ARRESTING DEVICE OF A COT FASTENING SYSTEM

Abstract

An arresting device used in a cot fastening system for an emergency vehicle is disclosed. The arresting device includes an extension beam providing a bolt pattern, and a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions. The present invention may be used with a plurality of prior art cots, without requiring modifications or installation changes to the emergency vehicle or the cot fastening system to which the arresting device is a part thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a prior art cot fastening system;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a prior art cot fastening system, showing the antler bracket holding the loading end of an cot;

FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of an arresting device of a cot fastening system of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of the arresting device of FIG. 3 depicted being used to secure a prior art cot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate the same elements throughout the views, FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the rear transport portions of an emergency vehicle 80, having a forward end 90 and rear end 100, into which a wheeled cot, stretcher, or similar patient transfer device is to be placed. While the present invention is applicable to nearly any wheeled device having a support frame and which is to be secured along a substantially planar surface, the present invention will be shown and described in relation to one specific application of the invention wherein a wheeled emergency cot is to be secured along the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle 80 by an arresting device 110 according to the present invention.

The term “cot” will be understood to refer to any of a variety of patient transfer devices, stretchers, carts or incubator transporters commonly known and utilized in the industry (e.g. Model 26 Series, Model 28 Series, Model 29-M, Model 30 Series, Models 35-A, 35-A+, and 35-P ProFlexx, Models 93ES and 93EX, XCalibur Cots, etc., such as available from Ferno-Washington, Inc. of Wilmington, Ohio). Such cots often have a pair of front loading wheels to facilitate insertion and removal of the device from an emergency vehicle, as well as a rear fold-down wheel assembly, including a plurality of wheels to facilitate rolling movement of the cot between the emergency vehicle and other locations. While the cots illustrated and described herein are contemplated as including wheels to facilitate movement of the cot along a planar surface, such wheels could be substituted by other devices such as slides, rollers, skis or the like.

The arresting device 110 as shown in FIGS. 3-4 fits the conventional mount spacing or bolt pattern 70 provided to the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle 80, and is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 3. The conventional bolt pattern 70 would be the same bolt pattern used to secure the conventional device 20 shown FIG. 2 to the floor 45. The arresting device 110 is provided with a pair of antler bracket portions 130, each having a first hook portion 140, and a second hook portion 150. The first and second hook portions 140, 150 are shaped and sized to engage a forward portion of a cot when situated in the emergency vehicle 80. For example, the cot 60 in FIG. 1 may be a Ferno Model 35 Cot, while the cot 120 depicted in FIG. 4 may be a Ferno Model 28 Cot Chair. It is to be appreciated that the arresting device 110 of the present invention is suitable to releasably hold both such cots 60 and 120.

The first hook portions 140 have a first orientation, and the second hook portion 150 have a second orientation, which is different from the first orientation. In one embodiment, the first orientation situates the first hook portions 140 in a substantially horizontal position. In one embodiment, the second orientation situates the second hook portions 150 in a substantially vertical position. In still another embodiment, the first orientation situates the first hook portions 140 in a substantially horizontal position, and the second orientation situates the second hook portions 150 in a substantially vertical position.

Each of the pair of antler brackets 130 has a respective first extension brace 160. Each extension brace 160 has a first end 170 secured between the first and second hook portions 140, 150, and a second end 180 provided to a first bolting mount 190. The first bolting mount 190 in one embodiment is a unity piece such illustrated in FIG. 3, and in another embodiment is two pieces 190a, 190b as depicted in FIG. 4. A second extension brace 200 is also provided to each of the antler brackets 130. Each second extension brace 200 has a first end 210 secured forward of the second hook portion 150 and a second end 220 provided to the forward bolting mount 190.

In one embodiment, the first extension braces 160 are a unity piece passing through the first bolting mount 190. In another embodiment, the first extension braces 160 are individual pieces having the second ends 180 mounted to sides of the first bolting mount 190. In another embodiment, the second ends 180 are mounted to sides of the first piece 190a of the bolting mount 190 as shown by FIG. 4

In one embodiment, the second extension braces 200 are a unity piece passing through the first bolting mount 190. In a second embodiment, the second extension braces 200 are individual pieces having second ends 220 mounted to sides of the first bolting mount 190. In another embodiment, the second ends 220 are mounted to sides of the second piece 190b of the first bolting mount 190 as shown by FIG. 4.

The antler brackets 130 further include elongated bracket portions 230 which each have a first end 240 which are provided to a second bolting mount 250. The elongated bracket portions 230 lie in a plane substantially parallel to the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle when the arresting device 110 is bolted to the floor 45 via removable fasteners 260 engaging the bolting pattern 70. Removable fasteners 260 are provided to releaseably mount the arresting device 110 to the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle 80. In one embodiment, the removable fasteners 260 are knurled knob threaded bolts. In another embodiment, any other type of device(s) to releaseably mount the arresting device 110 to the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle 80 may be used.

In one embodiment, the antler brackets 130 are a unity piece passing through the second bolting mount 250, and in a second embodiment, are individual pieces having the first ends 240 mounted to sides of the second bolting mount.

In one embodiment, the second extension braces 200 lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions 230. In another embodiment, a portion 270 of each the first extension braces 160 lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions 230. In still another embodiment, the portions of the first extension braces 160 and the second extension braces 200 lie substantially in the same plane as the elongated bracket portions 230. Providing the elongated bracket portions 230 and the second extension braces 200 in the above described manner permits a cot, such as cot 120 in FIG. 4, to roll over such portions and braces without interference such that the second hook portions 150 of the antler bracket engage a horizontally extending frame member 125 of the cot.

It is to be appreciated that the first hook portions 140 are used to engage a downwardly extending forward support frame members, such as members 50 of cot 60 illustrated in FIG. 2. By virtue of providing the first and second hook portions 140, 150 of the antler brackets 130, no modification to the floor 45 of the emergency vehicle 80 or other components of the cot fastening system to which the arresting device 110 is a part thereof, is required to accommodate a wider range of prior art cots.

In one embodiment, the arresting device 110 is metal. In other embodiments, the arresting device 110 may be any other suitable material sufficient to firmly hold a cot during an impact, such as during a crash of the emergency vehicle 80. The arresting device 110 may also includes a polymer bump guard 280, which is mounted to the second bolting mount 250.

A conventional and separate rear-fastening rail is also provided in conjunction with the arresting device 110 to secure the cot against rolling movement within the emergency vehicle. Together, the arresting device 110 and rear-fastening rail form a cot fastening system. One suitable rear-fastening rail 30 is shown in FIG. 1. As this rear fastening rail 30 is conventional, no further discussion is provided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is not considered limited to what is described in the specification. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. An arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle, said arresting device comprising a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions, said first hook portion having an orientation different from said second hook portion.

2. The arresting device of claim 1 further comprising removable fasteners configured to releaseably engage the emergency vehicle.

3. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising a first bolting mount, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount.

4. The arresting device of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective pair of extension braces.

5. The arresting device of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions.

6. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising a first bolting mount, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective first extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions, and a respective second extension brace having a first end mounted between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount.

7. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising first and second bolting mounts, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective first extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions, a respective second extension brace having a first end mounted between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount, wherein second ends of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount.

8. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising first and second bolting mounts, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective first extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions, a respective second extension brace having a first end mounted between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount, wherein second ends of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount, and said first and second bolting mounts provide fastening devices which are configured to engage with a bolt pattern of the emergency vehicle.

9. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising first and second bolting mounts, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective first extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions, a respective second extension brace having a first end mounted between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount, wherein second ends of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount, and said second extension brace is configured to lie in a plane parallel to a floor of the emergency vehicle.

10. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising first and second bolting mounts, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount, wherein each of said pair of antler brackets has a respective first extension brace having a first end mounted between said first and second hook portions, a respective second extension brace having a first end mounted between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount, wherein second ends of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount, and portions of said antler brackets and said second extension brace are configured to lie in a plane parallel to a floor of the emergency vehicle.

11. The arresting device of claim 1, further comprising a first bolting mount, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount having a bump guard.

12. The arresting device of claim 1 forming part of an cot fastening system comprising a rear-fastening rail.

13. An arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle, said arresting device comprising: a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions, said first hook portion having an orientation different from said second hook portion;a first bolting mount, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount;a pair of first extension braces each having a first end secured between said first and second hook portions of a respective one of said antler brackets; anda pair of second extension braces each having a first end secured between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount of a respective one of said antlers brackets.

14. The arresting device of claim 13 further comprising a second bolting mount, wherein second ends of each of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount.

15. The arresting device of claim 13, wherein portions of said antler brackets and said second extension braces are configured to lie in a plane parallel to a floor of the emergency vehicle.

16. The arresting device of claim 13, wherein said first bolting mount provides a removable fastener configured to releaseably engage the emergency vehicle.

17. The arresting device of claim 13 further comprising a second bolting mount, wherein second ends of each of said first and second extension braces are mounted to said second bolting mount, wherein said first and second bolting mounts each provide a removable fastener configured to releaseably engage the emergency vehicle.

18. The arresting device of claim 13 wherein said antler brackets are a unitary piece, said first extension braces are a unitary piece, and said second extension braces are a unitary piece.

19. The arresting device of claim 13 forming part of an cot fastening system comprising a rear-fastening rail.

20. An arresting device used in a cot fastening system of an emergency vehicle, said arresting device comprising: a pair of antler brackets each having first and second hook portions, said first hook portion having a horizontal orientation, and said second hook portion having a vertical orientation;a first bolting mount, said antler brackets being secured to said first bolting mount;a pair of first extension braces each having a first end secured between said first and second hook portions of a respective one of said antler brackets;a pair of second extension braces each having a first end secured between said first hook portion and said first bolting mount of a respective one of said antlers brackets;a second bolting mount, wherein second ends of each of said first and second extension braces are secured to said second bolting mount, wherein said first and second bolting mounts each provide a removable fastener configured to releaseably engage a floor of the emergency vehicle, wherein portions of said antler brackets and said second extension braces are configured to lie in a plane parallel to the floor of the emergency vehicle.