Improvements in Ambulance Stretchers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
Improvements in Ambulance Stretchers.
I, FREDERIC SOLOMON HESS, of 28, Spital Square, London, 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 improvements in ambulance stretchers and has for its
object to provide such stretchers with a suitable holding device or clamp for the
carrying poles to allow of the same being readily folded or collapsed so as to
occupy as little space, when packed for transport, as possible. In carrying this
invention into effect I provide the ends of the two poles which may be of any
suitable material with transverse stays secured to the said poles at or near their
end, such stays being composed of two members or parts pivotally connected at any
convenient point of their length and provided with clamps at their outer ends
to receive the poles aforesaid. The clamps are freely pivotted to the cross stays
so as to allow of the necessary radial movement of the ends of the poles when the
stretcher is being folded.
And in order that the invention may be the better understood I will proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan showing a stretcher extended.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same when closed.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of one of the clamps for the carrying
poles.
Fig. 4 is a plan of a cross stay.
Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the said stay.
Fig. 6 is a view showing an alternative method of constructing the clamp.
A are the poles, B the material forming the bed which may be of canvas or
other suitable material with loops at the two longer sides through which the poles
are passed, and C are cross stays to which may be attached a handle D.
The stays which may consist of pieces of flat sheet metal are made in two
parts C, C, which are pivotally connected at E, a handle 1) being secured to the
inner end of the part C¹, and formed with a recess into which the stays when in
alignment lie. A short projection may be formed upon the stays C, which when
the stays are straightened engages with a depression or hole formed in the lower
part of the handle 1), serving to keep the stay rigid when extended. At the ends
of the stays are clamps formed in two parts E' E, the lower part E2 being
pivotally attached by means of a rivet H, shown dotted in Fig. 3, to the end of the
stay and provided with lugs or ears F through which pass bolts G securing the
upper and lower parts of the clamp together. When it is desired to fold
the stretcher the stay at one end is caused to assume approximately the position
shown in Fig. 2, bring the poles together at the end, the clamps turning upon
their pivots H to allow of the poles being drawn together at the end as aforesaid.
The other stay is then collapsed and turning upon its pivot E the two are brought
into the position shown in Fig. 2. Suitable brackets I provided with wheels for

page_text: wheeling the stretcher and forked plates J are also provided to engage with the
handles or shafts of a wheeled carriage.
Instead of the form of clip or clamp shown in Fig. 3, I may use a clamp f
constructed as shown in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that the said clamp
is formed all in one piece and is provided with lugs or ears f¹ f² on one side,
where the ring is cut through, through which lugs pass, a stud or bolt serving to
clamp the carrying pole A which passes therethrough.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim
is:
In an ambulance stretcher the combination of pivotted clamps for the carrying
poles with stays composed of two members pivotally secured together as and for
the purposes, herein stated and constructed substantially as shewn in the accom-
panying drawings.
JOHN H. JACK,
Agent for the Applicant.