Abstract:
A self-recovery lift chair that provides an improved way for an individual who has fallen to return to a seated position and then be able to stand or wheel to another location. The chair includes a lift frame with wheels to allow for mobility, a seat that moves vertically from contact with the floor to variable or above normal seat heights. A lift mechanism comprised of a lifting trolley, which connects to the seat, a reversible drive mechanism, and a detachable actuation means that can be operated by the user or assistant. For safety of the individual and or assistant, brakes keep the chair stationary until it is necessary to be moved, and a pivoting handle allows the lift chair to be moved like a wheel chair or when turned outward as a support point for the assistant during manually assisted transfers. A rechargeable battery provides the lift chair with safe power anywhere.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention herein relates to improvements in and relating to a lift chair, more precisely a wheeled lift chair, used by an individual who has fallen to the floor, and is too weak or stiff to get up by any means, to be able to slide himself or herself onto the seat of the lift, where he or she can be raised to a normal or above normal seat height, where they can stand by themselves, or wheel themselves to a place where they may summon help.  
           [0003]    The invention herein also relates to assistive devices, more precisely injury prevention devices that protect healthcare providers from injuring their back, neck and shoulders while attempting to lift someone off of the floor.  
         BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0004]    The Center for Disease Control reports that one in three adults over the age of 65 will fall annually, and that one half of them will suffer repeat falls. With each decade of life this percentage increases. They have reported that 50% of the people who fall and are unable to get up for just a few hours, will die within 6 months, and that 40% of all extended care admissions are because of repeat falls and that for every 1000 extended care residents there will be 1600 falls a year.  
           [0005]    Alarming statistics of an aging population that will double between the year 2000 and 2016. This problem and the costs associated with it are draining the healthcare system of 20 billion dollars a year as of the year 2000 and are expected to reach 32 billion dollars by 2020.  
           [0006]    The statistic while alarming do not tell the entire story of the fear, loss of autonomy and the disruption of lives that chronic falls cause. With diseases such as diabetes on the rise there will be an ever-increasing number of falls do to the peripheral neuropathies and weakness. These neuropathies while not life threatening do lead to loss of feeling in the legs and combined with decreases in visual acuity lead to many falls which an individual can not get up from. When this happens and there is a spouse available to help them back up the spouse invariably gets injured, further decreasing the couples overall quality of life.  
           [0007]    Several inventors have created lifts that have to do with assisted transfers from one object to another, but only one addresses the need to recover someone from the floor. The prior art discloses one patent to Hough, U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,655 that addresses a vertical lift chair that an individual could scoot into from the floor and be raised to a seated height. This chair lacks the ability to be moved from one location to another with the person in the chair or out. As falls usually exhaust an individual from the exertion of trying to get up, it is typical for these individuals to need to return to bed to rest before they can walk again. This prior art demands that the individual be capable of walking away from the lift, which they may not be able to do.  
           [0008]    The prior art of Hough also has serious safety issues with major shear points between the seat arms and the surrounding lifting frame where an arm or hand could be caught as the lift is raised.  
           [0009]    The sliding protective plates used to hide the mechanical workings will eventually snag an article of clothing and cause serious injury. The basic design of this feature may lead to binding over time due to the inherent complexity of the design. Also the fabric used to cover the motor and drive mechanism will create an environment where someone trying to stand is going to trap his or her foot between the frame and cloth and suffer another fall. The fabric also lies in close proximity to the rotating drive mechanisms and could become wrapped in the mechanism thus rendering the chair inoperative.  
           [0010]    A non-structural problem also exists in the prior art of Hough. In today&#39;s world of medical third party payers, a requirement exist for such a lift to be equipped with wheels in order to be reimbursed by an insurer. Without meeting this requirement most of the older or handicapped individuals will be denied access to this useful device due to financial reasons.  
           [0011]    The prior art of Allred, U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,016 demonstrates a vertical lifting chair with wheels. The art demonstrates that it does not provide the capability to pick someone up from the floor, nor was it intended to do so. The prior art of Allred does not discuss a braking method to keep the chair stationary during transfers, which is a major safety concern.  
           [0012]    Other prior art demonstrates a variety of vertical lifts for the handicapped. They address the need to assist a person out of a chair, or up and down in the bath, or pool, or in and out of bed. There are a number of lifts designed to lift people and wheelchairs in and out of vehicles or up and down stairs using a variety of propulsion mechanisms be it drive screws and reduction gears, levers, pneumatics and hydraulic cylinders and combinations of all of the aforementioned. They do not address the need for an individual who is alone to get up after a fall.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0013]    It is the object of the invention to provide a mobile self-recovery lift-chair that provides an individual who has fallen to the floor the ability to get to a seated position whereby he or she can stand independently. The invention is also designed to decrease the incidence of injury to caregivers while attempting to lift someone from the floor.  
         Objects and Advantages  
         [0014]    Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of a mobile self-recovery lift described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are.  
           [0015]    (a) to provide a mobile lift chair that one person can use to get up from the floor and regain their ambulatory status.  
           [0016]    (b) to provide a mobile lift chair that is ultimately safe for compromised individuals. Individuals, with diabetes, or multiple sclerosis, who have peripheral neuropathies, poor eye sight and poor balance who might catch clothing, or body parts in or on the lift because of their disabilities.  
           [0017]    (c) to provide a mobile lift chair that when raised will stay stationary if the person trying to stands thrust backward or strongly to one side.  
           [0018]    (d) to provide a mobile lift chair that can be moved room to room, or up and down stairs or outside.  
           [0019]    (e) to provide a mobile lift chair that someone can use to move him or herself from place to place.  
           [0020]    (f) to provide a mobile lift chair that is narrow enough to fit through narrow doorways, as seen in bathrooms, and yet wide enough to accommodate obese individuals. It will also be small enough to be unobtrusive in the home or hospital.  
           [0021]    (g) to provide a mobile lift chair that sits flush with the ground, allowing someone to scoot onto the seat easily, and when raised to be higher than normal seat height so as to decrease the amount of strength it takes to stand.  
           [0022]    (h) to provide an assistive device to care centers, hospitals and homes where it is necessary to quickly get someone off of the floor safely.  
           [0023]    (i) to provide a mobile lift chair that is small, light, mobile and have as few pinch or entrapment places as possible and provide physical safety to the operators.  
           [0024]    (j) to provide a mobile lift chair useable in wet areas where shock is possible. To this end the invention is equipped with an onboard rechargeable battery to provide a safe electrical source to the motor. This has the added advantage that if the power should go out in the home, the lift will continue to be functional.  
           [0025]    (k) to provide a mobile lift chair that moves slowly from the down position to the up position so as not to frighten someone. By going slowly the individual will be able to reposition themselves on the chair as it rises and their legs become more mechanically efficient.  
           [0026]    (l) to provide a mobile lift chair that provides support holds for people who are assisting in transfers. This is accomplished by allowing the handles on the lift frame to be turned outward. By doing this, one hand can be positioned on the handle while the other is used to lift the fallen individual, thereby relieving the strain on the assistants back, neck, and shoulders and reducing the likelihood of injury.  
           [0027]    (m) to provide a mobile lift chair that can be used to pickup and carry heavy objects from the floor to a height where a weakened individual can handle them in a more ergonomic manner.  
           [0028]    (n) to provide a mobile lift chair that is easy to build, durable, reliable, safe, and inexpensive.  
           [0029]    (o) to provide a mobile lift chair that insurance companies will help pay for so the people who need them will have access to them. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.  
       DRAWINGS FIGURES  
       [0031]    In the drawings: closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mobile self-recovery device having lift means according to the invention with a seat in the raised position.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a mobile self-recovery device of FIG. 1 showing the seat in the down position, with the left handle rotated.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a mobile self-recovery device of FIG. 1 with the seat, left rear wheel and front covering removed, illustrating a lifting means and location of a wheel braking mechanism.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a mobile self-recovery device with seat sectioned to demonstrate relationship of seat to lift trolley and lift arms.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view from the illustrating rear covering, motor placement, and optional mounting of a potential energy source.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 shows a sectioned front elevation of a lift frame and lift trolley of the mobile self-recovery device.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 shows a partial, part, sectional perspective view of a hub braking mechanism with the wheel removed.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 shows a sectioned perspective view of a brake handle, showing the attachment of the brake cable and release knob.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 shows a partial sectioned front view of an alternative embodiment of a lifting frame and lift trolley.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an alternative seat means for a mobile self-recovery device, which employs a fold down  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an alternative lift trolley.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 12 shows a partial, part section of an alternative seat means as illustrated in FIG. 10, showing lift trolley with lift arm being used as a pivot point of the seat. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS  
       [0044]    [0044] 10  lift chair  
         [0045]    [0045] 12  lift frame  
         [0046]    [0046] 14   ab  lift frame sides  
         [0047]    [0047] 16  top cross-member  
         [0048]    [0048] 18  bottom cross-member  
         [0049]    [0049] 20   ab  legs  
         [0050]    [0050] 22   ab  rear wheels  
         [0051]    [0051] 24   ab  front wheels  
         [0052]    [0052] 26  seat  
         [0053]    [0053] 28  seat platform  
         [0054]    [0054] 30   ab  seat arm  
         [0055]    [0055] 32  seat back  
         [0056]    [0056] 34   ab  flex-guard  
         [0057]    [0057] 36   ab  handles  
         [0058]    [0058] 38  actuator  
         [0059]    [0059] 40  brake handles  
         [0060]    [0060] 42  lock pin  
         [0061]    [0061] 44  gear motor  
         [0062]    [0062] 46  push pin for the handle  
         [0063]    [0063] 48  handle mount  
         [0064]    [0064] 50  drive screw  
         [0065]    [0065] 52  lift trolley  
         [0066]    [0066] 54   ab  horizontal strut  
         [0067]    [0067] 56   ab  vertically dependent plate  
         [0068]    [0068] 58   abcd  rollers  
         [0069]    [0069] 60   ab  lift arms  
         [0070]    [0070] 62  upper truss  
         [0071]    [0071] 64  lower truss  
         [0072]    [0072] 66  bearing receiver  
         [0073]    [0073] 68  bearing  
         [0074]    [0074] 70   ab  stabilizer track  
         [0075]    [0075] 72   abcd  stabilizer track receiver  
         [0076]    [0076] 74  drive nut receiver  
         [0077]    [0077] 76  set screw for drive nut  
         [0078]    [0078] 78   ab  wheel mounts  
         [0079]    [0079] 80   a  front covering  
         [0080]    [0080] 80   b  rear covering  
         [0081]    [0081] 82  motor connecting bolt  
         [0082]    [0082] 84  motor mount washer  
         [0083]    [0083] 86  motor mount nut  
         [0084]    [0084] 88  clevis  
         [0085]    [0085] 90  drive nut  
         [0086]    [0086] 92   ab  rear wheel hub  
         [0087]    [0087] 94   ab  brake  
         [0088]    [0088] 96  brake cable  
         [0089]    [0089] 98  tensioning wire  
         [0090]    [0090] 100  brake base  
         [0091]    [0091] 102  brake release pin  
         [0092]    [0092] 104  set screw  
         [0093]    [0093] 106  return spring  
         [0094]    [0094] 108  retaining clip  
         [0095]    [0095] 110  brake pin retention slots  
         [0096]    [0096] 112  brake handle mounting plate  
         [0097]    [0097] 114  brake handle Moveable plate  
         [0098]    [0098] 116  brake pivot point  
         [0099]    [0099] 118  spring  
         [0100]    [0100] 120  spring retaining washer  
         [0101]    [0101] 122  set screw  
         [0102]    [0102] 124  wire clasp  
         [0103]    [0103] 126  electrical wire  
         [0104]    [0104] 128   ab  stabilizer bearing rod  
         [0105]    [0105] 130   abcd  rod bearing  
         [0106]    [0106] 132   abcd  rod bearing housing  
         [0107]    [0107] 134   abcd  secondary horizontal struts  
         [0108]    [0108] 136   ab  vertical strut  
         [0109]    [0109] 138   ab  end caps  
         [0110]    [0110] 140   ab  arm release handle  
         [0111]    [0111] 142  release handle return spring  
         [0112]    [0112] 144  spring retaining clip release rod  
         [0113]    [0113] 146  arm release rod  
         [0114]    [0114] 148   abcd  stabilizer rod receiver  
         [0115]    [0115] 150  potential energy source  
         [0116]    [0116] 152   ab  lift arm  
         [0117]    [0117] 154   abc  horizontal struts  
         [0118]    [0118] 156   ab  seat arms  
         [0119]    [0119] 158   ab  slots  
         [0120]    [0120] 160  seat  
         [0121]    [0121] 162  seat platform  
         [0122]    [0122] 164  seat back  
         [0123]    [0123] 166  lift trolley  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0124]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 showing a mobile self-recovery device,  10  in the raised position which can be positioned higher than standard seat height to allow easier exit, and FIG. 2 a mobile self-recovery device  10  according to the invention is shown with the seat  26  in contact with the floor showing the sloping entry to allow ease of entry.  
         [0125]    Said invention is comprised of a lift frame  12 , having a substantial right and left sides  14 , solidly connected with a bottom cross member  18 , which is parallel to and above the surface of the ground, and a top cross member  16  covered in the front by a suitably dense covering  80   a  and back  80   b,  as shown in Figure. Attached solidly to the bottom cross member  18 , a pair of legs  20   ab,  project forward and laterally from a medial position on bottom cross member  18 . The legs are positioned slightly above and parallel to the surface of the ground and pass under seat  26 . As the legs  20   ab  emerge from under the seat they angle forward perpendicular to lift frame  12  and are angled upward and forward. When sufficient height is achieved to mount a front wheels  24   ab,  legs  20   ab  angle parallel to the ground. A pair of wheels  24   ab,  are pivotally mounted to legs  20   ab.  Rear wheels  22   ab  are mounted to the right side and left side  14   ab,  of lift frame  12 . Solidly mounted to the top center of right and left sides  14   ab,  handle mounts  48   ab,  are solidly attached, which receives the pivotable right and left handle  36   ab,  held in place by spring return push pin  46 .  
         [0126]    A seat  26 , comprising, a seat platform  28 , with an angled front to facilitate ease of entry, right and left arms  30   ab,  and a back  32 , angling backwards and upwards is attached thereto. The seat  26  is positioned in front of the lift frame  12 . Attached to the seat  26  a pair of brakes  40   ab  fixed to the right and left arms  30   ab  of the seat  26 . Brakes  40   ab  are equipped with lock pins  42 , that hold the brakes in a released position, and cable  92  that joins brake handles  40   ab  with brakes, shown in FIG. 3 FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the hub of wheel  22   ab.    
         [0127]    Referring primarily to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a lifting trolley  52 , consisting of, a drive bearing receiver  74  solidly connected to right and left horizontal struts  54   ab  which are substantially connected to a right and left vertically dependent plates  56   ab  which projects forward through the front covering  80   a  through slots  158   ab.  The pair of lift arms  60   ab,  which are extensions of the vertically dependent plates  56   ab  firmly attach to seat  26 , as illustrated in FIG. 4. Substantially attached between the right and left vertically dependent plates  56   ab  is an upper truss  62  in the vertical position, and a lower truss  64  in a horizontal position.  
         [0128]    Referring particularly to FIG. 5 a rear perspective view of the mobile self-recovery chair illustrating the rear covering  80   b  of lift frame  12  which encloses the back of lift frame  12 , motor  44  and lift trolley  52 , thus keeping fingers and clothing out of that side of the lift frame  12 . A rechargeable onboard potential energy source  150  is mounted to said back covering  80   b  as illustrated but may be mounted anywhere on the lift frame that is convenient. An actuator  38  attaching to the seat  26  with hook and loop connects an onboard battery  150 , to the motor  44  with electric wire  126 .  
         [0129]    Referring particularly to FIG. 6 a partial sectional view of the lift frame  12  illustrating the mounting of a vertical rotational drive screw  50  mounted centrally in the lift frame  12  by a clevis  88  mounted gear motor  44  on the inferior surface of the top cross member  16  and connected with a bolt  82 , washer  84  and nut  86 , or other suitable fastening means. A suitable high density material such as Delron or a thrust bearing  68 , mounted in a bearing receiver  66  is used for the inferior attachment that is substantially attached to the bottom cross member  18 . This arrangement anchors the lower end of the drive shaft centrally in the bottom cross-member  18 , allowing rotation in clock-wise or anti-clockwise direction. The vertically moving drive nut  90  is encased in a drive-nut receiver  74  and retained by a setscrew  76 . Substantially attached to the drive nut receiver  74  a pair of horizontal struts  54   ab  extend to the right and left, substantially connected to the vertically dependent plates  56   a  and  56   b,  not shown. Securely fastened to the vertically dependent plates  56   ab  are a pair of rollers  58   a,    58   b,  for plate  56   a,  and  58   c,    58   d,  for plate  56 b. The rollers  56  are staggered anteriorly at the top, and posteriorly at the bottom of the vertically dependent plates  56   ab  so as to contact the stabilizer tracks  70   a  and  70   b,  not shown, to permit up and down motion while maintaining the seat  26  parallel to the ground and resisting lateral and rotatory stresses if the load is not centered. The stabilizer tracks  70   a  and  70   b,  not shown, are solidly attached to the bottom cross member  18  in stabilizer track receivers  72   b  and  72   d,  not shown, and slip fit into stabilizer track receivers  72   a,  and  72   c,  not shown, in the top cross member  16 .  
         [0130]    Referring to FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, a braking mechanism, consisting of, a pair of brake handles  40   ab  that are firmly attached to seat arms  30   ab,  a pair of brakes  94   ab  adjustably attached to rear wheel mounts  78   ab  which are substantially connected to the right and left vertical side plates  14   ab  of lift frame  12 . The brakes  94   ab  and brake handles  40   ab  are joined by brake cable  96  with internal tensioning wire  98 . The adjustability of the brakes  94   ab  on the wheel mounts  78   ab  allow the brakes to adjusted in relationship to the wheel hub  92   ab  by brake base plate  100 . A brake release pin  102  is held in one of a plurality of brake pin retention slots  110  by spring  106  and retaining clip  108 . The release pin centers in the retention slots  110  in the hub  92   ab  of the rear wheel  22   ab  and is withdrawn from the brake retention slots  110  as tension wire  98 , secured in a slot in the brake release pin  102  by a setscrew  104 , is tensioned in cable  96  by the depression of the brake handles  40   ab.  This releases the brakes and the lift chair may be easily moved.  
         [0131]    The brake handles  40   ab  are comprised of a fixed mounting plate  112  and a moveable plate  114  that are pivotally attached around pivot point  116 . A wire clasp  124  and a setscrew  122  attach the tensioning wire  98  to the moveable plate  114 . A spring  118  and retaining clip  120  give inward force to the pull pin  42  causing the pull pin to drop into a hole in the fixed plate  112  when the brake handles  40   ab  are pivoted about the pivot pin  116 .  
       ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS  
       [0132]    Referring primarily to FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, an alternative lift means comprised of, a gear motor  44 , drive screw  50 , drive nut  90  and drive nut receiver  74 , as previously described, utilizing a pair of horizontal struts  154   ab  and a single strut  154   c  substantially connected to a plurality of bearing housings  132   abcd  that retain rod bearings  130   abcd.  A pair of stabilizer bearing rods  128   a  and  128   b,  not shown, mount in stabilizer rod receiver  148   ab  and  148   cd,  not shown. Mounted in the top cross member  16  and bottom cross member  18  the stabilizer bearing rods  128   ab  insert into rod bearings  130   abcd  which are retained in bearing housings  132   abcd  allowing motion up and down while keeping the seat  160  parallel to the ground. The drive screw  50  passes through a hole in the horizontal strut  152   c.  Projecting forward from each bearing housing  132   abcd,  a secondary horizontal strut  134 abed substantially connects with a vertical strut  136   ab  as seen in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12. Each pair of the secondary horizontal struts  134  connects with one vertical strut,  134   ab  with  136   a,  and  134   cd  with  136   b  to comprise one side of said lift trolley  166 . Substantially attached to each of the vertical struts  136   ab  is a lift arm  152   ab  , which become the mounting points for seat  160 .  
         [0133]    [0133]FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 illustrates a right and left seat arm  156   ab  that can be rotated from its vertical position to a horizontally dependent position or to a horizontal adjustable position so as to be used as a sliding board to transfer someone who is too weak to stand. The right and left arms  156   ab  pivot around the lift arms  152   ab  and have a vertical locking means consisting of an arm release handle  140   ab,  a handle release return spring  142 , a spring retaining clip  144 , and an arm release rod  146 . The arms  156   ab  may be released by lifting the arm release handle  140   ab  that pulls a release rod  146  out of a hole in lift arm  152   ab  allowing it to rotate. The arms  156   ab  and seat platform  162  are connected with interlacing fingers sliding onto the lift arms  152   ab  being retained by an end cap  138   ab.  This arrangement allows for a smooth platform to slide over during sliding transfers.  
       Advantages  
       [0134]    From the description above, a number of advantages of my mobile lift chair become evident:  
         [0135]    (a) Of foremost importance, by providing wheels and braking means the mobile lift chair should qualify for insurance reimbursement, meaning that the people who have marginal resources, and who need this lift to stay at home, and out of a hospital, have access to the device.  
         [0136]    (b) By the placement of the seat forward from the lift frame, enclosing the moving parts, and routing the legs of the lift frame under the seat until they exit at the last possible point, the seat has been designed to eliminate a point where an entrapment injury could occur.  
         [0137]    (c) By placing the seat forward from the lift frame the width of the seat could be kept wide and the frame could be kept narrow. This allows for movement through most doors, while at the same time allowing all but the largest of individuals the ability to get into the seat. It is small enough to be unobtrusive in the home or hospital setting.  
         [0138]    (d) By utilizing pivotable handles on the mobile lift chair the lift chair can be taken up and down stairs or onto rough surfaces similar to a standard wheelchair. With the ability of the handles to pivot outwardly, a caregiver has a counter-point of weight distribution to decrease the chance of personal injury during an assisted lift onto the seat. This arrangement also allows for control of the chair while placing someone in it. In a hospital setting it allows one person to safely do the work of two in picking someone up, and to do it quickly and efficiently.  
         [0139]    (e) By providing an onboard rechargeable battery the lift is always ready to be used, even if the electricity is off, and it is safe to use in wet areas, such as bathrooms where many falls take place.  
         [0140]    (f) The overall foot print of the chair gives stability even when the most awkward of transfers are attempted. The importance of this feature cannot be overstated, as individuals with neurologic disorders will thrust strongly posterior and off to one side during attempts to stand.  
         [0141]    (g) By providing wheels the chair can be used for not only lifting and moving humans but goods placed upon it and raised may be moved around.  
         [0142]    (h) The seat may be used by a weakened individual to do low tasks, which they otherwise could not do.  
         [0143]    (i) In the alternative embodiment where a fold down arm is supplied, a sliding board transfer becomes possible where a standing pivot transfer is difficult or impossible.  
       Operation  
       [0144]    The manner of using the mobile lift chair is for someone who has fallen to crawl if necessary to the lift chair and slide onto the seat  26 . When established upon the seat, they press the actuator  38  to create up or down movement of the seat. When a comfortable height is reached they can exit the chair. If need be, they can disengage the brakes  94  and move about in the chair much the same way someone in a wheelchair would, either to summon further assistance or to transfer to a more comfortable surrounding where they can rest and recover.  
         [0145]    If an assistant is available the mobile lift chair  10  can be brought to the fallen individual and they can be assisted onto the seat  26  and raised by the assistant using the removable actuator  38 . If strong assistance is needed the assistant may pivot the handles  36  and use them to help lift the individual onto the seat  26  while protecting their back. Again, if necessary, they can be wheeled about like a person in a wheelchair by pivoting the handles  36  back to where they protrude behind the lift frame  12 .  
         [0146]    Using an alternative embodiment of the seat  26  an assistant or individual may lift the arm release handle  140   ab  and pivot arm  156   ab  onto a surface like a bed and do a sliding board transfer.  
       Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope  
       [0147]    Thus the reader will see that the mobile lift chair provides a safe, reliable, durable, easy to build and cost effective way to get someone off of the floor, either independently or with assistance. It provides safety and security to all parties involved in it&#39;s use and should decrease the number of injuries to healthcare workers and the unnecessary hospitalizations of individuals because they have recurrent falls.  
         [0148]    In hospital settings where falls are a daily occurrence, the need to quickly and efficiently pick someone up and put them to bed can be met with the mobile lift. It is small enough and agile enough to be moved between beds and into bathrooms where the individual can be scooped up, and transferred with a minimum of effort.  
         [0149]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For the current description, metals, such as aluminum or steel are foreseen as the most obvious choices for the lifting structure. The seat can be made from injected molded plastic, glass reinforced plastic or composite materials. It is possible that the entire lift chair could be constructed of dense injection molded plastic which would facilitate mass production, weight and costs savings as well as changing the configuration of the lift frame and lift means.  
         [0150]    The drive mechanism of a gear motor and drive screw with drive nut was chosen over a hydraulic or pneumatic, cable or chain propulsion devices due to safety, cost and weight concerns. The gear motor, drive screw combination is the most efficient, affordable, durable, and light weight of all of the options.  
         [0151]    Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.