IMPROVEMENTS IN AMBULANCE STRETCHERS OR LITTERS AND APPLICABLE TO CAMP OR OTHER BEDS OR COUCHES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Archibald Kennedy Irvine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1881.
ARCHIBALD KENNEDY IRVINE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Doctor of Medicine. " IMPROVEMENTS IN AMBULANCE STRETCHERS OR
LITTERS AND APPLICABLE TO CAMP OR OTHER BEDS OR COUCHES."
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction of ambulance
stretchers or litters, and is also applicable to camp or other beds, or couches.
A stretcher as made with one modification of the improvements comprises the
usual pair of longitudinal poles or rods having nailed or otherwise attached to
them the lateral edges of a piece of canvas or other suitable cloth. The supports
or legs consist mainly of four bars of steel or other suitable metal, there being at
each end of the stretcher two of these bars placed crosswise and attached to each
other by a joint pin at about their middles. An end of each supporting bar or leg
is jointed or hinged to one of the poles, in a manner admitting of its being folded
down along the pole when in a suitable position. When the two poles are close
together and consequently also the hinged ends of the legs, each pair of legs can be
folded down along the two poles; but when the pair of legs have been turned out at
right angles to the poles, and the stretcher opened by separating the poles, then the
angular motions of the legs about the joint pins connecting the middles of each
pair, cause the hinged ends by which the legs are connected to the poles to assume
positions such that the legs cannot be folded upon the poles. In this way a very
rigid structure is formed when the stretcher is opened for use, and the operation of
opening is simpler and can be more speedily performed than that required with
some existing arrangements which whilst more complicated are less reliable and
rigid. Stops are formed or fitted in connection with the hinges to determine the
positions in which the legs are to be placed when being turned out; and stops may
also be provided to determine the extent of separation of the feet. The parts of
each pair of legs which are below the middle joint when the legs are open may be
connected by jointed toggle links which limit the angular movements of the legs
and prevent the poles from drawing together when the stretcher is lifted.
instead of the toggle links separate links may be jointed to the legs near their
hinged ends, such links being formed, with notches or spring catches to engage
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page_text: upon pins or in holes or notches on the lower parts of the legs, the link jointed to
one leg engaging on the other leg. A bead rest or pillow substitute is formed by a
band of canvas or cloth stretched between two rods which are by preference
tapering and spring like, and which are jointed to the poles in a manner allowing
them to be turned parallel with the poles when not in use, or to be set at a suitable
angle against stops when being used. Or instead of the band head rest an air
pillow may be formed on or attached to the end of the stretcher cloth itself.
Wheels or casters may be fitted to the legs to facilitate the movement of the
stretcher into or out of an ambulance carriage or otherwise.
In other modifications the legs may be made like carriage springs to ease the
motion in a waggon or carriage. The poles may be made tubular and of steel or
other suitable metal; and the handles or ends of the poles may be made telescopic
or hinged, to admit of the stretcher, bed, or couch occupying a reduced space
longitudinally in waggons or in apartments. When the handles are hinged they
may in some cases be utilized as legs.
The slings for carrying the stretcher are made adjustable in an improved
manner, each sling consisting of a main part which is a plain broad strap without
a buckle, and to end straps which can be buckled upon the handles or poles in a
manner to suit the heights of the men who carry the stretcher. The end straps
have their middle parts made round or rope like, and are connected to the main
strap ends by these ends being turned over the round parts and secured, so as to
admit of the end straps turning in the holding parts of the main straps. When the
stretcher is closed the slings are placed longitudinally and the end straps are put
round and buckled so as to bind the parts together. There are also two other
binding straps which are attached to buttons on one of the poles, and which are
fixed in the binding position by having their ends, which have button holes in
them, put on the buttons. There is a third button midway between the two, for
the ends of the straps to be buttoned on when the stretcher is open. These arrange-
ments of the slings and binding straps have the advantage amongst others of
avoiding untidiness; and the improved slings can be more easily and speedily
adjusted than those hitherto in use.