Improvements in Portable and Collapsible Litters and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable and Collapsible Litters and the like.
I, CARL FRIEDRICH BAIER, of Heilbronn, in the Empire of Germany, Saddler,
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 litter or the like which may be folded up so as to form.
or resemble a knapsack or knapsacks and more especially intended for military or
ambulance purposes, for the use of exploration parties and for similar purposes.
The improved litter may also be folded or placed together as knapsacks which
not only contain constituent parts of the litter but may be further arranged so as to
receive bandage materials, a basin for holding water or for other use, or other
utensils or articles.
In the annexed drawing,
Fig. 1 is a lateral view, shown partially in section, Fig. 2 a rear view, shown
partially in section and Fig. 3 a plan view of the erected litter with its cover or
hood. Fig. 4 shows a rear view, and Fig. 5 a lateral view of the same as a
knapsack.
Fig. 6 a view of the knapsack spread out.
Figs. 7 and 8 are a front and lateral view respectively of the bandage case.
Figs. 9 and 10 front and lateral view respectively of the basin.
Fig. 11 shows the bearing poles or handles.
Each of two knapsacks, each of which is intended to be borne by a man and
which when combined will form the litter, comprises two portions of bearing
handles, a yoke with pivoted or hinged legs, one half of a supporting sheet, two
buckling-straps and one bandage-bag with basin and bandage material and a case
for receiving the parts of the bearing-handles.
The composition of the litter from the kuapsacks is effected in the following
manner :-
The buckles of the knapsack straps J are unbuckled and the straps B are pulled
out of the keeper a, the straps 6 of the cover and the lateral straps c are unbuckled
and the knapsack cloths spread out, the cases F are taken out and put aside.
Then the two knapsack cloths A are turned over with their buckle sides upwards,
and the cover straps of the one part are buckled to the buckles d of the other
part and both knapsack cloths A are thus combined to form one supporting sheet,
which latter is turned over so that its inner side which is lined with washable
leather cloth, is turned upwards.
The bearing-handle-cases L on the cases F are opened, and the parts of the
handles CD, the yokes E with their hinged legs are taken out. After sliding the
part C out of the part D as shown in Fig. 11 and connecting the two parts D D by
a bayonet-joint at the rentre, the bearing poles are inserted through the side hems e
of the supporting sheet.
The legs of the yokes E are turned down vertically and the yokes E, which at
both ends are provided with sockets, are pushed over the ends of the bearing
poles or handles so that the legs project outwardly and are fixed by the bearing
handles themselves. The buckle-ends and straps on the yokes are slid towards the
middle and connected with the straps and buckles at the ends of the supporting
sheet.

page_text: The knapsack-slings B having been straightened and buckled to the bearing rods
or to inserted pieces which may be put therein, the litter is ready for use.
The bearing-handle-case L is put together and buttoned in, the carrying-strap
of the bandage-bag F put over the head and arms of the bearer.
Where the litter is to be provided with a hood as illustrated, a yoke is then used
for this purpose, which carries at each end frame-props, which may be turned
upwards and which likewise are fixed in their erect position by the bearing handles
when passed through the ears of the yoke. The two pins of the hood are pushed
into the small tubes of these props and the yoke-straps are buckled onto the
leather-keepers of the hood. The longer sides of the hood having been connected
with the lateral straps c of the supporting sheet, the litter is thus provided with a
covering that will offer a safe protection against rain and sun.
The folding up of the litter so as to form two knapsacks is effected by unbuckling
all buckles, the yokes E are taken off from the bearing rods, the yoke-legs folded
inward, the bearing rods taken apart, pushed together and with the yokes E
inserted into the cases L. Then the buckles of the lateral parts are turned in, the
bandage-bag placed upon the knapsack-bottom and the lateral portions of the
kuapsack cloth folded inwards from the right and left so that the whole can again
be buckled together in form of a knapsack. The straps provided upon the cover
of knapsack serve to receive the hood, the coverlet and cloak. The hood, the
coverlet and the exterior of the knapsacks are made of waterproof canvas, whilst
the inside is lined with washable leather-cloth.
The above described litter is for this reason especially suitable to meet sanitary
requirements. The erecting of the litter can be effected extremely rapidly and
easily and the bandages and the like necessary for first aid to the wounded are
ready at hand separately from the component parts of the litter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The litter composed of two cloths capable of being put together so as to form
a knapsack, which cloth in its folded up state serves to receive or hold the
other component parts of the liiter, the bandages and the like substantially as
described.
2. In a litter the bearing rods or handles, consisting of portions to be connected
by bayonet-joint and having yokes provided with ears, on which yokes legs are
rotatably fixed in such a manner that when folded down they are fixed and held fast
by the bearing-handles passing through the ears of the yokes substantially as and
for the purpose described.
3. In a litter hood props rotatably connected with the yoke at the head end of
the litter, which props when folded up are fixed and held fast by the bearing
handles passing through the ears of the yoke, substantially as and for the purpose
described..
Dated this 31st dow of D
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London,
Agents for the Applicant.