GB2395665A

GB2395665A - Folding stretcher

Info

Publication number: GB2395665A
Application number: GB0227759A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Stuart-Smith
Original assignee: ASTOR BANNERMAN
Current assignee: ASTOR BANNERMAN
Priority date: 2002-11-28
Filing date: 2002-11-28
Publication date: 2004-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-28
Also published as: GB2395665B; GB0227759D0

Abstract

A stretcher 8 with mounts 9 which may be attached to a fixed object, which pivots about a first axis from a stowed position to a usable position. The patient receiving surface 10 has a hinge 12 along an axis parallel to the first axis to fold it in half. The stretcher may be constructed from a frame 11 and taut sheet 10. Preferably the stretcher 8 has releasable retaining means to lock it in the stowed position, and detent means 13 to lock it in the usable position. Abutment means may be provided to prevent the patient receiving surface 10 folding in more than one direction. The stretcher may be hinged and folded lengthways, or alternatively breadthways when it may also function as a back rest. The stretcher may be mounted to a bath or wall, to assist in washing, dressing or examining patients.

Description

STRETCHER

The present invention relates to stretchers. More particularly it relates to wall and bath mounted stretchers.

There are already known stretchers that attach to a fixed object, typically a wall or bath, and fold down from a stowed position to a use position in which a patient can be laid on the stretcher for washing, dressing or examination. Such stretchers typically measure around 700 x 1900mm. A folding stretcher allows efficient use of space by allowing it to be stowed out of the way when not in use. If the stretcher is mounted over a bath there is a second advantage in that the bath can double as a water collection tray, both while washing the patient and also while drying them, possibly after using the bath for washing.

A problem arises when using the stretcher to dry disabled patients after they have used the bath. A disabled patient will be lifted into and out of the bath using a hoist.

It will be seen that, if the stretcher is to be folded down to dry the patient, it will be necessary to move them away from the bath while the stretcher is folded down.

Typically, this will involve taking a wet, naked patient hanging in a sling and pushing them either along the track of a track hoist or across the floor in a wheeled mobile hoist. This lacks dignity for the patient, can put strains on the caret - particularly as patients get heavier - and also gets water on the floor.

There is already known a removable stretcher which can be laid onto the top of a bath and retained in that position. If the patient is hoisted up straight above the bath, this stretcher can be slipped into place under the patient and the patient then lowered straight back down onto the stretcher. This stretcher avoids the need to move the patient, keeps the floor dry and is not such a challenge to dignity. However, it provides a stowage problem of its own and also can put a strain on the carer's back in the operation of slipping it under the patient.

According to the present invention there is provided a stretcher comprising a surface adapted to receive a patient and mounting means mountable to a fixed object to allow the said surface to pivot about a first axis from a stowed position to a use position, wherein the said surface is itself also foldable approximately in half along an axis parallel to the first axis.

According to another aspect of the same invention there is provided a bath including a stretcher comprising a surface adapted to receive a patient and mounting means mounted to the bath and allowing the said surface to pivot about a first axis from a stowed position to a use position over the bath, wherein the said surface is itself also foldable approximately in half along an axis parallel to the first axis.

Preferably the stretcher includes releasable retaining means to hold it in a stowed position. Preferably the stretcher includes abutment means such that the said surface is foldable in one direction only.

The invention will now be described more fully, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows a known stretcher in its use position Figure 2 shows a known stretcher in its stowed position Figure 3 shows a first stretcher embodying the invention in its stowed position Figure 4 shows a first stretcher embodying the invention in its use position Figure 5 shows a second stretcher embodying the invention in its stowed position and Figure 6 shows a second stretcher embodying the invention in its use position.

Figure 1 shows a bath (1) with a stretcher (2) of known design mounted to it. The stretcher includes mounting means (3) which mount the stretcher to the bath along its long edge and a surface (4) adapted to receive a patient who may, for example, be washed or dried or changed on the surface. In the example shown the surface comprises a coated nylon sheet (5) stretched tautly within a stainless steel perimeter frame (6). The nylon sheet may include holes (not shown) to allow water to drain through. In the use position the stretcher surface is supported by the rim of the bath as shown. Figure 2 shows the stretcher of Figure 1 in its stowed position The surface has pivoted around an axis provided by the mounting means (3) to move it off the bath rim and into an upright position. In the example shown, the stretcher is retained in an upright position by releasable retaining means, in this case provided by an over-centre spring (7) Figure 3 shows in its stowed position a first stretcher (8) embodying the invention.

lathe stretcher comprises mounting means (9) which mount the stretcher to the bath along its long edge and a surface comprising a coated nylon sheet (10) adapted to receive a patient stretched tautly within a stainless steel perimeter frame (I 1). The perimeter frame itself is hinged roughly in the middle of each short side. When the stretcher is stowed, the perimeter frame is hinged in half as shown. In the design shown the hinge (12) includes detente means (13) to hold the stretcher in the stowed position. Figure 4 shows the stretcher of Figure 3 in its use position. Once the detente is released the front portion of the frame can be drawn forward over the bath until the surface lies flat over the bath. In the design shown the hinge ( 12) includes both abutment means (14) to prevent the frame from folding over-centre and detente means (15) to hold the frame in its use configuration. The frame also includes pads (16) to allow it to sit on the bath rim without marking it. In another embodiment (not shown), the hinge does not include abutment means but relies on further pads to either side of the hinge to support it on the bath rim.

Figures 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention in its stowed and use positions respectively. In this embodiment the mounting means (17) fix to the short edge of the bath The stretcher is constructed in a similar way to the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, which is to say with a perimeter frame (18) and a surface provided by a coated nylon sheet (19). However, in this embodiment, the perimeter frame is hinged roughly in the middle of each long side. In this embodiment, the frame stows by folding towards the end (20) of the bath, as shown in Figure 5. In its stowed position it may double as a backrest for taller patients.

In another embodiment (not shown), the surface may be provided by a rigid member without a perimeter frame. In different embodiments of the invention, the frame may be included with a bath provided for the purpose or may be supplied with mounts adapted to allow it to be attached to most baths.

Claims

1. A stretcher comprising a surface adapted to receive a patient and mounting means mountable to a fixed object to allow the said surface to pivot about a first axis from a stowed position to a use position, characterized in that the said surface is itself also foldable approximately in half along an axis parallel to the first axis.

2. A bath including a stretcher comprising a surface adapted to receive a patient and mounting means mounted to the bath and allowing the said surface to pivot about a first axis from a stowed position to a use position over the bath, characterized in that the said surface is itself also foldable approximately in half along an axis parallel to the first axis.

3. A stretcher as claimed in claim 1 or 2 including releasable retaining means to hold the stretcher in a stowed position.

4. A stretcher as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 including abutment means such that the said surface is foldable in half in one direction only from its use position.

5. A stretcher as claimed in any of the preceding claims including detente means to hold the said surface in its use position.