Collapsible wheeled stretcher
The present invention discloses a foldable collapsible wheeled stretcher on wheels, having handles for pulling and steering. The device is provided with dependent suspensions allowing mobility in rough and bumpy terrain while maintaining the stability of stretcher surface, reducing tilt and vibration that reach the wounded person being transported upon the stretcher. It is provided with folding or telescopic means allowing it to be carried upon the back or stowed in a small volume. The device enables rescue of injured people in an improved manner from (for example) regions which are not passable by vehicles, and may be pulled by a single rescuer instead of being carried by two to four. The device may be further used to transport material.
1. A collapsible, steerable wheeled stretcher comprising:
a. a stretcher chassis comprising a largely rectangular outer frame reinforced by rigid crossmembers, said stretcher having a head end and a foot end;
b. a front dependent suspension and a rear dependent suspension rotatably attached to said chassis at said head end and said foot end, respectively, wherein each of said dependent suspensions comprises an axle, connector, springs and wheels which are all arranged such that each of said suspensions allows rotational movement of said wheels around three axes, namely rotational movement around said axle, left-to-right rotational movement around a vertical axis and up-and-down rotation around a horizontal axis;
c. one or more front pulling means attached to said stretcher chassis, adapted for pulling said stretcher and steering said stretcher by means of rotating said front suspension;
wherein said stretcher is for transporting a person to safety over rocky terrain without substantially affecting the horizontal disposition of said chassis.
2. The stretcher of claim 1 further providing one or more rear pulling means attached to said stretcher adapted for pulling said stretcher.
3. The stretcher of claim 1 wherein rotation of said front suspension axle around the vertical axis causes further rotation of said front suspension axle about the horizontal axis, which in turn causes rotation of said rear suspension axle about said vertical axis in a direction opposite said rotation of said front suspension axle about said vertical axis.
4. The stretcher of claim 1 further providing brakes operated by a brake lever upon said front handles, said brakes adapted to stop the rotation of said wheels.
5. The stretcher of claim 1 wherein said stretcher collapses by means of telescopic collapse of a subset of said chassis members into another subset of said chassis members.
6. The stretcher of claim 1 wherein said stretcher is foldable into two or more sections by means of hinged sections on said chassis members in such a manner that said wheels are still operable to transport said stretcher.
7. The stretcher of claim 6 wherein said stretcher is adapted to be transported on a person's back for ease of transport and rapidity of deployment.
8. The stretcher of claim 6 wherein said hinged section is adapted to be locked to prevent relative movement of said sections.
9. The stretcher of claim 6 wherein said stretcher is adapted to be locked to an A.T.V.
10. The stretcher of claim 1 further providing a suspended hammock-like mesh adapted to support the occupant of said stretcher, further isolating said occupant from vibration and tilt experienced by the wheels of the stretcher and adapted to allow a person to lie upon said mesh and be supported by said stretcher.
11. The stretcher of claim 1 further providing straps adapted to strap a load into said stretcher.
12. The stretcher of claim 1 wherein said frame has a basket-like form adapted for transport of items selected from the list consisting of: wounded personnel, first aid equipment, camping gear, food, water, survival gear, climbing gear, weapons, warfare equipment, shelter, signaling equipment, and research equipment.
13. The stretcher of claim 1 further providing motoring means adapted to assist said rescuer in said transport of said stretcher.
14. The stretcher of claim 1 wherein said pulling means is adapted to be operated from near the ground, allowing a crawling person to pull said stretcher by said pulling means.
15. A method for transport of wounded persons comprising the steps of:
a. providing collapsible, wheeled stretcher comprising a stretcher chassis; a front dependent suspension and a rear dependent suspension, and one or more front pulling means for transporting a person to safety over rocky terrain without substantially affecting the horizontal disposition of said chassis;
b. placing said wounded person upon said collapsible wheeled stretcher;
c. pulling said wheeled stretcher by said pulling means;
wherein said stretcher collapses by telescopic collapse of a subset of said chassis members into another subset of said chassis members.
16. The method of claim 15 further providing one or more rear pulling means attached to said stretcher adapted for pulling said stretcher.
17. The method of claim 15 further providing a brake lever upon said front handles and brakes attached to said wheels, said brakes adapted to stop the rotation of said wheels.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said stretcher is foldable into two or more sections by means of hinged sections on said chassis members in such a manner that said wheels are still operable to transport said stretcher.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein said stretcher is adapted to be transported on a person's back for ease of transport and rapidity of deployment.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said hinged section is adapted to be locked to prevent relative movement of said sections.
21. The method of claim 15 further providing a suspended hammock-like mesh adapted to support the occupant of said stretcher, further isolating said occupant from vibration and tilt experienced by the wheels of the stretcher adapted to allow a person to lie upon said mesh and be supported by said stretcher.
22. The method of claim 15 further providing straps adapted to strap a load into said stretcher.
23. The method of claim 15 adapted for transport of items selected from the list consisting of: wounded personnel, first aid equipment, camping gear, food, water, survival gear, climbing gear, weapons, warfare equipment, shelter, signaling equipment, and research equipment.
24. The method of claim 15 further providing motoring means adapted to assist said rescuer in said transport of said stretcher.
25. A collapsible, steerable wheeled stretcher comprising:
a. a stretcher chassis comprising a largely rectangular outer frame reinforced by rigid crossmembers, said stretcher having a head end and a foot end;
b. a front dependent suspension and a rear dependent suspension rotatably attached to said chassis at said head end and said foot end, respectively, wherein each of said dependent suspensions comprises an axle, connector, springs and wheels which are all arranged such that each of said suspensions allows rotational movement of said wheels around three axes, namely rotational movement around said axle, left-to-right rotational movement around a vertical axis and up-and-down rotation around a horizontal axis;
c. one or more front pulling means attached to said stretcher chassis, adapted for pulling said stretcher and steering said stretcher by means of rotating said front suspension;
wherein said stretcher is for transporting a person to safety over unpassable terrain without substantially affecting the horizontal disposition of said chassis.