subject: Some aspect of the emergency stretcher [print this page] Some aspect of the emergency stretcher Some aspect of the emergency stretcher
Some aspect of the emergency stretcher
Accordingly, the emergency stretcher of the present invention provides a dampening system that at least reduces the impact loads on some of the components of the ambulance stretcher . Further, the stretcher of the present invention includes a support frame with the handling capability of prior support frames but with increased stiffness via additional frame structure to reduce the side-to-side tilting of the litter surface that may occur on prior ambulance stretchers.
In one form of the medical beds, a stretcher includes a patient support, a base, a plurality of support members supporting the patient support relative to the base, which are adapted and arranged to raise or lower the base relative to the patient support, and a locking mechanism. Further, the locking mechanism is configured to provide a stop so that when the locking mechanism is in its unlocked position and the support members are released, the locking mechanism absorbs energy from the support members when the support members engage the stop.
In one aspect, the locking mechanism defines a plurality of locked positions. For example, the locking hospital bed may include a plurality of notches which define the plurality of locked positions.
In another aspect, the locking mechanism comprises a pair of elongate members pivotally mounted at one end to the patient support and movable at their opposed ends between a first position wherein the elongate members lock the position of the support members and a second position wherein the support members are released from their locked position.
In a further aspect, each of the elongate members has a high slenderness ratio and thus exhibits spring force properties to thereby further absorb energy when the locking mechanism is in its unlocked position and the support members engage the stop. For example, each of the elongate members may comprise an elongate rectangular bar.
In yet other aspects, one or more of the support members comprises an adjustable length support member, with a first pair of the support members being connected together at a generally medial portion thereof by a pivot connection, and a second pair of the support members being connected together at a emergency stretcher thereof by another pivot connection. When the elongate members of the locking mechanism are moved to their second positions, the transverse member is released for longitudinal movement relative to the elongate members so that the height of the stretcher may be adjusted.
