Abstract:
A large body stretcher dimensioned to accommodate large-bodied persons and foldable to conserve space. The stretcher provides a patient support surface comprising a first board and a second board that are secured together and foldable along a longitudinal axis. The stretcher may conveniently be secured, via a securing arrangement, to a host cot. The stretcher further provides rotatable backrest portions that permit the backrest of the host cot to be raised in order to assist patients who can benefit from being transported in an upright or seated position. The stretcher further provides a plurality of retaining channels so that the restraining straps of the host cot are available for use with a patient placed upon the large body stretcher. Handholds are provided to allow convenient use of the stretcher as a standalone apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Application: Ser. No. 60/191,705 for Large Body Stretcher, filed Mar. 23, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to foldable stretchers, and in particular to a foldable large platform stretcher capable of extending over and securing to an ambulance cot in order to accommodate safely a patient with a large body. 
     Foldable stretchers are often used to transport patients from the scene of an accident to an emergency vehicle, such as, for example, an ambulances or a helicopter. Such stretchers are often dimensioned similar to that of a standard rollable ambulance cot and provide only a patient litter in order to be as lightweight as possible. Therefore, in most situations, the patient is transferred from the stretcher to the rollable ambulance cot in order to safely secure the patient thereon for transport to a medical facility. 
     However, ambulance cots are not always suited to accommodate the medical needs of persons with large bodies. Often times, it is difficult to place a large-bodied patient in the cot, and sometimes the cot cannot accommodate the large-bodied person at all. In those situations, the portable stretcher is then often placed on top of the ambulance cot in an unsecured or jerry-rigged fashion. Once the patient is loaded into the transport vehicle, even though the ambulance cot is locked into place with the provided securing devices that mate securely with the transport vehicle, there is still a need to better secure the patient within the transport vehicle for safe transport to the medical facility. The lack of a means to safely and securely transport a large-bodied patient can degrade the quality of medical care provided to them. 
     Further, the compact nature of both conventional foldable stretchers and ambulance cots often provides little extra space for emergency equipment, such as oxygen tanks, intravenous medications, cardio monitors and the like which are required for immediate treatment. These devices are often placed on the empty spaces of the cot&#39;s mattress without compromising the patient carried thereon. However, with a large-bodied patient, the lack of available mattress space can lead to distractions to the emergency care provider, clutter in the transport vehicle, and general difficulty during transportation of the patient. 
     Finally, in those situations when the stretcher is provided on top of the ambulance cot, the ability to prop the patient into an upright or seated position is difficult and often unavailable. The inability of positioning the patient in such a manner can degrade the quality of medical care provided to them. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a stretcher adapted to provide a secure and enlarged platform to accommodate large-bodied patients, medical devices and the like. There is also a need for a stretcher which may be used as a standalone apparatus, or which can be mounted easily and securely to an ambulance cot. There is a further need for a stretcher capable of permitting patients to be transported in an upright or seated position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These needs are met by the present invention providing a foldable stretcher dimensioned to accommodate large-bodied persons that can be used as a stand-alone stretcher/backboard, or be mounted quickly and securely to an ambulance cot. The stretcher provides a patient support surface comprising a first board and a second board. The first board and the second board are rotatably secured together along a longitudinal side, such that the first portion is foldable over the second portion to conserve space. 
     The stretcher further provides a securing arrangement that permits the stretcher to be mounted to a host cot. The securing arrangement comprises legs that mate securely with docking ports or receptacle members mounted to the host cot. In one embodiment, the legs are rotatably mounted to the underside of the stretcher such that they may be movable from an extended position and a stowed position. In another embodiment, the legs are removably mounted to mounting channels provided in the stretcher. The stretcher also comprises a backrest portion that, upon securing the stretcher to the host cot, permits the backrest of the host cot to be raised in order to assist patients who can benefit from being transported in an upright or seated position. Additionally, the stretcher comprises a plurality of retaining channels so that separate restraining straps or the restraining straps of the host cot are available for use with a patient placed upon the large body stretcher. Furthermore, handholds are provided to allow convenient use of the stretcher as a standalone apparatus. Finally, an extender board may used to expand the lateral dimension of the stretcher. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a stretcher attachable to a host rollable cot with a raisable backrest. The stretcher comprises a first board having a first backboard portion and a second board having a second backboard portion. The second board is hinged to the first board along a longitudinal side such that the first and second boards are movable between a first condition in which the first and second boards form a substantially planar patient support surface, and a second condition in which the first and second boards are folded against each other. The first and second backboard portions are rotatably mounted to the first and second boards, respectively, and configured to permit the backrest of the host rollable cot to be raised when the stretcher is provided thereon in the first condition. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, provided is a stretcher comprising a first board having a first plurality of finger and knuckle portions, and a second board having a second plurality of finger and knuckle portions. The second board is hinged to the first board along a longitudinal side such that the first and second boards are movable between a first condition in which the first and second boards are folded against each other, and a second condition in which the first and second boards form a substantially planar patient support surface. When in the second condition, the first finger portions of the first board rest upon the second knuckle portions of the second board and the second finger portions of the second board rest upon the first knuckle portions of the first portion. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, provided is a stretcher attachable to a host rollable cot with a raisable backrest. The stretcher comprises a first board having a first backboard portion, and a first plurality of finger and knuckle portions. The stretcher further comprises a second board having a second backboard portion, and a second plurality of finger and knuckle portions. The second board is hinged to the first board along a longitudinal side such that the first and second boards are movable between a first condition in which the first and second boards are folded against each other and a second condition in which the first and second boards form a substantially planar patient support surface. When in the second condition, the first finger portions of the first board rest upon the second knuckle portions of the second board and the second finger portions of the second board rest upon the first knuckle portions of the first portion. The first and second backboard portions are mounted to the first and second boards, respectively, and configured to permit the backrest of the host rollable cot to be raised when the stretcher is provided thereon in the first condition. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a large body stretcher according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the large body stretcher of FIG. 1, illustrating an optional structural support arrangement; 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a large body stretcher according to the present invention partially folded; 
     FIG. 4 is a side illustrative view of a large body stretcher secured to a host cot according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view taken along section line  5 — 5  illustrating a removably mounted securing leg of a large body stretcher according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of the large body stretcher of the present invention, illustrating a typical arrangement for an optional lateral extender member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Front and back perspective views of a large body stretcher  100  according to the present invention are shown by FIGS. 1 and 2. The stretcher  100  when fully unfolded in a first condition as shown provides a substantially planar patient support surface  101  that comprises a first board  102  and a second board  104 . First and second hinges  106  and  108  connect the first board  102  and the second board  104  along opposed longitudinal sides  103  such that the first and second boards may fold back against each other to a second condition indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 3, thereby conserving space. For other embodiments, the first board  102  may connect to the second board  104  with other securing arrangements such as, for example, bolting, pinning, screwing and the like. 
     The first and second hinges  106  and  108  provide structural support to the stretcher when in the fully unfolded condition providing the patient support surface  101 . Additional structural support is provided to the stretcher  100  by the hinged side  103  of each board  102  and  104  having integral finger and knuckle portions  107  and  109 , respectively, which is best illustrated by FIG.  3 . The finger and knuckle portions  107  and  109  alternate such that each of the finger portions  107  of the first and second boards  102  and  104  rests upon a corresponding knuckle portion  109  provided on the opposing board, thereby adding supportive strength and spinal support to the stretcher  100  when positioned in the first condition. 
     The lateral width of the stretcher  100  is such to permit the stretcher to maneuver through common doorways, and is preferably about 34 inches. Additionally, such a lateral dimensioning would also permit the stretcher  100  to fold and easily stow, such as, for example, in an existing backboard compartment in a typical ambulance. Furthermore, while the stretcher  100  is generally suited for carrying large persons, the extra lateral dimensions of the platform make it ideally suited to providing additional surface area for equipment, including cardio equipment, intravenous equipment, and the like. Often times, extra equipment is required in the treatment of a patient. Where hoses, tubes, electronic devices and the like are used, it is preferable to place the equipment as near the patient as possible, to avoid inadvertently bumping into such equipment by the emergency care givers while working in the narrow constraints of an emergency vehicle. Moreover, it should become apparent to those skilled person skilled in related art, that the stretcher  100  may also be used advantageously as a field table, such as used for triage, operations, decontaminations, and the like. 
     The longitudinal length can be selected to meet the needs of the specific user requirements, and further, to meet any specialized needs of a host rollable cot  126  (FIG.  4 ), such as those carried by an ambulance, such that the stretcher  100  may mount thereon. For example, a preferably length of approximately 76 inches would be suitable for a number of applications. 
     The first and second boards  102  and  104  each include a backrest portion  110   a  and  110   b , respectively. Each backrest portion  110   a  and  110   b  is rotatably mounted to its respective board  102  or  104  at an end via a hinging arrangement  111 . The hinging arrangement  111  permits each backrest portion to rotate about a lateral axis from a position flush with its respective board as illustrated in FIG. 1, to a raised position as illustrated in FIG. 4. A supportive edge  113  (FIG. 2) of each board  102  and  104 , and integral finger and knuckle portions  107  and  109  of each backrest portion  110   a  and  110   b  operate together to prevent the backrest portions from rotating below the patient support surface  101 . Additionally, the supportive edge  113  and the finger and knuckle portions  107  and  109  provide support to the backrest portions when the stretcher  100  is in the fully unfolded condition. 
     With the stretcher  100  fully unfolded, the backrest portions  110   a  and  110   b  together form a rotatable backrest  110 . As illustrated by FIG. 4, the rotatable backrest  110  permits the host cot&#39;s backrest  127  to be placed in a raised position when the stretcher  100  is secured to the host cot  126  such that a patient carried thereon may be positioned in an upright or seated position. In another embodiment, each backrest portion  110   a  and  110   b  is removably attached to its respective board such that it maybe removed, if desire, to permit the backrest  127  of the host cot  126  to be raised through the space therein provided in the stretcher  100 . 
     Preferably, the maximum load capacity for the platform  100  is about 600-pound. In order to allow attendants to carry a large-bodied patient of about 600-pounds upon the patient support surface  101 , the stretcher  100  contains a plurality of handholds  114  spaced around and adjacent to the stretcher&#39;s periphery  112 . For other embodiments, the maximum load capacity and number of handholds can vary depending upon the required application and stretcher dimensions. It is to be appreciated that the handholds  114  are provided adjacent the patient support surface  101  such that the handhold  114  are spaced a distance for the work surface upon which the stretcher is supported. Such a handhold arrangement allows the attendants to grasp more easily the handholds  114  and to gain a mechanical advantage for lifting the stretcher  100 . In other embodiments, integral footpads positioned along the back or underside of the stretcher  100  may be provided to suspend the stretcher in a slightly raised position with respect to the work surface. 
     For applications where load capacities are expected above 600 pounds, the stretcher  100  may be provided with movable crossbars in order to further strengthen the stretcher  100  while in the fully unfolded condition. In such an embodiment, the crossbars are positioned substantially laterally along the stretcher where extra support is needed, and are indicated by dashed lines  118  and  120  in FIG. 2. A slot or channel (not shown) can be provided in the boards  102  and  104  to slidably mount the crossbars  118  and  120  to the stretcher  100 . In this manner, the crossbars may be moved laterally to extend across the adjacent board when the stretcher  100  is in the fully unfolded condition. The crossbars  118  and  120  can then be secured into place in a conventional manner such as a pin, bolt, or clasp to provide added support to the stretcher  100 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stretcher  100  includes a plurality of throughbore-pairs or retaining channels  116  for receiving or passing through straps and like restraining devices while the stretcher  100  is secured to the host cot  126 . The retaining channels  116  can be placed anywhere along the surface of the stretcher  100  as desired. The number of retaining channels  116  utilized and the positioning will be dependant upon factors such as the positioning of restraints on the host cot  126  (FIG.  4 ), and of the needs of the patient. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the stretcher  100  further includes a securing arrangement  121  to allow the platform  100  to mount to the host cot  126 . In one embodiment, the securing arrangement  121  comprises a plurality of legs  122  rotatably mounted to the underside of the stretcher  100 . In this embodiment, the legs  122  fold from a stowed position substantially parallel to the stretcher  100 , illustrated by the dashed lines, to an extended position, which places the legs  122  substantially perpendicular to the stretcher  100  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Any suitable locking arrangement can be used to secure the legs  122  in both the extended and stowed positions. With the legs  122  placed in the extended position, the stretcher  100  may then be advantageously releasable mounted to the host cot via receptacle members  128  provided on the host cot  126 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the securing arrangement  121  comprises a plurality of removable Y-shaped legs  122  which are locatable by first ends  123  in mounting channels  124  of the stretcher  100 . Second ends  125  of the legs  122  mated with the receptacle members  128  either provided to the host cot  126  directly or secured to the host cot through the use of clamps, bolts or the like. Preferably, the second end  125  of each leg  122  has a dovetail configuration which mates to an oppositely shaped socket  127  of the receptacle member  128 , and secures therein, such as with pins, latches, and the like. 
     In a preferred use, the legs  122  are mounted first to the host cot  126 , via the provided receptacle members  128 . Next, the stretcher  100  is positioned down on the legs  122  by looking down through the mounting channels  124  from the support surface  101  of the stretcher  100 . As shown in FIG. 5, illustrating a cross section of the stretcher and one of the legs  122  taken along line  5 — 5 , the leg  122  is accommodated in its respective mounting channels  124  such that its first end  123  is engaged between its forks  131  by a brace member  130  of the stretcher. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the brace member  130  spans the width of the mounting channel  124 . A securing bar  132  is used to releasably secure the stretcher  100  to the leg  122 . It is to be appreciated that for this embodiment, all the legs  122  are secured to the stretcher in the same manner as described above. 
     In a secure position, the securing bar  132  extends through a securing cavity  134  provided in the leg  122 . The securing bar  132  holds the leg  122  fast to the stretcher  100  due to its oval or racetrack shape being unable to slip between a channel  133  provided between the forks  131  of the leg. In a release position, the securing bar  132  is rotated about ninety degrees, which is indicated by the dashed-lines, such that the securing bar  132  may slip through the channel  133 , thereby releasing the leg  122  from the mounting channel  124 . It is to be appreciated that each board  102  and  104  includes a securing bar  132  that may be manually moved between the secure position and the release position, via included actuators  136  (FIG.  1 ). Moving one of the actuators  136  from the illustrated secured position to the release position, illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1, rotates the associated securing bar  132  about ninety degrees, thereby permitting the removal of all the legs  122  accommodated within the mounting channels  124  on the respective board  102  or  104 . Accordingly, moving the actuators  136  to the secured position, will secure all the legs  122  accommodate within the mounting channels  124  to the stretcher  100 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a lateral extender board  138  having also a plurality of finger and knuckle portions  107  and  109  may be provided to extend the dimensions of the stretcher  100  for situations in which an even larger area patient support surface  101  (FIG. 1) is required. In this embodiment, the hinge  106  (FIG. 2) is configured to allow the first board  102  to separate from the second board  104  through the removal of a retaining pin or the like. Additionally, alternative means can be used to releasably secure the first board  102  to the second board  104  including bolts, brackets, clamps, and the like. Preferably, in this embodiment the hinge  106  allows for rapid conversion by releasably securing and permitting the boards  102  and  104  to extend along the longitudinal side  103  (FIG. 3) similar in fashion to the method used to add a centerboard to enlarge a dinning room table. Accordingly, telescoping member lateral support members  139  permit the first board  102  and second board  104  to be extended and retracted. After releasing a locking device holding the boards together along the longitudinal side  103 , by applying a force on the first board  102  in the direction of arrow  144 , and applying a force to the second board  104  in the direction of arrow  146 , the lateral extender board  138  may be placed between the boards. Then transitioning the first and second boards  102  and  104  in the direction of arrows  140  and  142 , respectively, the longitudinal edges of the lateral extender board  138  are thereby secured between the boards. Re-securing the locking device will prevent further lateral movement of the boards  102  and  104  while the lateral extender board  138  is in use. In this manner the stretcher  100  can have a nominal lateral dimension, such as for example, of approximately 34 inches in an unfolded position, which then can be extended laterally, such as for example, by an additional 10 inches by inserting lateral extender board  138 . 
     The boards  102  and  104 , the backrest portion  110   a  and  110   b , and the lateral extender boar  138  of the stretcher  100  are made of a molded non-porous material, such as a polymer, and preferably, polyethylene plastic or other suitable material and utilizes a rotational molding procedure. It is to be appreciated that using rotational molding permits the formation of both a lightweight and durable stretcher  100 . Additionally, it is to be appreciated that forming the portions of the stretcher  100  by rotation molding also has a number of inherent design strengths, such as consistent wall thickness and strong corners that are virtually stress free. Furthermore, should additional strength be required, reinforcing ribs can be designed and molded into each portion of the stretcher. Alternatively, the portions of the stretcher  100  may be blow molded, injection molded, and/or constructed of metal. 
     In operation, where an emergency care provider recognizes the need for a large platform, the stretcher  100  is removed from its storage location; for example, a backboard storage compartment provided on an emergency transport. The stretcher  100  is then transported to its desired location. It should be pointed out that the present invention is useable as a standalone stretcher, or as a platform extender for a host cot  126 . Therefore, the present invention can be unpacked and immediately assembled to the host cot  126  by unfolding the stretcher  100 , positioning it over the host cot  126 , and then securing the platform to the host cot  126  using the provided securing arrangement  121 . 
     Alternatively, the stretcher  100  may be transported to the desired location by carrying it in either the folded, or the fully unfolded condition. Upon attaining the desired location, if not already completed, the stretcher  100  is unfolded by unfolding the first portion  102  from the second portion  104 . The patient is placed upon the platform  100 , secured in place with restraining straps connected or passing through the retaining channels  116 , and then lifted by grasping the stretcher  100  along handholds  114 . 
     Upon returning to the ambulance, the stretcher is secured to the host cot  126  using the provided securing arrangement  121 . Once the stretcher is secured to the host cot  126 , the cot is loaded into the ambulance or other transportation vehicle. Because the stretcher  100  does not interfere with or inhibit locking devices used to secure the host cot  126  within the ambulance, such locking devices may be used in order to transport safely and effectively the patient upon the connected stretcher  100  and host cot  126  to an emergency facility. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It should be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.