Stryker Corporation

American Bumper & Mfg. Co.

Frank E Smith

Stephen C Travis

Raymond T Ueberroth

Craig A Harbour

Jody M Sullivan

An integrated bumper and hitch assembly is disclosed that integrates a bumper and a weight distributing hitch into a single unit. The integrated assembly includes a square, tubular socket for supporting and receiving a weight distributing hitch. A pair of outer struts are secured to a transverse arm at the corners of the bumper and hitch assembly. The outer struts support the corners of the bumper against vertical deflection and provide corner impact resistance. The bumper and hitch assembly includes three degree-of-freedom adjustability when attaching to a vehicle, thereby allowing the assembly to be properly aligned with the vehicle in three different directions. A cover over the hitch and another cover over the top of the bumper conceal the fasteners used to secure the assembly together and provide an overall pleasing exterior.

Integrated bumper and hitch assembly

A mobile hospital stretcher includes a movably supported base, and two spaced hydraulic cylinders on the base which vertically movably support a support member having an upwardly facing support surface. Separate control systems are provided for the hydraulic cylinders, one of which is electrically powered and the other of which is mechanically powered. The electrically powered system includes an electrically actuable valve for selectively bleeding fluid from one of the cylinders, an electrically actuable pump for supplying fluid to the other cylinder, a limit arrangement which produces a signal when the first cylinder is fully retracted, a manually operable switch for electrically actuating the valve, and an arrangement responsive to the presence of the first signal during actuation of the switch for electrically actuating the pump.

Growing community of inventors

Battle Creek, MI, United States of America

Frank E Smith