Combined stretcher or litter and bed

E. SCHMID

2,396,931

COMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND BED

Filed April 2, 1943

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COMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND BED

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March 19, 1946.

E. SCHMID

2,306,031 ' - COMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND BED

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Filed April 2. 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

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ATTORNEY

Patented Mar. 19, 1946

2396,931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,39.6,931

COMBINED STRETCHER OR LITTER AND BED

Emil Schmid, Washington, D. C.

Application April 2, 1943, Serial No. 481,611

Claims.

My invention relates to a combined stretcher or litter and bed.

An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which is collapsible so that its parts are 5 arranged in a compact manner, and is readily manually portable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which may be quickly and conveniently opened 1( and closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which is strong and rigid when used as a stretcher or litter, or as a bed. li

A further object of the invention is to provide strong and rigid stirrups for supporting the body portion of the apparatus, when used as a stretcher or litter, and also serving to rigidly retain the combined handle and legs in leg position. 2

A further object of the invention is to provide a pillow which may be quickly mounted upon or separated from the body portion of the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follow- 2 ing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the „ same,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus embodying my invention, showing the same used as a stretcher, and partly folded,

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the same _ropened, ⁱ

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the apparatus, used as a bed,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the same, .

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus completely folded,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line

8—8 of Figure 3, ' Figure 9 is a similar view taken on line 9—9 of Figure 3,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on line 10—10 of Figure 3, parts broken away,

Figure 10^a is a transverse section taken on line 1 !Q^a—10^a of Figure 2,

Figure 11 is a plan view of a unit including the folded parts of the apparatus,

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the same, .

Figure 13 is an inner side elevation of the brace !

(Cl. 5—82) strip and combined handles and.legs, associated elements in section,

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on line 14—of Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is an outer side elevation of the brace strip, parts broken away.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 2® designates side rails j or bars, which are foldable. Each side rail 20 includes rail sections 2 i, connected at their inner ends by leaf-hinges 22, rigidly secured thereto and disposed upon the tops of the same, when the rail sections are in the opened position. 5 These leaf-hinges form with the rail sections 2(, knee joints, which permit one rail section to be swung longitudinally over the other rail section. The apparatus further comprises a flexible bottom 23, formed of canvas or the like, which is 0 passed over the outer longitudinal edge of the rail sections 2! and is secured thereto as shown at 24, Figure 8. The intermediate portion of the flexible bottom 23 is preferably cut away, at 25, Figure 5, to provide a clearance for the hinges 22. _;5 Arranged beneath the rail sections 21 are lockplates 26. Each lock-plate 26 is pivoted to one rail section 21 by a bolt 27, carrying a winged nut 28. At the opposite end, the lock-plate 26 has a transverse slot 29 to receive a bolt 38, rigidly Ό secured to the companion rail section 2 i and carrying a winged nut 31. The lock-plate 26 carries a stiffening rib or flange 32, arranged at a right angle thereto. As clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 . and 4, the lock-plates 26 when clamped to the !5 bolts 27 and 30 by the winged nuts, are disposed ' . beneath the rail sections 2 i and extend across their meeting ends, and rigidly connect them, so that the hinges 22 cannot yield downwardly.

A pair of transverse stretcher bars 33 is proto vided for each transverse pair of rail sections 2 (.

The stretcher bars 33 have their outer ends pivotally connected at 34 with cleats 35, rigidly secured to the lowei- faces of the rail sections 21. These cleats have ears or stops 36, disposed in 15 the path of travel of the stretcher bars 33 when the apparatus is folded, Figure 1. The inner ends of the stretcher bars 33 in each pair extend into a coupling 37, which is rigid and U-shaped in cross section. The ends of the stretcher bars 33 50 are pivotally connected with the coupling 37 as shown at 38. As more clearly shown in Figure 2, when the stretcher bars S3 are moved to the opened position the rail sections 21 will be shifted to the open position whereby the fabric bottom 55 23 is held suitably taut, in the opened position.

2,398,931

The coupling 37 has its closed side 38 arranged next to the inner end of the rail sections 21, and when the stretcher bars are shifted to the opened position they may be shifted past dead center and the pull upon the canvas bottom 23 will hold the stretcher bars 33 in the opened position. The stretcher bars 33 now contact with the inner closed side 38 of the coupling 37.

Secured to each rail section 21 is a rigid stirrup 39, which is generally U-shaped. This stirrup, which is preferably formed of a strap of strong and stiff metal, is arranged near the outer end of the rail section 21 and projects down below the rail section 2i. Each stirrup includes a vertical arm 40, rigidly secured to the rail section 21 by a rivet 4i or the like. The stirrup also includes a diagonal arm 42 preferably arranged at substantially 45° with relation to the vertical arm ¢( which is at a right angle to the rail section 21. The upper end of the arm 42 is rigidly secured to the rail section by a rivet 43. At its bottom, the stirrup 39 has its material bent or twisted to provide a flat horizontal foot 44. This foot has a substantial'length so that it may readily slide upon a table or the like, and will also properly support the stretcher or litter when the stirrups are placed upon the ground. The diagonal arm 42 rigidly connected with the lower end of the vertical arm 40, renders the stirrup stiff and strong and affords a powerful brace for the arm 48 in a direction longitudinally of the rail section 21.

Each rail section 21 is provided with a combined handle and leg 45, the outer or free end of which is preferably turned to provide a hand gripping portion 46. The inner end of the combined handle and leg is disposed between the vertical arm 40 and a companion strap 47, which is rigidly held to the inner face of the rail section 21 by the rivet 41. The inner end of the combined handle and leg is preferably rounded and is pivotally connected with the arm 40 and the strap 47 by a pivot element or rivet 48, passing through these parts, Figure 3. Rigidly secured to each rail section 2f, adjacent to its free end is an U-shaped keeper 49, mounted upon the lower face of the rail section 2! and attached thereto by screws 50 or the like.. This U-shaped keeper is adapted to receive the combined handle and leg 45 when it is shifted to the outer horizontal position. The combined handle and leg has a sliding fit within the U-shaped keeper 49 and when held within the keeper, it cannot move with relation thereto. One side of the U-shaped keeper 49 has an opening 51 for receiving a pin 52 which is also adapted to be inserted within an opening 53 formed in the combined handle and leg 45. The pin 51 is preferably secured to a flexible element or chain 54, carried by an eye 55, attached to the combined handle and leg 45 and hence permanently attached to the combined handle and leg. When the combined handle and leg 45 is shifted to the vertical position at a right angle to the rail section 21, the pin 52 is removed from within the opening 53 and is inserted into an opening 56, formed in the lower end of the vertical arm 40 and an opening 57 formed in the combined handle and leg 45. This pin then serves to lock the combined handle and leg to the vertical arm of the Stirrup.

Transverse rigid brace strips or boards 58 are provided which may be formed of wood or the like. The brace strip is disposed upon the inner side of each pair of combined handles and legs when they are in the open leg position. The brace strip is provided near its ends with elongated openings 59 and has locking plates 68 rigidly secured thereto adjacent to these openings. The locking plates have key hole openings GI, in communication with the openings 59. The locking plates are arranged upon the outer face of the brace strip and the key hole openings have their contracted portions arranged uppermost. Each locking plate 69 is adapted for coaction with headed elements 62 rigidly attached to the combined handle and leg. It is thus seen that the brace strip may be brought into position and the headed elements 62 passed through the large ends of the key hole openings 61, and then the strip 59 is shifted downwardly with relation to the combined handles and legs 45 whereby the headed elements enter the upper contracted ends of the key hole openings. The brace strip 53 is therefore rigidly attached to each combined handle and leg 45 at spaced points and the strip 58 therefore serves to rigidly connect the combined handles and legs 45 in each transverse pair, whereby the same are positively held against lateral movement with relation to the rail sections 2!. It is thus seen that when these combined handles and legs are used as legs for a bed, they are braced against lateral movement by the strips 58 and are also braced against movement longitudinally of the bed by their connections with the stirrups. A powerful bracing action is therefore provided. One strip 58 is provided with a handle 63, as shown.

The numeral 64 designates a pillow which is removably attached to the side rails of the apparatus when the apparatus is used as.a bed. The pillow is preferably of the construction disclosed in an application to be filed by me. Any suitable form of pillow may be used, or the apparatus may be used without a pillow.

When the apparatus is used as a stretcher or litter, each side rail 29 has its rail sections 21 arranged in the opened position and rigidly connected by the plate 2S. The pairs of stretcher bars 33 are then swung to the opened position, Figure 2, and pass dead center, and will be locked in the opened position to retain the side rails 20 spaced and the fabric bottom 23 suitably taut. The combined handles and legs 45 will now be in the outer horizontal handle position and locked in such position by inserting the pins 52 into the openings 51 of the keepers 49 and the openings 53 of the combined handles and legs. The combined handles and legs are considerably longer than the stirrups 39. The combined handles and legs may be five times as long as the stirrup. The combined handles and legs are made long so that they will extend beyond the outer ends of the rails 29 for a considerable distance to be grasped by the hands when the apparatus is used as a stretcher. When the combined handles and legs are swung to the vertical or leg position, at a right angle to the rail 20, they will have a suitable length and will project below the stirrups 39 for a considerable distance and support the fabric bottom 23 at an elevation corresponding generally to a bed elevation. Satisfactory results are obtained by having the stirrups four inches long and the combined handles and legs twenty-one inches long, while these dimensions may be varied, and the invention is not restricted to them. By combining the relatively short stirrups and the long combined handles and legs, a decided advantage is obtained. During war conditions, emergency operations must be performed quickly. When

2,396,931 the apparatus is used as a stretcher or litter with the combined handles and legs 45 in the outer horizontal handle position, the stirrups 39 extend downwardly below the combined handles and legs, for a short distance, and will serve to support the stretcher upon a table, such as an operating table. The stretcher or litter may be moved upon or over the table, by the manipulation of the combined handles and legs, and the stirrups may slide over the surface of the table. Thus a patient may be shifted to various positions during an operation without being removed from the stretcher or litter. When the stretcher or litter is placed upon the ground, the stirrups 39 will retain it slightly elevated to avoid water or the like. Attention is called to the. fact that when the apparatus is being used as a litter, the combined handles and legs 45 are arranged horizontally beneath the rail sections 21, and will therefore support the rail sections, even if the pins -52 are not in position to lock the same to the keepers 49. The liability of accidents is therefore reduced.

When the apparatus is used, as a bed, the combined handles and legs 45 are moved to and locked in the vertical leg position, to hold the fabric bottom 23 at the usual bed elevation, thus rendering it convenient for a nurse or the like to wait upon the patient. Particular attention is called to the fact that the combined handles and legs 45 are pivotally mounted upon the vertical arms 49 of the stirrups 39 and when the combined handles and legs are in the lowered or vertical leg position they are locked to these vertical arms, by the pins 53 being inserted into the openings 56 and 57. The combined handle and leg is therefore rigidly connected to the vertical arm of the stirrup at two spaced points and the vertical arm of the stirrup is strongly braced against movement longitudinally of the rail section 21 by the diagonal arm 42 of the stirrup. The combined handles and legs, in each transverse pair are rigidly connected by the brace strip 58.

When the apparatus is to be collapsed, the brace strips 58 are first removed from the combined handles and legs. The rails 20 with the rail sections 21 still rigidly connected by the plates 26 are now shifted inwardly toward each other, by swinging the pairs of stretcher bars 33 inwardly, Figure 1. The rails 20 may now be generally horizontal and the fabric bottom 23 is retained upon the tops of the rail sections 2i so that it does not pass between the rails 20. The rails 20 continue to be moved inwardly until they assume the innermost position which occurs when the keepers 49 engage each other. When the rails 29 are in the innermost position, the stretcher bars 33 in each pair are substantially parallel. The stops 36 of the cleats 35 retain the closed pairs of stretcher bars in the proper position. The fabric bottom 23 is now folded or rolled longitudinally, and is resting upon the top of the horizontal rails. Particular attention is called to the fact that the fabric bottom 23 is upon the top of the horizontal rails 20 while the combined handles and legs 45 are upon the bottom of the same. This is important for when the rail sections are folded over each other, the fabric bottom is between the rail sections, while the combined handles and legs are then positioned upon the outer sides of the rail sections. The rail sections when folded therefore cover and protect the bottom fabric, and the folded bottom fabric is compressible so that the folded rail sections may be brought into close relation, while the combined handles and legs are out of the way. To fold the rail sections 2i, the lockplates 26 are now separated from the bolts 30 5 and are swung to the inactive position with their free ends extending toward the outer ends of the rail sections 21. By tightening up the winged nuts 28, these lock-plates are clamped in the inactive position. The outer portions of the lock10 plates 26 now pass beneath the adjacent pair of stretcher bars 33, while the webs 32 are arranged upon the outer edges of these stretcher bars. One transverse pair of rail sections are now folded over the other transverse pair of rail 15 sections, upon the hinges 22. The combined handles and legs are now swung to the inner horizontal folded position with their free ends extending toward the inner ends of the rail sections 21, Figure 6. One pair of the combined 20 handles and legs fold inwardly between the webs

32. The pins 52 may be inserted within either openings 53 or 57. The transverse brace strips or boards 58 may now be arranged in superposed relation upon the pillow 64, previously collapsed 25 and disposed upon the top of the collapsed apparatus, if a pillow is used, Figure 12, with the handle 63 uppermost. Straps 64' are passed about the collapsed apparatus and the brace strips and holds the unit together so that it 30 may be readily manually transported by manipulation of the handle 63.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and 35 that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.