An Improved Construction of Stretcher for Sick and Wounded Persons, and of Vehicles and Apparatus Employed in Combina- tion therewith.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Construction of Stretcher for Sick and Wounded
Persons, and of Vehicles and Apparatus Employed in Combina-
tion therewith.
I, MICHAEL TELL, of VII Kaiserstrasse 11, Vienna, Austria, Manufacturer, 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:
This invention relates to a folding stretcher for transporting sick and wounded
persons. The essential feature of the invention consists in that the supporting surface
of the stretcher is formed of several parts hinge-jointed together, which are formed
of flexible woven material, and are provided at the edges with loops for the insertion of
the stretcher poles.
By means of suitably applied straps and buckles, the said supporting surface can
be brought into the forin which is requisite for enabling an invalid to be transported
in a lying or a sitting posture, and they also enable the said surface to be carried on
the back folded together in the form of a knapsack.
The arrangements of the stretcher are such that it can be easily connected to ropes
for hoisting or to moveable frames, such as two wheeled vehicles, wheeled chairs, sledges,
wheel barrows &c.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shews a perspective view of the said supporting surface,
Fig. 2 shews a separate view of one of the parts,
Fig. 3 shews the stretcher surface folded together in form of a knapsack.
Fig. 4 shews the mode of forming the surface,
Fig. 5 shews. a longitudinal section of the surface,
Fig. 6 shews the surface combined with tlie stretcher bars for forming the complete
stretcher, and
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views.
Fig. 10 shews the joint of a folding stretcher bar formed of two parts.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew side and front views of the stretcher bars in combination
with a frame with wheels.
Fig. 13 shews the stretcher arranged for the transport of invalids in sitting
posture.
Figs. 14 and 15 shew side and front views of a framing mounted on wheels adapted
to receive the stretcher.
Figs. 16 and 17 shew side and end views of a sledge frame for receiving the
stretcher, arranged to be taken to pieces.
Fig. 18 shews a side view of a separate supporting surface with arm supports.
Fig. 19 shews a wheeled chair, adapted to receive the stretcher.
Figs. 20 and 21 shew side and front views of a wheeled chair, and
Figs. 22 and 23 shew a folding hoist for lowering the stretcher from the upper
story of a building.
As shewn at Fig. 1, the supporting surface consists of separate parts A B C DEF
connected together at their ends by strips of flexible material a b c d e.
The part A to F of the surface are inade of pealed and split cane or reeds in a
similar manner to ordinary wickerwork, as at Fig. 4, whereby the supporting surface
is rendered very flexible and light, while affording the requisite strength.
For using the stretcher for invalids in a lying posture, stretcher bars G Fig. 6
are passed through the loops ac attached to the several parts A to C and
through loops formed on the part D by means of straps or bands d'; by this
means the parts A to D are supported and maintained in one and the same plane.

page_text: For forming the footboard of the stretcher, the part E is turned up and secured in
the desired position by fastening the straps d² in the buckles e. The part F is turned
down against E and is secured thereto by means of straps on E that are passed
through the buckles f of F. The straps are strengthened by a steel insertion d³
which prevents the footboard E from falling inwards.
By means of a strap 62 which is attached to the side of the part B and is
secured to a buckle of the side 6, the invalid can be strapped down on the
stretcher.
In order to protect the invalid against inclement weather or to cover him up during
transport, a folding hood A Figs. 2 and 6 is secured to the part A by straps a² a³
Figs. 2 and 8, which are passed through loops a of the part A.
When this hood is not in use, it is held folded by means of the end of the securing
strap a³, which is for this purpose passed through a buckle a' on the front rib of the
hood, as at Fig. 2.
18
For the same purpose a waterproof cover B₁ Fig. 2 is attached to one of the
sides 6³ of the part. B by means of straps 66 Fig. 6, which are passed through loops 67
Fig. 7 on the side 63. This cover is secured in a rolled up condition, by means of
the straps Figs. 7 and 2, and buckles 6 Fig. 1, and when unrolled it covers the
whole stretcher and also fits cap-like over the footboard E F, as at Fig. 6. The
upper edge of the cover B carries a hook 10 Fig. 6, which, when hooked into
the buckle at of the hood A¹ keeps the latter in the raised position. This upper edge
of the cover also has two rings which are hooked into the hooks a of the edge
piece a attached to the front edge of the hood, and reaching over the covering B.
In addition, the cover B is secured by buttoning to the sides of the part B and
to the footboard E, by means of buttons 126134 and e³, the buttons
sides 3 and 4 also serving for the attachment of the part
Fig. 6 is a flap which closes an opening in the hood a
to close the covering of the stretcher entirely, the part a' of the
back.
of the
a of the hood A¹.
If it be not necessary
hood can be turned
The stretcher bars G can be provided with feet 7 Fig. 9, which are connected
together in pairs by a cross bar provided with loops which are slid on to the
bars G and are secured in position by screws g. The feet are hinge jointed to
their cross har so as to be easy of transport when the stretcher is packed up.
The bars G can be made to fold together, in which case the ends thereof have
hinges Fig. 10, the securing of the bar at that point being effected by a bolt gª
which is inserted in loops g³ on the sides of the two parts.
For facilitating the transport of the stretcher, for example, through mountainous
countries, it is arranged so as to be carried in a folded condition like a knapsack.
For this purpose, the cover B being rolled up, the parts F E are folded against the
part D, and the other parts are then folded together, so that all parts CDE and F
are then situated within the part B having the side walls b³.
Lastly the part A with the hood A¹ is folded on to the others as a cover and is
secured by means of straps 2 and buckles a g situated on the outer sides of the
parts A and C.
The outer side of the part B has moveable loops 3 through which the carrying
straps B2 Fig. 3 are passed. In order that these straps may also be used for carrying
the unfolded stretcher Fig. 6, they have eyes 61 into which the ends of the stretcher
bars G are inserted, while the straps B are slung over the shoulders in the usual
manner.
In order to carry invalids in the sitting posture, the part B has adjustable straps 613
passing through loops, and having spring hooks which are hooked into rings e³
attached to straps on the part C that forms the seat, the angular position of the
parts B and A relatively to C being adjustable by altering the length of the strap 6
by means of the buckle as shewn at Fig. 13.
The part may also be provided with a fixed or removeable arm rest c Fig. 18,
in which case the straps 617 and rings can be replaced by segments attached
to the arm rests. These segments pass through holes in the part B and have

page_text: holes into which setting screws c are screwed when the part B has the required
position.
The head part A is secured in the position shewn in Fig. 13 by means of flaps alo
stiffened by steel insertions, which are secured to buttons 618 Figs. 1 and 3; it can
however be folded inwards against the back part B as at Figs. 19 and 22. This last
described arrangement of the stretcher is mainly employed when the invalid is to bo
transported on the back of the carrier.
The invalid is secured against falling out by means of the before described strap b².
In the arrangement of the parts shewn at Fig. 13 for the last named purpose, the
upper leg part D is held in position by making the upper connecting strip c Fig 5 tighter
than the under one. If stretcher bars G are used, the straps d' d' are buckled over
the same in addition to the loops C, and thus the part D is better supported, as indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 13.
The foot board E already described in Fig. 6 also serves as foot board in this case,
or the part E can be lowered as shewn in dotted lines and the part F be secured by
strap in position as foot board.
The pillow A, hooked on to rings a² and secured by a strap a" as shewn at
Fig. 2, is strapped on to the outside of B when the stretcher is arranged to be carried
on the back, as shewn at Fig. 3, and serves then as cushion. The parts A to E have
straps for enabling cushions to be strapped on them if required; also, for the case
when the head part A is turned down, such straps are also provided on the back
thereof, which are not shewn.
The transport. of the stretcher with the invalid can in many cases be effected by
means of a two wheeled truck Figs. 14 and 15, or a sledge Figs. 16 and 17, the latter
being separable if required.
For receiving the stretcher these vehicles have side hooks into which the stretcher
bars G are introduced and in which they are secured by setting screws it, these being
prevented from injuring the bars by providing the corresponding parts of the latter
with metal plates g³.
If the lower ends of the bars G be provided with bearings g Figs. 11 and 12, for
the reception of an axle with two small wheels k, of variab e gauge, the stretcher can
also be transported like a wheel-barrow. At the ends of the bars are provided spikes k¹
whereby the har can be used as an alpenstock.
If the stretcher is adjusted to the position at Fig. 13, it can be combined with
a wheeled chair Fig. 19, or a Bath chair Fig. 20, the seat of the latter being
provided with straps c which are passed into the buckles of the loops Fig. Ï
and into the lower loops 6 of the part B, for securing the stretcher.
In order to enable the stretcher with an invalid to be more readily lifted on to
the seat of the chair and attached thereto one of the side arm rests Fig. 21 is
made to turn down on hinges and the handle is made removeable. The part D
can have the desired position imparted to it by means of adjustable supports m
on the chair. In order, in special cases, to enable the two feet of the invalid to
have different positions imparted to them, the parts F, E, D, may be each divided
longitudinally into two separate parallel parts, as shewn at Fig. 19, in which case
the necessary straps d' with buckles for adjusting these parts must be provided in
duplicate.
To enable an invalid to be lowered in a sitting posture in the stretcher from a raised
locality, the stretcher is secured by loops ( Fig. 22 to ropes n' provided with safety
hooks, which ropes are connected to a ring n into which is hooked the lowering
rope n³.
For guiding the stretcher during the descent, a rope n is connected to it which
is controlled from the ground, or place to which the stretcher is to be lowered.
If the lowering is to be effected from the window opening of an upper story, the
rope is led over a roller o Figs. 22 and 23, which is carried by a beam pl
supported by siruts p; these are provided with points at bottom and are hinge-jointed
to the bean p'. They may be made in two or more separate parts so as to be easy
of transport, the parts being connected by hinges and secured in position by bolts

page_text: or catches, in a similar manner to that described in connection with the stretcher
bars at Fig. 10.
For strengthening the parts B, C and D of the stretcher, steel ribs r
be employed, which are woven into the parts B and C parallel to the canes; in D,
Fig. 1 may
on the other hand, they are at right angles to the canes and are rivetted on
externally.
Lastly, it is to be observed, that in place of providing the stretcher with the feet gg
as described, the placing of invalids upon the same and the raising up thereof may
be facilitated by placing the stretcher upon chairs.
In order to render this possible under all circumstances, each stretcher can always
be accompanied by a folding seat of any simple construction such as crossed legs
pivotted together at their middle and connected by straps at the upper end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
.
1. A stretcher composed of a number of flat parts A B C D E F flexibly connected
together, which are provided at their sides with loops a' c¹d through which are
passed the stretcher bars for securing the parts in the stretched condition and
which are provided with other loops, straps with buckles, and hooks, in order to
impart to the parts of the stretcher a chair like form, while on removal of the
stretcher bars, the parts can be folded together so as to be carried as a knapsack,
substantially as described.
2. In a stretcher such as is referred to in the preceding claim, constructing the
parts DEF of longitudinally divided form, the part D being provided with
extensible loops d' and with straps strengthened by steel strips, substantially as
described.
3. In a stretcher such as is referred to in the first claim, the use of feet g g hinge-
jointed to a transverse bar which is provided with loops at the ends through which
the stretcher bars are passed, substantially as described.
4. In a stretcher such as is referred to in the first claim, the use of jointed
stretcher bars G, provided at the one end with bearings for the reception of an
axle with wheels, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the
drawings.
5. The combination of the stretcher referred to in the first claim with wheeled
chairs or vehicles, having adjustable supports m for the parts that carry the feet, and
of which the arm rests can be turned down and the pushing handles removed,
substantially as described.
6. The combination of the stretcher referred to in the 1st claim with a jointed
framing ppl and rope connections n n¹ n² n³ for lowering the stretcher, substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 22 and 23 of the drawings.
Dated this 29th day of October 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.