AMBULANCE COT AND LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEM

• US 20110080016A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Souke, Chad, Cox, Robert, Nahavandi, Kurosh, Downey, Adam, Lambarth, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/00 Stretchers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/02 with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0212 2 pairs having wheels within a pair on the same position in longitudinal direction, e.g. on the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0237 having at least one swivelling wheel, e.g. castors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0262 having loading wheels situated in the front during loading
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0293 stretcher supports with wheels, e.g. used for stretchers without wheels stretcher supports without wheels A61G1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/0567 folding in x-shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/06 Supports for stretchers, e.g. to be placed in or on vehicles A61G1/0293 takes precedence; supports fixed to a vehicle A61G3/02 - A61G3/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/44 for weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0236 by pivoting the support about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0254 by moving the stretcher on a horizontal path, e.g. sliding or rolling
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0272 by support protruding from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/029 by powered support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0833 using other support
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0875 Securing stretchers, e.g. fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0883 by preventing lateral movement, e.g. tracks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/0891 by preventing longitudinal movement
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0214 Articles of special size, shape or weigh
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/0283 : Position of the load carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 : Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2812/12 : Conveyors with reciprocating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2814/0302 : Central control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/06 : comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/04 : Loading land vehicles loading or unloading boats to or from land vehicles B60P3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/24 : Unloading land vehicles

Abstract

An ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus includes a base for mounting to an emergency vehicle deck and an arm mounted for linear movement along the base, which is configured for engaging an ambulance cot. A drive mechanism is provided for raising the arm, which is configured in the presence of an applied force with a first magnitude on the arm to raise the arm at a first speed and in the presence of an applied force on the arm with a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude to raise the arm at another speed or speeds lower than the first speed.

Claims

1. An ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus comprising:

a base for mounting to an emergency vehicle deck;

an arm mounted for linear movement along said base and configured for engaging an ambulance cot; and

a drive mechanism configured for raising said arm, and said drive mechanism being configured in the presence of an applied force with a first magnitude on said arm to raise said arm at a first speed and in the presence of an applied force on said arm with a second magnitude greater than said first magnitude to raise said arm at another speed or speeds lower than said first speed.

2. The ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first magnitude is approximately zero.

3. The ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second magnitude comprises a magnitude greater than zero.

4. The ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control system, said control system actuating said drive mechanism, said control being configured to detect the presence of the applied force on said arm, when detecting the presence of the applied force with said first magnitude on said arm said control system actuating said drive mechanism to raise said arm at said first speed and when detecting the presence of the applied force with said second magnitude on said arm said control system actuating said drive mechanism to raise said arm at another speed or speeds.

5. An ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprising:

a cot having a head end;

a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle;

a track mounted for linear movement along said base;

an arm mounted for linear movement along said track from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to engage said cot; and

wherein when said track is extended along said base and said arm is extended along said track said arm is extended from said base in an extended position and is configured for lifting said cot and providing cantilevered support to said cot while in said extended position.

6. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 5, wherein said cot has a footprint, said track being within said footprint of said cot at least at said head end of said cot when said cot is engaged by said arm and retracted along said base to said fully retracted position.

7. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 5, further comprising a drive mechanism for raising or lowering said arm.

8. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 7, wherein said arm includes a plurality of bearings for engaging the emergency vehicle deck when said arm is moved along said base but not engaged with an ambulance cot.

9. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 7, wherein said arm is pivotally mounted to a frame, said frame mounted for linear movement along said track.

10. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 7, said track including at least one latch, which is configured to allow the arm to fully traverse the track before said track moves relative to the base

11. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 7, further comprising a series of latches, one of said latches being adapted to lock said track to said base and another of said latches being adapted to lock said arm to said track, and said latches being adapted to selectively disengage and engage to allow said arm to move relative to said track while said track is locked to said base but to allow said track to be unlocked from said base and instead locked to said arm so that said arm and said trolley move in unison along said base.

12. The ambulance cot loading and unloading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said arm and said frame form a trolley, said cot including a pair of pins at a head end of said cot, said trolley being adapted to releasably engage said pins to thereby engage said cot.

13. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 12, wherein said trolley includes a pair of latches for engaging said pins.

14. The ambulance cot unloading and loading system according to claim 13, further comprising a control system, said control system adapted to selectively unlatch said latches.

15. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 14, wherein said control system includes a wireless transmitter, and said trolley includes a control system with a receiver for receiving a signal from said wireless transmitter.

16. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system according to claim 15, wherein said control system of said trolley controls said drive mechanism based on a signal from said control system of said cot.

17. An ambulance cot and loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprising:

a cot having a cot-based controller and a cot-based user input device in communication with said cot-based controller;

a cot loading and unloading apparatus comprising;

a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle;

an arm mounted for linear movement along said base from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to engage said cot;

a drive mechanism for raising said arm for engaging said cot; and

a loading and unloading apparatus-based controller, said loading and unloading apparatus-based controller configured for controlling said drive mechanism; and

when said cot is loaded onto said loading and unloading apparatus said cot-based controller configured for controlling said drive mechanism and forming a primary controller for controlling said drive mechanism, and said loading and unloading apparatus-based controller becoming a slave controller to said primary controller.

18. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 17, wherein said cot loading and unloading apparatus further comprises a loading and unloading apparatus-based user input device in communication with said loading and unloading apparatus-based controller, said loading and unloading apparatus-based user input device being configured to allow control of said drive mechanism even when said cot is loaded onto said loading and unloading apparatus to thereby provide redundant controls.

19. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 17, wherein said cot loading and unloading assembly having a latch for engaging said cot, said cot-based controller configured for actuating said latch when said cot is loaded on to said loading and unloading system.

20. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 17, wherein said cot also includes a communication system for communicating with a communication system on said loading and unloading apparatus.

21. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 20, wherein said cot-based communication system is wireless.

22. The ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system according to claim 21, wherein said wireless communication system comprises an RF communication system.

23. A method of loading and unloading an ambulance cot having a collapsible and extendable wheeled base thereon into a cargo area of an ambulance, said method comprising:

moving an ambulance cot adjacent an opening to the cargo area of an ambulance;

lowering or lifting a lifting device at a first speed when no applied load is on the lifting device; and

lifting or lowering the ambulance cot with the lifting device at another speed or speeds lower than the first speed when a load greater then zero is applied on the lifting device.

24. A method of loading and loading an ambulance cot, said method comprising:

moving an ambulance cot having a head end adjacent a cargo area of an emergency vehicle;

mounting a base having a length to a deck of the cargo area of the emergency vehicle;

moving a lifting device along the base over a greater range of motion than the length of the base wherein the lifting device can be extended from the emergency vehicle; and

lifting or lowering the cot when the lifting device is moved outside the emergency vehicle.