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US 8,127,381 B2Granted
Collapsible litter apparatus, system and method
AssigneeSpeer Operational Technologies, LLC
InventorsTed Carson Westmoreland, II, James R. Johnston, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible litter carrier apparatus, system and method. Generally, the litter apparatus includes a frame assembly having a plurality of hingedly connected, longitudinally adjacent sections that are foldable or collapsible, accordion-like, into a compact arrangement when the carrier is not in use or being stored. Releaseably attached to the frame assembly is a body-supporting bed or sheet. Additionally, the frame assembly is provided with a plurality of foldable handles that are hingedly connected to the outer corners of the extended frame.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame assembly having a first side member coupled to a second side member by a spreader member, wherein said first side member includes a first pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said second side member includes a second pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said first pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a first plurality of cross beams, wherein said second pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a second plurality of cross beams, wherein said first and second plurality of cross beams and said first and second pairs of longitudinally extending poles define a plurality of cavities, respectively, and wherein said frame assembly includes a plurality of rotatable handles pivotally connected to the ends of said first side member and said second side member.
A system, comprising:
- a frame assembly having a first side member coupled to a second side member by a spreader member, wherein said first side member includes a first pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said second side member includes a second pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said first pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a first plurality of cross beams, wherein said second pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a second plurality of cross beams, wherein said first and second plurality of cross beams and said first and second pairs of longitudinally extending poles define a plurality of cavities, respectively, and wherein said frame assembly includes a plurality of rotatable handles pivotally connected to the ends of said first side member and said second side members;
- and
- a bed releaseably connected to said frame assembly.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an unfolded litter system, comprising a frame assembly having a first side member coupled to a second side member by a locked spreader member, wherein said first side member includes a first pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said second side member includes a second pair of longitudinally extending poles, wherein said first and second pairs of longitudinally extending poles each includes a top pole having a plurality of top pole arms that are pivotally connected by a plurality of top hinges, and wherein said first and second pairs of longitudinally extending poles each includes a bottom pole having a plurality of bottom pole arms that are pivotally connected by a plurality of bottom hinges, wherein said first pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a first plurality of cross beams, wherein said second pair of longitudinally extending poles are connected by a second plurality of cross beams, wherein said first and second plurality of cross beams and said first and second pairs of longitudinally extending poles define a plurality of cavities, respectively, and wherein said frame assembly includes a plurality of rotatable handles pivotally connected to the ends of said first side member and said second side members;
- and
- a bed releaseably connected to said frame assembly;
- and
- folding said unfolded litter system, comprising the steps of:
- unlocking said locked spreader member;
- moving said unlocked spreader to an upright position, while simultaneously moving said first and second side members to a co-planar, adjacent position beneath said upright spreader, wherein said upright spreader lies in a plane that is about perpendicular to plane defined by said adjacent first and second side members;
- folding said locked spreader member into one of said plurality of cavities;
- folding said plurality of handles into others of said plurality of cavities;
- aligning said top and bottom hinges;
- and
- folding said top and bottom pole arms in an accordion-like fashion so that said frame assembly is in a fully folded, compact configuration.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.