US3341246A - Hospital stretcher - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 12, 1967 Fild Oct. 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 tIEz-.E

AI'ORNEYS SeP 12, 1967 R. LAVALLEE 3,34l,246

HOSPITAL STRETCHER Filed Oct. 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM HW' Robert AVAEE AORNEYS Sept. 12, 1967 R. LAVALLEE 3.341,246

HOSPITAL STRETCHER Filed Oct. 24, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,341,246 HOSPITAL STRETCHER Robert Lavallee, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Techlem Inc., St. Laurent, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,779 6 Claims. (Cl. 296-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hospital stretcher having a litter and two vertical posts for supporting the litter and disposed along the longitudinal aXis thereof. Each post is formed of an inner and an outer telescoping element. Both inner elements are pivoted at the upper end beneath the ltter with the pivot of one inner element being movable in a longitudinal slot to allow relative displacement of the ltter and inner element. A rod having a threaded end, having a nut threadedly displaceable thereon, is mounted for only rotation on one of the posts. A cable joins the nut and the lower end of the inner member of said one lpost and winds around a pulley arrangement. The inner and outer elements of the other post are a hydraulc piston and cylinder and a hydraulc pump is provided, the fluid of which displaces the piston in the cylinder to cause displacement of the corresponding end of the litter.

The present invention relates to a hospital stretcher which is used particularly for post-operative or emergency room care. More specifically, the invention relates to a hospital stretcher of a novel structure, palticularly adaptable for the manipulation of a patient to and from his bed or from an Operating table.

A main object of the invention resides in the provision of a hospital stretcher of the above mentioned type7 the litter of which can be made to move directly over the bed so that the patient may be gently transferred into the bed without the danger of bumping over the ltter frame.

A further object of the invention consists in providing such a stretcher wherein the raising and lowering of the litter can be accomplished by the feet of the user so that his hands are free for the transferring of the patient into the bed.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a hospital stretcher having side-rails for the protection of the patient, which side-rails are hinged underneath and retractable below the ltter when the latter is to be slid directly over the bed, the side-rail thus not being an obstacle.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing the said hospital stretcher with a braking device to lock the wheels to prevent movement of the stretcher during the transfer of the patient in the bed or on the operation table.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of such a hospital stretcher wherein the litter can take up either full inclined position or half-inclined position where only the back seat is raised.

The various aforesaid objects may be obtained with a hospital stretcher according to the invention which comprises: a horizontal ltter, at least two supporting Vertical posts on which said ltter is mounted wherein at least one of said posts is formed of telescoping inner and outer elements one of which is fixed to the litter. An Operating member is provided for displacing the telescoping elements in relation to one another and there is an interconnecting means between the Operating member and one of the telescoping elements, such means being responsive to operation of the Operating member to displace one of the telescoping elements in relation to the other in order to raisev the 1itter.

Patented Sept. 12, 1967 ICC The other post is also a telescoping element assembly of the h-ydraulic piston and cylinder type with foot pedal Operating means for causing Vertical displacement of the element connected to the litter.

In order to afford greater safety for the patient, it is suggested to provide such stretchers with side-rails that stand upright along each lateral edge of the litter frame. According to the present invention, these side-rails have connecting members rigidly fixed thereto .and projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The said members are hingedly connected at their outer free end to the undersurface of the frame structure and looking means are provided for holding the side-rails in raised position alongside the litter whenever the patient is being carried away. Such retractable rails make it possible both to provide safety for the patient while in transit yet allow the moving of the litter over a bed when the said rails are retracted.

The litter posts are mounted on a wheeled undercarriage. A set of rigidly interconnected legs are pivotally secured at their upper free ends to the understructure and a foot operated toggle mechanism is provided, operable to force the legs against the floor on which the litter stands and thus frictionally lock them in position against slipping. This is a Safety precaution when the stretcher stands alongside the bed and the patient is being transferred on it.

Finally, the invention also contemplates the provision of a litter formed of a horizontal fixed seat rest and a back rest pivotable at one end adjacent the seat rest. A downwardly projection lever is secured underneath the back rest at the pivotable end thereof. A threaded rod is mounted, for rotation only, below the litter and a nut screw threadedly movable on said threaded rod is also connected to the free end of the downwardly projecting lever. Thus by rotating the said threaded rod, the nut travels axiall'y thereon and causes pivoting of the back rest.

Further objects and other advantages of the invention will be aiforded by the description that follows having regard to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hospital stretcher made according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional elevation along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows, on an enlarged scale and in crosssectional elevation, the raising mechanism for the litter;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded part view of the ltter illustrating the connecting joint of one of the posts to the litter'frame;

FIGURE 5 is a and partly broken nism;

. FIGURE 6 is a and partly broken rail device, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective elevation view of the wheel braking mechanism.

FIGURES 1 and 2' generally illustrate the various mechanisms that combine to make up the stretcher of the invention.

The stretcher is formed of a litter 1 mounted on a litter frame 3 supported by posts 5, 5' testing on an undercarriage structure 7 which comprises transverse axles 9 to which swivel casters 11 are connected. Finally, siderails 13 are shown mounted on either side of the framed perspective view, on an enlarged scale away, of the hydraulc cylinder mechaperspective view, on an enlarged scale away, to illustrate the retractable sideltter 1, one of said side-rails being shown in retracted for moving the ltter over a bed or an Operating table.

FIGURES 2., 3, 4l and 5 particularly illustrate the` raising mechanism for the ltter 1 and frame 3.

As can be seen, each post 5 and 5' consists of telescoping inner and outer elements 15, 15' and 17, 17' respectively. In both instances, inner elements 15 and 15' are connected to transverse braces 19, 19' of frame 3.

In the case of post 5, as previously mentioned, elements 15 and 17 are the two parts of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly wherein piston 15 rests over a bath of oil 21 which has a communicating tube 23 leading from the oil Chamber 21 to a pumping and releasing device of a known type and generally identified by numeral 25. As is known with such a mechanism, depression of foot pedal 27 pivots a connecting link 29 which in turn causes axial displacement of connecting rod 31 to actuate the hydraulic pump and create a pressure in oil chamber 21 causing the raising of inner element 15. Similarly, releasing of the pressure and lowering of inner element 15 is obtained by means of the release pedal 33 acting through a similar leverage arrangement.

The second post 5' is a manually operating device and consists of an Operating member and interconnecting means between the said Operating member and one of the telescoping elements of post 5'. The interconnecting means is respons'ive to operation of the Operating member to displace the said one of said telescoping elements in relation to the other elements to effect raising of the litter.

In the example shown, the operating member is composed of two parts 35 and 37 axially displaceable in relation to one another. The interconnecting means, in this case, is a cable 39.

Part 35 is a rod having a threaded end 41 over which is received the other part 37 which is a threaded nut having, thereon, a forwardly projecting flat bar 43. One end of cable 39 is secured to the end of the flat bar 43 and is trained around pulleys 45, 45', 45" to finally be connected to the lower end of inner member 15' as at 47. Cable 39, in its way to the lower end of inner element 15', extends freely in a grove 49, travels through a transverse passage 51 :and is finally tied as shown at 47.

The first pulley 45 may be mounted on a bracket 53 secured to the top of inner element 15 of post 5 while pulleys 45' and 45" are mounted on a longitudinal brace member 55 (FIG. 2) which joins the posts 5 and 5' together. Rod 35 extends through a bearing support 57 which is L-shaped and has one part connected to the transverse brace 19'. Rod 35 is rotatable in -bearing support 57 but is non-axially displaceable therein. Finally, the said rod 35 terminates into a crank 59 and a handle 61.

As will be derived from the above description, rotation of handle 61 in the counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrow, will move nut 37 and flat bar 43 rightward and consequently pull on cable 39. This in turn will cause upward movement of inner element 15'. Friction between the various elements of the raising mechanism just described will be suficient to retain litter 1 in the raised position without any locking being necessary.

Conversely, rotation of lever 61 in the clockwise direction will cause movement of nut 37 leftward and releasing of cable 39. Under the circumstances, inner element 15' will be lowered under the action of gravity.

Because of the 'change of inclination of litter 1, it becomes necessary that one of the connections of the litter to posts 5 and 5' be permitted a certain lateral displacement. The particular structure proposed is depicted in FIGURE 4. It consists of a box-like member 63 provided, at each end thereof, with elongated slots 65. Box 63 is open at the top thereof as shown, and further has two openings 67 and 67' at each end of the closed side.

Box 63 works in conjunction with a pair of downwardly projecting lugs 69 secured below brace 19'. Each of said lugs is provided with an aperture 71.

Finally, the fiat portion 73 of the box, which lies between openings 67 and 67', is also provided with a hole (not shown) for a purpose now to be determined.

In assembling, the threaded end of inner member 15' is made to extend through the hole in flat portion 73 and element 15' is secured to box 63 by means of nut 75. The box is thereafter slid along the lugs 69, as best shown in FIGURE 3, and the assembly is secured by means of suitable nuts and bolts. Openings 67, 67' are provided for holding the said bolts in position while the nuts are being screwed thereon. However the screwing of the bolts and nuts must still leave the lugs 69 loose in relation to box 63 so that the bolts may freely slide in the slots 65.

Thus, there is provided means whereby inclination of the litter 1 will not be hindered by the lengthening of the distance between the tops of inner elements 5 and 5' when the litter is being raised to an inclined position.

A specific embodiment of the retractable side-rails, as proposed by the invention, is illustrated in FIGURE 6. As shown, each side-rail is provided, at the lower end thereof, with at least two perpendicularly projecting connecting members 77, the free ends of which are adapted to be pivotally connected to the undersurface of frame 3, as at 79. The locking mechanism consists of two locking levers S1, one end of which extends through a support 83 secured underneath braces 19, 19'. ln cooperation therewith, each connecting member 77 provides a short lug 85 which projects slightly past the lateral edge of the connecting member in overhanging fashion. Finally, an Operating arm 87 is provided which is pivotally connected to a support 89 projecting from a central brace 91. The other ends of locking levers 81 are connected, on either side of support 89, to operating arm 87.

As will readily be understood from FIGURE 6, when side-rail 13 is released from the locking mechanism, it will pivot at 79 an-d fall below the framed litter 3. As the stretcher is moved with the litter over a bed, the side-rail 13 will move further underneath the litter -until it reaches the position of FIGURE 1 where it is close to posts 5 and 5' and out of the way. When it is to be used, the side-rail is raised until it reaches the position shown on the left- Ward side of FIGURE 1. In that position, operating arm 87 is turned clockwise to move locking levers 81 outwardly so that their ends come into supporting engagement beneath the projecting part of lugs 85. In that position, the side-rails will |be in locked engagement.

In FIGURE 7 is shown a wheel locking mechanism for preventing the stretcher from 'moving away when a patient is being transferred from the litter to a bed or to an operating table.

This locking mechanism consists of two sets of legs 93 pivotally connected at the upper end thereof, as at 95, to the undercarriage of the stretcher. Intermediate the ends thereof, the sets of legs are interconnected by a movement transmitting bar 97. Each set of legs 93 is fixe'dly secured to this bar 97 so that movement of one of the sets will be transmitted to the other set.

Also pivotally connected, as at 99, to the 'undercar-riage of the stretcher, are two links 101. Projecting substantially perpendicularly intermediate the ends of links 101 are two supports 103 at the end of which is fixed an operating locking pedal 105. Two transmitting arms 107 are 'pivotally connected, at one end, to the free ends of links 101 and, at the other end, securely fixed at the transverse rod 109 to which is also secured the bar 97. Finally, a spring 111 is connected between bar 97 and post 5' by means of a hook 113.

The operation of this wheel locking device is as follows:

In FIGURES 2 and 7, the device is shown locked while the pedal in dotted line is in unlocked position. In moving pedal counterclockwise to release the wheel lock, links 101 also move counterclockwise around pivot 99. This brings a traction onto transmittin'g arms 107 which therefore, pull on the rod 109 forcing legs 93 to pivot about their pivot points 115 of the undercarriage. Whenever it is -desred to lock the Wheels the reverse procedure is carried out.

The pivoting mechanism for raising the back rest 117 of the litter is illustrated in FIGURE 2. It consists of a -rod 119 similar to rod 35 and threaded at one end 121 for the reception of a nut 123 to which are pivotally connected levers 125 and 127. Rod 123 is made t'o pivot in a bearing support 129 in a similar manner to the bearin'g of rod 35 in support 57. Any known actuating mechanism such as crank 131 may 'be provided to cause rotation of rod 119. It will be understood that rotation of rod 119 will cause the displacement of nut 123 and su'bsequent pivoting of back rest 117 through levers 125 and 127.

Although a specfic embodiment of the invention has just been described, it will be understood that many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appe'nded claims.

1.` A hospital stretcher comprising: a horizontal litter; two supporting vertical posts on which said litter is mounted and ydisposed axially centrally thereof; said posts being formed of telescoping inner an-d outer elements; said inner elements being connected to said litter; an eX- tensible Operating member for one of said posts, and interconnecting flexible 'means between said operating member and said inner element of said one post responsive to extension of said Operating member to dsplace the inner element in relation to the outer element wherein said operatin-g member is fonmed of a manually rotatable rod having a screw threaded end and a nut threadedly received on said end and axially displaceable on said rod, wherein said interconnecting means is a cable fixed at one end to said nut and at the other end to the lower end of said inner element, and a pulley arrange'ment around which said cable is trained.

2. A hospital stretcher as claimed n clam 1, wherein said other post is a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly and 'foot pedal pumping and releasing means for'causing actuation of said assernbly.

3. A hospital stretcher comprising: a horizontal litter; two spaced Vertical posts for supporting said litter along the longitudinal center line thereof; each post formed of an inner and an 'outer telescoping element; said inner element of each post pvoted to sai-d litter; means connecting one of said inner elements to said litter to allow relative displacement of said litter and said one of said inner element during change of inclination of said litter; a rod, having a threaded end, mounted only for rotation on one of said posts beneath said litter; a nut threadedly mounted and freely displaceable on the threaded end of said rod; a cable fixed to said nut and to the lower end of said inner 'member of said one post and pulley means mounted lbeneath said litter for 'guiding said cable; the inner and outer elements of said other post being 'respectively a hydraulic piston and cylinder, and a hydraulic ,foot pedal pumping and releasing means for causing displacement of said piston and of the corresponding end of said litter.

4. A stretcher as claimed in clam 3, wherein said litter is a framed structure; sde-rails; said side-rails having connecting members rigidly fixed to and projectin-g perpendieularly therefrom; 'means hingedly connecting said members at their outer free end to the undersurface of said framed structure and releasable locking means for holding said side-rails in raised position alongside said litter.

5. A stretcher as claimed in clam 3, wherein said posts are mounted on a Wheeled undercarriage; a set of rigidly interconnected legs pivotally mounted at their upper free ends to said undercarrage and a foot operated toggle -rnechanisrn operable to force said le'gs against the floor on which said litter stands and frictionally lock it in position.

6. A stretcher as claimed in clam 3, wherein said litter is formed of a horizontal fixed seat rest and a back rest pivotable at one end adjacent said seat rest; a downvwardly projecting lever seoured to said back rest at the pivotable end thereof; a threaded rod mounted for rotation only 'below said litter; a nut screw threadedly movable on said threaded rod; the free end Iof said downward lever being pivotally connected to said nut whereby rotation of said lever Will prod-uce displacement of said nut and pivotin'g of said back rest.

References Cited 8/1966 Tabbert 296-20 LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner. PHILIP GOODMAN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A HOSPITAL STRETCHER COMPRISING: A HORIZONTAL LITTER; TWO SUPPORTING VERTICAL POSTS ON WHICH SAID LITTER IS MOUNTED AND DISPOSED AXIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF; SAID POSTS BEING FORMED OF TELESCOPING INNER AND OUTER ELEMENTS; SAID INNER ELEMENTS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LITTER; AN EXTENSIBLE OPERATING MEMBER FOR ONE OF SAID POSTS, AND INTERCONNECTING FLEXIBLE MEANS BETWEEN SAID OPERATING MEMBER AND SAID INNER ELEMENT OF SAID ONE POST RESPONSIVE TO EXTENSION OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER TO DISPLACE THE INNER ELEMENT IN RELATION TO THE OUTER ELEMENT WHEREIN SAID OPERATING MEMBER IS FORMED OF A MANUALLY ROTATABLE ROD HAVING A SCREW THREADED END AND A NUT THREADEDLY RECEIVED ON SAID END AND AXIALLY DISPLACEABLE ON SAID ROD, WHEREIN SAID INTERCONNECTING MEANS IS A CABLE FIXED AT ONE END TO SAID NUT AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE LOWER END OF SAID INNER ELEMENT, AND A PULLEY ARRANGEMENT AROUND WHICH SAID CABLE IS TRAINED.

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