Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Ambulances
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-12-25
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Ambulances
C296S026100, C005S626000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332638
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading stretchers onto ambulances.
Stretchers with foldable legs are known, having an overall flat upper portion in the form of a bed to support a person in a supine position, and rearward-foldable legs for resting on the ground in order to support said bed portion in a position raised from the ground to a height of between 50 and 90 cm.
To facilitate the loading of the stretcher into the transporting compartment of the ambulance, an apparatus is positioned within the ambulance transporting compartment and comprises an extractable loading table to be arranged with its rear edge projecting beyond the rear surface of the ambulance, at a height lower than the floor of the transporting compartment. The front end (provided for this purpose with wheels) of the bed portion of the stretcher is then slid onto the loading table, the rear end being gripped by an operator who pushes the stretcher forwards until it has been transferred into the ambulance transporting compartment.
The stretcher legs are connected to the bed portion in such a manner that on pushing the stretcher towards the ambulance, the front end of the bed portion first rests on the rear edge of the loading table, then as the stretcher is further pushed its front end slides along the loading table whereas its legs strike the rear edge of the loading table to rotate rearwards and upwards until they assume their folded position completely adhering to the bed portion.
This operation is carried out manually, typically by a single operator who supports the rear edge of the stretcher while at the same time pushing the stretcher forwards.
The legs fold rearwards by overcoming the reaction forces which tend to maintain the legs in the stable vertical position. This folding position consequently requires considerable force on the part of the operator.
An object of the present invention is to facilitate the operation of loading the stretcher along the loading table by easing that stage during which the stretcher legs are folded rearwards by the thrust exerted by the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention utilizes an auxiliary device applied to the rear edge of the extractable loading table and includes a transverse horizontal abutment element which is positioned at a height lower than the rear end of the upper surface of the loading table in order to engage the stretcher legs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3831996 (1974-08-01), Layer
patent: 4783109 (1988-11-01), Bucalo
patent: 4921295 (1990-05-01), Stollenwerk
patent: 5015024 (1991-05-01), Bloemer
patent: 5738306 (1998-04-01), Moss et al.
patent: 5785277 (1998-07-01), Manning et al.
patent: 6125485 (2000-10-01), Way et al.
patent: 3613376 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2558056 (1985-07-01), None
Engle Patricia L.
Pape Joseph D.
Stem S.R.L.
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