US 12,734,081 B2 · Aircraft stretcher

Abstract

A portable aircraft stretcher for supporting a person on an aircraft, the stretcher configured for location in a port-starboard orientation across three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats. The stretcher includes a seat and a backrest. The backrest has a reclined orientation for supporting the person in a reclined position across and above the three or four aircraft seats. The stretcher further includes a support member extending downwardly from the backrest for supporting the backrest. The stretcher further includes a harness for securing the person to the stretches and one or more connection points configured to engage with at least one aircraft seatbelt of the three or four aircraft seats for securing the stretcher to the aircraft seats.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A portable aircraft stretcher for supporting a person on an aircraft across three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats of the aircraft, the portable aircraft stretcher including:

a seat and a backrest, the backrest having a reclined orientation for supporting the person in a reclined position across and above the three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats;
a support member extending downwardly from the backrest for supporting the backrest;
a harness for securing the person to the portable aircraft stretcher;
and
one or more connection points configured to engage with at least one aircraft seatbelt of the three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats for securing the portable aircraft stretcher in a port-starboard orientation to at least one of the three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats during take-off of the aircraft and landing of the aircraft.

2 more elements

A method of loading a person having limited mobility onboard a commercial aircraft using the stretcher apparatus according to, the method including the steps of:

loading the person of limited mobility onto the portable aircraft stretcher;
transporting the portable aircraft stretcher, with the person supported thereon, onboard the commercial aircraft and along an aircraft aisle to a designated row of three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats which include an aisle-adjacent seat;
locating the slide board across two of the three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats;
transferring the portable aircraft stretcher, with the person supported thereon, from the aircraft aisle to the aisle-adjacent seat, the step of transferring including rotating the portable aircraft stretcher 90° into a port-starboard orientation whilst simultaneously shifting the portable aircraft stretcher onto a portion of the slide board overlying the aisle-adjacent seat;
sliding the portable aircraft stretcher, with the person supported thereon, along the slide board in a direction away from the commercial aircraft aisle to a position where the person and the portable aircraft stretcher are clear of the aisle;
and
securing the portable aircraft stretcher to the three or four side-by-side commercial aircraft seats using the aircraft seat belts.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aircraft stretcher

Life of this patent

Aircraft stretcher

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23