Connection Tool For Use With Patient Carrying Systems

Abstract

A carabiner comprising a body having an opening, a closure movably coupled to the body, the closure being movable to an open position, and to a closed position in which the opening is closed by the closure such that the body and the closure define a closed shape, and an actuator, coupled to the closure and operatively connected to the body, the actuator being configured to cause the closure to move to the closed position in response to loading of the carabiner, and to cause the closure to move from the closed position to the open position in response to unloading of the carabiner.

1 . A connection tool for connecting to an object a carabiner that has an internal space and a carabiner opening for admitting the object to the internal space, the tool comprising:
 a support structure having a support opening sized and shaped to permit the carabiner to be received and supported by the support structure and withdrawn from the support structure, the support structure being sized and shaped to hold the carabiner while leaving the carabiner opening unobstructed such that the object can be admitted to the internal space through the carabiner opening;   a handle connected to the support structure, whereby the carabiner can be connected to or disconnected from an object not reachable by hand using the tool.   
     
     
         2 . A tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle is length-adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . A connection tool as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the length-adjustable handle is telescopically extendible and contractable. 
     
     
         4 . A connection tool as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the handle further includes a stopper for selectively fixing the length of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . A connection tool as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the stopper comprises a threaded ring tightener. 
     
     
         6 . A connection tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a connector opening therein for receiving a connector depending from the carabiner, whereby a strap or other connector depending from the carabiner fits in the connector opening and thus does not interfere with the connection and disconnection of the carabiner using the tool. 
     
     
         7 . A connection tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the connector opening is contiguous with the insertion opening. 
     
     
         8 . A method of loading a patient onto an overhead patient-carrying device, the method comprising the steps of:
 connecting a carabiner to the overhead patient carrying device using the connection tool of  claim 1 ;   withdrawing said tool from said carabiner such that the carabiner remains connected to the patient-carrying device;   attaching a patient to the carabiner.