US3918554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crash stable cot fastener
Assignee: Ferno Washington Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-30
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Cot holding means for use in ambulances comprising a pair of cot-engaging devices recessed in the floor of the ambulance, the devices each having a retractable arm mounting rollers which engage wing-like fittings adjustably mounted on the opposite ends of the cot undercarriage, each arm being connected to linkage means having a retractable handle for moving the arms from one position to the other, together with latch means for securely fastening the arms in cot-engaging position.
Inventors
- 👤 Elroy E Bourgraf
- 👤 Robert E Dunn
- 👤 Kenneth R Self
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G1/00; A61G1/02; A61G1/0206; A61G1/0212; A61G1/0293; A61G3/00; A61G3/08; A61G3/0816; A61G3/0875; A61G3/0891; A61G3/0833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An ambulance cot fastener adapted to be recessed in the floor of an ambulance comprising an elongated channel-shaped housing having a hollow interior, a locking arm pivotally connected at one enD to said housing adjacent one end thereof, said locking arm being pivotally movable from a retracted position in which it is contained within the hollow interior of said housing to an extended position in which it extends upwardly from said housing, an elongated actuating link slidably mounted within the hollow interior of said housing for movement toward and away from said locking arm, and a pivot link interconnecting said locking arm and said actuating link, said pivot link being pivotally connected at one end to said locking arm at a point remote from the pivotal connection of said locking arm to said housing and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said actuating link, whereby movement of said actuating link towards said locking arm causes said pivot link to move said locking arm from its retracted to its extended position, and movement of said actuating link in the opposite direction will cause said pivot link to move said locking arm to its retracted position, said pivot link lying with the hollow interior of said housing when said locking arm is in its retracted position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An ambulance cot fastener adapted to be recessed in the floor of an ambulance comprising an elongated channel-shaped housing having a hollow interior, a locking arm pivotally connected at one enD to said housing adjacent one end thereof, said locking arm being pivotally movable from a retracted position in which it is contained within the hollow interior of said housing to an extended position in which it extends upwardly from said housing, an elongated actuating link slidably mounted within the hollow interior of said housing for movement toward and away from said locking arm, and a pivot link interconnecting said locking arm and said actuating link, said pivot link being pivotally connected at one end to said locking arm at a point remote from the pivotal connection of said locking arm to said housing and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said actuating link, whereby movement of said actuating link towards said locking arm causes said pivot link to move said locking arm from its retracted to its extended position, and movement of said actuating link in the opposite direction will cause said pivot link to move said locking arm to its retracted position, said pivot link lying with the hollow interior of said housing when said locking arm is in its retracted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 1 including locking means operatively connected to said actuating link for fixedly securing said actuating link against movement relative to said housing when said locking arm is in its extended position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises a spring biased latch member pivotally connected to said actuating link, said latch member having a nose portion adapted to engage a slot in said housing when said locking arm is in its extended position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuating link has a leading end facing said locking arm and a trailing end facing in the opposite direction, wherein said latch member has a distal end projecting rearwardly beyond the trailing end of said actuating link, and a handle member pivotally connected to the trailing end of said actuating link, said handle being movable from a retracted position in which it overlies and covers the distal end of said latch member to an upright position in which it projects upwardly from said actuating link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 4 wherein the opposite end of said locking arm is undercut to define a cam surface engageable by the leading end of said actuating link, one of the pivotal connections between said pivot link and the members to which it is connected being sufficiently loose to permit the leading end of said acutating link to contact the undercut edge of said locking arm when in the retracted position and displace it upwardly as movement of said actuating link towards said locking arm is initiated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 1 including cot engaging means mounted on the opposite end of said locking arm, in combination with coacting arm engaging means adapted to be mounted on a cot being fastened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 6 wherein said cot engaging means comprises rollers, and wherein said coacting arm engaging means comprises a fixture having a wing member positioned to be engaged by said rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 7 wherein said locking arm has a neck portion, wherein said wing member has a pair of spaced apart wings defining an opening therebetween of a size to receive the neck portion of said locking arm, said rollers being mounted to engage said wings on opposite sides of said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 8 wherein the leading edges of said wings are tapered inwardly toward the opening therebetween to guide the neck of said locking arm into said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 9 wherein the surfaces of said wings contacted by said rollers are inclined upwardly from their leading edges to exert a camming action on said rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 10 wherein said fixture includes a brackEt means engageable with the cot, said bracket means including a serrated face, a serrated face on said wing member, and means for adjustably securing said serrated faces together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 11 wherein the serrated face on said wing member is elongated, wherein said wings arepositioned toward one end of said elongated face, and wherein both the upper and lower surfaces of said wings are tapered, whereby the wing member may be reversed relative to said bracket means to increase its range of adjustment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 12 wherein the serrated face on said bracket means is also elongated and projects predominantely from one side of said bracket means, whereby said bracket means may be reversed relative to said wing member to further increase its range of adjustment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ambulance cot fastener claimed in claim 13 including a frame-like adjustment member between said serrated faces, said adjustment member being serrated on its opposite faces and adjustable relative to said serrated faces to accommodate them to each other throughout their full range of adjustment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
In combination with an ambulance cot fastener having a locking arm movable from a retracted to an extended position and means for securing said locking arm in its extended position, a fixture adapted to be mounted on an ambulance cot for engagement by said locking arm when in its extended position, said fixture comprising bracket means engageable with the cot, a wing member mounted on said bracket means, said wing member having a spaced apart pair of wings defining an opening therebetween of a size to receive said locking arm, said locking arm including wing engaging means positioned to contact the upper surfaces of said wings when said locking arm is received in said opening, the leading edges of said wings being configured to guide the locking arm into said opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
In combination with an ambulance cot fastener having a locking arm movable from a retracted to an extended position and means for securing said locking arm in its extended position, a fixture adapted to be mounted on an ambulance cot for engagement by said locking arm when in its extended position, said fixture comprising bracket means engageable with the cot, a wing member mounted on said bracket means, said wing member having a spaced apart pair of wings defining an opening therebetween of a size to receive said locking arm, said locking arm including wing engaging means positioned to contact the upper surfaces of said wings when said locking arm is received in said opening, the leading edges of said wings being configured to guide the locking arm into said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device claimed in claim 15 wherein said bracket means includes a serrated face, an opposing serrated face on said wing member, and means for adjustably securing said serrated faces together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device claimed in claim 16 wherein the serrated face on said wing member is elongated, wherein said wings are mounted toward one end of said elongated face, whereby the wing member may be reversed relative to said bracket means to increase its range of adjustment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device claimed in claim 15 wherein the serrated face on said bracket means is elongated and projects predominately from one side of said bracket means, whereby said bracket means may be reversed relative to said wing member to increase its range of adjustment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device claimed in claim 15 wherein the surfaces of said wings contacted by said wing engaging means are inclined upwardly from their leading edges to exert a camming action on said wing engaging means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |