Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A new or improved hand litter for the conveyance of sick and injured persons, and
it is particularly adapted for ambulance service in consequence of the great facility
with which it can be used, causing less pain and inconvenience to the patient, and it
can be propelled much more easily than any other hand litter at present constructed
as the stretcher can be perfectly balanced on the carriage no matter what the weight
of the patient may be.
It consists of a stretcher with a removable cover and a two wheeled carriage on
which the stretcher can be placed. The stretcher is formed of two poles of wood or
other suitable material two cross bars which are removable from the poles, and a
canvass or netting bottom on which the patient is placed.
The cross bars are made advantageously telescopic by means of a right and left
handed screw, preferably I proceed as follows, I take a piece of steel tube 19 inches
long and one inch thick I divide it into two portions, to one portion I attach a screw
dowel working in a female screw in the other portion of the steel tube, to that portion
of the steel tube to which the dowel is fastened I attach a metal disk or handle,
by causing this disk or handle to revolve the cross bar is increased or diminished
in length at pleasure. To form the rings which slide on the pole I take two pieces
of bar steel or iron 6 inches long inch wide and th of an inch thick to one of the
free ends of the steel tube I fix one piece of the bar by its widest part 1 inch from
one of its ends, I connect this with the other bar in two places with two cross
pieces so as to form an oblong ring 2 long by 14 inch wide. To the centres of
the inner surfaces of the long diameter of this ring I fix two metal studs which
run in grooves at the end of the poles, these studs prevent the ring from jamming
when slipped on to the pole, and also by coming in contact with the wood at. the end
of the groove prevents the ring from slipping further along the pole, doing away with
the necessity of fixing stops to effect this. Those portions of the bars which project
beyond the metal ring 1 connect at their ends by fixing to them a metal disk 14 inch
in diameter.

page_text: The cross bars can be slipped on to the poles when the stretcher is lying on the
ground, by reversing the cross bars, lifting the stretcher a few inches off the ground
and then slipping the cross bars. on to the poles the stretcher will rest on the metal
disks 4 inches from the surface of the ground. I also make the metal rings if
preferred without the legs as described above.
The bottom of the stretcher is made of canvass or netting. I take a piece of
netting and attach it by both of it ends to the stretcher bottom, a stick is fastened to
this piece of netting and when laid across the stretcher with its ends resting on the
side poles the netting supports the patients head, to this netting I attach a wedge
shaped air cushion for a pillow.
The side poles of the stretcher are made of wood or other suitable material. They
are grooved at each end of their upper and lower surfaces the grooves commence two
inches from the ends of the poles, and are 7 inches long and gths of an inch wide, in
each groove I fix a piece of thin brass or other metal by one of its ends so as to form
a spring which acting on the studs in the ring of the cross bar prevents the cross bar
from slipping out of its position when placed on the pole.
Fifteen inches from the ends of each of the poles I cut two diagonal slots, the end
of the steel or cane framework of the cover being placed in one of these slots is by
this means inclined backwards towards the end of the poles, the cover is kept in
position, and sagging of the woollen or cotton material which assists in forming it is
prevented.
To make the cover I take two flexible steel or cane bands the ends being properly
shaped to fit the slots in the side poles, to these bands I attach cotton or woollen
material properly shaped.
The carriage is formed of two wheels 'preferably 30 inches high connected by an
axle straight or bent as may be found most convenient. The top end of the axle I
form into the shape of a T and at the extremity of the arms of the TI connect the
axle with the spring steel forming the side of the carriage by means of four india
rubber buffers, I take a piece of spring steel and bend it into the shape of a broad U,
upon the top of the broad U is fixed a piece of board or flat steel for the stretcher
pole to rest on, on the bottom of the UI fix another piece of spring steel and bending
the ends down split them nearly up to the top, upon the split ends I fix another piece
of spring steel with a groove at each end the legs of the carriage are fixed at the
top of split ends on a pivot, and press against the narrow piece of spring steel
dropping into the grooves provided at each end, the groove at the bottom being used
to keep the leg in place when the carriage is at rest, and the groove at the top to keep
the leg clear of the ground when the carriage is in motion. I make the supports for
the stretcher (which are fixed on the top of the broad U3 as before mentioned)
preferably as follows I fix on the top of the U a stout piece of board 4 feet long and
four inches wide I make grooves across it and place in them pieces of elastic or semi
elastic substances, such as india rubber, leather, felt, &ct., or I cover this board entirely or
partially with elastic, or semi elastic substance: the stretcher pole when placed on
this board does not require any fastenings to keep it in position it can be readily
shifted either forwards or backwards so that the stretcher can be accurately balanced
no matter what the weight of the patient who is in it may be.
In order that this Invention may be clearly understood I now proceed to describe
the drawings hereunto annexed and the letters of reference shown thereon.
Fig. 1 is a view of the stretcher when closed.
Fig. 2 is the stretcher open.
Fig. 3 is the stretcher with the cover on.
A
0

page_text: Injured Persons.
I EDWARD CHARLES HAMMOND Surgeon Munster House Fulham Middlesex
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 consists of a new or improved Hand Litter for the conveyance of
sick and injured persons and is particularly adapted for Ambulance Service in con-
sequence of the great facility with which it can be used causing less pain and
inconvenience to the patient, and as the stretcher can be perfectly balanced on the
carriage no matter what the weight of the patient may be it is much more easily
propelled than any other hand litter at present constructed.
It consists of a stretcher with a removable cover, and a two wheeled carriage on
which the stretcher can be placed. The stretcher is formed of. two poles of wood
or other suitable material two cross bars which are removable from the poles, and a
canvas or netting bottom on which the patient is placed.
The cross bars are made telescopic advantageously by means of a right and left
handed screw, preferably I proceed as follows I take a piece of steel tube 19 inches
long, and one inch in diameter, I divide it into two portions, to one portion I attach
a screw dowel working in a female screw in the other portion of the steel tube, to
that portion of the steel tube to which the dowel is fastened I attach a metal disk or
handle, by causing this disk or handle to revolve the cross bar is increased or
diminished in length at pleasure. To form the rings which slide on the poles I take
two pieces of bar steel or iron 6 inches long inch wide, and th of an inch thick,
to one of the free ends of the steel tube above mentioned I fix one piece of the
bar by its widest part 14 inches from one of its ends, I connect this with the other
bar in two places with cross pieces so as to form an oblong ring 21 inches long
by inches wide. To the centres of the inner surfaces of the, long diameter of
this ring fix two metal studs which run in the grooves at the ends of the poles,
these studs prevent the ring from jamming when slipped on to the pole, and also
by coming in contact with the wood at the end of the groove prevent the ring
slipping further along the pole, doing away with any stops on the pole to effect
this. Those portions of the bars which project beyond the metal ring I connect at
their ends by fixing to them a metal disk. The cross bars can be slipped on to the
poles when the stretcher is laying on the ground, by reversing the cross bars lifting
the stretcher a few inches off the ground and then slipping the cross bars on to the
poles the stretcher when lowered will rest on the metal disks four inches from the
surface of the ground: I also make the metal rings if preferred without the legs as
described above.
The bottom of the stretcher is made of canvas, netting, or other suitable substance.
One end of a piece of canvas or netting is attached to the bottom of the stretcher

page_text: the other is fastened to a stick which is placed across the stretcher forming a
support for the patients head.
The side poles of the stretcher are of wood or other suitable material. They are
grooved at the ends, in each of the grooves I fix a piece of metal so as to form a spring,
which spring acting on the studs in the rings of the cross bars prevents the cross bars
from slipping out of position.
I cut two diagonal slots in the poles at a suitable distance from their ends, in these
slots I place the ends of the pieces of steel cane &c. which form the frame work of the
stretcher cover, the frame work is by this means inclined backwards, and so keeps the
cover in position, and sagging of the cover is prevented.
To form the stretcher cover I take two flexible steel or cane bands, the ends being
properly shaped to fit the slots in the side poles, to these bands I attach cotton,
woollen or other material properly shaped.
The carriage is formed of two wheels preferrably 30 inches high connected by an
anxle, the top end of the axle I form into the shape of a T and at the extremity of the
arms of of the TI connect the axle with the spring steel forming the side of the
carriage by means of four india rubber buffers, I take a piece of spring steel and bend
it into the shape of a broad U, upon the top of this U is fixed a piece or pieces
of wood, steel, iron, or other suitable material for the stretcher to rest upon : to
the bottom of the UI fix another piece of spring steel and bending the ends down
split them nearly up to the top, upon the split ends I fix another piece of spring
steel with a groove at each end, the legs of the carriage are fixed at the top of split
ends on a pivot and press against the narrow piece of spring steel dropping into the
grooves provided at each end: the groove at the bottom being used to keep the
leg in place when the carriage is at rest, and the groove at the top to keep
the leg clear of the ground when the carriage is in motion.
The carriage can also be supported as follows, the legs being hinged to the
broad piece of steel beneath the U spring are connected by a cross piece, to this
cross piece a cord is fixed and then passed over a pulley on the axle, by means
of the cord the legs can be lowered or raised at pleasure.
The stretcher is supported on the carriage on pieces of board, iron, steel, or
other suitable materials covered wholly or in part with india rubber, felt, leather,
or other elastic or partially elastic substances, these pieces of board, iron steel &c.
are fixed to the broad U shaped spring of the carriage.
The stretcher when placed on these prepared surfaces does not require to be
fastened to the carriage, and can be readily shifted either backwards or forwards, so
that the stretcher can be perfectly balanced no matter what the weight of the patient
may be.
In the drawings
Figure 1 shows the stretcher rolled up.
Figure 2 shows the stretcher open with the support for the patients head attached
to the bottom of the stretcher.
A is the support for the patients head.
Figure 3 shows the cross bars.
A A are male screws.
BB are female screws in which A A work.
CC are the cross disks or handles.
DD D D are the ends of the cross bars into which the side poles are inserted.
Figure 4 shows the stretcher with the cover on.
A is the framework of the cover.
B B are slots in the side poles in which the ends of A are inserted.
Figure 5 shows an end on view of the carriage.
Figure 6 shows a side view of the carriage.
A is the support for the stretcher.
B B are india rubber buffers.
CC show the position of the legs when the carriage is at rest.
D shows the position of the leg when the carriage is in motion.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. Holding stretchers on carriages, and retaining them in position by placing them
'on, or by means of elastic and partially elastic substances.
2. Fixing covers removable at pleasure on stretchers by placing the ends of their
frames in slots in, or on the side poles, so that the frames have an inclination
backwards out of the perpendicular to the side poles.
3. Fixing cross bars on stretchers removable at pleasure by means of grooves and
springs in the side poles.
4. Stretchers which can be increased or diminished in breadth by extending and
contracting cross bars.
5. Supports for patients heads one end of which is fixed to the stretcher bottom,
the other to a rod resting on or fixed to the side poles.
6. India rubber buffers as springs for hand litters and ambulance carriages.
Dated this Thirtieth day of December 1887.
EDWARD CHARLES HAMMOND.