Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7805786?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-09-16 05:47:58
Document Index: 627535526

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 216', 'art 217', 'art 217', 'arts 216', 'art 217', 'arts 216', 'art 216', 'art 217', 'arts 216', 'art 217', 'art 216']

Patent US7805786 - Retractable head and foot section pivots for an ambulance cot - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsAn ambulance cot has a wheeled base and a patient litter. The patient litter includes a pair of hollow, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails, the side rails being configured to extend from a head end to a foot end of the patient litter. At least one retractable, generally U-shaped litter...http://www.google.com/patents/US7805786?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7805786 - Retractable head and foot section pivots for an ambulance cotAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7805786 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/891,277Publication dateOct 5, 2010Filing dateAug 9, 2007Priority dateAug 9, 2007Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE102008036578A1, US20090039666Publication number11891277, 891277, US 7805786 B2, US 7805786B2, US-B2-7805786, US7805786 B2, US7805786B2InventorsClifford E. LambarthOriginal AssigneeStryker CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (11), Referenced by (2), Classifications (9), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRetractable head and foot section pivots for an ambulance cotUS 7805786 B2Abstract An ambulance cot has a wheeled base and a patient litter. The patient litter includes a pair of hollow, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails, the side rails being configured to extend from a head end to a foot end of the patient litter. At least one retractable, generally U-shaped litter section with at least one hand grip is oriented thereon adjacent a bight portion thereof. The legs of the U-shaped litter section are configured to be slidably received into the interior of the respective longitudinally extending side rails, each of the parallel legs having first and second sections and a hinge configuration interconnecting them. A locking mechanism is provided for releasably locking the first and second sections together so as to prevent relative movement therebetween them and for unlocking the connection so as to permit a relative movement about an axis of the hinge configuration so that when the U-shaped litter section is in an extended position and the latch mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the first and second sections will be moveable with respect to one another to orient the hand grip at a different elevation.
at least one retractable, generally U-shaped litter section with at least one hand grip oriented thereon adjacent a bight portion thereof, the legs of said U-shaped litter section being configured to be slidably received into the interior of the respective longitudinally extending side rails, each said parallel legs having first and second sections and a hinge configuration interconnecting said first and second sections together, said hinge configuration being oriented off-set from a central axis of said first and second sections; and
2. The ambulance cot according to claim 1, wherein said hinge configuration includes a first pivot axis oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first and second sections, wherein said locking mechanism includes a latch member pivotally secured to one of said first and second sections for movement about a second pivot axis that is parallel to said first pivot axis.
3. The ambulance cot according to claim 2, wherein said latch member includes a flange segment that is configured to engage a wall section of the other of said first and second sections to prevent relative movement between said first and second sections about said hinge configuration.
4. The ambulance cot according to claim 2, wherein said latch member includes a spring for continually urging said latch member toward a position to prevent relative movement between said first and second sections about said hinge configuration.
a locking mechanism for releasably locking said first and second sections together so as to prevent relative movement therebetween and for unlocking the connection so as to permit a relative movement therebetween about an axis of said hinge configuration, whereby when said U-shaped litter section is in an extended position and said latch mechanism is in an unlocked condition, said first and second sections will be moveable with respect to one another to orient said hand grip at a different elevation; and
wherein said U-shaped litter section is configured to be locked in either an extended position or a retracted position by a further latch mechanism, wherein said further latch mechanism is connected by an elongate flexible member to a manually engageable member to facilitate the release of the further latch mechanism, said flexible member being connected to said latch member to effect a simultaneous movement of said latch member in response to said manual manipulation of said manually engageable member.
6. The ambulance cot according to claim 5, wherein said latch member includes a guide for guiding said flexible member inside said hollow first and second sections.
7. An ambulance cot, comprising:
at least one retractable, generally U-shaped litter section with at least one hand grip oriented thereon adjacent a bight portion thereof, the legs of said U-shaped litter section being configured to be slidably received into the interior of the respective longitudinally extending side rails, each said parallel legs having first and second sections and a hinge configuration interconnecting said first and second sections together;
wherein said first and second sections are each hollow and wherein said locking mechanism is oriented internally of said first and second sections at the juncture between said first and second sections.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ambulance cot and, more particularly, to an ambulance cot having retractable head and foot litter sections each configured to provide vertically adjustable hand grips for attendant use in lifting the ambulance cot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An ambulance cot has a wheeled base and a patient litter. The patient litter includes a pair of hollow, laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side rails, the side rails being configured to extend from a head end to a foot end of the patient litter. At least one retractable, generally U-shaped litter section with at least one hand grip is oriented thereon adjacent a bight portion thereof. The legs of the U-shaped litter section are configured to be slidably received into the interior of the respective longitudinally extending side rails, each of the parallel legs having first and second sections and a hinge configuration interconnecting them. A locking mechanism is provided for releasably locking the first and second sections together so as to prevent relative movement therebetween them and for unlocking the connection so as to permit a relative movement about an axis of the hinge configuration so that when the U-shaped litter section is in an extended position and the latch mechanism is in an unlocked condition, the first and second sections will be moveable with respect to one another to orient the hand grip at a different elevation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent based upon a review of the following specification and upon a review of the several drawings:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Ambulance Cot An ambulance cot 10 embodying the invention is illustrated in the drawings. The ambulance cot 10 is similar to the ambulance cots disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,700, and international patent application no. PCT/US05/034665, the subject matters thereof being incorporated herein by reference. The ambulance cot 10 includes a base frame 11 composed of longitudinally extending side rails 12 and crosswise extending rails 13 interconnected by brackets 131, 132 at the respective ends thereof to the side rails 12 to form a rectangle. Castered wheels 14 are operatively connected to each corner of the rectangle base frame 11 formed by the rails 12 and 13.
The ambulance cot 10 includes a litter 16 comprising a litter frame 17. An elevating mechanism 18 is provided between the base frame 11 and the litter frame 17 in order to facilitate a lifting and lowering of the litter 16 relative to the ground. More specifically, the elevating mechanism 18 includes a pair of side-by-side oriented �X� frames 19 and 21. The X frame 19 includes a pair of X frame members 22 and 23 connected together adjacent their mid-length portions by means of a pivot axle (not shown). Each of the X frame members 22 and 23 is hollow and telescopingly receives therein a further X frame member 26 and an X frame member 27, respectively. The further X frame members 26 and 27 are supported for movement into and out of the respective X frame members 22 and 23. The distal end of the further X frame member 26 is secured via a connection 28 to the cross rail 13 at the left end (foot end) of the base frame illustrated in FIG. 1 whereas the distal end of the further X frame member 27 is connected via a connection 29 to the cross rail 13 at the right end (head end) of the base frame 11.
Retractable Head and Foot Sections and Latches Therefor As stated above, the side rails 66 of the litter frame 17 are hollow. A generally U-shaped retractable litter frame head section 111 has legs 112 and 113 received into the interior of the side rails 66 at the head end thereof while a generally U-shaped retractable litter frame foot section 114 has legs 115 and 116 received into the interior of the side rails 66 at the foot end thereof. This feature can be provided on a manual lift cot or a power lift cot. The legs 112 and 113 and the legs 115 and 116 are configured to be slidably received by, into the interior of (shown), next to, or below the respective longitudinally extending side rails 66 on the cot 10. The legs 112, 113, 115 and 116 are each hollow and include an elongate slot 117 (FIG. 14) therein for facilitating the sliding movement of a pin 118 between the solid line position and broken line position or the positions shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The pin 118 is connected by a linkage 119 to a latch mechanism 121 on each leg 112, 113, 115 and 116. The latch mechanism 121 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 17 and 18. More specifically, the latch mechanism 121 includes a housing 122 in which a ramp mechanism 123 is slidably disposed lengthwise of the housing 122. The ramp mechanism 123 includes a ramp surface 124 against which a pin 126 rests. The pin 126 includes a latch pin 127 that is configured to move laterally into and out of the housing 122. The position located outside the housing is illustrated in FIG. 17. A spring (not illustrated) urges the pin 126 against the ramp surface 124. When the pin 118 is manually pulled toward the respective head end and foot end of the cot, the pin 118 is moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 15 to the position illustrated in FIG. 16 to cause a leftward movement of the linkage 119 in each leg 112, 113, 115 and 116 to cause each pin 126 to shift in its position illustrated in FIG. 17 to the position illustrated in FIG. 18, namely, a position wherein the latch pin 127 has been retracted laterally into the housing 122 of the latch mechanism 121. A slot 128 (FIG. 16) in the link 119 is provided which allows independent, passive engagement of the latch pins 127 when the pins 118 are released. A plurality of holes 129 are provided along the length of the side rails 66 and are configured to receive therein the latch pin 127 when in the extended position thereof as shown in FIG. 17. These holes are located such that access to them is not possible, i.e., under a bumper provided on the exterior of the litter rail 66. This is done for protection against inadvertent release, foreign matter, or potential pinching point. When the latch pin is received in an associated hole 129 provided in the side rail 66, the retractable head and foot sections 111 and 114 will be physically locked to the cot in either the retracted position or the extended position.
FIGS. 47-50 illustrate a modification of the construction of the legs 112, 113, 115 and 116 of the retractable head and foot head sections 111 and 114. In this particular embodiment, each of the modified legs will be referenced by the same reference number as was used in the preceding description but will have the suffix �A� added thereto.
Swivel Lock for Caster Wheels Turning now to the head end of the ambulance cot 10 (left end in FIG. 1), a plurality of caster wheels 14 are provided on the base 11. In this particular embodiment, a pair of brackets 131 serve to connect the longitudinally extending side rails 12 to one of the crosswise extending rails 13. An enlargement of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is presented in FIG. 19. Each bracket 131 is identical to the other and includes a housing 133 having sockets 134 and 136 (FIG. 22) configured to receive therein the side rails 12 and the crosswise extending rails 13, respectively. Conventional fasteners are utilized to secure the side rails 12 and the crosswise extending rails 13 in place. Each housing also includes a vertically upright bore 137 extending from an internal cavity 138 and opening outwardly of the body 133 at a downwardly facing, generally horizontal surface 139. Each of the wheels is rotatably supported between a pair of legs 141 of a yoke assembly 142. The yoke assembly 142 includes a sleeve 143 at the upper end thereof having a generally horizontal upwardly facing surface 144 opposed to the surface 139. The sleeve 143 has a hole 144 therein which is axially aligned with the axis of the bore 137. A kingpin 147 is received in the aligned bore 137 and hole 146 and includes an external thread arrangement configured to receive a nut 148 abutting the undersurface of the sleeve 143 to effect a rotational support of the yoke assembly 142 for movement in a 360� pattern about the upright vertical axis of the kingpin 147. A collar 149 (FIG. 23) encircles the upper surface 146 of the sleeve 143 and includes a notch or recess 151 in the perimeter thereof.
Ambulance Cot Lockdown Mechanism An ambulance cot lockdown mechanism 161 is illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 34. The ambulance cot lockdown mechanism 161 includes two locking mechanisms, namely, locking mechanism 162 oriented at the head end of the cot and the locking mechanism 163 oriented at the foot end of the cot. The locking mechanism 162 includes a base plate 164 configured to mount to the floor of the cargo area of an ambulance at a location remote from the access opening into the cargo area, preferably adjacent the front end of the cargo area. A pair of pillars 166 are upstandingly secured to the upper surface of the plate 164 and a crosswise extending bar 167 interconnects the upper ends of the pillars 166 to one another. A U or V-shaped bar 168 is oriented so that the apex of the U or V is toward the access opening into the cargo area or, when an ambulance cot is present, oriented toward the foot end of the ambulance cot. In this particular embodiment, the apex 169 is oriented to the right (FIG. 26) of the pillars 166. The legs 168 diverge toward the front end of the cargo area and converge toward the head end of the cot so that each leg can be secured not only to the upper ends of the pillars 166, but also to a mid-length portion of each of the pillars through a rounded extension 171. The legs of the U or V-shaped bar 168 are oriented in a generally horizontal plane spaced upwardly from the plane of the base plate 164. A pair of braces 172 extend between the upper portion of each of the pillars 166 and the top surface of the plate 164 on a side facing the rear of the ambulance.
Pull Handles A pair of identical pull handles 210 are oriented on the litter frame 17 at the head end and foot end of the ambulance cot 10. Each of the retractable head section 111 and foot section 114 includes bracketry 211 at each of the four corners interconnecting the respective legs 112, 113, 115, 116 to a crosswise extending bar 212 having a pair of laterally spaced rubber hand grips 213 (FIG. 35) provided thereon. At a central location on each of the two bars 212 and between the hand grips 213 there is provided a connector housing 214 that facilitates the connection of the pull handle 210 to the bar 212. In this particular embodiment, the connector housing 214 is rotatable relative to the bar 212 by a loosely provided clam shell type of clamp so that the handles 210 can be oriented at the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to a fully stowed position illustrated in FIG. 39. Each handle 210 consists of a first part 216 connected to the connection housing 214 and a second part 217 connected to the first part through a hinge 218. In this particular embodiment, the hinge 218 includes two mutually exclusive axles 219 and 221. The first part of the handle 216 is connected to the hinge 218 through the axle 219 whereas the second part 217 of the handle is connected to a second axle 221 to the hinge 218. This configuration of the hinge will allow the first and second parts to move to an overlapped array as illustrated in FIG. 38. The hinge 218 includes flat end surfaces 222 and 223 so that when the handle 210 is moved to the unfolded position, the flat end surfaces 224 and 226 on the first and second handle parts 216 and 217, respectively, will engage the flat end surfaces 222 and 223 to prevent the handle parts moving past the linearly aligned position shown in FIG. 36. A sleeve 222 is provided on the second handle part 217 and, when the handle is in the position illustrated in FIG. 36 wherein the handle parts 216 and 217 are generally collinear, the sleeve 222 can slide to the left to enshroud the hinge 218 to prevent the first and second parts from moving relative to the hinge as shown in FIG. 37. Once the handle 214 has been appropriately folded to the FIG. 38 position, it can then be allowed to pivot about the axle defined by the crosswise extending bars 212 to a stowed position beneath the litter frame 17 as shown in FIG. 39.
A spring clip 231 is mounted on the inside of the connection housing 214 and includes a barb-like configuration 232 that slides on the outer surface of the crosswise extending bar 212. The bar 212 includes a partial, generally C-shaped collar piece 233 of a finite thickness fastened to the outer surface thereof by a fastener 234. The collar piece 233 has end walls that are contained in a plane that includes the axis of the bar 212. The spring clip 231 has a finite width and includes a straight section 228 terminating in the barb-like configuration 232 which is of a generally V-shape. A first leg 229 of the V-shaped barb 232 constitutes a terminal end section of the spring clip and it is inclined to a plane containing the straight section 228 and inclined to a radius of the bar 212. A second leg 230 of the V-shaped barb is oriented in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the plane containing the straight section 228 and a radius of the bar 212. As the handle 210 is moved from the FIG. 38 position to the stowed position illustrated in FIG. 39, the inclined first leg 229 of the barb-like configuration 232 will slide up over a corner 236 of the collar piece 233, the apex of the �V� sliding along the radially outer surface 237 of the collar and then snap down on the far side thereof at the corner 237 so that second leg section 230 engages the flat end wall surface of the collar piece 233 (as shown in FIG. 39) to effectively releasably lock the handle in the stowed position beneath the respective retractable head end and foot end sections 111 and 114 of the litter frame 17. To move the folded handle from the position shown in FIG. 39 to, for example, the position shown in FIG. 38, one need only forcibly pull down on the folded configuration at the end remote from the connection housing 214 to cause the second leg section 230 of the spring clip 231 to flex into a plane inclined to the plane containing the straight section 228 and the radius of the bar 212 to thereby enable the barb 232 to lift up over the corner 237. A first magnet 238 is fixedly mounted to the first handle part 216 and a second magnet 239 is fixedly mounted to the second handle part 217 at generally the same distance from the hinge 218. As result, and when the handle parts 216 and 217 are folded to the FIGS. 38 and 39 positions, the magnets will attract and releasably hold the handle parts together. Furthermore, when the folded handle 210 is moved to the stowed position illustrated in FIG. 39, the second handle part 217 will not be able to separate from the first handle part 216 due to the attractive force provided by the magnets 238 and 239.
Push Bars As is illustrated in FIG. 1, there are four identical upstanding posts or push bars 240 in each of the four corners of the ambulance cot 10. Each post or push bar 240 includes an elongate tube 241 having received in an upper end thereof a plug 242 having an externally threaded stub section 243 thereon. A ball-shaped element 244 having an internally threaded socket 246 therein receives the externally threaded stub 243 to facilitate a screwed securement of the ball 244 to the tube 241. A locking sleeve 247 includes an upper section 248 that is telescopingly received inside the lower end of the tube 241. The locking sleeve 247 includes a section 249 that extends beyond the end of the tube 241 and has an annular groove 251 in the periphery thereof adjacent the lower terminal end as best illustrated in FIG. 41.
Referring to FIG. 1 again, each of the push rods 240 can be, if desired, provided as L-shaped push rods 240A as illustrated in broken lines. An isometric view of an L-shaped push rod 240A is illustrated in FIG. 45. The end of the push rod 240A remote from the ambulance cot 10 can be terminated in a flat end 262 as shown or a ball can be provided similar to the ball 244 shown in FIGS. 40-44. An extension sleeve 247A is essentially identical to the extension sleeve 247 described above except that the distal end 263 thereof includes a laterally extending slot 264 in the axial end face thereof. The bracket 211A into which the modified push bar 240A is received is essentially identical to the bracket 211 described above. Nevertheless, the same reference numerals utilized for describing the bracket 211 have been utilized to describe the modified bracket 211A, except that the suffix �A� has been added to each reference numeral. This will make it unnecessary to describe in detail each of the features of the bracket 211A.
The longitudinal axis of the laterally extending pin 266 is parallel to the leg 267 of the push bar 240A. As a result, the legs 267 can extend laterally outwardly from the lateral sides of the ambulance cot 10 as illustrated at the head end thereof in FIG. 1 or they can extend laterally toward one another as illustrated in broken lines at the foot end of the ambulance cot 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. In order to manipulate the legs 267 between their respective positions illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be necessary for an attendant to pull on the knob 261A to retract the pin 253A into the sleeve 254A so that the push bars 240A can be lifted out of the socket 259A, rotated 180� and inserted back into the socket 259A so that the inner end 258A of the pin 253A can enter the annular groove 251A provided in the extension sleeve 247A.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2276256 *Jun 5, 1939Mar 10, 1942Carpenter Charles CFolding stretcherUS3886606 *May 29, 1973Jun 3, 1975Bradford John GuytharFoldable casualty carrierUS5537700Apr 19, 1994Jul 23, 1996Stryker CorporationEmergency stretcher with X-frame supportUS5987673 *Nov 7, 1996Nov 23, 1999Ferno-Washington, Inc.Undercarriage extensionUS6374437 *May 12, 1998Apr 23, 2002Voelker Moebelproduktionsgesellschaft MbhBed, specially a medical or care bedUS6942226 *Jan 14, 2003Sep 13, 2005Descent Control Systems, Inc.Pneumatic cot for use with emergency vehiclesUS20020170115 *Jan 25, 2002Nov 21, 2002Borders Richard L.Leg section support for a surgical tableUS20070056104 *Nov 6, 2006Mar 15, 2007Ferneau Richard Hmultiple level roll-in cotUS20070169269Jan 26, 2006Jul 26, 2007Wells Timothy RAmbulance cot with improved drop frameUS20090000035 *May 30, 2008Jan 1, 2009Drexel UniversityTwo-piece lightweight litter systemWO2006036980A1Sep 23, 2005Apr 6, 2006Stryker CorpAmbulance cot and hydraulic elevating mechanism therefor* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8177193 *Feb 17, 2009May 15, 2012Kooima Roger DGrain bin lifting system and methodUS8356369 *Aug 10, 2010Jan 22, 2013Disc-O-Bed Holdings LimitedDisc and elongate support portable bed assembly* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification5/620International ClassificationA47B7/00Cooperative ClassificationA61G1/0567, A61G1/048, A61G1/0212, A61G1/0243European ClassificationA61G1/056D1, A61G1/02, A61G1/048Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 5, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Sep 18, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: STRYKER CORPORATION, MICHIGANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LAMBARTH, CLIFFORD E.;REEL/FRAME:019838/0508Effective date: 20070807RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google