US3121881A

US3121881A - Stretcher with canopy

Info

Publication number: US3121881A
Application number: US120826A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Schnell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-05-15
Filing date: 1961-05-15
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 w. J. SCHNELL 3,121,881

, STRETCHER WITH CANOPY Filed May 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. N/LZ/AM J. .Sf/M/EAL W. J. SCHNELL STRETCHER WITH CANOPY Feb. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1961 Ill A Q m R a m M m 0 M M W M a Y 7 B l dZl ,881 Fatented Feb. 25, l bd 3 121581 STRETHER WKTH CANQPY William J. Schneli, 178 Bromleigh Road, Stewart Manor, N3. Filed May 15, B63, Ser. No. 12%,826 11 (Ila-Ems. (Chi-82) This invention relates to stretchers, and more particularly to a folding stretcher with a canopy to protect the injured person.

The general object of the present invention is to improve stretchers for the transport of an injured person. The usual stretcher comprises two long poles with fabric therebet'ween. Because of its length this is inconvenient or impossible for storage in an ordinary police patrol car.

Moreover, police experience shows that most accidents occur in rainy or stormy weather. There is usually delay waiting for an ambulance. If the victim is placed on an ordinary stretcher resting onthe street he is unprotected and almost certain to be soaked from beneath and above.

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing difiiculties. One specific object is to provide a stretcher which folds to dimensions small enough to fit in'an ordinary police car trunk. A further object is to provide the stretcher with a canopy which is readily added to the stretcher after the injured person is placed thereon, and which will protect him against the weather. A further object is to make the said canopy transparent for ready observation of the victim, and to make the same foldab-le for compact storage in a space no bigger than that required for the folded stretcher. Still another object is to make the stretcher out of still material, including a panel which is raised somewhat from the ground when the stretcher rests on the ground.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the stretcher and canopy elements and their relation One to another, as are more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the stretcher and canopy in extended relation;

FIG. 2 shows the stretcher in folded condition;

FIG. 3 shows the canopy frame in folded condition, the flexible covering material being omitted for clarity;

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary View explanatory of a modification;

PEG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the stretcher in extended condition;

HQ. 6 is a longitudinal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 66 of PEG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section through one side of the hinge, drawn to larger scale;

PEG. 8 is a transverse section drawn to larger scale, and taken approximately in the plane of the stepped line 8% of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the canopy frame.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to PEG. 1, the stretcher and canopy combination comprises a frame 12 and panel 14 with handles 15 projecting longitudinally at the corners thereof. There is also a canopy which comprises two bows l8 and 2%) together with means to support the same in generally upright position at the ends of the stretcher. A flexible material 22 is secured to the bows and extends therebetween to form a canopy for the stretcher. The bows are detachably secured to the stretcher, so that the canopy may be added after the injured person has been placed on the stretcher.

in FIG. 1 the stretcher is shown extended, but when not in use it may be folded in half, as shown in FIG. 2, and the canopy may be folded as shown in EEG. 3. Re-

ferring to FIG. 2, the stretcher is hinged half way between its ends at 24, so that it folds in half lengthwise. The stretcher comprises a stiff frame, and a panel 14' thereover. The construction is better shown in H68. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawing, the sides 25 of the frame being made of light metal, say aluminum or magnesium, in channel section. The section is most clearly shown in FIG. 8. Cross bars 23 and 39 (FIGS. 5 and 6) are provided at the outer and inner ends respectively, and they space the sides apart to complete the frame. Additional cross supports may be provided, as shown at 3% and 32, to additionally support the panel 14. The latter is made of sheet aluminum or magnesium of suitable gauge, and it is preferably bent around the sides of the frame, as shown at 34 in FIG. 8. The members 34?" and 32. have their flanges cut away at the ends so that the flat web alone overlies the main side channels 26. These channels are made of thin metal compared to the side channels 15 and the end channels 28 and 3d.

The hinge 24 may be a continuous or piano type hinge, secured to the cross bars or channels 3% as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The channels are upright or edge- !wise, like sides 26, but the channels 3t? are disposed horizontally, as shown in FIG. 7.

The stretcher is provided with a slidable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation. In the present case this comprises two slidable members 36, connected by two cross rods or tubes 38 for simultaneous movement. The tubes may be received and welded in holes in the members 35. The tubes serve as convenient handles to move the slidable lock members 36. The slides 36 may be channel shaped, as best shown at the left of FIG. 8, and are dimensioned to be slidably received within the main side channels 21; of the stretcher. The slidable lock is bodily movable between a position at one side of the hinge 24 when the stretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge as shown in E88. 5 and 6 when the stretcher is to be used. When being slid to one side the tubes 33 pass freely and with ample clearance between the flanges of the channels 39' and 3% (see FIG. 7), and beneath the flanges of channel 32.

The canopy comprises two U shaped base members 4% and 42 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length (in this case two feet wide and three feet long). These base members are hinged end to end, as shown at 44 in P16. 3, so that when extended, as shown in FIG. 1, they form a rectangular canopy base having substantially the dimensions of the stretcher. There is a first bow l8 pivo-tally secured at one end of the base, and a second bow 2b pivotally secured at the other end of the base. These bowsmay be turned to the upright position shown in FIG. 1 when in use, or maybe turned down to a position collateral of the base when not in use, at which time the base and bows may be folded as a unit, as shown in PEG. 3. For this purpose the bows preferably fit within the base, as shown.

Referring to FIG. 9, the bow it may be riveted to base 453 by a suitable fastener or rivet shown at 46. A rounded projection may be provided on the bow at 48, this acting as a detent to hold the bow in erect position when it has been turned up. The resilience may be provided by the tendency of the free ends of the bow to expand against the sides of the frame.

The base of the canopy may be provide with means to lock it in extended condition. Such a means is shown in FIG. 3, and consists of a resilient detent 52 having a projection 54 which snaps releasably into a mating recess or hole 56. Such a lock may be provided on one or both sides. It is pulled outward to release it.

The canopy has means to detachably secure it to the stretcher, and in the present case this consists simply of four short pegs or dowels 5th (FIG. 3) which are re- 3 ceived in mating holes in the stretcher, two of these being shown at 54 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 8 a peg St) is shown in its socket 54.

in FIG. 3 the flexible covering of the canopy has been omitted, in order not to conceal the structural parts of the canopy frame. However, it will be understood that when the frame is folded the fabric folds with the frame.

In warm climates the fabric is preferably made of a transparent plastic sheet material, and it may be secured to the frame by snap fasteners. This is illustrated in FIG. 8, in which the lower end of the plastic sheet 22 is reinforced by a canvas binding strip 53 provided with snap fasteners 69 which are pressed against and engage mating fastener elements disposed at intervals along the sides of the canopy base. Similar canvas reinforce or binder strips and fasteners may be provided around the bows to secure the material to the bows. The fasteners have been omitted in most figures of the drawing for simplicity. if desired, permanent attachment of the covering to the frame may be used. In cold climates a woven fabric cover has the advantage of retaining its flexibility, whereas plastics material will stiffen.

Referring to FIG. 8, it may be explained that the ends of the cross bars 28 are Welded at 29 at the top and bottom flanges, thereby leaving a rectangular opening to receive the inner portions or shanks 62 of the handles 16.

The parts 39 (FIG. 7) are shallow channels disposed horizontally rather than vertically, with the vertical flanges cut away at the ends so that the web underlies the side channels 26. Similar flat channels 3t) are disposed on the opposite side, the arrangement being best shown in FIG. 7. The flanges of these channels are relatively shallow and leave adequate space therebetween for passage of the round spacer bars or tubes 38 which connect the slides of the lock, as is best shown in FIG. 7. The lower channels 30 are made of heavier material because they are the ones which receive the hinge 24. The channels 30' are of relatively thin material, as they need only stiffen the panel 14.

The supports 32 intermediate the channels 28 and 30' may resemble the supports 30', that is, they are shallow channels disposed horizontally with the ends of the vertical flanges cut away so that the horizontal webs can overlie and be welded to the top of the side channels. The thickness of the web is small enough not to affect the overall smooth coverage of the frame by the sheet aluminum panels 14.

If desired, the canopy may be simplified by using only the end bows without the base 42. Such a modification is shown in PEG. 4, in which the side frame 7 9 of the stretcher has a socket '72 secured thereto to receive one end of the bow. It will be understood that there are four such sockets '72 on the outer four corners of the stretcher. The lower ends of the bows are inserted downwardly into the sockets, with the canopy fabric 74 stretched taut therebetween. To remove the canopy, the bows are simply pulled upward, and the canopy is folded by moving the bows together with the fabric therebetween. The edges of the plastic may be bound by fabric strips 73 and '75, with strip 73 secured to the bow.

in a specific case the channels 26 were two inches high, one inch wide, and inch thick. The end pieces 28 may be made of similar channel material, welded at its ends to the flanges of the side frames 26, thereby leaving rectangular openings for the handles, as shown at 62 in FIG. 8. The

support channels

30, 30 and 32 are 1% inches by A2 inch, with the flanges cut off for a distance of one inch at each end to overlie the side channels, as previously described. The sheet material or panel may have a thickness of, say 5 inch or less, and is welded in position by so-called tack welding. The handles may be made of wood or molded plastic material, or may be molded out of aluminum or magnesium. In the latter case they may be welded to secure them in position, or they may be drilled and tapped to receive locating screws.

The latter procedure is used with wood or plastics material. It will be understood that the weight-bearing load of the handles is taken by the fit of the handles within the channel sides of the frame, and that all that the screws need do is to locate the handles, rather than to bear the stretcher load.

The slides 36 of the lock may be two feet long. The channel material here is 1 inches high and 34 inch wide, and the two sides are connected by A2 inch tubing. The cross tubes 38 are located two inches from the ends of the slides 36, and are received in holes in the slides, where they may be welded in position.

The covering of the canopy preferably is made of heavy duty material. It is six feet long, two feet high, and two feet wide, and the ends may be left either open, or closed, or may be left open but with separate detachable ends provided for use when desired. The edges preferably are reinforced by a strip of canvas provided with snap fastener buttons at suitable spacing, say every twelve inches for attachment to the bows, and to the base of the canopy frame when a base is used. The canopy frame may be made of channel section material, as shown in FIG. 3, but the dimension of the section has been exaggerated in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity, and it will be understood that in practise the frame material of the canopy may be and preferably is much smaller in dimension than the frame of the stretcher.

It will be understood that the specific dimensions given from time to time in the specification have been given solely by way of example of the invention, and are not intended to be in limitation of the same.

It is believed that the construction and method of use of my improved stretcher and canopy, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The stretcher is durable, and folds in half lengthwise, so that it can be stored in the trunk of an automobile. When open, the slide lock makes it rigid. It may be rested on the ground, in which case its upper surface is raised from the ground enough to avoid wetting by puddles of water. The canopy provides a shelter against rain or stormy weather, and it may be applied from above the injured person after he has been placed on the stretcher. This affords important protection, particularly when, as frequently occurs, there is considerable delay waiting for medical aid in stormy weather.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described the invention in preferred forms, changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims. In the claims the term light metal refers to the use of aluminum or magnesium or other metal which would be equivalently suitable for the present purpose.

I claim:

1. A stretcher comprising a stiff frame and panel, said stretcher being hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a slidable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, said frame being made of light metal, the sides being of channel section with the open sides of the channels facing one another, cross bars spacing the same apart and completing the frame to support the panel, and said lock having side members extending parallel to the sides of the stretcher, said side members being carried within and being slidable longitudinally of the stretcher in said channels to a position at one side of the hinge when the stretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge so as to lock the channel sides or". the stretcher in aligned extended relation when the stretcher is to be used.

2. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stretcher frame with handles projecting longitudinally at the corners thereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting the body of a person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising a rectangular canopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the base when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher, said canopy base being a light frame which is open within its periphery so that the canopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

3. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiff stretcher frame with handles projecting longitudinally at the corners thereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting the body of a person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising two U-shaped members having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base having substanti ly the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the frame, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the frame, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the canopy base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when the canopy is extended, said canopy base being a light frame which is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

4. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiff stretcher frame and panel with handles projecting longitudinally at the corners thereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting the body of a person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising two U-shaped members having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the canopy base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible transparent plastic sheet material secured to said bows and canopy base and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when both are extended, said canopy base being a light frail e which is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

5. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiff frame and panel, said stretcher being hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a slldable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, the sides of said frame being made of light metal channel section with the open sides of the channels facing one another, cross bars spacing the same apart and completing the frame to support the panel, and said lock having side members extending parallel to the sides of the stretcher, said side members being carried within and being slidable longitudinally of the stretcher in said channels to a position at one side of the hinge when the stretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge so as to lock the channel sides of the stretcher in aligned extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, said canopy comprising two bows, means to support the bows in upright position at the ends or" the stretcher, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the bows to the stretcher when both are extended.

6. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a still frame and panel for supporting a person on the stretcher, said stretcher being hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a lock means to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, said canopy comprising two U shaped members having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when both are extended, said canopy base being a light frame which is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

7. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a sti f frame and panel for supporting a person on the stretcher, said stretcher being hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a slidable loci; to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, the sides of said frame being made of metal in channel section, and cross bars spacing the same apart and completing the frame to support the panel, said canopy comprising two U shaped members having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base having substantimly the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the canopy base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as a lllllL when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when both are extended, said canopy base being a light frame which is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

8. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a still frame and panel, said stretcher being hinged half way betwen its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handles projectin longitudinally at the four corners, and a slidable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, the sides of said frame being made of light metal in channel section with the open sides of the channels facing one another, cross bars spacing the same apart and completing the frame to support the panel, and said lock having side members extending parallel to the sides of the stretcher, said side members being carried within and being slidable longitudinally of the stretcher in said channels to a position at one side of the hinge when the stretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge so as to lock the channel sides of the stretcher in aligned extended relation when the stretcher is to be used, said canopy comprising two U shaped members having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either an upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of the base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible transparent sheet material secured to said bows and canopy base and extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when both are extended.

9. A stretcher as defined in claim 1, in which the side members of the lock are of channel section with the open sides of the channels facing outwardly, and in which there are tubular cross members which fixedly connect the side members of the lock to one another, whereby the tubular cross members may be used to help slide the lock longitudinally of the stretcher.

10. A stretcher and canopy combination as defined in claim 5 in which there are tubular cross members which fixedly connect the side members of the lock to one another, whereby the tubular cross members may be used to help slide the lock longitudinally of the stretcher.

11. A stretcher and canopy combination as defined in claim 8, in which the side members of the lock are of channel section with the open sides of the channels facing outwardly, and in which there are tubular cross members which fixedly connect the side members of the lock to one another, whereby the tubular cross members may be used to help slide the lock longitudinally of the stretcher.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A STRETCHER COMPRISING A STIFF FRAME AND PANEL, SAID STRETCHER BEING HINGED HALF WAY BETWEEN ITS ENDS TO FOLD IN HALF LENGTHWISE, HANDLES PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY AT THE FOUR CORNERS, AND A SLIDABLE LOCK TO LOCK THE HALVES RIGIDLY IN EXTENDED RELATION WHEN THE STRETCHER IS TO BE USED, SAID FRAME BEING MADE OF LIGHT METAL, THE SIDES BEING OF CHANNEL SECTION WITH THE OPEN SIDES OF THE CHANNELS FACING ONE ANOTHER, CROSS BARS SPACING THE SAME APART AND COMPLETING THE FRAME TO SUPPORT THE PANEL, AND SAID LOCK HAVING SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE SIDES OF THE STRETCHER, SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING CARRIED WITHIN AND BEING SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF THE STRETCHER IN SAID CHANNELS TO A POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF THE HINGE WHEN THE STRETCHER IS TO BE FOLDED, AND A POSITION STRADDLING THE