Improvements in and relating to Ambulance Couches or Stretchers for Military or other Uses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
Improvements in and relating to Ambulance Couches or Stretchers
for Military or other Uses.
I, FRIEDRICH HESSING of Göggingen Augsburg in the Empire of Germany
Proprietor of an Orthopaedic Hospital do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved stretcher which may be
used for conveying a wounded or injured person from place to place, for instance
from a battle field or scene of the injury to a hospital or elsewhere, and which may
likewise serve if necessary as a couch or sick bed for such person, the said stretcher
being easily taken to pieces and re-erected, or easily movable by one person or by
two or more when erected whether it bear an injured or wounded person or not, and
being adapted to be moved without liability of upset and with the least amount of
discomfort or pain to the injured or wounded person thereon.
Reference being made to the annexed drawing; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the
improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of
detached parts.
The stretcher comprises two rigid parallel bearing frames b connected by
transverse bars c of which two are connected to each other by longitudinal bars or
frames in which the axle of the wheel r has its bearings. Over the frames band
bars c is stretched a canvas or fabric of linen or other material m; and laterally of
the wheel rare fitted two leg rests ay which are removable.
This stretcher offers the advantages of giving to the injured person an elastic
support conforming to the shape of his frame, of being easily moved when loaded
even by one person, and of being of such lightness and construction that when not
in use it may be easily carried by one person.
The canvas m being attached to or slung on the frames bb and bars c c c gives to
the weight of the body of the person thereon and consequently affords a secure
couch for such person, his body lying on that part of the canvas which passes from
one frame to the other, while his legs extend each side of the wheel r and are
likewise well supported in the troughs formed by the tension of the canvas at each
side of the wheel. The canvas is attached by straps and buckles a while it may
be looped at the ends for passage of the bars c c.
The leg supports x y are made to the shape of the leg on its under or rear side
and are made in two articulated parts as shown in Fig. III, the articulation corre-
These
sponding to the back of the knee of the person reclining on the stretcher.
supports or either of them may be used or discarded according to circumstances,
the upper member engaging by a pin and slot or otherwise with the frame 6 while
the lift of the knee may be adjusted by means of a strap connecting the foot end
of the leg rest to a stud on the frame or by any other suitable adjustable
connection.
The frames b and cross bars may be made of bent wood with interposed solid
connecting pieces thus securing lightness and strength, while the parts of the frame
may be secured by pins and slots so as to be detachable whereupon the side
frames may be carried over the shoulder as a rifle is carried, and the bars c and
other parts may be placed in or upon a knapsack.
b
The construction of this stretcher with its single wheel placed between the legs
of the person thereon, brings the centre of gravity of the stretcher and person
sufficiently near the axle of the wheel that one person may push or pull the stretcher

page_text: along on said wheel; the wheel moreover extending up between the legs of the
person on the stretcher, the centre of gravity is below the horizontal plane in
which the wheel axle lies so that upsetting of the stretcher is not likely to occur.
Uninterrupted view is also attained in front of the wheel enabling the person
wheeling the stretcher to see and avoid obstacles such as stones over which the
wheel might otherwise pass.
The stretcher is fitted with a supporting frame or legs F F near the head end
and also with legs F on each side of the wheel, the former being used for a
momentary or temporary resting of the stretcher, the latter being used with the
former for converting the stretcher into a couch or sick bed, the wheel r being
then if desired removed. The ends of the side frames extend to form handles
at both ends.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed -I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A stretcher comprising two side frames b, cross bars c and fabric m and having
a wheel r journalled in that part of the framework so that it will lie between the
legs of a person extended on said stretcher.
2. The combination with said stretcher of the detachable and adjustable lateral
leg rests y substantially as set forth.
3. A stretcher comprising two side frames, cross bars c, longitudinal bars and
a fabric stretched upon or slung from said frames and bars together with a wheel
journalled between said bars / substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A stretcher comprising two side frames b, cross bars c and a fabric slung on
said frame and bars, in combination with a removable wheel placed as set forth,
and leg frames or legs F for supporting said stretcher with or without removal of
said wheel.
Dated this 5th day of May 1894
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agent to Applicant.