TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an inflatable sled-stretcher, which will be used in mountain rescue of people in snowy, marsh and grassy areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The mountain rescue is done in complex terrain and with special equipment and means. For the transport of the victims, special stretchers are provided, fitted with an inflatable mattress with valves protecting in case of bone fractures. The stretchers are also provided with belts for secure attachment of the victim during transport, as well as with lifting rings and carrying handles.

Known stretchers have a voluminous structure that makes them difficult to carry and to be used in the rescue operations of mountain rescue services.

A practical inflatable stretcher made of hermetically-impregnated nylon with high wear resistance is known from practice. The inflatable stretcher includes an inflatable mattress fitted with inlet and safety valves, as well as with belt fastening the victim and with adjustable stops for the head and neck. The inflatable stretcher is provided with lifting rings and towing handles. It is inflated with a hand pump and is ready for use within 3 minutes.

The known inflatable stretcher is unsuitable for use in bone fractures and in other cases where immobilization of the victim is necessary. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an inflatable sled-stretcher that is compact and lightweight, with a simplified construction and production technology, with increased functionality and easy to use on different terrains.

The task of the invention is solved by creating an inflatable sled-stretcher comprising a mattress, belts for fastening the victim, lifting rings and handles for carrying the stretcher. According to the invention, the stretcher comprises a body composed of a frame sewn at its lower end to a reinforced bottom. The frame consists of only two basic inflatable sections, parallel and uniform in shape and size, with oval profile, its edges are bevelled on the outside and curved upwards. Each of the main inflatable sections at its rear end is provided with inflation and exhaust valve. At both ends of each of the sections, an adjusting system for regulating the angle of the front and rear portions of the stretcher is mounted. In the bevelled edges of the main inflatable sections, closing fasteners with tubular profile are located, and in the middle of the front closing fastener and at both ends of the rear closing fastener, carabiners are placed by means of straps. Along the two main inflatable sections on the upper side, straps with rings are sewn, and, in the sockets formed by the straps, reinforcing profiles are assembled, which are equipped with handles, also by means of straps. At their front end the profiles are hinged to detachable tubular profile handles provided with a mechanical brake. Along the two main inflatable sections at their underside, spaced from one another there are fixed edges - guides for sliding and holding the edges of the stretcher, where belts with adjustable buckles for securing the victim are sewn on the upper side and a vacuum mattress with a protective double-layer case is located on the bottom.

The task of the invention is solved by creating a second inflatable sled- stretcher comprising a mattress, belts for fastening the victim, lifting rings and handles for carrying the stretcher. According to the invention, the stretcher comprises a body composed of a frame sewn at its lower end to a reinforced bottom. The frame consists of two main inflatable sections, parallel and uniform in shape and size, with an oval profile, closed at the front with an inflatable section having an arched shape and an oval profile. The free ends of the main mflatable sections are bevelled on the outside and curved upwards. Each of the main inflatable sections at its rear end is provided with inflation and exhaust valve. At both ends of each of the main inflatable sections an adjusting system is mounted for regulating the angle of the front and rear parts of the stretcher. In the middle of the front inflatable section and the two ends of the rear inflatable section by means of straps the carabiners are placed. Along the two main inflatable sections on their upper side, straps with the rings are sewn, and in the sockets formed by the straps detachable reinforcing profiles are placed, which through straps are also equipped with the handles. At their front end the profiles are hinged to detachable tubular profile handles, fitted with a mechanical brake. Along the two main inflatable sections at their underside spaced from one another there are fixed edges - guides for sliding and holding the edges of the stretcher, where the belts with adjustable buckles for securing the victim are sewn on the upper side and a vacuum mattress with a protective double-layer case is located on the bottom.

The task of the invention is solved by creating a third inflatable sled-stretcher comprising belts for fastening the victim, lifting rings and handles for carrying the stretcher. According to the invention, the stretcher comprises a body consisting of a frame sewn at its lower end to a reinforced bottom. The frame consists of two main inflatable sections, parallel and uniform in shape and size, with an oval profile, enclosed at their front and rear parts, respectively, with inflatable sections which have arched shape and an oval profile. Each of the main inflatable sections at its rear end is provided with inflation and exhaust valve. At both ends of each of the main inflatable sections an adjusting system is mounted for regulating the angle of the front and rear parts of the stretcher. In the middle of the front inflatable section and the two ends of the rear inflatable section by means of straps the carabiners are placed. Along the two main inflatable sections on their upper side straps with the rings are sewn, and in the sockets formed by the straps detachable reinforcing profiles are placed, which through the straps are also equipped with the handles. At their front end the profiles are hinged to detachable tubular profile handles, fitted with a mechanical brake. Along the two main inflatable sections at their underside, spaced from one another there are fixed edges - guides for sliding and holding the edges of the stretcher, where the straps with adjustable buckles for securing the victim are sewn on the upper side and a vacuum mattress with a protective double- layer case is located on the bottom. In all embodiments of the sled-stretcher, the ratio of the length L of each major inflatable section to the distance B between the two main inflatable sections is in the range of 2.5:0.8 to 3:1.

In all embodiments of the sled-stretcher, the edges - guides for sliding and holding the edges of the stretcher, as well as the lifting rings and the handles for carrying the stretcher are at least 3 pieces of each.

In all embodiments of the sled-stretcher, the inflatable frame sections are made of a double-layer or three-layer material whose inner layer is impermeable to air and the outer layer is resistant to abrasion, drilling and other loads.

In all embodiments of the sled-stretcher, each of the inflatable frame sections is formed by sewing or thermo-bonding.

The advantages of the inflatable sled-stretchers are their simplified constructions, making them technologically easy to execute. In addition, the created sled-stretchers are light, flexible and compact, which is a prerequisite for use on different terrains.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the first embodiment of an inflatable sled-stretcher;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the second embodiment of the inflatable sled-stretcher;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view of the third embodiment of the inflatable sled-stretcher; Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the side view of the inflatable sled- stretcher of Figure 3 when transported by air; and

Figure 5 is an axonometric view from the bottom of the inflatable sled- stretcher of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The inflatable sled-stretcher generally includes a mattress, belts for fastening the victim, and inflation and exhaust valves. In addition, the inflatable sled- stretcher is provided with lifting rings and carry handles.

The inflatable sled-stretcher created according to the invention shown in Figure 1 comprises a body consisting of a frame 4 secured at its lower end to a reinforced bottom 13. The frame 4 represents only two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b parallel and uniform in shape and size, with an oval profile. The ends of the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b are bevelled on their outer side and curved upwards, each of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b at its rear end being provided with a valve 7 for inflation and exhaust. At both ends of each of the sections 4a and 4b there is mounted an adjusting system 6 which allows regulation of the angles of the front and rear parts of the stretcher by lifting and lowering the curved end portions of the sections 4a and 4b. The ratio between the length L of each inflatable section 4a or 4b and the distance B between the two main inflatable sections is in the range of 2.5:0.8 to 3: 1.

At the bevelled edges of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b there are closing fasteners 14 of a tubular profile, with carabiners 8 being located by means of straps in the middle of the front closing fastener 14 and at both ends of the rear closing fastener 14.

Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on their upper side, straps with rings 9 are sewn, whereby detachable reinforcing profiles 5 are provided in the sockets formed by the straps and the rings are designed for air transport of the stretcher. The dismountable reinforcing profiles 5 by means of straps are also provided with handles 10 for transporting the victim with the stretcher. At their front end, the profiles 5 are hinged to the detachable handles 1 of a tubular profile and are designed to draw the stretcher. The handles 1 are provided with a mechanical brake 2. Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on the underside of each of them, spaced from one another, there are fixed edges - guides 3 for sliding and holding the edge of the stretcher, figure 5.

A vacuum mattress 12 is provided on the bottom 13 with a protective double-layer case. The inside of the mattress 12 is filled with granules mixed with air, which ensures maximum restraint and immobilisation of the victim.

By means of belts with adjustable buckles 11, sewn on the sections 4a and 4b, the victim is fixed for vertical and horizontal transport.

Another inflatable sled-stretcher is created as illustrated in Figure 2 which comprises a body consisting of a frame 4 sewn at its lower end to a reinforced bottom 13. The frame 4 comprises two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b, parallel and uniform in shape and size, with an oval profile, closed at the front with an inflatable section 4c which is arched and also has an oval profile. The free ends of the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b are bevelled on the outside and are curved upward, each of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b at its rear end being provided with a valve 7 for inflation and exhaust. At both ends of each of the sections 4a and 4b there is mounted an adjusting system 6 which allows regulation of the angle of the front and rear portions of the stretcher by lifting and lowering the curved end portions of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b as well as the inflatable section 4c. The ratio between the length L of each inflatable section 4a or 4b and the distance B between the two main inflatable sections is in the range of 2.5:0.8 to 3:1.

In the bevelled rear ends of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b there is a closing fastener 14 of a tubular profile, and carabiners 8 are located in the middle of the inflatable section 4c and at both ends of the rear closing fastener 14 by means of straps. Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on their upper side, straps with rings 9 are sewn, where detachable reinforcing profiles 5 are provided in the sockets formed by the straps and the rings are designed for air transport of the stretcher. The detachable reinforcing profiles 5 by means of straps are also provided with handles 10 for transporting the victim with the stretcher. At their front end, the profiles 5 are hinged to the detachable handles 1 of a tubular profile and are designed to draw the stretcher. The handles 1 are provided with a mechanical brake 2. Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on the underside of each of them, spaced from one another, there are edges - guides 3 for sliding and holding the edge of the stretcher, figure 5.

A vacuum mattress 12 is provided on the bottom 13 with a protective double-layer case. The inside of the mattress 12 is filled with granules mixed with air, which ensures maximum restraint and immobilisation of the victim.

By means of belts with adjustable buckles 11 , sewn on the sections 4a and 4b, the victim is fixed for vertical and horizontal transport.

A third embodiment of an inflatable sled-stretcher is created, as shown in Figure 3, which includes a body comprising a frame 4 sewn at its lower end to a reinforced bottom 13. The frame 4 comprises two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b, parallel and uniform in shape and size, with an oval profile, closed at their front part with an inflatable section 4c and at the rear with an inflatable section 4d which are arched and also have an oval profile. Each of the main inflatable sections 4a and 4b at its rear end is provided with a valve 7 for inflating and exhaust. At both ends of each of the sections 4a and 4b there is mounted an adjusting system 6 which allows regulation of the angle of the front and rear portions of the stretcher, in order to lift and lower the sections 4c and 4d. The ratio between the length L of each inflatable section 4a or 4b and the distance B between the two main inflatable sections is in the range of 2.5 :0.8 to 3 : 1.

In the middle of the front inflatable section 4b and at both ends of the rear inflatable section 4d, carabiners 8 are placed by means of straps.

Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on their upper side, straps with rings 9 are sewn, in which the detachable reinforcing profiles 5 are placed in the sockets formed by the straps and the rings are designed for air transport of the stretcher (Figure 4). The detachable reinforcing profiles 5 by means of straps are also provided with handles 10 for transporting the victim with the stretcher. At their front end, the profiles 5 are hinged to the detachable handles 1 of a tubular profile and are designed to draw the stretcher. The handles 1 are provided with a mechanical brake 2. Along the two main inflatable sections 4a and 4b on the underside of each of them, spaced from one another, there are edges - guides 3 for sliding and holding the edge of the stretcher, figure 5.

A vacuum mattress 12 is provided on the bottom 13 with a protective double-layer case. The inside of the mattress 12 is filled with granules mixed with air, which ensures maximum restraint and immobilisation of the victim.

By means of belts with adjustable buckles 11, sewn on the sections 4a and 4b, the victim is fixed for vertical and horizontal transport.

The edges - guides 3 for sliding and holding the edge of the stretcher, as well as the lifting rings 9, and the handles 10 for wearing the stretcher are at least 3 pieces of each.

The inflatable sections 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d of the frame 4 are made of a double- layer or three-layer material whose inner layer is impermeable to air and the outer layer is resistant to scratching, drilling and other loads.