Emergency worker rescue apparatus

[0001] a) Field of the Invention

[0002] Generally speaking, the field of this concept relates to apparatuses for extracting injured emergency care workers or emergency workers such as firemen, first aid, first response, industrial hazard workers, military rescue personnel, and other individuals who enter into highly hostile environments. The concept deals with attaching in some form a transportation device to the back of the injured emergency worker to facilitate ease of transportation or extraction of the injured personnel out of the hostile environment.

[0003] b) Background Art

[0004] Self-contained breathing apparatuses or SCBAs are used by emergency workers such as firemen, first aid, first response, industrial hazard workers, military rescue personnel, and other individuals who enter into highly hostile environments to mitigate the emergency. These hostile environments include earthquake zones, fire zones, industrial contamination sites such as natural gas leaks, and other areas which require the use of a self-contained breathing apparatus to enable the emergency worker to operate within that hostile environment.

[0005] In discussing fire departments and fire response teams, there are specific modes of operation or standards in place to rescue a fireman who has been injured and incapacitated. Generally the firemen entering into a superheated environment weigh between 250-300 lbs. gross weight making it very difficult to extract the fireman from the burning building. Therefore the firemen train for that specific weight and cannot in certain instances qualifies for positions on the fire department team if they cannot pull the dead weight of such an injured fireman. In addition, when an actual fireman is injured in a burning building for example, the rescue team is made up of 3-4 firemen entering into the building to extract the injured team member. They may have to take in equipment to adequately secure the injured team member so as not to further exacerbate the individual's injury, or it may be that the grouping of 3-4 individuals makes it cumbersome to extract the injured person.

[0006] The following prior art discusses in some form rescue devices for transporting an injured rescue worker or injured person.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,533 (Tulette) discloses a patient transport board which seems to be used for ambulance and emergency care workers. The board has a flat rigid surface on which the patient lies and restraining straps are provided to secure the patient. At the back of the rigid board are a pair of foldable rail members which run the entire length of the board and which are attached to the outside longitudinal edge of the board and can be pivoted and extended so that the patient can be moved down a flight of stairs. A skid plate is also provided at the foot end of the board to allow for positioning of the patient in somewhat of an upright position when moving through tight spaces.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,150 (Simione) discloses a cart for transportation of personnel and material in hazardous environments. The cart is made of fire protective materials and is also designed to be buoyant and float. In general, this seems to be more of a gurney-type transportation device which has extendable head frame and leg frame support portions and is also designed to be separately brought into the emergency situation at which time the rescuers would load the injured individual onto the gurney.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,769 (Ziolkowski) discloses a welding cylinder dolly or in other words a hand truck, which enables individuals to load, unload and transport cylindrical objects from one location to another. The hand truck or transport uses a pair of vertical support members which act together and form a forwardly facing contact area joined by a cross member having a recessed configuration. An adjustable restraining strap has a free end with an attachment member and an opposing anchor end to substantially encircle the cylindrical object and frictionally retain it between the cross members and the restraining strap.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,103 (Wilson) discloses a scuba tank caddie having an optional gear drying rack and an optional portable shower, and its method of fabrication. Referring to column 2 at line 65, the scuba tank caddie has a tank holder which holds at least one tank. The tank holder has a top and a bottom with a rear wall and floor for supporting the tank itself, an axle which is two ends and is rotatably mounted to the tank holder and two wheels. The wheels may be retractable for using the caddie in water and also storage of the caddie when not in use. The retracting means in the current embodiment is an over center cam lever. A handle has a handle stem and handle bar which is coaxially oriented and can be collapsed or extended. Also further down in column 3 at line 57, a reservoir is provided for storing a volume of fresh water in combination with a low pressure quick disconnect hose to transmit the fluid from the reservoir to a showerhead to provide for showering.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,789 (Checa et al) discloses a two wheeled hand cart for transporting scuba gear. As you and I previously discussed, transportation of the scuba gear is very similar to the self-contained breathing apparatus which firemen and rescue workers use. Thus the scuba transportation devices are somewhat relevant, although one element is generally missing from these concepts and that is the addition of the person being rescued onto the back of the scuba tank. The cart in this situation comprises an elongated sheet having a top end and a bottom end, a planar front surface and a generally planar back surface. At the base is attached a pair of guides or wheels which are connected between an elongated shaft. The scuba gear can be loaded onto this hand cart and transported to the dive location.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,983 (Day) discloses a portable combination hand truck and valet valise. The hand truck has a hinged double shell which is foldable into a closed position, creating a tube like enclosure when stored, and when opened provides the frame for the hand cart. Referring to column 2 around line 12, a pair of wheels are sized to fit within the tube and adapted for easy attachment to and detachment from the axle. A handle is attachable to the hinged double shell in the open position.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,351 (Garofalo et al) discloses a cylinder carrier which is made of an elongated post and includes a sleeve and an extension piece retained within the sleeve. The extension piece has a handle at the protruding end to operate the carrier. At the base of the carrier are a pair of cylinder rests on either side of the vertical sleeve. The cylinder rests can be folded up against the vertical sleeve for storage. Cylinder straps are positioned approximately mid-height of the vertical sleeve and are disposed to retain the cylinders on top of the rests. A pair of shoulder straps are attached to the vertical sleeve or post to be worn on the back of the carrier. Two small wheels are located at the bottom or base of the vertical post or sleeve for transportation.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,346 (Stadler et al) discloses a scuba tote which has wheels at the base and a cover with formfitting recesses to store the scuba tanks. Within the recesses at the top and bottom, are shelves to maintain the position of the tanks. The interior of the cover or body is sealed to keep a constant atmospheric pressure for pressure equalization purposes.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,080 (Ross) discloses an aquatic air tank dolly which has a cup to secure the base of the tank and supports connected to wheels for conveniently moving the tank. Side rails are attached to the cup at the base of the tank and also attached to the valve stem at the top of the tank. The side rails are adapted for supporting additional diving equipment

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,670 (Clements et al) discloses a detachable scuba tank overland transport device which enables users to move scuba tanks over ground instead of having to carry the device. The transport has an elongated axle with a wheel rotatably mounted at the ends of the axle. Two small tank-engaging members are provided and connected to the axle. The tank-engaging members are rotatable about the axle from a stored position to an open position. One of the members has a support platform for supporting the scuba tank; each member has a sidewall engaging portion for engaging the sidewall of a scuba tank inserted between the sidewall engaging portions and resting upon the support platform.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,714 (Ziaylek Jr. et al) discloses a mounting plate with rollers, the mounting plate is the type that is generally used by firemen or firefighters and rescue or emergency squads. The rollers themselves are connected to the free ends of the springlike clamp arms which contain the air cylinder. The location and extent or projection of the rollers on the clamp arms makes the insertion and removal of the air cylinders or self-contained breathing apparatus more efficient.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,761 (Henderson) discloses an amphibious scuba assist device which is designed to help diverse transport scuba tanks and other diving gear across sandy beaches and other shoreline and also is provided as an offshore floating work platform and a dive flag holder during diving operations. The frame is configured using a hollow tubing and has a forward member, a rearward or aft member, and two side members. Handle members extend along the sides and support the buoyant plastic foam cylinders connected to the handle. The frame carriers support surface and straps retain the tanks and other gear on the frame.

[0019] The general thrust of this concept is to create an apparatus to aid in the extraction of injured emergency workers such as firemen, first aid, first response, industrial hazard workers, military rescue personnel, and other individuals who enter into highly hostile environments to make environments safe. These hostile environments include such areas as earthquake zones, fire zones, industrial contamination sites including natural gas leaks, and other areas which require the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses carried generally on the back of the emergency worker. For the most part these self-contained breathing apparatuses have pressurized oxygen tanks which attach to a frame carried by the emergency worker on the emergency worker's back.

[0020] The first response team of firefighters is usually the forerunner in setting standards for the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses. One of the standards within the firefighting industry is to drag a fully equipped dummy weighing approximately 200-250 pounds a certain distance. Firemen who cannot carry this dummy by dragging the fictional injured emergency worker the prescribed distance cannot become fully active firemen. Additionally, the standard operating procedure for rescuing a downed fireman within a burning building includes the use of 3-4 firemen to drag the individual out of the building safely.

[0021] This concept attaches a series of frictional drag reducing elements such as rolling wheel systems, track systems, skid plate systems, and other derivations of the above to the frame portion of the self-contained breathing apparatus enabling a single rescuer to extract the harmed worker. In one embodiment, the rescue device attaches to pre-existing frames either permanently or temporarily depending on the required use. In another embodiment, the self-contained breathing apparatus is integrated into a rescue device providing rolling elements and skid plates.

[0033] Generally speaking, the current embodiment as seen in FIG. 1, is a rescue apparatus 10 which is designed to aid rescuers in the removal of injured emergency workers who have entered into a hostile environment and who are using in some form, a self-contained breathing apparatus 12 or SCBA 12.

[0034] For the most part, self-contained breathing apparatuses 12 are utilized by the firefighting industry, the mining industry, the environmental cleanup industry, the military branches, and other industrial type applications. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the association which sets the standards for the use of self-contained breathing apparatuses within hostile/hazardous environments. When the firefighting industry adopts certain standards, usually the military and industry follow suit.

[0035] By way of background, the self-contained breathing apparatus 12 usually carries between 2500-4000 pounds per square inch of compressed air so that the worker entering into the hostile environment can breathe unrestricted when the hostile environment is filled with unbreathable or toxic vapors and gases. Also, the hostile environment may have temperature ranges which would superheat the air and become unbreathable.

[0036] Many times the emergency worker such as the fireman will be faced with a situation which is physically hazardous and there is always a risk that the fireman will be injured. Thus, much firefighting training is focused around extracting the downed fireman from that hazardous or hostile environment. Standards require 2-4 firemen to enter into the hostile region to extract the downed firemen. The reasons for this are for the downed fireman's successful extraction, as well as the physical ability of the other firemen to extract the downed or injured person. The injured person usually will be carrying close to 50% or 100% percent of his or her body weight in equipment, and it is not uncommon to have the gross weight of the fireman in the range of 250 lbs., which includes personal body weight and the weight of the equipment. As a consequence, dragging the injured worker out of the hazardous area can be cumbersome if any rescue apparatus is not readily available.

[0037] Entering into a hostile environment, which may have superheated air through a burning environment, firemen are required to wear the self-contained breathing apparatus on their backs. The rescue apparatus 10 is incorporated into the self-contained breathing apparatus 12 by attaching in the current embodiment a frictional drag reducing device or section. This frictional drag reducing device can take the form of various embodiments such as a skid plate, a track system, a rail system, a rolling system, and other types of configurations that reduce the frictional drag when moving a downed fireman out of the hazardous environment.

[0038] Generally speaking as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rescue apparatus 10 is connected to a pre-existing SCBA frame 14. The SCBA frames 14 have a forward end 22 and a rearward end 24 arranged about a longitudinal axis 34, a lateral axis 32 and a transversely aligned axis 30. The spine of the fireman for example, would be somewhat parallel to the longitudinal axis 34 and the forward end 22 would be positioned at the general top spinal location or at the head of the fireman.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the rescue apparatus 10 has a plurality of wheels 36 which are attached and held in place by forks 38 which extend from frame legs 44. The frame legs attach to the SCBA frame 14 forward and rearward locations. The leg attachment 46 in this current embodiment is accomplished by the use of two through bolts which bolt the frame legs 44 to the side walls 20 of the SCBA frame 14.

[0040] Thus in this current embodiment, the rescue apparatus 10 has a pair of forward connection frames 28 and a pair of rearward connection frames 26 which act as the carriage for carrying the downed fireman when he is lying on his back face up and looking in the positive transverse direction.

[0041] To keep the leg frames 44 from bowing outwards due to the increased load placed on the SCBA frame 14 when the incapacitated fireman is prone on his back, a strut member 42 connects the rear connection frame members 26 together as well as another forward strut 42 connecting the forward connection frame members 28.

[0042] The carriage frame or rear connection frame 26 and 28 are arranged so that the frame itself surrounds the self-contained breathing apparatus 12 without causing undue pressure on the SCBA walls themselves.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the rear connection frame 26 and forward connection frame 20 may be easily detachable through a quick release leg attachment mechanism which facilitates the installation and removal of the rescuing apparatus 10 if for example, the downed fireman did not have a rescue apparatus 10 attached to his back prior to entering into the hazardous environment.

[0044] As previously mentioned, the current embodiment is designed so that the rear connection frame 26 and forward connection frame 28 do not interfere with the working components of the self-contained breathing apparatus 12 such as the air valve and air port 18 as well as the mounting strut 16 to hold the SCBA 12 to the SCBA frame 14.

[0045] While the current embodiment as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 utilizes the rear connection frame 26 and forward connection frame 28 with fixed wheels 36 and provides a lightweight and simple way of achieving the transportation of the downed fire worker out of the hostile environment, the protruding rear connection frame forks 38 and forward connection frame forks may accidentally catch or snag objects within the hostile environment.

[0046] To mitigate these hang-ups while dragging the fire worker out of the hostile environment, an alternative embodiment is provided utilizing a skid plate which has a smooth outer surface and can be used to facilitate movement over large objects or down a series or set of stairs which might pose a traversing problem utilizing just the previously mentioned embodiment.

[0047] Also, the addition of a skid plate or a sled type configuration placed on the outside of the self-contained breathing apparatus either as a replacement for the wheels or rolling elements 36 used in conjunction with the forward and rearward frames, helps the rescue apparatus 10 to reduce snagging of obstacles during a rescue operation, such obstacles including fire hoses and other environmental hazards. The shell or skid plate acts as an additional heat shield to further protect the fire fighter, the skid plate will more readily enable the rescuer to move the victim in various directions; also the distribution of the load over a larger surface area will decrease the frictional drag.

[0048] In addition to providing a reduction in frictional drag through the use of the skid plate, the increased visual area on the back of the emergency worker allows for additional identification indicia. For example, providing the seal of the local fire company, integrating lighting elements such as strobe lighting throughout the shell area to provide for identification of emergency workers or firemen within the smoky environments, as well as utilizing different illumination characteristics to indicate active fire workers or motionless fire workers. For example, using a color such as light green to indicate a fireman who is mobile and uninjured, and using an illuminated color such as red or yellow either fully on or having a periodic strobe light to indicate an injured fireman or emergency worker.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rescue apparatus 10 in this alternative embodiment has a skid plate 60 which is arranged with a flat bottom outer shell 62 and has at right angles to the bottom 62 a perimeter sidewall 64. The transition between the substantially vertical perimeter sidewall 64 and the flat horizontal bottom outer shell 62 is made by curved radial corners 66 which act as an outer lip to ramp over small objects and debris which might be in the path of the escape route during the rescue operation.

[0050] The same rear connection frame 26 and forward connection frame 28 is utilized and the same leg attachment 46 is used to connect the frames to the scuba frame 14. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the skid plate 60 is integrated with the wheeled frame carriage apparatus where the wheels 36 protrude out of the bottom surface of the skid plate to provide for the rolling transport operation.

[0051] In addition to the previously-mentioned alternative embodiment skid plate with a flat bottom outer shell arranged in somewhat of a rectilinear profile, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternative embodiment of the ski plate is shown in FIG. 9, where the rescue apparatus 10 is attached to the scuba frame 14 by the use of previously-mentioned forward and rearward legs 44 which are attached to a semispherical skid plate 260. The semispherical skid plate has an oval bottom profile 262 with a forward skid plate lip 264 which curves upwards or in the transverse direction as well as a rearward skid plate lip 266 which also curves upwards. The skid plate 260 also has side lips 268, which curve upwards thus achieving the semispherical shape. As previously mentioned in the above alternative embodiment FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame carriage also holds the wheels 36 which protrude out of the bottom surface of the skid plate 260 and provide for rolling transport operation.

[0052] In lieu of using a skid plate type configuration, a sled type configuration 281 as seen in FIG. 10 is shown as an alternative embodiment utilizing a rail system 280. This rail system is composed of essentially two longitudinally aligned guide rails 282 which are parallel with one another in the lateral direction and allow the rescuer to pull the injured fireman along over objects which may be in the path of escape. The longitudinal rails 282 each have a flat glide plate rail portion 288 as well as rail lips 290 at the forward end and at the rearward end of the sled apparatus 281. Additionally, instead of the rails having a smooth flat bottom, installation of glide wheels 284 along the longitudinal length of the rails 282 provide for smooth transport operation.

[0053] Still discussing the alternative embodiments, the above mentioned track system 250 as seen in FIG. 8, for the transportation of the downed fireman as the rescue apparatus 10, utilizes a forward and rearward cylindrical track roller 254 which spans between the forward legs and rearward legs 44 and the cylindrical track roller 254 which rotates about a laterally aligned axle 256. A reciprocating track 252 is tensioned between the forward and rearward cylindrical track rollers to provide for the reduction in frictional resistance due to the dragging action of the fireman being rescued.

[0054] The frame in the current embodiment and the alternative embodiments are constructed of in one particular form, a lightweight strong heat and corrosion resistant material such as aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium. Using an aluminum type material provides for a reduction in unit weight of the rescue apparatus 10 as well as provides for adequate temperature resistance and structural rigidity.

[0055] The wheels 36 are replaceable with ball transfers 90, or other adequate multidirectional components such as the wheels 36 being connected to casters which are then connected to the bottom legs of the rear connection frame 26 and forward connection frame 28. These wheels or rolling elements are constructed of lightweight, low frictional heat resistant materials. Composite materials such as thermoset plastics offer a high operating temperature and will typically burn before they melt. For the coating of the skid plate 60, thermoset plastics such as PTFE, also known as Teflon, PPSU or polyphenylsufone, or PEEK, and polyamideiamide may be used to coat the skid plate 60 as well as provide for high heat resistant adequate structural materials.

[0056] While the current embodiment attaches to a SCBA frame 14, alternative embodiments can be incorporated into the SCBA frame 14 as a unitary element or unitary structure.

[0057] In lieu of connecting directly to the SCBA frame 14, as seen in FIGS. 1-4, to avoid the modification cost of attaching to the existing SCBA frames 14 or providing new SCBA frames which have integrated transportation rescue apparatuses 10, a temporary clamping strap or other device which enables the rescue apparatus 10 to be temporarily connected to the SCBA 12 is provided in the following alternative embodiment.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 5, a clamping strap 80 is attached to the inner surface of the skid plate 60 and has U-shaped clamps 84 which attach to the belt hole 86 of the SCBA frame 14. In this current embodiment, the clamping strap 80 can be tensioned by a tightening screw 85 similar to the mounting strap 16 connection apparatus.

[0059] The skid plate 60 has an interior SCBA casing seat 82 which provides for a seating position for the SCBA 12. Essentially, the interior SCBA 82 is a semi-cylindrical shell which is configured to receive the outside cylindrical surface of the SCBA tank 12. In the presently discussed embodiment, the rolling elements in this concept are ball transfers 90 which provide for multidirectional translation similar to wheels 36 placed on casters.

[0060] The tightening screw 85 needs to securely tension the clamping straps 80 so that during a rescue operation if the injured fireman is laying face down for example, turning the fireman over provides a certain amount of moment or torsional force about the longitudinal axis 30 of the SCBA tank 12. This moment force needs to be resisted by an equal or greater frictional resistance of the SCBA frame 14 and the clamping straps 80 against the SCBA tank 12. In order to obtain this frictional resistance, the tightening screw 85 needs to be ratcheted down to a predetermined tension within the clamping strap 80 to provide a force normal to the outside of the tank to create the desired frictional resistance. Materials with lesser compressive resistance, such as a high elastic PVC or rubber material can be used to engage the outer surface of the SCBA tank 12 and provide the needed frictional resistance. In addition to utilizing a tightening screw 85, a locking lever or other type of simple mechanical device to enable the clamping straps 80 to obtain the desired tension for creating the desired frictional resistance to resist the torsional overturning moment during a rescue operation is required.

[0061] While the previous embodiment discussed attaching to the SCBA tank 12 and the SCBA tank frame 14 on a temporary basis, the following present embodiment as seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7 provides for an integrated rescue apparatus and communications/monitoring system with optional hydration unit for the worker in the hostile environment.

[0062] In the following embodiment, the SCBA frame 14 is integrated into the perimeter shell casing whereby temporary or permanent connections to the existing scuba frames currently on the market are no longer required.

[0063] Taking into consideration the profile shape of a typical SCBA frame, the back shell 94 of the current rescue apparatus 10 which is, in this embodiment, the integrated SCBA layout, has a curvilinear profile which has a lower longitudinal back section 200 substantially straight and planar within the longitudinal and lateral directions, and then follows a splined transition profile 201 within the transverse direction to an upper longitudinal head section 202. The upper longitudinal head section 202 has a deeper transverse profile to provide for more range of equipment connections, a headrest or head stop to avoid injury such as whiplash or to the rear of the head, and room for SCBA valve equipment.

[0064] The integrated SCBA rescue apparatus 10 also has a lower base shell 92 or skid plate as previously discussed in FIGS. 3 and 4, but in lieu of connecting to the pre-existing SCBA frame 14, the base shell 92 in the current embodiment is provided more in the form of a trapezoidal tray shape with a rectilinear flat bottom 62 as previously discussed, and perimeter sidewalls 100 which flair out from the edges 101 of the rectilinear bottom wall 62 to meet the perimeter side walls of the back shell 102 around a perimeter locking edge 96.

[0065] Again as similar to the previously discussed embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base skid plate 92 transitions from the horizontal plane to the substantially vertically aligned side walls through the use of a radial corner 98.

[0066] On the back shell 94 of the integrated SCBA rescue apparatus 10, is positioned a backrest 206 which provides for the requisite shoulder straps 212, being connected to the backrest 206 by the use of shoulder strap anchors 214. a belt through port 208 is also arranged within the backrest 206, the belt through port 208 allows the fireman's waist belt 210 to thread through the lower portion of the backrest 206 for securing the rescue apparatus integrated system 10 adequately to the back of the fireman.

[0067] Within the base shell 92 and the back shell 94 are a number of components which enable the fireman to adequately communicate with the other firemen and a base station as well as hydrate the fireman during high temperatures or long periods of use and contained the SCBA device.

[0068] The communications unit 106 in the current embodiment discussed is positioned within the upper head region of the shell casing and provides for wireless radio communication 224 with the base unit 220 and other integrated SCBA systems 222.

[0069] The communications unit 106 and the base unit 220 can take various forms of communication integration through systems such as WIFI by trademark wireless systems including Bluetooth wireless, other forms of short wave radio transmission frequencies. Integrated with the communication unit 106 within the shell casing, is a personal cooling hydration system 108, as well as an environmental condition monitoring system 112. Also integrated with the environmental condition monitoring system is a vital sign telemetry and warning system 110. These two systems send information back and forth between the base unit and the communications unit 106 to keep the base station which could be the on-site fire captain apprised of his team's vital signs, and environmental conditions within the, for example, burning structure.