A NEW AND IMPROVED PORTABLE AMBULANCE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF PERSONS MAIMED AND INJURED BY RAILWAY, STREET, AND OTHER ACCI- PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anne McLean, of 30, Queen's Gate, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A
NEW AND IMPROVED PORTABLE AMBULANCE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE USE
OF PERSONS MAIMED AND INJURED BY RAILWAY, STREET, AND OTHER ACCI-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anne McLean at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on the
20th November 1875.
I, ANNE MCLEAN, of 30, Queen's Gate, South Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A NEW AND IMPROVED PORTABLE AMBULANCE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR
THE USE OF PERSONS MAIMED AND INJURED BY RAILWAY, STREET, AND OTHER
ACCIDENTS, INVALIDS, AND BEDRIDDEN PERSONS," to be as follows:-
―:

page_text: vehicles, knocked down by horses, workmen falling from buildings or
other like injuries, and invalids to be removed to hospitals or other
places, without being shaken or jolted, as is now the case when cabs are
employed for that purpose, and by the use of which their sufferings are
much increased; and further, in the case of a stretcher being employed
which is preferable to a cab, such means are also attended with objec-
tions which it is proposed to obviate by the use of a new and improved
portable ambulance of the following construction:-A frame about six
feet long, narrow at one end and broad at the other end, mounted on
three wheels, two wheels being placed at the broad end of the frame
and one wheel at the narrow end thereof. This frame is provided with
three upright posts of any convenient height, to the bottom of which
the aforesaid wheels are connected, and are intended to roll on the
surface of the pavement or other way. The upper ends of each of the
aforesaid posts is furnished with a hook, from which is suspended in any
convenient manner a boat-shaped basket or receptacle to which are con-
nected three rings, two at the broad part and one at the narrow part of
the aforesaid basket or receptacle near the edge thereof; the said rings
being made sufficiently large to admit the hand for the purpose of
carrying the basket when necessary, either for removing persons from
or conveying them into houses or beds.
The aforesaid basket is provided underneath with four projecting
pieces, serving as feet to stand it on the ground or floor.
I would here remark that for invalids, injured or bedridden people,
requiring to travel in a railway or other close carriage, in such case
the roof of the carriage will require to have hooks therein to suspend
the basket with the injured or invalid, or bedridden person therein;
and further, by the use of this Invention persons may be removed from
their beds without the necessity for their being dressed, suitable bedding
being placed in the ambulance to receive them..
To avoid injured persons from being gazed upon whilst being carried
through the streets, it is proposed to have a piece of wicker or gauze
placed over the broad part of the ambulance to conceal the features.
The ambulance may be folded up when out of use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Anne McLean in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANNE
MC LEAN, of 30, Queen's Gate; South Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Anne Mc Lean, Her special
licence that I, the said Anne Mc Lean, my executors; administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Anne Mc Lean, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED
PORTABLE AMBULANCE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE USE OF PERSONS MAIMED AND
INJURED BY RAILWAY, STREET, AND OTHER ACCIDENTS, INVALIDS, AND BEDRIDDEN
PERSONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Anne
McLean, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Anne Mc Lean, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :—
The object and intention of this Invention is to enable persons who
receive injuries either by railway collisions or by being run over by
vehicles, knocked down by horses, workmen falling from buildings, or
other like injuries, and invalids to be removed to hospitals, or other
places without being shaken or jolted, as is now the case when cabs are
employed for that purpose, and by the use of which their sufferings are

page_text: much increased; and further, in the case of a stretcher being employed
which is preferable to a cab, such means are also attended with objec-
tions which it is proposed to obviate by the use of a new and improved
portable ambulance of the following construction:-A frame about six
feet long, narrow at one end and broad at the other end, mounted on
three wheels, two wheels being placed at the broad end of the frame
and one wheel at the narrow end thereof. This frame is provided with
three upright posts of any convenient height, to the bottom of which
the aforesaid wheels are connected and are intended to roll on the
surface of the pavement or other way. The upper ends of each of the
aforesaid posts is furnished with a hook, from which is suspended in any
convenient manner a boat-shaped basket or receptacle to which are con-
nected three rings, two at the broad part and one at the narrow part of
the aforesaid basket or receptacle near the edge thereof; the said rings
being made sufficiently large to admit the hand for the purpose of carry-
ing the basket] when necessary either for removing persons from or
conveying them into houses or beds.
The aforesaid basket is provided underneath with four projecting
pieces, serving as feet to stand it on the ground or floor.
I would here remark that for invalids, injured or bedridden people,
requiring to travel in a railway or other close carriage, in such case
the roof of the carriage will require to have hooks therein to suspend
the basket with the injured or invalid, or bedridden person therein;
and further, by the use of this Invention persons may be removed from
their beds without the necessity for their being dressed, suitable bedding
being placed in the ambulance to receive them.
To avoid injured persons from being gazed upon whilst being carried
through the streets it is proposed to have a piece of wicker or gauze
placed over the broad part of the ambulance to conceal the features.
The ambulance may be folded up when out of use.
I would here remark that as my improved portable-ambulance is
applicable to a variety of uses besides those above enumerated, for
example, in travelling by land, or as a sea bed, garden lounge, and
otherwise, and as the particular purpose for which the ambulance is
required might possibly involve a particular form of construction which 3
might even then require to be varied to meet special requirements, I
deem it sufficient without the. aid of Drawings to describe in general.
3

page_text: terms the construction of the improved ambulance, only observing that
the frame may be made either of wickerwork of a boat-shape, india-
rubber, sheet zinc, matting, or other suitable substance or material.
And when the ambulance is made for the use of the police in cases
of death or illness of persons in the streets, or accidents to persons
from whatever cause they may arise, or for conveying drunken people,
in these cases I propose that the bottom of the ambulance should
be made flat, and the ambulance so constructed as to be capable
of being closed or covered over, either partially or entirely, as may be
deemed necessary.
The ambulane may also, if desirable, be mounted on more than two
wheels, and be furnished with three or more rings; also any suitable
number of side handles suitably placed and fixed.
My improved ambulance may also be used either with or without
the framing and posts before described, and be made of any desired
shape, size, and material, so long as it fulfils the particular objects for
which it is required in an efficient manner.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner
in which it is to be carried out, I wish it to be understood what I claim
is the arrangement of the different parts, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anne Mc Lean have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.