Abstract:
The invention relates to a patient lifting frame for use with an invalid hoist for lifting and supporting an invalid patient. Such a lifting frame can be used in conjunction with a wheeled or overhead mechanical or electrical hoist unit, to assist nursing staff, healthcare staff or carers in lifting and moving disabled patients. This lifting frame may also be used in many different areas to carry able bodied people in safety for operations such as air sea rescue service.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/016,132, filed Jan. 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,214,945, which is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2009/001873, filed Jul. 31, 2009, which claims the benefit of Great Britain Application No. 0901467.1, filed Jan. 29, 2009, and Great Britain Application No. 0813956.0, filed Jul. 31, 2008, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to medical devices and more particularly to medical devices for transporting patients. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many such patients, whether in hospital or at home, need assistance in movement, for example between a bed and a chair, between a chair and a bath, between a bed or chair and a toilet area or between floor and bed. Whenever the patient is unable to support himself or herself, the movement of the patient has to be carried out by nursing staff, healthcare staff or carers who must manually lift and move the patient. This task can exceed the weight lifting limits generally recommended for one or even two persons, and often nursing staff, healthcare staff or carers themselves suffer from back damage or back strain. Much of this lifting work is also done by the family members of patients in their own homes. 
     It has become commonplace to use a wheeled or overhead hydraulic or electrical hoist to lift a patient from a bed, but this generally requires the patient to be placed in a sling to which the hoist may be attached. Such slings need to be placed beneath and around the patient before lifting commences, and in the case of a disabled patient unable to assist the carer, the patient still needs to be lifted manually and positioned over the sling, in order to fix the sling in a position from which lifting can commence. Even when lifting does commence, the sensation of being lifted in a canvas sling is often a source of great trauma for the patient, because the flexible canvas sling provides very little feeling of security for the patient. It is for this reason that many attempts have been made to provide a lifting frame which could be used with a hoist to lift a sitting patient. It has been much more of a challenge to design a frame to be used with a hoist to raise into a sitting position a patient who was lying face upwards on a bed. One such frame is disclosed in my Patent Specification GB-B-2396147 which discloses a lifting frame that can be used to raise a patient from a face-up prone lying position to a sitting position. The lifting frame of that granted Patent utilizes a balance effect between the patient&#39;s upper body and the patient&#39;s lower body. The weight of the upper body is taken by the patient support elements including side pads which engage beneath the armpits of the patient and against opposite sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage, and the weight of the patient&#39;s lower body is taken by support means which support the patient&#39;s upper legs or posterior. The patient&#39;s upper and lower body weights are supported on opposite sides of a pivotal mounting so that the above balance effect takes place. The patient can therefore be lifted from a bed using the patient lifting frame which is raised by a hoist, and can easily be moved to a sitting position. 
     US-A-2004/0074414 discloses a patient lifting frame for use with a lifting hoist, for lifting a patient from a sitting to a standing position and is for use in assisting the patient to walk and to exercise. That patient support frame is capable of moving a patient from a sitting to a standing position for working therapy, but is totally unsuitable for lifting a patient from a prone lying position to the sitting or standing position. 
     Patient lifting frames and slings may be used to lift patients who have a tendency to epilepsy or similar uncontrolled body movements. It is therefore of prime importance that the patient should not be able to damage himself or herself on the equipment. That is a principal reason why lifting frames have not been more widely adopted, and why slings, which are much more difficult to use and which register a high incidence of patient fear and intolerance, are still in widespread use. It is an object of the invention to provide a lifting frame that is suitable for use with epileptic patients as well as those who are not liable to fits but who nevertheless are not able properly to support their heads and limbs, as well as patients who can support and control their heads and limbs but whose body mass makes it impossible for nursing staff, healthcare staff or carers to lift them in a satisfactory manner at present. It is also an object of the invention that the lifting frame is capable of moving a patient easily between the face-up lying, sitting and standing positions. 
     In this specification the terms “up”, “upper”, “low”, “lower”, “above” and “beneath” are used with reference to the normal vertical attitude of a patient lifting frame when it is suspended from a patient lifting hoist. The terms “front”, “back”, “forwardly” and “rearwardly” are used with reference to the front and back of a patient supported by such a lifting frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention provide a patient lifting frame for use with an invalid hoist for lifting and supporting an invalid patient. The lifting frame comprises a pair of suspension side bars ( 1 ) each of which has an upper end portion and a lower end portion and which is provided at its upper end portion with a linkage ( 2 ) for connection to a spreader bar of the invalid hoist and at its lower end portion with a suspension mounting ( 4 ). Each suspension mounting ( 4 ) comprises a pivotal/rotary connector ( 4 A) which is pivotally connected to an associated side bar ( 1 ) and which rotatably mounts a cantilever side bar assembly ( 4 B). On one side of the pivotal axis of the pivotal/rotary connector ( 4 A) there is connected a patient upper body support frame. On the other side of the pivotal axis of the pivotal/rotary connector ( 4 A) there is connected a patient lower body support means ( 28 , 28 ′) for engaging and supporting the posterior or upper legs of the patient. The patient upper body support frame comprises a pair of side frame elements ( 13 , 15 , 16 ) including patient underarm support elements ( 13 ) for passing beneath the armpits of the patient and a pair of padded side plates ( 15 , 16 ), one suspended from each of the said patient underarm support elements ( 13 ) of the side frame elements, which engage in use against opposite sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage and are drawn in against the ribcage by straps ( 29 , 33 ) connecting together the padded side plates ( 15 , 16 ). The patient upper body support frame further comprises a link bar assembly ( 9 ) connecting together the side frame elements. Each end of the link bar assembly ( 9 ) is connected to an associated one of the cantilever side bar assemblies ( 4 B) through a universal joint ( 8 ), each universal joint ( 8 ) and link bar assembly ( 9 ) combination being such as to permit pivotal movement of each of the cantilever side bar assemblies ( 4 B) relative to the link bar assembly ( 9 ) about three mutually perpendicular axes (X), (Y) and (Z). 
     Embodiments of the invention provide a patient lifting frame for use with an invalid hoist for lifting and supporting an invalid patient. Using the frame of one embodiment of the invention, the underarm support elements are positioned beneath the armpits of the patient, with the side plates and side pads engaging against opposite sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage. Webbing straps are then passed around the patient&#39;s body and around the side plates, so that tightening those straps draws the side plates and side pads close against the opposite sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage. That can be achieved either with the patient lying prone on his or her back or with the patient in a sitting or standing position. 
     Because the ends of the link bar assembly are connected to the suspension mountings through universal joints with three mutually perpendicular axes of pivotal movement, the versatility of the lifting frame is vastly increased over that of GB-B-2396147. When fitting the frame around a patient, the underarm support elements which pass beneath the armpits of the patient can if desired be positioned one at a time, and then the side pads can be closed together against the sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage in a subsequent motion, for example by tightening the webbing straps and/or shortening the full length of the link bar assembly. Most importantly, the universal joints permit the frame to move with the patient when fitted. If the patient is lifted in the frame for walking exercises the frame can twist and flex with patient movement, so that it permits the patient&#39;s shoulders, back and upper body to move unhindered to balance movement of the legs. That is in complete contrast to the lifting frame of US-A-2004/0074414 which provides no freedom of movement at all between the patient upper body support frame and the patient lower body support means. 
     Using a lifting frame according to one embodiment of the invention the patient can be lifted from a prone face-up position to a sitting position as described in GB-B-2396147, with the patient&#39;s weight being distributed between the upper body support frame and the lower body support means. Preferably the suspension mountings are attached to the suspension side bars as specified in claim  2  herein. As the patient is lifted from a prone position to a sitting position, the pivotal balance effect described in my GB-B-2396147 is then established, with the patient&#39;s lower body weight being supported on the means for engaging and supporting the posterior or upper legs of the patient, and the patient&#39;s upper body weight being taken by the patient underarm support elements and padded side plates. The suspension mountings, which pivotally suspend the patient upper and lower body support means, are thus preferably 2-axis pivotal/rotary connectors which are pivotally connected to the suspension side bars which rotatably mount the cantilever side bar assemblies which comprise first portions on one side of the pivotal axis of the connectors for supporting the patient&#39;s upper body weight and corresponding second portions on the other side of the pivotal axis of the connectors for supporting the patient&#39;s lower body weight. The result is that the support frame pivots freely around the suspension mountings when the patient is moved between a prone face-up position and a sitting position, or vice versa, just as described in GB-B-2396147. 
     The benefits of permitting the lifting frame to flex about the universal joints in response to a patient body movement are benefits which are felt by all patients, but those benefits are most apparent to observers when the patient being lifted suffers a convulsion, such as an epileptic fit or the involuntary movements of someone suffering from Parkinson&#39;s disease. The independent right and left hand movement of the universal joints of the lifting frame of this embodiment of the invention is of particular benefit in those circumstances. The universal joints permit the patient upper body support frame to follow both the independent vertical movements of the patient&#39;s shoulders and their independent forward-and-back movement during the convulsion, and by following the patient&#39;s movement the upper body support frame presents no injury risk to the patient. The lifting frame permits the fitting of a patient head and neck support means to support the head of a patient who does not have proper muscular control of his or her head and neck. It could be very dangerous for a head and neck support to hold a patient&#39;s head still while permitting movement of the shoulders and upper torso, since that could place an undue stress on the neck vertebrae. It has been found that the mounting of a head and neck support between resilient posts extending upwards from the rear edges of the side plates is a particularly effective head and neck support even for a lifting frame in which extended movement of the patient&#39;s shoulders and upper torso is matched by flexible movement of the lifting frame through the universal joints. When the patient&#39;s head is secured to such a head and neck support, for example using a strap or band around the patient&#39;s forehead, then movement of the patient&#39;s shoulders and upper body is successfully communicated to the head in such a manner that strain on the top vertebrae of the patient&#39;s spine is much reduced. 
     The lifting frame can be used to lift a variety of differently sized patients, from children to large and potentially bariatric adults, and to lift a variety of patients with different medical conditions including potentially convulsing patients and amputees. A slightly modified patient lower body support means may conceivably be required for double lower limb amputees, but the remainder of the lifting frame would need no modification at all. The side-to-side width of the potential range of patients is accommodated by the preferably telescopic or other width-adjustable nature of the link bar assembly which connects together the universal joints at the ends of the cantilever side bar assemblies, and the front-to back range of patient sizes can be accommodated by making the side plates and side pads interchangeable for side plates and side pads of different sizes. Advantageously the mounting points for the patient lower body support means are adjustable in the front-to-back direction to compensate for differently sized side plates and side pads, the better to maintain the equal and opposite moments imparted by the patient&#39;s upper and lower body weights during lifting. 
     Sometimes, however, the lifting frame is to be used to assist a patient in walking, for example during a physiotherapy session for a patient who has had a spinal or lower limb injury. For such a lifting operation the patient lower body support means must be detached and removed completely. The pivotal connections between the suspension side bars and the suspension mountings are then inappropriate, as the weight of the patient&#39;s upper body on the cantilevered side bar assemblies of the suspension mountings creates a moment that is not matched by an equal and opposite moment from the patient&#39;s lower body. To make such physiotherapy possible, the pivotal connection between each suspension side bar and its suspension mounting is preferably lockable to be held at a fixed angle, preferably with the cantilever side bar assemblies of the suspension mountings generally perpendicular to their suspension side bars. That locking may be established by a locking sleeve axially slidable on each suspension side bar between a lock releasing condition in which it is clear of the suspension mounting and does not interfere with the pivotal movement of the associated 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector relative to its suspension side bar, and a locking condition in which it surrounds the pivotal connection portion of the pivotal/rotary connector and prevents pivotal movement. Conveniently the locking sleeves are lightly held in each of the locking and lock releasing conditions by ball catches, to eliminate the possibility of inadvertent lowering of the locking sleeves over the pivotal/rotary connectors to their locking conditions. I call these locking sleeves kinematic locks, because the locking and unlocking of the pivotal coupling between the suspension side bars and the pivotal/rotary connectors is the result of a physical sliding movement of the locking sleeves. To engage the kinematic locks the patient is raised to a sitting position as previously described and then the kinematic locks are engaged so that the patient&#39;s lower body weight is no longer used to balance the suspension mountings about their pivotal axes. The patient lower body support means can then be removed, and the patient lifted to standing height for the walking exercise. 
     When the locking sleeves of the kinematic locks are in their locking condition the patient underarm supports which support the side pads strapped against the patient&#39;s sides are maintained generally perpendicular to the suspension side bars so that the suspension side bars are maintained generally in line with the patient&#39;s spine. No balance between the weights of the patient&#39;s upper and lower body then takes place during the physiotherapy session, although once the lower body support means are again attached the kinematic locks can be released to cause the lifting frame to revert to operation as described in GB-B-2396147. 
     It is believed that the kinematic locks are inventive in their own right. Embodiments of the invention accordingly also provide a patient lifting frame comprising: 
     two suspension side bars each connectable at an upper end to a spreader bar of an invalid hoist and at a lower end to a pivotal suspension mounting comprising a 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector supporting a cantilever side bar assembly of the lifting frame, 
     each cantilever side bar assembly having a first cantilever portion on one side of its 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector and a second cantilever portion on the other side thereof, 
     the first cantilever portions mounting patient underarm support elements for engaging beneath the armpits of a patient, which underarm support elements carry side plates and side pads for engaging against opposite sides of a patient&#39;s ribcage so that the underarm support elements and side pads form a patient upper body support means, 
     the second cantilever portions having distal ends which are connected together by a link bar assembly and which detachably mount a patient lower body support means for passing beneath the patient&#39;s posterior or upper legs, 
     characterised in that each 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector is selectively lockable to cancel its pivotal movement relative to its associated suspension sidebar, and to support the associated cantilever side bar without any equal and opposite balancing moment being applied to the second cantilever portions when the patient lower body support means is detached from the said second cantilever portions. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient lifting frame according to the invention without the head/neck support system or the patient lower body support means displayed; 
         FIG. 2  is a horizontal section through the lifting frame taken along the axis of the link bar assembly  9  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2A  is an enlarged detail of one of the suspension mountings of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a vertical section taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the retaining pin of  FIG. 2B ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a vertical section through the suspension mounting of  FIG. 2A  according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a vertical section through the suspension mounting of  FIG. 2A  according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is the same vertical section as  FIG. 3A  but with the patient upper body support means ( 13 , 15 , 16 ) removed; 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view of the first embodiment (of  FIG. 3A ) illustrating how the side pads  16  are rotatable relative to the boss element  5 ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a front view of the second embodiment (of  FIG. 3B ) illustrating how the side pads  16  are fixed relative to the boss element  5  and pivot inwardly against the patient&#39;s ribcage in response to the downward force of the patient&#39;s lower body weight on the seat sling carriers  27 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is an axial section through a pair of resilient upstanding posts of a patient head and neck support and their attachment means to the side plates; 
         FIG. 6B  is a section similar to that of  FIG. 6A  but with the posts connected to the attachment means; 
         FIG. 6C  is a non-sectional front view of  FIG. 6B ; 
         FIG. 7  is an axial section through one of the posts of  FIGS. 6A-C ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a head cushion support for a patient&#39;s head which is a further component of the patient head and neck support; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded front view of the lifting frame of  FIG. 1 , the posts of  FIGS. 6 and 7  and the cushion support of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1  but at a higher angle, illustrating the connection of the head and neck support posts to the side pad plates and the detachable nature of the side pads relative to the side pad plates; 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view from below of a modified side plate to be used in either of the illustrated embodiments; 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of a side pad to be used with the side plate of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIGS. 11 to 15  are schematic illustrations of the interengagement between the lifting frame of  FIG. 1  and a patient, illustrated schematically as a humanoid form, of which: 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the patient in a prone position lying face-up with the head/neck support system attached; 
         FIGS. 12 to 14  illustrate the patient lifted to a sitting position, viewed from various angles; and 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the patient lifted to a standing or walking position, as if in physiotherapy, with the kinematic locks of the lifting frame engaged; and the head/neck support system detached; 
         FIG. 15A  illustrates the lifting position of  FIG. 12 , but for clarity without the patient being included in the Figure and showing a third embodiment of the invention, being a modification of the lifting frame of either the first or the second embodiment as shown in the previous drawings, incorporating a modified seat sling  28 ′; 
         FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of one of the universal joints  8  of  FIG. 15A ; 
         FIG. 15C  illustrates a modification of the lifting frame of  FIG. 15A . The seat sling of  FIG. 15A  has been removed for reasons of clarity; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the elongated pusher element for passing the straps beneath the back of a patient lying face up in the prone position or behind the back of a patient sitting and leaning backwards against a chair back or a wall; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the top one of a pair of straps for drawing the side pads against the sides of the patient in use; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the release buckle of the strap of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a side sectional view through the release buckle and straps of  FIGS. 17 and 20 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the other of the straps for drawing the side pads against the sides of the patient in use, being the lower of the two straps and intended to pass completely around the patient and around both side plates &amp; side pads; 
         FIG. 20A  is a perspective view of a modified strap end; 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view of the suspension side bars and patient upper body support frame of  FIG. 1 , spread out flat; 
         FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24  show the progressive folding movements needed to collapse the patient lifting frame from the position of  FIG. 21  to a flat folded storage position as shown in  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a storage case for storage and transportation of the patient lifting frame of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a storage trolley for the patient lifting frame of  FIG. 1 , suitable for hospital use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The principal elements of the patient lifting frame of  FIG. 1  are a pair of padded suspension side bars, a patient upper body support frame and a patient lower body support means (not shown). The padding for both suspension side bars will be made from silicon material or anything similar provided for patient safety and comfort. Most parts illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be made of metal, which is preferably a strong light alloy in order to reduce the total weight as much as possible, or of an engineering grade plastic material such as a glass reinforced nylon which may be injection-mouldable. The parts shown in  FIG. 1 , if made of metal, may be solid or tubular, the latter providing strength without contributing excessive weight. 
     The suspension side bars each carry the reference numeral  1 , and each is provided at its upper end with a suspension shackle  2  pivotally connected to a shackle connector  3 . The shackle connector  3  is itself rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and in use the shackles  2  are hooked over opposite ends of a spreader bar carried by an invalid hoist. The spreader bar, not being a part of the invention, is shown in broken line only in  FIG. 1 . 
     Although the shackles  2  are illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being U-shaped shackles made from bent plate, they may alternatively and preferably be made from flat wire braid, preferably coated with a smooth wear-resistant coating such as a fabric or plastic or rubber coating, because they will distribute the full load across larger areas on each spreader bar hook and help to prevent damage to the spreader bar while lifting patients. The braids themselves may be easily replaced when necessary. 
     The suspension side bars  1  may be tubular or solid, and at the lower end of each is provided a suspension mounting  4 . Each suspension mounting  4  comprises a 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A and a cantilever side bar assembly  4 B rotatably connected thereto, as will be described in greater detail later. A pivot pin  6  connects together the lower end of each suspension side bar  1  and a bifurcated upper end portion of its associated two-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A, providing a pivotal connection therebetween along a first axis of the two-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. A sleeve  7  of a kinematic lock is provided around the lower end portion of each suspension side bar  1  immediately above the suspension mounting  4 , and can be moved downwardly to lock the pivotal connection between the suspension side bar  1  and the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A of its associated suspension mounting  4  in a manner to be described later. 
     The only portion of the cantilever side bar assembly  4 B visible in  FIG. 1  is a boss  5  which extends forwardly in cantilever from the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A and terminates at its distal end in a universal joint  8 , the universal joints  8  connecting the distal ends of the bosses  5  together through a link bar assembly  9 . The link bar assembly  9  comprises a rod  10  extending from a cylinder  11 , so that the lateral distance between the two bosses  5  is variable by extension of the rod  10  from the cylinder  11  or retraction of the rod  10  further into the cylinder  11 . The extension of the rod relative to the cylinder is lockable in any desired position using a spring-loaded lock button  11 A. Alternatively in a modification (not illustrated) the link bar assembly  9  could be a single solid or tubular bar with the two universal joints  8  laterally slidable along the bar and lockable at different spacings one from the other. The link bar assembly  9  is preferably shrouded in a flexible rubber protector (not illustrated in  FIG. 1  but added as  10 ′,  11 ′ for illustrative purposes in  FIG. 15A ). That protector may comprise a corrugated and extensible portion  10 ′ which surrounds and cushions the rod  10 , and a uniform diameter portion  11 ′ which surrounds and cushions the cylinder  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 15C . 
     The internal construction of the suspension mountings  4  is better illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . The cantilever side bar assembly  4 B comprises the boss  5  which passes laterally through a cylindrical aperture in a support portion of the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A, a patient upper body support connecting member  12 A which plugs axially into a central bore in the boss  5 , and a retaining shaft  12 B which extends to the forward end of the boss  5  and retains the universal joint  8  in position. 
     A handle  12 C is provided at the distal end of each retaining shaft  12 B, the use of which will be described later. 
     In a first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the boss  5  is rotatably immovable relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A but the connecting member  12 A is rotatable relative to the boss  5 . The axis of rotation defines the second axis of the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A, and is perpendicular to the axis defined by the pin  6  but offset therefrom. A pin  12 D locks together the connecting member  12 A and the retaining shaft  12 B. A second pin  12 E passing down a vertical bore centrally of the bifurcated upper portion of the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A and locked in position there by a diagonally inserted grub-screw locks together the boss  5  and the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A, keeps the pin  12 D securely in place and prevents ingress of dirt. The pin  12 E spans the vertical bore in the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A and a radial bore in the boss  5 , and therefore prevents rotation of the boss  5  relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A while permitting rotation of the connecting member  12 A relative to the boss  5 . 
     In a second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the boss  5  is free to rotate relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. The axis of rotation defines the second axis of the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A, and is perpendicular to the axis defined by the pin  6  but offset therefrom. A pin  12 D′ locks together the boss  5 , the connecting member  12 A and the retaining shaft  12 B. A second pin  12 E′ passing down a vertical bore centrally of the bifurcated upper portion of the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A and locked in position there by a grub-screw acts both to keep the pin  12 D′ securely in place and to prevent ingress of dirt. The pin  12 E′ stops short of the boss  5  and therefore does not interfere with rotation of the boss  5  relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. 
     The functional difference between the first and second embodiments will be described later. 
     The connecting members  12 A provide releasable mountings for a pair of patient upper body support means which include patient underarm support elements  13  which in use pass beneath the armpits of the patient. Each underarm support element  13  may be detached from its mounting  12 A by retraction of a spring-biased retention pin  14  carried by the respective connecting member  12 A, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The underarm support elements  13  may then be replaced by differently sized underarm support elements  13  to suit a differently sized patient. When connected, however, the underarm support elements  13  extend in cantilever from the pivotal/rotary connectors  4 A, so that the weight of the patient&#39;s upper body acting downwardly on the said underarm support elements  13  exerts an anti-clockwise moment on the pivot pins  6  as viewed in  FIGS. 3A to 4 . 
     Suspended from, but rigidly connected to, each of the underarm support elements  13  is a side plate  15  comprising a rigid plate curved to conform to the shape of the sides of a patient&#39;s ribcage. Removably secured to the side plates  15  are a pair of side pads  16  to be described in greater detail later. 
     The universal joints  8  one at each end of the link bar assembly  9 , and the link bar assembly itself, permit pivotal movement of the connecting members  12 A and bosses  5  relative to the link bar assembly  9  about the three mutually perpendicular axes X, Y and Z illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The X axis is the central axis of the boss  5  and of the retaining shaft  12 B as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The pivotal movement around the X axis is limited to about 180° of movement relative to each boss  5 , that limited movement being provided by a stop member  17  held by the distal end of the boss  5  and movable in an arcuate track  18  in the associated universal joint  8  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , but for the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  there is no angular limitation to the movement of the connecting members  12 A, retaining shafts  12 B and underarm support elements  13 , about the axis of each boss  5 , so that for that embodiment a full 360° of movement is permitted of the underarm support elements  13  and their side plates  15  and side pads  16  relative to the link bar assembly  9 . The stop member  17  allows a wide range of movement for both the side pads  16  and the suspension side bars  1  but prevents the whole unit from folding inside out and back to front. 
     Pivotal movement is also permitted between the connecting members  12 A and bosses  5  and the ends of the link bar assembly  9  about the axis Y as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2B , although that range of pivotal movement is limited to about ±15° of movement by a shroud  19  which encloses a pivot pin  20  connecting together the respective universal joint  8  and either and end cap  21  of the rod  10  of the link bar assembly  9  or a bushing connection  11   b  of the cylinder  11  of the link bar assembly  9 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A . A greater or lesser freedom of movement can be provided by varying the axial dimensions of the shroud  19 . The pivot pin  20  is retained in position by a diagonal grub-screw which engages in a wasted central portion of the pivot pin  20  as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     Freedom of movement of the universal joints  8  about the Z axis is through a full 360° of movement and is explained with reference to  FIGS. 2B and 2C . The pivot pin  20 , referred to immediately above, passes through not the rod  10  itself, but through the end cap  21 . The corresponding pivot pin  20  at the other universal joint  8  passes through a bushing connection  11   b  fast to the end of cylinder  11 . A phosphor-bronze bushing  21 A between the end cap  21  and the rod  10  provides a smooth low friction bearing surface for rotation of the end cap  21  relative to the rod  10 . The rod  10  is held captive in the end cap  21  by a hardened metal pin  21 B which passes through a chordal bore in the end cap and into an annular recess  21 C formed in the end portion of the rod  10 . The metal pin  21 B is illustrated in perspective view in  FIG. 2C . It is retained in its chordal bore in the end cap  21  by a grub screw which engages a recessed central portion  21 D of the pin  21 B so as to retain the pin  21 B securely in position. Both bosses  5 , and all components directly connected to each, are therefore permitted to rotate freely around the Z axis, thereby establishing the third degree of movement of the universal joints  8 . A similar freedom of movement about the Z axis would be provided if the end cap  21  were at the opposite end of the link bar assembly  9  and connected to the cylinder  11 , and if the pivot pin  20  at the rod  10  end passed through the rod or through a bushing fast to the rod  10  at the other end of the link bar assembly  9 . 
     It will be appreciated from the above description that the X, Y and Z axes do not necessarily intersect at a single point. In the illustrated embodiment the Y axis is offset from the point of intersection of the X and Z axes as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     However each universal joint  8  and link bar assembly  9  forms a combination effective to permit pivotal movement of each of the cantilever side bar assemblies  4 B relative to the link bar assembly  9  about all three mutually perpendicular axes. 
     Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that attached rigidly to each outer side of each boss  5  is a horizontal rail  22  along which a slider  23 , (see also  FIG. 2A ) can be moved. A phosphor-bronze plate  24  (see  FIG. 2A ) in each rail  22  provides a free running and low friction track for ease of movement. A spring-loaded plunger  25  can locate in any of recesses  26 A,  26 B and  26 C in the rail  22  to position the slider  23  at different lateral positions along the rail  22  (in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  the plunger is located in recess  26 B to position the slider centrally on the rail  22 ). Each slider  23  carries a carrier  27  for a canvas seat sling for supporting the patient lower body weight. 
     A basic seat sling  28 , shown only in  FIGS. 12 to 14 , is a simple U-shaped loop of fabric  28  which in use is suspended from the carriers  27  and supports the patient&#39;s lower body weight. It may have length adjusters  28 A. It is easily placed beneath a patient&#39;s upper thighs or posterior simply by asking the patient to bend at the knees, whether the patient is in a sitting position or a face-up lying prone position, and then latched onto the carriers  27 . When the patient is lifted (as will be described later in greater detail) the patient&#39;s lower body weight is taken by the seat sling  28  and transferred to the carriers  27 . The carriers  27  are positioned forwardly of the pivot pin  6  of the suspension mounting  4 , so that the moment exerted by the patient&#39;s lower body weight on the suspension mounting  4  is in an opposite sense to that exerted by the patient&#39;s upper body weight. The lower body weight acts through the carriers  27  which are supported by the boss  5  forwardly of the pivot pins  6 , and the upper body weight acts through the underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  which are supported by the connecting members  12 A rearwardly of the pivot pins. Because the patient&#39;s body is flexible, it adjusts in posture until the moments of the upper and lower body parts are equal as well as opposite, and the angle of the bosses  5  and connecting members  12 A adjusts accordingly, by pivotal movement of the suspension mountings  4  about their pins  6 . 
     The rail  22  and slider  23  enables each carrier  27  to be adjusted to increase or decrease the cantilever extent of the patient&#39;s lower body weight acting on the suspension mounting  4 . That is important if the underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  are to be exchanged for smaller or larger support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  to suit differently sized patients. If larger underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  are fitted, then the slider should be moved forwardly into the aperture  26 A in order to balance the increased moment imposed by the patient&#39;s upper body weight on the larger and therefore more far-reaching underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16 . For smaller underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  the slider should be moved to aperture  26 C. 
     An alternative seat sling  28 ′ is shown in  FIG. 15A  which shows a third embodiment of the patient lifting frame, being a modification of the previous Figures. The modification to the frame itself lies in the fact that the rails  22 , sliders  23  and carriers  27  of the previous Figures are replaced by a pair of fixed carriers  27 ′ suspended from the universal joints  8  more or less in line with the Z axis. The carriers  27 ′ are suspended by mounting frames  27 ″ from end protrusions  8 A formed as integral parts of the universal joints  8  ( FIG. 15B ), each mounting frame  27 ″ having a spigot portion received in an upwardly extending bore  8 B formed in the associated protrusion  8 A and held captive by a pin or bolt inserted in an axial bore  8 C. The carriers  27 ′ thus are fixed in the sense that they are unable to be moved in the forward and back direction, as could the carriers  27  of  FIGS. 1 to 15  on their sliders  23 . The carriers  27 ′ can however pivot relative to their mounting frames. The adjustment of the cantilever extent of the patient&#39;s lower body weight acting on the suspension mountings  4 , by moving the carriers  27  forward or back relative to the Z axis, is therefore missing from this embodiment. An addition to the features of the earlier Figures is however a carrier  28 ″ suspended beneath the link bar assembly  9  at approximately its central point. The carrier  28 ″ is similar in shape to the carriers  27 ′ and is similarly pivotable about a mounting frame carried by the link bar assembly  9 . Each of the carriers  27 ′ and  28 ″ comprises a plunger which if pulled away from the carrier body allows insertion of a loop of webbing and when released retains that webbing in position. The seat sling  28 ′ used in this embodiment of the invention is more than the simple U-shaped loop of fabric  28  of  FIG. 12 . It has a central gusset portion  28 B which has stitched thereto a length-adjustable strap  28 C which terminates at its top end in a loop of webbing  28 D. The seat sling  28 ′ connects at its outer sides to two length adjusting straps  28 A as does the sling  28  of  FIG. 12 . Initially the seat sling  28 ′ of  FIG. 15A  is passed under the patient&#39;s upper thighs as described above for the seat sling  28 , and the length adjusters  28 A hooked onto the carriers  27 ′ and adjusted accordingly. Then the strap  28 C is pulled up between the patient&#39;s legs and its end loop  28 D is hooked onto the carrier  28 ″. Finally the length of the strap  28 C is adjusted for maximum patient comfort. The total seat sling makes up into a generally W-shape which maintains the patients&#39; legs supported without either drawing them uncomfortably together or allowing them to spread uncomfortably apart. 
     A further optional feature of  FIG. 15A , which also may with advantage be incorporated into the basic seat sling  28  of  FIG. 12 , is an adjustable length back support strap  28 E which is sewn onto the remainder of the seat sling and which passes behind the patient slightly below the small of the patient&#39;s back in use, providing a restraint to prevent a patient from slipping backwards through the seat sling. 
     It has been found that patient comfort is enhanced by the use of the seat sling of  FIG. 15A , and that with such a seat sling the adjustment afforded by the rails  22  and sliders  23  of the previous Figures is unnecessary. The omission, in the embodiment of  FIG. 15A , of the rails  22  and sliders  23  of  FIGS. 1 to 15  also enhances the appearance of the lifting frame. However if the visual appearance of  FIG. 15A  is desired together with the seat sling adjustability of  FIGS. 1 to 15 , then one possible modification (not illustrated) to the lifting frame of  FIG. 15A  would be for the 2-axis pivotable/rotary connector  4 A to be axially adjustable along the length of the boss  5 . Moving the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A forwardly along the boss  5  would transfer the balance point or pivotal axis of the suspension mounting  4  forwardly, so that the patient upper body support connecting member  12 A exerts a greater moment anticlockwise as viewed in  FIG. 3A  and the seat sling  28  exerts a lesser moment clockwise. Only a very minor longitudinal adjustment of the connectors  4 A is therefore necessary to achieve a significant change to the balance of the patient upper and lower body weights during lifting. 
     Some patients may need to have their heads supported during lifting from a prone position or when being lifted while in a sitting position because they have no muscular control of their necks. Therefore an optional addition to the patient lifting frame of the invention (whether the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 to 15  or that of  FIG. 15A ) is a patient head and neck support as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A to 14 . The head and neck support comprises a pair of resilient upstanding posts  50  as shown in  FIGS. 6A to 7 , one detachably secured to the rear edge of each side plate  15 . The attachment/detachment mechanism comprises a mounting member  51  detachably securable to each of the side plates  15  and a first post portion  52  axially slidable in a bore  53  in the mounting member  51  and securable in any of a number of different axial positions extending by varying amounts from the mounting member  51 . The mounting member  51  carries a bolt  54  which may be withdrawn against the bias of a spring to enable the mounting member to be placed straddling and engaging an anchorage member  51 A fast to the associated mounting plate  15 . When the bolt  54  is released the spring causes it to pass into a bore in the anchorage member so as to anchor the mounting member  51  firmly to the side plate  15 . The amount by which the first post portion  52  extends above the level of the side plate  15  can be adjusted by lifting a spring biased plunger  56  and moving the first post portion  52  axially in its bore  53  and then releasing the plunger so that it engages in an appropriate one of a number of blind bores  55  formed in the side of the first post portion  52  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     At the distal end of the first post portion  52  is a second post portion  57  pivotally mounted to the first post portion  52  and a spring  58  surrounding the pivotal connection and compressed between two shoulders  59  and  60 , one formed on the first post portion  52  and the other formed on the second post portion  57 . The resilience and the compression of the spring  58  form a resilient means urging the second post portion  57  to assume a co-linear relationship with the first post portion  52 . However the second post portion  57  is able to tilt from side to side (but not forwardly or rearwardly) relative to the first post portion  52  against a resilient bias. In use, the posts  50  are both mounted on the anchorage members  51 A at the rear edge portions of the side plates  15  and then the second post portions  57  are inserted into side pockets  61  of a head cushion support  62  which is shown most clearly in  FIG. 8 . The head cushion support  62  is a looped length of canvas carrying on a front face  62 A a neck cushion  63  and optionally a head cushion  63 A (see  FIG. 15A ) sewn in position, and having on its rear face  62 B elasticated webbing  62 C for drawing the canvas into its looped configuration to define the two pockets  61  into which the second post portions  57  are received. The width of the looped length of canvas can be varied by adjusting the length of the elasticated webbing  62 C using a friction buckle (not shown). A forehead strap  64  is attached at its ends to the canvas at a level above that of the cushion  63 , and includes a tightening friction buckle  65  which enables the strap to be tightened around a patient&#39;s forehead in use.  FIG. 11  illustrates the method of using the head and neck support. The extension of the first post portions  52  is adjusted to the correct height for the patient, and then the patient&#39;s head is placed over the neck cushion  63  while the forehead strap  64  is tightened. Thereafter the patient may be lifted in the normal manner, and any violent movement of the patient&#39;s shoulders, caused for example by a seizure or fit or by an affliction such as Parkinson&#39;s disease, is communicated by the posts  50  and the cushion support  62  to the patient&#39;s head which therefore moves in unison with the shoulder movement, maintaining generally constant alignment of the top vertebrae of the patient&#39;s spine. The head and neck support can of course be removed completely whenever the patient has a stable muscular control of head movement. If desired the first post portions  52  may be provided with a protective covering, such as a corrugated rubber sheath as shown in  FIGS. 11 to 14 . A similar protective covering  10 ′,  11 ′ may if desired be placed around the link bar assembly  9  (see  FIG. 15A ). 
     A slightly more advanced design of lifting frame is shown in  FIG. 15C . In comparison to the lifting frame of  FIG. 15A , the carrier  28 ″ is able to receive the hanging loop  28 D of the seat sling  28  from either the right hand or the left hand side. The rod  10  of the link bar assembly  9  has a ratchet profile so that the handles  12 C can be simply pushed together to shorten the length of the link bar assembly  9 . The lock button  11 A then becomes simply a release button which is lifted to release the ratchet engagement.  FIG. 15C  shows the protector  10 ′,  11 ′ removed, the better to show the construction of the self-locking ratchet mechanism of the link bar assembly  9 , but in use of course it shrouds the link bar assembly as shown in  FIG. 15A . 
       FIG. 15C  shows simpler slot-in carriers  27 A in substitution for the carriers  27 ′ and mounting frame  27 ″ of  FIG. 15A , and the anchorages  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  34 ′ and guide  31  on the side plates  15  are moved further to the front of the side plates  15  than in  FIG. 15A . Also the bottom corners of the side plates  15  are more rounded in the design of  FIG. 15C  than in that of  FIG. 15A . The side plate edges also have a curved profile to enable the straps  29 , 33  to slide easily across. Strap guide pins  32 A are located on both side plates  15  towards the rear edge to guide the strap  29  safely in between then and prevent the strap  29  from slipping off either of the side plates  15 . 
     Finally  FIG. 15C  shown an optional addition which is a back, head and neck support plate  49  which is a semi-rigid shaped plate which can be positioned between the patient&#39;s upper back and the top strap  33 , to provide an additional element of support to a patient&#39;s back neck and head during lifting. If desired, the plate  49  may be designed with a cushioned head and neck support portion; or alternatively it may be shaped and sized to support and protect only the patent&#39;s back, with the head and neck support portion being omitted. 
     Firm contact between the side pads  16  and the opposite sides of the patient&#39;s ribcage is established by one or both of two systems. In all cases both straps  29  &amp;  33  are passed around the patient and around the side plates  15  and side pads  16 . Those straps are illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 15 . A lower strap  29  is connected to an anchorage  30  on one side plate  15 , passed behind the patient&#39;s back, through a guide  31  on the opposite side plate  15  and connected to another anchorage  32  on the first side plate  15  before being tightened by pulling an end of the strap against a conventional fastener. As the strap is tightened so the side pads  16  and side plates  15  are drawn into tighter contact with the patient&#39;s ribcage. Excessive tightening is undesirable. An upper strap  33  passes only behind the patient and is anchored at its opposite ends to anchorages  34  positioned one on each of the side plates  15 . 
     The straps are further illustrated in  FIGS. 17 to 20 . The top strap  33  of  FIG. 17  comprises an anchorage end  35  carrying a buckle  36 , and an adjustable end  37  which extends from a pulling loop  38 , through a loose fabric sleeve  39 , through the buckle  36  and back to a second anchorage end  40 . Each of the anchorage ends  35  and  40  comprises a looped end portion  41  which can be placed over an associated anchorage  34  on one or other or both of the side plates  15 . The straps  33  and  29  of  FIGS. 17 and 20  with their looped ends  41  and  41 ′ are suitable for hooking over the anchorages  30 ,  32  and  34  of  FIGS. 10 ,  12  and  13  in which a spring-loaded plunger keeps each looped end captive in the anchorage. The anchorages of  FIGS. 15A and 15C  have no spring-loaded plunger, and the strap is retained in place solely by the shape of the slot in the anchorage and the stiffness of the strap. To make the strap easy to fit and yet secure against inadvertent release from the anchorage, the ends of straps  33  and  29  for use with the anchorages  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  34 ′ of  FIGS. 15A and 15C  are preferably formed not with looped ends  41  and  41 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 20  but with a solid end profile as shown in  FIG. 20A . That end profile may be formed by wrapping the strap end around a solid core before folding it back on itself and sewing, or by some form of fusion of the strap and. For example, the strap  29  or  33  may be formed of a flexible low-friction fabric-reinforced plastic sheet, with the plastic being moulded or stitched into an integral cylindrical stop portion  41 A at its ends. The stop portion  41 A cannot pull back through the sot in the anchorage  30 ,  32 ,  34  or  34 ′, so the anchorage is secure. The bottom strap  29  as shown in  FIG. 20  is of similar construction except that the strap  29  is much longer because the strap in use extends completely around the patient. The component parts of the bottom strap  29  are therefore shown with the same reference numerals as those of the top strap of  FIG. 17 , but with primes added.  FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the buckle  36  of  FIG. 17  (or the buckle  36 ′ of  FIG. 20 ) and  FIG. 19  is a side sectional view of that buckle showing the passage of the strap around a guide bar  42  and beneath an anchorage blade  43 . The loop  38  of the strap is pulled to tighten the strap across the patient&#39;s body and draw together the side plates  15  and side pads  16  against the sides of the patient. With the strap in tension the buckle is pulled down flat by the strap, and the blade  43  keeps the strap taught and prevents it from relaxing. To relax the tension, the handle  44  is simply raised, which releases the pressure of the strap on the blade  43  and allows rapid slackening of the strap. Once the strap is slackened, its ends can be released from the anchorages  30 ,  32 ,  34  or  34 ′. 
     The straps  29 ,  33  must first be passed behind the patient before their ends can be anchored to the side plates  15 . Indeed the straps  29 ,  33  may be placed in position behind the patient&#39;s back before the support frame is swung into position, and only then connected to the anchorages  30 ,  32 ,  34  or  34 ′ of the support frame. Whenever the straps  29 ,  33  are positioned behind the patient, however, the action is facilitated by the use of a pusher bar  45  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The pusher bar is a thin bar of rigid material but flexible, such as a flat steel or reinforced industrial grade plastics blade optionally coated with a low friction surface coating. One end of the blade  45  is formed as a narrow projecting tongue  46  co-planar with the rest of the blade  45 . That tongue is in use inserted in a pocket  47  or  47 ′ stitched in one end of the appropriate strap  29  or  33 . The four pockets  47  or  47 ′ shown in  FIGS. 17 and 20  are identical, but possibly the clearest to understand is that illustrated at the left hand side of  FIG. 20 . The pocket  47 ′ receives the tongue  46 , and the shoulders on opposite sides of the tongue  46  prevent its passage further into the pocket so that the blade  45  can be used to slide each strap in turn beneath the back of a patient lying flat, or behind the back of a sitting patient. The patient does not have to be manually lifted to pass the strap behind him or her, and once the strap has emerged at the remote side of the patient, it can be pulled through and anchored by its looped end  41 ′. Consider the top strap  33  of  FIG. 17 . Normally it would be passed behind the patient from right to left as the lifting frame is viewed in  FIG. 1 , with the pusher blade  45  inserted in the pocket  47  at the left hand end of the strap as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . If the patient were to be lying against a wall then there might not be room to manipulate the pusher blade  45  from the right, and it would then be necessary to pass two thicknesses of the strap behind the patient from the left, those two thicknesses being the pulling loop  38  and the free end  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . To achieve that, the free end  40  of the strap  33  is provided with a reinforced slit  48 , and the tongue  46  of the pusher blade  45  is passed first through the slit  48  and then into the pocket  47 , so that both ends of the strap  33  can be pushed together behind the patient, even from the left hand side of  FIG. 1 . It is desirable to have the strap  33  of a length such that the buckle does not lie behind the patient&#39;s back. To accommodate that for all patients, the strap  33  is preferably tightened from the front of the patient and not from the back as shown in  FIG. 12 . Also the end of the strap  33  remote from the buckle  36  is preferably provided with a series of alternative anchorage points for connection to the anchorage  34  of  FIG. 15C . 
     The handles  12 C are particularly useful at this stage of connecting the patient lifting frame around the patient&#39;s upper body. The top and bottom straps  33 ,  29  are in position. The top strap  33  in particular tends to draw the side plates  15  and side pads  16  together at the back of the patient so that they tend to splay apart slightly at the front of the patient particularly at the upper ends of the side plates  15  and side pads  16 . The nurse, healthcare staff or carer strapping the patient into the support frame is at this stage able to push together the two handles  12 C to draw the side plates  15  together at their upper front corners against the restraint of the top strap  33 , until the side pads  16  are in a more uniform contact with the patient&#39;s sides. At this stage the lock button  11   a  can be rotated through 90°, which is sufficient to release it from its withdrawn (unlocked) condition. It is then spring-biased to find a location in one or other of a number of blind recesses  10   a  formed in the rod  10  of the link bar assembly  9 , to maintain that uniform contact of the side pads  16  against the patient&#39;s sides. 
     The tightening of the straps  29  and  33 , and the adjustment of the length of the link bar assembly  9 , is alone sufficient to hold the side plates  15  and side pads  16  against the patient&#39;s ribcage in the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 5A . The carriers  27  for the seat sling  28  are held at opposite sides of the boss  5  by the pin  12 E and the boss cannot rotate relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. The side pads  16  and side plates  15  are however freely rotatable relative to the bosses  5 , and can be drawn against the sides of the patient by the straps alone. It will be observed in  FIG. 5A  that the carriers  27  remain horizontally at the same level on opposite sides of the bosses  5  whereas the side plates  15  are swung inwardly in a direction to grip against the sides of the patient. 
     In the second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 5B , the bosses  5  and side plates  15  are connected to rotate together and the bosses are rotatable relative to the pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. The patient&#39;s lower body weight acting through the seat sling  28  on the carriers  27  therefore increases the pressure of the side plates  15  and side pads  16  against the patient&#39;s ribcage to a relatively minor but significant and effective extent, so that as the patient is lifted he or she feels additional pressure and support on the lower torso, which imparts considerable patient confidence in the ability of the support frame of the invention to bear the patient&#39;s weight. It will be observed in  FIG. 5B  that the rails  22  and the carriers  27  rotate with the side plates  15 , so that the patient&#39;s lower body weight acting on the carriers also presses the side plates  15  and side pads  16  against the patient&#39;s sides. The small but significant amount of additional pressure can be changed as part of the design of the patient support frame, by varying the radial offset of the sliders  23  on their rails  22 , relative to the axes of the bosses  5 . 
     The side pads  16  are removable from their side plates  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The means for removably attaching the side pads  16  to their side plates  15  may be an array of studs extending from the side plates  15  as shown in  FIG. 10 , receivable in apertures in the side pads  16 ; or it may be simply the cooperating shapes of the side pads  16  and side plates  15 . For example the side pads may extend partially around the side plates, with a flexible but firm retention rim passing behind each side plate  15  to secure the side pads  16  in place. The reason for the side pads  16  is patient comfort. The reason for their removability is to enable the side pads  16  to be regularly cleaned, disinfected, or replaced, which is particularly important in a hospital or medical environment. If desired, disposable fabric elasticated covers can be provided to cover the side pads  16  in use to maintain cleanliness in a hospital environment. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a preferred shape for the side plates  15  and side pads  16 , designed to make the removal and cleaning of the side pads  16  easy. Each side plate  15  has a pair of vertical rails  15 A extending on the inside of the side plate  15  in a direction towards the patient ribcage in use. Because of the curvature of the side plates  15  the rails  15 A are inclined together when seen in horizontal section. Each side pad  16  has a pair of cooperating grooves  16 A and is formed at its top end with a moulded portion  16 B which hooks over the associated underarm support element  13  to which the side plates  15  are attached. To attach the side pads  15  of  FIG. 10B  to the side plates of  FIG. 10A , all that is necessary is to slide the pads down the inside of the side plates with the rails  15 A engaging in the grooves  16 A, until the top moulded portion  16 B hooks over the underarm support element  13 . The angle between the rails  15 A holds the side pads  16  in place. To remove them, the same sliding movement is performed in reverse. 
       FIGS. 11 to 14  illustrate the way in which the patient lifting frame can be used to lift a patient from a prone face-up lying position. That lifting operation may be from one bed to another or from the floor to a bed, in which case the patient remains in the prone face-up lying position throughout the lifting operation; or it may be to raise a patient from a prone face-up lying position to a sitting position. It will be understood that the lifting frame can be lowered into position over a prone patient from the spreader bar of an invalid hoist. The universal joints  8  enable the frame to be manipulated so that first one of the underarm support elements  13  of the patient upper body support means can be placed underneath one of the patient&#39;s armpits, and then the other can be placed beneath the other of the patient&#39;s armpits. The straps  29  and  33  are then used to tighten the side pads against the patient&#39;s sides as previously described. 
     If the patient is to be lifted from one bed to another, then during that lifting operation the pivotal movement of the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connectors  4 A relative to the suspension side bars  1  is inappropriate. The kinematic locks are provided to lock those components in axial operation the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connectors  4 A must be maintained at substantially 90° to the suspension side bars  1 , in the relative positions shown in  FIG. 11 . In this condition the suspension side bars  1  are generally vertical and the side pads  16  are generally horizontal. To maintain that patient orientation the seat sling  28  is detached and replaced by a temporary sling (not illustrated) for the patient&#39;s legs which is suspended directly from multiple auxiliary spreader bars suspended directly from the lifting hook of the hoist. The use of multiple spreader bars, commonly used when lifting patients with spinal injuries using conventional slings, enables the load of the patient&#39;s lower body to be distributed evenly. Preferably the head and neck support of  FIGS. 6 to 10  is used in conjunction with such a lifting operation, so that patients with spinal injuries can be transferred in the prone position from one bed to another whilst providing proper spinal support throughout the operation. The lifting operation is far easier than trying to move patients using slings only, because the patient does not have to be rolled onto the sling as with conventional sling-only lifting operations. The sling used in conjunction with the lifting frame of the invention in connection with this lifting operation needs only to be slid under the patient&#39;s legs up to and preferably under the buttocks, and this can be achieved without undue disturbance of the patient&#39;s rest position and with no spinal disturbance. The side pads  16  and side plates  15  take the weight of the patient&#39;s upper body, and the head and neck support takes the weight of the patient&#39;s head, all without having to roll the patient from side to side. 
     If a patient is to be lifted from a prone face-up lying position to a sitting or standing position, then as with the prone-to-prone lifting operation just described, the lifting frame can be lowered into position over a prone patient from the spreader bar of an invalid hoist. As before, the universal joints  8  enable the frame to be manipulated so that first one of the underarm support elements  13 , side plates  15  and side pads  16  of the patient upper body support means can be placed underneath one of the patient&#39;s armpits, and then the other can be placed beneath the other of the patient&#39;s armpits (or both together). The straps  29  and  33  are then tightened as previously described. For a prone-to-sitting or prone-to-standing lifting operation, the seat sling  28  is preferably detached during this early manipulation. The seat sling  28  (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) may then be placed in position by raising the patient&#39;s knees from the bed or floor on which he or she is lying. Even the initial tightening of the seat sling length adjusters  28 A causes some of the patient&#39;s lower body weight to be transferred to the forward end of the cantilever side bar assembly  4 B, so that as soon as lifting takes place using the lifting hoist, the patient is balanced with his or her upper body weight being taken by one end of the cantilever side bar assembly  4 B and his or her lower body weight being taken by the other end of the cantilever side bar assembly  4 B. Rotation of the cantilever side bar assembly about its pivot pin  6  causes the patient&#39;s weight to be distributed with equal and opposite moments being applied to the pivot pin  6  of each of the cantilever side bar assemblies  4 B. The patient can then be raised using the hoist, and during that raising towards the sitting position, progressively more of the patient&#39;s weight is transferred to the seat sling  28 , so that throughout the raising the patient is balanced about the pivot pins  6 . The universal joints  8  are of benefit in initially placing the frame around the patient&#39;s body, because they enable the opposite side plates  15  and side pads  16  to be placed beneath the patient&#39;s armpits one at a time or both together. During the lifting operation, the universal joints  8  are of even greater benefit because the patient can move relatively freely within the frame and has the sensation of being firmly supported while not being encased in an uncomfortable rigid framework. If the patient were to twist, turn or convulse during lifting, then all of the movement of the patient&#39;s upper body would be accommodated by the flexure of the upper body support frame around the universal joints  8 , which combines to the optimum degree the benefits of patient dignity, comfort and safety. 
     Some patients may need to have their heads supported during lifting from a prone to a sitting position because they have no muscular control of their necks.  FIG. 11  shows the patient head and neck support in position, with the patient&#39;s head being firmly secured to the cushion support for the back of the patient&#39;s head using the forehead strap. 
       FIG. 15  shows how the lifting frame can be used as a walking aid, for example in physiotherapy following an accident. For this exercise, the kinematic locks are used to prevent rotation about the pivot pins  6 , by pushing the sleeves  7  downwardly over the 2-axis pivotal/rotary connector  4 A. The seat sling  28  is then removed. During walking exercises, the flexibility of movement of the patient upper body support frame, by flexure around the universal joints  8 , is of very great importance. The link bar assembly  9  can pivot forwardly or rearwardly and upwardly or downwardly about each universal joint  8 , which gives maximum therapeutic benefit to the walking exercises by combining the movement of the patient&#39;s legs with the natural flexure of the rest of the patient&#39;s upper body as with natural and unassisted walking. Although not illustrated, a later stage of walking therapy can involve fitting the support frame to the patient&#39;s upper body back to front, so that the link bar assembly  9  lies behind the patient and the side bars  1  are out of reach of the patient&#39;s hands. This forces the patient to walk without holding on to the side bars  1 . Of course, in this reversed position the patient seat sling  28  cannot be used, and the kinematic locks must be engaged so as to prevent any pivotal movement of the cantilever side bar assembly about its pivot pin  6 . Even in this reversed position, however, the universal joints  8  are of the utmost benefit in that they allow full patient mobility, with the patient&#39;s upper torso, back, arms and shoulders being able to move unrestricted to balance movement of the patient&#39;s legs without diminishing the support which the support frame gives to the patient or the patient confidence in that support. 
     The universal joints  8  also have a very significant practical benefit in that they enable the patient lifting frame to be packed flat for storage and transportation. Consider first the frame spread out flat as in  FIG. 21  on a floor or table. The side pads  16  have been removed from the side plates  15 . It was mentioned earlier that the main bosses  5  have a limited range of movement of only 180° relative to the universal joints  8 . The laid out flat condition of  FIG. 21  represents one limit of that range of movement. The left hand suspension side bar  1  is then moved to place it across the centre of the laid out frame as shown in  FIG. 22 , the associated boss  5  turning through 180° to its opposite limit of movement. The left-hand side underarm support element  13  and its attached side plate  15 , which are pivotable independently of the side arm  1 , are also moved to the central position as shown in  FIG. 23 . By moving the right hand suspension side bar  1  from the position shown in  FIG. 22  to the position shown in  FIG. 23  (which movement is made easier by first locking the kinematic lock on that suspension side bar) and rotating the right hand side underarm support element  13  and its associated side plate  15  to the position shown in  FIG. 23 , this folding movement is made more easy. The folding operation can be completed by lowering the left hand suspension side bar  1  to the position of  FIG. 24 . The folded up upper body frame can then easily be packed for storage or for transportation. 
     The lifting frame of the invention may be provided with a cleaning system for the straps. If the straps are made of a low friction flexible internally reinforced plastic sheet material as described above for  FIG. 20A , then the cleaning may be simply by wiping a suitable cleaning solution over the surface of the straps. 
     Straps made of fabric webbing may require specialist cleaning. A practical detail which is very advantageous is that such straps can be systematically coded, for example using bar codes or other means, so that when they are removed for cleaning they can be identified and returned to the same lifting frame with which they have previously been used. That is of value in a hospital environment when it is desired to ensure that each set of straps is, after cleaning, returned to the same ward from which it originates. Missing straps can thus be identified, and losses prevented. Also the systematic coding is useful to keep track of the number of times a set of straps has been used, with a view to replacing them at the end of their recommended lifetime. For example a bar code on each strap may be scanned after each use or at the end of each day or week of use, and a computer may inform the user on when specialist cleaning is advised. That same act of scanning the bar coded straps enables a hospital of large nursing home to keep a log of where the sets of straps are at any one time, so the loss of straps can more easily be prevented. Preferably the straps are stored together in groups of four (one top strap  33 , one bottom strap  29 , one seat sling strap  28  or  28 ′ and one forehead strap  64  (see  FIG. 8 ) and are preferably kept together in a purpose-designed rack (not shown). so that the complete set is always available. 
     When each complete set is sent for cleaning, that may be in a sealed and coded bag to ensure that the cleaned sets of four straps are returned to their required locations. Legislation may require the lifting hoist to have an automatic counter which counts the number of patients lifted by the hoist, as a means of ensuring proper regular maintenance. The same technique can be used within the lifting frame of the invention, with a small counter automatically counting the number of lifts between safety checking or maintenance intervals. If a particular coded set of straps is uniquely matched to a particular lifting frame, then that counter is also a means of counting the number of times the straps have been used to lift patients. 
     I have also provided a customized carrying case for the lifting frame of the invention. The carrying case  70 , shown in  FIG. 25 , has a foam insert with cut out portions for the different elements of the lifting frame. Cut into the deepest part of the foam is a space  71  for a nylon bag containing the folded straps  29  and  33 . Also cut into the foam is a recess  72  for the patient lower body seat sling  28 . 
     Cut to a lesser depth in the foam of the carrying case  70  is a shaped recess  73  which receives the folded upper body frame of  FIG. 24 . To the right of that recess  73  is a rectangular recess  74  for receiving the two side pads  16  or a range of differently sized side pads and their side plates together with a bottle of disinfectant or a pack of disinfectant wipes for nursing, healthcare workers or care staff to wipe down the frame, and in particular the foam side pads  16 , prior to use. Dilute sodium hypochlorite is a suitable disinfectant. In a vertical slot  75  at the back of the foam filling the case  70  there may be stored the rigid but flexible pusher bar  45  of  FIG. 16 , and in a vertical slot  76  at the front there may be stored the head and neck support posts ( 52 , 57 ), together with the mounting members  51  of  FIGS. 6A to 7 . The head cushion support  62  of  FIG. 8  can easily be stored in the recess  73 , which may (although not shown in  FIG. 25 ) be shaped to provide a clear location for that head cushion support  62 . 
       FIG. 26  shows a wheeled trolley for storing the lifting frame of the invention and for moving it around for example between patients or between wards in a hospital environment. The trolley  90  is provided with two support hooks  91  for the suspension shackles or braids  2  of the lifting frame, so that it may be suspended securely on an upper part  92  of the trolley when not in use. It may be preferred to engage the kinematic lock sleeves  7  when hanging the frame on its support hooks  91 , to provide a slightly greater rigidity of the frame during the hanging operation (although they are shown as disengaged in  FIG. 26 ). The pusher bar  45  or a number of such pusher bars  45  may be also supported on the hooks  91  and  94 . Storage hooks  91  as seen on the trolley  90  may also be of use in a basic wall frame unit (not shown) for quick and easy storage within wards when not required or for spare units. A cupboard  93  at the bottom of the trolley  90  is provided to house any spare (i.e. differently sized) side plates  15  and side pads  16 , and the cushion support  62  and neck cushion  63  of the patient head and neck support system. Cleaning equipment can also be stored in the cupboard  93 , together with any other relevant materials required such as the systematic coding system referred to above. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.