Convertible Door Emergency Stretcher Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions do not provide an efficient means for safely transporting injured individuals from all-terrain vehicles, as they expose the operator to significant risk of serious injury or fatality during crashes or falls.
Innovation Solution
A convertible vehicle door emergency removal device comprising a pair of door members with mating hinges and strap handles, which can be detached from the vehicle to form a stretcher frame with an inflatable pad for secure and comfortable transport of injured occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle doors are removed from the vehicle during an emergency, then the doors can be used to transport injured occupants, but the doors must be quickly detached and reconfigured which increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into detachable components including the door panel, hinges, and handles. The hinges are designed as separate mating components that can be quickly disconnected, allowing the door to be separated from the vehicle frame in a systematic manner that simplifies the conversion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The door components are designed to serve multiple functions: as part of the vehicle structure during normal operation, and as transport equipment when removed. The handles serve both as door operating mechanisms and as carrying handles for the stretcher. The hinges serve both as door pivots and as connection points for assembling the stretcher frame.
2Strength
If the stretcher frame is made sturdy to support injured occupants, then transport safety is improved, but the weight of the door members increases making them harder to lift and carry
Solution Approach 1:
The door members are constructed with non-uniform thickness and material density, concentrating strength where needed (at hinge attachment points, handle mounting areas, and frame connection points) while reducing material in less critical areas. This allows the frame to support occupant weight while keeping overall weight manageable for manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The door members utilize composite construction combining different materials with complementary properties - such as aluminum alloys for structural framework providing high strength-to-weight ratio, and plastic or composite panels for the door surfaces providing durability with reduced weight. This composite approach achieves the necessary structural strength while minimizing the weight penalty.
3Reliability
If the inflatable pad is added to provide cushion support for injured regions, then occupant comfort and injury prevention is improved, but the device complexity and preparation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable pad is nested within or integrated with the door panel structure. The pad can be stored in a compartment within the door or attached to the interior surface, allowing it to be deployed by simply extracting or inflating it rather than assembling a separate complex system. This nesting approach provides cushioning functionality while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning function is achieved through an inflatable pad that uses pneumatic pressure rather than rigid structures or complex mechanical suspension systems. A simple air pump or pre-inflated design provides the necessary cushioning support, replacing what would otherwise require complex mechanical shock-absorption mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient transportation of injured individuals by converting vehicle doors into a sturdy stretcher frame with cushion support, facilitating easy lifting and carrying, thereby reducing the risk of further injury during emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
The pad member is inflatable and includes an inflatable cushion for providing cushion support to an injured region of the occupant
Data Source
AI summary
A convertible vehicle door emergency removal device comprising a pair of door members, a stretcher frame member and a pad member. The door members each include a first door member and a second door member and each door member is removably attached to a corresponding vehicle door frame for opening and closing. Each door member includes a pair of mating hinges for attachment to one another and a pair of strap handles for transporting a stretcher frame member. The stretcher frame member is formed by attaching the pair of door members to one another after each door member is removed from a corresponding door frame. The pair of door members are attached to one another by connecting the mating hinges to one another. The stretcher frame member is configured to receive an occupant for transporting. The pad member overlays a top surface of the stretcher frame member. Moreover, the pad member is inflatable and includes an inflatable cushion for providing cushion support to an injured region of the occupant.