Improved rescue cage for a rescue vehicle

Abstract

Rescue cage (1) for a handling system (101) of a rescue vehicle (100), comprising a base (2) extending along a transversal and longitudinal axes (B, C) of the rescue cage (1) and a barrier (3) extending on the perimeter of the base along a vertical axis (A) of the rescue cage (1), the base (2) and the barrier (3) delimiting a space (4), the barrier (3) comprises a front portion (3a), a rear portion (3b) and a pair of lateral portions (3c), the front portion (3a) comprising a plurality of sub-portions (7, 8) that are connected to the base (2) and / or to one between said lateral portions (3c) in a selectively movably or removable manner.

Description

[0001] " IMPROVED RESCUE CAGE FOR A RESCUE VEHICLE"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000019963 filed on September 6 , 2024 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention concerns a cage for a rescue vehicle , in particular a rescue cage for a ladder system of a rescue vehicle .

[0006] The present invention finds its preferred, although not exclusive , application in firefighting vehicles . Reference will be made to this application by way of example below .

[0007] Background of the Invention

[0008] Rescue vehicles such as firefighting vehicles usually comprise a telescopic system, such as a turntable ladder system, provided at their end with a rescue cage .

[0009] Such cage is carried by the telescopic means movably with respect to the vehicle to allow rescuers to reach the mission points .

[0010] Rescue cages are widely known and an example according to the prior art is shown in figure 1 .

[0011] A prior art cage 1 ' usually comprises a base 2 ' configured to be carried by the telescopic means of the vehicle and a barrier 3 ' extending on the perimeter of the base 2 along a vertical axis thereof . The base 2 ' and the barrier 3 ' delimit a space 4 ' configured to house rescuers and rescued .

[0012] Such barrier 3 ' has a substantially fixed configuration that is not useful during some operations . In particular, when there is need to allow transport of inj ured or disabled people , e . g . via a stretcher, such fixed configuration is indeed unsuitable .

[0013] Accordingly, it happens that the rescuers remove portions of the barrier to allow storing of the above people / elements . However, such practice is dangerous due to the reduction of safety due to the lack of the barrier .

[0014] Moreover, there is need to store such removed portions on the cage with risk of their fall around the vehicle and moreover with the risk of loosing these latter during the operation of the vehicle .

[0015] An example of solution of the above problem is given by EP 3194325 Al , which however still does not provide suitable versatility and safety .

[0016] Therefore , the need is felt to provide a cage that can be ef fectively used in di f ferent rescue operations without incurring in the above drawbacks .

[0017] An aim of the present invention is to satis fy the above mentioned needs in a cost-ef fective and optimi zed manner . Summary of the Invention

[0018] The aforementioned aim is reached by a rescue cage , a handling system and a vehicle as claimed in the appended set of claims that are integral part of the present description .

[0019] Brief Description of Drawings

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example , with reference to the attached drawings wherein :

[0021] • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rescue cage as known in the art ;

[0022] • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rescue cage according to the present invention in a first operational configuration;

[0023] • Figures 3 , 4 and 5 are perspective view of the rescue cage of Figure 2 in di f ferent operational configurations ; and

[0024] • Figure 6 is a perspective view of a rescue vehicle comprising a rescue cage according to the invention .

[0025] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] Figure 6 discloses a rescue vehicle 100 such as a firefighting vehicle comprising a body carrying a handling system 101 such as a ladder system, in particular a telescopic ladder system or a turntable ladder system, a combination of these latter or an articulated arm system . The rescue vehicle 100 comprises a rescue cage 1 carried by the handling system 101 at its end in order to allow its displacement with respect to the vehicle to reach a point of mission .

[0027] Further details about the vehicle or the telescopic system will not be provided since these latter may vary without interfering with the present invention and being known in the art .

[0028] Referring to figure 2 , a rescue cage 1 according to the invention is disclosed . The rescue cage 1 extends along a vertical axis A, a transversal axis B and a longitudinal axis C .

[0029] The rescue cage 1 comprises a base 2 extending along transversal and longitudinal axes B, C and a barrier 3 extending on the perimeter of the base 2 along the vertical axis A.

[0030] The base 2 and the barrier 3 delimit therefore a space 4 configured to house rescuers , rescued and rescue material delimited vertically by the base 2 and about vertical axis A by barrier 3 .

[0031] In the disclosed embodiment , the base 2 has a substantial rectangular shape . Accordingly, the barrier 3 comprises a front portion 3a and a rear portion 3b opposite one with respect to the other along transversal axis B and a pair of lateral portions 3c opposite one with respect to the other along the longitudinal axis C .

[0032] In the disclosed embodiment , the handling system 101 is connected to the base 2 in its rear portion . Accordingly, the rear portion 3b of the barrier may advantageously comprise an opening 5 configured to access to space 4 . Preferably, such opening 5 is selectively closed by a bar 6 ( sketched) movably connected to the rear portion 3b .

[0033] In detail , the rear portion 3b comprises a pair of terminal portions 3b' selectively connected by the bar 6 in order to allow or deny the passage through the opening 5 .

[0034] According to the invention, the front portion 3a of the barrier 3 comprises a plurality of sub-portions 7 , 8 that are connected to the base 2 or by one between the lateral portions 3c in a selectively movable or resaleable manner .

[0035] Therefore , such sub-portions 7 , 8 may assume a first configuration wherein they are fixed to the base 2 or the lateral portions 3c thereby avoiding passage from the external space towards space 4 and a second configuration wherein they are fixed to the base 2 or the lateral portions 3x allowing the passage between the external space and the space 4 .

[0036] It is appreciated that in both configurations such subportions 7 , 8are carried continuously by the base 2 or lateral portions 3c . In detail , in the second configuration, they are carried by these latter to be place outside the space 4.

[0037] In detail, the front portion 3a comprises a central sub-portion 7 carried by the base 2 and a pair of lateral sub-portions 8 carried by the lateral portions 3c. The central sub-portion 7 and the lateral sub-portions 8 are connected as detailed below.

[0038] In particular, the central sub-portion 7 comprises a lower portion 7' connectable to the base 2 and an upper portion 7' ' connectable to the lower portion 7' above this latter along vertical axis A.

[0039] Both lower and upper portions 7 ’ , 7' ' are selectively connected to, respectively, the base 2 and the lower portion 7' via mechanical couplings such form-fit connection, e.g. tabs .

[0040] Accordingly, if removed by their connection element, the lower and upper portions 7 ’ , 7' ' free a front passage towards space 4. In detail, when disconnected from their connection element they can be fixed (via the same mechanical couplings mentioned above) to one of the lateral portions 3c .

[0041] In the disclosed preferred embodiment lower portion 7' is fixedly carried by base 2, e.g. by welding, and defines a plurality of connection points (not shown) to allow fixation of working tools such as stretcher support, wheelchair attachment, robotic arms, etc. Locking means (not shown) or plug connections may be present to selectively fix upper portion 7 ' ' to , respectively, the lower portion 7 ' or one of the lateral portions 3c when moved right or left with respect to the lower portion 7 ' .

[0042] Preferably the lateral sub-portions 8 are real i zed similarly, therefore , reference will be made to only one between these latter . Each lateral sub-portion 8 comprises an upper portion 8a and a lower portion 8b each configured, to assume an open configuration, in which allow passage through space 4 or a closed configuration in which delimit such space 4 .

[0043] In particular, upper and lower portions 8a, 8b are configured to assume the above mentioned opened and closed configuration independently one to the other .

[0044] In the disclosed embodiment , upper and lower portions 8a, 8b are reali zed in the same manner and are adj acent , vertically, one over the other . For sake of brevity, reference will be made to the upper portion 8a, while the same description applies to the lower portion 8b .

[0045] The upper portion 8a is movably connected to the lateral portion 3c in order to move between the above mentioned open or closed configuration . In detail , in the opened configuration, the upper portion 8 a is faced to the lateral portion 3c opposite to space 4 , i . e . faced to external space .

[0046] In detail , the upper portion 8a is hinged via a hinge connection 9 to the lateral portion 3c in order to rotate about an axis parallel to vertical axis A.

[0047] On the opposite side , the rescue cage 1 comprises locking means 11 configured to house a portion of the upper portion 8a opposite to the hinge connection 9 and lock this latter to maintain the upper portion 8a in the closed position .

[0048] In particular, the upper portion 8a is reali zed as a foldable wall , therefore comprises a first element 8 ' and a second element 8 ' ' connected together to fold one over the other along a folding direction, in the disclosed embodiment along traversal axis B direction .

[0049] In the disclosed embodiment the first and the second element 8 ' , 8 ' ' are hinged together by a hinge connection 9 defining a relative rotation about an axis parallel to vertical axis A.

[0050] In particular, the hinge connections 9 mentioned above allows rotation about parallel axis thereby allowing a compete folding of the first and second elements 8 ' , 8 ' ' faced one over the other and faced to the lateral portion 3c .

[0051] The rescue cage 1 further compri ses locking means 11 configured to lock the upper portion 8a to the central sub- portion 7. In the disclosed embodiment, such locking means 11 are configured to lock the first element 8 to the lower sub-portion 7' of the central portion 7.

[0052] Locking means 11 may be realized in many different manners. In the disclosed embodiments comprises pin carried by a frame that houses a portion of the upper portion 8a configured to allow insertion of such pins.

[0053] Further locking means (not shown) can be comprised by cage 1 to fix the upper portion 8a when face to lateral portion 3c.

[0054] The cage may further comprise other elements such as hooks, handles, control consoles or any other known element mounted to the lateral portions 3c or the front portion 3a and not further described or represented for sake of clarity.

[0055] It is worth to mention that the aforementioned front, rear and lateral portions 8a, 8b, 8c may be realized by tubular elements connected together or by plate elements connected to a frame or a combination thereof, as shown in the attached figures. Similar consideration applies for the central and lateral sub-portions 7, 8.

[0056] The operation of the embodiment of the invention as described above is the following.

[0057] Thanks to the movement and opening of the different sub-portions 7, 8 of the central portion 3a of the barrier 3, different configurations may be achieved. The configurations may be achieved by manually opening and fixing the needed sub-portions 7 , 8 .

[0058] In figure 3 , both upper portions 8 a of the lateral subportions 8 are opened, i . e . allows to pass through space 4 laterally to central sub-portion 7 .

[0059] In figure 4 , further to the configuration of figure 3 , the upper portion 7 ' ' is displaced to allow a greater free section of communication with space 4 . Figure 5 disclose a possible use of such greater free section, such as housing a stretcher .

[0060] In view of the foregoing, the advantages of a rescue cage , a handling system and a rescue vehicle according to the invention are apparent .

[0061] In particular, the possibility of opening of closing the sub-portions 7 , 8 independently one with respect to the other and further independently with respect to respective upper and lower portions provides a high degree of reconfigurability of the rescue cage .

[0062] Moreover, the presence of foldable sub-portions allows to compact the space of the sub-portions when opened . Furthermore , the possibility of coupling mechanism or locking means allows to fix such sub-portions to the lateral portions without risk of loosing these latter .

[0063] Moreover, since the sub-portions are housed, when carried in the opened configuration by the lateral portions , outside space 4, they do not waste useful space.

[0064] In particular, the proposed solution allows a great modularity and allows to use the same elements in different sub-portions, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0065] In detail, the presence of a fixed lower portion 7' of the central portion 7 allows an ergonomic positioning to handle an injured person, e.g. via a stretcher.

[0066] The possibility of totally opening the upper portion of the cage improves the working area thereby allowing the rescuer / worker to have a better visibility increasing the working safety and efficiency.

[0067] It is clear that modifications can be made to the described rescue cage, handling system and rescue vehicle which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0068] For example, different tubular elements, frame or plates may be used to provide the front, rear and lateral portions. Similarly, the base may have a different shape.

[0069] Moreover different number and composition of subportions may be present in the front portion of the rescue cage .

Claims

CLAIMS1.- Rescue cage (1) for a handling system (101) of a rescue vehicle (100) , said rescue cage (1) comprising a base (2) extending along a transversal and longitudinal axes (B, C) of said rescue cage (1) and a barrier (3) extending on the perimeter of said base along a vertical axis (A) of said rescue cage (1) , said base (2) and said barrier (3) delimiting a space (4) , said barrier (3) comprises a front portion (3a) , a rear portion (3b) and a pair of lateral portions (3c) , said front portion (3a) comprising a plurality of sub-portions (7, 8) that are connected to the base (2) and / or to one between said lateral portions (3c) in a selectively movably or removable manner, characterized in that said sub-portions (7, 8) are divided into an upper portion (7, f, 8a) and a lower portion (7 ’ , 8b) , said upper and lower portions (7 ’ , 7' ' , 8a, 8b) being independent one with respect to the other.2.- Rescue cage according to claim 1, comprising a central sub-portion (7) and a pair of lateral sub-portions (8) along longitudinal axis (C) .3.- Rescue cage according to claim 2, wherein said lateral sub-portions (8) are movably connected to a respective lateral portion (3c) and selectively fixed to said central sub-portion (7) .4.- Rescue cage according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said central sub-portion (7) is selectively removable from said base ( 2 ) .5.- Rescue cage according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein said lateral portions (8) are equal.6.- Rescue cage according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said central sub-portion (7) comprises a lower portion (7 ’ ) connectable to said base (2) via a mechanical coupling and an upper portion (7, f) connectable to said lower portion (7 ’ ) via a mechanical coupling.7.- Rescue cage according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said lateral sub-portions (8) are foldable.8.- Rescue cage according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein each lateral sub-portion (8) comprises at least two elements (8' , 8' ' ) movably connected together to assume a first configuration, in which they are extended between said central sub-portion (7) and said lateral portion (3c) and a second configuration in which they are faced one to the other .9.- Rescue cage according to any of claims 2 to 7, therein each lateral sub-portion (8) is carried by said lateral portion (3) so as to assume a first configuration in which is extended between said central sub-portion (7) and said lateral portion (3c) and a second configuration in isfaced to said lateral portion (3c) outside said space (4) .10.- Rescue cage according to claim 9, wherein said lateral sub-portion (8) is hinged via a hinge connection (9) to said lateral portion (3) . 11.- Rescue cage according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising locking means (12) configured to lock said lateral sub-portion (8) in said first or second configuration.12.- Rescue cage according to any of the preceding claims depending on claim 6, wherein the upper and lower portions (8a, 8b) of said lateral portions (8) are equal.13.- Handling system (101) for a rescue vehicle (100) , said handling system (101) comprising a rescue cage (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

14. Rescue vehicle (100) comprising a body, a handling system (101) and a rescue cage (1) according to any of claims1 to 12, carried by said handling system (101) movably with respect to said body.

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