Improved Cycle Ambulance or Invalid Carriage.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
Improved Cycle Ambulance or Invalid Carriage.
A communication by DAVID HÖNIG, of 43" Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, Doctor of Medicine.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 31, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 a cycle vehicle for conveying persons, more especially
applicable for the sick or wounded, which vehicle is characterized by the couch
being capable of being lifted off the frame, and, if necessary, used as a stretcher, or
even as a bedstead.
On the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shows a side view of such a cycle invalid carriage;
Figure 2 shows in detail the connection of the removable bed or couch with the
frame of the carriage;
Figures 3 and 4 show in side and plan view respectively a modification of the
cycle carriage in which the frame of the carriage, the bed or couch and also the
cover or roof can be collapsed or pushed together;
Figure 5 shows this improved arrangement when in a collapsed condition.
As may be seen from Figures 1, 3 and 4, the cycle vehicle has two two-wheeled
axles 1 and 2, one of which is driven from the front seat 3 by means of treadle
crauk 4 and chain 5, and the other from the rear seat 6 by means of treadle
crank 7 and chain 8.
The two bearings 34 of the front wheel axle, which bearings are attached to
the frame 33, are connected by means of a cross bar, 35, Figure 4, lying above
this axle. This cross bar forms in the centre a somewhat projecting round disc 36
in the centre of which a round pin 37 is seated.
A plate 40 is attached to the front cross head 39 of the main frame 13 or
13 13 which frame is firmly connected with the bearings 38, and this plate 40
is fitted on the pin 37 by means of a socket exactly fitting the same, so that
the two wheel axles may assume an angular position to one another, and the
vehicle can safely travel round even small curves. The person occupying the
front seat can also at the same time operate the steering wheel 9; the person
on the rear seat operating the brake 10. The support 11 carrying the front
scat is connected with the frame 33, the support 12 for the rear seat to the
rear end of the main frame 13 or rather 13ª 13. Carriage springs 14 are fixed
on the frame 13, on which springs the stretcher or couch rests. The side pieces 15
of this couch are connected by cross strips 17 in addition to the end cross
pieces 16 (see Figure 2). Holders 18 are attached to these strips 17 in a
position corresponding to the springs 14. These holders engage the connecting
pieces 19 which maintain the upper spring support in position, and are firmly,
and yet easily removably, connected with the springs by means of screws 20,
which fit into holes in the connecting piece. The cross strips 17 also serve as
points of support for the mattress 21, which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.
Strips 22, which may be pushed in or drawn out, are arranged on the sides of

page_text: the couch, which strips 22 may be fixed in either position by means of clamp
screws 23. If these screws 23 be relaxed, the strips 22 drawn out, and the connec-
tion of the couch and the springs 14 be also removed by slackening the screws 20,
the couch may with the assistance of the bars 22 be lifted together with the sick
person lying on the mattress, and utilized as a stretcher or carrying appliance.
On the ends 16 of the couch, adjustable feet 25 are arranged between the guide
bars 24 (Figure 4), which feet may be pushed downwards and fixed by means of
clamp screws 26 in this extended position. This arrangement renders it possible to
convert the couch after it has been lifted off the carriage, without further difficulty
into a bedstead with feet.
In order to protect from the weather the sick person whilst being conveyed, a
hood or covering 27 is provided, in which at the head end are easily opened
side windows 28, and at the foot end doors 29, which may be let down, as
required.
A chamber may be formed at the foot end of the couch by inserting an inter-
mediate partition 30, which chamber serves to hold a case containing materials for
bandages, medicaments, and surgical instruments.
In the modification shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the two longitudinal sides of the
main frame consist of two halves 13 and 13b, which may be pushed together. One
half is for this object provided with a guide groove 13, as well as with clamp
screws 31, for fixing the two halves either in an extended, or in a collapsed
position.
The sides of the couch also consist of two halves 15ª and 15° which can be pushed
together and one half is here again provided with a guide groove 15° for the second
half, as well as with clamp screws 32, by means of which both halves may be
rigidly connected with one another. The mattress consists in this case of two
halves which may be placed one behind the other, or one above the other.
The covering or roof is also composed of two halves 27ª and 27%, which may be
pushed together, so that this modification of the invalid carriage whilst being stored,
or whilst being conveyed to the place from which the sick person or invalid is
to be brought may be in a shut-up condition, as shown in Figure 5. The advantage
of this is that the carriage requires considerably less room, and further it is possible
to travel faster with it in that condition.
When the place where it is to be used is reached, the cover or roof is lifted off,
the clamp screws 31 and 32 slackened, the frame with the couch drawn apart, the
clamp screws again tightened, and the mattress laid back so that it is then ready to
receive an occupant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
iny foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An improved cycle ambulance or invalid carriage provided with a removable
couch, which may be employed as a stretcher, and also as a bedstead, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In an improved cycle ambulance or invalid carriage of the kind described in
Claim 1, the arrangement of a collapsible frame, in combination with a collapsible
couch, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 3rd day of December.1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.