U.S. patent number 3,906,942 [Application Number 05/455,265] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-23 for portable traction splint.
Invention is credited to Henry Oliver Lumb, Jr., Robert Richard Morrissey.
United States Patent |
3,906,942 |
Lumb, Jr. , et al. |
September 23, 1975 |
Portable traction splint
Abstract
The splint comprises upper and lower sections joined together by
hinge joints allowing folding over of the splint onto itself. A
traction bar is provided slidably movable along substantially the
full length of the lower section, ratchet means being included to
lock the traction bar in place. A foot lashing of fixed length, but
of variable diameter to accommodate feet of different size, is
attached between the traction bar and the victim's foot.
Inventors: |
Lumb, Jr.; Henry Oliver
(Riviera Beach, FL), Morrissey; Robert Richard (Lake Park,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
23808113 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/455,265 |
Filed: |
March 27, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
602/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/0585 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/04 (20060101); A61F 5/058 (20060101); A61F
005/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/84,83,85,75,165,88,87,80 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Yasko; J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable traction splint comprising:
a pair of elongated side members and means for securing a limb
therebetween, at least one of said side members including a ratchet
track extending axially therealong,
traction means mounted on said side members, said traction means
comprising a pair of blocks mounted one each on each of said side
members for movement therealong, and a hollow bar extending
transversely between said side members and secured to said blocks,
one of said blocks having an opening therethrough in alignment with
said bar and exposing said track,
a ratchet mechanism for locking said traction means against
movement towards one end of said side members, said mechanism
comprising a ratchet catch disposed within said hollow bar and
biased to extend outwardly from one end thereof through said block
opening and into engagement with said track, and means for
retracting said catch inwardly of said bar for disengaging it from
said track, and
limb lashing means for securing said traction means to a limb
secured to said splint, limb length variations being accommodated
by varying the position of said traction means along said side
members.
2. A splint as in claim 1 including a compression spring disposed
within said bar for biasing said catch, and wherein said retracting
means comprises a pin secured to said catch and extending
transversely away from said bar through a slot in the wall
thereof.
3. A limb lashing for securing a limb to a splint comprising:
an elongated first member including securing means whereby said
member can be disposed around and secured to a limb,
a second elongated member extending transversely from said first
member and secured thereto at a first point, said second member
having a first connecting means at its free end and a second
connecting means intermediate said first point and said free
end,
a third elongated member extending transversely from said first
member and secured thereto at a second point spaced from said first
point, said third member having a third connecting means at the
free end thereof, said first and third connecting means being
connectable to one another,
the dimensions of said lashing being such that, when in its
operative disposition for securing a limb to a splint, the distance
between said first connecting means and said first point when
measured along said second member is substantially equal to the
distance between said first connecting means and said second point
when measured along said third member.
4. The lashing of claim 3 wherein said first elongated member
comprises a hollow inflatable tubing.
5. The lashing of claim 3 including a fourth elongated member
extending from said first member transversely thereto and secured
to said first member at a third point spaced from said second point
and having a fourth connecting means at the free end thereof
connectable to said first connecting means, said third and fourth
members, including the connecting means attached thereto, being of
substantially the same length, whereby, depending upon the girth of
a limb secured by said lashing, said first connecting means can be
connected to either of said third or fourth connecting means to
provide two connections between said first connecting means and
said first elongated member of substantially equal length.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to portable traction splints for use at the
scene of accidents and the like, and particularly to traction
splints which are readily adjustable in size to accommodate victims
of various sizes.
Traction splints of the type carried in emergency vehicles are well
known. In general, such splints should be simple to operate,
compactable and of light weight for ease of transportation, and
should be adjustable in size to provide proper traction
substantially regardless of the size of the victim.
While known commercially available splints more or less satisfy
these requirements, there is room for improvement as exemplified by
the splint of the instant invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective, and partly exploded, of a splint
in accordance with this invention.
FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of a portion
of the side supports of the splint shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view, partly broken-away, showing the securing of
the leg of a victim to the splint shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly broken-away, of a lower portion
of the splint shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a view of a foot lashing used with the splint shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lower portion of the splint shown in
FIG. 1 showing the lashing of a foot to the splint.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
With reference of FIG. 1, the splint 10 comprises a generally
rectangular frame including a lower section 12 and an upper section
14, each section being of generally U-shape, and the two sections
being connected together via a pair of double-hinged joints 16. The
lower section 12 includes two side bars 18 integrally joined by a
connecting bar 20, and the upper section 14 likewise includes two
side bars 22 integrally connected by a bar 24. For greater
rigidity, the upper section additionally includes a transverse bar
25 secured, as by welding, to the side bars 22, the bar 25 curving
downwardly out of the plane of the side bars 22 to provide room for
a limb secured between the side bars, as described below.
As shown in FIG. 2, the double-hinged joint 16 between each of the
upper and lower sections 12 and 14 comprises a short bar or link 26
pivotally attached to an end of each side bar 18 and 22 by means of
a pin 28, a vertical slot 30 being provided in the end of each bar
18 and 22 to receive an end of the link 26. By virtue of the
hinged-joint connection between the two sections 12 and 14, the
splint can be readily folded onto itself, thus reducing the length
of the splint and facilitating handling and storage thereof.
To lock the splint 10 in its unfolded, extended configuration,
collars or bushings 32 are provided frictionally slidable along the
side bars 22 and links 26. The bushings 32 are of a length greater
than that of links 26, and when in place over the links 26 and pins
28, as shown in FIG. 1, pivoting of either frame section 12 or 14
about the hinge-joint is prevented.
Extending transversely between the side bars 18 and 22 of each
frame section 12 and 14 are a number of limb supports 34 of known
type. Preferably, the supports 34 comprise a closed loop of an
elastic material, e.g., elasticized nylon, and each support
includes a pair of extending bands 36 which, as shown in FIG. 3,
can be disposed about the limb to rigidly secure it to the splint.
For simplicity and rapidity of joining the bands 36 around the
limb, the bands 36 preferably include means such as known
self-adhering fabric connectors, one band containing a strip of
fabric including plastic hooks, the other band containing a strip
of fabric including plastic loops. Alternately, conventional buckle
means can be used.
Shown herein is a leg splint, and to this end, the side bars 22 of
the upper section 14 curve downwardly out of the main plane of the
splint frame and towards one another to form a more narrow section
fitting under the upper thigh and buttock of the victim as shown in
FIG. 3. A buttock support pad 38 is provided covering the
connecting bar 24, and a pair of straps 40 including buckle and/or
self-adhering fabric means at the ends thereof are provided secured
to the pad 38 for firmly securing the upper thigh of the victim to
the splint.
To provide traction to a limb secured to the splint 10, a traction
bar 42 (FIG. 1) is provided slidably movable along the side bars 18
of the lower section 12, a ratchet mechanism being provided for
locking the traction bar 42 against movement towards the splint
upper section 14. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, each side bar 18 is
provided on its inner surface with a series of notches 44 providing
a ratchet track, and a block 46 is provided on each bar 18 for
movement therealong. Each block 46 has an opening 48 therethrough
exposing the ratchet track, and each end of the traction bar 42,
which is hollow, is secured to the block 46 within the block
opening 48, as being press-fitted or pinned in place therewithin.
Slidably mounted within the traction bar 42 are a pair of pins or
ratchet catches 50 having angled outer ends, a compression spring
52 being disposed between the two ratchet catches 50 for biasing
them in the outwardly extended, ratchet-locking position. A pin 54
is secured to the inner end of each catch 50 and extends
transversely outwardly from the traction bar 42 through slots 56
through the wall thereof. To unlock or release the ratchet
mechanism, the pins 54 are squeezed towards one another to retract
and disengage the ratchet catches 50 from the ratchet track.
Of particular importance herein, as more fully described
hereinafter, is that the ratchet track formed by the notches 44
extends substantially the entire length of the lower seciton 12
(see FIG. 1), whereby the traction bar 42 can be locked
substantially anywhere along the length of the lower section.
For securing the traction bar 42 to a limb secured to the splint
10, a foot lashing 58 as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 is used. The
foot lashing 58 comprises a first strap 60 having free ends 62 and
64, the ends including means such as the aforementioned
self-adhering fabric means for adhering the ends to one another,
and a second strap 66 secured to the first strap 60 intermediate
its ends. The second strap 66 is secured to a hook 68 having two
end loops 70 and 72, a further extension 73 of the second strap 66
terminating in a snap catch 74. Secured to the first strap 60
between the free end 62 thereof and the point of attachment of the
second strap 66 are a pair of short straps 76 and 78 each
terminating in a buckle 80. The various straps of the foot lashing
58 can be made of fabric, e.g., canvas, and the straps sewn to one
another by conventional stitching. Likewise, the second strap 66
can be secured to the hook 68 by means of a loop stitched around
the hook loop 70. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, but
omitted from FIG. 5 for greater clarity, a pad 59 is disposed
between the lashing 58 and the victim's foot for greater
comfort.
Completing the splint 10 is a support 82 (FIGS. 1 and 3) by means
of which the lower end of the splint can be raised off the ground.
The support 82 comprises a U-shaped bar, the ends of which are
pivotally secured to the movable blocks 46 to which the traction
bar 42 is secured, the pivotal securing means allowing folding over
of the support 82 against the lower section 12 during storage of
the splint.
In use, the splint 10, in its locked, extended configuration, is
disposed beneath the leg and buttock of the victim, as shown in
FIG. 3, and the leg securely bound to the splint by means of the
support bands 36 and the buttock pad straps 40. The foot lashing 58
is secured to the victim's foot (FIGS. 3 and 6) by positioning the
point of attachment of the first 60 and second 66 straps of the
lashing on one side of the leg, just above the ankle bone, and
wrapping the first strap 60 about the ankle, the free ends of the
first strap overlapping and being secured to one-another. As shown,
one or the other of the short straps 76 and 78 secured to the first
strap 60, depending upon the girth of the ankle being secured, is
disposed more or less diametrically opposite to the second strap
66, i.e., on the other side of the foot just above the ankle bone,
and the snap catch 74 extending from the hook 68 is secured to the
strap buckle 80. The two straps 76 and 78 are of equal length, and
the combined lengths of the strap extension 73, the snap hook 74
and the strap 76 or 78 to which the hook 74 is connected are
approximately equal to the length of the strap 66 between the hook
68 and the strap 60. Thus, equal tension is applied by the foot
lashing 58 to each side of the foot.
The traction bar 42 is then moved towards the foot (the ratchet
catch pins 54, FIG. 4, being squeezed together to disengage the
ratchet mechanism), the hook 68 (FIG. 3) of the lashing is looped
about the bar 42, and the traction bar moved in the direction away
from the foot to place the limb in traction, the ratchet mechanism
associated with the traction bar 42 locking the traction bar in
position.
Of particular importance is that the splint 10 can be used with
victims of greatly varying sizes. First, as previously noted, the
traction bar 42 can be locked substantially anywhere along the
length of the lower section 12 of the splint. Thus, for example,
with a splint having an upper section 14 length of about 23 inches,
a lower section 12 length of about 28 inches, and a foot lashing 58
having an extending length of about 11 inches, the splint is useful
on legs varying in length between 18 and 40 inches, i.e., on an
adult of a height in the order of 6 feet 10 inches down to children
of a height in the order of 3 feet 7 inches.
Second, as noted above, the foot lashing 58 is provided with two
(or more, as desired) short straps 76 and 78 connected to the
first, ankle strap 60, whereby, within a relatively wide range of
ankle girths, one of the two short straps 76 or 78 is disposed
approximately diametrically opposite the point of attachment of the
second strap 66 with the ankle strap 60. By attaching the snap
catch 74 end of the second strap 66 to this short strap, tension is
applied to the leg on opposite sides thereof (FIG. 6), i.e., at
opposite ends of a line perpendicular to a vertical plane through
the longitudinal axis of the leg. This arrangement, applying equal
traction to each vertical side of the ankle, is effective to
maintain the foot perpendicular to the leg while traction is being
applied. As known, this is generally desired for reasons of comfort
and avoidance of further injury to the victim during
transportation.
The foot lashing 58, as can be observed, provides a major portion
of the vertical support for the foot. A further advantage of the
splint 10 is that the foot lashing 58 is of a fixed, relatively
short length between the traction bar 42 and the victim's ankle.
Thus, the amount of vertical support provided by the foot lashing
is the same regardless of the length of the limb and regardless of
the axial disposition of the traction bar 42 along the splint
frame. This feature is particularly desirable in comparison with
known splints where the traction applying means is fixedly disposed
at the lower end of the splint, and various size limbs are
accomodated by varying the length of the foot lashing extending
between the foot and the traction applying means. The longer the
foot lashing, the less is the vertical support provided the
foot.
Various known ratchet means, other than the particular one shown
for positioning the traction bar 42 along the splint frame, can be
used. Also, a ratchet mechanism can be dispensed with, and other
traction bar locking means can be used. For example, the traction
bar 42 can be locked in place by means of a strap extending between
the traction bar 42 and the connecting bar 20 of the lower frame
section 12.
Also, other means for securing the traction bar 42 to a foot are
within the scope of this invention. For example, in place of the
first strap 60 of the lashing 58 shown herein, a hollow inflatable
tubing can be used having free ends which can be secured to one
another. In such case, only a single short strap for attachment to
the snap catch 74 need be provided, variations in ankle size being
accommodated by different amounts of inflation of the ankle
encircling tubing.
While described for use with a leg, splints in accordance with this
invention can be used, suitably modified, on arms. Such
modifications, clear to persons skilled in these arts, relate to
the dimensions of the splint and lashings, and to the substitution
of, e.g., a crescent shaped, crutch-type upper end, for the upper
or buttock end of the splint 10.
* * * * *