Patent ID: 8156581

Claim:
An apparatus for lifting and moving a person, the lifting and moving apparatus comprising: (a) a mobile base assembly; (b) a lift assembly moveably mounted on the base assembly, the lift assembly comprising (i) a frame member moveably engaging the base assembly, (ii) a first support arm rotatably attached to the frame member for rotation in a first plane about an upwardly extending axis, the first support arm including a weight bearing platform adjacent a free distal end of the first support arm, the weight bearing platform operatively connected for rotation with the first support arm in a second plane spaced below the first plane, and (iii) a second support arm rotatably attached to the frame member laterally spaced from the first support arm for rotation in the first plane about an upwardly extending axis, the second support arm including a weight bearing platform adjacent a free distal end of the second support arm, the weight bearing platform operatively connected for rotation with the second support arm in the second plane, and wherein the first support arm and the second support arm are rotatably movable between a first position where the weight bearing platforms are close enough for supporting a person and a second position where the first support arm and the second support arm are spaced sufficiently from each other for receiving the person between the weight bearing platforms; and (c) means for moving the lift assembly upwardly and downwardly relative to the base assembly.