Rescue frame

Abstract: A rescue frame (10) to pivot about footings (13) supported adjacent to an upper edge of a vertical incline. The rescue frame (10) comprlses a primary tubular member (14) passing through the footings (13) and having attached thereto a number of secondary tubular members (15, 16, 17, 18) so as to form a triangular pyramid having a pulley (24) attached to it's apex (22) such that upon pivoting the frame (10) about the primary member (14), the pulley (24) will extend out over the edge so that rope (27) and stretcher (3) may clear the incline during a lifting or lowering operation. Upon reaching the top of the incline, frame (10) is pivoted back to laterally transfer the stretcher (3) to another side of the primary member (14) to safety located stretcher (43) above the ground where it may be released from rope (27).

Description: The present invention relates to rescue equipment and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a frame to support and raise a rescue or other object through a generally vertical incline such as, for example, cliff faces, caves, sides of structures, edges of rivers and manholes. For example, when an injured person at the bottom of a cliff needs to be transported by being raised up a cliff face to safety, it is usually necessary to have a rescue apparatus which projects outwards from the top of the cliff providing a lifting point spaced outwards from the plane of the cliff face. When a patient is being lifted up the side of the cliff face, such apparatus causes the patient to hang generally clear of the cliff face. Known apparatus, as disclosed, for example, in WO-A- 8601121, can be awkward to use. That is, known apparatus comprises a vertically extending king pole which is placed generally proximate the cliff edge and a jib pivotably mounted at one end to a bottom portion of the king pole, the other end being supported from the top end of the king pole by means of a pre-set rope/pulley system. The king pole is stabilized by means of guy ropes extending from the top end thereof to the ground where they are secured. The jib is caused to swing about a vertical axis between a position projecting outwards from the cliff edge, to a position where the end of the jib is located back from the cliff edge. The guy ropes limit the swinging movement of the jib thereby making it difficult to discharge the patient from the apparatus. Further, the known apparatus is awkward to set up and operate. The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate the problems and/or disadvantages of the prior art. According to the present invention, there is provided a rescue frame including ground engaging means and lifting means attached to said frame, characterised in that said frame is rigid being formed of bar members defining edges of a pyramid, one of said bar members being a cross-bar to which said ground engaging means is connected, and in that said frame is pivotable about said ground engaging means such that, upon pivoting of said frame about said ground engaging means, said lifting means is moved laterally from one side of said cross-bar to the other. According to a related aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of raising or lowering a rescuee or equipment to be rescued by application of the rescue frame as aforesaid, the method including the steps of raising or lowering the rescuee or equipment whilst said lifting means is to one side of the cross-bar, and, either before or after the preceding step, pivoting the frame so as to laterally transfer the rescuee or equipment to the other side of said cross-bar, and detaching the rescuee or equipment from the lifting means. A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present apparatus in a first configuration; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in a second configuration. In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a rescue apparatus 10 comprising ground engaging base members 11, and a generally rigid frame 12 pivotally mounted to the base members 11. The base members 11 comprise footings 13 having hardened spikes (not shown) adapted to grip on the ground adjacent the cliff edge, with a cross-bar 14 of the frame 12 to be positioned generally parallel to the cliff edge and extending between the spaced base members 11. The cross-bar 14 is rotatably mounted to the base members 11 about the longitudinal axis thereof. Alternatively the footings 13 comprise a flat planar portion to resist sinking into soft ground. Detachably secured to the cross-bar 14 are four frame bars 15, 16, 17 and 18. Frame bars 15 and 16 are connected to each other at one end, and at their respective other ends detachably to opposite ends of the cross-bar 14. Similarly, frame bars 17 and 18 are connected to each other at one end, and at their respective other ends detachably connected to opposite ends of the cross-bar 14. A connecting bar 19 is attached at one end to the joint 22 of the frame bars 15 and 16, and at its other end to the joint 23 of the frame bar 17 and 18. The frame 12 Is configured so that frame bars 15 and 16 define a first A-frame 20, and frame bars 17 and 18 define a second A-frame 21. Each A-frame extends from the cross-bar 14 in respective planes which are at an angle of approximately 80° to 90°, and preferably approximately 85°. This angle is dependent on the length of the connecting bar 19. The apparatus can be fabricated in a variety of sizes and can also be made collapsible. That is each bar 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 may be provided with joiners (not shown) so as to allow the apparatus 10 to be assembled in either full size, half size or quarter size for example. The apparatus 10 further comprises a pulley 24 attached at the joint 22, another pulley 25 attached at one end of the cross-bar 14, and a winch 26 mounted near the other end of the cross-bar 14. The winch 26 may be power driven or manually operated. A cable 27 is wound around the drum of the winch 26 and passes throught the pulleys 25 and 24 respectively. A guy wire 28 is attached at one end to the joint 23, and at its other end it is secured to a suitable anchor, for example, a tree, motor vehicle etc. In use, the A-frame 21 of the apparatus 10 is disposed at an angle of approximatley 45° from the horizontal so that the pulley 24 hangs from the joint 22 of the A-frame 20 at a position outwards from the plane of the cliff-face so that a patient, for example, on a stretcher can be winched up from the bottom of the cliff generally clear of the cliff face. When the patient has been winched to the top of the cliff and hangs in the position shown in Fig. 1, the frame 12 can then be pivoted about the base members 11 so that the A-frame 21 is caused to rest on the ground wherein the pulley 24, and hence the patient depending therefrom, is behind the edge of the cliff. This allows easy removal of the patient in stretcher 3 from the appartus 10 generally away from the cliff. A light fitting (not shown) may be attached at joint 22 in addition to the normal load lifting fittings (ie. pulley 24) to permit illumination of an area for night or low light operations. The load lifting means, that is, the winch may alternatively be located remote from the apparatus 10 on a suitable anchor. Obviously, person power may be used instead of a winch 24 to lift the load. The apparatus 10 may also be useful in other configurations. For example, the two A-frames 20 and 21 can be caused to stand upright (when one is detached from the cross-bar 14) which are spaced apart due to the connecting bar 19 so as to define a frame for a shelter. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may be configured as a tripod using three of bars 15, 16, 17, 18 or half of each, Any bar 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19 may be used as a king post. Bars 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 may be joined, and, with suitable guys and anchors, be used as a radio mast, lighting support mast or scaling pole. The detachability of the bars 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 allows for easy storage and transport of the apparatus 10. Another advantage of the present apparatus 10, is that if overloaded, it will tend to rotate safely away from the edge of the drop over which it is being used. This contrasts with existing apparatus which tends to fall over.

Claims: A rescue frame (10) including ground engaging means (13) and lifting means (24,27) attached to said frame (10), characterised in that said frame is rigid being formed of bar members (14,15,16,17,18,19) defining edges of a pyramid, one of said bar members being a cross-bar (14) to which said ground engaging means is connected, and in that said frame (10) is pivotable about said ground engaging means (13) such that, upon pivoting of said frame (10) about said ground engaging means (13), said lifting means (24,27) is moved laterally from one side of said cross-bar (14) to the other. The apparatus of claim 1 characterised in that said ground engaging means (13) comprises base members (11) with hardened spikes adapted to grip the ground. The apparatus of claim 1 characterised in that the ground engaging means (13) includes flat planar footings (11). The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the frame bar members (14,15,16,17,18) are detachably interconnected by means of joiners. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame (10) is in the form of a triangular pyramid comprising two A frames (20;21), each sharing the cross-bar (14) though individually comprising two further frame bar members (15,16; 17,18) which are respectively mutually connected at ends (22;23) distal of the cross-bar (14), which ends are connected by a connecting bar (19). The apparatus of claim 5 characterised in that the A frames (20;21) are angled from one another from 80° to 90°. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims characterised in that the lifting means (24,27) is a pulley (24) and a cable (27). The apparatus of claim 7 characterised in that a winch (26) is provided on the cross-bar (14) to communicate with the pulley (24). The apparatus of any of the preceding claims characterised in that an anchor (29) is provided being attached to the frame (10) to prevent pivoting of the frame (10) when desired. The apparatus of claim 5 characterised in that a light fitting is attached to one end of the connecting bar (19). The apparatus of any of the preceding claims characterised in that the frame bar members (14,15,16,17,18) comprise more than one piece joined together by connectors so that the frame may be assembled in more than one size. A method of raising or lowering a rescuee or equipment (3) to be rescued by application of the rescue frame of any one of claims 1 to 11, the method including the steps of raising or lowering the rescuee or equipment (3) whilst said lifting means (24,27) is to one side of the cross-bar (14), and, either before or after the preceding step, pivoting the frame (10) so as to laterally transfer the rescuee or equipment (3) to the other side of said cross-bar (14) (Fig. 2), and detaching the rescuee or equipment (3) from the lifting means (24,27).

Inventors: LARKIN KENNETH BERNARD, LARKIN, KENNETH BERNARD
Applicants: SPELEAN PTY LTD, SPELEAN PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A62B1
IPC codes: A62B1, B66C23