In emergency situations, in the event of a fire in a tall building, for example, it is sometimes difficult to carry people who are injured or otherwise unable to move themselves out of the region of danger. Stiff rescue strechers, which are sometimes used by rescue forces, are a good protection for the person to be rescued, but are difficult to handle. This is extensively noted in the prior art (US 4,124, 908 A). Therefore, implementing a rescue underlay for rescuing people which is flexible overall (US 4,124, 908 A), which may not only be handled flexibly, but may also be stored rolled up in the unused state, and may be housed in a predetermined place in a building, for example, is already known.

The known rescue underlay has a large-area underlay mat made of essentially tear-proof flat plastic material, which is also waterproof. A resting surface, similar to a mattress, made of foam material is attached to the thin, tear-proof flat plastic material. Large-area regions of the underlay mat project laterally from this resting surface, which may be wrapped, similarly to a cover, around a person to be rescued for transport of this person and which may be fixed using securing belts.

The person is also secured on the cushioned resting area by a foot pocket attached at the foot end of the underlay mat, which is turned upward and connected from the top to the underlay mat. Because of this, the person to be rescued cannot slip downward out of the closed rescue underlay.

Carrying belts, which end above the head end of the underlay mat in transport suspensions, run from bottom to top over the length of the underlay mat. These transport suspensions may be hung on a transport harness of a helicopter, for example. The person to be rescued is then transported hanging in a practically vertical position while enveloped and fixed in the underlay mat.

Another known rescue underlay which forms the starting point of the present invention (WO 91/03221 Al) has also a large-area underlay mat made of two

different layers, one for protection and the other one as resting surface for the person to be rescued. For transportation of a person to be rescued two systems are provided, one system for horizontal transportation and one system for vertical transportation. The system for horizontal transportation comprises four pairs of straps attached to the underlay mat. The person itself is wrapped by the underlay mat and fixed using securing belts between two sides of the underlay mat. The underlay mat is then transported using the straps. For vertical transportation the person is also wrapped by and secured to the underlay mat. Additionally a person carrying harness having leg belts is provided and attached to the underlay mat approximately at the half way point of the underlay mat. A transport suspension is attached to the leg belts and to the underlay mat at the head end of the underlay mat. In both systems the person to be rescued is mainly fixed to the underlay mat and not directly to the person carrying harness.

Rescue underlays for mattresses, which are kept in reserve under mattresses in hospitals, homes for the elderly, and nursing homes, in order to be able to fix a reclining patient lying on the mattress and transport them with the mattress in case of catastrophe, are also known. Details of such a rescue underlay for mattresses result, for example, from WO 2004/019852 Al. Reference is also made to the complete contents of this publication in the present case, because constructive details of this rescue underlay for mattresses are also expediently applicable for a rescue underlay for rescuing people.

The known rescue underlay for rescuing people described above is not yet optimally usable, particularly because the wrapping of the person to be rescued is complex to handle, and because the handling of the rescue underlay as a whole, particularly also taking high-altitude rescue using a transport harness into consideration, appears capable of improvement.

The teaching is therefore based on the object of further improving the known rescue underlay for rescuing people in regard to usage and handling.

The object stated above is achieved in a rescue underlay for rescuing people, having the features of the preamble of claim 1, by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

According to the present invention, the flat plastic material of the underlay mat itself is already a flat material, which provides a spring travel. The underlay mat per se is made of a plastic material which itself already has the necessary cushioning function because this material provides such a spring travel in itself.

It is thus possible to make the dimensions of the underlay mat itself only somewhat larger than the body dimensions of a normal person to be rescued, for example, a length of approximately 2.0 m and a width of 0.5 m to 0. 8 m, preferably approximately 0.65 m. This in turn makes the edges of the underlay mat easily accessible to helpers. These helpers may transport the underlay mat, with the person to be rescued located thereon, by grasping it directly. In addition, the underlay mat itself is exposed on top, so that a transport harness may be moved from above directly to the person lying thereon and attached to the underlay mat. Therefore, reclined transport of a person to be rescued using a transport harness, by a helicopter, for example, in the event of high-altitude rescue, is possible.

Preferred embodiments and refinements of the rescue underlay for rescuing people claimed are the object of the further subclaims. In addition, preferred embodiments and refinements of the teaching are also described in greater detail on the basis of the following description of the drawing.

In the following, the present invention is described in greater detail on the basis of a drawing which merely shows preferred exemplary embodiments. In the drawing Fig. 1 shows a top view of a first exemplary embodiment of a rescue underlay for rescuing people according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows the rescue underlay from Fig. 1, also in a top view, now with individual parts of the rescue underlay pulled out laterally or upward or downward, Fig. 3 shows an enlarged illustration of a flat material, which provides a spring travel, as may be used for the underlay mat of the rescue underlay from Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows, in an illustration corresponding to Fig. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of a rescue underlay for rescuing people according to the present invention, Fig. 5 shows a detail, with a transport harness indicated, of a rescue underlay according to the present invention having a person to be rescued located thereon, Fig. 6 shows the foot end of the rescue underlay from Fig. 1 in an en- larged illustration, Fig. 7 shows the foot end of Fig. 6, now with the foot pocket folded down.

Reference is made to US 4,124, 908 A, cited at the beginning, for the background of rescue underlays for rescuing people of the type under discussion.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a rescue underlay for rescuing people having an essentially rectangular underlay mat 1 made of a flat plastic material, which has high tensile strength and is essentially tear-proof. First, carrying loops 2 and person securing belts 3, which are positioned distributed over the length of the underlay mat 1, are attached to the underlay mat 1. Instead of carrying loops 2, longer carrying aids, such as longer hand loops as in US 4,124, 908 A, may also be used. The person securing belts 3 may be positioned and closed in different ways. Reference is also made to the related art for this purpose.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the person securing belts 3 have closure elements 4 at the ends, which may also be kept in different colors if necessary, colors which correspond to standards for rescue guidelines if necessary. The closure elements 4 shown are closure elements 4 of quick-acting closures having quick-tensioning devices.

It may first be seen from Fig. 1 that the dimensions of the underlay mat 1 are only somewhat larger than the body dimensions of a normal person to be rescued. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a length of approximately 2.0 m and a width of approximately 0.65 m may be assumed. Actually, in practice, a

somewhat different dimension, for example, dimensions between 1.7 m and 2.2 m for the length and 0.5 m to 0.8 m for the width may possibly be selected.

In combination with Fig. 3, it may also be recognized from Fig. 1 that the flat plastic material of the underlay mat 1 is a flat material, which provides a spring travel itself. It has surprisingly been shown that using such a flat plastic material which provides a spring travel itself, the underlay mat 1 provides sufficient custioning, in case of emergency in any case, in order to transport a person to be rescued without additional injuries.

A material, which is especially suitable for the intended purpose is to be used for the flat material, which provides a spring travel. For example, there are materials as are used for isomats. Taking the required high tensile strength of the flat material into consideration, however, the illustrated and preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 3 shows that a flat material, which provides a spring travel is a spacer woven fabric or, in particular, a spacer knitted fabric. Spacer woven fabrics and spacer knitted fabrics are known per se from prior art. The use in the underlay mat 1 shown is especially advantageous because the cushioning effect of these spacer woven fabrics and spacer knitted fabrics is especially effective.

Specifically, the spring constant is relatively large and the cushioning is implemented as relatively hard. It is thus possible to achieve good transportability of the person to be rescued on the underlay mat 1, which is dragged over the floor, for example, even with a comparatively low thickness of the underlay mat 1.

For the illustrated and preferred exemplary embodiment, it may also be advisable that the flat plastic material is implemented as multilayered material. An elevated cushioning effect may thus be achieved using two relatively thin layers of a spacer woven fabric or a spacer knitted fabric, for example.

It is recommended for the present purpose of use, that the spacer woven fabric or the spacer knitted fabric has a thickness of 4 mm to 20 mm, preferably from approximately 6 mm to approximately 14 mm, especially of 6 mm or of 10 mm or of 14 mm, preferably in each layer of a multilayered material. With regard to a spacer woven fabrics of 6 mm, reference may be made to a technical data sheet of Müller-Textil GmbH, IndustriestraBe 8,51674 Wiehl, for the article 5754-

0600 having a thickness of 6.0 mm or for article the 5556-1000 for a material having a thickness of 10. 0 mm.

Spacer knitted fabrics of Müller-Textil GmbH have, for example, the technical data sheet for the article 5900-1000 for a material having 10 mm thickness. In general, reference may be made here to the web page of Müller-Textil GmbH, under www. muellertextil. de.

Spacer woven fabrics and spacer knitted fabrics made from polyester material have particularly become known. Polyester is also an interesting selection for other plastic materials which provide a spring travel. In regard to the configuration of the flat plastic material, selecting a material, which is flame- resistant or even fire-proof is suggested. It is also expedient if a non-decaying material is used. As possible, the material should not be hygroscopic, so that the rescue underlay may be cleaned well and effectively as a whole. Polyamide fiber materials, particularly an aramid fiber material (trade name Kevlar, for example), a glass fiber material, or a saran fiber material also come into consideration as further fiber materials (for the explanation of the various materials, see ROMPP "Chemie [Chemistry]", 10th edition 1996-1999, Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, NY).

Moreover the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 shows that in accordance with preferred teaching of the present invention the flat material providing a spring travel, particular the spacer woven fabric or spacer knitted fabric, has a closed plastic film coating 5 on the bottom, preferably made of polyurethane material or polyester material, which has a low sliding friction, preferably a lower sliding friction than the flat material which provides the spring travel itself (in Fig. 3) a, this coating is shown on top, in contrast, Fig. 3) b shows the normal cover layer).

In the embodiment shown, this is a polyurethane coating which is sealed, impermeable to water, washable, disinfectable very well, and, preferably, impermeable to air. The sliding friction of such a coating is so low that the rescue underlay may be pulled easily over smooth floor coverings.

In regard to the composition of the bottom of the underlay mat 1, the sliding quality implemented is a function of the usages to be expected. On a flat pathway, of course, the sliding friction should be as low as possible. If vertical

transport via steps is expected, braking surfaces should be used (see WO 2004/019852 Al, cited at the beginning).

The rescue underlay according to the present invention should be universally usable. If, for example, one wishes to allow usage in a damp environment, use on ice or snow, for example, it is advisable in anyway for the seams on the underlay mat 1 to be implemented watertight.

It was already noted above that carrying loops 2 are provided. The illustrated and preferred embodiment of a rescue underlay shows in Fig. 1 that in this case the carrying loops 2 are attached circumferentially to the edge of the underlay mat 1.

The person securing belts 3 must be housed somehow on the rescue underlay in the rest state. A first variant, which is not shown in the drawings, however, shows in this case that the personal securing belts 3 are placed at the edge of the underlay mat 1 and their free ends are sewn or connected using Velcro-fasteners to the material of the underlay mat 1 so they may be torn away. In this regard, reference is made to the related art from WO 2004/019852 Al.

In an alternative which is shown in the embodiment illustrated, in contrast tunnel-like receptions 7 are positioned on the underlay mat 1, preferably on top, to house the person securing belts 3, into which the person securing belts 3 are inserted in the lengthwise direction in the rest state, whereas one end, particularly a closure element 4, projecting out of the tunnel-like reception 7 on one end in such a way that it may be grasped easily in case of rescue.

In the embodiment illustrated, the tunnel-like receptions 7 are positioned running essentially transversely to the underlay mat 1. In the embodiment illustrated, a tunnel-like reception 7 is thereby simultaneously used to house both parts of a person securing belt 3, which may be pulled in opposite directions out of the tunnel-like reception 7. Of course, each part of the person securing belt 3 may also have its own individual tunnel-like reception 7.

Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated, the tunnel-like receptions 7 are sewn onto the underlay mat 1, preferably on the top. When attaching an additional film to the bottom of the flat material which provides the spring travel to implement

the plastic film coating 5, this additional film material may also simply be provided with seams which then form the tunnel-like receptions 7 on the bottom of the underlay mat 1.

Furthermore, the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2 shows that the rescue underlay is provided with a total of three person securing belts 3 positioned at different distances to the head end and these distances are approximately 50 cm, 80 cm, and 120 cm.

Fig. 1 and 2 are very instructive for understanding the teaching in regard to this first embodiment because in Fig. 2, the rescue underlay for rescuing people illustrated in Fig. 1 has been illustrated with uncovered additional parts which are pulled out laterally and spread out. The preceding embodiments may be under-stood very well on the basis of a comparison of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Accordingly, Fig. 1 and 2 show especially clearly in comparison that in the illustrated and preferred embodiment a receiving pocket 8 for an additional cushion 9 is attached at the head end of the underlay mat 1. Additional cushioning could be attached directly to the underlay mat 1 as a headrest at the head end. The receiving pocket 8 provided here, however, has the advantage that it may also be used for receiving and properly housing of other additional parts of the underlay mat 1. This is indicated in Figure 1.

For example, a pulling loop 10, which may be attached to the head end of the underlay mat 1, may be housed in the receiving pocket 8. The pulling loop 10 is shown in Fig. 2. The embodiment illustrated is thereby distinguished in that the pulling loop 10 has a loop length of 3 m to 6 m, preferably approximately 5 m. A pulling loop of this length has the great advantage that the rescuer may pull the underlay mat 1 with the person lying thereon without using his hands. The hands may find, for example, holds on a railing while the rescuer pulls the person on the underlay mat 1 of the rescue underlay up a sloped corridor.

Furthermore, the illustrated and preferred embodiment shows that a short pulling loop 11 is attached to the foot end of the underlay mat 1. The pulling loop 11 at the foot end is used for rescue downward, for example, down a staircase. This

pulling loop 11 must be shorter in order to be able to raise the foot end of the underlay mat 1 so that a braking effect is achieved.

A further embodiment of the rescue underlay for rescuing people according to the present invention, which results from viewing Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 together, is especially advantageous. In this case, according to a preferred teaching, a person carrying harness, having shoulder belts 12, chest belt 13, and a transport suspension 14, is attached approximately in the upper third of the underlay mat 1. Unlike the related art which represents the starting point, a possibility is provided in this case of suspending the person to be rescued directly in the person carrying harness in such a way that a transport harness may engage directly on the person carrying harness, so that the person may be carried directly and not indirectly via the underlay mat 1. Fig. 5 indicates how this is meant.

Since the person to be rescued is not wrapped by side straps on the underlay mat 1 of the rescue underlay according to the present invention, the person carrying harness is accessible easily from above, even if a person is lying on it.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, which is developed even further in this regard, is also distinguished in that a person carrying harness, having leg belts 15, a pelvis belt 16, and a transport suspension 17, is attached at approximately the halfway point of the underlay mat 1. A person carrying harness in the pelvis region may be provided as an alternative to the person carrying harness in the chest region. In Fig. 4, both person carrying harnesses are shown, which of course then ensures optimum, completely secure transport of the person to be rescued, particularly even in the event of a high-altitude rescue using a helicopter or the like. The direct attachment of the person carrying harness to the underlay mat 1 itself leads, in the event of a high-altitude rescue, to the underlay mat 1 attached to the person to be rescued and not the person to be rescued attached to the underlay mat 1.

A foot pocket 18 for the feet of a person to be rescued is also provided on the underlay mat 1 in the related art which forms the starting point. Such a foot pocket is shown in the embodiments. It is shown enlarged in Fig. 6 and 7. The upper edge of the foot pocket 18 is removably attached to the edge of the underlay mat 1 using closure elements 19.

Finally, if the rescue underlay is implemented as essentially waterproof and watertight, it may also be provided with floats and floating bodies which are attachable, attached, or formed on the bottom of the underlay mat 1. It is especially advantageous in this case if these floats are again designed as a spacer woven fabric or spacer knitted fabric, but encapsulated as pressure resistant on the outside and inflatable. By combining the spacer woven fabric or spacer knitted fabric one the one hand and a pressure-resistant capsule on the other hand, a precise flat design of the floats is possible.