Abstract A collapsible and portable carrier or stretcher for transporting a casualty or patient is described. The carrier is of the type having a rectangular frame with two end frame members and two side frame members engageable with the end frame members and a bed portion in the form of a flexible sheet supported by the frame. Each side frame member comprises at least two rigid tubular sections with the end of one tubular section being foldably connected to the end of the next adjacent tubular section by means of a hinged joint. A rigid tubular locking sleeve is slidably mounted on one of the tubular sections adjacent the hinge joint and this sleeve is slidable between a folding position entirely on the one tubular section and a locking position in which it surrounds the hinged joint whereby the tubular sections are locked in rigid end to end relationship. A resilient O-ring is mounted in an annular recess adjacent the hinge joint and this O-ring is positioned to frictionally engage the sleeve while it is being moved between the folding and locking position and to firmly hold the sleeve in either folding or locking position.
A collapsible and portable casualty carrier comprising a rectangular frame having two end frame members and two side frame members engageable with the end frame members and a bed portion in the form of a flexible sheet supported by the frame with longitudinal spaces between the side edges of the bed portion and the two side frame members, the bed portion being fixed to the side frame members by means of straps extending across between the side frame members, each of said side frame members comprising three rigid tubular sections, the end of one tubular section being foldably connected to the end of the next adjacent tubular section by means of a hinge joint, each hinge joint comprises a pair of solid cylindrical members fitted within adjacent ends of said tubular side frame members, each cylindrical member having a pair of projecting opposed ears forming a slot therebetween, with the pair of cylindrical members being pivotally joined by means of a plate mounted within the slots and pivotally connected to each pair of opposed ears, a rigid tubular locking sleeve slidably mounted on one of said tubular sections adjacent said hinge joint, said sleeve being slidable between a folding position entirely on said one tubular section and a locking position surrounding the hinge joint whereby the two tubular sections are locked in rigid end to end relationship and a resilient O-ring mounted in an annular recess adjacent said hinge joint, said O-ring being positioned to frictionally engage the sleeve while it is being moVed between folding and locking positions and to just clear an end of the sleeve in folding or locking position thereby positively retaining the sleeve in either folding or locking position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A collapsible and portable casualty carrier comprising a rectangular frame having two end frame members and two side frame members engageable with the end frame members and a bed portion in the form of a flexible sheet supported by the frame with longitudinal spaces between the side edges of the bed portion and the two side frame members, the bed portion being fixed to the side frame members by means of straps extending across between the side frame members, each of said side frame members comprising three rigid tubular sections, the end of one tubular section being foldably connected to the end of the next adjacent tubular section by means of a hinge joint, each hinge joint comprises a pair of solid cylindrical members fitted within adjacent ends of said tubular side frame members, each cylindrical member having a pair of projecting opposed ears forming a slot therebetween, with the pair of cylindrical members being pivotally joined by means of a plate mounted within the slots and pivotally connected to each pair of opposed ears, a rigid tubular locking sleeve slidably mounted on one of said tubular sections adjacent said hinge joint, said sleeve being slidable between a folding position entirely on said one tubular section and a locking position surrounding the hinge joint whereby the two tubular sections are locked in rigid end to end relationship and a resilient O-ring mounted in an annular recess adjacent said hinge joint, said O-ring being positioned to frictionally engage the sleeve while it is being moVed between folding and locking positions and to just clear an end of the sleeve in folding or locking position thereby positively retaining the sleeve in either folding or locking position.