LMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS FOR INVALIDS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887
1. HORACE HOLDEN JUDSON, of Stratford, Connecticut, United States of America,
manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "LMPROVEMENTS IN
STRETCHERS FOR INVALIDS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object to produce a stretcher for moving invalids, or
patients to be operated upon without lifting them from the sheet, it being of obvious
importance that such a device be simple in construction, of little cost, and easily
managed. It is of course well understood that in all classes of serious illness or injury
it is frequently necessary that the patient should be lifted from the bed. This has in
many cases had to be done by main strength, that is, by lifting the patient in the
arms, which in many cases causes intense suffering to the patient, and in the case
of adults, requires great physical strength on the part of the person or persons
lifting the patient. The most important result accomplished by my invention is, that
I am enabled to avoid all lifting of the patient by main strength, and provide a
simple means for moving the patient without the necessity of his being lifted from
the sheet upon which he is lying. This I accomplish by the simple and novel con-
struction of which the following description in connection with the accompanying
drawing is a specification, numbers being used to indicate the several parts.
Fig. 1, is a plan view illustrating the several parts of the stretcher detached.
Fig. 2, a similar view illustrating the manner in which the stretcher is used, and
Fig. 3, is a cross section on the line in Fig. 2.
My novel stretcher consists of four parts, and a supporting piece which may be
the usual under sheet of a bed. The parts are two side strips denoted by 1, and
two holding braces denoted by 2. The supporting piece is denoted by 3.
The side strips are made alike and may be of any desired form. I preferably make
the inain portion angular as at 4, provide at each end reduced squared portions 5,
which are engaged by the braces, and also handles 6, for convenience in use. These
side pieces may be made of metal or wood, but preferably of light, strong wood.
The braces are preferably made of metal, and bifurcated at their ends to enable them
to engage the side pieces firmly. The braces may be made in a single piece, if
preferred, but I ordinarily make each brace of two pieces, and provide a joint 7, at the
1 Prine Rd.

page_text: center made like a carriage joint, as at the left in Fig. 2, or else form right and left
screw threads respectively at the ends of the parts which are engaged by corresponding
threads in a nut 8, as in Fig. 1, and at the right in Fig. 2. The operation of my
improved stretcher is as follows, two persons only being required to move an adult
from a bed with case and without jarring the patient. The portions of the sheet at
the head and foot of the bed are designated in the drawing by Ba, that is, the portions
of the sheet that are ordinarily tucked around.the mattress at the head and foot of the
bed. In using the stretcher they are folded over as shown in both Figs. Each of
the side pieces is then taken by the attendants and rolled up in the sheet as clearly
shown in Figs. 2, and 3. As the side pieces are ordinarily made angular, and the
sheet is doubled over at both ends no additional devices whatever are required to
secure the sheet to the side pieces. When the sheet has been rolled sufficiently on
both sides as in Fig. 2, the braces are placed in engagement with portions 5, of the
side strips, the effect of which is to hold the side pieces firmly, thereby making of the
side pieces, braces, and sheet, a perfectly firm and stable stretcher upon which
the patient may be raised from the bed, and carried any distance without difficulty.
Where the brace is provided with a joint as at the left in Fig. 2, the operation
is simply to engage the ends of the brace with the reduced portions of the side
strips and then spring the brace inward from the position shown in dotted lines
to the position in. full lines. When the right and left threaded nut is used, as at
the right, the nut has to be turned sufficiently to throw out the two parts of the
brace until the side pieces are caused to take up the slack in the sheet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. stretcher consisting of a supporting piece, as a sheet, side strips adapted
to be rolled in said supporting piece from opposite sides, and braces at opposite
ends which engage the side strips whereby the latter are held firmly in position.
2nd. A stretcher consisting of a supporting piece as a sheet, two side strips
adapted to be rolled in the sheet from opposite sides and adjustable braces which
engage the side strips to hold them firmly and press them outward to take up
the slack in the sheet.
3rd. The combination with a supporting piece as a sheet, of side strips having
angular portions 4, reduced squared portions 5, and handles 6, and adjustable braces
bifurcated at their ends, the parts of which are forced outward by a right and
left threaded nut.