초록 ▼

A stretcher carrier is provided for transporting and stabilizing sick and injured patients. The carrier can be quickly converted between a folded, storage configuration and operational configurations. The carrier includes a folding foot prop and a foot prop locking and release mechanism for changing

A stretcher carrier is provided for transporting and stabilizing sick and injured patients. The carrier can be quickly converted between a folded, storage configuration and operational configurations. The carrier includes a folding foot prop and a foot prop locking and release mechanism for changing the position of the foot prop. The carrier may also include conventional bicycle-type wheels or special all-terrain wheels.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A stretcher carrier comprising: a stretcher platform for supporting a stretcher in a substantially horizontal position; a wheel support connected to the stretcher platform; at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support; a foot prop support pivotally attached to the wheel su

I claim: 1. A stretcher carrier comprising: a stretcher platform for supporting a stretcher in a substantially horizontal position; a wheel support connected to the stretcher platform; at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support; a foot prop support pivotally attached to the wheel support and attached to the stretcher platform; a foot prop pivotally attached to the foot prop support, wherein the foot prop is pivotable between a downward, extended position for supporting the stretcher carrier on a ground surface, and an upward position in which the foot prop is pivoted upward and away from the ground surface for transporting the stretcher on the stretcher carrier; a locking plate arranged to engage retaining edges of the foot prop to maintain the foot prop in the downward, extended position; and at least one spring attached to the wheel support and the foot prop, wherein the at least one spring applies tension force to the foot prop; and a foot prop release pedal arranged to disengage the locking plate from the retaining edges upon being pushed such that the at least one spring pivots the foot prop from the downward, extended position to the upward position. 2. The stretcher carrier of claim 1, wherein the foot prop support is releasably attached to the stretcher platform by fasteners, wherein each of said fasteners includes a threaded knob and a mating threaded bolt, and wherein each of said fasteners is arranged to secure the foot prop support to the stretcher platform with one to two 360 degree twists of the threaded knob on the threaded bolt. 3. The stretcher carrier of claim 1, wherein the stretcher carrier is arranged to be converted to a collapsed storage configuration in which the wheel support and the foot prop support are substantially parallel to the stretcher platform the foot prop is folded in a closed scissor position against the foot prop support. 4. The stretcher carrier of claim 1, wherein the foot prop is pivotable to a folded, closed scissor position against the foot prop support for converting the stretcher carrier to a storage configuration, and wherein the at least one spring is attached to the foot prop by a safety braking mechanism that relieves tension in the at least one spring when the foot prop is in the folded, closed scissor position. 5. The stretcher carrier of claim 4, wherein the safety braking mechanism comprises: a retaining pin on the foot prop support; a connecting pin on the foot prop; and a steel cord connected to the at least one spring and the connecting pin, and extending over the retaining pin. 6. A stretcher carrier comprising: a stretcher platform for supporting a stretcher in a substantially horizontal position; a wheel support connected to the stretcher platform; at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support; a foot prop support pivotally attached to the wheel support and attached to the stretcher platform; a foot prop pivotally attached to the foot prop support and arranged to support the stretcher carrier on a ground surface, wherein the foot prop is pivotable to a folded, closed scissor position against the foot prop support for converting the stretcher carrier to a storage configuration; at least one spring that applies a tension force to urge the foot prop to a position for supporting the stretcher carrier on the ground surface; and a safety braking system that relieves tension in the at least one spring when the foot prop is in the folded, closed scissor position against the foot prop support. 7. The stretcher carrier of claim 6, wherein the safety braking mechanism comprises: a retaining pin on the foot prop support; a connecting pin on the foot prop; and a steel cord connected to the at least one spring and the connecting pin, and extending over the retaining pin. 8. A stretcher carrier comprising: a frame arranged to support a stretcher; an axle received in axle holes in the frame; wheels rotatably mounted on the axle; and a pair of retaining pins disposed at opposite ends of the axle, wherein said retaining pins are arranged to retain the wheels on the axle when inserted in retaining pin holes in the axle, wherein said retaining pins are attached to lanyars that are attached to a bungee cord within the axle, wherein the retaining pins are sized to fit partially inside the ends of the axle, and wherein the retaining pins are held near the ends of the axle under tension of the bungee cord when removed from the retaining pin holes in the axle and partially inserted in the ends of the axle. 9. The stretcher carrier of claim 8, further comprising a fastening pin received in fastening pin holes in the axle and the frame, wherein said fastening pin prevents rotation and sliding of the axle when inserted in the fastening pin holes. 10. The sketcher carrier of claim 9, wherein the fastening pin is attached to the frame by a lanyard. 11. a stretcher platform for supporting a stretcher in a substantially horizontal position; a wheel support connected to the stretcher platform; at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support; a foot prop support pivotally attached to the wheel support and attached to the stretcher platform; a foot prop pivotally attached to the foot prop support for supporting the stretcher carrier on a ground surface, wherein the foot prop is pivotable between a downward, extended position for supporting the stretcher carrier on a ground surface, and an upward position in which the foot prop is pivoted upward and away from the ground surface for transporting the stretcher on the stretcher carrier; a locking plate arranged to engage retaining edges of the foot prop to maintain the foot prop in the downward, extended position; and at least one spring attached to the wheel support and the foot prop, wherein, when the foot prop is rotated from the upward position past the extended, downward position and is thereafter released, the at least one spring applies tension force to the foot prop to urge the foot prop against the locking plate and thereby position the foot prop in the downward, extended position. 12. A stretcher carrier comprising: a stretcher platform for supporting a stretcher in a substantially horizontal position; a wheel support connected to the stretcher platform; at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support; a foot prop support pivotally attached to the wheel support and attached to the stretcher platform; a foot prop pivotally attached to the foot prop support for supporting the stretcher carrier on a ground surface; and stretcher clamps, each of said stretcher clamps comprising a threaded knob and a threaded, hooked arm for engaging a stretcher arm, wherein each of said stretcher clamps is arranged to secure the stretcher arm by turning of the threaded knob onto the threaded, hooked arm.