A COLLAPSIBLE RESTING/CARRYING DEVICE

Abstract: The object of the invention is a collapsible resting/carrying device, which consists of parallel telescopic supports (1) carrying a resting base, lateral arms (2) which in the operating position connect the ends of the supports (1) to each other. In accordance with the invention the support (1) consists of two telescopic arms (3), which are connected to one another by means of the first joints (4) and at the opposite ends to lateral arms by means of corresponding second joints (5), and in which the first joints (4) can be locked straight in the operating position.

Description: A COLLAPSIBLE RESTING/CARRYING DEVICE The object of the invention is a collapsible resting/carrying device, which includes parallel telescopic supports to carry a resting base, transverse bars, which connect the supports to each other at the ends. During rescue operations there are often situations in which rescue equipment must be transported by foot over a roadless area and at the same time the patient must be transported from there on a stretcher to the nearest road. On the other hand in a major catastrophe a situation may arise in which a great number of temporary beds are needed for hospital places. Generally the stretcher from an ambulance is used to fetch a patient from a roadless area. The stretcher must then be carried entire to the place of the rescue, which slows down rescue operations. Various kinds of telescopically constructed stretcher constructions, which can be partially folded up, are known from German Patent Publications numbers 303112, 302757, and 357157. In these the resting base for the patient is supported on long parallel supports, which is otherwise the normal construction in stretchers. In these, however, the long supports are made from tubes that go into one another, thus making the telescopic construction possible. In the first two the resting base is formed of stiff boards, which at the same time keep the telescopic supports at a distance from one another. Even when folded up the stretcher remains quite a large unit. In the stretcher in accordance with publication 357157 a net is suspended between the supports to carry the patient. In this model there is no intermediate support at all at the foot end and even the head end provides poor lateral support. The poor lateral support between the long supports makes carrying difficult. The intention of this invention is to create a resting/carrying device that is well suited to. the requirements of rescue operations and is handier than previous versions. In particular the invention tries to create a small and light carrying device when folder, from which it is possible to assemble a full-sized stretcher. The characteristic features of the invention are presented in the accompanying Patent Claims. When, in accordance with the invention, a joint is used in the centre of the two telescopic arms, the stretcher can be folded into a very small space. The other forms of construction and advantages of the invention are explained in connection with the following example of implementation. In what follows the invention is described with the aid of the accompanying illustrations, which present one form of application of the invention. Figure 1 shows the device assembled as a support frame for a stretcher. Figure 2 shows the device assembled as a support frame for a bed. Figure 3 shows the device in the transportation position. Figure 4 shows a detail at the first joint. Figure 5 shows a detail at the second joint. The collapsible resting/carrying device is manufactured principally from aluminium tubes, the size of which is chosen * for the various parts of the device in such a way that they fit inside one another in the desired manner. In Figures 1 and 2 the resting/carrying device lacks a resting base, which is most advantageously comprised of a support base and a sleeping bag equipped with securing devices. The resting base is attached to the longitudinal arms 1, which are formed from two telescopic arms 3 in line, connected by means of joint 4. The longitudinal supports 1 are connected at their ends by transverse arms 2. The connection is more precisely realized with the aid of joints 5 located at the ends of the telescopic arms. The telescopic arms 3 are formed of larger and smaller tubes 6 and 7, which are operationally adapted to slide inside one another. In Figure 2 the framework in Figure 1 is further assembled and a bed has been created by placing legs 8 and 9 at the corners of the framework. In Figure 1 the legs 8 and 9 are located inside the arms 2. When folder into the transportation position the resting/carrying device forms a package with a length of the arms 2. Here the telescopic arms 3 are pushed inside and the telescopic arms are bent in the centre at the joint 4 and in relation to arm 2 with the aid of joint 5. From the point of view of the operation of the device it is essential that joint 4 is located between the larger tubes 6 and further in such a way that the joint axle 10 is located on the outer diameter of the tubes so that also in the operating position the ends of the tubes meet one another on opposite sides of the axle. By means of this the locking appearing in Figures 1 and 2 takes place when the joint axle 10 is turned downwards. On account of this the larger tubes 6 can be turned round in relation to the smaller tubes 7 when the tubes are partly pulled open. By moving the position of joint 4 three operating positions can be created. In Figures 1 and 2 joint axle 10 is low down, when the telescopic arms 3 are locked straight, when it is thought that the load will push them downwards. When the tubes 6 are turned through 180°, the joint axle 10 turns upwards, when the telescopic arms 3 can be turned down until the joint 4 itself acts as a new point of support. This position can be exploited when it is wished to arrange a sitting position for the patient. Then the resting base must be arranged correspondingly. When the larger tubes 6 are turned in such a way that joint axle 10 comes to the outer edge of the framework, the framework can be then collapsed by bending the pushed in telescopic arms 3 against one another. Then they also turn arms 2 in relation to one other by means of joints 5. The other joints 5 are formed in such a way that the end of arm 2 includes a short vertical tube section 12, which forms a joint axle. Collar 13, to which the smaller tube 7 of arm 3 is attached, is placed around this. Collar 13 is free to move to a limited degree vertically along the length of tube 12. In the lower position between the collar 13 and tube 12 there are locking devices 14, which in the operating position keep the framework square. Before the aforementioned folding of the framework, the collar 13 must first be slightly raised to free the locking device 14. Figure 5 also shows the legs 8 and 9 that are made to fit inside arm 2. One end of these has support plugs 11 and the opposite end locking devices, by means of which they can be locked inside the vertical tubes 12 in the operating position. The various operating positions of the first joint 4 are mentioned above. The larger and smaller tubes of arm 3 are, however, locked to one another by means of locking device 15, when the telescopic arm 3 is fully pulled out. This prevents joint 4 from accidentally turning.away from the locking position during use. The assembly of the resting/carrying device takes place from the situation in Figure 3 in such a way that two operators grip arms 2 from opposite sides and pull them apart so much that the telescopic arms 3 straighten and open slightly. After this joint 4 is set to the locking position by turning the larger tube 6, that is, joint axle 10 is brought underneath. After this the arms are pulled fully open, when the situation in accordance with Figure 1 is created. When the sleeping bag is secured to the longitudinal arms, the device is ready for use for transporting a patient.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. A collapsible resting/carrying device, which includes parallel telescopically constructed supports (1) carrying a resting base. Lateral arms (2) , which in the operating position connect the ends of the supports (1) to one another, characterized in that the support (1) includes two telescopic arms (3) , which are connected at the ends to one another by means of the first joints (4) and at the opposite ends to lateral arms (2) by means of other joints (5), and in which the first joints (4) can be locked straight in the operating position. 2. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that each of the telescopic arms (3) of the supports (2) are formed of two internal tubes, the outer one of which is the larger tube (6) and the inner one of which is the smaller tube (7) . 3. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claim 2, characterized in that each first joint (4) is located between the ends of two corresponding tubes (6, 6) of the telescopic arm, in such a way that the joint axle (10) is located essentially on their outer circumference and when being bent straight ends of the tubes (6, 6) take the opposite joint axle (10) from the opposite part of the circumference. 4. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the first joint (4) of each support is located between the larger tubes (6, 6) and correspondingly the second joints (5) on the smaller tubes (7, 7) at both ends of the support. 5. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the first joint (4) can be turned to at least two operating positions, which are a locking position i.e. the joint (4) is underneath; a free position i.e. the joint (4) is outside to fold up the telescopic arms. 6. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claim 2, characterized in that the ends of the arms (2) include short vertical tube sections (12) , which form the axles of the second joints (4) . 7. A resting/carrying device in accordance with Patent Claim 6, characterized in that it includes legs (8, 9) located inside the arm (2) , the lower ends of which have support plugs (11) and the upper ends a locking device to lock the leg to the vertical tube components (12) of the end of the arm (2) .

Inventors: MOISIO ESKO, MOISIO, ESKO
Applicants: MOISIO ESKO, MOISIO, ESKO
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A47C17
IPC codes: A61G1