Improvements in Carrying Frames for use with Litters, Hammocks, Sedan Chairs, and other Articles and Loads.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carrying Frames for use with Litters, Hammocks,
Sedan Chairs, and other Articles and Loads.
I, HENRIK EMIL HEHBERT BORGSTROM, residing at Trekanten, Helsingford,
Finland, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of the 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 carrying devices, and the object thereof is to provide
improved devices of this class consisting of a rod, bar or pole which is adapted to
support, or from which may be suspended palanquins, litters, hammocks, sedan
chairs, or canvas chairs, which lengthen and shorten at the will of the occupant,
and any
other article or load which it is desired to carry, and said rod, bar or pole
is forked or bifurcated at each end, so as to form two shoulder pieces, one of which
is adapted to rest on each shoulder, said shoulder pieces being yoke-shaped or other-
wise formed, so as to conform to the shape of the shoulders of the bearers, said
shoulder pieces or yokes being also provided with pads on their under sides or
surfaces; or in place of one rod," bar or pole, I may employ two, from which
the article or load to be carried will be suspended, and in this event, each of said
rods, bars or poles will be provided at each end with one of the yoke-shaped or
curved shoulder pieces above described, one of which is adapted to rest on each
shoulder; a further object being to provide carrying frames which are adapted
for use as supports for palanquins, litters, stretchers, sedan chairs and other and
similar articles whereby such article will continuously be supported in a horizontal
position, or adjust itself to such position regardless of the position of the frame
by which it is supported, and which is adapted to be carried by two or more persons
or carriers.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvements
are designated by the same numerals of reference throughout the several views,
and in which:-
Fig. 1, is a plan view of a single rod, bar or pole provided with forked or
bifurcated ends which are adapted to rest on each shoulder, said forked or bifurcated
ends being provided with my yoke-shaped or curved shoulder device;
Fig. 2, a plan view of two carrying rods, bars or poles made according to my
invention;
Fig. 3, a side view thereof;
Fig. 4, a plan view, showing the application of my invention to stretchers;
Fig. 5, a side view thereof;
Fig. 6, a side view showing the application of my invention to sedan chairs;
Fig. 7, an end view thereof;
Fig. 8, a plan view of a modified form of construction adapted for more than
two bearers;
Fig. 9, a side view showing the combination of my invention with a support
connected therewith, and adapted to continuously maintain a horizontal position;

page_text: Fig. 10, a side view of another modified form of construction;
Fig. 11, an end view thereof;
Fig. 12, a similar view of a slight modification;
Fig. 13, a view similar to Fig: 10; of another modified form of construction;
Fig. 14, a similar view of another modification; and,
Fig. 15, a section on the line 15, 15, of Fig. 14.
In the practice of my invention reference being made to Fig. 1, I provide a
carrying rod, bar or pole 10, from which any desired article or rod may be
suspended, and said rod, bar or pole is bifurcated or forked at each end so as to
form arms 11, each of which is provided with a yoke-shaped end piece 12, the form
of which is shown in Figs. 3, and 5, and 6, and 9, and these yoke-shaped end
pieces are so formed as to conform to the shape of the shoulders, and are provided
on their upper surfaces with pads 13, which are similarly shaped.
In Figs. 2, and 3, I have shown two of the rods, bars or poles 10, which are
connected by cross rods or bars 14, and 15, and the end of each is provided with
the yoke-shaped shoulder piece 12, as above described, and this form of device
may be used by two or more carriers.
In Figs. 4, and 5, I have shown my improvement applied to stretchers, Fig. 4,
being a plan view, and Fig. 5, a side view thereof, and any suitable frame may be
employed for this purpose; but in practice, I prefer that shown, in which the side
bars 10, are connected by the cross bars 14, and provided at each end with depending
frames or legs 16, and side braces or cross bars 17, and the end pieces or frames with
which the shoulder yokes 12, are connected, are carried or inclined upwardly as
shown at 18.
=
In Figs. 6, and 7; have shown my improvement applied to a sedan chair or
similar article Fig. 6, being a side view, and Fig. 7, an end. view,-and--in-this
application of the invention, the shoulder yokes are connected with the ends of the
chair by rods or braces 19.
In Fig. 8, I have shown a modified form of construction, wherein my invention
is adapted to a plurality of bearers, and in this case, the side bars 10, are connected
by cross bars 20, between which is any suitable frame 21, on which the load to be
carried is placed, and at the ends thereof are the shoulder yokes 12, the form of
construction shown in this figure being adapted for use by four carriers, while in
Fig. 9, I have shown my invention applied to a support 25, which is pivotally
connected therewith, and adapted be maintained in a horizontal position at
all times.
In this form of construction, the shoulder yokes 12, are connected with or formed
on side bars 22, which are provided with brace rods 23, and the said side bars 22, and
brace rods 23, are connected by any suitable side frames, consisting of rods 24,
and between these side frames is pivoted the support 25, which may be provided
with any desired means for holding it in a horizontal position at all times.
The segmental or semi-circular bearings 13, may be formed in any desired
manner, and may be secured within the yoke-shaped shoulder pieces 12, by any
desired means, but I prefer to connect them with said yoke-shaped shoulder
pieces 12, by means of set screws 26, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the segmental
or semi-circular pads or bearings 13, may be made adjustable. These pads may
be made of any desired material, such as leather, cloth or other material, and may
be filled in with cotton, wool, hair or any preferred substance, and in practice they
should be so made so as to conform to the shape of the shoulders as should also
the yoke shaped shoulder pieces 12.
In the construction shown in Fig. 10, I provide a pole 8a, to which is secured
at suitable points, two pulleys 9a, and I also provide a support 10a, which may
.consist of a palanquin, litter, stretcher, sedan chair, or other article, or which may
serve simply as a support for such articles, and which is adapted to serve as means
for carrying a person or any desired object or article, and a rope, cord or similar
device ila, is passed over said pulleys, and the ends thereof, are connected
with other ropes, cords or chains 12a, which are connected with the opposite

page_text: corners of the support, this form of construction being clearly shown in Figs. 10,
and 11, and by means of the rope or cord 11a, the support 10a, may always be
held in a horizontal position, regardless of the position of the rod or bar Sa.
In Fig. 12, I have shown an end view of a slight modification, in which two of the
side bars Sa, are employed, said side bars being connected by cross rods 13a, and
the side bars 8a, are each provided with pulleys 9a, which are arranged on each
of said side bars as shown in Fig. 12, and in this case, two of the ropes or cords 11a,
are also employed, as clearly shown, the ends of said ropes being connected with
the ends of the support 10a, at the opposite sides thereof.
In Fig. 13, the support 10a, is provided centrally at each side with upwardly
curved segmental plates 14a, which are provided with segmental slots 15a, and
the frame which consists of the side bars 8a, is provided centrally on each side
with depending bars 16a, which are pivotally connected at their lower ends with the
support 10a, at each side thereof, as shown at 17a, and said frame is also provided
at each side with braces or stays 18a, and 19a, the lower ends of the latter being
connected with the lower end of the vertical bar 16a, and the lower ends of the
former being connected with said bars at or near the middle thereof, and the upper
ends of each of the braces or stays being connected with the side bars of the frame,
and passing through the segmental slot 15a, and through the vertical bars 16a,
at each side are set screws 20a, and by means of this construction, the position of
the support 10a, may be adjusted so as to always remain in a horizontal position,
regardless of the position in which the frame is held.
In Figs. 14, and 15, I have shown another modification, in which the main frame
consists of two side bars 8a each of which is curved downwardly at the centre, and
with each of which is connected a frame composed of vertical legs or supports 21a,.
which are united by horizontal bars 22a, and braced by diagonal bars 23a, and 24a,
and said frame is also provided centrally with a vertical bar 25a, which is connected
with the main side bars 8a, and the diagonal bars 23a, are also connected with the
main side bars 8a, and the vertical bars 25a, and rivets 26a.
Placed between the separate side frames thus formed, is a support 27a, which
may be of any desired form, and which is adapted to serve as a support for a litter,
palanquin, stretcher or other device, or which may serve as such a device, and the
frame 27a, is provided with the downwardly curved segmental plates 14a, in which
are formed the segmental slots 15a, and passing through the bottom and central
portions of the side frames, at each side are the set screws 20a, and the frame 13a,
is provided at one end with a handle 28a, by which the position thereof, may be
adjusted, when the set screws 20a, are loosened, and in this form of construction,
the operation, as will be understood, will be the same as that herein before described,
and in this form of construction, the side frames are also braced by diagonal
rods 29a as shown in Fig. 15.
The construction of these side frames both in Figs. 13, and 14, however, is
immaterial, all that is necessary being to provide suitable side frames in which the
support 10a, is pivoted.
This device is adapted to be of great use in carrying persons, especially over
rough, uneven or hilly ground, and it is evident that many changes in, and
modifications of the construction herein described, may be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages; and I reserve the
right to make all such alterations in and modifications of said construction, as
fairly come within the scope of the invention.
It will also be apparent that two or more persons may carry the frame, and said
frame may be carried by persons on foot or on horse-back.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination in a carrying device, of two rods or bars each of which is
provided at each end with a curved or yoke-shaped shoulder piece which is padded

page_text: on the under sides or surfaces and adapted to conform to the shape of the shoulders,
substantially as shown and described.
2. A carrying frame provided at each end with two or more projecting rods or
bars, said rods or bars being each provided at their outer ends with curved yoke-
shaped shoulder pieces, said shoulder pieces being provided with adjustable pads
on their under sides or surfaces which are also curved or yoke-shaped in form,
substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a carrying frame, of projecting rods or bars con-
nected with the ends thereof, each of said rods or bars being provided with yoke-
shaped shoulder pieces, and semi-circular or segmental pads, substantially as shown
and described.
4. The combination with a carrying device, from which a load of any kind may be
suspended, or to which a load may be attached or secured, of a plurality of shoulder
pieces at each end thereof, said shoulder pieces being curved or yoke-shaped in form,
substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with a suitable bar or frame, of a support for carrying
persons, objects or things, which is connected therewith, and adapted to retain a
horizontal position, regardless of the position in which the ends of the bar or frame
are held, substantially as shown and described.
6. A carrying frame provided with a suitable support for the object to be
carried, said support being connected therewith, and adjustable therein or thereon
so that it will remain in a horizontal position, regardless of the position in which
the ends of the carrying frame are held, substantially as shown and described.
7. The combination with a suitable carrying frame, of a support pivotally con-
nected therewith, and suspended therefrom, said support being also provided with
devices whereby it may be held in a horizontal position, at all times, regardless of
the position of the frame, substantially as shown and described.
8. A carrying frame, consisting of two separate side frames, between which is
mounted a suitable support for a person or object to be carried, said support being
provided with a curved or segmental plate adjacent to the frame of which is
formed a curved or segmental slot, and a set screw which passes through said frame,
and said slot, whereby the support may be adjusted to and held in a horizontal
position regardless of the position of the frame, substantially as shown and
described.
Dalth 17th day of August 1907
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.