Patent ID: 8464371

Claim:
A patient lifting apparatus for connecting to and lifting a patient support, the patient lifting apparatus comprising: a frame structure; the frame structure including two side sections that are connectible together and which are readily detachable such that the frame structure can assume two different modes, a connected mode where the side sections are connected together and a disconnected mode where the side sections are separated and can be moved independently of each other; each side section including: a base frame; two or more wheels supporting the base frame; a lifting device; the lifting device forming a part of the side section which is operative to raise a lifting bar up and down between upper and lower positions; attachments on the lifting bar for attaching to the patient support such that when the attachments of the lifting bars are attached to the patient support, the lifting bars are operative to raise and lower the patient support; a series of connectors for connecting the side sections together such that in the connected mode, the side sections are spaced apart and extend in side-by-side relationship, and wherein there is defined an open space between the side sections for receiving the patient support and enabling the patient support to move up and down between the two side sections; and wherein in the separated mode, the side sections move independently of each other such that each can be manipulated and placed adjacent the patient support such that the lifting bar of each side section can be attached to the patient support.