Stretcher

Claim 2

A stretcher, comprising, in combination: a frame; at least two guide members rotatably mounted on said frame; an endless supporting belt mounted around and guided by said guide members as a support for an object to be transported by said stretcher; means for rotating said guide members which impart motion to said endless belt; a supporting plate rigidly affixed to said frame between said guide members; said supporting plate being disposed below said endless belt and being slightly upwardly inclined toward the rear end of said frame; means for causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surface upon which said stretcher rests; said means for causing said stretcher to translate comprises at least one travelling roller disposed at the rear end of said frame; means for rotating said travelling roller; at least one skate disposed at the front end of said frame, both said travelling roller and said skate being in contact with said surface upon which said stretcher rests; said guide members comprise at least two guide rollers disposed in spaced relationship from one another upon said frame; said guide rollers include one guide roller having a diameter smaller than the other guide rollers; said guide roller having said smaller diameter being disposed at the front end of said frame; said endless supporting belt being mounted around and guided by said guide rollers; said means for rotating said guide rollers comprises at least one driving pinion adapted to engage said travelling roller; a means for rotating said pinion; said travelling roller being adapted to engage and disengage at least one of said guide rollers; a rotary motion of said guide rollers being effected through mutual contact of said guide roller and said pinion with said travelling roller; said rotary motion of said guide rollers causing said endless supporting belt to translate relative to said frame in the direction of rotation of said guide rollers; and said means for rotating said travelling roller comprises said driving pinion in engagement with said travelling roller, a rotary motion of said travelling roller being effected through said engagement with said pinion, said rotary motion of said travelling roller causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surface upon which said travelling roller rests.

Claim 3

A stretcher comprising, in combination: a frame; at least two guide members rotatably mounted on said frame; an endless supporting belt mounted around and guided by said guide members as a support for an object to be transported by said stretcher; means for rotating said guide members which impart motion to said endless belt; a supporting plate rigidly affixed to said frame between said guide members; said supporting plate being disposed below said endless belt and being slightly upwardly inclined toward the rear end of said frame; means for causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surface upon which said stretcher rests; said guide members comprise at least three guide rollers disposed in spaced relationship with one another on said frame; said guide rollers include a first guide roller having a diameter smaller than the other guide rollers; said first guide roller having said smaller diameter being disposed at the front end of said frame; a second said guide roller being disposed at the rear end of said frame; a third said guide roller being disposed between said first and second guide rollers and being slidably mounted on said frame to act as a tensioning device for said endless supporting belt; said means for rotating said guide members has at least one gear wheel provided on said second guide roller; a driving chain is in contact with said gear wheel; said chain is guided by a tension gear wheel; said chain is driven by a crank whereby a movement of said crank causes said chain to translate, which translation of said chain in contact with said gear wheel causes said third guide roller to rotate about its axis, thus causing said endless supporting belt to translate relative to said frame in the direction of rotation of said third guide roller; said means for causing said stretcher to translate has a plurality of supporting rollers; an endless travelling belt is mounted around and guided by said supporting rollers; a gear wheel is provided on at least one of said supporting rollers; and said chain is in contact with both said gear wheels so as to cause said supporting rollers to rotate in the opposite direction of rotation of said third guide roller whereby, a movement of said crank causes said chain to translate which translation of said chain in contact with said supporting rollers causes said supporting rollers, and said stretcher to translate relative to the surface on which it rests.

Claim 4

A stretcher comprising, in combination: a frame; at least two guide members rotatably mounted on said frame; an endless supporting belt mounted around and guided by said guide members as a support for an object to be transported by said stretcher; means for rotating said guide members which impart motion to said endless belt; a supporting plate rigidly affixed to said frame between said guide members; said supporting plate being disposed below said endless belt and being slightly upwardly inclined toward the rear end of said frame; means for causing said stretcher to translate relative to the surface upon which said stretcher rests; said guide members comprise at least three guide rollers disposed in spaced relationship with one another on said frame; said guide rollers include a first guide roller having a diameter smaller than the other guide rollers; said first guide roller having said smaller diameter being disposed at the front end of said frame; a second said guide roller being disposed at the rear end of said frame; a third said guide roller being disposed between said first and second guide rollers and being slidably mounted on said frame to act as a tensioning device for said endless supporting belt; said means for rotating said guide members has at least one gear wheel provided on said second guide roller; a driving chain is in contact with said gear wheel; said chain is guided by a tension gear wheel; said chain is driven by a crank whereby a movement of said crank causes said chain to translate, which translation of said chain in contact with said gear wheel causes said third guide roller to rotate about its axis, thus causing said endless supporting belt to translate relative to said frame in the direction of rotation of said third guide roller; said means for causing said stretcher to translate has a plurality of supporting rollers; an endless travelling belt is mounted around and guided by said supporting rollers; a gear wheel is provided on at least one of said supporting rollers; and said chain is in contact with both said gear wheels so as to cause said supporting rollers to rotate in the opposite direction of rotation of said third guide roller whereby, a movement of said crank causes said chain to translate which translation of said chain in contact with said supporting rollers causes said supporting rollers, and said stretcher to translate relative to the surface on which it rests.

Claim 5

A stretcher characterized in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said endless supporting belt is spaced apart from said endless travelling belt; and said endless supporting belt can be driven either synchronously or independently of said endless travelling belt.

Claim 6

A stretcher characterized in accordance with claim 2, wherein the respective circumferential velocities of said guide roller and said support roller provided with said gear wheels are substantially equal.