WO2007028883A2

WO2007028883A2 - Easy-to-manoeuvre trolley-stretcher

Info

Publication number: WO2007028883A2
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Zarka
Original assignee: Contact Securite
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-09-04
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: EP1922046A2; FR2890556B1; WO2007028883A3; FR2890556A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a trolley-stretcher comprising: a frame (2) which is supported by two support feet (3, 4) having upper ends which are articulated to the frame and lower ends which are equipped with wheels (7); means for locking the support feet in at least one extended position; secure control means for unlocking the support feet, for example in order to load the trolley into an ambulance; and two secure manoeuvring handles (12, 13) which are provided at the rear of the trolley on either side thereof. According to the invention, each secure manoeuvring handle (12, 13) is mounted such that it can pivot around a fixed axis (A1, A2) in relation to the frame (2) and can be folded down onto the longitudinal geometric axis of the frame. Moreover, the means for unlocking each support foot comprises a control lever (10, 11) which is mounted to the corresponding manoeuvring handle (12, 13) and which can rotate with same.

Description

MANUFACTURED STEERING TROLLEY.

The invention relates to a stretcher trolley, of the type that includes: - a frame supported by two crutches, one at the front and one at the rear, articulated at the top on the chassis and provided with wheels in part low,

- Crutch locking means in at least one unfolded or folded position,

secure means for controlling the release of the crutches, in particular for loading the truck into an ambulance, and

- two handles provided at the rear, one on each side of the truck.

The operation of the carriage, especially when loading in an ambulance, is relatively difficult because of the presence of the patient whose weight is added to that of the carriage. The front end of the chassis is usually provided with wheels that come to rest on the floor of the ambulance or on a raceway that can be fixed either on the floor of the ambulance or on an emergency table. In the latter case, for loading, the raceway is tilted backwards, and can be extended by a loading table down below the level of the floor of the ambulance to facilitate the loading of the stretcher on Table. A stretcher must push the trolley up onto the inclined runway, while supporting the rear end, due to the necessary sag of the crutches. When landing, the stretcher bearer must hold the cart.

It is therefore desirable that the carriage allows the stretcher to exercise in the best possible conditions the necessary efforts during the loading and unloading of the truck, safely.

The invention aims, above all, to provide a stretcher trolley of the kind defined above, facilitated maneuver, which allows to effectively exert a thrust on the trolley during embarkation or disembarkation, while maintaining easy access to means for controlling the release of crutches.

According to the invention, a stretcher carriage comprises: - a frame supported by two crutches, one at the front and one at the rear, hinged at the top on the chassis and provided with wheels at the bottom, - Crutch locking means in at least one unfolded or folded position,

means for controlling the release of the crutches, in particular for loading the trolley in an ambulance, and two operating handles provided at the rear, one on each side of the trolley, a means for unblocking each leg comprising a control lever being mounted on the corresponding operating handle, and is characterized in that each operating handle is pivotally mounted about a fixed axis relative to the frame between an unfolded position substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the frame and a folded position towards the inside at 90 °, and the control lever of each stand mounted on the corresponding operating handle is rotatable with it.

In the folded position towards the axis, the operating handles make it possible to exert the best thrust force, the unlocking control levers remaining accessible immediately at any time to the stretcher holder who holds the operating handles.

A locking means of the operating handle in each position is advantageously provided. Preferably, the operating handles are located at a level other than that of the frame, and the articulation of the handles is provided at one end of a stem inclined relative to the plane of the frame, the other end of the bracket being fixed to the frame, this stem extending towards the rear of the carriage. Advantageously, the stem rises from front to rear so that the articulation of the handles is located at a level higher than that of the frame.

Each operating handle can be articulated in a yoke fixed relative to the frame, this yoke forming a housing at right angles whose concavity is turned towards the median longitudinal axis of the carriage; the yoke has two faces at right angles, and an upper wall and a lower wall having locking notches adapted to receive a complementary lug provided on a sleeve slidably mounted on the handle.

A rotating ratchet can be provided to hold the control lever of a stand, including the rear stand. This pawl can be constituted by a hook rotatably mounted on the operating handle, the pawl cooperating with a protuberance provided on the control lever. The pawl can be returned to its retaining position by an elastic return means. Advantageously, a transverse support element is provided, at least at the rear, between the longitudinal members of the frame and is shaped to allow the stretcher bearer to exert, against this element, a support with the thigh, especially when loading the trolley. in the ambulance. This element may be formed by a tube curved downwards and having in its middle part a concave rearward zone coated with a layer of flexible material, in particular elastomeric material.

A similar support element may also be provided at the front end of the chassis to facilitate the intervention of another stretcher when a chassis height variation control for a position called "trestle" position is controlled. A trestle position corresponds to crutches moving up and down in opposite directions,

The carriage may be provided to support a removable stretcher in which case means for locking the stretcher on the carriage are provided, or to receive a layer fixed on the frame.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, in a certain number of other arrangements which will be more explicitly discussed hereinafter with regard to exemplary embodiments described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, but which are in no way limiting. On these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of three quarter right rear of a stretcher trolley according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale of the detail of the handles and the thigh support at the rear of the truck. Fig. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but both handles are folded.

Fig. 4 partially shows in perspective the front end of a carriage on which the layer is fixed.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view, three quarters rear left, of the rear portion of the carriage of FIG. 4 in the lowered position, and

Fig.6 is a schematic side view illustrating the boarding of the truck in an ambulance.

Referring to the drawings, especially Figs. 1, we can see a stretcher trolley 1 which comprises a horizontal frame 2 supported by two crutches, namely a front stand 3 and a rear stand 4. Each stand has two legs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b hinged at the top on a plate 5, generally vertical, secured to an outer beam 6 of the frame. The legs of the crutches are hinged to the outside of the plates 5. The crutches are provided at the bottom with wheels 7, which can be rotated at least in front. In the example of FIG. 1, the rear wheels are also steerable. The legs of the same crutch are connected by a cross member 3c, 4c substantially at mid-height and a cross 3d, 4d at the bottom. A 3rd, 4th strut connects, in an articulated manner at each end, the median portion of the cross members 3c, 4c to a respective plate (not visible) disposed in the frame 2. In the example shown in the drawing, the legs of the 3rd, 4th force have a constant length and the lowering of the legs is obtained, for example, by sliding the upper articulation point of the struts 3e, 4th, and the corresponding plate provided in the horizontal frame, or point articulation of the high end of a crutch. It would also be possible to provide 3rd, 4th telescopic struts allowing, by varying their length, to change the height of the horizontal frame by lowering the legs.

Blocking means (not visible) of the stands in the upper position and in lower intermediate positions are provided.

Still in the example shown, the two stands 3, 4, in the upper position of the frame shown in FIG. 1, are divergent and deviate from each other from top to bottom, the front stand 3 forward and the rear stand 4 towards the rear. Adjustment means (not visible in detail) are provided to vary the opening angle between the legs 3 and 4 and change the height of the frame 2 in several trestle positions of different heights. The adjustment of the trestle position is obtained by means of a rear lever 8 (Fig.5) for the rear stand 4 and a front handle 9 (Fig.4) for the front stand 3. The adjustment requires, intentionally, the intervention of two stretcher bearers, one at each end of the carriage, because of the delicacy of the maneuver.

To facilitate the loading of the truck in an ambulance, two wheels R are provided at the front end of the chassis to roll on a raceway provided in the ambulance. The loading must be accompanied by the complete erasure of the crutches 3 and 4 towards the rear, obtained by acting on two control levers 10, 11 of the unlocking crutches. According to the invention, the control levers 10, 11 are mounted on two operating handles 12, 13 provided on the rear of the carriage, on each side, preferably within the limit of the overall width of the space. carriage. Each handle 12, 13, with the associated control lever 10, 11, is pivotally mounted on an axis A1, A2 fixed relative to the frame. Each handle can thus occupy an unfolded position, illustrated for the handle 12 in FIG. 1 and 2, or a folded position, preferably at 90 °, towards the median longitudinal axis of the frame as illustrated in FIG. 2 for the handle 13 and in FIG. 3 for both handles.

The operating handles 12, 13 are advantageously located at a different level from that of the frame 2. The hinge axis A1, A2 of the handles is provided at the rear upper end of a bracket 14, 15 integral at its end. front of the chassis 2 and rising to the rear. The hinge pins A1, A2 are located in a vertical plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the carriage. Preferably the axes A1, A2 are slightly inclined relative to the vertical direction, in particular by an angle of the order of 10 °, so as to converge upwards. Under these conditions, the handles 12, 13 go from a horizontal unfolded position to a folded position inclined downwards.

A locking means 16 is provided on each handle to hold it in the unfolded or folded position. This locking means 16 comprises a sliding sleeve 17 mounted on a tubular portion 18 (Fig.2) cylindrical, preferably circular section, of the handle with a sufficient stroke to allow unlocking. The front end of the tubular portion 18 comprises a hinge eye 19 (FIG 2) traversed by the hinge axis A1 or A2 and housed in a yoke 20, fixed relative to the frame 2 and secured to the rear end high of the respective bracket 14, 15. The yoke 20 forms a housing at right angles whose concavity is turned towards the longitudinal axis of the frame 2. This housing is limited by two sides of a right dihedron, and by an upper wall 20a and a lower wall 20b. These walls 20a, 20b comprise two notches 21, 22 angularly offset by 90 ° relative to the axis of articulation, radially oriented and opening outwards. The sleeve 17 comprises at its front end two diametrically opposite lugs 23 adapted to engage in the notches 21 to lock the handle 12 or 13 in the unfolded position, or in the notches 22 to lock the handle in the inwardly folded position as illustrated in FIG. 3. An elastic means, not shown, is advantageously provided for biasing the sleeve 17 in the locking position so that the user must exert a tensile force on the sleeve 17 to disengage the lugs 23 of the housing 21 or 22. The levers 10, 11 may be of the type of motorcycle brake control levers. Each lever is articulated at one end about an axis orthogonal to the geometric axis of the handle, mounted in a support fixed to the handle. The other end of the lever is free and can be moved closer to the handle by tightening the lever. The lever makes it possible to exert traction on a cable 24 housed inside a sheath, generally called a Bowden cable, to actuate the unlocking mechanism (not visible) of the stands.

The levers 10 or 11 attached to the corresponding handles 12, 13 can perform with them a rotational movement about the pivot axis A1 or A2. The developed length of the cable 24 between the control lever and the unlocking mechanism (not visible) is not substantially modified, which avoids the formation of ripples of the cable.

The lever 10, located to the left of the truck in the direction of travel, controls the rear stand 4 while the right lever 11 controls the front stand 3. The levers 10 and 11 can be marked with different colors, advantageously shown on the corresponding crutch. In particular, the lever 10 is marked by the yellow color and parts of the rear stand 4, in particular the lower rail 4d and the songs of the stand take this yellow color; the lever 11 is marked by the red color, reproduced on areas of the front stand 3, for example on the lower rail 3d and the songs of the stand.

The front and rear knobs 8 and 9 of the "trestle" position setting can be marked with a different color, for example the blue color. For the release of the front stand can be provided, in addition to the lever 11, a lateral control 11a substantially mid-length of the right outer spar 6 and marked by the same color as the lever 11.

When the carriage is intended to receive a stretcher B1 (Figures 1 to 3) which can be separated from the carriage, a device for the removable attachment of the stretcher to the carriage is provided. The details of this fixing device are not visible in the drawing but the release control of the stretcher with respect to the carriage is provided with a puller 25 located at the rear, preferably on the right side of the carriage.

According to the variant of FIGS. 4 and 5, a layer B2 is fixed permanently on the frame 2.

A safety pawl 26 may be provided at least at the level of the control lever 10. This pawl comprises a ring 27 (FIG. rotating on the portion 18 of the handle 12 and in axial support against the support of the lever 10. The ring 27 is integral with a finger 28, radially projecting, extending parallel to the geometric axis of the handle. The stretcher can act on the finger 28, for example with his thumb, while he holds the handle 12. The pawl 26 has a hook 29 (Fig.3 and 5) extending below the handle 12 and surrounding from the outside, the articulation of the lever 10 to engage by its curved end 29a under a substantially semi-cylindrical protuberance P of the lever 10. In the position illustrated in FIG. 2 and 3, the lever 10 is locked in the low position and can not be raised to move closer to the handle 12 and control the unlocking of the rear stand. To obtain this release, the user must act on the finger 28 to rotate the pawl 26 in the clockwise direction according to FIG. 2, and release the hook 29 to the outside to release the lever 10. The user can then tighten the lever 10 and bring it closer to the handle 12 to control the release of the rear stand 4.

An elastic means may be provided for permanently urging the pawl 26 towards the locking position of the handle 10.

At least the rear end of the frame is equipped with a curved cross member 30 allowing the stretcher to exert effort with the thigh at the time of loading or unloading an ambulance. The cross member 30 can be made with a metal tube bent down from front to back. The central portion of the cross member 30 has a concavity turned rearward to marry the front portion of the thigh of the stretcher bearer. This central part forms a thigh support and is provided with a sleeve 31 of flexible material, in particular of elastomeric material. The starting zone 30a of the cross member 30 is preferably located at the rear end of the outer spar 6 of the frame 2. The brackets 14, 15 and the cross member 30 are advantageously made integral, particularly by welding, to form a unit. which is attached to the rear end of the two outer side members 6 of the frame 2.

Thigh support 30 is also useful when it comes to changing the height of the chassis in the trestle position. A similar thigh support 32 (FIG. 4) with median flexible sleeve 33 is advantageously provided at the front end of the carriage. That being so, the use and operation of the cart are as follows.

In normal rolling position, crutches 3 and 4 are generally in the high position as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the two handles 12 and 13 are in the unfolded position, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the carriage. The handles 12 and 13 are locked in this angular position because the lugs 23 of the sleeves 17 are engaged with the notches 21. The lever 10 is locked in the rest position by the pawl 26. Although not shown, a similar lock can be provided for the lever 11. When the height of the frame 2 is to be changed to the trestle position with the legs 3, 4 divergent, a stretcher located at the rear of the carriage acts on the handle 8 and another stretcher at the front of the trolley acts on the lever 9 to change the height of the frame 2. During these maneuvers, the front and rear stretcher carriers can use the thigh supports 30, 32 to better control the lowering of the frame 2.

It should be noted that the thigh supports 30, 32 have a height position different and independent of that of the handles 12 and 13. They can thus be arranged in the best position from the anatomical and ergonomic point of view of the stretcher bearers.

The loading of the truck into an ambulance and its unloading are explained with reference to the drawings, in particular Fig.6 which shows, in part, an ambulance M whose rear door is open. A raceway 34 is provided on an emergency table 35 fixed on the floor 36 of the ambulance. For boarding the stretcher, the raceway 34 is tilted backwards and a loading table 37 allows to go lower than the floor of the vehicle to facilitate the loading of the stretcher. The carriage 1 is approached until the front wheels R carry on the tablet 37.

The operating handles 12,13 are folded at 90 ° to the longitudinal axis of the carriage and secured in this position by the locking means. The handles 12, 13 thus folded allow the stretcher to best perform forward thrust. The total mass of the trolley and the patient up to 200 kg, it is important that the stretcher can develop its thrust effort in the best conditions, keeping the proximity of the unlocking controls 10,11 front and rear crutches 3,4, and the safety pawl 26.

When the rollers R are sufficiently engaged on the raceway 34, the stretcher of the right hand tightens the lever 11 to pull the corresponding cable 24 and unlock the front stand 3. This stand will be able to fold backwards. When the carriage is sufficiently engaged in the ambulance, the stretcher bearer, with his left hand, can act on the finger 28 to release the lever 10. The stretcher then tightens the lever 10 and controls the unlocking of the crutch 4 which can fold horizontally, the wheels 7 framing the gallows 14,15. The stretcher was able to complete the thrust with the thigh against the central portion 31 of the thigh support 30.

In the case where the truck must be loaded on a floor or a horizontal raceway, which requires less thrust on the part of the stretcher, the latter may possibly keep the handles 12,13 in the unfolded position to perform the loading . The handles 12,13 are then folded inwards after loading. The handles are locked by engaging the pins 23 in the notches 22.

When landing a stretcher trolley installed on a raceway 34 provided on an emergency table 35, the raceway 34 will be inclined rearwardly as shown in Fig.6. The stretcher bearer must therefore hold the truck by exerting a controlled push. The folded position of the operating handles 12 and 13 is advantageous for retaining the carriage, which, given the inclination of the raceway 34, slides naturally backwards. For certain types of emergency stretchers, including those used by firefighters, with a stretcher removably attached to the carriage, the crutches fall off automatically and lock automatically in the high position when unloading the truck. On the other hand, in a hospital environment, or in an ambulance environment, a layer is generally attached to the carriage. Preferably, the stands are locked in the folded position so that the stretcher must act on the release control to allow the crutches to fall during unloading. The presence of the control levers within immediate reach of the hand allows the stretcher to easily perform this operation of unlocking the crutches while maintaining the handles 12, 13.

Claims

1. Stretcher trolley comprising:

- a chassis (2) supported by two crutches, one (3) at the front and one (4) at the rear, articulated at the top on the chassis and provided with wheels (7) at the bottom,

- Crutch locking means in at least one unfolded or folded position,

means for controlling the release of the crutches, in particular for loading the truck into an ambulance, and

- two operating handles (12,13) provided at the rear, one on each side of the carriage, a releasing means of each leg comprising a control lever (10, 11) being mounted on the corresponding operating handle, characterized in that each operating handle (12, 13) is pivotally mounted about a fixed axis (A1, A2) relative to the frame (2) between an extended position substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the frame (2) and a position folded inward at 90 °, and the control lever (10, 11) of each stand mounted on the corresponding operating handle (12, 13) is rotatable with it.

2. stretcher trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that a locking means (16) of the operating handle (12, 13) in each position is provided.

3. Stretcher trolley according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating handles (12, 13) are located at a level other than that of the frame (2), and the hinge of the handles is provided at one end. a stem (14, 15) inclined relative to the plane of the frame, the other end of the bracket being fixed to the frame, this bracket extending towards the rear of the carriage.

4. stretcher trolley according to claim 3, characterized in that the stem (14, 15) of each operating handle (12, 13) rises from the front to the rear so that the articulation of the handles is located at a level higher than that of the chassis.

Stretcher trolley according to claim 4, characterized in that each operating handle (12, 13) is articulated in a yoke (20) fixed relative to the frame, this yoke forming a housing at right angles whose concavity is turned towards the median longitudinal axis of the carriage, the yoke having two faces to right angle, and an upper wall (20a) and a lower wall (20b) having locking notches (21, 22) adapted to receive a complementary lug (23) provided on a sleeve (17) slidably mounted on the handle .

6. Stretcher trolley according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rotating pawl (26) is provided to retain the release lever of a stand.

7. stretcher trolley according to claim 6, characterized in that the pawl (26) comprises a hook (29) rotatably mounted on the operating handle, the pawl cooperating with a protrusion (P) provided on the control lever.

8. stretcher trolley according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transverse support element (30, 32) is provided, at least at the rear, between the longitudinal members of the frame and is shaped to allow the stretcher to exercise, against this element, support with the thigh.

9. stretcher trolley according to claim 8, characterized in that the support element (30, 32) is formed by a tube bent downwards and having in its middle part a concave zone coated with a layer of flexible material (31, 33).