Patent ID: 8214945

Claim:
A patient lifting frame for use with an invalid hoist for lifting and supporting an invalid patient, comprising a pair of suspension side bars each of which has an upper end portion and a lower end portion and each of which is provided at its upper end portion with a linkage for connection to a spreader bar of the invalid hoist and at its lower end portion with a suspension mounting to which is attached or attachable: a pair of patient upper body support means which together comprise a pair of underarm support elements for passing beneath the armpits of the patient and a pair of padded side plates, connected one to each of the underarm support elements of the patient upper body support means, for engaging against opposite sides of the patient's ribcage; and a patient lower body support means for engaging and supporting the posterior or upper legs of the patient; the suspension mountings being connected together by a link bar assembly; and wherein each end of the link bar assembly is connected to an associated one of the suspension mountings through a universal joint, each universal joint and link bar assembly combination being such as to permit pivotal movement of the associated suspension mounting relative to the link bar assembly about three mutually perpendicular axes.