Fastening track, cot transport vehicle adapted to secure the fastening track, and cot fastening system incorporating same

A fastening track, a cot transport vehicle adapted to securely receive the fastening track, and a cot fastening system incorporating the cot fastening track are provided. At least two track securing members extend from the lower surface of the fastening track and are received in a self-centering aperture of a mounting assembly provided within a support surface of a transport vehicle. The fastening track comprises a frame including a spanner which is resistant to thermal expansion. A locking mechanism is provided including a convenient a latch disengagement member. The fastening track also includes a track clamping mechanism comprising a safety flag movable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The safety flag prevents inadvertent disengagement of the track from the vehicle and improper loading of a cot onto the vehicle. A stop cam is provided on the track to prevent inadvertent unloading of the cot from the track. A cot-mounted data port and a track-mounted data port comprise mating data connections to allow convenient transfer of data from a data transfer device mounted on the cot. An array of indicator lights oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal body and the entry portion are provided to guide cot loading.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the secure transport of cots, i.e., 
stretchers, carts, incubator transporters, and other similar patient 
transfer devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a 
fastening track, a cot transport vehicle adapted to securely receive the 
fastening track of the present invention, and a cot fastening system 
incorporating the cot fastening track of the present invention wherein 
unnecessary cot movement during transport is prevented, cot movement in 
the event of a vehicular crash is inhibited, easy removal and installation 
of the fastening track within the vehicle and of the cot within the track 
is provided, and cot loading and unloading safety is enhanced. 
In ambulances and other emergency rescue vehicles, removable cots or 
stretchers are often provided for convenient and comfortable patient 
transport from a remote accident site to the vehicle. These devices 
commonly include a lightweight structural frame or chassis to provide 
support for the patient with wheels, casters or other rolling mechanisms 
attached thereto. Once the patient is rolled to the emergency vehicle on 
the cot, the chassis undercarriage may be collapsed and folded to 
facilitate insertion of the device into the emergency vehicle. The device 
is then rolled into the emergency vehicle and fastened into position for 
safe transportation. 
A cot fastener system comprising a front member often referred to as an 
"antler" bracket, and a rear fastening rail has been widely used in the 
industry for a number of years. Particularly, the front bracket generally 
includes a pair of upwardly extending hook-like members which curve to the 
rear of the emergency vehicle and are designed to receive and effectively 
hook onto portions of the forward support frame members of the cot. This 
bracket thereby limits forward movement of the cot within the emergency 
vehicle. A separate rear fastening rail is thereafter secured to the cot 
frame to secure the cot against further rolling movement within the 
emergency vehicle. 
Consequently, while there have been available cot fastener systems utilized 
in the industry, there has heretofore not been available a fastener system 
which provides for easy removal and installation of the fastening system 
within the vehicle and of the cot within the track. Finally, there has 
heretofore not been available a fastener system on which provides for 
enhanced cot loading and unloading safety. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These needs are met by the present invention wherein a fastening track, a 
cot transport vehicle adapted to securely receive the fastening track, and 
a cot fastening system incorporating the cot fastening track are provided 
wherein unnecessary cot movement during transport is prevented, easy 
removal and installation of the fastening track within the vehicle and of 
the cot within the track is provided, and cot loading and unloading safety 
is enhanced. 
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a fastening 
track is provided comprising a frame defining a first end, a second end, a 
longitudinal body extending from the first end to the second end. The 
longitudinal body defines an upper track surface and a lower track 
surface. An entry portion is positioned proximate the first end and an 
abutment portion is positioned along the longitudinal body between the 
entry portion and the second end. A locking mechanism is positioned along 
the longitudinal body and at least two track securing members extend from 
the lower track surface. Each of the track securing members comprise an 
extension portion secured to the frame and a lateral projection extending 
beyond a periphery of the extension portion. The extension portion 
preferably comprises a substantially cylindrical shaft and the lateral 
projection preferably defines a substantially circular periphery. 
The frame preferably comprises a shell defining a pair of longitudinal 
cavities positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal body, and a 
spanner positioned within each of the pair of longitudinal cavities and 
extending substantially the entire length of the longitudinal cavity. The 
spanner is formed of a material which exhibits insignificant thermal 
expansion relative to the shell at temperatures ranging from about 
-40.degree. F. to about 140.degree. F. (about -40.degree. C. to about 
60.degree. C.). 
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a cot 
transport vehicle is provided comprising a substantially planar support 
surface including at least one mounting assembly recess formed therein and 
a mounting assembly positioned in the mounting assembly recess. The 
mounting assembly comprises a mounting cavity formed in the mounting 
assembly body and a centering aperture formed in the upper surface of the 
body over at least a portion of the mounting cavity. The centering 
aperture converges from a greater aperture dimension to a lesser aperture 
dimension and defines a converging mounting path extending from the front 
end to the rear end and a mounting lip formed over at least a portion of 
the mounting cavity. The mounting assembly may define a plurality of 
substantially parallel mounting axes. 
The mounting cavity preferably includes a mounting ramp formed therein. The 
mounting ramp defines a declining surface extending along at least a 
portion of the mounting path. A clamping aperture may be formed in the 
upper surface of the body. 
The cot transport vehicle may further comprise a fastening track comprising 
a frame, an entry portion, an abutment portion, a locking mechanism, and 
at least two track securing members extending from the lower track 
surface. Each of the track securing members comprises an extension portion 
secured to the frame and a lateral projection extending beyond a periphery 
of the extension portion. The lateral projection defines a projection 
dimension which is greater than the lesser aperture dimension and lesser 
than the greater aperture dimension. The extension portion may comprise a 
shaft and the lateral projection may define a substantially circular cross 
section. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 
fastening track is provided comprising a frame, an entry portion, an 
abutment portion, and a locking mechanism defining a locking position 
offset from the loading passage. The locking mechanism comprises a cot 
guide latch positioned to extend into the locking position and a latch 
disengagement member coupled to the cot guide latch and positioned 
adjacent an exterior surface of the longitudinal body. 
The locking mechanism may further comprise an electrical switching 
assembly, the switching assembly including a switch trigger positioned to 
extend into the locking position. The latch disengagement member may 
include a mobile finger grip portion and the entry portion may define a 
stationary grip surface aligned with the mobile finger grip portion. 
The fastening track may further comprise an intermediate abutment portion 
and at least one intermediate mounting plate positioned along the 
longitudinal body between the abutment portion and the entry portion. The 
intermediate mounting plate and the intermediate abutment portion may 
define an attachment assembly operative to mechanically couple the 
intermediate abutment portion to the intermediate mounting plate. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 
fastening track is provided comprising a frame, an entry portion, an 
abutment portion, a locking mechanism, and a track clamping mechanism. The 
track clamping mechanism comprises a safety flag movable between a secured 
position and an unsecured position, and a clamp coupled to the safety 
flag, the clamp including a catch portion. 
The longitudinal body preferably defines a loading passage extending from 
the entry portion to the abutment portion and the unsecured position is 
characterized by intersection of the loading passage by the safety flag. 
The secured position is preferably characterized by non-intersection of 
the loading passage by the safety flag. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 
fastening track is provided comprising a frame, an entry portion, an 
abutment portion, a locking mechanism, and a stop cam positioned along the 
longitudinal body and extending from the upper track surface in an 
extended position. The stop cam includes a camming surface and a 
mechanical stop surface and is oriented such that the camming surface is 
generally disposed in the direction of the first end and the mechanical 
stop surface is generally disposed in the direction of the second end. The 
stop cam is preferably spring loaded so as to be movable under compression 
out of the extended position towards a retracted cam position. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cot 
fastening system is provided comprising a fastening track is provided 
comprising a frame, an entry portion, an abutment portion, a locking 
mechanism, a track clamping mechanism, and a cot. The track clamping 
mechanism comprises a safety flag movable between a secured position and 
an unsecured position, and a clamp coupled to the safety flag, the clamp 
including a catch portion. The cot comprises a chassis, a loading cot 
guide secured to the chassis, and a trailing cot guide secured to the 
chassis. 
The safety flag is preferably arranged to inhibit passage of the loading 
cot guide past the safety flag in the unsecured position and to permit 
passage of the loading cot guide past the safety flag in the secured 
position. The locking mechanism may define a locking position such that, 
where the trailing cot guide is positioned in the locking position, 
movement of the safety flag to the unsecured position is inhibited. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cot 
fastening system is provided comprising a fastening track comprising a 
frame, an entry portion, an abutment portion, a locking mechanism 
positioned along the longitudinal body, a stop cam extending from the 
upper track surface, and a cot. The stop cam includes a camming surface 
and a mechanical stop surface and is oriented such that the camming 
surface is generally disposed in the direction of the first end and the 
mechanical stop surface is generally disposed in the direction of the 
second end. The cot comprises a chassis, a loading cot guide secured to 
the chassis, a trailing cot guide secured to the chassis, and a stop cam 
release mechanism secured to the chassis. The stop cam release mechanism 
may comprise a hand grip and a release lever coupled to the chassis. The 
release lever may be positioned to engage the stop cam. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cot 
fastening system comprising a cot including a data transmission device 
mounted thereto, the data transmission device including a cot-mounted data 
port, and a cot fastening track. The cot fastening track comprises a 
frame, a cot entry portion, a cot abutment portion, a cot locking 
mechanism, and a track-mounted data port positioned so as to enable 
transfer of is data between the cot-mounted data port and the 
track-mounted data port. 
The track-mounted data port is preferably positioned so as to enable 
transfer of data between the cot-mounted data port and the track-mounted 
data port subsequent to passage of a portion of the cot through the cot 
entry portion of the cot fastening track. The data transmission device may 
comprise a personal computer or a data link. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 
fastening track is provided comprising a frame, a cot entry portion, a cot 
abutment portion, a cot locking mechanism, and an array of indicator 
lights oriented substantially parallel to one of the longitudinal body and 
the entry portion. The array of indicator lights may be positioned along 
the upper track surface. Further, the entry portion may define a 
converging entry path and the array of indicator lights may define a 
converging path of illumination positioned along the entry portion. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 
fastening track is provided comprising a frame, a cot entry portion, a cot 
abutment portion, a cot locking mechanism, and first and second subsets of 
indicator lights and a switching mechanism arranged so as to selectively 
energize the first subset of indicator lights and the second subset of 
indicator lights in response to engagement of the locking mechanism. The 
entry portion may define a converging entry path and at least one of the 
first subset of lights and the second subset of lights may define a 
converging path of illumination positioned along the entry portion. The 
first subset of lights may indicate disengagement of the locking mechanism 
and the second subset of lights may indicate engagement of the locking 
mechanism. 
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cot 
is provided comprising: a chassis defining a loading end and a trailing 
end; loading wheels supported by respective loading wheel hubs, the 
loading wheel hubs being coupled to the loading end of the chassis; and a 
support member mechanically coupled to the chassis, the support member 
including a cot guide portion substantially aligned with an axis of 
rotation of the loading wheels. The support member is preferably 
mechanically coupled between the loading wheel hubs. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
fastening track, a cot transport vehicle adapted to securely receive the 
fastening track, and a cot fastening system incorporating the cot 
fastening track, wherein unnecessary cot movement during transport is 
prevented, easy removal and installation of the fastening track within the 
vehicle and of the cot within the track is provided, and cot loading and 
unloading safety is enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is described in detail herein with reference to the 
illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1-10, where like reference numerals are 
indicative of like structural elements. 
According to the present invention, as illustrated In FIG. 1, a cot 
transport vehicle 8 including a substantially planar support surface 10 is 
adapted to securely receive a fastening track 12 thereon. The structure of 
the fastening track 12 is described in further detail below with reference 
to FIGS. 5-10. The cot transport vehicle 8 typically comprises an 
ambulance or another emergency rescue vehicle; however, for the purpose of 
defining the present invention, the cot transport vehicle 8 may comprise 
any support structure subject to motion. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the substantially planar support 
surface 10 includes a pair of mounting assembly recesses 14 formed 
therein. A mounting assembly 16 is positioned in each recess 14. The 
mounting assembly 16 comprises respective mounting assembly bodies 18, 
mounting cavities 20, and centering apertures 22. Each mounting assembly 
body 18 defines a front end 24, a rear end 26, and a substantially planar 
upper surface 28 extending from the front end 24 to the rear end 26. The 
mounting cavity 20 is formed in the mounting assembly body 18. The 
centering aperture 22 is formed in the upper surface 28 over at least a 
portion of the mounting cavity 20. The centering aperture 22 defines a 
converging mounting path extending from the front end 24 to the rear end 
26 such that the centering aperture 22 converges from a greater aperture 
dimension a to a lesser aperture dimension b. Further, the centering 
aperture 22 defines a mounting lip 30 formed over at least a portion of 
the mounting cavity 20 so as to border at least a portion of the centering 
aperture 22. A lower clamping aperture 36, the function of which is 
described in detail below with respect to FIGS. 6-9, is formed in the 
upper surface 28. 
The mounting cavity 20 includes a mounting ramp 32 formed therein. The 
mounting ramp may comprise a rigid plastic insert and defines a declining 
surface 34 extending along at least a portion of the converging mounting 
path defined by the centering aperture 22. 
The mounting assembly recess 14 and the mounting assembly body 18 are sized 
and arranged such that the substantially planar support surface 10 and the 
substantially planar upper surface 28 form a single substantially 
continuous planar surface. Further, the assembly recesses 14 and the 
assembly bodies are positioned such that they define a mounting axis which 
is substantially parallel to a vehicle compartment enclosing the planar 
support surface 10. In addition, it is contemplated by the present 
invention that, a plurality of substantially parallel mounting axes may be 
provided on the support surface 10 so as to permit selective installation 
of the fastening track 12 along any one of a plurality of mounting axes 
within the vehicle compartment. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5-10, the fastening track 12 is described in 
detail. The fastening track 12 comprises a frame 40, an entry portion 42, 
an abutment portion 44, a locking mechanism 46, see FIGS. 8B and 8C, and 
at least two track securing members 48, see FIGS. 7D and 7E, all of which 
are preferably adapted to provide a secure cot mounting arrangement. The 
frame 40 defines a first end 50, a second end 52, a loading passage 53, 
and a longitudinal body 54 extending from the first end 50 to the second 
end 52. The longitudinal body 54 defines an upper track surface 56 and a 
lower track surface 58. The entry portion 42 is positioned proximate the 
first end 50. The abutment portion 44 is positioned along the longitudinal 
body 54 between the entry portion 42 and the second end 52. 
An intermediate abutment portion 92 and at least one intermediate mounting 
plate 94, see FIGS. 1, 7A, and 7E, are positioned along the longitudinal 
body 54 between the abutment portion 44 and the entry portion 42 in order 
to accommodate for varying cot lengths. The intermediate mounting plate 94 
and the intermediate abutment portion 92 define an attachment assembly 96, 
e.g., a threaded bolt and a corresponding threaded bore, operative to 
mechanically couple the intermediate abutment portion 92 to the 
intermediate mounting plate 94. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8D and 8E, the frame 40 of the fastening track 12 
comprises a shell 64 made of plastic or other durable material suitable 
for use in the present invention. The shell 64 defines a pair of 
longitudinal cavities 66 positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal 
body 54. Separate spanner elements 68, which may comprise respective 
single pieces of material or multiple pieces of material coupled together 
along the length of the body 54, are positioned within each of the pair of 
longitudinal cavities 66 and extend substantially the entire length of the 
longitudinal cavity 66. The spanner elements 68 are formed of a material, 
e.g. aluminum, which exhibits insignificant thermal expansion relative to 
the shell at temperatures ranging from about -40.degree. F. to about 
140.degree. F. (about -40.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C.). The track 
securing members 48 are mechanically coupled to the spanners 68, as 
opposed to the shell 64. In this manner, the track 12 remains securely 
fixed to the support surface 10 throughout the noted temperature range, 
even where the overall length of the shell 64 changes as a result of 
temperature changes. 
The locking mechanism 46 is positioned along the longitudinal body 54 
between the entry portion 42 and the abutment portion 44 and defines a 
locking position 47 offset from the loading passage 53. An electrical 
switching assembly including a switch trigger 88 extending into the 
locking position 47 is employed to provide a signal indicative of whether 
a cot guide or other structural member is present in the locking position 
47, see FIG. 5. 
The locking mechanism 46 comprises a spring loaded cot guide latch 82 
positioned to extend into the locking position 47 and a latch 
disengagement member 84 coupled to the cot guide latch 82 and positioned 
adjacent an exterior surface 86 of the longitudinal body 54, see FIGS. 7A, 
8B, and 8C. The latch disengagement member 84 includes a mobile finger 
grip portion 88 and the entry portion 42 defines a stationary grip surface 
90 aligned with the mobile finger grip portion 88 (FIG. 5). An operator 
disengages the cot guide latch 82 from a cot guide positioned in the 
locking position 47 by moving the mobile finger grip portion 88 towards 
the stationary grip surface 90. The alignment of the stationary grip 
surface 90 and the mobile finger grip portion 88 enhances the ease at 
which disengagement of the cot guide latch 82 is achieved, see FIGS. 5 and 
10. 
The track securing members 48 extend from the lower track surface 58 and 
are designed so as to be securely received within the mounting assembly 
16. Specifically, each securing member 48 comprises an extension portion 
60, e.g., a substantially cylindrical shaft, secured to the frame 40 and a 
lateral projection 62, e.g., a member defining a substantially circular 
periphery, extending beyond a periphery of the extension portion 60, see 
FIGS. 7C, 7D, 8E, and 9. 
Referring now to FIG. 9 and to the mounting assemblies 16 illustrated in 
FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the lateral projection 62 defines a projection 
dimension c which is greater than the lesser aperture dimension b and 
lesser than the greater aperture dimension a in mounting assemblies 16. 
Further, the extension portion 60 defines an extension dimension d which 
is less than the lesser aperture dimension b. Accordingly, the mounting 
assembly 16 is operative to securely receive each securing member 48 by 
permitting the extension portion 60 to pass along the entire length of the 
mounting path defined by the centering aperture 22 while securely 
receiving the extension portion 60 within the mounting cavity 20 adjacent 
the mounting lip 30. 
The securing members 48 are clamped in place by passing a clamp 70 
including a catch portion 72 through an upper clamping aperture 74 
provided in the track 12 and the lower clamping aperture 36, see FIGS. 6, 
7B, and 9. The clamp 70 is coupled to a rotatable shaft assembly 76. The 
catch portion 72 is aligned with the upper clamping aperture 74 and is 
offset a predetermined distance from an axis of rotation of the rotatable 
shaft assembly 76 such that the predetermined distance exceeds the 
distance from which the upper clamping aperture 74 is offset from the axis 
of be rotation. Accordingly, the catch portion 72 may be rotated so as to 
extend through the upper clamping aperture 74. Further, the catch portion 
72 is sized such that, upon proper rotation of the catch portion 72, it is 
received within a clamping aperture recess 78 bounded by a clamping lip 
80, see FIGS. 2A and 2B. It is contemplated by the present invention that 
other means may be provided for accomplishing the clamping function 
performed by the clamp 70. 
A safety flag 73 is also coupled to the rotatable shaft assembly 76 so as 
to be rotatable with the clamp 70 between a secured position 75 and an 
unsecured position 77, see FIG. 7B. The unsecured position 77 is 
characterized by the interruption or blockage of the loading passage 53 by 
the safety flag 73. Accordingly, loading of an object intended to be 
mounted to or secured by the fastening track 12 is inhibited where the 
safety flag 73 is in the unsecured position 77 and the clamp 70 is not 
properly engaged within the clamping aperture recess 78. Conversely, the 
secured position 75 is characterized by non-intersection of the loading 
passage 53 by the safety flag 73 so as to permit loading when the safety 
flag 73 is in the secured position and the clamp 70 is properly engaged 
within the clamping aperture recess 78. 
Specifically, referring now to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B, 6 and 9, a cot fastening 
system 100 is illustrated comprising a fastening track 12 and a cot 102. 
The cot 102 comprises a chassis 104, a loading cot guide 106 secured to 
the chassis 104, and a trailing cot guide 108 secured to the chassis 104. 
As is illustrated in FIG. 9, the safety flag 73 is specifically arranged 
to inhibit passage of the loading cot guide 106 past the safety flag 73 
when the safety flag 73 is in the unsecured position 77. Further, the 
safety flag 73 is specifically arranged to permit passage of the loading 
cot guide 106 past the safety flag 73 when the safety flag 73 is in the 
secured position 75, see FIG. 7B. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, the locking mechanism 46 defines the locking 
position 47 such that, where the trailing cot guide 108 is positioned in 
the locking position 47, movement of the safety flag 73 to the unsecured 
position 77 is inhibited. In this manner, because the clamp 70 is coupled 
to the safety flag 73 through the rotatable shaft assembly 76, removal of 
the clamp 70 from the clamping aperture recess 78 is inhibited if a cot 
102 is loaded within the fastening track 12. The trailing cot guide 108 
includes a cut-out portion 109 for receiving the cot guide latch 82. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8A, a stop cam 97 is provided to prevent 
inadvertent or improper unloading of an object from the fastening track 
12. The stop cam 97 is positioned along the longitudinal body 54, 
preferably between the entry portion 42 and the second end 52. The stop 
cam 97 extends from the upper track surface 56 in an extended position and 
includes a camming surface 98 and a mechanical stop surface 99. The stop 
cam 97 is oriented such that the camming surface 98 is generally disposed 
in the direction of the first end 50 and such that the mechanical stop 
surface 99 is generally disposed in the direction of the second end 52, 
see FIG. 7D. The stop cam 97 is spring loaded so as to be movable under 
compression out of the extended position towards a retracted cam position, 
e.g. in response to abutment of the camming surface 98 by a structural 
portion of a cot moving in the direction of the second end 52. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7D, a cot fastening system 100 is illustrated 
comprising the fastening track 12 and the cot 102. 
The cot 102 includes a support member 110 specifically arranged to abut the 
camming surface 98 and move the stop cam 97 out of the extended position 
towards the retracted cam position as the loading cot guide 106 is passed 
through the loading passage 53 towards the second end 52 of the fastening 
track 12. Further, the support member 110 is arranged so as to abut the 
mechanical stop surface 99 of the stop cam 97 as the loading cot guide 106 
is passed through the loading passage 53 towards the first end 50 of the 
fastening track 12. 
To permit unloading of the cot 102, a stop cam release mechanism 112 is 
secured to the chassis 104. The release mechanism comprises a hand grip 
116 mechanically coupled to a release lever 118. Activation of the hand 
grip 116, as indicated in FIG. 5, causes a release lever 118 coupled to 
the support member 110 to engage the stop cam 97 and move the stop cam 97 
towards the retracted position out of the path of the support member 110. 
Referring further to FIGS. 3 and 4A, the chassis 104 of cot 102 defines a 
loading end 101 and a trailing end 103 and includes loading wheels 105 
supported by respective loading wheel hubs 107. The loading wheel hubs 107 
are coupled to the loading end 101 of the chassis 104. The loading cot 
guide 106 is coupled to the support member 110. The support member 110 is 
mechanically coupled between the loading wheel hubs 107 such that the 
loading cot guide 106 is substantially aligned with an axis of rotation of 
the loading wheels 105. The trailing end 103 of the chassis 104 may be 
raised and lowered while the loading cot guide 106 is positioned within 
the loading passage 53 because the loading cot guide 106 is substantially 
aligned with the axis of rotation of the loading wheels 105. Accordingly, 
damage to the fastening track 12 and the cot 102 during loading is 
minimized. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4A, a fastening track 12 and a cot fastening 
system 100 including a specially designed data connection 120 are 
illustrated. The data connection 120 is positioned along the longitudinal 
body 54 of the fastening track 12. The data connection 120 comprises a 
track-mounted data port 122 in a predetermined data port position relative 
to the longitudinal body 54 and a second data port 124 coupled to the 
track-mounted data port 122 via a data link 126. 
The cot 102 includes a data transmission device 128 mounted thereto, e.g., 
a personal computer or a data link. The data transmission device 128 
includes a cot-mounted data port 130, see FIG. 4A. The track-mounted data 
port 122 is positioned to enable transfer of data between the cot-mounted 
data port 130 and the track-mounted data port 122 subsequent to passage of 
a portion of the cot 102 through the cot entry portion 42 of the cot 
fastening track 12 or when the cot 102 is properly loaded on or secured to 
the fastening track 12. Specifically, the cot-mounted data port 130 and 
the track-mounted data port 122 comprise mating electrical data 
connections, optical data connections, or another type of data connection 
which allows convenient transfer of data. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, a fastening track 12 including a specially 
designed lighting arrangement is illustrated. Respective arrays of 
indicator lights 132 are provided parallel to the entry portion 42 and 
parallel to the longitudinal body 54 along the upper track surface 56 to 
serve as a cot loading guide or as a guide indicating the general position 
of the fastening track 12. One of the arrays of indicator lights 132 
preferably defines a converging path of illumination positioned along the 
entry portion 42. In this manner, a loading operator is directed towards 
the center of the entry portion 42. 
A first subset of at least one indicator light 134 and a second subset of 
at least one indicator light 136 are coupled to a switching mechanism 138. 
The switching mechanism 138 is operative to selectively energize the first 
subset of indicator lights and the second subset of indicator lights in 
response to engagement of the locking mechanism 46 about a portion of a 
cot. Specifically, the first subset of lights 134 emit red light to 
indicate disengagement of the locking mechanism 46 and the second subset 
of lights 136 emit green light to indicate engagement of the locking 
mechanism 46. Further, as indicated above, at least one of the first 
subset of indicator lights 134 and the second subset of indicator lights 
136 defines a converging path of illumination. In this manner, the 
indicator lights 134, 136 perform the dual function of guiding cot loading 
and indicating whether proper loading has been achieved. 
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to preferred 
embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations 
are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in 
the appended claims.