Patent Publication Number: US-6216296-B1

Title: Apparatus operable as vestment and litter

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of clothing. More specifically, the present invention relates to clothing convertible to other articles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Should an individual fall victim to illness or injury in the field, it is often necessary to transport the victim a considerable distance before treatment may be rendered. For example, if a hunter in a remote area were to be injured, it may be necessary to transport that hunter several miles over rough terrain before medical assistance, other than first aid, may be administered. 
     The need for such emergency medical transport requires that that transport be immediately provided. A delay or failure in providing transport may result in a worsening of the illness or injury. In extreme cases, this worsening may result in the death of the victim. 
     The need to provide immediate medical transport requires preplanning for such a medical emergency. This preplanning implies that a means for transport be present or produced at the scene of the emergency. 
     Typically, a litter, such as a stretcher, is used to transport a victim. Such a litter is normally made up of a canvas or other flexible material stretched over a frame consisting of two poles and two cross members. The carrier of such a litter is encumbered with a considerable burden. The overall mass of the litter adds significantly to the load of the carrier, and the length of the poles inhibit the activities in which the carrier may engage. Collapsing the litter, i.e., disengaging the cross members to allow the poles and flexible material to be wrapped into a tighter bundle, neither shortens the length of the poles nor ameliorates the mass of the litter. 
     As a result, informal field outings, such as for hunting, backpacking, etc., often omit the litter as too burdensome, thus increasing significantly the difficulty of providing immediate transport in the event of an emergency and significantly increasing the risk of complication and death to a potential victim. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a litter capable of being carried in the field in anticipation of a possible emergency with a minimum of difficulty and inconvenience to the individual doing the carrying. Such a litter should be lightweight, small in size, and carryable without interfering with the normal activities of the carrier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention that an apparatus operable as a vestment and a litter is provided. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention that an apparatus is provided that is operable as a litter and transportable as a vestment. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention that an apparatus is provided that is operable as a litter and has sectional support poles. 
     The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in one form by an apparatus operable as both a vestment and a litter. This apparatus is formed of a first flexible panel serving as both a back of the vestment and as bed of the litter, a second flexible panel coupled to the first flexible panel and configured as a front of the vestment, a pair of support poles, and a support device coupled to the first flexible panel to support the first flexible panel from the support poles when the apparatus is configured as a litter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the Figures, and: 
     FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an apparatus operable as a sleeved vestment and a lace-supported litter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 depicts a back view of an apparatus, less support poles, operable as a sleeveless vestment and a lace-supported litter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 depicts a partial back view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with sectional support poles in position for operation as a jacket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an apparatus operable as a vestment and a litter in use as a vest in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 depicts a front view of an apparatus operable as a vestment and a litter in use as a jacket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an assembled bayonet-coupled support pole in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 depicts an exploded side view demonstrating the assembly of the support pole of FIG. 6 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 depicts an exploded top view demonstrating the coupling of two sections of the support pole of FIG. 6 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 depicts an exploded side view demonstrating the assembly of a screw-coupled support pole in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 depicts a top view of an apparatus, operable as a jacket and a lace-supported litter, configured for use as a litter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 depicts a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 depicts a bottom view of an apparatus, operable as a jacket and a loop-supported litter, configured for use as a litter in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 depicts a bottom view of an apparatus, operable as a vest and a tube-supported litter, configured for use as a litter in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 depicts a partially-exploded end view demonstrating the coupling of a tension-coupled cross member between support poles in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 depicts a partially-exploded end view demonstrating the coupling of a clip-coupled cross member between support poles in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 depicts a side view of an apparatus operable as a vestment and a litter in use as a litter in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 17 depicts a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 16 in use as a travois in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a front view of an apparatus  20  operable as a sleeved embodiment of a vestment  22  and a litter  24 , and FIG. 2 depicts a back view of apparatus  20  operable as a sleeveless embodiment of vestment  22  and litter  24 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following discussion refers to FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Apparatus  20  has a rear flexible panel  26 . Depending upon the configuration of apparatus  20 , rear flexible panel  26  serves as a back  28  of vestment  22  or a bed  30  of litter  24 . In the preferred embodiment, rear flexible panel  26  is made of a strong fabric, such as canvas, denim, or nylon. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials may be used for rear flexible panel  26 . 
     Apparatus  20  also has a front flexible panel  32  coupled to rear flexible panel  26  along both sides  34  and across a top  36 , leaving arm openings (not shown) in sides  34  and a neck opening  38  in top  36 , to form vestment  22 . Front flexible panel  32  forms a front  40  of vestment  22 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, front flexible panel  32  is made of the same fabric as rear flexible panel  26 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is not a requirement of the present invention, and front flexible panel  32  may be made of a different material than rear flexible panel  26 . For example, rear flexible panel  26  may be made of rayon for strength and weight, while front flexible panel may be made of cotton for comfort. 
     In the preferred embodiment, front flexible panel  32  is made up of a left front panel  42  and a right front panel  44 , which are removably coupled by a fastener  46  to form vestment front  40 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that vestment front  40  may be openable, as depicted, in which case vestment  22  is realized as a jacket  48  (FIG. 1) or a vest  50  (FIG.  2 ). Alternatively, vestment front  40  may be formed of a single unopenable piece (not shown), in which case vestment  22  is realized as a pullover garment (not shown). The use of alternative forms for vestment  22  does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Similarly, fastener  46  is depicted in the Figures as a zipper. Alternative fasteners, such as snaps, buttons, hook-and-loop closures, etc., may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Vestment  22  may be embodied as vest  50  (FIG.  2 ). By the addition of sleeves  52  (FIG.  1 ), vestment  22  may be embodied as jacket  48  (FIG.  1 ). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific embodiment of vestment  22  is immaterial to the spirit of the present invention. Indeed, front  40  may be realized as straps or other devices for positioning and supporting back  28 , vestment  22 , and apparatus  20  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, sleeves  52  are made of the same fabric as front flexible panel  32 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is not a requirement of the present invention, and sleeves  52  may be made of any practicable material without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 3 depicts a partial back view of apparatus  20  of FIG. 1 with sectional support poles  54  in position for operation as jacket  48 , FIG. 4 depicts a side view of apparatus  20  of FIG. 2 in use as vest  50 , and FIG. 5 depicts a front view of apparatus  20  of FIG. 1 in use as jacket  48 . The following discussion refers to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . 
     Apparatus  20  includes support poles  54  in sections  56 , cross members  58 , and safety straps  60 . When apparatus  20  is configured as vestment  22 , pole sections  56 , cross members  58 , and safety straps  60  are gathered into bundles  62  and coupled to back  28  of vestment  22  by bundling devices  64 . In the preferred embodiment, bundling devices  64  are straps fixedly attached to vestment sides  34 , wrapped around bundles  62 , and removably coupled to back  28  by hook-and-loop closures (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms of bundling devices  64 , such as laces, elastic loops, etc., may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Similarly, while FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  depict bundles  62  as being coupled to back  28  in substantially vertical positions, those skilled in the art will appreciate that bundles  62  may be positioned horizontally or diagonally where functionality so dictates. 
     In the preferred embodiment, rear flexible panel  26  is formed of three sub-panels  66 . Sub panels  66  are contiguous. That is, sub-panels  66  may be formed of three independent pieces of material sewn or otherwise attached together in a manner intended to be permanent for normal uses of apparatus  20 , may be formed of a single continuous piece of material arbitrarily divided into sub-panels  66 , or any combination thereof so that sub-panels  66  are fixedly coupled together. The positional relationships between sub-panels  66  are as discussed hereinbelow. 
     A first sub-panel  68  forms back  28  of vestment  22 . Front  40 , sleeves  52  (when used), and bundling devices  64  are coupled to first sub-panel  68 . 
     A second sub-panel  70  depends from first sub-panel  68 . An upper edge  72  of second sub-panel  70  is fixedly coupled to a lower edge  74  of first sub-panel  68 . This arrangement allows second sub-panel  70  to be folded up and over first sub-panel  68  and bundles  62  coupled thereto (see FIG.  4 ). Mating fasteners  76  are used to removably couple and maintain a lower (when free hanging) edge  78  of second sub-panel  70  proximate an upper edge  80  of first sub-panel  68 . In this manner, the interface between first sub-panel  68  and second sub-panel  70  form the bottom of a “backpack” whose front is first sub-panel  68  (i.e., vestment back  28 ), whose back is second sub-panel  70 , and whose sides are bundles  62 . The space enclosed by this backpack forms a pocket in which to carry first aid supplies or other goods (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other devices to retain such goods may be coupled to either first or second sub-panels  68  or  70  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 5, a third sub-panel  82  depends from second sub-panel  70  when second sub-panel  70  is free hanging. An upper edge  84  of third sub-panel  82  is fixedly coupled to lower edge  78  of second sub-panel  70 . This arrangement allows third sub-panel  82  to be folded down and over second sub-panel  68  when second sub-panel  70  is folded up and over first sub-panel  68  (see FIG.  4 ). Mating fasteners  76  are used to removably couple and maintain a lower edge  86  of third sub-panel  82  proximate upper edge  72  of second sub-panel  70 . This keeps third sub-panel  82  out of the way when apparatus  20  is engaged in normal operation as vestment  22 . 
     In the preferred embodiments, mating fasteners  76  are snaps. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other forms of fasteners  76  may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 demonstrates apparatus  20  configured as vest  50  and being worn by a wearer  88 . Similarly, the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 demonstrates apparatus  20  configured as jacket  48  and being worn by wearer  88 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown) third sub-panel  82  may be configured as a hood and worn over the head of wearer  88  as protection from precipitation, wind, sunlight, insects, etc. Variant arrangements of sub-panels  66  may be used in other embodiments, including, but not limited to, the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15 (discussed hereinbelow). 
     FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an assembled bayonet-coupled support pole  54 , FIG. 7 an exploded side view demonstrating the assembly of support pole  54  of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 an exploded top view demonstrating the coupling of two sections  56  of support pole  54  of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 an exploded side view demonstrating the assembly of a screw-coupled support pole  54 , in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. The following discussion refers to FIGS. 1,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 . 
     In order to operate as litter  24 , apparatus  20  uses support poles  54 . As depicted, support poles  54  are made up of three sections  56  coupled together. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that support poles  54  may be made up of other than three sections  56  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8 , pole sections  56  are coupled by bayonet couplings  90  to form support poles  54 . As depicted, a center section  92  contains both bayonets  94  (i.e., the male portions of bayonet couplings  90 ) and end sections  96  each contain a socket  98  (i.e., the female portions of bayonet couplings  90 ). Bayonets  94  are inserted into sockets  98  and retained therein by the engagement of spring detents  100  into detent sockets  102 . Preferably, opposing spring detents  100  are used (see FIG. 8) for strength and stability, but this is not a requirement of the present invention. 
     In the alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 9, pole sections  56  are coupled by screw couplings  104  to form support poles  54 . Center section  92  contains both male screws  106  and end sections  96  each contain a female screw  108 . Male screws  108  are screwed into female screws  108  retained therein by friction. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that support poles  54  should preferably be fabricated of a lightweight, rigid, and strong material, such as aluminum. Similarly, the lengths of couplings  90  or  104  should be sufficient to provide a substantial overall rigidity and strength to support poles  54  once assembled. The material of which support poles  54  are fabricated, the number of sections  56  making up support poles  54 , the dimensions of couplings  90  or  104 , and sections  56  have male and which female portions of couplings  90  or  104  are not requirements of the present invention. Variations in these parameters, therefore, do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 10,  11 ,  12 , and  13  depict apparatus  20  configured as litter  24  in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 depicts a top view and FIG. 11 a bottom view of apparatus  20  operable as jacket  48  but currently configured as a lace-supported embodiment of litter  24 . FIG. 12 depicts a bottom view of apparatus  20  operable as jacket  48  but currently configured as a loop-supported embodiment of litter  24 . FIG. 13 depicts a bottom view of apparatus  20  operable as vest  50  but current configured as a tube-supported embodiment of litter  24 . The following discussion refers to FIGS. 1,  6 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13 . 
     To configure apparatus  20  as litter  24 , sub-panels  66  of rear flexible panel  26  are unfolded and opened flat to form bed  30  of litter  24 , support poles  54  are extracted from bundles  62  and assembled, and support poles  54  are coupled to sides  110  of bed  30  by support devices  112 . In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, support devices  112  are laces  114  and eyelets  116 . Laces  114  are threaded through eyelets  116  and around support poles  54  along sides  110  of bed  30  to form a lace-supported embodiment of litter  24 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the pattern of eyelets  116  and the manner in which laces  114  are threaded through eyelets  116  and around support poles  54  may be varied, and that such variances do not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the use of laces  114  and eyelets  116  as support devices  112  is itself not a requirement of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, for example, support devices  112  are made up of loops  118  affixed along sides  110  of bed  30 . Support poles  54  are passed through loops  118  to form a loop-supported embodiment of litter  24 . Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 13, support devices  112  are made up of extension to sides  110  of bed that are folded over and their edges affixed to form tubes  120 . Support poles  54  are passed through tubes  120  to form a tube-supported embodiment of litter  24 . The use of these and other embodiments of support devices  112  does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15 depict partially-exploded end views demonstrating the couplings of cross members  58  between support poles  54  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 depicts the coupling of a tension-coupled embodiment and FIG. 15 the coupling of a clip-coupled embodiment of cross member  58 . The following discussion refers to FIGS. 6,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15 . 
     For strength, comfort, and carryablity of litter  24 , bed  30  should be stretched over a rectangular frame  122  made up of support poles  54  and cross members  58 . If frame  122  is not used, the weight of a victim  124  being carried upon litter  24  can cause bed  30  to bow, forcing support poles  54  inward. This exerts pressure upon victim  124 , producing discomfort, and potentially exacerbating the injury of which victim  124  is suffering. Additionally, bearers  126  would be obliged to exert outward lateral pressure to support poles  54  to offset the inward movement. This increases the difficulty of transporting victim  124 . Accordingly, cross members  58  are coupled to support poles  54  to form frame  122  and keep support poles  54  a fixed distance apart. 
     In FIG. 14, cross member  58  is depicted as having a spring clip  128  affixed to each end thereof. Each of spring clips  128  is circular in cross section with a diameter substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of support pole  54 , with an opening or break slightly smaller than the diameter. In this embodiment, spring clip  128  is snapped over support pole  54  to couple cross member  58  thereto. 
     Alternatively, in FIG. 15, cross member  58  is depicted as having a saddle  130  affixed to each end thereof. Each of saddles  130  has an opening substantially equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of support pole  54 . In this embodiment, saddle  130  straddles support pole  54  and is secured in place by a retaining pin  132  passing through holes  134  in saddle  130  and support pole  54  (FIG.  9 ). 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above and other embodiments of cross members  58 , support poles  54 , and the manners in which cross members  58  couple to support poles  54  are not definitive, and that other embodiments may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Bed  30  is coupled to cross members  58  by suspending devices  136 . In the preferred embodiment, suspending devices  136  are loops affixed to the ends  138  of bed  30 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms of suspending devices  136  may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Using the embodiment of FIG. 12 as an example, apparatus  20  is configured as litter  24  by opening up rear flexible panel  26  to form bed  30 , by assembling support poles  54 , by inserting support poles  54  through loops  118  to support bed  30 , by inserting cross members  58  through suspending devices  136 , and coupling cross members  58  to support poles  54 . 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 depict side views of apparatus  20  in use as litter  24  (FIG. 16) and as a travois  140  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following discussion refers to FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5 ,  16 , and  17 . 
     In normal use, apparatus  20  is configured as vestment  22  (FIGS.  4  and  5 ). In anticipation of possible use, wearer  88  wears vestment  22  into the field. Should victim  124  suffer illness or injury, apparatus  20  is reconfigured as litter  24  (FIG.  12 ). Victim  124  is then placed upon litter  24 , secured with safety straps  60 , and transported by bearers  126 . The ends  142  of support poles  54  are equipped with or formed into handles  144  to facilitate the task of bearers  126 . 
     If only one bearer  126  is available, then litter  24  is used as a travois  140 . When used as travois  140 , one pair of pole ends  142  serve as skids  146  and the other pair of pole ends  142  as handles  144 . Skids  146  are provided by making the appropriate ends  142  of support poles  54  from a hard material that offers minimal friction when dragged over the ground. Handles  144  may be integral with support poles  54  and themselves be skids  146  formed of this hard material, or handles  144  may be placed over the ends of support poles  54  and removed to reveal skids  146 . Because of the slope of litter  24  when used as travois  140 , it may be desirable to configure one cross member  58  as a footrest  148  for victim  124 . In this way, victim  124  will be prevented from sliding down in travois  140 . For example, footrest  148  may, but need not, have a broad flat region (not shown) upon which the feet of victim  124  would rest. 
     The following discussion refers to FIGS. 11,  12 , and  13 . If vestment  22  is configured as jacket  48  and first sub-panel  68  is located at one end of bed  30  (FIG.  11 ), then sleeves  52  may be folded over, and optionally stuffed with leaves, clothing, or other substances, to act as a pillow or cushion for the head of victim  124 . Alternatively, if first sub-panel  68  is located slightly down from one end  138  of bed  30  (FIG. 12) then the small sub-panel  66  above first sub-panel  68  may serve as a head panel, and vestment  22  may be worn by victim  124  to prevent victim  124  from sliding down travois  140  and/or as a protection against chill or wet. Also, if first sub panel  68  is a central sub-panel  66  in bed  30  (FIG.  13 ), then sleeves  52  may be used as additional safety straps  60  to secure victim  124  into litter  24 . 
     The hereinabove discussed and other embodiments of apparatus  20  operating as vestment  22  (FIGS. 4 and 5) provide a comfortable and convenient way of transporting litter  24  into the field. Vestment  22  supports an integral litter  24  in a manner that produces minimal interference with the activities of wearer  88 . This makes apparatus  24  ideal for use by hunters, hikers, backpackers, mountain climbers, spelunkers, skiers, explorers, rescue personnel, and the military. Also, apparatus  20 , when configured as litter  24 , is usable for transporting game, equipment, or supplies that may otherwise be overly cumbersome or heavy. 
     In summary, the present invention teaches an apparatus  20  operable as a vestment  22  and a litter  24 . Apparatus  20  itself is transportable as vestment  22  and may be used on demand as litter  24 . The use of sectional support poles  54  allow poles  24  to be bundled within vestment  22  is a practicable manner which does not substantially interfere with the activities of a wearer  88 . 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.