US1620298A - Body lifter and carrier - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1927.

c. w. SMITH BODY LIFTER AND CARRIER Filed May 6, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8, 1927.

C. w. SMITH BODY LIFTER AND CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l925 J H a .3 z i, z m

I I I J I I I I I. l I Z l I l l I I I I I CT MS?! 1; in;

4,17 fl q Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

PATENT/OFFICE. I

1 CHARLES w. SMITH, or BANNER, OKLAHOMA.

' BODY LIFTER AND oannrnn.

Application filed May 6,

This invention relates to body litters and carriers and has its general object to provide a device, by the use oi? whicln an undertaker may more conveniently handle a corpse, as -tor example in supporting the same in an elevated position whiletransferring it from a bed or couch to a casket and while pertorming other work, such for example as the removal of garments from the corpse and dressing the same for burial.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a body litter and carrier which may be conveniently moved about. from place to place and so disposed with relation to a bed or couch or a casket, that the body supported thereby may be suspended in an elevated position directly above the bed or couch or the casket. Another object of the invention is to pro vide a body litter and carrier for the purpose stated which may be conveniently adapted to the body to be lifted and moved, and which, when properly adjusted to the body, will firmly and securely grip the same in a manner to insure against accidental release of the body.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a body litter and carrier, novel means for bracing the body to be supported thereby in a firm and secure manner and, at the same time, permit of convenient release oi the body after it has been lowered to the position which it is desired it shall occupy.

Another important object of the invention is to so construct the device that it may be readily adjusted to adapt it for use in lifting and carrying bodies of differentstature so that, regardless of the stature of the body, the same may be lifted and carried by the device without any likelihood of sagping ot' the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for gripping the trunk of the body and. likewise, novel means for supporting the head and feet of the-body so that when the supporting structure of the device is adjusted to an elevated position, the body will be supported substantially horizontally, or, in a natural'reclining position.

Tn the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the iody litter and carrier embodying the invention 1925. Serial No. 28,497.

' adjusted to position beside a couch and having its supportlng members adjusted to sup taken substantially on the line l-d of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The device embodying the invention includes a supporting base structure which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and which comprises spaced side members 2 which may be of metal, wood, or any other material. found suitable for the purpose, and which are individually supported at their ends bf swiveled casters 3 whereby the device may be conveniently rolled about over a floor surface. A socket member 4 is disposed against the inner side of one of the side members 2 of the base structure and secured in place by U-bolts or clips 5 which are disposed to embrace the upper and lower portions of the said socket member and engage at their ends through said side member 2 and have nuts 6 threaded onto their said ends and tightened to cause the U-bolts to securely clamp the socket member inplace against the member 2. The member 4 is provided with a laterally presented inte-v riorly threaded socket 7 located between the bights of the upper and lower U-bolts, anda connecting brace member, preferably of tabular form, and indicated by the numeral 8, is threaded at one end as at 9, into the socket 7 A. socket member 10 correspond ing to the socket member 4 is disposed against the inner side of the other side member 2 of the base structure and secured in place by L -bolts 11 disposed to embrace the same in the same manner as in the instance or? the e -bolts 5 and engage at their ends through the said side member 2 and secured by nuts 12. The member 10 is provided with a laterally presented interiorly threaded socket 13 corresponding to the socket 7, and the other end of the brace member 8 is threaded into this socket, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In this man ner, the side members 2 of the base structure are relatively braced and constitute a substantial support for the remainder of the structure.

The socket member is formed in its upper side with a threaded socket 14, and the numeral indicates a tubular standard which is threaded at its lower end into the said socket. In order to hold the standard 15 against rotation, the standard is formed at one side, at its lower ene, with a slot 16, and a set screw 17 is threaded through one side of the socket member 10 and projects at its end into the slot, as shown in Figure 2.

The numeral 18 indicates a head which is provided axially with a threaded bore 19 and is formed, likewise axially, and in its under side, with a recess 20 which rotatably fits the upper end of the standard member 15. A standard section 21, threaded as indicated by the numeral 22, is .itted through the threaded opening 19 in the head 18, and is formed with a. longitudinally extending groove 23 in which is enga ed the inner end of a screw 24 which is threaded through one side of the standard member or section 15, the engagement of the screw 24 in the groove serving to prevent rotation of the threaded standard section 21with relation to the standard section 15 and, at the same time, per itting of vertical adjustment of the standard section 21 telescopically in the section 15 upon rotation of the head 18. In order that the feed head 18 may be rotated so as to er"- fect vertical adjustment of the standard member or section 21 within the member or section 15, the said member 18 is provided upon its under side with an annular beveled gear face 25, and a pinion 26 meshes with this gear portion and is fixed'upon a shaft 27 mounted in a hearing at the upper end of a bracket 28 bolted or otherwise secured to the standard member 15. A socket member 29 is secured by a set screw 30 to the outer end of the shaft 2? and has a square bore 31 to accommodate the squared end 32 of the shank of a crank handle 33. through the operation 01 which the shaft 27 may be rotated. At this point it will be evident that by rotating the crank handle 33, the standard section 21 may be vertically adjusted in the standard section 15 and, as will now be explained, the said standard section 21 is designed to support certain devices which are intended to be engaged with the body to be lifted and carried so that, through the vertical adjustment of the said standard section 21, the body may be lifted and suspended in the use of the device.

The body suspending devices of the carrier are suspended from supporting arms which will presently be more specifically referred to and which are, in turn, supported by a supporting plate 34, which is of substantially rectangular form and is formed approximately centrally with an opening 35 which accommodates the reduced threaded upper end 36 of the standard section 21, a. nut 37 being threaded onto the said threaded end of the standard section and tightened to secure the plate in place. It will be understood by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, that the standard, as a whole, is located at one side of the supporting base of the structure, so that the base structure may be rolled over the floor surface to assume a position beneath the bed or couch or the casket, as the case may be, and thus position the standard at one side of the said bed or couch or the casket. At its corners which are relatively remote from the bed or couch or the casket, when the device is positioned as just stated, the plate 34 is formed with oppositely extending pintle portions 38, and the supporting arms here totore referred to, which are indicated by the numeral 39, are provided at their outer ends with pintle eyes 40 which are both pivotally and slidably adjustably connected with the respective pintle portions 38, the arms, at their intermediate portions, resting upon the upper sides of supporting members 41 which likewise extend in opposite directions itrom the inner corners of the said plate 34, the arms being, in this manner, sustained in a substantially horizontal supporting position and being, as stated, slidably adjustable upon the pintle portions 38 and, of course, over the surface of the supporting members 41. Thus. these arms may be relatively adjusted so that the distance between the arms may be increased or decreased under conditions to be presently explained.

The supporting arms 39 at their inner ends, or, in other words, their ends which are designed to support the body suspending devices, are turned downwardly as indicated by the numeral 42, and the downwardly turned portions of the arms are formed with books 43, located at one side thereof and with upwardly turned shank portions 4.4 located at the opposite sides thereof, the shank portion terminating in an arm 45 which extends in a slightly downwardly inclined position, the two arms 45 extending in opposite directions.

The body supporting means comprises a pair of grapples indicated in general by the numeral 46 and each of these grapples comprises a pair of crossed arms 47 pivotally connected at an intermediate point as indicated by the numeral 48, the arms being provided at their upper ends with overturned outwardly extending handle portions 49 whereby the arms may be conveniently adjusted about their respective pivots in adapting, the grapples to the body to be lifted and carried.

Each grapple is swingingly suspended from a respective one of the hooks 43 through the medium of a. suspension chain indicated in general by the numeral 50, each "chain comprising a section 51 connected at one endto one of'the grapple arms 47 near the upper end thereof. and a shorter length connected to the other arm of the respective grapple, a hook 53 being connected to the endmost link of the chain section 52 and engageable interchangeably with the links of the section 51 of the chain, whereby the chain may be lengthened and shortened and the respective grapple thus supported at different elevations when the chain as a whole, is engaged over the respective hook 43 of the respective supporting arm 39. At this point it'will be evident that when the grapple is suspended from the respective supporting arm, the grapple arms 47 will be pulled toward each other at their upper ends and the arms will be swung about their pivots 48 to move their lower portions toward each other. Each grapple arm 47. at its lower portion, supports a, body embracing member which is preferably formed of sheet metal, although it may be of any other material found'suitable for the purpose, and said member is indicated in general by the numeral 54 and comprises a relatively broad lower portion and a narrower upperportion. the former portion being indicated by the numeral 55 and the latter by the numeral 56. In order to adapt each body embracing member to more readily adapt itself at its broader lower portion to the contour of the body, the said portion of each body embracing member is formed with a recess 57. The body embracing members 54 are more or less resilient, and, by providing their broader lower portions 55 with the recesses 57, the said portions are better adapted to automatically conform to the. contour of the trunk of the body with which they are engaged, it being understood that corresponding ones of the pairs of body engaging or enbracing members are engaged at opposite sides of the body to be lifted, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the said body embracing members being curved from their upper to their lower portions to a concave form to better adapt them to fit snugly against the opposite sides of the trunk of a personof ordinary stature.

The lower ends of the grapple arms 47 are pivotally connected by eye portions58, formed at their said ends, with pintle bails 59 riveted or otherwise secured upon the outer sides of the body embracing members 54, at points substantially intermediate the upper and lower ends of the said members, and the lower portions of the arms 47 are curved substantially to conform to the curvature of the said body embracing members at their portions which are located above the bails 59. Therefore, the body embracing members may be pivotally swung to assume a position resting at their upper portions against the inner sides of the lower portions of the arms 47, as shown at the right in-Fig ure 2 of the drawings. In order to maintain the body embracing n'ieinbcrs 111 this position, keeper loops 60 are slid'ably nouned upon the lower portions'of the arms 47 and are adjustable toengage over the tapered upper ends of the narrower upper portions 56 of the body engaging members 54, i as shown in Figure l, and at the right inFigure 2. In adapting the body engaging members to the trunk of the corpse to be lifted and carried, the loops 60 are disengaged about the hips of the corpse, and the other body engaging members being engaged about the trunk .of the corpse above the waistline. After the body embracing members have been properly positioned, and the grapple arms have been properly adjusted, the loops 60 are slid downwardly upon the arms to engage over the upper ends of the body embracing members and lock'the same in position resting against the inner sides of the said arms. 1

In the use of the apparatus, the same is wheeled to position with the standard thereof extending npriglitat one side of, for ex:- ample, a bed or couclnupon which the corpse is reposing and, if necessary, the crank handle 83 is rotated so as to lower the standard section 21 to such position that the bodv embracing members 54 may be conveniently disposed against the opposite sides of thecorpse 1n the respective positions PIG-VlOllSlV described. The body members are then adjusted and, after the loops 60 have been slid downwardly upon the arms of the grapples to lock the upper ends of the body embracing members 54 in embracing position, the apparatus is ready for elevation of the standard section 21 to bodily lift the corpse.

this being accomplished through rotation of the crank handle 33, as will be readily understood. At the time of adjusting the body embracing members to the corpse, the chains 50 are, of course, properly adjustedas to length so that, at the judgement of the undertaker, the bodv when. elevated, will assume a substantially.horizontal position. Of course, when the crank handle is rotated the standard section'Ql is elevated, the pull upon the chains 50 will result in the upper ends of the grapple arms 49 being moved to.- ward each other and the lower. ends of the and lift) arms being likewise drawn toward each other, thereby causing the body engaging members 5a to firmly and securely embrace and grip the opposite sides of the trunk of the corpse.

At this point it will be evident that, due to the fact that the supporting arms 39 are adjustable so as to vary the distance between the arms, the body embracing members .34 may be adjusted so as to embrace bodies of different stature, or to be positioned in the manner to best embrace and support a corpse to be lifted and carried.

In order that the head and feet of the corpse may be supported so that the body as a. whole may be elevated and supported in a horizontal position, a supporting arm section 61 is telescopically adjustably fitted onto the head one of the arms and a similar tubular arm section 62 is telescopically adjustably fitted onto the foot one of the arms 45, slings 63 and 6d of cloth or other material, or, if desired, straps, being suspended from the arm sections 61 and- 62 respectively and engaged respectively beneath the head and ankles of the corpse. It will be understood, of course, that the support ing arm sections 61 and 62 may be adjusted upon the arms 45 to adapt the said arm sections to support the slings 63 and er in proper position, depending upon the stature of the body to be lifted and carried.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be seen that thereis provided a device which may be conveniently employed in lifting a corpse from a bed or couch, carrying the same across a room, and depositing the same in a casket. It will likewise be evident that the device may be employed in supporting a corpse while clothing is being removed or applied thereto. It will furthermore be evident that While, heretofore, it has been customary to despatch two attendants from an undertakers establishment to prepare acorpse for burial, the device of the present invention enables one man alone to perform this work.

Vhile the device is intended primarily for the purpose of lifting and carrying corpses, it may be employed in lifting and carrying invalids.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A body lifting device, comprising a base, a standard at one side of the base, a supporting member at the upper end of the standard projecting laterally therefrom in every direction, arms overhanging the base and slidably connected at one end to the said support at one side of the standard and engaging the support at the opposite side of the standard and adjustable laterally towards and from each other and the standard, and suspending means at the free ends of the arms.

2. A body lifting device, comprising a base, a standard rising from the base, a supporting member at the upper end of the standard projecting laterally therefrom in every direction, arms resting upon the supporting means and disposed upon opposite sides of the standard and in sliding engagement at one end with. the support at one side of the standard and in contact with the support upon the opposite side of the standard and laterally adjustable towards and from each other, and suspending means at the free ends of the arms.

3. A body lifting device, comprising a base, a standard rising from the base, a supporting member at the upper end of the standard projecting therefrom in every direction, arms disposed upon opposite sides of the standard and pivotally connected at one end to the support at one side of the standard and adapted to engage and rest upon the support at the opposite side of the. standard a short distance from the pivotal end. and suspending means at the free ends of the arms.

4. A body liftin device, comprising a base, a standard at one side of the base, a supporting member at the upper end of the standard projecting laterally therefrom in every direction, arms overhanging the base and pivotally and slidably connected at one end to the support at one side of the standard and adapted to engage and rest upon the support at the opposite side of the standard a short distance from the. pivotally and slidably connected end, and suspending means at the free ends of the arms.

5. A. device of the class described com n'ising a vertically adjustable standard, a plate supported upon the upper end of the standard, means for adjusting the standard, pintle members extending in opposite directions from the plate, supporting portions extending in opposite directions from the plate in spaced relation to the pintle memhers, supporting arms pivotally and slidably adjustably connected with the pintle members and resting in engagement with the upper sides of the supporting members, and body suspension means suspended from each arm.

6. In a body lifting device, a body gripping unit comprising a pair of crossed pivoted grapple arms, body embracing members pivoted intermediate their ends to the lower ends of the grapple arms, and means on the grapple arms to engage the upper ends of the body embracing members and hold them rigid with respect to the said arms.

7.'In a body lifting device, a body gripping unit comprising a pair of crossed grapple arms, body embracing members pivoted intermediate their ends to the lower ends of the grapple arms and having'thcir upper ends tapered, and loops slidable on the grapple arms and engageable over the tapered ends of the body embracing members to hold the latter rigid with respect to the said arms.

8. In a device of the class described, a supporting standard, an arm extending from the standard, abody embracing unit comprising a pair of crossed pivoted grapple arms, a flexible suspension element suspended from the first mentioned arm and connected at its ends with the said grapple arms, above their pivots, and body embracing members carried by the grapple arms below their pivots, the said body embracing members being pivotally mounted upon the lower portions of the grapple arms, and detent loops slidably adjustably mounted upon the grapple arms and engageable with the body embracing members to hold the said members rigid with relation to the said arms.

9. In a device of the class described, a supporting standard, an arm extending from the standard, a body embracing unit comprising a pair of crossed pivoted grapple arms, a flexible suspension element suspended from the first mentioned arm and connected at its ends with the said grapple arms, above their pivots, body embracing members comprising curved body embracing plates pivoted intermediate their ends to the said grapple arms and oil a general contour to embrace the opposite sides of the body to be lifted, each of said plates having its upper portion tapered and its lower portion broad and recessed to provide resilient portions at the opposite sides of the recess to adapt the lower portions of the members to more readily conform to the contour of the sides of the body to be embraced and loops slidable on the grapple arms to engage the upper tapered ends of the said plates.

10. In a.body lifting device, a standard, a supporting member thereon, arms laterally adjustable on the supporting member and connected thereto at one end and having oppositely disposed hooks and arms at the other end, body suspending means engaged with the hooks, and sling suspending members carried by the last mentioned arms.

11. A device of the class described comprising a vertically adjustable standard, means for adjusting the standard, spaced laterally extending supporting arms carried by the standard, a body suspension means suspended from each arm, and an adjustable arm extension upon each arm for supporting a body suspending sling.

12. A device of the class described com prising a vertically adjustable standard, means for adjusting the standard, spaced laterally extending supporting arms carried by the standard, a body suspension means suspended from each arm, and an adjustable arm extension upon each arm for supporting a body suspending sling, said suspension arm extensions comprising tubular members telescopically adjustably fitting the first mentioned supporting arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES W. SMITH. 1,. 8.

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