# Patent

## Title
Carabiner attachment bracket for a basket rescue stretcher

## Abstract

A pair of carabiner mounting members are rigidly mounted or mountable to each top rail of a basket rescue stretcher. The carabiner mounting members are mounted or mountable spaced longitudinally apart along the each top rail. Carabiner mounting member extend at least into the stretcher cavity and define a carabiner receiving opening which lies in a first plane which is perpendicular to a vertical second plane containing the corresponding top rail to which the carabiner mounting member is mounted or mountable and which is inclined relative to a horizontal third plane which contains the pair of top rails on opposite sides of the stretcher so that at least the carabiner mounting members which extend into the stretcher cavity are substantially co-planar with their corresponding tether straps when the stretcher is lifted by the straps.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of Ser. No. 10/797,113, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,963, filed Mar. 11, 2004 which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 10/361,580, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,480 filed Feb. 11, 2003 which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/355,787 filed Feb. 12, 2002, entitled Attachment for a Basket Rescue Stretcher.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improvement in basket rescue stretchers and in particular to a carabiner attachment for stretchers such as stokes litters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A basket rescue stretcher of the type utilized by emergency personnel is well known. It generally comprises a sturdy, light-weight, open frame manufactured from stainless steel tubing or like material, comprising both longitudinal and lateral components which are secured by welding or the like, into an integral unit. Common to most rescue stretchers of this type is a sturdy peripheral top rail surrounding the basket stretcher opening, which lends rigidity and strength to the stretcher and also provides a convenient hand-hold for emergency personnel when transporting and injured patient.
Conventional basket rescue stretchers are manufactured from stainless steel components, which are welded together. They generally have a sturdy peripheral top rail of 1-inch diameter, which surrounds the basket stretcher opening and one or more intermediate rails of 1⁄2 inch diameter material, spaced from and generally parallel to the top rail. Lateral components, or ribs, are secured by welding to the underside of top rail and to the outside of the intermediate rails. The first intermediate rail is generally spaced 2 inches clear of the top rail.
The top rail is generally the most convenient attachment point for a tether such as ropes or webbing or the like, which enable emergency personnel to either raise or lower the basket rescue stretcher adjacent to a building or an escarpment. Such tethers are commonly secured to the top rail by screwgate carabiners, which are inserted through a pre-formed loop made in the tether and clipped over the peripheral top rail. The tether may be a so-called litter bridle or sling arrangement which may include four equal length ropes or webbing belts connected to a single lifting ring.
Such carabiners are sturdy connection devices, ideally suited to quick connection and release situations. They have a smoothly contoured ‘D’ shape that will only minimally abrade ropes or harnesses. Carabiners may often have corner radii which are smaller than the radius of the tubular top rail. For example a typical top rail may have a radius of 1⁄2 to 5⁄8 of an inch (1 to 11⁄4 inch diameter) whereas a carabiner may often radius which is significantly smaller. Thus, the difference in top rail and carabiner diameters prevents the carabiner from properly contacting the underside of the top rail of the basket stretcher as tension is applied. In situations where a “shock load” is placed on the basket stretcher, such as if a loaded stretcher was dropped a short distance and then arrested by the carabiners and connecting tethers, opposite sides of the tubular top rail could be crushed slightly, thereby weakening the rail and perhaps rendering the stretcher unsafe for use.
When the carabiner is clipped over the peripheral top rail of a basket rescue stretcher and tension applied to the connecting tethers, the carabiner will slide along the top rail unless the direction of the tension is close to a right angle with the top rail, or movement of the carabiner is arrested by contact with one of the lateral frame components secured to the top rail. Such movement of the connecting point between tether and stretcher in undesirable since it results in an imbalance of both stretcher and patient and could further endanger the patient.
Further, as tension is applied to the tether straps during suspension of the basket stretcher, the top rail of the basket stretcher prohibits the carabiner from rotating so as to lie in the plane of the tether straps or webbing were the webbing to remain flat, resulting in the carabiner being misaligned generally 90 degrees from such an orientation causing a helical twist in the straps or webbing.
Clipping the carabiner over the top rail of the basket stretcher places a portion of the carabiner in an exposed position outside the periphery of the stretcher. Such an outwardly exposed portion may snag on surface irregularities on the adjacent surface of a building or an escarpment as the basket stretcher is raised or lowered resulting in tipping and jerking of the basket stretcher as it elevates or descends. Further, such contact may result in rapid abrading and deterioration of the carabiner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The stretcher of the present invention has attachment brackets which are inwardly disposed into the stretcher basket and located near the fore and aft ends of the stretcher, located equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the stretcher. Brackets which extend externally of the stretcher may also be employed, and if so, advantageously they form a smoothly curved surface to avoid snagging. The brackets permit the stretcher to be raised or lowered adjacent to a vertical or inclined surface, such as the outside of a building or an escarpment, in a manner which is relatively balanced and stable and which reduces snagging or abrading of lifting equipment against the adjacent surface of the slope.
The attachment brackets according to the present invention may be, as an example, manufactured from 1⁄2 inch diameter stainless steel rod. The brackets may form a generally inverted “L” shape, having first and second legs. The first leg may be substantially shorter than the second. The internal corner radius between the legs may be, for example, 1⁄2 inch, so as to match the corner radius on most standard carabiners. The attachment brackets may be secured by welding, or other rigid fastening, to the inside of the basket stretcher so as to extend between the peripheral top rail and, for example, the immediately adjacent second rail.
The first leg of the attachment bracket may be mounted to the inside face of the top rail so as to extend inwardly of the bracket and radially downwardly from the top rail. The second leg of the bracket may extend downwardly and may be angled toward the outside of the basket stretcher so as to intersect in a rigid mounting to the upper surface of the immediately adjacent lower rail. The attachment may also be a flat plate having an aperture to receive the carabiner therethrough.
The mounting member according to one aspect of the present invention is for mounting to at least an upper rail of a basket rescue stretcher, for example so as to provide for clipping of a carabiner to or adjacent the upper rail. The mounting member is adapted for mounting, at at least one end of the mounting member, to an inner side of the rail so as to project the mounting member into the interior of the stretcher, as defined by the top rail of the stretcher. In one embodiment the mounting member is for mounting, at an oppositely disposed end, to a longitudinal member of said basket rescue stretcher extending longitudinally along the basket. The mounting member may be provided for retrofit to existing basket rescue stretchers or may be formed as part of, or mounted to as part of the manufacture of new basket rescue stretchers.
The mounting member is rigid and may be a bracket, or loop, or apertured plate which is mountable or mounted to the stretcher so that when a clip, carabiner, hook or the like is attached to the mounting member, twisting of the sling webbing is avoided.
In a further aspect, the present invention may be characterized as a basket rescue stretcher apparatus or system which includes a pair of top rails extending longitudinally along upper opposite side edges of the stretcher, so as to define an opening into a stretcher cavity within the stretcher, and a pair of carabiner mounting members rigidly mounted or mountable to or adjacent each top rail. The carabiner mounting members are mounted or mountable spaced longitudinally apart relative to each top rail. Carabiner mounting members extend at least into the stretcher cavity and each define a carabiner receiving opening which lies in a first plane which is perpendicular to a vertical second plane containing the corresponding top rail to which the carabiner mounting member is mounted or mountable which is inclined relative and to a horizontal third plane which contains the pair of top rails so that the mounting member is substantially co-planar with the corresponding tether strap when the stretcher is lifted by the tether straps. Carabiner mounting members may also protrude outwardly from a circumference of the stretcher defined by the pair of top rails. Advantageously, when a carabiner is mounted through the carabiner receiving opening, it passes through the opening of a mounting member, that is, that portion of the carabiner which passes through the opening is aligned substantially parallel to the corresponding top rail adjacent the carabiner mounting member.
In one embodiment the stretcher further includes a pair of side rails extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the stretcher between the pair of top rails and a floor of the stretcher. In such an embodiment the carabiner mounting members may also be rigidly mounted to the pair of side rails. In such an embodiment the pair of side rails may be substantially parallel to the pair of top rails, and each carabiner mounting member may be an elongate member having an upper end mounted to a corresponding top rail and a lower end mounted to a corresponding side rail.
In one embodiment of the present invention the elongate member may be a bar having an inverted L-shape so as to form the carabiner receiving opening as an upper elbow of the bar protruding inwardly of the corresponding top rail and side rail. In another embodiment, the elongate member may be a plate having an aperture, for example in its upper end, so that the aperture forms the carabiner receiving opening. In such embodiments, the plate and bar have a thickness which is not larger than the size of the opening in an elbow in a carabiner to which the carabiner mounting member would be mounted. In embodiments having mounting members extending externally of the stretcher cavity, the members preferably have smoothly curved outermost surfaces for example that blend smoothly with the curvature of the outer circumference of the top rails so as to minimize snagging of the mounting members as the stretcher is raised against buildings, etc. Whether the mounting members are internal or external to the stretcher cavity, they may be advantageously inclined from the vertical so as to align with the tether straps once tensioned during a lifting of the stretcher.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1, is a plan view of a typical basket stretcher incorporating lifting brackets according to the present invention.
FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional basket rescue stretcher and lifting harness.
FIG. 1b is a sectional view along line 1b—1b in FIG. 1a. 
FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of the basket stretcher of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1, illustrating a lifting carabiner and strap clipped to a lifting bracket.
FIG. 3a is an alternative embodiment of the lifting bracket of FIG. 3.
FIG. 3b is, in perspective view, a further alternative embodiment of the lifting attachment bracket according to the present invention.
FIG. 3c is a sectional view along line 3c—3c in FIG. 3b. 
FIG. 3d is in sectional view laterally through the stretcher rails, a further alternative embodiment of the lifting attachment bracket according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, partially cut away perspective view taken from FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5—5 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6—6 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is, in side elevation view, a further alternative embodiment of the lifting attachment brackets mounted to a stretcher according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway enlarged perspective view of the stretcher of FIG. 7.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawing figures wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 basket rescue stretcher 10 includes longitudinal and lateral members such as stringers 12 and ribs 14. Stringers 12 and ribs 14 are welded together to form a rigid elongate low-sided basket. Continuous peripheral top rail 12a surrounds the basket opening. One or more intermediate rails 12b are spaced from and parallel to top rail 12a. 
In the prior art as seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a conventional lifting tether 16 is attached to the top rail 12a of basket stretcher 10 by conventional screwgate carabiners 18. When lifting tether 16 is tensioned in direction A, carabiner 18 will have a tendency to slide longitudinally along top rail 12a unless carabiner 18 is positioned such that any sliding movement that occurs will be immediately arrested by contact with a lateral frame component 14, such as a rib, which intersects and is secured to the top rail. Such contact between carabiner 18 and rib 14 may not be properly balanced for lifting of stretcher 10.
Top rail 12a may typically have a diameter in cross section which is larger than the size of the opening of corner 18a, that is, has a radius r which is significantly larger than the internal corner radius r′ of corner 18a of carabiner 18. This difference in radii prevents the proper nesting of the underside of top rail 12a into snug mating with the corner radius of corner 18a of carabiner 18, thereby leaving a gap B. If a loaded stretcher is dropped a short distance and then arrested by carabiners 18 and connecting tethers 16, the sides of the tubular top rail 12a may be crushed slightly, or otherwise weakened by the pinching of the top rail in the radius of corner 18a. 
Further, as seen in FIG. 1a, top rail 12a may prohibit the carabiner 18 from rotating into planar alignment with tether straps 16a were they to remain untwisted, resulting in the tether straps 16a being helically twisted for example through 90 degrees between the carabiner and the tether strap gathering ring 16b. 
As also seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a substantial portion of carabiner 18 protrudes outwardly of top rail 12a and thus may be prone to snagging an adjacent surface of a building or an escarpment over which the stretcher is being translated. Such contact may result in tipping or jerking of the basket stretcher as, for example, it is elevated or lowered. Such contact may also result in rapid deterioration of the carabiner.
As better seen in FIGS. 3–6, carabiner mounting or attachment brackets 20 are rigidly mounted to top rail 12a and to an adjacent member such as intermediate rail 12b. Brackets 20 extend inwardly of the basket of stretcher 10, that is, towards the centerline of the stretcher. They may be manufactured for example from 1⁄2 inch diameter stainless steel rod. Brackets 20 have, in one embodiment which is not intended to be limiting, first and second legs 20a and 20b respectively, extending from an intermediate arcuate corner or shoulder 20c. Advantageously corner or shoulder 20c has a corner radius that matches, that is corresponds to, or exceeds the corner radii of corners 18a of standard carabiners, and has a smaller cross sectional diameter than the size of the corner opening of a standard carabiner so as to avoid the pinching problem. First leg 20a may be substantially shorter than the second leg 20b, so that bracket 20 takes the form of an inverted “L”. In the alternative embodiments shown in FIG. 3a, which again is not intended to be limiting, attachment brackets 20′ and 20′′ are formed as a rigid elongate plate mounted at their ends to rail 12a and 12b. Each plate has an aperture (20a′) for receiving a carabiner hooked therethrough and is sufficiently thin so as to snugly nest into corner 18a of the carabiner without pinching. In FIGS. 3b and 3c, attachment brackets 20′′ are mounted to fore and aft ribs 14 so as to extend along the length of the ribs between rails 12a and 12b. 
Brackets 20, 20′ and 20′′ are mounted on the inside of stretcher 10 with, for example, first leg 20a or the plate secured, as by welding, to the inwardly exposed face of top rail 12a. Brackets 20, 20′ and 20′′ extend inwardly of the basket from top rail 12a and downwardly until their lower end, for example the lower end of second leg 20b, contacts the upper surface of the immediately adjacent lower rail 12b, where it is mounted by welding or the like.
Brackets 20, 20′ and 20′′ may be positioned singularly or in pairs on the inner sides of stretcher 10, adjacent each end. The positioning may advantageously be equidistant from the center of mass of stretcher 10, so as to provide stable and balanced attachment points for lifting or lowering the stretcher and an associated patient.
The attachment brackets may be shaped, for example, other than in the form of an inverted “L”. For example a hook or loop or eye or linear or arcuate strut or member extending between the top rail and an adjacent intermediate rail or a stringer, on the inside of the basket of the stretcher, will serve as a clipping mount for a carabiner 18 if the carabiner is, when clipped on and under tension, lying in a plane which is generally parallel to the top rail and the carabiner is solely under tension with no bending moment acting to bend the carabiner out of its planar shape, and preferably free to rotate about its radii 18a without a pinching applied to the top rail.
Thus, in one embodiment not intended to be limiting, the attachment brackets may be characterized as not protruding outwardly of the circumference of the stretcher defined by the top rails, but rather, as protruding only inwardly from the top rails along first planes D as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 6. First planes D are perpendicular to vertical second planes E. Vertical second planes E are aligned such that they contain one of top rails 12a such as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. The carabiner receiving openings, such as defined by corner 20c or by aperture 20a′, may be characterized as lying the first planes D. First planes D may also be characterized as being orthogonal to a third plane F which contains the pair of top rails 12a on opposite sides of the stretcher. In other embodiments, such as seen in FIG. 3d, stretcher 10 may include attachment brackets 20′′ that protrude inwardly of top rails 12a and attachment brackets 20′′′ that protrude outwardly of top rails 12a. Outwardly protruding attachment bracket 20′′′ is advantageously smoothly contoured so as to minimize the prospects of it catching or snagging against for example, the side of a cliff as the stretcher is raised up a cliff.
In yet a further embodiment as seen by way of example in FIGS. 7 and 8, attachment brackets 20′′ may be inclined so as to be substantially co-planar (eg., first plane D) with tether straps 16a when tensioned during lifting of the stretcher. This arrangement minimizes the shear force exerted laterally on the brackets and welds relative to the long axis of the brackets, the force on the brackets being then substantially in tension along the bracket.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

## Claims

1. A basket rescue stretcher apparatus which includes:
a pair of top rails extending longitudinally along upper opposite side edges of the stretcher so as to define an opening into a stretcher cavity within the stretcher,
at least two pairs of carabiner mounting members rigidly mounted to the stretcher, each pair of said at least two pairs of carabiner mounting members mounted spaced longitudinally apart relative to the pair of top rails, each carabiner mounting member of at least two pairs of carabiner mounting members extending into said stretcher cavity and defining a carabiner receiving opening which lies in a first plane (D) which is substantially co-planar with a corresponding tether strap having a carabiner at a lowermost end when the tether strap is mounted to said carabiner mounting member by the mounting of the carabiner through said carabiner receiving opening so as to be substantially perpendicular relative to a vertical second plane (E) containing a corresponding one of said pair of top rails and inclined relative to a horizontal third plane (F) which contains said pair of top rails, wherein at least said carabiner receiving opening protrudes inwardly from a circumference of the stretcher defined by said pair of top rails, and whereby the carabiner, when mounted through said carabiner receiving opening, passes through said opening aligned substantially parallel to the corresponding said top rail.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stretcher further includes a pair of side rails extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the stretcher between said pair of top rails and a floor of the stretcher, and wherein said at least two pairs of carabiner mounting members are rigidly mounted to said pair of side rails.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pair of side rails are substantially parallel to said pair of top rails and wherein a carabiner mounting member of said at least two pairs of carabiner mounting members comprises an elongate member having an upper end mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of top rails and a lower end mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of side rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said carabiner mounting member comprises an inverted L shape having an upper elbow of said bar protruding inwardly of the corresponding said pair of top rails and side rails wherein said elbow defines said carabiner receiving opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said carabiner mounting member has a cross sectional diameter which is not larger than the size of the opening in an elbow in a carabiner to which said each carabiner mounting member would be mounted.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said carabiner mounting member (20) comprises a plate, said carabiner receiving opening comprises an aperture disposed within said plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plate has a thickness which is not larger than the size of the opening in an elbow in a carabiner to which said carabiner mounting member would be mounted.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said aperture is at said upper end of said plate.

9. A basket rescue stretcher system which includes:
a pair of top rails extending longitudinally along upper opposite side edges of the stretcher so as to define an opening into a stretcher cavity within the stretcher,
a pair of combiner mounting members rigidly mountable to the stretcher, each carabiner mounting member of said pair of carabiner mounting members mountable spaced longitudinally apart relative to the stretcher, said each carabiner mounting member extending into said stretcher cavity and, when mounted to the stretcher extending into said stretcher cavity and defining a carabiner receiving opening which lies in a fast plane (D) which is substantially co-planar with a corresponding tether strap having a combiner at a lowermost end when the tether strap is mounted to said carabiner mounting member by the mounting of the carabiner through said carabiner receiving opening so as to be substantially perpendicular relative to a vertical second plane (E) containing a corresponding one of said pair of top rails and inclined relative to a horizontal third plane (F) which contains said pair of top rails, wherein at least said carabiner receiving opening of said pair of carabiner mounting members protrudes inwardly from a circumference of the stretcher defined by said pair of top rails, and whereby the carabiner, when mounted through said carabiner receiving opening, passes through said opening aligned substantially parallel to the corresponding one of said pair of top rails.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the stretcher further includes a pair of side rails extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the stretcher between said pair of top rails and a floor of the stretcher, and wherein said pair of carabiner mounting members are rigidly mounted to said pair of side rails.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pair of side rails are substantially parallel to said pair of top rails, and wherein said each carabiner mounting member is an elongate member having an upper end mountable to a corresponding one of said pair of top rails and a lower end mountable to a corresponding one of said pair of side rails.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said each carabiner mounting member is a bar having an inverted L-shape so as to form said carabiner receiving opening as an upper elbow of said bar protruding inwardly of the corresponding one of said pair of top rails and of said pair of side rails when mounted thereto.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bar has a cross sectional diameter which is not larger than the size of the opening in an elbow in a carabiner to which said each carabiner mounting member would be mounted.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said each carabiner mounting member is a plate having an aperture herein so that said aperture forms said carabiner receiving opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said plate has a thickness which is not larger than the size of the opening in an elbow in a carabiner to which said carabiner mounting member would be mounted.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said aperture is at said upper end of said plate.