US3264659A

US3264659A - Litters

Info

Publication number: US3264659A
Application number: US413135A
Authority: US
Inventors: Magni Gustav Albert; Andersson Gosta Wilhelm
Original assignee: JARNHS ELEKTRISKA AB
Current assignee: JARNHS ELEKTRISKA AB
Priority date: 1963-11-27
Filing date: 1964-11-23
Publication date: 1966-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-09
Also published as: GB1038307A

Description

Aug. 9, 1956 G. A. MAGN! ETAL LITTERS 4 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1964 IN VEN TORS GUSTAN/,4. MAG/w llg- 9, 1965 G. A. MAG-Nl ETAL.

LITTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 23, 1964 INVENTORJ Gasmv A MAG/w ug- 9, 1966 G. A. MAGNI l-:TAL

LITTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 23, 1964 fig, /a

IN V EN TORS GUS my A?. MAM/w United States Patent O 3,264,659 LITTERS Gustav Albert Magni, Lidingo, and Gsta Wilhelm Andersson, Stockholm, Sweden, assignors to Jarnhs Elektriska Aktiebolag, Solna, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,135 Claimspriority, application Sweden, Nov. 27, 1963, 13,110/63; April 22, 1964, 4,952/ 64 6 Claims. (Cl 5-82) This invention relates to a litter to be used for moving injured or sick persons, the said litter facilitating transfer from external transportation (e.g. by ambulance) -to internal transportation (through hospital processes) without disturbing the position of the sick or injured person, which can be a matter of the utmost importance, especially when the patient has been involved in a serious accident.

The litter according to this invention is characterized by the combination of two litter frames, of which one is slightly smaller than the other .and fitted with a stretcher sheet and is insertable in the other, larger frame, the said larger frame normally lacking a stretcher sheet, and is freely liftable from an underlying surface on which both litter frames have been placed with the smaller frame inserted in the larger one, and of a separate stretcher sheet that can be placed as an extra'sheet over the smaller litter frame when a patient is to be placed on this, and which is provided with facilities for its attachment to the larger litter frame when the small frame, together with the patient, has been inserted in the larger frame.

The small litter frame which is provided with a stretcher sheet is used for external transportation (as an admission or ambulance litter) and the large litter frame, which normally -lacks a stretcher sheet, for internal transportation.

Before the injured or sick person is placed on the admission litter, the separate stretcher sheet is placed over it. Upon arrival at the hospital admission department, the ambulance litter is pl-aced in .the larger litter frame and -the separate stretcher sheet is hooked or |buckled to the larger litter frame, which can then be lifted up together with the stretcher sheet and the injured or sick person immobilizedly resting thereon and transported to the appropriate hospital department by carrying the litter or conveying it on a suitable litter trolley.

Since the litter frame intended for internal transportation is considerably wider than the one for external transportation it can also conveniently be used as an examination and treatment litter.

For a clearer understanding of the invention reference should be made to an embodiment thereof which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIG. 1 is a plan view of the litter with the small litter frame placed inside the large litter frame; FIG. 2 is an end View of the litter shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a detail of the attachment device on the side poles for the large litter frame; FIG. 4 shows a detail of the attachment device at the edge of the separate stretcher sheet; FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the complete attachment device; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the large litter frame with a stretcher sheet secured to it; FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a securing element for the stretcher sheet on the litter frame viewed from the side and in cross-section respectively; FIG. 9 is a cross-section through a specially formed stretcher sheet; and FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure of FIG. 9.

According to FIG. 1, the smaller litter frame comprises two parallel poles 1 and 2, which near the ends are interconnected by tubular crossbars 3 and 4. A sheet 5 angular positions.

Patented August 9, 1966 Mice of a suitable material such as canvas is secured in the thuswise formed frame. At one end of the frame there may be arranged a 'headrest 6, adjustable in different The reference numeral 7 designates handgrips at the ends of the poles 1 and 2., the said handgrips being telescopically slidable into the said poles.

The large litter frame also comprises two parallel poles 8 and 9, which near the ends are interconnected by tubular crossbars 10 and 11. This frame has no stretcher sheet when it is not used for transport. Provided in the ends of the poles 8 and 9, in the same way as in the smaller litter frame, may lbe telescopically slidable :handgrips (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the crossbars 10 and 11 may advantageously be bent downwards in the shape of a U, so that the crossbars 3 and 4 of the small litter frame are at a higher level.

The large litter frame is provided with rubber feet or similar members 12 on its crossbars, whereas the small frame, as shown in FIG. 2, may rest on wheels 13.

The reference numeral 14 designates a separate stretcher sheet, made of a suitable material such as canvas, which can easily be attached to and released from the parallel poles 8 and 9 in the large litter frame.

For this purpose, the said poles 8 and 9 are provided at suitable points with projecting U-shaped shackles 15, and the stretcher sheet 14 has along its sides oblong holes surrounded by metal reinforcements 16, which can be passed over the shackles 15, whereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, a leather strap 17 attached to the stretcher sheet is passed through the shackle projecting through the hole in the stretcher sheet so that the latter is securely held on the large frame.

When utilizing .this litter, it is the intention that the smaller litter shall be used as an -admission or ambulance litter. Before the injured or sick person is placed on this litter, the extra stretcher sheet 14 is put loosely over the litter. The litter with the injured or sick person is then driven to the hospital and in the admission department is inserted in the larger litter frame, whereupon the extra or loose stretcher sheet 14 is connected by means of the shown attachment devices with the parallel lengthwise poles 8 and 9 in the large litter frame. This, together with the stretcher sheet 14 and the injured or sick person immobilizedly resting thereon, can then be carried or transported to an examination, operation or treatment ward.

In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 6, the large litter frame comprises two

parallel poles

18 and 19, which form the long sides of the frame, and two

crossbars

20 and 21 which form the short sides of the frame. Of the two

poles

18 and 19, the ends of which protrude beyond the

crossbars

20 and 21 in order to form carrying handles, at least one but possibly both is pivotally mounted in the crossbars and provided with ratchet gears 22. Further, the said poles are provided at suitable relative distances with attachment devices for a stretcher sheet 23.

As one or both of the

poles

18 and 19 is/or are rotatable and tted with ratchet gears it is possible to roll the stretcher sheet 23 up onto the said poles and thus to stretch the said sheet. It is also possible to use a stretcher sheet that is substantially wider than the litter frame, e.g. two or three times as wide, in which case the excess width is normally rolled up on the poles. By unrolling the sheet -from one pole and rolling it up on the other, it is thus possible to turn the patient over.

The attachment devices for the sheet at the

poles

18 and 19 of the litter frame may appropriately be executed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Slidably tted in a drillhole in the upper side of the pole 18 (19) is a pin 24, which uppermost terminates with -a single or, as shown, possibly a double hook-shaped end 25, which is intended to grip onto a boltrope 26 sewn into the edge of the stretcher sheet 23. The pin 24 has a slenderer extension 27which is passed out through a correspond-ing d-rillhole on the underside of the pole whe-re it supports a pivotally mounted operating handle 28 which can slide on the `said` pin 24. The slidability of the handle is limited by means of a ange 33 tted to the pin. Inserted between the pin 24 and the inside of the pole is a helical spring 29, which strives to push the pin extension 27 upwards. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the handle 28 .is provided on the -sidey facing the pole with two recesses `34 andc35, in crosssectioncorresponding to the shape of the pole, which form a :rightangle with each other and of which the oney 34` (shown in FIG. 7) isdeeper and they other 35 (shown in FIG. 8) is shallower. When the handle 28 takes up the position shown in FIG. 8 with the sh-allower .recess resting against the pole, the pin24 is inserted so far that the edge of the stretcher sheet vwith the boltrope 26 is denitely gripped between the hook-shaped end 1and v fthe pole. When the handle is turned through 90, whereby the deeper recess is advanced towards the polefthespring 29v lifts the pin 24". thus releasing the edge ofthe f stretcher sheet. The reference numeral 36 designates a guidev pin attached to part 25', which enters .a corresponding hole in the pole 18 (19) and prevents part 25v from rotating in relation to the pole.

As it is conceivable that the injured or sick -pe-rson must remain on the stretcher sheetfor a considerable tim-e, it is appropriate to make the sheet relatively soft in order to avoid'impeding the blood circulation. It can therefore be sewn double, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10,

a relatively thick pad 32 of foamed plastic or other suitable material ibeing inserted 'between the two layers of` and means Vfor releasablyattachingpsaid `separate sheet to said larger framen. 'i

2. "A litteras claimed .in claim 1,? said. larger frame.

having a pole forming a longl side of. saidlarger frame, said pole being rotatable relative to .said Vlarger frame :so that said separateV sheet` can `be rolledup` and stretched around said pole.

3. IA litter a-s claimed in claim-2, saidV larger. frame having two longer polesfboth of=whicl1arerotatably mounted relative to the larger frame,.said separate sheet having a width at leastV several vtimesl the EwidthV of lsaid smaller frame.

4. A litter asclairned incla'im-l, saidreleasably attaching` means comprisingV springrloadedpins extending through said ilarger frame, said pinsl havingfhookashaped upper ends for gripping the. edge of saidseparate sheet,

said pins at-their .lowerends havingrotatable operating K. handles which rest against said larger frame and which.

in one angular position hold said hook-shaped end-sspaced from the larger frame and invanother. angular positionv hold said ends close to the largerframe..

S. A litter; as claimed in .claim -1, in Whichsaid separate.

sheet lcomprise'stwo layers of material sewn togetherwith padding Ibetween them.; g,

6. A litter as claimed inclaimzlyin which said releasaly attaching means .comprises membersl on said Ylarger.

frame `insertatble through holes ingsaid ,separate shefetl4 References Cited by:y the Examinerl i UNITED; STATES .PATENTS- 2,008,770 7/1935 f Raft@ 5 82 2,770,465 11/1956 yDamlumd1.... 5-sz-` 3,110,912 11/,1963 Propst ;5-82` FOREIGN l PATENTs 491,846 2/'1919 France# FRANK B. -SHERRY; Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LITTER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION TWO LITTER FRAMES ONE OF WHICH IS OF A SIZE TO FIT WITHIN THE OTHER SO THAT BOTH FRAMES CAN REST ON A COMMON SUPPORT WITH THE LARGER OF THE FRAMES LIFTABLE FROM ABOUT THE SMALLER OF THE FRAMES, THE SMALLER OF THE FRAMES HAVING A FIRST SHEET THEREON, A SECOND SEPARATE SHEET ON THE SMALLER FRAME, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING SAID SEPARATE SHEET TO SAID LARGER FRAME.