An Improvement in Stretchers, Camp Bedsteads, and Invalid Chairs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1888
Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Stretchers, Camp Bedsteads, and Invalid Chairs.
We, ARTHUR TREHERN NORTON, of No. 101, Harley Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon Commandant Medical Staff Corps, and ALFRED SAVILL TOMKINS
of Holmwood, Caterham, in the County of Surrey, Captain of the Victoria Rifles, 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:
Our invention relates to an improved construction of stretchers, camp bedsteads,
and invalid chairs, wherein the handles that serve to carry them by, are at the same
time capable of serving as the supports or legs when placed upon the ground.
For this purpose, the handles are pivotted to the framing of the stretcher &c. with
a butt joint, so that they will support the stretcher when turned up into the horizontal
position.
On the underside of the framing is a bracket having a vertical outer face against
which the underside of the handle bears when it is turned down to form the leg, and
it is secured in this position by a pivotted catch on the bracket, which may either pass
through a slot in the handle, or be otherwise arranged to hold it.
The accompanying drawing shews the arrangement of the above described con-
trivance which we prefer to employ. Fig. 1 shews a side view with the handle in the
raised position, Fig. 2 shews a back view, Fig. 3 a front view with the handle in the
lowered position and Fig. 4 shews a cross section.
A is one of the handles pivotted at B to the framing C of a stretcher &c., so that it
can be turned either into the position shewn in full lines at Fig. 1 for carrying, or
into the position shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1, and at Figs. 2 and 3, for supporting
the stretcher on the ground. D is a metal bracket on the underside of the framing C,
against the vertical outer face of which the handle A bears when it is turned down.
E is a catch pivotted to the bracket, which is formed with a T shaped head, and which,
when the handle is turned down, passes through a slot F in the handle so as to project
with its T head beyond its face and thus hold the handle securely in the turned down
position. For causing the catch to engage automatically with the handle, its T head

page_text: is made to ride up two inclines G G in the slot as the handle is turned down, and
then to fall into the part of the slot between the inclines, as shewn at Figs. 3 and 4.
Or the catch may have a downward directed beak, with inclined face, so as to ride up
into the slot and then drop down over the outer lower edge thereof.
The brackets D also serve as supports for the stretcher when temporarily placed
upon the ground in carrying, and they are by preference provided with rollers H.
The catches may also serve as struts to the handles, as shown at Fig. 1, catching into
notches thereon, so as to hold them in the extended position when temporarily let go
of, in carrying.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :—
1. In stretchers, camp bedsteads, and invalid chairs, the use of handles such as A,
hinge jointed to the framing, in combination with brackets such as D provided with
catches so that the handles can be turned down in order to serve as legs or supports
and be held against the brackets in that position by means of the catches, substantially
as herein described.
2. In stretchers camp bedsteads, and invalid chairs, the combination of the handle A
hinge jointed at B with the bracket D and catch E with T head, adapted to pass
through a slot F in the handle, having inclines G, arranged and operating as set
forth.