An evacuation stretcher

Abstract

The invention relates to an evacuation stretcher (1) for transporting an injured person, the evacuation stretcher (1) comprising a pair of stretcher bars (2), and a fabric (3) provided between said pair of stretcher bars (2). The evacuation stretcher (1) having a use state to transport the injured person on the evacuation stretcher (1), and a packed state to carry the evacuation stretcher (1) in a packed form, each stretcher bar (2) comprises several bar portions (4) connected telescopically to each other, in the use state, each stretcher bar (2) is in an extended form in which the bar portions (4) form an elongated stretcher bar (2), and in the packed state, each stretcher bar (2) is in a retracted form in which the bar portions (4) are arranged nested inside a main bar portion (5) having the largest diameter of the bar portions (4).

Description

[0001]AN^EVACUATION^STRETCHER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an evacuation stretcher and more particularly to an evacuation stretcher according to the preamble of the independent claim 1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior art teaches us many different kind of evacuation stretchers. One of the is disclosed in publication US 2012 / 0066836, which discloses a foldable stretcher for transporting a patient. The stretcher according to the publication is foldable in both longitudinal and lateral direction enabling the stretcher to be well suited for easy transport in medical evacuation and when folded the stretcher is easy to handle and may easily be stored in a vehicle or in a backpack for emergency use. Publication US 2005 / 0210589 discloses a compact foldable stretcher, which when deployed is sufficiently large for the evacuation of an adult and when folded is sufficiently compact to be carried conveniently as a backpack. One of the problems associated with the above mentioned prior art publications is that the stretchers require a backpack or a backpack size carrying medium, so that although they are compact to be carried, they still require carrying capacity on the back of a person. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an evacuation stretcher that alleviates the above described problems of the prior art. The objects of the invention are achieved by an evacuation stretcher which is characterized by what is stated in the independent claim. The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. The invention is based on the idea of providing an evacuation stretcher that fits in such a small carrying bag that it can be attached to the combatant’s load bearing equipment so that a combatant can carry it with in demanding environments and even in severe combat situations where carrying capacity, muscle strength and reaction time can be the difference between a life lost or a life saved. An evacuation stretcher for transporting an injured person according to the invention comprising a pair of stretcher bars, and a fabric provided between said pair of stretcher bars. The evacuation stretcher having a use state to transport the injured person on the evacuation stretcher, and a packed state to carry the evacuation stretcher in a packed form. Each stretcher bar comprises several bar portions connected telescopically to each other. In the use state, each stretcher bar is in an extended form in which the bar portions form an elongated stretcher bar, and in the packed state, each stretcher bar is in a retracted form in which the bar portions are arranged nested inside a main bar portion having the largest diameter of the bar portions. In other words, the evacuation stretcher according to the invention comprises two stretcher bars having a fabric provided between said two stretcher bars. The fabric is preferably synthetic fabric such as polyamide or polyester or a combination of those or nylon or any other durable fabric suitable for use in stretchers. The fabric is connected to the stretcher bars with connectors, such as straps, loops, rings, or other connectors that can slide on the stretcher bar. Each stretcher bar is formed of bar portions connected together telescopically such that a bar portion slides out from a previous bar portion and thereby lengthens the stretcher bar from the packed state to the use state, i.e., until the stretcher bar reaches its full length. In the packed state all the bar portions are provided nested such that the length of the stretcher bar is substantially only the length of the main bar portion. The word “substantially” referring to the practical issue that there must be some protruding part from which the bar portions can be pulled out to their full length when the stretcher bar is to be brought to its use state. The main bar portion is that bar portion which has the largest diameter and into which the other bar portions are fitted when the stretcher bar is in the packed state. According to the invention each stretcher bar further comprises an elongate first handle portion and an elongate second handle portion. In the use state, the first handle portion and the second handle portion are provided at the opposite ends of the stretcher bar. In other words, the stretcher bar comprises handle portions at both ends of the stretcher bar. The handle portions are elongate and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the handle portions correspond to the bar portions. The bar portions and the main bar portion are preferably tubular bar portions with a circular cross-section. The diameters of the separate bar portions decrease towards the end of the stretcher bar, so they work telescopically connected together. According to the invention the first handle portion is telescopically connected to the main bar portion. In the packed state, the first handle portion is nested inside the main bar portion, and in the use state, the first handle portion is in an extended form, drawn out from the main bar portion in an opposite direction to the bar portions forming the elongated stretcher bar. In other words, the main bar portion has a longitudinal axis along the length of the main bar portion. The first handle portion is connected to the main bar portion telescopically such that in the packed state, the first handle portion is at least mostly inside the main bar portion. Preferably, the first handle portion is coaxially fitted into the main bar portion. The expression “at least mostly” means that most of the first handle portion is fitted inside the main bar portion in the packed state and a small of part of the first handle portion may remain outside the main bar portion. This makes it more convenient for the user to grip the first handle portion more easily and pull it out of the main bar portion when setting up the stretcher bar to the use state. According to the invention the bar portions with progressively smaller diameters are in the use state, telescopically drawn out from the main bar portion to form the stretcher bar such that the bar portion with the smallest diameter is furthest away from the main bar portion, and in the packed state, nested within each other such that the bar portion with the smallest diameter is the innermost of the bar portions inside the main bar portion, and the main bar portion forms a protective shell for the stretcher bar in the retracted form. In other words, the main bar portion has the largest diameter, and the bar portion which is furthest away from the main bar portion in the use state has the smallest diameter. When the stretcher bar is in packed state the main bar portion is the outermost of the bar portions and thereby forms the protective shell. Otherwise, the main bar portion is preferably similar to the other bar portions except for the largest diameter. According to the invention the main bar portion having a first end and a second end, and in the use state, the telescopically connected bar portions extend away from the first end of the main bar portion such that the bar portion with the smallest diameter is provided furthest away from the first end. In other words, the telescopically connected bar portions are coaxially fitted into the main bar portion in the packed state and when drawn out from the main bar portion the bar portions extend such that the bar portion having the smallest diameter is the last bar portion from the main bar portion along the longitudinal axis of the stretcher bar. According to the invention the second handle portion is telescopically connected to the bar portions forming the elongated stretcher bar. In the packed state, the second handle portion is nested inside the main bar portion, and in the use state, the second handle portion is in an extended form, drawn out from the main bar portion together with the bar portions forming the elongated stretcher bar. In other words, the second handle portion is part of the telescopically extending bar portions, which the second handle portion is provided at the end of the stretcher bar. This means that the second handle portion is the last part of the stretcher bar. The second handle portion is thus fitted as the innermost into the main bar portion, where the bar portions are arranged coaxially, because the second handle portion is the last which forms the stretcher bar. According to the invention the second handle portion is the bar portion with the smallest diameter at the end of the telescopically connected bar portions. In other words, the elongate second handle portion preferably corresponds to the bar portions forming the stretcher bar, but it has the smallest diameter in order to fit into the main bar portion as the last member of the stretcher bar. According to the invention the main bar portion has a first end and a second end and a length, which extends between the first end and the second end. The first handle portion telescopically connected to the main bar portion has a length smaller than the length of the main bar portion, and the second handle portion telescopically connected to the bar portions forming the elongated stretcher bar has a length smaller than the length of the main bar portion. In other words, the first and second handle portions are shorter than the main bar portion. The main bar portion and the bar portions have a length preferably between 250 mm – 450 mm, and most preferably 300 mm – 400 mm. The telescopically connected bar portions overlap in the telescopic structure so that the successive bar portions preferably overlap for example at a distance of 40 mm - 80 mm from the ends of the bar portions. The bar portions have preferably a wall thickness of 1,5 – 2,5 mm and most preferably 1,6 mm – 2,0 mm. The bar portions are preferably tubes. According to the invention the main bar portion has a first end and a second end and a length, which extends between the first end and the second end. The first handle portion, which is telescopically connected to the main bar portion at the second end of the main bar portion, and the second handle portion, which is telescopically extending from the first end of the main bar portion, have the lengths that together make up the length which is equal to or smaller than the length of the main bar portion, or up to 25% longer than the length of the main bar portion. In other words, the first handle portion extending from the second end of the main bar portion and the second handle portion extending from the first end of the main bar portion together with the bar portions are fitted into the main bar portion in the packed state, and therefore in order the evacuation stretcher to fit into a small package, the handle portions cannot extend far beyond the main bar portion outside the first and second ends. According to the invention the diameter of the first handle portion and the second handle portion is such that, in the packed state of the stretcher bar, the first handle portion and the second handle portion fit into that bar portion, which has the smallest diameter of those bar portions, which in the use state extend between the first handle portion and the second handle portion. In other words, in order to properly work telescopically, the last parts of the stretcher bar which are the first handle portion and the second handle portion, have the smallest diameter which is such that they fit into that bar portion which has the smallest diameter of the bar portions. The bar portion which has the smallest diameter is the one to which the second handle portion is directly telescopically connected. The first handle portion is placed into the bar portion with the smallest diameter only when that bar portion is arranged inside the main bar portion. According to the invention the main bar portion comprises a connecting structure for telescopically connecting the first handle portion to the main bar portion. The connecting structure comprising a support surface for the first handle portion such that in the use state, when the first handle portion is drawn out from the main bar portion, part of the first handle portion rests against the support surface of the connection structure. In other words, the connecting structure provided at the second end of the main bar portion from which the first handle portion extends is such that it comprises a support surface for the first handle portion. The support surface preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main bar portion so that the support surface is parallel to the outer surface of the first handle portion. The support surface is preferably a tubular support surface supporting the first handle portion around its outer periphery. The support surface is preferably arranged to extend inside the main bar portion, and preferably such that the connecting structure is arranged at the end of the main bar portion and has an opening for the first handle portion and the support surface extends from the opening inwards into the main bar portion. According to the invention the support surface of the connecting structure extends parallel to an outer surface of the first handle portion forming a collar on the outer surface of the handle portion. In other words, the support surface preferably forms a collar that corresponds to the outer surface of the first handle portion so that the outer surface of the first handle portion slides along an inner surface of the collar as the first handle portion is pushed into the main bar portion for the packed state of the stretcher bar. According to the invention the first handle portion comprises a stopping surface at that end of the first handle portion which remains inside the main bar portion in the use state, and in the use state, the stopping surface of the first handle portion is provided against the connecting structure to prevent the first handle portion from detaching from the main bar portion. In other words, the stopping surface of the first handle portion prevents the first handle portion from sliding completely out from the main bar portion so that the first handle portion is detached from the main bar portion. The stopping surface communicates with the connecting structure connecting the first handle portion and the main bar portion together. The stopping surface especially communicates with the end of the support surface extending along the outer surface of the first handle portion. According to the invention the length of the bar portion is the same or shorter than the length of the main bar portion. In other words, the bar portions are nested inside the main bar portion in the packed state and therefore, the length of the bar portion is equal or less than the length of the main bar portion. According to the invention the main material component of the stretcher bar is preferably carbon fibre, or any other durable and yet light material with the necessary strength properties. According to the invention the fabric is connected to each stretcher bar with connectors such that the first and the last connectors on each side of the fabric facing the stretcher bar are fixed to the stretcher bar to remain the same position on the stretcher bar both in packed state and in the use state, and the rest of the connectors between the first and the last connector are slidably arranged around the stretcher bar such that in the packed state, the connectors are around the main bar portion of each stretcher bar and the fabric is wrapped around the main bar portions. In other words, in the packed state the stretcher bars are retracted so that the connectors of the fabric slidably arranged on the stretcher bar are around the main bar portion of each stretcher bar and the fabric is wrapped around the main bar portions. Thereby, the stretcher bar in the packed state only takes up the space that the main bar portions take up when placed next to each other, because the fabric itself is relatively thin and does not take up much space around the main bar portions. An advantage of the invention is that the evacuation stretcher according to the invention fits into a so small package that a combatant can carry it along in difficult conditions without it affecting the combatant’s endurance or functioning. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in detail by means of specific embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which Figure 1 shows an evacuation stretcher according to the invention in the use state; Figure 2a shows a stretcher bar of the evacuation stretcher in the use state; Figure 2b shows the stretcher bar of the evacuation stretcher in the packed state; Figure 3 shows a connecting structure between the handle portion and the main bar portion; and Figure 4 shows the evacuation stretcher according to the invention in the packed state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The figures 1-4 show the evacuation stretcher 1 or parts of it in different states from use state to the packed state. Figure 1 shows an evacuation stretcher 1 according to the invention in a use state for transporting an injured person. The evacuation stretcher 1 comprises a pair of stretcher bars 2 and a fabric provided between said pair of stretcher bars 2. The evacuation stretcher 1 is in the use state means that it has been opened from a packed state in which it is carried by a combatant and in the open state it is ready for use, i.e., to transport an injured person. The stretcher bars 2 are in an extended form in which the bar portions 4 forming the stretcher bar 2 have been pulled out from a main bar portion 5. The bar portions 2 are telescopically connected to each other and to the main bar portion 5 in which the bar portions 4 are nested in the packed state. The telescopically connected means that the ends of the bar portions 4 overlap when bar portions 4 are extended, and the ends have a structure that keeps the connection between the consecutive bar portions 4 so that the bar portions 4 do not separate from each other when pulled out. Each stretcher bar 2 comprises a handle portion 6, 7 at both ends of the stretcher bar 2. The first handle portion 6 is connected to the main bar portion 5 such that the first handle portion 6 can be pulled out from inside the main bar portion 5. The outmost end of the first handle portion 6 comprises an end structure 11, which prevents the first handle portion 6 to escape inside the main bar portion 5 when the stretcher bar 2 is arranged in the packed state. The similar end structure 11 is also provided at the end of the second handle portion 7. The second handle portion 7 is arranged at the other end of the stretcher bar 2 such that the second handle portion 7 is connected to the series of bar portions 4 which are telescopically connected to each other. The fabric 3 is connected to the stretcher bars 2 by connectors 9 arranged on both longitudinal sides of the fabric 3. The first connectors 9a and the last connectors 9b are connected to the stretcher bars 2 such that they keep the same position on the stretcher bars 2 both in the packed state and in the use state. Therefore, the stretcher bars 2 comprise an attachment structure 10 for the first connector 9a and for the last connector 9b. The other connectors 9 between the first connector 9a and the last connector 9b are slidably arranged on the stretcher bars 2, whereby they do not stay in place but move along when the stretcher bar 2 is telescopically opened and pulled back. This allows the fabric 3 to be wrapped around the main bar portions 5 when the evacuation stretcher is in the packed state as shown in figure 4. Figure 2a shows a stretcher bar 2 of an evacuation stretcher 1 in the use state. Both ends of the stretcher bar 2 have a handle portion 6, 7 for carrying the stretcher bar 1. The handle portions 6, 7 are in this example half or substantially half of the length of the bar portions 4 forming the stretcher bar. The main bar portions 5 is also one of the bar portions 4. Half or substantially half of the length of the bar portion means that the handle portion 6, 7 is preferably between 40% - mostly inside the main bar portion 5 when the stretcher bar 2 is in the packed state. The figure 2a also shows the attachment structures 10 for the fabric 3. The attachment structures 10 are arranged in this example to the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5 or next to the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5 such that the attachment structure 10 for the first connector 9a of the fabric 3 is close to the first handle portion 6. The attachment structure 10 for the last connector 9b of the fabric 3 is in the outmost end of the last bar portion 4 from which the second handle portion 7 telescopically extends. The outmost end of the last bar portion meaning the end that is next to the second handle portion 7. The first handle portion 6 of the stretcher bar 2 extends from the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5, whereas the telescopically extending bar portions 4 together with the second handle portion 7 extend from the first end 5a of the main bar portion 5. The main bar portion 5 extending between the first end 5a and the second end 5b. Figure 2b shows a stretcher bar 2 of an evacuation stretcher 1 in the packed state in which the bar portions 4 are nested inside the main bar portion 5. The main bar portion 5 thereby being the outmost of the bar portions. The first handle portion 6 comprises an end structure 11 which remains outside the main bar portion 5 at the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5. Next to the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5 in the outer surface of the main bar portion 5 is the attachment structure 10 for the first connector 9a of the fabric 3 at which the first connector 9a of the fabric is attached so that it stays firmly in place in all positions of the stretcher bar 2. The attachment structure 10 for the last connector 9b of the fabric 3 is provided at the outmost end of the last bar portion 4 from which the second handle portion 7 extends. In the packed state of the stretcher bar 2 the last bar portion 4 remains partly outside the main bar portion 5 because of the attachment structure 10 for the last connector 9b of the fabric 3. Thereby also the end structure 11 of the second handle portion 7 remains outside the main bar portion 5 as well as that part of the second handle portion 7 which is within the last bar portion 4 that remains outside of the main bar portion 5 because of the attachment structure 10. The first handle portion 6 and the second handle portion 7 meet each other inside the main bar portion 5 although they do not need to make a contact with each other, although it is possible that they contact each other. Figure 2b also shows a connecting structure 8 for connecting the first handle portion 6 to the main bar portion 5 and a support surface 8a for supporting the first handle portion 6 as well as the stopping surface 6a at that end of the first handle portion 6 which communicates with the end of the support surface 8a. These features will be described in more detail in connection with figure 3. Figure 3 shows a connecting structure 8 between the first handle portion 6 and the main bar portion 5. As the first handle portion 6 extends to an opposite direction than the bar portions 4 and the second handle 7, and the difference in the diameters of the main bar portion 5 and the first handle portion 6 is large, the first handle portion 6 would remain loose in the connection point to the main bar portion 5. Therefore, the main bar portion 5 comprises at its second end 5b a connecting structure 8 having a support surface 8a for the first handle portion 6. The connecting structure 8 preferably closes the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5 so that only an aperture for the first handle portion 6 remain open. The connecting structure 8 comprises a support surface 8a extending transverse to the connecting structure 8 closing the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5. The support surface 8a preferably extends from the second end 5b of the main bar portion 5 into the main bar portion 5. The support surface 8a extends parallel to the main bar portion 5 so that it guides the first handle portion 6 to move coaxially and parallel with the main bar portion 5. The first handle portion 6 comprises a stopping surface 6a at the end of the first handle portion 6 which always remains inside the main bar portion 5 and communicates with the end of the support surface 5 which prevents the first handle portion 6 from sliding out of the main bar portion 6 in the use state of the stretcher bar 2. The first handle portion 6 also comprises an end structure 11 at the outmost end of the first handle portion 6 which always remains outside the main bar portion 5. The end structure 11 prevents the first handle portion 6 from escaping inside the main bar portion 5 when the stretcher bar 2 is arranged in the packed state. Figure 4 shows the evacuation stretcher 1 according to the invention in the packed state in which the stretcher bars 2 are in retracted form. The bar portions 4 are nested inside the main bar portion 5 and the end structures 11 of the first handles 6 at the second ends 5b of the main bar portions 5 are visible as they remain outside the main bar portion 5. The fabric 3 is wrapped around the main bar portions 4. This provides a compact package for a combatant to be carried as part of the load bearing equipment in demanding environments. The invention has been described above with reference to the examples shown in the figures. However, the invention is in no way restricted to the above examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An evacuation stretcher (1) for transporting an injured person, the evacuation stretcher (1) comprising a pair of stretcher bars (2), and a fabric (3) provided between said pair of stretcher bars (2), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the evacuation stretcher (1) having a use state to transport the injured person on the evacuation stretcher (1), and a packed state to carry the evacuation stretcher (1) in a packed form, each stretcher bar (2) comprises several bar portions (4) connected telescopically to each other, in the use state, each stretcher bar (2) is in an extended form in which the bar portions (4) form an elongated stretcher bar (2), and in the packed state, each stretcher bar (2) is in a retracted form in which the bar portions (4) are arranged nested inside a main bar portion (5) having the largest diameter of the bar portions (4).

2. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that each stretcher bar (2) further comprises an elongate first handle portion (6) and an elongate second handle portion (7), in the use state, the first handle portion (6) and the second handle portion (7) are provided at the opposite ends of the stretcher bar (2).

3. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first handle portion (6) is telescopically connected to the main bar portion (5), in the packed state, the first handle portion (6) is nested inside the main bar portion (5), and in the use state, the first handle portion (6) is in an extended form, drawn out from the main bar portion (5) in an opposite direction to the bar portions (4) forming the elongated stretcher bar (2).

4. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bar portions (4) with progressively smaller diameters are in the use state, telescopically drawn out from the main bar portion (5) to form the stretcher bar (2) such that the bar portion (4) with the smallest diameter is furthest away from the main bar portion (5), andin the packed state, nested within each other such that the bar portion (4) with the smallest diameter is the innermost of the bar portions (4) inside the main bar portion (5), and the main bar portion (5) forms a protective shell for the stretcher bar (2) in the retracted form.

5. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main bar portion (5) having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b), and in the use state, the telescopically connected bar portions (4) extend away from the first end (5a) of the main bar portion (5) such that the bar portion (4) with the smallest diameter is provided furthest away from the first end (5a).

6. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 - 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second handle portion (7) is telescopically connected to the bar portions (4) forming the elongated stretcher bar (2), in the packed state, the second handle portion (7) is nested inside the main bar portion (5), and in the use state, the second handle portion (7) is in an extended form, drawn out from the main bar portion (5) together with the bar portions (4) forming the elongated stretcher bar (2).

7. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 - 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second handle portion (7) is the bar portion (4) with the smallest diameter at the end of the telescopically connected bar portions (4).

8. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 - 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main bar portion (5) has a first end (5a) and a second end (5b) and a length, which extends between the first end (5a) and the second end (5b), the first handle portion (6) telescopically connected to the main bar portion (5) has a length smaller than the length of the main bar portion (5), and the second handle portion (7) telescopically connected to the bar portions (4) forming the elongated stretcher bar (2) has a length smaller than the length of the main bar portion (5).

9. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 - 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main bar portion (5) has a first end (5a) and a second end (5b) and a length, which extends between the first end (5a) and the second end (5b), the first handle portion (6), which is telescopically connected to the main bar portion (5) at the second end (5b) of the main bar portion (5), and the second handle portion (7), which is telescopically extending from the first end (5a) of the main bar portion (5), have the lengths that together make up the length which is equal to or smaller than the length of the main bar portion (5), or up to 25% longer than the length of the main bar portion (5).

10. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 – 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the diameter of the first handle portion (6) and the second handle portion (7) is such that, in the packed state of the stretcher bar (2), the first handle portion (6) and the second handle portion (7) fit into that bar portion (4), which has the smallest diameter of those bar portions (4), which in the use state extend between the first handle portion (6) and the second handle portion (7).

11. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any of claims 2 – 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the main bar portion (5) comprises a connecting structure (8) for telescopically connecting the first handle portion (6) to the main bar portion (5), the connecting structure (8) comprising a support surface (8a) for the first handle portion (6) such that in the use state, when the first handle portion (6) is drawn out from the main bar portion (5), part of the first handle portion (6) rests against the support surface (8a) of the connection structure (8).

12. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the support surface (8a) of the connecting structure (8) extends parallel to an outer surface of the first handle portion (6) forming a collar on the outer surface of the handle portion (6).

13. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to claim 11 or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first handle portion (6) comprises a stoppingsurface (6a) at that end of the first handle portion (6) which remains inside the main bar portion (5) in the use state, and in the use state, the stopping surface (6a) of the first handle portion (6) is provided against the connecting structure (8) to prevent the first handle portion (6) from detaching from the main bar portion (5).

14. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the length of the bar portion (4) is the same or shorter than the length of the main bar portion (5).

15. An evacuation stretcher (1) according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fabric (3) is connected to each stretcher bar (2) with connectors (9) such that the first and the last connectors (9) on each side of the fabric (3) facing the stretcher bar (2) are fixed to the stretcher bar (2) to remain the same position on the stretcher bar (2) both in packed state and in the use state, and the rest of the connectors between the first and the last connector (9a, 9b) are slidably arranged around the stretcher bar (2) such that in the packed state, the connectors (9) are around the main bar portion (5) of each stretcher bar (2) and the fabric (3) is wrapped around the main bar portions (5).

Images