Portable and collapsible support structures and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10632030-B2
Application number	US-201615386510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A reconfigurable portable load bearing structure which can be configured into an extended load bearing configuration or a collapsed configuration, comprising of a first, second and third plurality of rail segments that are each rotatably coupled together and a plurality of support segments or pads which are configured to selectively couple and latch into one of a plurality of positions on said first, second and third plurality of rail segments.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable portable load bearing structure comprising:
a plurality of components configured to be placed in a collapsed configuration or an extended load bearing configuration;
wherein said components comprise a first, second and third collapsible rail, and a plurality of support segments;
wherein said first collapsible rail is comprised of a first rail segment having a first and a second end, a second rail segment having a first and a second end, a third rail segment having a first and a second end, and a fourth rail segment having a first and a second end, said first rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said second rail segment first end, said second rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said third rail segment first end, said third rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said fourth rail segment first end,
wherein said second collapsible rail is comprised of a first rail segment having a first and a second end, a second rail segment having a first and a second end, a third rail segment having a first and a second end, and a fourth rail segment having a first and a second end, said first rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said second rail segment first end, said second rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said third rail segment first end, said third rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said fourth rail segment first end;
wherein said third collapsible rail is comprised of a first rail segment having a first and a second end, a second rail segment having a first and a second end, a third rail segment having a first and a second end, and a fourth rail segment having a first and a second end, said first rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said second rail segment first end, said second rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said third rail segment first end, said third rail segment second end being longitudinally coupled to said fourth rail segment first end;
wherein said plurality of rail segments comprise a plurality of rail segment couplings comprising a plurality of hinge structures and a plurality of locking elements and configured to be oriented in a selectively latched or locked extended rail configuration or a collapsed configuration comprising folded rail segments;
wherein said first, second and third collapsible rails are configured in a parallel orientation so as to create a longitudinal upper surface plane and a longitudinal lower surface plane opposite thereof;
wherein said plurality of support segments are configured to selectively couple and latch into one of a plurality of positions on at least one of said first, second and third collapsible rails when said first, second and third collapsible rails are in said extended rail configuration;
wherein said plurality of support segments is comprised of a first support segment configured to be disposed on said upper surface plane at an end of said first, second and third collapsible rails, a second support segment configured to be disposed on said upper surface plane at a distal end from said first support segment, a plurality of third support segments configured to be placed laterally across said first, second and third rail segments between said first and second support segments on said upper surface plane, and a plurality of fourth segments configured to be placed laterally across said first, second and third rail segments and adjacent to said plurality of third support segments as well as between said plurality of third support segments and said second support segment on said upper surface plane, wherein said plurality of third support segments have a width that is greater than a width of the fourth support segments; and
wherein said reconfigurable portable load bearing structure comprises a collapsible stretcher configured to support a human frame.

2. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of support segments comprise a plurality of different support segment shapes with a lower side and a planar upper side, wherein said lower side of some of said different support segment shapes have a plurality of protruding segments;
wherein said plurality of protruding segments each have at least one horizontal hole that extends through said protruding segment, wherein said first, second, and third plurality of rail segments have a plurality of rail segment holes that can adjustably line-up with said horizontal holes;
wherein a plurality of bar or beam structures can slide through said plurality of rail segment holes and said horizontal hole through said protruding segments to couple or latch each of said plurality of support segments into a fixed position on said first, second and third collapsible rails.

3. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein a channel with a plurality of roller bearings is coupled to a lower side of least one of said plurality of support segments;
wherein a load bearing slider is coupled to an upper side of each of said first, second and third collapsible rails;
wherein channels with a plurality of roller bearings can slide onto said load bearing slider;
wherein said plurality of support segments and said first, second and third collapsible rails have a plurality of locking mechanisms;
wherein said locking mechanism includes a plurality of supporting beams each rotatably coupled to said support segments,
wherein said plurality of supporting beams can detachably couple to said lower surface plane of first, second and third collapsible rails.

4. The structure as in claim 3 , wherein at least one of said plurality of support segments are coupled to a separate support segment by a channel with a plurality of roller bearings slid onto a load bearing slider.

5. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of support segments are coupled to a separate support segment by a plurality of hinges.

6. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein straps are coupled to said reconfigurable portable load bearing structure to secure a load.

7. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable portable load bearing structure further includes an attached pull cable for single person movement of a load.

8. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said reconfigurable portable load bearing structure further includes a plurality of hand grip structures that are attached to said reconfigurable portable load bearing structure to accommodate hand holds.

9. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said portable load bearing structure further includes a larger upper or secondary support structure which couples to an upper side of said plurality of support segments to provide rigidity and additional support.

10. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said portable load bearing structure further includes a plurality of wheels coupled to one or both ends of said portable load bearing structure.

11. The structure as in claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third collapsible rails have a plurality of interior web, cross-pieces, or cut-out structures for weight savings and structural strength.

12. A reconfigurable portable load bearing structure comprising:
a plurality of components configured to be placed in a collapsed configuration or an extended load bearing configuration;
wherein said components comprise a first, second and third collapsible rail, and a plurality of support segments;
wherein said first collapsible rail is comprised of a first rail segment having a first and a second end, a second rail segment having a first and a second end, a third rail segment having a first and a second end, and a fourth rai

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Powell Timothy E

Classifications

• A61G1/02

  with wheels · CPC title

• A61G1/04

  Parts, details or accessories, e.g. head-, foot-, or like rests specially adapted for stretchers · CPC title

• A61G1/007

  with skis or sled runners (ski vehicles A63C5/00) · CPC title

• E01D15/133

  built-up from readily separable standardised sections or elements, e.g. Bailey bridges (E01D15/127 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61G1/013 Primary

  foldable or collapsible (A61G1/017 takes precedence) · CPC title