The document describes an improved litter for carrying casualties that includes harnesses worn by two bearers and a pole from which the litter is suspended. Each harness has multiple detachable connections to the pole arranged vertically, allowing the pole's angle to be adjusted based on terrain. This leaves the bearers' hands free while supporting the litter. Belts are also included to prevent the harnesses from interfering with each other.

1. * GB780072 (A)
Description: GB780072 (A) ? 1957-07-31
Improvements in or relating to load carrying litters
Description of GB780072 (A)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Load Carrying Litters
I, ALEXANDER WILLIAM LAMOND, a British Subject of El Nido, The Avenue,
Egham,
Surrey, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a
patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be
performed, to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to supporting means for load carrying litters
particularly for stretchers for casualties and of the kind in which
the litter is suspended from a pole carried by two bearers. An object
of the invention is to increase the manoeuvreability of such an
arrangement whilst leaving the hands of the bearers free.
According to this invention supporting means for a load carrying
litter comprise two harnesses to be worn respectively by two litter
bearers, a pole from which the litter may be slung and particular
connections between, the harness and the ends of the pole.
Each of said harnesses may be provided with a number of articular
connections for said pole arranged one above the other so that the
inclination of the pole may be adjusted according to the inclination
of the groun:t or structure on which the litter is being carried.
Preferably, the aforesaid articular connections are detachable.
The harness is preferably arranged to extend over the shoulders of the
bearer so that they support the litter and leave the arms and hands
free.
The harness may comprise two inverted Ushaped members spaced apart by
a number of cross members both in front of and to the rear of the
bearer which cross members or certain of them are each provided with
one part of said detachable connection.
Each detachable connection may comprise a hook and eye. Preferably a

2. hook is provided at each end of the pole and an eye is provided on
each cross member or on certain of them in a central position. The
aforesaid hook may Ibe a snap hook so that it may be readily engaged
and disengaged from an eye.
The aforesaid inverted U-shaped members and cross members may be
formed from com- paratively rigid material for example from strips of
aluminium alloy.
The rigid members may be padded on those surfaces which engage the
body of the wearer particularly those surfaces which engage the
shoulders.
A belt may be attached to or arranged to engage the lower extremities
of the two inverted U-shaped members on one side of the body of the
wearer for example the belt is arranged to engage the front limbs of
the Ushaped members worn by the front bearer while the belt for the
rear bearer is arranged to engage the rear limbs of the U-shaped
members. This arrangement prevents the natural tendency of the rear
lower extremities of the inverted U-shaped members to be forced by the
pole into the back of the front bearer and the front lower extremities
of the inverted U-shaped members to be forced by the pole into the
front of the body of the rear bearer. The effect of the belt in
engaging two of the limbs on one side of the body is to force the
limbs away from the other side of the body through the rigidity of the
two inverted U-shNaped limbs. In order to assist in this operation the
lower extremities of the inverted U-shaped members on one side of the
body may be connected to those on the other 'side of the b'ody by
stiffening memhers.
The litter may comprise a fabric sling which is suspended from the
pole by a number of straps or the like which engage clips spaced apart
along the length of the pole.
The straps or the like may be adjustable in lengths so as to vary the
inclination of the sling in respect to the pole.
In the case of a stretcher it may be of the type known as "
Neil-Robertson." It will be appreciated with the above arrangement
that the stretcher can be readily manoeuvred around awkward comers and
each of the bearers may swivel his body relatively to the pole in
either direction.
The following is a more detailed description of one form of the
invention as applied to a stretcher reference being made to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure '1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus
assembled for carrying a victim up and down a stair case inclined at
about 45 .
Figure 2 is a side elevation of harness for the front stretcher
bearer,

3. Figure 3 is a plan view of the harness,
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the harness for the rear stretcher
bearer, and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the supporting pole.
Each of the two harnesses 10 and 11 comprises two inverted U-shaped
members 12 formed from an aluminium alloy bar 1.1/8th by 3/8to inches
in cross section and of ,uch a length that when bent into U-shape with
a band of four inch radius at the top, the overall height is about
loft. 7 inches. Each limb of the member is slightly bowed eut- wardly.
The two U-shaped members for a front bearer are each provided .at the
front with two cross bars 13, 14 also formed from aluminium alloy of
the same cross section as that previously referred to. The lower cross
bar 14 is secured across the lower extremities of the two U-shaped
members and the other 13 is disposed about 8 inches above it. The nvo
cross bars are secured to the inverted Ushaped members by screws or
rivets 15. The upper cross bar has a mild steel eye 16 secured at its
centre. The two limbs of the inverted U-shaped members at the back of
the front bearer have three cross bars 17, 18 and 19 secured to them,
the bar 19 at the lower extremity, another bar 18 about 8 inches above
it and .another bar 1!7 about six inches above that The cross bars 17
and 18 have secured to them eyes 20, 21 at a central location. All the
cross bars are slightly bowed outwardly with a radius of about 20
inches.
The two inverted U-shaped members for the rear bearer are of similar
dimensions and are similarly bent and in, this case two cross bars 22,
23 are secured to the two limbs on each side of the U and are spaced
apart one above the other by about 921 inches and each of them is
provided with a centrally located eye24.
A belt 25 may be attached towards the lower extremity of the two
forward limbs of the harness 10 and another strap 26 secured towards
the lower extremity of the rear limbs of the harness 11. The inverted
U-shaped members may be padded at 27 where they rest on the shoulders
of the bearers. A supporting pole 218 is formed from one and a quarter
inch diameter aluminium alloy tube and is about t.6 ft.. 9 inches in
length. The tube is plugged at each end and each plug is provided with
a hook 29 which may engage the selected eyes on the harness. Four dins
30 are clamped to the pole by suitable screw and a depending part of
each clip is provided with a slot 31 which is engaged by a strap 32.
The four straps 32 are secjroi to the appropriate part of a "Neil
Robertson" wpe of stretcher 33. The straps may be adjustable in
leng.th so as to vary the inc in a- tion of the stretcher with respect
to the pole,
The pole can be readily disconnected at its ends from the eyes on the
cross members of the inverted U-shaped members and re-engaged with

4. other eyes so as to suit the particular level along which the
stretcner is being carried. The provision of the belts 25 and 26
prevent the natural tendency of the rear lower extremities of the
inverted Ushaped members 10 being forced by the pole into the back of
the front bearer and the front lower extremities of the inverted
Ushaped members 11 being forced by the pole into the front of the body
of the rear bearer.
The effect of the belt in engaging two of the limbs on one side of the
body is to force the limbs away from the other side of the body due to
the rigidity of the two inverted Ushaped limbs. In order to assist in
this operation the lower extremities of the inverted Ushaped limbs on
one side of the body may be connected to those of the other side of
the body by stiffening members not shown.
The hooks 29 may be snap hooks so as to prevent accidental detachment
and the hooks and eyes provide articular connections.
What I claim is: -
1. Supporting means for a load carrying litter, comprising two
harnesses to be worn respectively by two litter bearers, a pole from
which the litter may be slung and articulai connections between the
harnesses and the ends of the pole.
2. Supporting means for a load carrying litter according to claim I
wherein each of said harnesses is provided with a number of articular
connections for attachment to one end of such pole which articular
connections are arranged one above the other so that the inclination
of the pole may be adjusted according to the indination of the ground
or structure on which the litter is being carried.
3. Supporting means for a load carrying litter according to claim 2
wherein said articular connections are detachable.
4. Supporting means for a load carrying litter according to any of the
preceding claims wherein each of the harnesses is -arranged to extend
over the shoulders of the bearers so as to leave the arms and hands
free.
5.. Supporting means for a load carrying litter according to claim 4
wherein each harness comprises two inverted' U-sh:aped members spaced
apart by a number of cross members both in front of and to the rear of
the bearer which cross members or certain of them are each provided
with one part of said detachable connection.