Stretcher

Claim 2

A stretcher comprising a frame, at least two parallel upper guides incorporated in said frame on the front and rear side thereof for guiding a belt portion movable over said guides for supporting a human body, at least two lower guides incorporated in the frame on the front and rear side thereof and forming part of a moving mechanism, a coupling between the belt portion and the moving mechanism so that the belt portion moves in a direction opposite to that of the frame, the length of said belt portion being at least equal to the distance between the two upper guides, said belt portion, in the starting position of the stretcher, extending between the front upper guide and the rear lower guide, two parallel extending cables or chains being secured on one side of the belt portion at a distance from each other which is at least equal to the width of the belt portion, said cables or chains being guided over wheels which are secured to the rear upper guide, then over wheels which are secured to the front lower guide and then over wheels which are secured to the rear lower guide, the cables or chains being then connected to the other side of the belt portion, and a driving mechanism with which the rear upper guide can be rotated.

Claim 3

A stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said belt portion extends in the starting position from the front upper guide around the rear and front lower guides to substantially the place where the belt portion between the front upper guide and the rear lower guide crosses the cables or chains extending from the rear upper guide in the direction of the front lower guide.

Claim 4

A stretcher as claimed in claim 2, further comprising two further guides located near the rear upper guide over which the belt portion between the front upper and rear lower guide, and the cables and chains between the rear upper guide and the front lower guide, are guided in such manner that the belt portion and the cables and chains, respectively, cross each other in the proximity of the rear upper guide.

Claim 5

A stretcher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide plate carried by said frame extending between the two upper guides for supporting the belt portion between said two guides.

Claim 6

A stretcher comprising a frame, two upper guide rollers rotatably mounted in said frame and arranged parallel to each other, one of said upper guide rollers being arranged at the front of said stretcher, the other upper guide roller arranged at the rear of said stretcher, at least two lower guide rollers rotatably mounted in said frame on the front and rear sides thereof forming at least part of a means for moving said stretcher along the ground, a belt for supporting a human body and arranged for movement around said guide rollers in such a manner as to move in a direction opposite that of the stretcher, said belt having a length which is at least equal to the distanCe between said upper guide rollers, two parallel extending cables secured at one side thereof to one end of said belt and at the other side thereof to the other end of the belt thereby forming an endless belt-cable combination, said cables being spaced apart a distance which is at least equal to the width of said belt so that said belt can pass therebetween, wheels secured to the rear upper guide roller and lower guide rollers for guiding said cables therearound, and means for rotating said rear upper guide roller so that said cables will be driven about said wheels causing rotation of said lower guide rollers to move said stretcher along the ground and simultaneous movement of said belt in the opposite direction between said upper guide rollers at exactly the same speed at which said stretcher is moving along the ground.

Claim 7

A stretcher comprising a frame, two upper guide rollers rotatably mounted in said frame and arranged parallel to each other, one of said upper guide rollers being arranged at the front of said stretcher, the other upper guide roller arranged at the rear of said stretcher, at least two lower guide rollers rotatably mounted in said frame on the front and rear sides thereof forming at least part of a means for moving said stretcher along the ground, a belt for supporting a human body and arranged for movement around said guide rollers in such a manner as to move in a direction opposite that of the stretcher, said belt having a length which is at least equal to the distanCe between said upper guide rollers, two parallel extending cables secured at one side thereof to one end of said belt and at the other side thereof to the other end of the belt thereby forming an endless belt-cable combination, said cables being spaced apart a distance which is at least equal to the width of said belt so that said belt can pass therebetween, wheels secured to the rear upper guide roller and lower guide rollers for guiding said cables therearound, and means for rotating said rear upper guide roller so that said cables will be driven about said wheels causing rotation of said lower guide rollers to move said stretcher along the ground and simultaneous movement of said belt in the opposite direction between said upper guide rollers at exactly the same speed at which said stretcher is moving along the ground.