Abstract
Disclosed herein is a stretcher for transporting individual(s), the stretcher including two main rods, wherein each main rod is movable along a longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position; and a lying structure being releasably connected to each of the two main rods.
Claims
1. A stretcher for transporting individual(s), the stretcher comprising: a. two main rods, wherein each main rod is movable along a longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position, and wherein each main rod has in the contracted position a spiral structure and in the extended position a helix structure; and b. a lying structure being releasably connected to each of the two main rods.
2. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure comprises a plurality of lying elements each extending between the two main rods and being in the longitudinal direction spaced apart from each other.
3. The stretcher according to claim 2, wherein the lying elements are bands.
4. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure comprises one or more crawler chain structures, each crawler chain structure having a plurality of struts extending essentially in parallel to each other.
5. The stretcher according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of struts extend transversely to the longitudinal direction or wherein the plurality of struts extend in the longitudinal direction.
6. The stretcher according to claim 4, wherein each strut of the lying structure defines at least two openings, wherein each opening is configured such that a ladder buckle structure is formed, and wherein a belt is guided through each ladder buckle structure to form the crawler chain structure.
7. The stretcher according to claim 4, wherein each strut comprises a joint at its base portion by which neighboring struts are connected with each other such that the struts are pivotable to each other when the lying structure is in an unconnected state, in which the lying structure is not connected to the two main rods.
8. The stretcher according to claim 4, wherein the two main rods and/or the one or more crawler chain structures are made from metal, polymer, carbon fiber material and/or mixtures thereof.
9. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure is in an unconnected state and comprises a plurality of struts, in which the lying structure is not connected to the two main rods, inflexible along a transverse direction along which the struts extend and flexible along the thereto perpendicular longitudinal direction.
10. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein each main rod comprises a telescopic mechanism, which is configured for moving the main rod between the contracted position and the extended position.
11. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein each main rod comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged cylindrical elements which can in the contracted position be slid into each other.
12. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein each of the two main rods consists of two half rods, wherein the two half rods are releasably connected with each other at their distal ends to form the main rod.
13. The stretcher according to claim 12, wherein the two half rods are releasably connected with each other by a bayonet joint, a snap on connection or a threaded connection.
14. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the stretcher further comprises two or more transversal rods being each releasably connected to the two main rods.
15. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein each of the two main rods can be pretensioned in the contracted position such that each of the two main rods can be released and moved into the extended position by activating an activation button on each respective main rod.
16. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure is releasably connected to each of the two main rods by a force locking connection and/or a form locking connection.
17. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure further comprises a textile or foam.
18. The stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure is in an unconnected state, in which the lying structure is not connected to the two main rods, configured such that it can be coiled into a coil.
19. A method for assembling a stretcher according to claim 1, wherein the lying structure is connected to the two main rods and wherein optionally the two main rods are each first assembled by connecting two half rods prior to connecting the lying structure to the two main rods.
20. A kit of parts configured for being assembled into a stretcher according to claim 1, the kit comprising: a. two main rods, wherein each main rod is movable along a longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position; and b. a lying structure being releasably connectable to each of the two main rods.
21. A stretcher for transporting individual(s), the stretcher comprising: a. two main rods, wherein each main rod is movable along a longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position; and b. a lying structure being releasably connected to each of the two main rods and comprising a plurality of struts, wherein the lying structure is in an unconnected state, in which a lying structure is not connected to the two main rods, inflexible along a transverse direction along which the struts extend and flexible along the thereto perpendicular longitudinal direction.
22. A stretcher for transporting individual(s), the stretcher comprising: a. two main rods, wherein each main rod is movable along a longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position; and b. a lying structure being releasably connected to each of the two main rods, wherein each of the two main rods can be pretensioned in the contracted position such that each of the two main rods can be released and moved into the extended position by activating an activation button on each respective main rod.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:
(2) FIG. 1 a schematic view on a stretcher according to an embodiment of the invention;
(3) FIG. 2a a schematic side view of two half rods in their extended position forming a main rod as they are employed some embodiments of the invention;
(4) FIG. 2b a schematic side view of the two half rods of FIG. 2a in their contracted position;
(5) FIG. 3 a front view of a half rod as it is employed in some embodiments of the invention;
(6) FIG. 4 a schematic view on a stretcher according to another embodiment of the invention;
(7) FIG. 5 a schematic cross sectional view of two struts of the crawler chain structure of a stretcher according to another embodiment of the invention;
(8) FIG. 6a a schematic view on a stretcher according to another embodiment of the invention;
(9) FIG. 6b a schematic view of a strut of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6a;
(10) FIG. 7 a schematic view on a stretcher according to another embodiment of the invention;
(11) FIG. 8 a schematic view on a stretcher according to another embodiment of the invention;
(12) FIG. 9 a bag as it may be used in a kit of parts according to some embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION
(13) FIG. 1 shows a stretcher 1 for transporting individual(s), which comprises two main rods 2 and 3 which extend in parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction L. The longitudinal direction L is perpendicular to the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V. Each of the main rods is movable between a contracted position (not shown, see FIG. 2b) and an extended position, in which the two main rods currently are in FIG. 1. Stretcher 1 further includes lying structure 4 which comprises crawler chain structure 5. Crawler structure 5 contains a plurality of struts 51, 52, 53 (only three struts are referenced for clarity purposes) which extend transversely to longitudinal direction L of stretcher 1, i.e. transversely to the two main rods 2 and 3. Each main rod comprises a telescopic mechanism. In the embodiment shown, each main rod has in the shown extended position a helix structure. Each main rod 2 and 3 consists of two half rods 21 and 22, respectively 31 and 32, which are at their respective distal ends releasably connected to each other to form the corresponding main rod 2, respectively 3. Struts 51, 52, 53 form a lying surface for transporting an individual.
(14) FIG. 2a shows a side view, i.e. along the transversal direction T onto two connected half rods 31 and 32. Both half rods are in their respective extended position and are releasably connected to each other by bayonet joint 8. As can be seen, each half rod as in the extended position a conical helix structure. Both half rods contain an activation button 61 and 62, by which the half rods can be brought from their contracted positions into their extended positions. FIG. 2b shows the two half rods 31 and 32 of FIG. 2a in their corresponding contracted positions and in an unconnected state. Half rods 31 and 32 face each other with their distal ends 311 and 321. Both half rods have in their contracted position a spiral structure (see FIG. 3). In the depicted contracted position, the half rods are pretensioned, i.e. they are biased towards their respective extended position. Upon activating the activation button 61, 62, this pretension is released and the respective half rod moves from the contracted position into the extended position. In general, it may be possible that if the main rods, respectively the half rods, have in the contracted position a spiral structure and in the extended position a helix structure, then the pretension may be achieved by a spiral spring structure, i.e. the rods are inherently pretensioned in their contracted positions.
(15) FIG. 3 shows a half rod 31 in its contracted position having a spiral structure and being viewed from its distal end along the longitudinal direction.
(16) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the stretcher 1, in which lying structure 4 further comprises textile 7, which provides a continuous lying surface for an individual and which is arranged on top of the struts of the crawler chain structure.
(17) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction through two struts 51 and 52 of a crawler chain structure as it is used in some embodiments of the invention. As can be seen, the struts comprise in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction a chevron shape. Furthermore, the struts are connected at their bases by joint 511, which allows a pivoting movement of the two struts with respect to each other, and also by belt 9. However, as the struts are chevron shaped and because the struts are connected by joint 511 at their bases, pivoting is essentially only possible in one direction. Thus, the crawler chain structure can only be coiled in one direction and not in the opposite direction.
(18) FIG. 6a shows a top view on stretcher 1 according to another embodiment. Crawler chain structure 5 comprises seven struts 51, 52, 53 (only three struts are referenced due to clarity reasons). Each strut comprises four openings, wherein always two openings are configured such that they form a ladder buckle structure, i.e. one opening is arranged adjacent a transverse truss 512. In the embodiment shown, belt 10 and belt 11 are threaded through the ladder buckle structures to connect the struts together. Thus, each belt is guided from the bottom side (not shown) through one of the openings of each strut to the front side on which the viewer views in FIG. 6, over the truss and then back to the bottom side to the next strut.
(19) FIG. 6b shows strut 51 without belt 10. As can be seen, adjacent truss 512 are openings 513 and 514, thereby forming a ladder buckle structure.
(20) FIG. 7 shows a stretcher 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the stretcher of FIG. 6a, the lying structure of this stretcher comprises four separate crawler chain structures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. Such multiple crawler chain structures may be spaced apart from each other, i.e. there may be a gap between the crawler chain structures. Furthermore, in contrast to the stretcher of FIG. 6a, the struts 51a, 52a, 53a (for clarity purposes, only these three struts of crawler chain structure 5a are referenced) of each crawler chain structure extend in the longitudinal direction L, i.e. they are parallel to the two main rods 2 and 3. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the two main rods each consist of two half rods 21 and 22, respectively 31 and 32. Each strut comprises two openings which are configured such that they form a ladder buckle structure, i.e. one opening is arranged adjacent a transverse truss. In the embodiment shown, belt 10 is threaded through the ladder buckle structure of crawler chain structure 5a to connect the struts together. The crawler chain structures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are configured such that the lying structure and the crawler chain structures do not collapse under a weight of 150 kg or less, in particular of 100 kg or less. Thus, if an individual to be transported is placed on the crawler chain structures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, a force acts against the vertical direction V, and the lying surface, respectively crawler chain structure does not collapse under such a weight, which is typically less than 150 kg. For example, belt 10 may prevent collapsing of the lying surface.
(21) Alternatively, or additionally, the struts may be struts as shown in FIG. 5, i.e. the struts may comprise in the cross section along the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction a chevron shape. Furthermore, the struts may be connected at their bases by joint (see 511 of FIG. 5), which allows a pivoting movement of the two struts with respect to each other. However, as the struts are chevron shaped and because the struts are connected by such a joint, pivoting is essentially only possible in the direction towards the viewer, i.e. in the vertical direction, but not against the vertical direction V. Stretcher 1 of FIG. 7 further comprises three textiles 71, 72, 73, such as textile cloths. Textile cloth 71 may support the head of the individual to be transported, textile cloth 72 being arranged between crawler chain structure 5a and crawler chain structure 5b may support the lower back of the individual and textile 73 may support the feet of the individual to be transported.
(22) FIG. 8 shows a stretcher 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. The stretcher 1 has two main rods 2 and 3, which each consists of two half rods 21 and 22, respectively 31 and 32. Each half rod may in this or any other embodiment as described herein, consist of a plurality of cylindrical elements 211, 212, 213, 214 and 215 (only the five cylindrical elements of half rod 21 are referenced for clarity purposes). These cylindrical elements can in the contracted position be slid into each other and therefore form a telescopic mechanism for moving the corresponding half rod and/or main rod along its longitudinal direction between a contracted position and an extended position. Furthermore, the lying structure in this embodiments comprises five lying elements, which in this embodiment are five bands 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h and 5i. In addition to the two main rods 2 and 3, stretcher 1 further comprises two transversal rods 12 and 13 which are releasably connected to the two main rods 2 and 3 and extend between the two main rods. As it is the case for the main rods 2 and 3 in FIG. 8, also transversal rods 12 and 13 consist each of a plurality of cylindrical elements which can in a contracted position be slid into each other. The transversal rods 12 and 13 are therefore also movable between a contracted position and an extended position. Additionally, transversal rods 12 and 13 are arranged at opposite ends of main rods 2 and 3 and form together with the main rods a frame which surrounds the lying surface.
(23) FIG. 9 discloses a bag 14 as it can be used in a kit of parts according to an embodiment of the invention. All elements of the stretcher, such as the main rods (or the corresponding half rods) and the lying structure, and optionally further the crawler chain structures, the bands, the textile or foam and/or the transversal rods, etc. can be stored in one or more of these bags. The bag may further comprise fastening structure 141 which may for example be a hook and loop fastener being configured for attaching bag 14 to the lying structure and/or the main rods of a stretcher according to the invention.
