# US 7,607,184 B1 · Personal field expedient stretcher > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,184 B1 - Document ID: US7607184B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/288,006 - Filed: 2008-10-16 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-16 - Inventors: Robert A. Goodner, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607184B1 ## CPC - A61G 1/013: foldable or collapsible (A61G1/017 takes precedence) - A61G 1/01: Sheets specially adapted for use as or with stretchers (restraining devices used in nursing A61F5/37) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A collapsible, fully functional, personal field stretcher is disclosed. The field stretcher is incorporated into, and deployed from, the equipment or clothing worn by critical incident personnel and is designed to be used to carry such personnel when such personnel becomes injured or incapacitated in the line of duty. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A collapsible personal field stretcher comprising: a system of lightweight flexible strap members attached to, and operably deployed from, an article designed to be worn on the back portion of the upper torso of an individual, said system comprising: a pair of elongated parallel flexible strap members spaceably attached at one end to the lower portion of said article and having free ends extending from said article to a point at or near the feet of said individual wearing said article; a plurality of interconnecting flexible strap members attached to and between said parallel strap members along the length of said parallel strap members; a compartment attached to, or incorporated within, said article for releasably receiving and housing said flexible parallel strap members and said attached interconnecting strap members; a pair of flexible upper strap members spaceably attached at one end to the upper portion of said article and having a free end extending from said article to a point at or near the head of the individual wearing said article; a pair of compartments attached to, or incorporated within, said article for releasably receiving and housing said flexible upper strap members; and, looped handles attached to the free ends of each parallel strap member and to the free ends of each upper strap member of said system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article is a vest or jacket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article is a component of a modular vest system worn by military and law enforcement personnel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article is a ballistic vest or jacket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of said parallel strap members is internally attached to said article. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interconnecting strap members are attached to and between said parallel strap members so as to form an angular grid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interconnecting strap members are attached to and between said parallel strap members at right angles to said parallel strap members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space between said elongated parallel strap members being essentially that of the width of a typical person from shoulder to shoulder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space between said upper strap members being essentially that of the width of a typical person from shoulder to shoulder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said compartment for releasably receiving and housing said parallel strap members and said interconnecting strap members comprises a flexible panel member having one or more edges with quick release means attached thereto. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said quick release means comprises self-adhering hook and loop material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each compartment of said pair of compartments for releasably receiving and housing said upper strap members comprises a flexible panel member having one or more edges with quick release means attached thereto. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said quick release means comprises self-adhering hook and loop material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said looped handles are formed from homogeneous extensions of said parallel strap members and said upper strap members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of upper strap members can be deployed independently of said parallel and interconnecting strap members. ### Claim 16 A collapsible personal field stretcher comprising: a system of lightweight flexible strap members attached to, and operably deployed from, an article designed to be worn around the waist of an individual, said system comprising: a lower portion comprising: a pair of elongated parallel flexible strap members spaceably attached at one end to said article and having free ends extending from said article to a point at or near the feet of said individual wearing said article; a plurality of interconnecting flexible strap members attached to and between said parallel strap members along the length of said parallel strap members; a compartment attached to, or incorporated within, said article for releasably receiving and housing said flexible parallel strap members and said attached interconnecting strap members; and, looped handles attached to the free ends of each parallel strap member of said lower portion; and, an upper portion comprising: a pair of elongated parallel flexible strap members spaceably attached at one end to said article and having free ends extending from said article to a point at or near the head of the individual wearing said article; a plurality of interconnecting flexible strap members attached to and between said parallel strap members along the length of said parallel strap members; a compartment attached to, or incorporated within, said article for releasably receiving and housing said flexible parallel strap members and said attached interconnecting strap members; and, looped handles attached to the free ends of each parallel strap member of said upper portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said article is a utility belt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said article is a component of a modular vest system worn by military and law enforcement personnel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said article is a waist pack or pouch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said interconnecting strap members of said system are attached to and between said parallel strap members of said upper and lower portions of said system so as to form an angular grid. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said interconnecting strap members of said system are attached to and between said parallel strap members of said upper and lower portions of said system at right angles to said parallel strap members. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the space between said elongated parallel strap members of said upper and lower portions of said system being essentially that of the width of a typical person from shoulder to shoulder. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said compartments for releasably receiving and housing said parallel strap members and said interconnecting strap members of said upper and lower portions of said system comprises a flexible panel member having one or more edges with quick release means attached thereto. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said quick release means comprises self-adhering hook and loop material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said looped handles of said upper and lower portions of said system are formed from homogeneous extensions of said parallel strap members. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion of said system can be deployed from said article independently of each other.