U.S. patent number 3,889,668 [Application Number 05/484,577] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-17 for emergency medical harness.
Invention is credited to James D. Behrens, David J. Ochs.
United States Patent |
3,889,668 |
Ochs , et al. |
June 17, 1975 |
Emergency medical harness
Abstract
An emergency medical harness enables the rapid and yet secure
binding of a person to a backboard or other solid support such as a
stretcher. The harness includes a plurality of elongated flexible
straps each oriented in a given direction and with the straps being
laterally spaced successively one from the next. Disposed across
the central region of those straps are a plurality of flexible
webs. The combination of the straps and webs forms a matrix of a
length and width that covers approximately the front upper torso of
a wearer. Individual different portions of the straps are fastened
to corresponding different portions of the webs at the mutual
crossings. The harness further includes means, preferably of Velcro
fasteners, for releasably and adjustably securing each outer end
portion of each strap effectively back upon itself so as to form a
loop engageable around a portion of the support which is placed
behind the wearer. In addition, strips project away from one end of
the aforesaid matrix for the purpose of releasably and adjustably
binding the shoulders of the wearer to the support, while
additional strips project generally outwardly from the outer end of
the matrix in order to permit the releasable and adjustable binding
of the upper thighs of the wearer.
Inventors: |
Ochs; David J. (Fort Collins,
CO), Behrens; James D. (Fort Collins, CO) |
Family
ID: |
23924720 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/484,577 |
Filed: |
July 1, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/870; 5/632;
2/908; 2/44; 128/875 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/05883 (20130101); A61G 1/01 (20130101); Y10S
2/908 (20130101); A61G 2200/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/04 (20060101); A61F 5/058 (20060101); A61G
1/01 (20060101); A61G 1/00 (20060101); A61f
005/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/134,133,132R,77,78,101,87R,87A,94,DIG.19,443,444,445,498,499,500
;2/44,45 ;5/327R,82 ;269/328 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Drake; Hugh H.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an emergency medical harness in combination with a solid
rigid planar back support, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of elongated flexible straps each oriented in a given
direction, said straps being laterally spaced successively one from
the next;
an effective plurality of flexible webs disposed across the central
regions of said straps, each web being oriented in a direction
perpendicular to said given direction and said webs being laterally
spaced successively one from the next;
the combination of said straps and webs forming a matrix of length
and width to cover approximately the front upper torso of a
wearer;
means fastening individual different portions of said straps to
corresponding different portions of said webs at the mutual
crossings of said straps and webs;
means for releasably and adjustably securing each outer end portion
of each of said straps effectively back upon itself to form a loop
engageable around a portion of said solid support, placed behind
the wearer, to bind the wearer firmly to said support;
upper means projecting generally laterally to said straps from one
end of said matrix for releasably and adjustably binding the
shoulders of the wearer to said solid support;
and lower means projecting generally laterally to said straps from
the end of said matrix opposite said one end for releasably and
adjustably binding the upper thighs of the wearer.
2. A harness as defined in claim 1 in which said upper means
includes a pair of elongated flexible strips both fastened at one
end to the center of the one of said straps at said one end of said
matrix, said strips diverging outwardly and away from said matrix,
and said upper means further including means for releasably and
adjustably securing each outer end portion of each of said strips
effectively back upon itself to form a loop engagable around a
portion of said support.
3. A harness as defined in claim 2 in which resilient padding is
fastened under the central region, to be disposed over the shoulder
of the wearer, of each of said strips.
4. A harness as defined in claim 2 in combination with said solid
support and in which said solid support comprises:
a rigid, planar board of generally rectangular shape having a
length and width to cover approximately the back upper torso of the
wearer;
a stub integral with and projecting laterally from one end of said
board to be disposed behind the head of the wearer;
means defining a plurality of slots distributed along opposing side
portions of said board with the spacings between said slots
corresponding to the respective spacings between said straps and
with said slots each being dimensioned to receive respective ones
of said straps;
and means defining a pair of slits individually disposed on
respective opposite sides of said stub and along said one end of
said board with said slits each being dimensioned to receive
respective ones of said strips.
5. A harness combination as defined in claim 4 in which each of
said slits is oriented to extend downwardly and outwardly away from
said stub.
6. A harness as defined in claim 1 in which said lower means
includes a pair of elongated flexible strips both fastened at one
end to the center of the one of said straps at said opposite end of
said matrix, said strips diverging outwardly and away from said
matrix, and said lower means further including means for releasably
and adjustably securing together the respective outer end portions
of said strips to form a loop engageable around the upper thighs of
the wearer.
7. A harness as defined in claim 1 in which said securing means
includes a first plurality of Velcro fastener parts individually
fastened to respective different ones of the outer sides, near the
respective ends, of said straps, and a second and like plurality of
Velcro fastener parts, matable with said first plurality,
individually fastened effectively to respective different ones of
said central regions of said straps.
8. A harness as defined in claim 1 which includes a total of three
of said flexible straps.
9. A harness as defined in claim 8 which includes a total of three
of said flexible webs.
Description
The present invention pertains to an emergency medical harness and
its combination with a solid support such as a backboard. More
particularly, it relates to a harness assembly which is entirely
flexible and yet particularly safe and easy to use.
In recent years, widespread attention has been directed to the
field of emergency medical care. This emphasis has arisen, at least
in part, by reason of increased awareness that the chances for
successful recovery of a victim of an injury or ailment may be
enhance significantly through substantial improvement in the
methods employed and the equipment utilized in retreiving the
victim from an emergency situation and transporting him to an
appropriate medical facility. Such emphasis has led to the
establishment of intensive training throughout the country of
emergency medical technicians or paramedics. At the same time,
considerable effort has been devoted to the improvement and the
expansion of the variety of kinds of equipment carried in
ambulances, rescue vehicles and other emergency units.
One area of particular concern has been the removal and
transportation of accident victims who may have been subjected to
severe physical forces effective against their back, neck and head.
Because both motor and response functions normally associated by
the layman with the brain actually involve the entire spinal
column, even comparatively slight physical damage to any portion of
the spinal column may result in severe permanent impairment or even
death. Moreover, it is all too easy, in removing and transporting a
victim, to aggrevate an initially simple and non-serious area of
physical injury in such a way that permanent disability or death is
inadvertently caused to occur.
In an effort to avoid such disasterous results, it has become
customary, whenever at all possible, to immobilize the entire
spinal column prior to premitting or effecting the slightest
movement of the upper torso, neck and head of the victim. To that
end, one attendant usually gently but firmly immobilizes the head
of the victim while the other attendant affixes a cervical collar
and then inserts what is called a backboard behind or beneath the
victim's backside. Long flexible straps, having buckles at one end,
are then woven through slots provided along the side edges of the
backboard and criss-crossed behind the board and over the front of
the upper torso of the victim, as well as around his upper thighs,
in a manner to bind the victim immovably to the backboard. A
separate harness assembly is placed over the point of the chin and
around the forehead and then tightly secured, now usually by means
of Velcro fasteners, to an upper portion of the backboard. When
such an arrangement of straps and head harness is properly applied,
the victim may then be removed and transported with greatly
minimized risk of further injury. Analogous strapping approaches
frequently are utilized in connection with the transport of a
victim by means of a stretcher.
One especially difficult removal problem often occurs in the case
of vehicle accidents. The victim may be wedged behind bent and
distorted portions of the vehicle, making it exceedingly difficult
for the attendants to gain ready access. In that case, an attempt
is usually made to insert what is termed a "short" backboard behind
the back of the victim. Such a so-called short board is
approximately the size of the victim's upper torso, in terms of
length and width. Then, the person or persons aiding the victim
must attempt to weave the aforementioned straps in and around the
backboard and the victim even though often working in extremely
tight quarters.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved emergency medical harness usable in situations such as
those described above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved emergency medical harness in combination with a
correspondingly improved backboard.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved emergency medical harness which is comparatively easy of
application to a victim.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved emergency medical harness which is capable of being
affixed to a backboard or other support while an attendant is
working in an extremely confined space.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved emergency medical harness that may be utilized in
association with a variety of different victim-transport
devices.
An emergency medical harness constructed in accordance with the
present invention includes a plurality of elongated flexible straps
each oriented in a given direction and with the straps being
laterally spaced successively one from the next. A plurality of
flexible webs are then disposed across the central regions of the
straps with each web being oriented in a direction perpendicular to
that given direction and with the webs themselves being laterally
spaced successively one from the next. The combination of the
straps and webs forms a matrix of a length and width so as to cover
approximately the front upper torso of a wearer. Individually
different portions of the straps are fastened to corresponding
different portions of the webs at their mutual crossings. Also
included are means for releasably and adjustably securing each
outer end portion of each of the straps effectively back upon
itself so as to form a loop engageable around a portion of a solid
support, placed behind the wearer, in order to bind the wearer
firmly to that support. Finally, the harness includes upper means
projecting generally laterally to the straps from one end of the
matrix so as releasably and adjustably to bind the shoulders of the
wearer to the support, together with lower means that project
generally laterally to the straps from the other end of the matrix
for releasably and adjustably binding the upper thighs of the
wearer.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be
novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The
organization and manner of operation of the invention, together
with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood
by reference to the following description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like
reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an emergency
medical harness assembly as applied to a victim;
FIG. 2 is a front-elevational view of the harness assembly of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the harness assembly, again as
applied to a victim;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG.
2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIG.
3;
FIG. 7 is a view of the harness as disconnected and laid out flat;
and
FIG. 8 is a front-elevational view of a support used with the
harness as shown in FIGS. 1-4.
As herein embodied, an emergency medical harness 10 includes three
elongated flexible straps 12, 14 and 16 each oriented in a
horizontal direction as illustrated and with each of straps 12, 14
and 16 being laterally spaced successively one from the next. Three
flexible webs 18, 20 and 22 are disposed across the central regions
24 of straps 12-16 with each of webs 18-22 being oriented in a
direction perpendicular to that of straps 12-16. Webs 18-22 are
laterally spaced apart successively one from the next, so that the
combination of straps 12-16 and webs 18-22 forms a matrix 26 of a
length and width to cover approximately the front upper torso of a
wearer 28. Individual different portions of straps 12-16 are
fastened at points 30, in this case by stitching with threads, to
corresponding different portions of webs 18-22, points 30 being the
mutual crossings of the straps and webs.
A first plurality of Velcro fastener parts 32 are individually
fastened, as by sewing, to respective different ones of the outer
sides, facing upwardly in the drawing, near the respective ends of
each of straps 12-16. A second and like plurality of Velcro
fastener parts 34, matable with the first plurality 32 of such
parts, are individually fastened to respective different ones of
the central regions 24 of each of straps 12-14. As is well known,
as such, Velcro fasteners are formed with one part having a mass of
tiny loops and the other part having a mass of tiny hook-shaped
projections. When the two parts are pressed together, the
projections engage the loops in a manner which establishes a tight
bond between the two parts as against sliding movement of one part
relative to the other. At the same time, however, a user need only
peel off one part from the other in order to break the bond. While
buckles or other devices could be used, Velcro fasteners are
preferable in that they permit an infinite adjustment of position
of one part relative to the other part to which it is secured, thus
permitting an infinite degree of adjustment in the length of a loop
formed by a strap carrying such fasteners.
Desirably associated with harness 10 is a solid support 36 in the
form of a rigid, planar board of generally rectangular shape having
a length and width to cover approximately the back upper torso of
wearer 28. A stub 38, formed integrally with and as a part of
support 36, projects laterally from one end of support 36 so as, in
use, to be disposed behind the head of the wearer or victim. A
plurality of slots 40, 41, and 42 and 43, 44, and 45 are
distributed along opposing side portions of support or board 36
with the spacing between all such slots individually corresponding
to the respective spacings between straps 12-16. Slots 40-45 are
each dimensioned so as to be capable of receiving respective ones
of straps 12-16.
It will be observed by the person skilled in the art that support
36 closely resembles the so-called short backboard heretofore
frequently employed by emergency medical technicians and others.
Like that prior art device, the opposing side portions of stub 38
preferably are serrated, as at 48, so as to provide a means for
receiving and securing a band 49 wrapped around the head of the
victim for the purpose of binding that head tightly to stub 38. The
conventional short backboard also includes slots disposed similarly
to the positions of slots 40, 42, 43 and 45 for the purpose of
receiving the very long straps mentioned in the introduction as
being criss-crossed in back of such a support and across the upper
torso of the victim. As in the case of the prior short backboard,
support 36 may simply be formed of a rigid material such as
one-half inch thick plywood. Alternatively, support 36 may be
formed of a lightweight cellulose-variety material such as that
commonly employed in the fabrication of kick boards utilized for
swimming training.
In any event, it will be seen that fastener parts 32 and 34
together constitute means for releasably and adjustably securing
each outer end portion of each of straps 12-14 effectively back
upon itself so as to form a loop engageable, by insertion through a
respective one of slots 40-45, around a portion of support 36, when
placed behind the victim, in order to bind the victim firmly to
support 36. The essentially infinite adjustability, in terms of
ultimate length of the resultant loops, of the Velcro fastening
parts insures the availability to the attendant of a very solid
binding of the victim to the backboard or support regardless of the
particluar size of the victim concerned.
Projecting generally laterally from strap 12 at one end of matrix
26 is an arrangement of strips 50 and 51 for releasably and
adjustably binding the shoulders of the victim or wearer to support
36. Strips 50 and 51 are both fastened, again by threaded sewing,
at one end to the center of strap 12 with strips 50 and 51 being
oriented so as to diverge outwardly and away from matrix 26.
Secured on the upper side of each of strips 50 and 51 near their
respective outer ends is a Velcro fastener part 54 designed to
securingly mate with a corresponding Velcro fastener part 55
secured to each of strips 50 and 51 near their junction and
fastening at strap 12. Corresponding slits 58 and 59 are
individually disposed on respective opposite sides of stub 38 and
along the upper end of support 36. Slits 58 and 59 are, of course,
dimensioned to receive respective ones of strip 50 and 51.
Moreover, slits 58 and 59 preferably are oriented so as to extend
downwardly and outwardly away from stub 38. It will be observed
that the combination of strips 50 and 51 together with fastener
parts 54 and 55 constitute means for releasably and adjustably
securing each outer end portion of each of strips 50 and 51
effectively back upon itself to form a loop engageable around a
portion of support 36 as defined by slits 58 and 59. For desired
comfort of the victim, as well as aiding in the avoidance of undue
compression upon vascular vessels located in and near the upper
portion of the victims shoulder, resilient padding 60 is fastened
under the central region, to be disposed over the shoulder of the
wearer, of each of strips 50 and 51.
Still another pair of elongated flexible strips 62 and 63 project
generally laterally and outwardly from strap 16. Strips 62 and 63
are both fastened, again preferably by threaded sewing, at one end
to the center of strap 16. Strips 62 and 63 diverge outwardly and
away from strap 16. Near one outer end portion of strip 62 is a
first Velcro fastener 64, in this case exposed on the upper side,
as illustrated, of strip 62. A mating Velcro fastener part 66 is
disposed on the outer end portion of companion strip 63, but in
this case being on the underside of strip 63 as viewed in the
drawing. In use, strips 62 and 63 are individually woven inside,
under and around the thighs of the victim and then brought
respectively across the tops of those thighs at which point
fastener parts 64 and 66 are tightly engaged mutually together.
In retrospect, harness 10 is a comparatively simple assembly,
capable of being manufactured by the use of readily available
straps, webs and strips secured together at the appropriate places
by simple stitching on an appropriate sewing machine. In practice,
all of these different flexible members may be formed from a
50-percent polyester, 50 -percent cotton strapping that finds
common usage in various fields, and thus is readily available, and
which is fully washable. A typical assemblage involves the use of
strapping that is approximately one-eighth inch thick and 2 inches
in width. For the majority of users, each of straps 12-16 is
approximately 57 inches in length, while strips 50 and 51 as well
as strips 62 and 63 are of an appropriately shorter length. Given
the flexibility of the Velcro or equivalent fasteners, such lengths
will accommodate most victims. It will be understood, of course,
that an overall smaller version may desirably be provided for use
in the case of a smaller child and, conversely, an oversized
version may be provided for use in the case of handling an
extremely obese or otherwise large adult. Moreover, the function of
webs 18-22 may be incorporated by use of a single flexible sheet of
material that, in effect, defines the size of matrix 26 and to
which straps 12-16 and strips 50-51 and 62-63 are affixed.
It is to be especially noted that harness 10 is desirably
utilizable with other than a short backboard such as support 36.
One frequently employed litter is the so-called scoop stretcher.
That device includes two halves which, when mated, define a
generally concave cavity in which a victim is placed. One half is
brought laterally toward the victim from one side, after which its
other half is "scooped" under the victim from the underside and
latched to the first. Harness 10 is capable of fastening securely
to the perimeter of such a stretcher unit. It will be equally
apparent to those skilled in this art that various outer litters,
including baskets and flats, are already made so as to present
rods, struts, or openings disposed along the sides of the victim in
positions to accommodate the outer end portions of straps 12-16 in
forming loops back upon themselves so as to be able to bind tightly
the victim onto the stretcher or other unit. Even when suitable
slots or slits are not available in some sort of available
stretcher, the attendant need only either make a slit with a knife
or other tool, so as to receive the strap or strip ends, or the
attendant might, in the case of using extremely crude materials as
a stretcher, simply nail or otherwise affix the strap outer end
portions to an available supporting structure. Desirably, the
straps and strips may be color-coded to correlate the various
different fastening points for quick connection accurately.
Similarly, web 12 and strips 50-51 may be differently colored,
bright orange for example, so as to indicate the shoulder end of
the harness.
Whatever the particular problem at hand in the case of recovery of
a particular victim, harness 10 affords a means of securely binding
the victim to some kind of support with a minimum of need for
access space around the victim. Moreover, the ready attachability
of the different straps and strips back upon themselves enables the
attendant or rescuer to accomplish his task not only quickly but
with a minimum, if any, related movement of the victim in order to
securely and firmly immobilize him. Yet, all of this is presented
by a matrix of straps, webs and strips which are capable of being
made in available in an easily washable form that is reasonably
inexpensive of manufacture.
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made without departing from the
invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as
fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *