Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a transportation device especially for transportation of persons.

Prior art

Today there exist various products intended for transporting a victim from the place where the person was injured to the place of treatment. In connection with the rescuing operation from places to which access is made difficult, up ladders along narrow corridors, up shafts, etc. , the product specter is however very limited. The available products (stretchers) are hampered with various weaknesses which prevent them from transporting the victim from the most inaccessible places to a place of treatment in a satisfac- tory manner. Further, there do not exist available stretchers which also cater for safe and comfortable hoisting and lowering of the stretcher including the injured person.

A first prior art type of stretcher including stretcher rods is too long to be able to pass around corners in narrow corridors. This type of stretcher makes it difficult to transport a victim up steep ladders/steps. The stretcher canvas has no heat insulation, it is difficult to keep clean, and it reguires large storage space. The patient cannot be lowered/hoisted vertically, and cannot be transferred from ship to ship or to and from helicopter in a satisfactory manner.

A second type of stretcher which can be strapped around the patient, and which was invented about 1913, makes it possible for the patient to be lowered/hoisted vertically,

and keeps the back/neck stationary in case of back/neck injury. However, the stretcher has no heat insulating effect, it renders no protection of the various parts of the body during transportation, and it makes the transportation around corners in narrow corridors difficult. Besides, it is difficult to keep clean.

Further, there exist today many different variants of stretchers which can be used for horizontally lifting patients from the ground and up to a rescuing helicopter, or in connection with the use of a rescuing hoist.

A first type thereof is a so-called rescuing net, wherein the net is a light construction of a kevlar fiber into which the patient is placed and hoisted thereby. The net renders no protection against bumps or heat. The net cannot be used for vertical lifting.

Another type of transportation device of this type is the rescuing stretcher which exist in many very similar embodiments. It is common for these devices that they have been manufactured from a woven synthetic fiber and are sewed to a "sack" into which the patient is placed. Some have sewed thereonto lifting straps, whereas other haven't. Some of the stretchers cannot be used for vertical lifting because they do not give sufficient protection against bumps, and they offer a too long distance from the lifting point to the patient. The fabrics are difficult to clean and have different resistance against chemical materials.

One type of rescue stretcher comprises a support made of hard plastics mounted in an aluminum frame. This type of stretcher is very difficult to store due to its length and stiffness, it is heavy, it cannot be used for vertical lifting and reguires a special lifting device for helicop¬ ters and rescue hoist. This type of stretcher reguires that the patient is moved from this stretcher on to another stretcher which is suitable for transportation in some

vehicles. It cannot be used in very narrow passages.

It is to be understood that there exist stretchers which can be used for both horizontal lifting and vertical lifting, but such stretchers can only be rolled together in the longitudinal direction, and they render a too long distance from the lifting point to the patient.

Further, there is known a rescue stretcher comprising a first portion for placing the patient therein, as well as a separate portion of aluminum for enabling lifting horizon¬ tally to helicopter or rescue hoist. The patient is fastened with straps into an insulating fabric and can be hoisted vertically without the aluminum frame. The stretcher is relatively space consuming during storage.

Object of the invention

The problem which is solved in the novel structure of the stretcher plate is: careful transportation of the patient under all condi¬ tions heat insulation protection of the various parts of the body - enabling hoisting/lowering of patient transfer of patient from ship to ship in a satisfactory manner inexpensive to manufacture easy cleaning - small storage space reguirement resisting storage for a long time under severe conditions

Summary of the invention

The stretcher plate according to the present invention is constructed as a partly rectangular web, tapering towards the foot portion, having rounded corners, made of a non- porous semi-stiff, strong, impervious and resistant polymer

material, for example polyethylene. In order to achieve heat insulation, shock absorption and increased comfort generally, the web may be eguipped with a layer of porous polymer material, for example expanded polyethylene.

Preferably, the stretcher is constructed around a polymer material in laminate, comprising a 5 mm expanded polyethylen and 0.7 mm polyethylene having medium density. To this plate there is sewn a plurality of means which makes it possible for the stretcher to allow lifting/lowering of the patient, both vertically and horizontally as well as regular stretcher transportation.

The stretcher web in itself is heat insulating, does not absorb moisture, is shock absorbing and by the manner in which the patient lies in the stretcher, it protects several part of the body against damage during transportation in narrow places.

Appropriately, the stretcher is eguipped with two strap arrangements, namely a first arrangement comprising four pairs of straps making it possible for the stretcher to be lifted horizontally. The free ends of the strap arrangement end in a ring. On the opposite side of the stretcher there is on the strap arrangement sewed a corresponding ring. In addition there is here sewed on a short strap having a ring which can pass through the ring sewed on to the strap arrangement on the opposite side. By passing this smaller ring through the larger ring, the two larger rings are locked since the sizes thereof are egual, and there will be only one ring for hooking on to the hook of the hoist, namely the smaller ring.

In the lower end of the stretcher there is sewed a ring for the attachment of a rope, such that the ground personnel can control/hold the stretcher stationary during hoisting to, for example a helicopter.

By means of a second special arrangement of straps, the patient may be hoisted vertically. From a lifting ring at the bottom side of the stretcher at the head end thereof, which is sewed thereonto such that the ring does not wear out the lifting strap, the strap is branched out in an inclined manner outwardly and downwardly, are passed through the stretcher web in two stamped out holes, and end up in two buckles, one at each strap. In each of the buckles there is attached a strap which during use is passed over the thigh and down to the stretcher web along the crutch for there to pass through the stretcher web in two stamped out holes. The straps which are sewed to the stretcher web continue on the rear side upwardly and outwardly until the strap meets the strap coming from the lifting ring. By this special arrangement there is formed a continuous "loop" similar to a parachute sitting strap, which secures the patient during vertical lifting.

A head support is sewed thereonto for supporting the head during transportation, both vertically and horizontally. The head supporting web is folded upwardly at the side of the head and locks the latter by means of one or two velcro bands.

At the top of the stretcher there are attached velcro bands making it possible to fold together the upper portion of the stretcher. This involves that the head and the shoulders are protected during transportation in narrow places in which there exists a danger for the head/shoulder to bump against objects. This will also protect the head when the stretcher is lifted horizontally up to a helicopter when the stretcher approaches the helicopter, by possibly bumping against the hull, and this will also render a certain protection against the severe downwardly directed air flows which exist under a helicopter.

The stretcher web is attached around the patient by means of a set of straps, which makes the stretcher to appear as a

relatively stiff cover having good heat inslulation and shock absorption. This solution makes it possible to let the patient be transported in the stretcher in a traditional manner, since a combination of stamped out and attached handles make it possible to carry the stretcher. The stretcher crew will thereby have full control over the patient, and by the relatively stiff stretcher this would give sufficient support for usual stretcher transportation, and at the same time allow the passing around and through narrow passages.

When the stretcher web is not in use, it can be rolled or folded together for thereby occupying a small space. Together with the low weight it can easely be stored away in most places.

Further features and advantages in connection with the present transportation device appear from the attached patent claims and the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief disclosure of the drawing

Fig. 1 is a perspective view as seen from above of an embodiment of a transportation device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view seen from below of the device according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates perspectively the transportation device according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in a use position, but without any person to be transported thereby.

Fig. 4 illustrates principally the same perspective view as Fig. 3, but with a person fastened in the device.

Disclosure of embodiment

With reference to the attached drawings there will now be described an embodiment of a transportation device according to the invention, especially a device for transportation of persons.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings illustrates that the device 1 comprises a substantially elongated plate- or web-shaped main portion 2 made of a semi-stiff, strong material and provided with carrying and/or strapping means 3A, 3B, 3N, 4N, 5N for the carrying of and/or strapping around the person 6 to be transported.

The web-shaped main portion 2 is provided from a semi-stiff, impervious and resistive material, for example a polymer material, for example polyethylene.

The main portion 2 is further provided with a heat insulat¬ ing and/or shock absorbing layer, for example a layer of porous polymer material, for example expanded polyethylene.

Preferably, the stretcher is constructed around a polymer material in laminate, comprising a 5 mm expanded polyethyl¬ ene and 0.7 mm polyethylene of medium density. To this web there is sewed a plurality of means making the stretcher available for lifting/lowering of patients, both vertically and horizontally as well as for regular stretcher transpor¬ tation.

The strecher web in itself is heat insulating, do not absorb moisture, is shock absorbing and in the manner the patient is located in the stretcher, it protects several parts of the body against damage during transportation in narrow places.

The main portion 2 is provided as a substantially rectan¬ gular plate or web having a narrower foot end 2A and a broader upper end 2B, and possibly being provided with

rounded corners 2C.

The strapping means 3N illustrated on the drawings, comprise strapping bands 3A provided along the edge of the main portion 2 and corresponding locking means 3B, the stiffness of the material of the main portion allowing for resilient but supporting forming around the person 6 to be transport¬ ed.

The main portion 2 is at the upper end 2B provided with a head supporting device 3N, for example a transversially extending web piece 7 attached at its center portion 7A in relation to the main web 2, and provided with loose end portions 7B provided with locking bands 7C, for example velcro bands for fastening around the head 6A of a person 6 placed on the main portion 2.

The main portion 2 is also provided with an abdomen supporting device 8 arranged approximately at the center of the main portion 2, for example in the form of extension straps 8B which are attached in relation to the main portion 2, and which are passed through narrow gaps 3D provided in the main portion 2.

The head supporting device 7 keeps the head 6A of a person 6 fastened stationary, in relation to the main portion 2 during transportation. The abdomen supporting device 8 together with the head supporting device 7 and the strapping means 3A, 3B allow for the transportation of a person 6 so to say in any position of the main portion 2, the upper portion 2B of the main portion 2 being provided with a further strapping means 5N, for example velcro bands, which in a strapped position constitute a further supporting portion 2D around the head.

Along the edges of the main portion 2 there are provided carrying means in the form of handles 4N, for example provided as non-returning incisions 4S, for example provided

as a C having the opening facing against the edge of the main web, the portion 4P being surrounded by said C allowin for folding out from the plane of the main portion and presenting gripping facility for a hand, there being arranged for example four handles 4N at each side of the main web.

The main portion 2 is provided with at least one loop into which a hoisting device can be attached, for example a lifting ring or a loop 9 provided on the bottom side (Fig.

2 ) of the main portion 2, and for example in the area of th head support.

As appearing especially from Fig. 2 the lifting ring 9 on the bottom side of the stretcher at the head end 2B is attached to straps 9A which from the lifting ring 9 is distributed obliguely outwardly and downwardly on the bottom side of the main portion 2. At the center of the support these lifting straps 9A are passed through the previously discussed gaps and constitute the previously discussed abdomen supporting adjustable extension straps 8B

It is to be understood that on the rear side of the main portion 2 said straps are attached, for example by sewing, to said main portion 2.

By this arrangement there is provided a continuous loop which secures the person 6 to be transported, by vertical lifting of said person.

To the main portion 2 there is also attached an arrangement of straps which are especially favourable by horizontal lifting of the device 1 including the person 6 to be transported. This arrangement comprises in the illustrated embodiment four straps 10A - 10B which are attached at the bottom side of the main portion 2, and which extend more o less obliguely outwardly beyond the longitudinally extendi side edges of the main portion, for at each side thereof

end up in a ring, 11A and 11B, respectively.

In one of the rings 11B there is sewed thereonto a short band or strap which at its outer, free portion carries a further ring 13 which has a less outer diameter than the inner diameter of the ring 11A on the opposite side of the main portion 2.

By passing the lesser ring 13 through the larger ring 11A there is provided a locking effect of the hoisting straps 10A - 10B which especially appears from Fig. 4, the lesser ring 13 at the same time being hooked on to the hoisting hook.

At the lower end portion 2A of the main portion 2 there is sewed a ring 14, for example via a strap piece 14A, for the attachment of a rope (not illustrated) which the ground crew may use for the control of the device 1 during hoisting to for example a helicopter.

The present transportation device is included in a. complete system for rescuing victims on the ground or for one man helicopter rescue. This light, economically favourable system offers a good support for the victim and reduces the ^• need for moving the patient from one type of stretcher to another. The transportation device can be used together with any other type of traditional stretcher because there is no need to move the victim from one stretcher to another.

The stretcher constitutes a rescue stretcher which allows for the possibility of both vertical and horizontal lift¬ ing/lowering. Together with the integrated carrying handles, the favourable insulation, the shock absorbing and protecting structure, this stretcher provides for a wide field of application. By its special and secure stucture for vertical lifting, the victim can be rescued up through narrow rescuing surroundings. By means of its strap system

the stretcher may easily be lifted/lowered horizontally, be hooked straight on to a lifting hook', and at the same time sustain a good stability and secure transportation of the victim. The stretcher is space saving by storing in a rolled together condition, and has a weight below 3.5 kg. The insulated stretcher web is water repellent, is uninflu¬ enced by chemicals and may be easily cleaned with usual cleaning agents.