasteners 96 may be positioned on the mattress at the strategic points needed to secure the cushions for individuals of different heights. When not in use, as shown in FIG. 2, all or some of the cushions 9095 are stored in the nose section of the toboggan and retained therein by means of an elastic cord 97, as shown in FIG. 1. The blanket 86 may then be used to cover the patient and he may be lashed in place, if such is necessary, by means of the cord 87.

It will be understood that my improved rescue toboggan incorporates several important and unique features enabling the quick and efficient rescue of injured or marooned personnel from otherwise inaccessible locations and permits their removal with a minimum of damage or further injury. The tail section may be disconnected to provide a satisfactory litter on which the patient or injured person may be carried and in the rescue operation the tail section serves as a rigid splint for the various parts of the anatomy which should be rigidly supported during transportation. The flap or cover protects the mattress from dampness and snow, etc., and the brakes may be locked in a holding position to prevent the toboggan from sliding even on a steep incline.

I claim:

*1. A rescue toboggan assembly comprising a nose section having a pair of parallel side rails, a cowl attached to the forward portion of said rails, a brake housing on the rearward portion of each of said rails, a brake in each of said housings, a pair of handles connected to the nose section at each of said rails said handles extending forwardly and beyond the cowl and positioned to be operated solely from in front of said cowl, means operable by movement of at least one of said handles for setting and releasing said brakes, a tail section comprising a pair of side rails, locking means for securing the forward termini of the tail section side rails to the rearward termini of the nose section side rails, and a mattress secured to said tail section.

2. A toboggan assembly in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of formed cushions normally stowed in the cowl, means for retaining the cushions in the cowl, and means for securing the cushions in various locations to the top of the mattress.

3. A rescue toboggan assembly comprising a nose section having a pair of parallel side rails, a cowl attached to the forward portion of said rails, a brake housing on the rearward portion of each of said rails, a brake in each of said housings, a pair of handles connected to the nose section at each of said rails said handles extending forwardly and beyond the cowl and positioned to be operated solely from in front of said cowl, means operable by movement of at least one of said handles for setting and releasing said brakes, a tail section comprising a pair of side rails, and locking means for securing the forward termini of the tail section side rails to the rearward termini of the nose section side rails.

4. A toboggan assembly in accordance with claim 3 in which the tail section comprises a rigid stretcher capable of supporting a human body.

5. A toboggan assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which each brake comprises a pivoting sprag, a plurality of serrations on the underside of said sprags, and a worm and sector for pivoting each sprag upon rotation of each handle.

6. A toboggan assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which at least one of the handles is pivoted to its associated rail, a fluid pump operable by movement of said handle, a fluid cylinder in each of the housings, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pivoting sprag in each of the housings, connecting means between each of the pistons and each of the sprags, and fluid connections between the pump and each of the cylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 88,457 Bodisco Mar. 30, 1869 351,790 P8111011 NOV. 2, 1886 2,365,174 Cochran Dec. 19, 1944 2,367,157 Tufts Jan. 9, 1945 2,677,551 Berg May 4, 1954 2,770,465 Dandurand Nov. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,276 Great Britain June 9, 1910 of 1910 217,135 Germany Dec. 21, 1909 1,013,302 France Apr. 30, 1952

Claims (1)

1. A RESCUE TOBOGGAN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A NOSE SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE RAILS, A COWL ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID RAILS, A BRAKE HOUSING ON THE REARWARD PORTION OF EACH OF SAID RAILS, A BRAKE IN EACH OF SAID HOUSING, A PAIR OF HANDLES CONNECTED TO THE NOSE SECTION AT EACH OF SAID RAILS SAID HANDLES EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND BEYOND THE COWL AND POSITIONED TO BE OPERATED SOLELY FROM IN FRONT OF SAID COWL, MEANS OPERABLE BY MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID HANDLES FOR SETTING AND RELEASING SAID BRAKES, A TAIL SECTION COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE RAILS, LOCKING MEANS FOR SECURING THE FORWARD TERMINI OF THE TAIL SECTION SIDE RAILS TO THE REARWARD TERMINI OF THE NOSE SECTION SIDE RAILS, AND A MATTRESS SECURED TO SAID TAIL SECTION.

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