Combination ambulance cot and chair

A reclinable ambulance cot suitable for rolling into the back of an ambulance with a transport deck in excess of about 30 inches above the ground, said cot comprising:

• a support frame having a pair of base members and a cross-member;
• a roller base;
• first and second pairs of fixed-length legs, said first pair of fixed-length legs each pivotally mounted to a respective one of said base members and said roller base, said second pair of fixed-length legs pivotally mounted to said cross-member and said roller base, such that said legs may swing said roller base generally parallel to said support frame;
• a pair of diagonal toggle braces each pivotally mounted to a respective one of said base members and said roller base to releasably secure said legs perpendicular to said support frame;
• and
• an articulated bed frame comprising a leg segment, a seat segment, and a wheeled back segment linked to each other, said bed frame is pivotally mounted to said support frame for movement at least between a chair position in which said seat segment is generally horizontal and said leg and wheeled back segments are generally vertical relative to the roller base, and a fully-reclined position in which said segments are in an inclined position, wherein:
• said wheeled back segment includes a pair of spaced apart brackets mounting said cross-member therebetween to lift said wheeled back segment above said second pair of legs in the inclined position such that said cot is elevated to a sufficient height to permit rolling of the reclined cot into the back of the ambulance, and
• at least one extending member is coupled between said wheeled back segment and said leg segment for assisting said cot between said chair position, said fully-reclined position, and a plurality of raised positions there between.