US3396414A

US3396414A - Stretcher for picking up and transport of injured or sick persons

Info

Publication number: US3396414A
Application number: US581374A
Authority: US
Inventors: Niveau Jean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-09-23
Filing date: 1966-09-22
Publication date: 1968-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-13
Also published as: FR1459128A; DE6607584U; GB1164312A; DE1541329A1

Description

J. NIVEAU Aug. 13, "196 8 STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1968 J. NIVEAU 3,396,414

STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 13, 1968 J. NIVEAU 3,39

STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANSPORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS Filed Sept. 22, 1966 s sheets-sheet 5 United States Patent 3 396 414 STRETCHER FOR PICKING UP AND TRANS- PORT OF INJURED OR SICK PERSONS Jean Niveau, 72 Rue Bauer, Forbach, France Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,374 Claims priority, applicagitzrzsFrance, Sept. 23, 1965,

6 Claims. (Cl. -81) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to .a stretcher for picking up an injured or sick person and for their transport.

T rough-shaped stretch'ers are already known. However, these stretchers do not allow an injured person to be moved comfortably, particularly people hurt at the spine or at the pelvis. Raising such an injured person by the arms to put them into the stretcher could aggravate their condition and could cause other lesions.

The stretcher which forms the subject of this invention avoids the aforesaid disadvantage and allows an easy means of picking up injured persons, even in confined spaces.

According to the invention the two longest sides of the stretcher are removable. The sides can be slid, individually, under the body of the injured person to form a sort of plate permitting the injured person to be picked up without previously lifting the person from the ground.

In the transport position, the stretcher according to this invention is similar in form and dimensions to known stretchers.

Advantageously each of the two removable sides is formed by a sheet of steel or aluminium fixed rigidly at one of its large sides on a stringer formed by a steel tube, said stringer being fixed by keying to the rest of the stretcher frame.

Advantageously staffs are provided to allow more convenient transport.

For picking up an injured person, the removable sides are loosen from the stretcher and slid under the injured person, one on the right side, the other on the left side. The removable sides are then joined together to form the picking up plate.

This joining together is realized advantageously by two bars entering into sleeves fixed on the removable sides.

The picking up plate preferably has a reduced width with regard to the known stretchers, permitting its use in very confined areas such as coal mines.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying non-limitative exemplary drawings will give a clear understanding of the various features of this invention and the art of carrying them into practice.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 represents a view of the stretcher according to invention, in transport position, one of the removable sides being represented separately so as to facilitate the understanding.

FIGURE 2 represents a sectional view of FIGURE 1 at lines IIII.

FIGURE 3 represents one of the movable staffs.

FIGURE 4 represents the two removable sides joined in picking up position.

3,395,414 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 "ice FIGURE 5 represents another form of the realization of the stretcher frame.

FIGURE 6 represents a front view of the frame of FIG- URE 5.

Refering to FIGURE 1, the stretcher comprises a rigid frame including two bars 1a and 1b of steel tube and two slats 2a and 217.

On this frame is fixed the bottom 3 of the stretcher for example made with aluminium sheet or with plastic material, transparent or not to X-rays.

On both sides of the frame the form of which is generally rectangular, two removable sides are fixed each of them including a tubular slat 4 and plate 5 made with sheet metal rivetted on three angle-iron, welded on the slat 4.

The tubular slats 4 are joined at the frame by putting them into U-shaped pieces 6 welded on the frame, and are fixed by bolts which in turn are attached by two small chains 8 to the slats. Each slat has two handles 9.

In transport position, each of the thin sheets 5 of the two removable sides press [against the interior of the tubes 1a and 1b of the frame as represented in FIGURE 2. The keying by pins 7 avoids fluttering of the sheet 5.

The movable stafifs 10 one of which is represented on FIGURE 3, are fixed on the extremities of the slats. They comprise a tube 11 including a slit 12 on the upper part, and a hole on the lower :part.

In transport position the pins 7 pass through the staffs thereby fixing them in the desired position.

FIGURE 4 represents the two removable sides separated from the frame and joined in the pick-up position. The connection between the two removable sides is realized by means of two pegs 13a and 1311 which are fitted into U-shaped pieces or sleeves 14 welded on the slats 4.

The pegs 13a and 13b are fixed in the desired position by pins 7. The plate formed preferably has a width not over 14 inches, which permits its use in confined areas.

The section of the pegs 13a and 13b could have any form, but a rounded or squared shape is preferred. In transport position the pegs are positioned in two or four movable staffs the orifice of which is the same as the section of the pegs. A ring serves to pull the pegs from their lodging in which they are held by a ball steel pawl.

For picking up a hurt person, the two removable sides are separated from the frame and the sheets are slid under the injured person, one on the right side, and the other under the left side till the sheets 5 are under the hurt person as shown on FIGURE 4. The injured person is not lifted during this operation. The two removable sides are then joined together by means of the pegs 13a and 13b. Thus, the injured person lying on the formed plate (FIG URE 4) can be transported above the frame of the stretcher. The pegs 13a and 13b are then withdrawn and the sheets 5 slowly retired from under the injured person to position the person on the bottom 3 of the stretcher. Then, the slats 4 are replaced and fixed with pins 7 into the U-shaped pieces so that the sheets 5 close the stretcher in the right and the left sides. Thus, the stretcher is ready to transport the injured person.

The frame of the stretcher according to the invention can have a form different from the form shown in FIG- URE 1, the form of the removable sides of the stretcher being the same as shown in FIGURE 1.

This variant is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The frame consists of two beams 1a and 1b, two bars 2a and 2b and a bottom 3. Two air cushions 15, distended by tire valve 16, are fixed on the bottom 3 of the stretcher by a bridle 17.

The bottom 3 of the stretcher has on its two extremities holes 18 as shown in FIGURE 6. U-shaped pieces are provided on the frame to fasten the removable sides.

The disposition of the frame of the stretcher according to FIGURES 5 and 6 allows different utilizations of the stretcher.

It is possible for example to lay down the plate bearing the sick person, represented on FIGURE 4, on the frame of the stretcher. In this case the distended air cushions 15 serve to absorb the shocks and vibrations received by the frame and the removable staffs are pulled out through the orifices 18 so as to eliminate the risks of sliding and falling.

The stretcher can also be utilized as described previously, i.e. by loosening the removable sides of the plates shown on FIGURE 4 and using them as the large sides of the stretcher.

If necessary a sick person can be carried to the hospital on the plate shown on FIGURE 4 and the frame utilized as a stretcher for the transport of another injured or sick person, the part of the beams 2 opposite the holes 18 forming handles allowing an easy operation of the frame.

Of course the stretcher according to the invention can include fastening straps for the injured person. According to a mode of advantageous realization, the picking up plate includes three straps attached on the beams of the removable sides.

The adjustable central strap includes rubber cuffs destined to hold the forearm of the injured man during his transport on the plate. The frame includes two or three straps.

What is claimed is:

1. A patient-carrying system comprising: a frame having two opposite open sides; two removable panels each of which is constituted by a first member and a rigid plate fixed thereto, said first member being removably fitted to said frame to close said opposite sides thereof; removable securing means for securing each of said panels to said frame in said side closing position, whereby a stretcher is formed; strut means for positively interconnecting said panels in adjacent relationship after removing the same from said frame side closing position; and removable fixing means for securing said strut means on said first members, whereby a litter is formed which is distinct from said stretcher.

2. The patient-carrying system of claim 1 wherein said frame is U-shaped and said first member is tubular.

3. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said removable securing means comprise pins and sleeves attached to said frame. 3

4. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said strut means comprise two bars fitting into said sleeves.

5. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising four staffs.

6. A patient-carrying system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising air cushions fixed on said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,128 7/1950 Gomelski 582 3,045,257 7/1962 Knapp 5112 X 3,110,912 11/1963 Propst 582 3,111,687 11/1963 Sacks 582 3,252,169 5/1966 Propst 581 X 3,264,659 8/1966 Magni et a1 5-82 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.