U.S. patent application number 09/895764 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for cinch cord rescue device.
Invention is credited to Byerrum, Roy C., Harris, John R..
Application Number | 20030000017 09/895764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25405049 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030000017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Byerrum, Roy C. ; et
al. |
January 2, 2003 |
Cinch cord rescue device
Abstract
A rescue device is disclosed which comprises a foldable
stretcher which is adapted to encompass a human form. A cinch cord
extends about a periphery of the stretcher and is slidably captured
by a plurality of passageways. The plurality of passageways create
one or more cutouts about the periphery. Each cutout provides hand
access to the cinch cord whereby pulling the cinch cord causes the
stretcher to encompass a human form contained thereon.
Inventors: |
Byerrum, Roy C.; (Glendale,
AZ) ; Harris, John R.; (Glendale, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANK J. MCGUE
10801 N. 32ND STREET SUITE 5
PHOENIX
AZ
85028
|
Family ID: |
25405049 |
Appl. No.: |
09/895764 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/625 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 1/01 20130101; A62B
5/00 20130101; A62B 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/625 |
International
Class: |
A47B 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rescue device comprises: a foldable stretcher, the stretcher
adapted to encompass a human form; and a cinch cord extending about
a periphery of the stretcher, the cinch cord being slidably
captured by a plurality of passageways, the plurality of
passageways creating one or more cutouts about the periphery, each
cutout providing hand access to the cinch cord whereby pulling the
cinch cord causes the stretcher to encompass a human form contained
thereon.
2. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the passageways are formed
by looping and sewing portions of the periphery over on itself.
3. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the one or more cutouts are
between eight to ten inches wide.
4. The rescue device of claim 1 comprising four or more
cutouts.
5. The rescue device of claim 4 having two of the four or more
cutouts positioned at the ends of the stretcher and another two of
the four or more cutouts positioned at the midpoints of each side
of the stretcher.
6. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the stretcher is made of a
cloth-like fire retardant material.
7. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the stretcher is made of a
flourescent, reflective color for visibility.
8. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the stretcher is between
six to eight feet long and between three to five feet wide.
9. The rescue device of claim 8 wherein the stretcher is seven feet
long and four feet wide.
10. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the cinch cord is a six to
nine millimeter climbing rope.
11. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the cinch cord is a
webbing material.
12. The rescue device of claim 1 wherein the cinch cord is brightly
colored.
13. The rescue device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
flexible frames adapted to cause automatic deployment of the
stretcher.
14. A rescue device comprises: a cloth-like, foldable, fire
retardant, flourescent, reflective colored stretcher, the stretcher
being between six to eight feet long and between three to five feet
wide and adapted to encompass a human form; and a cinch cord
extending about a periphery of the stretcher, the cinch cord being
brightly colored, the cinch cord being slidably captured by a
plurality of passageways formed by looping and sewing portions of
the periphery over on itself, the plurality of passageways creating
four or more cutouts between eight to ten inches wide about the
periphery, each cutout providing hand access to the cinch cord
whereby pulling the cinch cord causes the stretcher to encompass a
human form contained thereon, two of the four or more cutouts being
positioned at the ends of the stretcher and another two of the four
or more cutouts being positioned at the midpoints of each side of
the stretcher.
15. The rescue device of claim 14 wherein the stretcher is seven
feet long and four feet wide.
16. The rescue device of claim 14 further comprising a plurality of
flexible wire frames adapted to cause automatic deployment of the
stretcher.
17. The rescue device of claim 14 wherein the cinch cord is a six
to nine millimeter climbing rope.
18. The rescue device of claim 14 wherein the cinch cord is a
webbing material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to rescue devices, in particular, to
a portable rescue device using cinch cords for ease of use by
firefighters and other rescue personnel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Although the prior art shows rescue devices, none are
believed to illustrate the type of device disclosed and claimed. In
a fire or other emergency situation, often it is extremely
difficult to extricate persons therefrom, particularly persons who
are disoriented or unconscious. Such persons are unable to assist
in their own rescue. If the rescuer grabs, for example, the
person's clothing, it often will simply slide off said person.
Sometimes, such person's may not even be wearing clothing, as in a
night time sleeping situation or where the clothing is burned off
due to flames or heat of a fire.
[0003] In addition, if the person has bulky equipment on, as for
example, in the case of a firefighter overcome with smoke or lack
of oxygen, the equipment can catch on debris in a smoke filled
room. Thus, there is a need for a rescue device which can prevent
such interference with debris and the like.
[0004] Further, in a smoke filled environment, visibility may often
be essentially zero and a rescuer may be unable to count on
assistance. Therefore, any rescue device needs to be easily
carried, deployed and used by a single rescuer.
[0005] The present invention meets these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of this invention to provide a rescue device
with is portable and can be carried in a pocket or rescue bag.
[0007] It is another object of this invention to provide a rescue
device which can be deployed and used by a single rescuer.
[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide a rescue
device which encompasses a person and that person's clothing or
equipment to prevent said clothing or equipment from catching on
debris and the like.
[0009] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of
novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention may be more readily described by
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rescue device embodying
the present invention in use;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the rescue device of the present
invention deployed and ready for a patient; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of
reference, FIGS. 1-2 disclose one embodiment of a rescue device 10
comprising a stretcher 18 having a cinch cord 12 extending about a
periphery 14 of stretcher 18. Cinch cord 12 is slidably captured by
a plurality of passageways 16 preferably created by looping and
sewing portions of periphery 14 over on itself as best illustrated
in FIG. 3.
[0015] The use of a plurality of passageways 16 creates one or more
cutouts 20 about periphery 14 each of which provides hand access to
cinch cord 12. Cutouts 10 are preferably about eight to ten inches
(8"-10") wide to allow for easy hand access. In addition, the
device preferably includes at least four cutouts 20, two cutouts 20
positioned at ends 22 and two cutouts 20 positioned at midpoints 24
of each side. Most preferably, additional cutouts 20 are provided
for additional handholds if needed.
[0016] Stretcher 18 is made of a cloth-like, foldable material,
preferably a fire retardant material such as Rip-Stop Nomax.RTM.,
and is a flourescent or reflective color for visibility. For size,
stretcher 18 is preferably six to eight feet long and three to five
feet wide, most preferably about seven feet long and four feet
wide.
[0017] Cinch cord 12 is preferably a six to nine millimeter
climbing rope, also preferably a bright color such as a day glo
orange. Those skilled in the art will recognize other materials
suitable for such use, including, but not limited to, webbing
materials.
[0018] The use of cloth like foldable material permits the user to
simply fold device 10 into a small pack which can be carried in a
pocket or in a rescue bag. To deploy, device 10 is layed out as
shown in FIG. 2. A patient 26 to be rescued is simply rolled onto
device 10, clothing, equipment and all. As shown in FIG. 1,
rescuers 28 grab cinch cord 12 and lift whereby the cinch cord
action brings periphery 14 and tightens it around patient 26 thus
forming a cocoon about patient 26. In an emergency, only one
rescuer 28 is needed as pulling on cinch cord 12 at one cutout 20
accomplishes the same cocooning effect.
[0019] While two or more rescuers are preferred since patient 26
can be more easily carried to safety, again, in an emergency, one
rescuer 28 can drag patient 26 to safety. Further, the use of the
preferred sizes allows rescuers 28 to handle either an adult or two
or more smaller persons such as children. The one or more rescuers
28 can use device 10 either in a walking mode or in a crawling mode
if required.
[0020] Stretcher 18, as shown in FIG. 1, encompasses patient 26
with clothing, equipment, extremities such as arms and legs, all
captured within the interior of folded up stretcher 18 which
prevents same from catching on debris as the patient is taken to
safety.
[0021] In an alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the
addition of one or more flexible frames 30 which, once device 10 is
removed from a pocket or bag, causes automatic deployment of same.
Frames 30 are preferably made from wire but those skilled in the
art will recognize that other flexible materials are suitable for
this application. This assists the rescuer deployment in adverse
conditions such as heavy smoke, heat, debris covered floors and
with tactile difficulties caused by heavy gloves used, for example,
by firefighters.
[0022] Although only certain embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the
appended claims.
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