Arresting device of a cot fastening system

An arresting device used in a cot fastening system for an emergency vehicle is disclosed. The arresting device includes an extension beam providing a bolt pattern, and a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions. The present invention may be used with a plurality of prior art cots, without requiring modifications or installation changes to the emergency vehicle or the cot fastening system to which the arresting device is a part thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cot fastening systems and in particular, to a floor-mounted arresting device of the antler type used in a cot fastening system for an emergency vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In ambulances and other emergency/rescue vehicles, removable, wheeled cots or stretchers are often provided for convenient and comfortable patient transportation from a remote accident site to the emergency vehicle. These cots or stretchers are often referred to as “roll-in” devices, and generally feature a plurality of wheels for inserting and removing the cot from the emergency vehicle, as well as an adjustable or multi-level fold down carriage supporting a set of wheels which enables the cot to be easily rolled along sidewalks, roads, or other access surfaces.

The mobile patient transportation cots or similar devices commonly include a structural frame, which is often tubular in nature, to provide lightweight support for the patient and the wheels, casters or other rolling mechanisms attached thereto. Once the patient is rolled to the emergency vehicle on the cot, the undercarriage may be collapsed and folded under the cot to facilitate insertion of the cot into the emergency vehicle. The cot is then rolled into the emergency vehicle and fastened into position for safe transportation.

A prior art cot fastening system10is illustrated byFIG. 1. The cot fastening system comprising a front arresting device20, and a separate rear fastening device or locking bar30. The front arresting device20is used to secure the front wheels of the cot and the locking bar30is used to secure the cot frame. Such a cot fastening system has been widely used in the industry for a number of years. As shown inFIG. 2, the front arresting device, often referred to generally as the “antlers,” includes a bracket with a pair of upwardly, extending hook-like members40, which curve to the rear of the emergency vehicle45and are designed to receive and effectively hook onto portions of the forward support frame members50of the cot60, as shown inFIG. 2. This antler bracket20thereby limits forward movement of the cot within the emergency vehicle. The rear locking bar30is thereafter secured to the cot frame to secure the cot against further rolling movement within the emergency vehicle.

While such cot fastening systems have been widely and successfully used, there are a plurality of designs for cots and other wheeled devices utilized in various emergency vehicles and the like, and interchangeable use of prior cot fastening systems often required modification of the fastening system itself or its installation, or adjustments to the system. In particular, prior art fastening system all use different mounting assemblies which depends on the particulars of the cot in use.

For example, prior art antler brackets require alternate antler bracket mounting locations in the floor of the emergency vehicle for the various types of cots, such as for example, the Model 30 and 35 series Ferno brand cots. Often, this requires installation of an additional mounting plate in the floor of the emergency vehicle if desiring to interchange one cot with another. However, when multiple emergency vehicles containing various types of cot fastening systems respond to an emergency, delays in removing patients from the scene may result due to the lack of interoperability, as particular cot must be match up with particular fastening systems.

This problem is further acerbated by the fact that from a regulation standpoint, some ambulance manufacturers must provide the floor cot mounting hardware (mount, locking bar, and antler bracket) that matches the cot being used (i.e., a Ferno brand cot must have Ferno brand floor hardware installed). Should an end user be considering a cot change or addition while at the same time ordering a new ambulance, the cot decision must be made before the mounts are installed in the new ambulance. Accordingly, a cot fastening system which accommodates a broader range of cot models and which automatically and dependably accepts and functions properly with those various models without modification or adjustment to the ambulance or cot fastening system to which the arresting device is a part thereof, is still a desire in the industry in order to reduce the number of issues regarding interoperability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is against the above background that the present invention provides improvements and advancements over the prior art. In particular, the present invention is an improved floor mounted arresting device for a cot fastening system that accepts a plurality of cots and devices of differing designs, without requiring modifications or installation changes to the ambulance or the cot fastening system to which the arresting device is a part thereof.

In one embodiment, an arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle is disclosed. The arresting device comprises a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions. The first hook portion have an orientation different from the second hook portion.

In another embodiment, an arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle is disclosed. The arresting device comprises a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions. The first hook portion have an orientation different from the second hook portion. A first bolting mount is also provided. The antler brackets are secured to the first bolting mount. A pair of first extension braces each having a first end secured between the first and second hook portions of a respective one of the antler brackets is provided. A pair of second extension braces each having a first end secured between the first hook portion and the first bolting mount of a respective one of the antlers brackets is also provided.

In still another embodiment, an arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle is disclosed. The arresting device comprises a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions. The first hook portion has a horizontal orientation, and the second hook portion has a vertical orientation. A first bolting mount is provided. The antler brackets are secured to the first bolting mount. A pair of first extension braces each having a first end secured between the first and second hook portions of a respective one of the antler brackets is also provided as well as a pair of second extension braces each having a first end secured between the first hook portion and the first bolting mount of a respective one of the antlers brackets. A second bolting mount is also provided, wherein second ends of each of the first and second extension braces are secured to the second bolting mount. In addition, the first and second bolting mounts each provide a removable fastener configured to releaseably engage a floor of the emergency vehicle. Portions of the antler brackets and the second extension braces are configured to lie in a plane parallel to the floor of the emergency vehicle.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views,FIG. 3illustrates a perspective view of the rear transport portions of an emergency vehicle80, having a forward end90and rear end100, into which a wheeled cot, stretcher, or similar patient transfer device is to be placed. While the present invention is applicable to nearly any wheeled device having a support frame and which is to be secured along a substantially planar surface, the present invention will be shown and described in relation to one specific application of the invention wherein a wheeled emergency cot is to be secured along the floor45of the emergency vehicle80by an arresting device110according to the present invention.

The term “cot” will be understood to refer to any of a variety of patient transfer devices, stretchers, carts or incubator transporters commonly known and utilized in the industry (e.g. Model 26 Series, Model 28 Series, Model 29-M, Model 30 Series, Models 35-A, 35-A+, and 35-P ProFlexx, Models 93ES and 93EX, XCalibur Cots, etc., such as available from Ferno-Washington, Inc. of Wilmington, Ohio). Such cots often have a pair of front loading wheels to facilitate insertion and removal of the device from an emergency vehicle, as well as a rear fold-down wheel assembly, including a plurality of wheels to facilitate rolling movement of the cot between the emergency vehicle and other locations. While the cots illustrated and described herein are contemplated as including wheels to facilitate movement of the cot along a planar surface, such wheels could be substituted by other devices such as slides, rollers, skis or the like.

The arresting device110as shown inFIGS. 3-4fits the conventional mount spacing or bolt pattern70provided to the floor45of the emergency vehicle80, and is illustrated in dashed lines inFIG. 3. The conventional bolt pattern70would be the same bolt pattern used to secure the conventional device20shownFIG. 2to the floor45. The arresting device110is provided with a pair of antler bracket portions130, each having a first hook portion140, and a second hook portion150. The first and second hook portions140,150are shaped and sized to engage a forward portion of a cot when situated in the emergency vehicle80. For example, the cot60inFIG. 1may be a Ferno Model 35 Cot, while the cot120depicted inFIG. 4may be a Ferno Model 28 Cot Chair. It is to be appreciated that the arresting device110of the present invention is suitable to releasably hold both such cots60and120.

The first hook portions140have a first orientation, and the second hook portion150have a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation. In one embodiment, the first orientation situates the first hook portions140in a substantially horizontal position. In one embodiment, the second orientation situates the second hook portions150in a substantially vertical position. In still another embodiment, the first orientation situates the first hook portions140in a substantially horizontal position, and the second orientation situates the second hook portions150in a substantially vertical position.

Each of the pair of antler brackets130has a respective first extension brace160. Each extension brace160has a first end170secured between the first and second hook portions140,150, and a second end180provided to a forward bolting mount190. The forward bolting mount190in one embodiment is a unity piece such illustrated inFIG. 3, and in another embodiment is two pieces190a,190bas depicted inFIG. 4. A second extension brace200is also provided to each of the antler brackets130. Each second extension brace200has a first end210secured forward of the second hook portion150and a second end220provided to the forward bolting mount190.

In one embodiment, the first extension braces160are a unity piece passing through the forward bolting mount190. In another embodiment, the first extension braces160are individual pieces having the second ends180mounted to sides of the forward bolting mount190. In another embodiment, the second ends180are mounted to sides of the first piece190aof the forward bolting mount190as shown byFIG. 4

In one embodiment, the second extension braces200are a unity piece passing through the forward bolting mount190. In a second embodiment, the second extension braces200are individual pieces having second ends220mounted to sides of the forward bolting mount190. In another embodiment, the second ends220are mounted to sides of the second piece190bof the forward bolting mount190as shown byFIG. 4.

The antler brackets130further include elongated bracket portions230which each have a first end240which are provided to a rearward bolting mount250. The elongated bracket portions230lie in a plane substantially parallel to the floor45of the emergency vehicle when the arresting device110is bolted to the floor45via removable fasteners260engaging the bolting pattern70. Removable fasteners260are provided to releasably mount the arresting device110to the floor45of the emergency vehicle80. In one embodiment, the removable fasteners260are knurled knob threaded bolts. In another embodiment, any other type of device(s) to releasably mount the arresting device110to the floor45of the emergency vehicle80may be used.

In one embodiment, the antler brackets130are a unity piece passing though the rearward bolting mount250, and in a second embodiment, are individual pieces having the first ends240mounted to sides of the rearward bolting mount250.

In one embodiment, the second extension braces200lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions230. In another embodiment, a portion270of each the first extension braces160lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions230. In still another embodiment, the portions of the first extension braces160and the second extension braces200lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions230. Providing the elongated bracket portions230and the second extension braces200in the above described manner permits a cot, such as cot120inFIG. 4, to roll over such portions and braces without interference such that the second hook portions150of the antler bracket engage a horizontally extending frame member125of the cot.

It is to be appreciated that the first hook portions140are used to engage a downwardly extending forward support frame members, such as members50of cot60illustrated inFIG. 2. By virtue of providing the first and second hook portions140,150of the antler brackets130, no modification to the floor45of the emergency vehicle80or other components of the cot fastening system to which the arresting device110is a part thereof, is required to accommodate a wider range of prior art cots.

In one embodiment, the arresting device110is metal. In other embodiments, the arresting device110may be any other suitable material sufficient to firmly hold a cot during an impact, such as during a crash of the emergency vehicle80. The arresting device110may also includes a polymer bump guard280, which is mounted to the rearward bolting mount250.

A conventional and separate rear-fastening rail is also provided in conjunction with the arresting device110to secure the cot against rolling movement within the emergency vehicle. Together, the arresting device110and rear-fastening rail form a cot fastening system. One suitable rear-fastening rail30is shown inFIG. 1. As this rear fastening rail30is conventional, no further discussion is provided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is not considered limited to what is described in the specification. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.