Claims:We Claim:
1. A stretcher trolley comprising:
Base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley;
Foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system;
a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley; and
Foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg,
wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement.

2. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stretcher is designed to meet the requirements of Automotive Industries standards which specifies constructional and functional requirements for road ambulances.

3. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg folding, and unfolding mechanism is independent for front two legs and rear two legs and actuated by hand lever placed just below the grab handle.

4. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding of front legs and subsequently the rear legs sequentially is managed by the attendant loading the stretcher on the vehicle as per his/her discretion and does not have to put efforts to keep the stretcher suspended at ambulance vehicle floor level because the rear wheel still remains on ground to provide support.

5. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher trolley is having a foldable ramp along with plurality of support system which enable said stretcher to communize for different vehicle floor heights.

6. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher trolley is having pair of wheels in front at fixed and inclined position enabling pushing the stretcher on vehicle platform gradually without the jerk.

7. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collapsible side rails are remaining locked in raised condition unless the unlocking trigger is operated to collapse the rail and while disembarking the patient from stretcher on to the bed or ground the side rail is collapsed to stretcher matters level.

8. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stretcher trolley has a height of 879 mm from floor whereas it collapses to 310 mm from floor enabling providing ease of embarking of patient on stretcher.

9. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher is having quick mechanism to convert in the stretcher trolley and pushed the same in the ambulance and pulled it out quickly while reaching to hospital in a very shortest possible time.

10. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher is having a minimum of the two 360-degree swivel wheels fitted with a foot brake at the foot end and at least two wheels at front to provide smooth mobility of said stretcher.

11. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher trolley is also adapted to use inside the hospital, in ICU or inter departmental patient transfer.

12. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher trolley is having all kind of patient support during transit including hangers for glucose or blood pouch for immediate intravenous transfusion.

13. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped for the transport of patients who are not expected to become emergency patients.

14. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for the transport and treatment of patients requiring non-invasive airway management / basic monitoring.

15. The stretcher as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for transport and treatment of emergency patients requiring invasive airway management / intensive monitoring. , Description:EMERGENCY STRETCHER TROLLY

Field of the Invention
In general, the invention relates to a stretcher for body transfer. In more particular, the present invention provides a stretcher trolleys specially designed for transferring casualties to the hospital in an ambulance.

Background of the Invention
The stretcher is being used since early 19th century and kept improving the design based on the requirement of its use. Primarily the design Designs of the stretcher depend upon the factors such as nature of casualty, evacuation methods, climate/terrains and mode of transport.

A stretcher which can be used for transporting the patients in ambulance car plays a very important role and should require customised design. It should be properly mounted in the ambulance car and should have flexibility of adjusting the height as per patient requirement. Smoothness during loading and unloading the patients and so on.

Various work is going on to improve the utility of the stretcher such as the frame design, folding mechanism, stretcher lifting mechanisms, material and other structural and functional aspects of the stretcher. Also, the stretcher used for ambulance car has been variously improved, however, these improvements are still not enough to fulfil the requirements and still have some issues such as not having proper locking mechanism, movement of the wheels, smoothness and quick while transfer the patients etc.

Therefore, there is still requirement to work in the design improvement of the stretcher and accordingly, with exhaustive research work the above described problems are met by the present invention.

Summary of the Invention
It is principal objective of the present invention is to provide an improved design of stretcher trolley which enable Body transfer and suitability for ICU causalities, wherein said stretcher trolleys are mainly designed for transferring casualties to the hospital in an ambulance.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher adapted to convert into stretcher trolley and pushed in the ambulance within shortest possible time with single attendant.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher which automatically comes on wheels by itself getting converted to trolley and can be taken inside the hospital at desired location very quickly.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher adapted to use as a stretcher trolley inside the hospital in ICU or inter departmental patient transfer.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher adapted to transport patients who are not expected to become emergency patients.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher adapted to transport and treatment of patients requiring non-invasive airway management / basic monitoring.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved stretcher adapted to transport and treatment of emergency patients requiring invasive airway management / intensive monitoring.

The above and other objectives of the present invention are achieved according to the following embodiments of the present invention. However, the disclosed embodiments are exemplary based on the preferred and best mode of the invention and not limit the scope of the present invention.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement, wherein, wherein the leg folding, and unfolding mechanism is independent for front two legs and rear two legs and actuated by hand lever placed just below the grab handle and wherein the folding of front legs and subsequently the rear legs sequentially is managed by the attendant loading the stretcher on the vehicle as per his/her discretion and does not have to put efforts to keep the stretcher suspended at ambulance vehicle floor level because the rear wheel still remains on ground to provide support.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher is having quick mechanism to convert in the stretcher trolley and pushed the same in the ambulance and pulled it out quickly while reaching to hospital in a very shortest possible time.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher is having a minimum of the two 360-degree swivel wheels fitted with a foot brake 1) at the foot end and at least two wheels at front to provide smooth mobility of said stretcher.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher trolley is having all kind of patient support during transit including hangers for glucose or blood pouch for immediate intravenous transfusion.

In accordance with one other preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped for the transport of patients who are not expected to become emergency patients.

In accordance with one other preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for the transport and treatment of patients requiring non-invasive airway management/basic monitoring.

In accordance with one other preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher trolley comprising a base frame secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, foam mattress with two foldable joints secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and foldable leg with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement and wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for transport and treatment of emergency patients requiring invasive airway management/intensive monitoring.
These and other embodiments, processes and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read with the accompanying drawing figures. However, both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description of it represent one potential embodiment and are not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings
To illustrate the solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings needed for describing the embodiments are introduced below briefly. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following descriptions merely show some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and persons skilled in the art may obtain other drawings according to the accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

Figure1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the complete Stretcher trolley.
Figure2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the folded ramp of Stretcher trolley.
Figure3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the leg folding mechanism of the stretcher trolley.
Figure4 illustrates a schematic diagram of the Stretcher trolley having all kind of patient support.

Detailed Description of the Invention
The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a disclosure is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

The stretcher according to the present invention, is designed to meet the requirements of Automotive Industries standards which specifies constructional and functional requirements for road ambulances, wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped for the transport of patients who are not expected to become emergency patients, wherein said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for the transport and treatment of patients requiring non-invasive airway management / basic monitoring and also said stretcher is having plurality of supporting system and equipped and appropriately staffed for transport and treatment of emergency patients requiring invasive airway management / intensive monitoring.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an improved stretcher design, which is designed to meet the requirements of Automotive Industries standards which specifies constructional and functional requirements for road ambulances wherein the current stretcher is capable of providing support for B&C type ambulances and also D type of road ambulances. Referring Figure 1, the stretcher trolley comprising Base frame 101 secured to the vehicle floor for retaining & locking the stretcher trolley, Foam mattress with two foldable joints 102 secure to stretcher trolley with fastening system, a collapsible side rail, shown as raised 103 provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley and Foldable leg 104 with trolley having swivel caster wheels (two with brake) leg folding assigned by manually operated legs, individually for front & rear leg, wherein the folding and unfolding mechanism 105 is based on toggle lever mechanism assisted by springs which enable the legs to not fold when in unfold condition due to this mechanical locking arrangement, wherein the leg folding, and unfolding mechanism is independent for front two legs and rear two legs and actuated by hand lever 106 placed just below the grab handle 107. Further the said stretcher as mentioned according to the invention is having quick mechanism 112 to convert in the stretcher trolley and pushed the same in the ambulance and pulled it out quickly while reaching to hospital in a very shortest possible time.

According to the present invention, for the better mobility of the stretcher the code specifies the use of typical wheels ‘The undercarriage shall be fitted with 4 wheels with a diameter of at least 100 mm. There shall be a minimum of the two 360-degree swivel fitted with a foot brake 113 at the foot end and at least two wheels 114 at front to provide smooth mobility of said stretcher.

Referring Figure 2, the stretcher trolley according to the present invention is communized for different vehicle floor heights. This is done by providing suitable foldable ramp 109 along with the stretcher system along with plurality of support system which enable said stretcher to communize for different vehicle floor heights. This is fixed in the vehicle. The attendant opens the rear doors of the ambulance and unfold the ramp to lower level than the loading height. Thus, the stretcher trolley wheels travel on the ramp before entering in the vehicle.

The stretcher has got pair of wheels 110 in front at fixed and inclined position with a strong bracket. This feature helps to push the stretcher on vehicle platform gradually without the jerk. The safety belt has been provided to secure the patient on to the stretcher preventing accidental falls from stretcher. Collapsible side rails are provided on either side of the stretcher as safety after the patient is transferred on the stretcher trolley. These remain locked on raised condition unless the unlocking trigger 116 is operated to collapse the rail 111. While disembarking the patient from stretcher on to the bed or ground the side rail can be collapsed to stretcher matters level.

In general, most of these stretcher trolleys have folding features for legs. Each one can be different than others. For example, few high-end stretchers have battery operated leg folding mechanism. Few mechanicals have all four-leg folding mechanism simultaneously triggered just after one end of the stretcher enters the vehicle, whereas referring Figure 3, the present invention provides a manual leg folding mechanism which is independent for front two legs and rear two legs actuated by hand lever placed just below the grab handle. The folding of front legs 108 and subsequently the rear legs sequentially is managed by the attendant loading the stretcher on the vehicle as per his/her discretion. In other words, the attendant folds the front and rear legs as soon as they hit the vehicle platform, thus it provides built-in-safety of dropping the stretcher on ground in legs folded condition. In addition to this the attendant does not have to put efforts to keep the stretcher suspended at ambulance vehicle floor level because the rear wheel still remains on ground to provide support.
Referring Figure 4, the stretcher trolley is having all kind of patient support during transit including hangers 115 for glucose or blood pouch for immediate intravenous transfusion. Further the stretcher trolleys are mainly designed for transferring causalities to the hospital in an ambulance. The stretcher trolley has a height of 879 mm from floor. However, it can be collapsed to 310 mm from floor, thus providing ease of embarking of patient on stretcher. The stretcher gets converted to stretcher trolley and it is pushed in the ambulance within shortest possible time with single attendant. Similarly, after reaching hospital the stretcher is pulled out quickly, which automatically comes on wheels by itself getting converted to trolley which can be taken inside the hospital at desired location without any time delay.

The use of stretcher trolley inside the hospital in ICU or inter departmental patient transfer is also possible.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, some embodiments have been illustrated by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail above. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention by those examples and the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives to the embodiments described in this specification.

The embodiments in the specification are described in a progressive manner and focus of description in each embodiment is the difference from other embodiments. For same or similar parts of each embodiment, reference may be made to each other.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above description was in respect of preferred embodiments and that various alterations and modifications are possible within the broad scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention with the necessary modifications.

Based on the description of disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art can implement or apply the present disclosure. Various modifications of the embodiments are apparent to persons skilled in the art, and general principles defined in the specification can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments in the specification but intends to cover the most extensive scope consistent with the principle and the novel features disclosed in the specification.