Patent ID: 7195104
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: A61G,B62B,B66F

Abstract:
1. A lifting device characterised by: a base frame, said base frame having associated drive means; a lifting arm connected at a first end thereof to a pair of upstanding brackets secured to the base frame, said lifting arm being pivotally movable with respect to the frame and being movable between a withdrawn condition and an extended lifting condition and a lifting cradle located at a free end of said lifting arm, said lifting cradle being movable between open and engaged positions; a single actuator connected to the lifting arm to effect a lifting movement of the lifting arm between the withdrawn and extended conditions, said single actuator being connected to a hinged section of a lowermost limb of said lifting cradle; and wherein movement of the lifting arm between the withdrawn condition and the extended lifting condition, and the movement of the lifting cradle between the open and engaged positions, occur sequentially; wherein the lifting arm moves in response to said single actuator only a predetermined distance and is stopped by vertical pressure from further movement such that action of the single actuator is then concentrated on the hinged section of said limb thereby causing hinged section of said limb to rotate about the hinge in response to movement of the single actuator to thereby move said cradle from the open to the engaged position.