Cot fastening system having a crash stable, cot fastener track and method of affixing an emergency cot thereto
Cot fastening systems which fix and hold an emergency cot to a crash stable, cot fastener track included in the system and provided within an emergency vehicle and methods of affixing the emergency cot thereto are disclosed. The track has a longitudinal length with first and second ends, open side rails longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel centrally located between the rails. The side rails align, accommodate and guide a first fixture of the cot towards the first end as the cot is rolled within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein. The channel accommodates therein and retains a second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein. A securing mechanism releasably prevents removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixture from the channel.
1. A cot fastening system which fixes and holds within a transport vehicle an emergency cot having mounted thereon wheels, a first fixture and a second fixture, said cot fastening system comprising:
a cot fastener track having a longitudinal length with opposite first and second ends, a pair of open side rails longitudinally extending between the first and second ends, and a channel centrally located between the open side rails, said open side rails being configured to align therewith, accommodate therein and guide together the first fixture of the cot along the longitudinal length of the cot fastener track towards the first end as the cot is rolled by the wheels within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein, and said channel being configured to accommodate therein and retain the second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein; and
a securing mechanism operably selectable between secure and unsecure conditions, in which said secure condition prevents both removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixtures from the channel.
2. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track has opposite longitudinal sides and a roof plate, wherein the open side rails are defined by the roof plate having a portion which overhangs the opposite longitudinal sides.
3. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track has opposite longitudinal sides, wherein the open side rails are c-shaped rails that are provided to the longitudinal sides.
4. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the first end has a first width and the second end has a second width that is smaller than the first width.
5. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track has a roof plate, wherein the roof plate adjacent the first end has a first width and the roof plate adjacent the second end has a second width that is smaller than the first width, and the roof plate tapers from the first width to the second width.
6. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track has a roof plate, wherein the roof plate adjacent the first end has a first width and the roof plate adjacent the second end has a second width that is smaller than the first width, wherein the roof plate tapers from the first width to the second width, and wherein the roof plate over a majority of the longitudinal length of the cot fastener track has the first width.
7. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the open side rails and the channel is configured to prevent movement of the first fixture beyond the first end of the cot fastener track.
8. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism is operable to be placed in the unsecure condition via a wireless remote control.
9. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the channel is a first channel centrally located between the open side rails, and said cot fastener track comprises a second channel centrally located between the open side rails and configured to accommodate therein and retain a third fixture of the cot at least vertically and laterally therein, said second channel being located closer than the first channel to the first end.
10. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism is located in the channel.
11. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism is located in at least one of the open side rails.
12. The cot fastening system according to claim 9 , wherein the securing mechanism is located in the second channel.
13. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track is configured to provide power to the cot when secured thereto.
14. The cot fastening system according to claim 1 , wherein the cot fastener track is configured to provide data communications to the cot when secured thereto.
15. A method of fixing and holding within a transport vehicle an emergency cot having wheels mounted thereon, a first fixture and a second fixture, said method comprises:
rolling the cot by the wheels within the transport vehicle having a cot fastener track according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the first fixture is aligned therewith, accommodated therein and guided by the open side rails along the longitudinal length of the cot fastener track towards the first end and then retained adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein, wherein the second fixture is accommodated and retained adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein by the channel, and wherein the securing mechanism automatically in said secure condition prevents both removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixtures from the channel.