US1256219A - Cot or stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

R. S. FREEDMAN & H. H. GOTTSTEIN.

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APPLICATION-,FILED APR. I8. 19H.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

ETE S rafrn'r ernten.

ROBERT S. FREEDIVIAN AND HANS H. GOTTSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N'. Y.

COT 0R STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,852.

To aZZ whom zt may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT S. FREED- MAN, M. D., a citizen of the United States, and HANS H. Go'r'rs'rErN, formerly a subject of the Emperor of Germany, (but having taken out my first naturalization papers in the United States,) both residing in the city of New York, borough of `Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Cot or Stretcher, of which the following is a speeication.

This invention is a cot or stretcher of the type wherein a tent or canopy is provided to protect the occupant against the weather, heat of the sun, insects, etc. Cots or beds of this general character have been heretofore suggested, but are open to many disadvantages, chief among which is the fact that, in the majority of cases, the means associated with the cot or bed for supporting a canopy is of such complex or complicated nature as to render the structure unduly weighty. For the maximum comfort, as well as from the standpoint of maintaining the health of the occupant, it is desirable that the cot be provided with legs for supporting the cot body free from the ground or other supporting surface and, as cots and stretchers are only employed where the use of beds is not feasible because of the ditliculty in transporting the same, it is generally essential that the cot becollapsible into compact form to allow of ready transportation from place to place.

This is particularly true in Army use where the devices must be transported by soldiers or in Army trains, which environment, alinement and compactness are salient requirements. Moreover, for Army use it is absolutely essential that the construction of the cot or stretcher be such that it may be readily assembled and dismantled with ease and dexterity, since, as well known. Army equipment is generally set up by bugle call or command, each private in the regiment having his own particular duties to perform, and each is generally' accomplished simultaneously with the remainder of the men of the regiment or command. Despatch is, therefore, essential and this the structures of the prior art will not allow of. It is true that camping beds have been suggested. both the legs and the canopy supports of which are collapsible to allow of the folding of the bed or cot into a comparatively small space, but the contraptions generally employed for supporting the canopy are bulky, unhandy to manipulate, require considerable skill to properly set up, and under the most favorable conditions the setting up operation requires considerable time. Other canopy covered cots or beds have been used by campers at iixed camps which were not collapsible, but could be taken apart by unscrewing or unjointing portions of the cot. Such constructions, manifestly, require still greater time to assemble than the collapsible structures referred to and are totally unadapted for Army use.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide a canopied cot or stretcher for use in 'the Army, but all of these attempts have failed because of the fact that the devices were either too heavy or could not be extended or compacted with suiiicient celerity.

Vith the foregoing disadvantages in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a cot or stretcher which will fulfil Army requirements; that is to say, the provision of a cot which will be light, may be compaetly folded, will withstand the wear and tear of Army use, and one which may be expeditiously and easily compacted and extended.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, we have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a cot or stretcher embodying the present invention, the parts being shown in this View with the canopy in place.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cot of Fig. 1 with the canopy removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of the plane of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4L is a transverse sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A A designate the two side bars or rails of the cot or stretcher. These side rails support between them the usual sheet of fabric B, which may be secured at its opposite lateral edges in any suitable manner such as by passing said rails through heins formed along said edges.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the same is shown as particularly adapted for use as a stretcher, and for this reason the side rails are extended beyond the ends of the fabric B, and are provided With handles by which the device may be readily transported in the manner generally employed in carrying stretchers. If the structure is to be employed as a cot the extensions of the side rails, beyond the ends of the fabric, may be omitted.

'Ihecot is provided With four legs C, and associated with each is a canopy supporting stanchion D, the legs nd stanchions being positioned at the four corners of the cot to support the side rails above the ground and the canopy above the cot. In order that the cot may be collapsible in the most expeditious manner, thev legs C and the corresponding stanchions D are so formed that the lower end of each stanchion is connected with the upper end of the corresponding` leg. The preferred form of this connection is shown best in Fig. 4, wherein one stanchion is shown as integral at its lower end With the upper end of the corresponding leg.

In the preferred construction, the side rails are slotted, as at E, and through this slot extends a pivot plate d which may be either integral with the stanchion and leg or secured thereto in any suitable manner. In either instance, one leg and stanchion are secured to the pivot plate out of alinement With one another; Portion el is piveted for oscillation within the slot E on a pin al. Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 With'tlie legand stanchion in substantially vertical positions, said leg and stanchion will be out of alincment With one another and the extensions of their axes Will pass at opposite sides of the axis of oscillation ofthe portion (Z.

TheY slot E and portion Z are so relatively shaped that the oscillation of said portion on one direction, to bring the leg and stanchion in vertical positions, will be arrested when the stanchion and leg are substantially vertical, c., when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. Portion Z and slot E may, if desired, be provided with crmplementary shoulders o and e to strengthen the structure and sustain. a greater load When force, tending to oscillate the pivot plate (Z farther than specified, is applied.

Moreover, the leg and stanchion are so associated with ther pivot plate that when said pivot plate is oscillated in the opposite direction, or that to bring the leg and stanchionin upright positions, said leg and stanchion are simultaneously moved to horizontal positions, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, wherein both leg and stanchion extend longitudinally oftheassociatcd side rail and occupy a positionimmediately adjacent thereto. The set up or operative position of the parts is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, from Which it Will appear that, when the stanchions and legs are in upright position, they are out of alinement, and no weight to which fabric B may be subjected can possibly cause the legs or stanchions to foldinto the dot and dash line positions. It is essential, however, to provide means for maintaining the side railsin spaced relation so that the fabric B may support the Weight of a person, and this is accomplishedl by means of spacing rods F, one of which extends across each end of the cot. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, vone end of one of the spacing rods F is hinged to one of the stanchions D, as at j', and is provided at its opposite end with a depending finger f', adapted to enter a pcclet in the upper' face of the opposite side rail. Positioned adjacent the pocket in the side rail is aspring pressed plunger g, the ends of which are adapted to normally enter the depressions in the linger f', for the purpose of locking the finger against removal from the pocket. This plunger g may, however, be manually retracted through the manipulation vof a handle g affixed thereto, for the purpose of releasing the finger to permit of its Withdrawal from the pocket. l hen the fingered end of the spacing rods F are released, they are adapted to be folded into the dot and dash line position of Fig. 3, wherein they WillY lie parallel and in face abutting relation With the stanchions D, to which they are pivoted, so that when said stanchions are folded down upon the side rails the spacing rods F will be simultaneously shifted in a collapsed position therewith.

Each stanchion is preferably provided, at its upper end, with a pin z' adapted to'be readily passed through a gromet, one of Which is positioned at each of the-four corners of a canopy Il to be supported by the four stanchions. The canopy maybe of any suitable material, either Waterproof orl net ting to protect the occupant from tlie Weather or insects, as the case may be, and, if desired, may have a Celluloidv or other transparent insert, notshown.

From what has been said of the structure of this invention, itwill appear that, in setting up or assen'ibling the cot or stretcher, y

the bringing of thel stancliions into vertical position will simultaneously bring the legs associated therewith into like positions, and, ,vhen the stanchions have been brought into the vertical position, the spacing rods F may be readily swung into horizontal'position to maintain the side rails in spaced relation; In collapsing the cot the operation is reversed, the spring pressed plungerg being` irst retracted to release the spacing rodsk F which are thereafter pivotally moved into justaposition with the stanchions to which they are pivoted, and all of jthe stanchions then folded in juxtaposition with the side rails. Thereafter the side rails are brought together or rolled within the fabric B. If desired, the whole may be rolled'within the canopy I after said canopy has been previously folded to allow of this rolling operation under the best conditions. 1f the canopy is of waterproof material, it will serve as a cover to protect the parts of the cot against rain, when in collapsed position.

It will, of course, be understood that the fabric B may be provided at one end with a suitable pillow-flap, as is usual. Moreover, suitable straps, not shown, may be supplied for binding the parts in collapsed position. ln adapting the invention to its various environments, slight modifications may be made from time to time. For example, the canopy is shown as having gromets at its four corners adapted to fit over pins z' at the upper end of the stanchions, after the same manner as the apex of the tent generally coperates with the tent poles. rlhe attachment of the canopy to the stanchions, may, however, be slightly varied if desired, so that it will be secured in place by any well known means. Furthermore, the two stanchions at the foot end of the cot may, if desired, be made a little shorter than the two stanchions at the head end thereof, so that the canopy will more effectually shed rain falling on the top thereof. These details of construction, however, will not materially affect the broad inventive thought of providing a light collapsible canopied cot or stretcher, simple in construction and adapted to be quickly collapsed or extended. The invention is, therefore, not to be understood as restricted to the structural details shown which are for the purpose of illustration only, the invention being as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

From what has been said, it will appear that the present invention is particularly applicable for Army use and especially in the Red Cross branch of the Army. The wounded, during the battle, can be placed immediately upon one of the cots or stretchers of this invention and will lie thereon without touching the ground, and sutticiently high to lie comfortable, and at the same time being protected by the canopy from the sun, rain and insects, as occasion may require, until such time as they can be transported, by motor ambulances or other-y wise, to the hospital base at the rear of the lines. ln times of battle it is frequently hours after the soldiers are wounded before they can be transported to the rear, so that the stretcher or cot of this invention forms a convenient hospital to give the wounded suthcient shelter from the elements and as much comfort as possible during this intervening period. The invention is, thus, very well adapted for this environment, and fills a long felt want which the structures of the prior art have been unable to lill because of their inchoate disadvantages hercinbeforc referred to. The invention is not, however, restricted to Army use since, it may be einployed with very good results by can'ipers or other persons desiring a light collapsible structure, and one which may be readily and expeditiously collapsed or extended.

Having fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabric secured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, means for maintaining the side rails in spaced relation, a plurality'of legs pivotally secured to the side rails for supporting said side .rails above the ground, a canopy, stanchions pivotally secured to the side rails for sup porting the canopy above the fabric, and connections between the legs and stanchions whereby the folding of the stanchions into collapsible position simultaneously causes the folding of the legs into a like position.

2. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabric secured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, connections between each stanchion and the adjacent leg whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positions simultaneously causes a like folding of the legs, and means for spacing the side rails apart.

3. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabric secured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, connections between each stanchion and the adjacent leg, whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positions simultaneously causes a like folding of the legs. and a pair of spacing members, one of which is positioned adjacent to the opposite ends of the fabric for maintaining the side rails in spaced relation.

l. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabric secured along its longitudinal edges to the side rails, a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted t0 be folded into collapsed positions, connections between each stanchion and the .adjacent leg, whereby the folding of the stanchion intoV collapsed` positions simultaneously causes a lilre folding of the legs, and a pair of spacing rods, one end of each rod being pivotally secured to one of the stanchions and the free end of each rod being detachably secured to the opposite spacing member for the purpose of simultaneously maintaining the side rails in spaced relation.

5. A cot or stretcher embodying a pair of side rails, a sheet of fabric secured along its longitudinal edges to theV side rails, a pair of legs pivotally secured to each side rail and .adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, a pair of canopy supporting stanchions pivotally secured to each side rail and adapted to be folded into collapsed positions, connections between each stanchion andthe adjacent leg, whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed positions simultaneously causes a like folding of the legs, and a pair of spacing rods,one end of each rod being pivotally secured to one of the stanchions and the free end of each rod being detachably secured to the opposite spacing member lfor the purpose of simultaneously maintaining the side rails in spaced relation, the free ends of said rods being detachable from the associated side rail to allow of pivotal movement of the rods into juxtaposition on the stanchions on which they are pivoted, whereby the legs, stanchions, and spacing rodsmay be folded into compact relation and the side rails rolled within the fabric.

6. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of pivoted legs, a plurality of pivoted canopy supporting stanchions, the stanchions and legs being connected whereby the folding of either into collapsed position will cause the other to be folded into a like position.

7. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of legs, a pivoted canopyk supporting stanchion associated with each leg, each leg and its associated stanchion being mounted on a common pivot for simultaneous pivotal movement whereby the folding of the stanchion into collapsed position simultaneously causes the folding of the associated leg into a like position.

8. A folding cot or stretcher embodying a plurality of legs, a plurality of pivoted canopy supporting stancliions, connections between the legs and the stanchions whereby the folding of the legs into collapsed position causes the folding of the stanchions into a like position.

9. A. folding cot or stretcher embodying a weight supporting body portion, legs pivoted to the body portion, canopy supporting means pivotally mounted on said body portion, the legs and canopy supporting means being operatively connected whereby the folding of the legs into a collapsed position causes a simultaneous folding ofthe canopy supporting means into a like position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification. v

RGBERT S. FREEDMAN, M. D. HANS H. GOTTSTElN.

@oplei o thin patent muy be obtained tor ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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