Apparatus for loading stretchers onto ambulances

Abstract
An apparatus for loading stretchers into an ambulance which includes a loading table for the front end of the stretcher bed portion and by which the stretcher is transferred into the ambulance transporting compartment the loading table being positioned with its rear edge in a position projecting outwards from the rear surface of the ambulance; an auxiliary device applied to the rear edge of the loading table having a transverse horizontal abutment element which is positioned at a height lower than the rear end of the upper surface of the loading table in order to engage the front legs of the stretcher, starting from their erect position.
Description




The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading stretchers onto ambulances.




Stretchers with foldable legs are known, having an overall flat upper portion in the form of a bed to support a person in a supine position, and rearward-foldable legs for resting on the ground in order to support said bed portion in a position raised from the ground to a height of between 50 and 90 cm.




To facilitate the loading of the stretcher into the transporting compartment of the ambulance, an apparatus is positioned within the ambulance transporting compartment and comprises an extractable loading table to be arranged with its rear edge projecting beyond the rear surface of the ambulance, at a height lower than the floor of the transporting compartment. The front end (provided for this purpose with wheels) of the bed portion of the stretcher is then slid onto the loading table, the rear end being gripped by an operator who pushes the stretcher forwards until it has been transferred into the ambulance transporting compartment.




The stretcher legs are connected to the bed portion in such a manner that on pushing the stretcher towards the ambulance, the front end of the bed portion first rests on the rear edge of the loading table, then as the stretcher is further pushed its front end slides along the loading table whereas its legs strike the rear edge of the loading table to rotate rearwards and upwards until they assume their folded position completely adhering to the bed portion.




This operation is carried out manually, typically by a single operator who supports the rear edge of the stretcher while at the same time pushing the stretcher forwards.




The legs fold rearwards by overcoming the reaction forces which tend to maintain the legs in the stable vertical position. This folding position consequently requires considerable force on the part of the operator.




An object of the present invention is to facilitate the operation of loading the stretcher along the loading table by easing that stage during which the stretcher legs are folded rearwards by the thrust exerted by the operator.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




The present invention utilizes an auxiliary device applied to the rear edge of the extractable loading table and includes a transverse horizontal abutment element which is positioned at a height lower than the rear end of the upper surface of the loading table in order to engage the stretcher legs.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention is described in detail hereinafter with the aid of the accompanying figures, which illustrate one embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example.





FIG. 1A

is a side view of the stretcher loading apparatus in its completely retracted configuration, assumed during ambulance travel.





FIG. 1B

is a view similar to

FIG. 1A

, with the loading apparatus in its completely withdrawn but horizontal configuration.





FIG. 1C

is a view similar to

FIG. 1A

, with the loading apparatus in its completely withdrawn but inclined configuration, suitable for loading a stretcher.





FIG. 2A

is an enlarged detail of

FIG. 1C

, showing the auxiliary device of the invention in the stretcher loading configuration.





FIG. 2B

is a view similar to

FIG. 2A

, with the auxiliary device in the ambulance travel configuration.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of FIG.


2


A.





FIG. 4A

shows the rear portion of the apparatus of

FIG. 1C

in the initial stage of the stretcher loading operation.




FIG.


4


B and

FIG. 4C

are views similar to

FIG. 4A

, showing respective stages following the stretcher loading operation.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIGS. 1A

,


1


B,


1


C show schematically the rear portion of an ambulance (indicated overall by 10) having a floor


11


positioned in a transporting compartment


12


and on which a stretcher loading apparatus


20


is mounted.




The apparatus


20


is of known type and comprises an extractable loading table


21


having an elongate flat upper surface


25


to receive the rested stretcher in a folded position. Along the longitudinal central line of the surface


25


there is positioned a rail


26


acting as a guide for the stretcher which slides along it and also enabling the stretcher to be locked when completely loaded onto the loading table


21


.




In the embodiment shown in the figures, the apparatus


20


is secured to an upper frame


22


carried by a lower frame


23


fixed to the floor


11


, the entire assembly being arranged such that the loading table


21


can assume various positions, to facilitate the loading of the stretcher. When the ambulance is moving, the apparatus


20


is maintained in its retracted configuration in which it lies horizontally on the frame


22


and lies totally within the interior of the transporting compartment


12


(as shown in FIG.


1


A). The loading table


21


is connected telescopically to the frame


22


so that it can be withdrawn horizontally, for example by being pulled by hand, in a rearward direction (as shown in FIG.


1


B). In addition, the upper frame


22


is connected to the lower frame


23


in such a manner as to enable it to be swivelled, in particular by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder-piston unit


24


.




To load a stretcher, the loading table


21


is first pulled rearwards to withdraw it from the upper frame


22


(FIG.


1


B), then the frame


22


is inclined (

FIG. 1C

) to move the rear edge


21




a


of the loading table


21


into a position in which it projects outwards from the rear surface


10


′ of the ambulance to a height lower than the floor


11


of the transporting compartment.




The loading apparatus


20


operates in combination with a stretcher


30


having a substantially flat, horizontal bed portion


31


able to support a person in the supine position, and containing rearward-foldable legs


32




a


and


32




b


for resting on the ground in order to support the bed portion in a position raised from the ground to a height exceeding at least 50 cm. The bed portion


31


comprises a horizontal flat frame


34


provided with idle wheels


33


positioned close to the front end


31




a


to slide along the loading table


21


.




Two front legs


32




a


and two rear legs


32




b


are hinged to the frame


34


and pivoted at their lower end to a horizontal lower frame


35


provided with idle wheels


36


by which the stretcher is moved along the ground.




The hinging system for the front legs


32




a


is such that their upper ends


321


are connected to the frame


34


of the bed portion


31


by connections which enable them to swivel and to slide in a longitudinal direction along the frame


34


. Connection bars


322


are also provided having their upper end pivoted to the frame


34


in front of the legs


32




a


and their lower end pivoted to an intermediate point on the legs


32




a.






The hinging system for the rear legs


32




b


is similar to that of the front legs, their upper ends


323


being connected to the frame


34


by connections which enable them to swivel and to slide in a longitudinal direction along the frame


34


. Connection bars


324


are also provided having their upper end pivoted to the frame


34


in front of the legs


32




b


and their lower end pivoted to an intermediate point on the legs


32




b.






By virtue of the described hinging systems, together with other means (of known type, not shown in the figures) for locking and releasing the positions of the upper ends of the legs, when the stretcher


30


is to be moved along a flat surface it is locked in its erect configuration, in which the legs


32




a


and


32




b


are positioned virtually vertically and stably, and the stretcher is moved via the lower wheels


36


which roll on the ground. To enable the stretcher to be transported by the ambulance inside the compartment


12


, the hinging system for the legs


32




a


and


32




b


is released and the legs are folded rearwards flat, together with the lower frame


35


, against the frame


34


(retracted configuration, shown in FIG.


4


B).




The stretcher


30


possesses reaction means, for example of spring type (of known type, not shown in the figures), which tend to maintain the legs


32




a


and


32




b


in their erect position. To fold the legs (which occurs while the stretcher is being loaded onto the ambulance), these reaction means, which are of considerable force, must be overcome at least through a certain angle (20-40 degrees).




As is well known, to be loaded into the ambulance compartment


12


, the stretcher


30


is pushed from behind towards the ambulance rear surface


10


′ until the wheels


33


located at the front end of the bed portion


31


have been positioned on the rear edge


21




a


of the loading table


21


. Then the operator grips the rear end of the bed portion


31


and pushes the stretcher forwards so that the wheels


33


slide along the surface


25


of the loading table


21


. During this stage the hinging systems for the legs


32




a


and


32




b


release to enable the legs to rotate in order to fold rearwards, until they close into the retracted position.




A rod


37


having an arc-shaped configuration with its convex rear facing frontwards is fixed to each front leg


32




a.






According to the present invention, to the rear edge


21




a


of the loading table


21


there is applied an auxiliary device


40


having a transverse horizontal abutment element


41


positioned at a height lower than the rear end


25




a


of the upper surface


25


of the loading table in order to strike the front legs


32




a


of the stretcher, while in their erect position.




The auxiliary device


40


comprises at least one support element


42


, and in this particular case two, the upper end of which is pivoted by a transverse horizontal pin


43


to the rear edge


21




a


of the loading table


21


, their lower end being rigidly joined to the abutment element


41


.




In detail, the pin


43


is fixed at its ends to two brackets


44


fixed to the rear edge


21




a


of the loading table, to the sides of the device


40


.




The profile of the upper surface


42


′ of the elements is inclined rearwards and downwards overall. In particular, the upper surface


42


′ has a S-configures profile which extends in a continuous manner from the upper surface


25


of the rear end of the loading table


21


to the abutment element


41


thereby providing initially a higher loading speed and a lower ending loading speed thereby avoiding shock to the stretcher


30


.




The upper end of the surface


42


′ is positioned close to the rear end


25




a


of the surface


25


, the profile of the upper portion


421


of the surface


42


′ being arched with its convexity facing rearwards, to blend into the upper surface


25


of the loading table as a continuation of it, without or almost without discontinuity.




The profile of the lower portion


422


of the surface


42


′ forms a rearward-facing concavity in proximity to the abutment element


41


.




By virtue of the pin


43


, the auxiliary device


40


can be moved into two stable positions, namely a first position, operative for loading the stretcher, in which the abutment element


41


is positioned withdrawn from and lower than the rear end


25




a


of the surface


25


, and a second position, suitable for transporting the stretcher when placed on the apparatus


20


, in which the device


40


is rotated upwards above the upper surface


25


of the loading table.




The downward rotation of the device


40


is limited by a transverse bar


46


positioned to the rear of the elements


42


and fixed to the brackets


44


, and against which the support elements


42


rest via contact elements


45


fixed to the elements


42


, to provide the first operative position (see FIG.


2


A).




The upward rotation of the device


40


is limited by stops


47


fixed to the brackets


44


, and against which the elements


42


rest via contact pins


48


fixed to the elements


42


, to define the second position (see FIG.


2


B).




A precompressed spring reaction device


51


is provided having one end hinged at


52


to the upper end of one of the elements


42


, and its other end hinged to the loading table


21


at a height substantially equal to that of the pin


43


. The precompressed spring reaction device


51


acts with a rearwardly directed force and is in such geometrical relationship with the position of the hinge point


52


that when the device


40


is in the first position it is urged to rotate anticlockwise (in accordance with

FIG. 2A

) such that the elements


45


are thrust against the bar


46


, hence making this position stable. When the device


40


is in the second position, the means


51


urges it to rotate clockwise (in accordance with

FIG. 2B

) such that the pins


48


are thrust against the stops


47


, hence also making this position stable.




In the embodiment shown in the figures, the abutment element


41


is defined by a bar of circular cross-section. This element


41


is located in a position which, in the vertical direction, lies 30-60 cm from the rear end


25




a


of the upper surface


25


of the loading table, and in the horizontal direction, projects outwards from said rear end


25




a


by 20-40 cm.




During use, when pushing the stretcher towards the ambulance compartment


12


, the front wheels


33


reach the rear end


25




a


of the surface


25


, and the element


41


more or less simultaneously abuts against the rods


37


of the front legs


32




a


to halt their travel (see FIG.


4


A). Consequently as the operator continues to push the stretcher forwards, the front end of the bed portion advances along the surface


25


, whereas the front legs


32




a


(and with them the rear legs


32




b


) are folded rearwards by the stop action provided by the abutment element


41


or by the elements


42


(as shown in FIG.


4


B), to overcome the resistance offered by the reaction means which tend to maintain the legs


32




a


and


32




b


in their erect position, until they are completely folded into their retracted position (as shown in FIG.


4


C).




As the point in which the legs


32




b


come into contact with the abutment element


41


is in a relatively low position (in any event lower than the point at which contact with the rear edge


21




a


would occur if the auxiliary device


40


were not provided), and hence the distance between this point of contact and the hinge system for the legs


32




a


is relatively large, the horizontal force with which the operator has to push the stretcher to overcome the moment of the resistive force caused by the reaction means is relatively small.




The particular concave profile of the lower portion


422


of the surface


42


′ of the elements


42


is such that contact with the bent rods


37


, at least through a certain angle (of 20-40 degrees) starting from their erect position, takes place at the element


41


and hence in the lowest possible position.




Having overcome this angle, the reaction means no longer offers a high resistance, or indeed actually facilitate the folding of the legs.




When the legs


32




a


and


32




b


have assumed a completely retracted position, the stretcher


30


is totally loaded onto the loading table


21


, at which point the device


40


can be manually rotated upwards into its second position. The loading table


21


is then raised into a horizontal position (by the cylinder-piston unit


24


) and is finally pushed forwards into the transporting compartment


12


, until the configuration shown in

FIG. 1A

is attained.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for loading a stretcher having rearward foldable legs into an ambulance, which comprisesa loading table for receiving the front end of the stretcher for transferring the stretcher into the ambulance when said loading table is positioned with its rear edge projecting outwards from the rear surface of the ambulance, an auxiliary device pivotably connected to the rear edge of the loading table and terminating at its free end as a transverse horizontal abutment element which is positioned at a height lower than the rear end of the upper surface of the loading table at least one support element having its upper end secured to the rear edge of the loading table and its lower end joined to the abutment element, said support element having a S-configured profile which extends in a continuous manner from the upper surface of the rear end of the loading table to the abutment element thereby providing initially a higher loading speed and a lower ending loading speed thereby avoiding shock to the stretcher.
  • 2. The loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises at least one support element having its upper end secured to the rear edge of the loading table and its lower end joined to the abutment element, the profile of the upper surface of the support element being overall inclined rearwards and downwards in said S-configured profile.
  • 3. The loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the S-configured profile of the upper portion of the support element of the surface is arched with its convexity facing rearwards, to blend into the upper surface of the loading table as a continuation thereof without any discontinuity.
  • 4. The loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the S-configured profile of the upper surface of the support element forms a rearward-facing concavity in proximity to the abutment element.
  • 5. The loading apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device is hinged at its upper end to the rear edge of the loading table such as to be able to be moved into a first position, operative for loading the stretcher, in which the abutment element is in a position withdrawn from and lower than the rear edge of the loading table, and a second position, suitable for transporting the stretcher when placed on the apparatus, in which the device is rotated upwards above the upper surface of the loading table.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
RE990011 U Mar 1999 IT
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
3831996 Layer Aug 1974
4783109 Bucalo Nov 1988
4921295 Stollenwerk May 1990
5015024 Bloemer May 1991
5738306 Moss et al. Apr 1998
5785277 Manning et al. Jul 1998
6125485 Way et al. Oct 2000
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
3613376 Apr 1987 DE
2558056 Jul 1985 FR