Patent Application
20160338887
The present invention relates to an overhead loading device for a cargo vehicle, such as an emergency vehicle for loading and unloading a patient support, and a method of loading and unloading a patient support into and out of a cargo vehicle.
For example, when loading an ambulance cot into an ambulance, an emergency medical service (EMS) attendant typically aligns the cot with the open rear doors of the ambulance and then pushes the cot toward the ambulance so that the head end of the cot is supported at the opening of the ambulance. Once supported at the head end of the cot, the EMS attendant, while supporting the foot end of the cot, raises the legs of the cot so that the cot can then be pushed into the ambulance. However, as noted, this typically requires the EMS personnel to support the foot end of the cot until most of the cot is loaded into the ambulance. In some cases, the head end of the cot may need to be lifted before insertion. With this scenario, the assistance of a second attendant is required. The removal process is much the same, except in reverse-namely, the cot is pulled from the opened rear doors of the ambulance, which requires the attendant to support the foot end of the cot while the cot is pulled out of the ambulance. As soon as the folded legs clear the back of the ambulance, the legs can then be lowered. Again, this requires the attendant to support the foot end of the cot while the cot is being pulled from the ambulance and until the legs can be lowered. This process is strenuous and could expose the EMS personnel to injury especially when dealing with heavy patients.
More recently, automated loading and unloading systems have been developed that support the cot while it is being loaded. These systems, however, occupy a sizeable portion of the floor space of the patient compartment.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an overhead loading device for a cargo vehicle, such as an emergency vehicle, to aid in the loading and unloading of a patient support that does not occupy any significant floor space of the emergency vehicle. The overhead loading device may load or unload a variety of patient supports, including cots, stair chairs, wheelchairs, stretchers, or the like.
In one embodiment of the invention, an overhead loading device is used with an emergency vehicle having a patient compartment. The overhead loading device includes at least one beam configured for mounting at a ceiling of the patient compartment of the emergency vehicle, a carriage engaged for movement along the beam and configured to traverse at least a portion of the beam between an extended position and a retracted position, and a load carrying member operatively connected to the carriage and extending from the carriage. The load carrying member has a free end for attachment to a patient support. The carriage is configured to extend at least partially outside of the patient compartment when in the extended position and be positioned inside the patient compartment when in the retracted position.
In another embodiment of the invention, an overhead loading device for an emergency vehicle having a patient compartment includes a winch and a load carrying member. The winch is configured to be mounted at a ceiling of the patient compartment, and the load carrying member is operatively connected to the winch. Further, the load carrying member has a free end for attachment to a patient support. The winch and load carrying member are configured to support the patient support, allowing the patient support to be pushed or pulled into the patient compartment.
In one aspect, the carriage is telescoping.
In another aspect, the overhead loading device includes a locking mechanism for selectively retaining the carriage in the extended and retracted positions, and/or in in various user-selected positions between the extended and retracted positions.
According to another aspect, the overhead loading device includes a winch mounted to the carriage, or the beam, or for mounting to the patient compartment. The winch is adapted to pull in, let out, or otherwise adjust the tension of the load carrying member. The winch may be a powered winch or a manually operated winch, and includes a mechanical release for operating the winch manually. Further, the winch may include a sensor for detecting the presence of an applied force on the load carrying member. The winch is operated at an operating speed which may be a function of the applied force as detected by the sensor. Additionally, the winch may include a sensor for determining the elevation of the free end of the load carrying member.
In further aspects, the overhead loading device includes a controller for controlling and coordinating the movement of the load carrying member, the winch, and/or the carriage. Optionally, the controller may be configured to be operated remotely.
In another aspect, the free end of the load carrying member includes one fastener selected from a group consisting of: a latch, a hook, a carabiner, a safety catch, and a clip.
In yet another aspect, the patient support is in the form of an emergency cot, a chair, a back board, or a stretcher.
In another aspect, the overhead loading device includes a stop for selectively preventing the patient support from being pushed or pulled into the patient compartment.
In another embodiment of the invention, a method of loading and unloading a patient support into an emergency vehicle includes moving a patient support adjacent a patient compartment, then moving a carriage with a load carrying member relative to a beam affixed at the ceiling of the patient compartment. The carriage moves from a retracted position where the carriage is disposed within the patient compartment to an extended position where the carriage extends at least partially outside of the patient compartment. The method continues by extending the load carrying member relative to the carriage, coupling the load carrying member to the patient support, collapsing a base frame of the patient support, and moving the carriage relative to the beam. The carriage moves from the extended position to the retracted position, pulling the patient support into the patient compartment.
In another aspect, the method step of pulling the patient support into the patient compartment includes bearing the weight of the head end of the patient support and rolling the wheels of the patient support. The method step of coupling the load carrying member to the patient support optionally includes bearing the weight of the foot end of the patient support when the base frame has been collapsed.
In another aspect, the head end of the patient support includes wheels configured to bear the weight when the base frame has been collapsed. The wheels configured to roll along a floor of the patient compartment when the patient support is moved into or out of the patient compartment.
Accordingly, an overhead loading device is described that facilitates the loading and unloading of a patient support to and from an emergency vehicle. These and other advantages will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, which follow.
Further, while the overhead lifting device is described for use with an emergency vehicle and a patient support, the overhead lifting device may be used with any number of vehicles that utilize loading and unloading of equipment. For example, the overhead loading device could be used with a utility truck, such as a package delivery truck, for loading and unloading large packages. In another example, the overhead loading device could be mounted at a ceiling of a semi-truck trailer, for loading and unloading items into and out of the trailer.
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
Referring to
Referring again to
The boom 20 is engaged for movement along the guide track 18 and is configured to traverse at least a portion of the guide track 18 between the extended position A and a retracted position B, shown in
The overhead loading device 10 also includes a load carrying member 21. For example, load carrying member 21 may be formed by a cable, or a belt, or a rope, or a chain. For ease of reference, load carrying member 21 will hereinafter be described in reference to the cable version and referred to as a lift cable 22. The lift cable 22 is operatively connected to the boom 20. Further, the overhead loading device 10 includes a winch 32 mounted to the boom 20 and which is adapted to pull in, let out, or otherwise adjust the tension on the lift cable 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the winch 32 is shown mounted to the distal end of the boom 20. However, the winch 32 may be mounted in a number of locations, including on the guide track 18 or within the patient compartment 16. Additionally, the winch 32 may be a powered winch or a manually-operated winch.
The lift cable 22 has a free end 34 for selectively attaching to the patient support 14. For example, the free end 34 may include a fastener 36, such as a latch, a hook, a carabiner, a safety catch, a clip, or any other suitable fastener.
In the exemplary embodiment, the patient support 14 is illustrated as an ambulance cot. However, it should be easily understood that the patient support could be in the form of an emergency cot, a wheelchair, a back board, a stretcher, or any other medical patient support apparatus. Exemplary constructions of the cot 14 are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,700; 6,125,485; and 7,398,571 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The cot 14 includes a patient support deck frame 50, which has a head end 52 and a foot end 54. The head end 52 includes one or more rollers 56 or wheels rotatably mounted on an axis of rotation that extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cot 14. The foot end 54 includes one or more foot end linkage bars 58, and may also include hand grips 60. As noted above, the cot 14 also includes a collapsible wheeled base 62 that supports the deck frame 50.
To load the cot 14 into the emergency vehicle 12, the cot 14 is moved by the attendant via its rolling base 62 into alignment with the access opening 26 (either rear or side access opening) of the patient compartment 16. Once the cot 14 is adjacent the opening 26, the cot 14 is rolled forward (toward the emergency vehicle 12) so that the rollers 56 at the head end 52 of the frame 50 are moved into engagement and rest on the floor 64 of the patient compartment 16. The overhead loading device 10 is deployed by moving the boom 20 relative to the guide track 18. The boom 20 is moved from the retracted position B to the extended position A in which the boom 20 and the winch 32 extend at least partially outside of the patient compartment 16 through the access opening 26. The lift cable 22 may then be lowered down from the boom 20 and coupled to the cot 14 by attaching the fastener 36 to the cot 14, for example to the linkage bar 58 at the foot end 54 of the deck frame 50.
With the cot 14 coupled to the boom 20, the lift cable 22 may be drawn in or up by the winch 32 a slight amount until the lift cable 22 at least partially supports the weight of the food end 54 of the cot 14. The lift cable 22 may further be drawn in or up to lift the foot end 54 of the cot 14 to be substantially level with the head end 52 of the cot 14, as shown in
The overhead loading device 10 may be centered on the ceiling 30 or may be laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis LA of the ceiling 30. Referring to
During loading and unloading, the cot 14 is centered under the extended boom 20, and the two fasteners 36 on the free ends 34 of the lift cable 22 are attached to linkage bars 58 located at the foot end 54 and positioned on opposing sides of the deck frame 50.
Referring to
Referring now to
The control board 204 is in communication with a load sensor 208, such as a load cell, including an analog strain gauge, which may be mounted at the winch 32, for detecting whether a load is applied to the lift cable 22 or boom 20. The control board 204 may also be in communication with a position sensor 210, which may be mounted on the winch 32 or the free end 34 of the lift cable 22, for determining the elevation of the free end 34.
Drive mechanism 38 may be configured to move the boom 20 along the guide track 18 at a first operating speed when the boom 20 is deployed, but not loaded by an applied force as detected by the load sensor 208, for example when not lifting a cot while moving to the extended position A. The drive mechanism 38 may be configured to deploy the boom 20 at another, slower speed or speeds when the boom 20 is loaded with an applied load, for example when engaged with and lifting a cot while moving to the retracted position B. The slower speed at which the boom 20 is moved may be variable or may have two or more discrete speeds for specific ranges of motion. Alternately, the drive mechanism 38 may be configured to move the boom 20 at a slower speed only when loaded with a weight that exceeds the weight of a cot, for example, when the cot is supporting a patient. Optionally, the boom 20 could be moved at one speed when fully unloaded, another slower speed when loaded with a cot, and yet another even slower speed or speeds when the boom 20 is moving a cot that is supporting a patient. Accordingly, the memory of control board 204 may have stored therein a threshold load, such as zero or the weight of a cot, for determining the operating speed.
The powered winch 32 can be controlled in a similar manner as the drive mechanism 38. The winch 32 may be configured to let out the lift cable 22 at a first operating speed when not loaded by an applied force as detected by the load sensor 208, for example when not lifting a cot in the extended position A. The winch 32 may be configured to wind up the lift cable 22 at another, slower speed or speeds when loaded with an applied load, for example when engaged with and lifting a cot. The slower speed at which the winch 32 is rotated may be variable or may have two or more discrete speeds. Alternately, the winch 32 may be configured to wind up the lift cable 22 at a slower speed only when loaded with a weight that exceeds the weight of a cot, for example, when a cot is supporting a patient. Optionally, the winch 32 could be rotated at one speed when fully unloaded, another slower speed when loaded with a cot, and yet another even slower speed or speeds when loaded with a cot that is supporting a patient. Furthermore, the winch 32 may include a mechanical release for operating the winch manually.
The overhead loading device 10 optionally includes a locking mechanism 40 configured to selectively retain the boom 20 in the extended and retracted positions A and B, as well as in other various user-selected positions between the extended and retracted positions A and B. The locking mechanism 40 is mounted on one of the boom 20 and guide track 18 for releasably retaining the boom 20 in a given position. The locking mechanism 40 may be in the form of a spring loaded pin, a spring biased pawl and bracket, or any other suitable means for locking the boom to the guide track. Further, the locking mechanism may be manually or automatically engaged, and may include an electrical actuator, such as a solenoid, so that is can be controlled by the control system 200.
The locking mechanism 40 is optionally normally locked to the guide track 18. When it is desired to extend or retract the boom 20, the locking mechanism 40 is released so that the boom 20 can be moved along the guide track 18. Once the boom 20 has reached the desired position, the locking mechanism 40 will once again engage the guide track 18, securing the boom 20 in place.
Although not shown in the drawings, it is contemplated that the overhead loading device 10 may include interior vehicle lighting, medical accessories such as those commonly found in an emergency vehicle, and a mount for mounting medical accessories or the like.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the winch 132 is mounted at a ceiling 130 of the patient compartment 116 and the load carrying member, defined by a cable, or a belt, or a rope, or a chain and referred to herein as lift cable 122, is operatively connected to the winch 132. As in the previous embodiments, the lift cable 122 includes a free end 134 having an optional fastener 136 for attachment to the cot 114. Further, the lift cable 122 may be bifurcated at its free end 134 and may include two fasteners 136. The emergency vehicle 112 includes a stop 166 for selectively preventing the cot 114 from being pushed or pulled into the patient compartment 116 until desired. The stop 166 is a physical structure configured to prevent the forward movement of the cot 114. In the illustrated example, the stop 166 is a barrier that can be selectively raised up out of the floor 164 of the emergency vehicle 112. Alternately, the stop may be pivotally mounted to either the floor or a sidewall of the patient compartment and pivoted into position when needed. Alternately, other mechanisms of preventing the forward movement of the cot 114 are also contemplated; for example, a wheel lock, a bar, or a block.
To load the cot 114 into the emergency vehicle 112, the cot 114 is moved into the loading position, as described above and shown in
With the cot 114 coupled to the lift cable 122 and the restricted by the stop 166, the lift cable 122 may be drawn in or up by the winch 132 a slight amount until the lift cable 122 at least partially supports the weight of the food end 154 of the cot 114. The lift cable 122 may further be drawn in or up to lift the foot end 154 of the cot 114 to be substantially level with the head end 152 of the cot 114, as shown in
It should be understood that while the overhead lifting device is described above as for use with an emergency vehicle and a patient support, the overhead lifting device could be used with any number of vehicles that utilize loading and unloading of equipment. For example, the overhead loading device could be used with a utility truck, such as a package delivery truck, for loading and unloading large packages. In another example, the overhead loading device could be mounted at a ceiling of a semi-truck trailer, for loading and unloading items into and out of the trailer.
While several forms of the overhead lifting device have been shown and described, the above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert but which can be used independently and/or combined with other features.
The overhead lifting device is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. For example, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Additionally, directional terms used in the specification, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).
