Abstract:
A stretcher for handling and carrying patients is constructed with a set of two frames, which consists of a carrying frame and an auxiliary frame, with the frames capable of being drawn in and out of each other sideways relatively to each other.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the invention is to provide a stretcher for the handling of patients which would avoid jerk movements caused by lifting the body of a patient. The invention achieves this objective by providing for sliding motion of the stretcher components, and by building the stretcher with two frames, of which the main frame carries the patient, and an auxiliary frame allows a sideways sliding motion of the main frame relative to the auxiliary frame, utilizing hollow beam construction and internally placed wheels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a general view of the invention in isometric projection; 
     FIGS. 2-5 are perspective views that illustrate the method of utilization of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line VII--VII of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line VIII--VIII of FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 9 is a detail side view of the handle structure. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the stretcher 10 of the invention shown in its &#34;closed&#34; position. Thus, panel 101, on which a patient is placed, can be made from any suitable material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastic sheet padded with washable material, so as to hold the spine and limbs of a patient firmly in place. 
     Panel 101 is suspended from two spaced longitudinal members 120 and 121 of a frame 102, joined by cross-bars 601, 602 with each longitudinal member 120, 121 extending beyond the panel to form handle segments 123 and 124 respectively. 
     A lower frame 103 is slidably mounted to cross bars 601 and 602 of upper frame 102, with lower frame 103 formed of two spaced longitudinal members 110 and 111 joined by cross bars 603, 604 that each extend the length of members 120 and 121 to form handle segments 113 and 114 respectively. 
     Frames 102 and 103 are of similar widths so that in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 the handle segments 123, 124 of each frame overlap the other to form sets of composite grips 130. 
     Cross bars 602 and 601 are of hollow rectangular cross-section with an open groove 620 in the bottom of each cross bar, with cross bars 603, 604 in the form of an angle fixed by a bracket section 621 passing through groove 620 to the spaced longitudinal frame members 110 and 111 of lower frame 103. 
     A wheel 50 is rotatably mounted to a pin 51 fixed to a side wall of each cross bar 602, 601 and located to ride on the flange section 57 of a cross bar 603 or 604. 
     A wheel 67 is rotatably mounted on a pin 68 fixed to the leg section 58 of each cross bar 603, 604 so as to ride on the bottom sections of a cross bar 602 or 601 respectively. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the end sections 123, 124 of each longitudinal member 120 and 121 respectively is bent so as to lie adjacent to the associated bent end section 113, 114 of a longitudinal member 110, 111. 
     The mode of employment of the rollover stretcher 10 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, is illustrated by its use in transferral of a patient 20 from an operating table 30, or a similar surface, onto a separate rollable table 40, and consists of the following steps. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a patient 20 is lying on a bed or operating table 30 adjacent to a rollable platform 40 of the height of table 30. The stretcher 10 is opened and as shown in FIG. 2, the patient is rolled onto the panel 101 which extends over table 30 while the lower frame rests on platform 40. 
     The upper frame is now slid onto the lower frame resting on table 40, as shown in FIG. 4 and the table 40 may now be rolled with the patient away from table 30. 
     Alternately, in the open position of the assembly, the frames 102 and 103 may be completely separated so that the patient lying on panel 101 of frame 102 may be transferred to an operating table 30 with lower frame 103 resting on platform 40 rolled away from the operating table 30 during the operation period. The roll-over feature may be employed to transfer with either a right-to-left or a left-to-right direction of transfer. 
     Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.