US4097941A — Emergency cot with spring-biased retractable whee…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 241 words

In an emergency cot structure including an upper patient-supporting frame, a lower frame, and support members connected between the upper and lower frames for permitting relative extension between the upper and lower frames, the cot structure further including a latch bar mounted to the upper frame and a slidable crossbar pivotally mounted to upper ends of the support members, portions of the slidable crossbar being received in slots in guide channel members mounted to the upper frame for movement therein to allow relative extension between the upper and lower frames, the latch bar being releasably mounted to the slidable crossbar to position the upper frame relative to the lower frame in differing positions, the improvement comprising: a cross member pivotally mounted to at least one of the support members; at least one rod member; means carried by the rod member at one end thereof for engaging a portion of the cross member; means carried by the cross member for releasably engaging the first-mentioned means on the rod member; means pivotally mounting the rod member to the upper frame at the other end of said rod member for exerting a force against the rod member to displace the cross member when the first-mentioned means in said rod member is engaged by the second-mentioned means carried by the cross member, thereby to displace the slidable cross member within the guide channel members on release of the latch bar from the slidable cross bar.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 241 words

In an emergency cot structure including an upper patient-supporting frame, a lower frame, and support members connected between the upper and lower frames for permitting relative extension between the upper and lower frames, the cot structure further including a latch bar mounted to the upper frame and a slidable crossbar pivotally mounted to upper ends of the support members, portions of the slidable crossbar being received in slots in guide channel members mounted to the upper frame for movement therein to allow relative extension between the upper and lower frames, the latch bar being releasably mounted to the slidable crossbar to position the upper frame relative to the lower frame in differing positions, the improvement comprising: a cross member pivotally mounted to at least one of the support members; at least one rod member; means carried by the rod member at one end thereof for engaging a portion of the cross member; means carried by the cross member for releasably engaging the first-mentioned means on the rod member; means pivotally mounting the rod member to the upper frame at the other end of said rod member for exerting a force against the rod member to displace the cross member when the first-mentioned means in said rod member is engaged by the second-mentioned means carried by the cross member, thereby to displace the slidable cross member within the guide channel members on release of the latch bar from the slidable cross bar.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

In the improved structure of claim 1, wherein the first-mentioned means comprises a notch and the second-mentioned means comprises a slot, the said one end of the rod member being received through said slot.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

In the improved structure of claim 2 and further comprising: means for displacing the rod member to engage the notch in said rod member in the slot formed in the cross member, thereby to dispose the structure in a conformation preparatory to displacement of the lower frame toward the upper frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

In the improved structure of claim 3 and further comprising: means for releasing the latch bar from the slidable crossbar, thereby to allow the third-mentioned means to exert a force through the rod member against the cross member to displace said cross member and the support members connected thereto for displacing the lower frame the upper frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 58 words

In the improved structure of claim 2 wherein the third-mentioned means comprises a cylinder pivotally attached at one end to the upper frame and receiving a second end of the rod member into a second end of the cylinder and a spring disposed within the cylinder for exerting a force against the second end of the rod member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

In the improved structure of claim 2 wherein the lower frame further includes wheels mounted to said lower frame.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

In the improved structure of claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises dampening means mounted to the lower frame for controlling the rate of relative displacement of the upper and lower frames.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 82 words

In the improved structure of claim 7 wherein the dampening means comprise a cylinder mounted to a lower end of one of the support members and a piston mounted to a lower end of one of the other support members, the piston being received within the cylinder, and force reducing means disposed interiorly of the cylinder and between the end of the piston and the cylinder for reducing the shock effects of the displacement of the lower frame toward the upper frame.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

In the improved structure of claim 2 and further comprising means carried by the latch bar for disengaging the notch in the rod member with the slot in the cross member on substantially full displacement of the lower frame toward the upper frame.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 125 words

A cot structure for transporting medical patients and the like comprising: an upper frame structure; a lower frame structure; pivotally mounted connecting members extending between the upper frame structure and the lower frame structure and connected thereto to permit a relative extension of the two frame structures away from each other as well as a relative retraction of the two frame structures toward each other; first latch means carried by the cot structure for holding the relative position of the upper and lower frame structures as adjusted and spaced apart by the pivotally mounted connecting means; and means carried by the cot for exerting a retracting force against the connecting members to effect a retraction of the lower frame structure toward the upper frame structure.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 125 words

A cot structure for transporting medical patients and the like comprising: an upper frame structure; a lower frame structure; pivotally mounted connecting members extending between the upper frame structure and the lower frame structure and connected thereto to permit a relative extension of the two frame structures away from each other as well as a relative retraction of the two frame structures toward each other; first latch means carried by the cot structure for holding the relative position of the upper and lower frame structures as adjusted and spaced apart by the pivotally mounted connecting means; and means carried by the cot for exerting a retracting force against the connecting members to effect a retraction of the lower frame structure toward the upper frame structure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the last-mentioned means includes at least one compression spring and second latch means for retaining said compression spring in a preloaded conformation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The structure as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising means carried by the cot structure for releasing the first latch means after pre-loading of the spring to allow retraction of the lower frame structure toward the upper frame structure.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The structure as set forth in claim 12, together with means associated with the first latch means to effect de-latching of the second latch means after retraction has been completed.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The structure as set forth in claim 13, together with dampening means for controlling the rate of retraction of the two frame structures relative to each other.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

The structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the dampening means is of compression spring and hydraulic fluid type.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein the dampening means is of pneumatic type.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 46 words

The structure as set forth in claim 16, wherein the pneumatic type dampening means includes a pneumatic compression cylinder, a movable piston rod slidable therewithin, a one way valve associated with the compression chamber of the pneumatic cylinder, and an air limit orifice also associated therewith.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 48 words

The structure as set forth in claim 14, together with at least one handle means connected to the compression spring mechanism for effecting the pre-loading thereof, and at least one handle structure connected to the first latch means for manual actuation thereof by a user of the cot.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The structure as set forth in claim 18, together with the lower frame structure being provided with rollable wheels thereon for permitting easy movement of the device from one place to another.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

The structure as set forth in claim 18, together with upper frame structure attachment devices for preventing accidental fall out of a patient when supported thereby, and additional means provided on said upper structure for making the patient more comfortable.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-07-03	1982-01-02	1982-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-07-03	1986-01-02	1986-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-07-03	1990-01-02	1990-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Emergency cot with spring-biased retractable wheel carriage

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag