Body Litter

The Eameses created this prototype for a plywood body litter (more commonly referred to as a stretcher) for the US Navy. Unlike other products they developed at the Evans Products Company, the body litter was never mass produced. Charles and Ray patented the design in 1942, and this was its final iteration. Several design principles carry over from their innovative leg splints. As in the splints, their coffin-shaped design molded to the body’s contours. Additionally, gaps in the plywood performed several functions. Slots along the litter’s perimeter served as handles and as openings for ties or straps to secure the wounded to the bed. These slots also allowed the molded plywood to curve without breaking during its production. Both the splints and the litter sought to improve upon the standard use of metal, which could cause further injuries due to the vibrations in the metal during transport.

There is a stamped, circular, red Evans logo on the base.