Device for facilitating the loading of stretcher undercarriages into ambulances

[0002] This invention relates to patient transporting equipment, particularly stretcher undercarriages and equipment of a similar nature. The invention is concerned with an arrangement for fitting to the leading end of such equipment in order to facilitate the manual loading of the equipment, either with or without a patient, onto the elevated loading bays of ambulances or other elevated platforms whose heights from the ground or base level on which the transporting equipment is supported can vary. Since the invention is primarily concerned with stretcher undercarriages, it will be described in that context. However, as the invention is by no means limited to use with such equipment, the broader applications and ramifications are to be borne in mind when considering the intended scope of the invention.

[0003] Stretcher undercarriages typically comprise an essentially rectangular patient support frame with collapsible wheeled leg assemblies enabling the stretcher to be stowed or loaded into the back of an ambulance. To assist such stowage or loading, the leading end of the patient support frame is fitted with wheels so that the undercarriage can slide up over the rear edge of the ambulance loading bay and be slid into the ambulance during simultaneous folding of the wheeled legs.

[0004] Difficulties are encountered with the stowage of stretcher undercarriages when the height of the ambulance bay floor is above the central axles of the leading end wheels on the support frame. In such situations, the trailing end of the stretcher undercarriage must be tilted so that the wheels can ride up over the rear edge of the ambulance bay. This places strain on the attendant who must be able to withstand the additional rearwardly directed loads created upon tilting. Strains and stresses are also placed on the patient as well as the stretcher undercarriage itself. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an arrangement for fitting to stretcher undercarriages and like equipment which obviates or at least ameliorates such difficulties.

[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for facilitating the loading of a stretcher undercarriage into the loading bay of an ambulance, the arrangement comprising a pair of wheeled devices for fitting to opposed stretcher undercarriage frame members at or near the top leading edges thereof. Each of the wheeled devices comprises a pivotable mounting on which a leading wheel and a trailing wheel are co-planarly supported in such a manner that the leading wheel can ride onto an ambulance floor and pivot downwardly, thereby permitting the trailing wheel to ride up over the rear edge of the ambulance floor as the stretcher undercarriage is pushed into the bay of the ambulance.

[0006] Preferably, a skid block extends between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel to facilitate the movement of the mounting up over the rear edge of the ambulance floor. The skid block, which can suitably be fabricated, for example, from a high density polymeric material, is typically located so as to extend from the axle region of the leading wheel to a location below the axle region of the trailing wheel. The skid block enables the leading wheel to slide over the rear edge of the ambulance floor to a position where its axle ends up below the axle of the trailing wheel so that the arrangement can pivot and “climb”.

[0007] The pivotable mounting may be in the form of a pair of closely spaced metal plates, with integrally formed skid blocks, in which the wheels are housed and from which the wheels project. Suitably, the wheels project to such an extent that a major portion of their surface contacting edges is visible. The plates can have any configuration to achieve the desired aim. One particular configuration is an irregular quadrilateral configuration.

[0008] Pivoting of the mounting can be effected about a common axle extending through a casting or the like which is fitted onto the normally tubular stretcher frame. A limit to the degree of pivoting can be provided by one or more, preferably two stops, associated with the mounting. In one form such stops can be pins which extend between the metal plates in the upper region thereof, one pin being located toward the trailing end of the mounting and the other pin being located between and above the axles of the wheels. Upward travel of the mounting can thereby be resisted by the respective pins coming into contact with the tubular stretcher frame.

[0009] Preferably, the pivotable mounting is arranged in such a manner that the leading wheel is normally maintained in a forwardly projecting location with the mounting extending rearwardly thereof, when the stretcher undercarriage is in a position prior to loading into an ambulance. This arrangement can be achieved by careful balancing of the components or, more preferably, by spring biasing. In this latter instance, a torsion or like spring mechanism can be secured to the pivotable mounting and extend about the pivot point to a remote point on the mounting, such as the forward pin stop.

[0010] The leading and trailing wheels can be wheels of the type which are conventionally found on stretcher undercarriages. Although not essential, the leading wheel is preferably a smaller diameter wheel than the trailing wheel. This greatly facilitates the design and operation of the device.

[0011] The arrangement need not be separately attachable to the stretcher undercarriage but can be formed as an integral component of the undercarriage during its manufacture. Generally, however, the arrangement will be manufactured and sold as a kit for attachment to existing stretcher undercarriages.

[0012] As previously mentioned, it is also to be borne in mind that the device is applicable to any load bearing wheeled arrangement which is similarly required to be placed on a raised platform, and that the description in relation to stretcher undercarriages and ambulances is merely by way of exemplification of the inventive concept, as is not limited thereto. Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide an arrangement for fitting to stretcher undercarriages and like equipment which obviates or at least ameliorates stresses and strains associated with the loading and unloading of stretcher carriages. This, and other features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a stretcher undercarriage incorporating a load facilitating arrangement according to the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of one wheeled device of the load facilitating arrangement depicted in FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the wheeled device depicted in FIG. 2 in one orientation; and

[0016] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the wheeled device depicted in FIG. 3 in another orientation.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in all of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a stretcher undercarriage indicated generally by arrow 10 and a load facilitating arrangement indicated generally by arrow 11. The load facilitating arrangement comprises a pair of wheeled devices 12, 13 fitted to the forward upper end of the stretcher undercarriage (by forward end is meant the end which first enters the ambulance).

[0019] The stretcher undercarriage comprises a tubular framework of conventional design, having a patient support platform 14 defined by longitudinal members 15, 16 and cross members 17, 18; and a pair of collapsible wheeled supports 19, 20, which are designed to fold up under the patient support platform when it is loaded into an ambulance.

[0020] A cross-sectional elevation of the wheeled support device 12 is shown in FIG. 2 to which reference is now made. The device comprises a leading wheel 21 and a larger diameter trailing wheel 22 supported on respective axles 23, 24 extending between metal plates, only one of which, namely, the rear plate 25a, is illustrated in FIG. 2—the other, namely the front plate 25bis illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0021] The metal mounting plates 25a, 25bare pivotally connected by a pin 26 to a housing 27 which is an integral part of a sleeve 28 which in turn is removably attachable to the longitudinal member 16 of the stretcher undercarriage. Housing 27 also accommodates the end of a torsion spring 29 which extends out and around a pin 30 connecting the two metal mounting plates. This pin 30 also acts as a stop by pressing against the longitudinal member 16 to thereby prevent the wheeled support device from rotating counter clockwise past the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0022] A second pin 31 similarly acts as a stop but this time to prevent the wheeled device from rotating in a clockwise position too much further than as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0023] The lower section of each metal mounting plate has an integrally formed skid block 34, 35 of a polymeric material. The skid blocks extend below the axle 24 of the trailing wheel 22 and around the axle 23 of the leading wheel 21.

[0024] In use, the arrangement operates substantially as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, to which reference is now made. In these drawings, reference numeral 32 indicates the upper rear edge of the ambulance floor onto which the stretcher undercarriage is being loaded. As shown in FIG. 3, the floor 33 of the ambulance loading bay is higher than the normal axle height of a wheel on a conventional stretcher undercarriage. However, the leading wheel 21 of the device can easily ride onto the ambulance floor and in so doing enable the trailing wheel 22 to easily ride up and over the rear edge 32 of the ambulance floor in the direction indicated by the large flow arrow in FIG. 3, until the position shown in FIG. 4 is reached. Simultaneously, the entire device pivots about the pivot pin 26 until both wheels are on the ambulance floor 33. The wheels remain in contact with the floor due to the downward load exerted thereon by the weight of the stretcher undercarriage.

[0025] It is to be understood that in the particular embodiment illustrated, which is preferred for situations where the ambulance floor 33 is just below the height range of the leading wheel 21 but above the axle of the trailing wheel 22, the skid blocks 34, 35 assist the wheeled devices 12,13 to slide over the rear edge 32 of the ambulance floor to a position below the trailing wheel axle 24 and thereby enable the devices to pivot and climb over the rear edge.

[0026] In this manner, the difficulties encountered with the loading and stowage of stretcher undercarriages of the type previously referred to are obviated with ease.

[0027] It is to be understood that the term “stretcher undercarriage” as used throughout the specification is intended to mean the combination of a patient carrying platform and a wheeled collapsible support frame. Further, while the above detailed description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.