Abstract: An invalid positioning device comprising a support structure, a lifting element which is angularly displaceable about a main horizontal axis relative to the support structure, and a power operated mechanism for pivoting the lifting element about the the main horizontal axis. The power operated mechanism is arranged such that the torque applied by the power operated mechanism decreases as the lifting element moves away from one extreme position and increases again as the lifting element approaches its other extreme position and such that the angular speed of the lifting element increases as it moves away from one extreme position and decreases as it approaches its other extreme position.

Abstract: A rail mounted patient lift comprises a ceiling mounted rail, a carriage mounted for displacement along said rail, power operated drive means for displacing the carriage along the rail, a sling hanger secured to a flexible elongate support element, power operated lifting means for extending and retracting the elongate support element relative to the carriage, a manually operable controller and control circuit means for moving said carriage to a selected one of a plurality of different positions along the rail in response to a first command signal from the controller.

Abstract: An invalid hoist includes a lifting arm, an actuator between the lifting arm and a mast, the lifting arm being pivotably connected to the upper end of the mast at a position intermediate its ends and the actuator being connected to the lifting arm on the side of the pivotable connection between the lifting arm and the mast remote from said one end of the lifting arm, and a connecting link pivotably connected between one end of the actuator and the lifting arm (or mast). The connecting link is connected between the actuator and the lifting arm (or mast) such that an auxiliary link incorporating a load cell can be additionally and removably connected between the actuator and the lifting arm (or mast) and such that any load applied to the lifting arm is transmitted entirely through the auxiliary link.

Abstract: An invalid lifting device includes a mobile chassis, a lifting mechanism and a sling connectible to the arm supports to assist in raising a seated person to a standing or substantially standing position. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting arm and an actuator device operative to raise and lower the lifting arm. The lifting arm is pivotable about first and second horizontal axes, the first horizontal axis being fixed and being further from the arm supports than the second horizontal axis. The lifting mechanism also includes guiding elements defining a guide path along which the second horizontal axis is caused to move as the actuating device raises and lowers the lifting arm.

Abstract: An invalid hoist comprises a lifting arm, a sling hanger support angularly displaceable relative to the lifting arm about a vertical or substantially vertical axis and a sling hanger which is of unitary construction pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to the sling hanger support and which presents two spaced sling attachment points on one side of the horizontal axis and at least one sling attachment point on the other side of the horizontal axis. A rotary drive mechanism is provided for pivoting the sling hanger about said horizontal axis relative to the sling hanger support and switch means are provided for selectively rotating the rotary drive means in one or other of two opposite directions. The sling hanger support is of generally inverted U-shape configuration having a cross member and two parallel or substantially parallel limbs depending from the cross member.

Abstract: An invalid positioning device comprising a support structure, a lifting element which is angularly displaceable about a main horizontal axis relative to the support structure, and a power operated mechanism for pivoting the lifting element about the said main horizontal axis. The power operated mechanism is arranged such that the torque applied by the power operated mechanism decreases as the lifting element moves away from one extreme position and increases again as the lifting element approaches its other extreme position and such that the angular speed of the lifting element increases as it moves away from one extreme position and decreases as it approaches its other extreme position.

Abstract: An invalid hoist comprises a mast, a lifting arm which can be raised and lowered by telescopically extending and retracting the mast and/or by raising and lowering a carriage, which may support the lifting arm, relative to the mast, and a load cell on the lifting arm for providing a signal representative of the weight of a person being lifted. The lifting arm is connected to the mast or the carriage by an arrangement which allows the lifting arm to be displaced angularly in a vertical plane against a spring force in order to maintain the load cell in a constant orientation as a vertical load is applied to the lifting arm.

Abstract: A carriage, such as an invalid hoist or shopping trolley, is mounted on castors. Each castor is swivellable about a first axis. At least one of the castors is supported by a support element which is angularly displaceable about a second axis parallel to the intended direction of fore and aft movement of the carriage. The first axis is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second axis. Means are provided for angularly displacing the support element about the second axis to encourage the castor supported thereby to swivel one way or the other according to the direction in which the support element is angularly displaced and to steer the carriage when the latter is propelled along the ground.

Abstract: The invalid lifting device comprises a first mast upstanding from a first elongate chassis member and a second mast upstanding from a second elongate chassis member which is parallel or substantially parallel to the first chassis member. The lifting device also comprises a lifting arm supported by and extending between the first and second masts, the lifting arm comprising two parts pivotable relative to one another so that the distance between the masts can be varied. One part is supported by the first mast and the other part is supported by the second mast. Power operated means are provided for moving the two chassis members towards and away from one another. Each part of the lifting arm comprises a parallelogram linkage to maintain the chassis members in parallel or substantially parallel relationship as the two chassis members are moved towards and away from one another.

Abstract: A chassis comprises two legs extending in parallel spaced apart relationship and a cross member connecting the two legs together. The cross member comprises first, second and third tubular members. The second member is telescopically extendible and retractable in the first member and the third member is telescopically extendible and retractable in the second member. A linear actuator is provided for extending and retracting the second and third members in opposite directions relative to the first member.

Abstract: The invalid lifting device comprises two support members 110 and 111 each having at least one vertical or substantially vertical leg 112, 115 and a transverse arm 114, 117 at or adjacent to the upper end of the leg. The two transverse are pivotable relative to one another about a vertical or substantially vertical axis so that the two support members can be displaced angularly relative to one another. A hoist 127, 128 is supported by one of the support members.

Abstract: The invalid hoist comprises a lifting arm, a sling hanger support angularly displaceable relative to the lifting arm about a vertical or substantially vertical axis, and a sling hanger which is a unitary construction pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to the sling hanger support and which presents two spaced sling attachment points on one side of the horizontal axis and at least one sling attachment point on the other side of the horizontal axis. The invalid hoist also comprises rotary drive means for pivoting the sling hanger about said horizontal axis relative to the sling hanger support and switch means for selectively rotating the rotary drive means in one or other of two opposite directions.

Abstract: An invalid hoist comprises a telescopic mast (11) having a lower part (18) and an upper part (19), power operated device for raising and lowering the upper part relative to the lower part, a lifting arm (12) pivotably connected to the upper part of the mast, the lifting arm having a sling hanger (23) or at least one sling attachment point at or adjacent to one end thereof, and a manually extendable/retractable stay (30) between the lifting arm and the lower mast part. The lifting arm is pivotally connected to the upper part of the mast at a position intermediate its ends and the extendable/retractable stay is connected to the lifting arm on the side of the pivotable connection between the lifting arm and the upper apart of the mast remote from the one end of the lifting arm. The stay can be extended, if the power operated device fails with the upper part of the mast in a raised position, to lower a user to a position in which he/she can be released from a sling supported by the lifting arm.

Abstract: The invalid hoist comprises a mobile chassis 10, a lifting column 11 upstanding from the chassis and a lifting arm 12 supported by the lifting column. The chassis comprises a main portion 13 extending transversely of the hoist and two side members 14 which are movable between a first in-use position in which they project forwardly from the main portion, and a second storage position in which they extend parallel or substantially parallel to the lifting column. Side members 14 are also pivotable about a vertical axis, allowing them to spread away from one another at their forward ends. Releasable means 22 may be provided for holding the lifting arm in an operative position and for releasing the lifting arm to allow it to pivot into a storage position alongside the lifting column.

Abstract: An invalid hoist comprising a chassis having a main support member on which a mast is supported and two side members extending forwardly of the main support member. The side members are swivellable by a power operated device between a first position in which they extend from the main support member in parallel or substantially parallel spaced relationship, and a second position in which they diverge as they extend forwardly from the main support member. The power operated device comprises an electrically powered actuator and a linkage arrangement which ensures that the side members are swivelled in opposite angular directions at equal angular rates of displacement by the actuator.