Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Ambulances
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-03-20
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Ambulances
C005S625000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
This invention relates to patient transporting equipment, particularly stretcher undercarriages and equipment of a similar nature. The invention is concerned with an arrangement for fitting to the leading end of such equipment in order to facilitate the manual loading of the equipment, either with or without a patient, onto the elevated loading bays of ambulances or other elevated platforms whose heights from the ground or base level on which the transporting equipment is supported can vary. Since the invention is primarily concerned with stretcher undercarriages, it will be described in that context. However, as the invention is by no means limited to use with such equipment, the broader applications and ramifications are to be borne in mind when considering the intended scope of the invention.
Stretcher undercarriages typically comprise an essentially rectangular patient support frame with collapsible wheeled leg assemblies enabling the stretcher to be stowed or loaded into the back of an ambulance. To assist such stowage or loading, the leading end of the patient support frame is fitted with wheels so that the undercarriage can slide up over the rear edge of the ambulance loading bay and be slid into the ambulance during simultaneous folding of the wheeled legs.
Difficulties are encountered with the stowage of stretcher undercarriages when the height of the ambulance bay floor is above the central axles of the leading end wheels on the support frame. In such situations, the trailing end of the stretcher undercarriage must be tilted so that the wheels can ride up over the rear edge of the ambulance bay. This places strain on the attendant who must be able to withstand the additional rearwardly directed loads created upon tilting. Strains and stresses are also placed on the patient as well as the stretcher undercarriage itself. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an arrangement for fitting to stretcher undercarriages and like equipment which obviates or at least ameliorates such difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for facilitating the loading of a stretcher undercarriage into the loading bay of an ambulance, the arrangement comprising a pair of wheeled devices for fitting to opposed stretcher undercarriage frame members at or near the top leading edges thereof. Each of the wheeled devices comprises a pivotable mounting on which a leading wheel and a trailing wheel are co-planarly supported in such a manner that the leading wheel can ride onto an ambulance floor and pivot downwardly, thereby permitting the trailing wheel to ride up over the rear edge of the ambulance floor as the stretcher undercarriage is pushed into the bay of the ambulance.
Preferably, a skid block extends between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel to facilitate the movement of the mounting up over the rear edge of the ambulance floor. The skid block, which can suitably be fabricated, for example, from a high density polymeric material, is typically located so as to extend from the axle region of the leading wheel to a location below the axle region of the trailing wheel. The skid block enables the leading wheel to slide over the rear edge of the ambulance floor to a position where its axle ends up below the axle of the trailing wheel so that the arrangement can pivot and “climb”.
The pivotable mounting may be in the form of a pair of closely spaced metal plates, with integrally formed skid blocks, in which the wheels are housed and from which the wheels project. Suitably, the wheels project to such an extent that a major portion of their surface contacting edges is visible. The plates can have any configuration to achieve the desired aim. One particular configuration is an irregular quadrilateral configuration.
Pivoting of the mounting can be effected about a common axle extending through a casting or the like which is fitted onto the normally tubular stretcher frame. A limit to the degree of pivoting can be provided by one or more, preferably two stops, associated with the mounting. In one form such stops can be pins which extend between the metal plates in the upper region thereof, one pin being located toward the trailing end of the mounting and the other pin being located between and above the axles of the wheels. Upward travel of the mounting can thereby be resisted by the respective pins coming into contact with the tubular stretcher frame.
Preferably, the pivotable mounting is arranged in such a manner that the leading wheel is normally maintained in a forwardly projecting location with the mounting extending rearwardly thereof, when the stretcher undercarriage is in a position prior to loading into an ambulance. This arrangement can be achieved by careful balancing of the components or, more preferably, by spring biasing. In this latter instance, a torsion or like spring mechanism can be secured to the pivotable mounting and extend about the pivot point to a remote point on the mounting, such as the forward pin stop.
The leading and trailing wheels can be wheels of the type which are conventionally found on stretcher undercarriages. Although not essential, the leading wheel is preferably a smaller diameter wheel than the trailing wheel. This greatly facilitates the design and operation of the device.
The arrangement need not be separately attachable to the stretcher undercarriage but can be formed as an integral component of the undercarriage during its manufacture. Generally, however, the arrangement will be manufactured and sold as a kit for attachment to existing stretcher undercarriages.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2319008 (1943-05-01), McCormack
patent: 3088770 (1963-05-01), Weil et al.
patent: 3752527 (1973-08-01), Ferneau et al.
patent: 3759565 (1973-09-01), Ferneau
patent: 3826528 (1974-07-01), East
patent: 4645222 (1987-02-01), Hester
patent: 4790548 (1988-12-01), Decelles et al.
patent: 4794999 (1989-01-01), Hester
patent: 5015024 (1991-05-01), Bloemer
patent: 5435027 (1995-07-01), Bourgraf et al.
patent: 5509159 (1996-04-01), Du-Bois
patent: 5572756 (1996-11-01), Muuranen et al.
patent: 5579857 (1996-12-01), Abe et al.
patent: 5975225 (1999-11-01), Kamen et al.
patent: 2651039 (1978-05-01), None
patent: 3711048 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 3734902 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 2 303 504 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 2 558 056 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 2 664 495 (1992-01-01), None
Dayoan D. Glenn
Ferno-Washington, Inc.
Gutman Hilary
Killworth, Gottman Hagan & Schaeff LLP
LandOfFree
Device for facilitating the loading of stretcher... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for facilitating the loading of stretcher..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for facilitating the loading of stretcher... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2447608