Abstract: A stair chair is provided and includes a seat 30, a backrest 34, a foot rest 32, upper handles 84 and lower handles 82. Three wheels 62 are mounted at each side of the chair. The wheels are pivotal about their own axis and also a common axis. Rotation about the common axis can be braked or locked. The chair can be lowered downstairs with a person pulling on the upper handle 84 and another person pushing on the lower handles 82 in order to slow movement of the chair down the stairs.

Abstract: IV pole having mounted at an upper end a holding assembly comprising a head and a plunger, and at a lower end a docking assembly. The head on an upper portion includes at least two opposed upwardly extending projections suitably for hanging IV fluid containers. The plunger is movable between an extended position in which the plunger is held a distance above the height of the projections, and a retracted position in which the plunger is proximate to the projections such that removal of IV fluid containers hung on the projections is prevented. The smooth profile of the head and plunger greatly reduces the risk of the IV pole getting snagged on an obstruction or causing injury to rescue personnel. The docking assembly permits the IV pole to be removably secured to a docking port provided to a structural member and to be lowered to a stowed position.

Abstract: A height-adjustable cart is provided and includes an undercarriage having a wheeled frame, a double scissor-type lift mechanism and a support frame which is height-adjustable relative to the wheeled frame by the lift mechanism. The wheeled frame includes a pair of extendable rear wheel supports which are each pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position. While in the retracted position, the wheels are in close proximity to the frame, thereby defining a small cart “footprint” for compact storage. While in the extended position, the wheels extend transversely away from the frame, thereby widening the cart “footprint” for stability and for ease of transportation. The height-adjustable cart further includes a detachable table onto which heavy equipment may be loaded. The detachable table includes wheels suitable for carrying the weight of the equipment and for transporting the heavy equipment thereon separate from the undercarriage.

Abstract: An emergency extrication collar including a flexible band for encircling the wearer's neck, and a chin support member which may be readily adjusted in elevation with respect to the band so as to permit adjustment to fit patients having varying neck sizes. The chin support member is connected to the band by means of a post which is slidably connected to a vertical strap on the band, and such that the elevation of the chin support member above the post, and thus the neck size of the collar, may be adjusted by simply sliding the post and chin support upwardly to any selected size between the size extremes. A pawl and ratchet interconnection between the post and strap precludes movement in the opposite direction. The collar is secured in its adjusted size by means of a locking arm which is pivotally mounted on the post, and movement of the locking arm to its release position also releases the pawl and ratchet interconnection.

Abstract: A stretcher comprised of a roller base, a scissor-type lift frame having a lower end rotatably connected to the base, a tubular undercarriage rotatably and slidably connected to an upper end of the frame, a foldable rigid support positionable over the undercarriage, a soft, foldable cushion positionable over the support and connected thereto to prevent disassociation therefrom, and first and second side-arm supports rotatably connected to the undercarriage. The lift frame includes left and right side assemblies, each side assembly having a fixed-length leg member and a telescoping variable-length leg member, both of which are rotatably connected to the base, and rotatably and/or slidably connected to the undercarriage. The leg members of each side assembly are connected to one another at their respective mid-sections by a joint, and are rotatable with respect to one another along an axis of the joint, which is offset from the member's central axes.

Abstract: A reclinable ambulance cot used to load a patient into the back of an ambulance is provided. The cot includes a wheeled collapsible undercarriage carrying an articulated bed frame comprised of a leg segment, seat segment, and wheeled back segment. The articulated bed frame may be moved between an inclined, fully-reclined position, a chair position, and a plurality of positions therebetween. A lockable biasing device assists in the transition by urging the bed frame segments from the chair position to the fully-reclined position. The back segment further includes a pair of loading wheels at the ends of side extensions such that when the cot is in the inclined, fully-reclined position the loading wheels are at height sufficient to facilitate loading the reclined cot into the back of an ambulance, and in particular, into the back of an ambulance having a high transport deck.

Abstract: A trolley 10 can be moved between a raised position and a lowered position. The trolley is usually in the lowered position when it is put into an ambulance. A magnet 252 is secured to one connecting leg of the trolley and a counter 258 is connected to the top frame 16 of the trolley. When the trolley is moved to a lower position the magnet 252 comes in close proximity to the counter 258 and a count is recorded. The recorded count gives an indication of the number of times that the trolley has been raised and lowered.

Abstract: A fitting is provided which facilitates the loading of a stretcher onto a platform, such as the bay of an ambulance. The fitting includes a pivotable mounting having a trailing larger diameter wheel and a leading smaller diameter wheel. Pivoting is such that the leading wheel is adapted to ride up onto the platform and then pivot downwardly allowing the trailing wheel to ride up over the rear edge of the platform as the stretcher is pushed into the ambulance. A skid block is preferably formed integrally with the mounting.

Abstract: An extendable hand control for a stretcher undercarriage (10) which has height adjustable legs (11, 12). It comprises a handle (19) fitted to an end of a tube (20), slidable within an undercarriage frame member (21). The handle has an associated lever (15) which operates a control cable (14) for adjusting the height of the height adjustable legs (11, 12) . The arrangement includes a locking bar (26) within the slidable tube (20) which sets the maximum extendable position of the handle and the fully retractable position of the handle.

Abstract: A fastening track, a cot transport vehicle adapted to securely receive the fastening track, and a cot fastening system incorporating the cot fastening track are provided. At least two track securing members extend from the lower surface of the fastening track and are received in a self-centering aperture of a mounting assembly provided within a support surface of a transport vehicle. The fastening track comprises a frame including a spanner which is resistant to thermal expansion. A locking mechanism is provided including a convenient a latch disengagement member. The fastening track also includes a track clamping mechanism comprising a safety flag movable between a secured position and an unsecured position. The safety flag prevents inadvertent disengagement of the track from the vehicle and improper loading of a cot onto the vehicle. A stop cam is provided on the track to prevent inadvertent unloading of the cot from the track.

Abstract: A stretcher table assembly is provided for attachment over an ambulance stretcher. The stretcher table assembly includes a tray for securing medical equipment used during an emergency. A pair of legs extend away from the tray and include attachment members for engaging the rails of the stretcher. The attachment members may include anti-skidding members providing frictional resistance between the attachment members and the rails. The legs are secured to the rails through a flexible strap. The flexible strap may be wrapped around the rail and secured. The flexible strap may also be used in conjunction with a hook which engages the rail. The flexible strap is then secured to hold the stretcher table assembly in place over the stretcher.

Abstract: A cot incorporating an cot mounted armrest is provided. The cot mounted arm rest includes a cot frame attaching member, an arm board, and a pivot assembly coupling the attaching member and the arm board. The cot frame attaching member is attached to a backrest frame of the cot and is movable along a portion of the backrest frame. The cot frame attaching member and an arm board are mechanically coupled via an arm board release mechanism. The pivot assembly includes a first pivot assembly portion mechanically coupled to the cot frame attaching member and a second pivot assembly portion mechanically coupled to the arm board. The pivot assembly permits movement of the arm board between an extended arm board position and a retracted arm board position. The extended arm board position is characterized by contact of a frame engaging surface of the arm board with a guardrail frame portion of the cot.

Abstract: An undercarriage, particularly for stretchers, which has multi-height adjustment and does not need to be manually raised or lowered by the attendant when being loaded into, or unloaded from, an ambulance. The undercarriage includes a rectangular support structure, a wheeled height adjustable framework having first and second pairs of collapsible legs, and a height actuating mechanism. The height actuating mechanism comprises one or more ties connected to the first and second pairs of legs and to the support structure which are retractable or extendable so as to extend or collapse the first and second pairs of legs to thereby adjust the height of the support structure.

Abstract: A roll-in cot is provided and includes a rectangular undercarriage including a pair of side frame members and a pair of transverse frame members, downwardly extending supports affixed at respective corners of the rectangular undercarriage, and undercarriage wheels attached to the downwardly extending supports to provide high ground clearance for the undercarriage. The cot also includes a cot frame having a pair of opposing side frame members and a pair of supports extending downwardly from each of the opposing side frame members. The opposite ends of the supports are secured to a transverse member having a pair of load wheels thereon. Coacting pairs of complementary cross-forming frame members extend between and interconnect the cot frame and the undercarriage.

Abstract: An adjustable roll-in ambulance cot having adjusting mechanisms which require less maintenance than previous designs and which will operate smoothly and consistently in use is provided. The adjustable roll-in cot includes a cot frame having a leading end, a trailing end, and a pair of opposing side frame members. The cot is supported by leading and trailing pairs of collapsible legs having respective upper ends connected to the cot frame and lower ends including transport wheels thereon for transport of the cot. Mechanisms are also provided for adjusting the height of the cot frame relative to the transport wheels and for latching the cot frame into a plurality of predetermined positions for patient transfer and loading.

Abstract: A personal extraction cart for supporting and restraining a person to facilitate movement of that person from an extrication point, wherein the cart includes a frame having a support surface. The support surface has upper and lower faces and a leg support portion and a back support portion defining a longitudinal length with oppositely disposed longitudinal edges. The leg and back support portions have a use position in which the upper faces of each of those portions are angled relative to each other along the longitudinal length of the frame. Wheels are preferably attached below the support surface for facilitating movement of the cart in its transportation position.

Abstract: A system for securing stretchers in ambulances and the like. The system has three parts: a part for mounting on the floor near the door through which the stretcher is passed, a part for mounting on the floor forwardly of the door mounting part, and an interconnecting mechanism. The part near the door is manipulable by a handle and includes a hooking member. The forwardly located part includes fixed and pivotal angled restraints which lock onto the undercarriage of the stretcher, and the interconnecting mechanism enables disengagement of the stretcher when the handle is manipulated. The system meets the DRAFT SPECIFICATION TO GOVERN THE STRETCHER RETENTION SYSTEM FOR AUSTRALIAN AMBULANCES.