Abstract: A one-piece lifting sling for use with an invalid hoist has an upper end head-support extension which extends beyond attachment points of upper suspension means. The sling also has at least one pocket extending substantially throughout the extension and for a distance beyond a line joining the attachment points, a removable sheet or strip of substantially rigid but resiliently flexible material being housed in the pocket to provide the required head support.

Abstract: An invalid hoist has a lifting arm, a sling hanger support mounted to turn about a rigid vertical bearing axis at the outer end of the arm and a sling hanger which is a unitary construction pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to the sling hanger support. The sling hanger presents spaced sling attachment points on both sides of the horizontal axis for connection of one pair of sling attachments to one side of the horizontal axis and for connection of a second pair of sling attachments to the opposite side of the horizontal axis. Thus the disposition of a sling-suspended invalid can be changed, while suspended on the hoist, by pivotal movement of the sling hanger about the horizontal axis.

Abstract: A hoist for raising an invalid from a seated to a substantially standing position has a lifting arm arrangement with attachment points for a single back support sling. A mobile chassis on which the arm arrangement is mounted provides a footplate for the invalid. A seat mounted or mountable on the chassis is provided on to which the invalid can be lowered for transport in the seated position with the feet of the invalid resting on the footplate and the upper part of the body thereof supported by the sling.