There is provided a lifting robot suitable for lifting and transferring a person. Especially there is provided a patient lift apparatus with collapsible vertical and horizontal columns that allows the apparatus to change its height and width. Specifically there is provided a patient lifting robot having a frame for lifting and carrying persons. The frame has adjustable length and width, since the frame comprises two vertically collapsible columns for adjusting the height of the frame, and one horizontally collapsible beam for adjusting the width of the frame.

According to embodiments, an overhead lift includes a lift actuator; and a control system communicatively coupled to the lift actuator. The control system may include a control unit comprising a processor with a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having computer readable and executable instructions and at least one transceiver communicatively coupling the control unit to at least one of a computer, a network, and a data storage device. The processor executes the computer readable and executable instructions to: determine at least one operating characteristic of the overhead lift and an operating time of the overhead lift as the overhead lift is actuated; determine an accumulated load-time parameter for the overhead lift based on the at least one operating characteristic and the operating time; and upload the accumulated load-time parameter to at least one of the computer, the network, and the data storage device.

A switch assembly for a lift unit includes a switch, an emergency stop device, and a reset actuator. The switch is arranged to move between a closed position, wherein the switch electrically couples a lift motor of the lift unit to an energy source, and an open position, wherein the switch electrically decouples the lift motor from the energy source. The emergency stop device is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the closed position to the open position. The reset actuator is coupled to the switch and arranged to move the switch from the open position to the closed position, wherein the reset actuator is controllable to move the switch from the open position to the closed position.

A patient lift system helps to lift and mobilize a disabled person in a home or in an institution with minimal effort from a caregiver. The patient lift system includes a housing enclosing a frame, a geared spool mounted within the frame, a strap, a first carry bar and a second carry bar. The first carry bar attaches to the frame and extends external to the housing. The first carry bar encloses an electric motor having a drive shaft. The dive shaft is associated with a gear arranged to cooperate with the geared spool to, responsive to activation of the motor, turn the geared spool, thereby altering an amount of strap on the geared spool, thereby altering a distance between the housing and the connector. The second carry bar attaches to the frame and extends external to the housing. The second carry bar encloses a battery to provide electrical power to the electric motor.

A sling support assembly is configured to be moved by a lift assembly. The sling support assembly includes a frame and a plurality of sling coupling mechanisms configured to removably couple a sling to the sling support. At least a portion of the frame is movable to selectively change the spatial relationship of the plurality of sling coupling mechanisms.

Portable lifting and transferring techniques for assisting in the mobility of disabled persons are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a portable lifting and transferring apparatus for assisting disabled persons that is compact, lightweight, and portable for use in different locations. Preferably, such an apparatus would provide multiple pivot points for providing multiple degrees of maneuvering freedom when lifting and transferring disabled persons and/or their mobility devices and for providing compatibility with a wide range of vehicles. The techniques may also be realized in other embodiments as disclosed herein.

A method for assessing compliance with a protocol requiring or advising the use of lift assist equipment for repositioning an occupant of an occupant support includes the steps of: 1) determining a measure of load borne by the occupant support over an interval of time; 2) determining how much the location of the occupant's center of mass relative to the occupant support has changed during the interval of time; and 3) assessing compliance with the protocol as a function of the load measure, the change of location, and a measure of the occupant's weight.
In one embodiment the load measure is an integral of load over an interval of time. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a processor and instructions which are executable by the processor.

There is provided a lifting robot suitable for lifting and transferring a person. Especially there is provided a patient lift apparatus with collapsible vertical and horizontal columns that allows the apparatus to change its height and width. Specifically there is provided a patient lifting robot having a frame for lifting and carrying persons. The frame has adjustable length and width, since the frame comprises two vertically collapsible columns for adjusting the height of the frame, and one horizontally collapsible beam for adjusting the width of the frame.

In a standing-up motion assist system for assisting a care receiving person, a care belt includes a first holder that holds a neck part or a back part of the care receiving person, a second holder that holds a lumbar part of the care receiving person, a third holder that connects the first holder and the second holder and holds armpits of the care receiving person, a second connector located at a chest of the care receiving person, and a first connector that connects the first holder and the second holder. A pulling mechanism is connected to the second connector and pulls the second connector. A controller controls the pulling mechanism so as to pull the second connector in a forward and upward direction with reference to the care receiving person, and, thereafter, pull the second connector in a backward and upward direction with reference to the care receiving person.

A subject support apparatus includes an upper portion including a torso panel having a first end and a second end, a loop strap having a first free end extending from the first end of the torso panel and a second free end extending from the second end of the torso panel and configured to couple the first end of the torso panel to the second end of the torso panel to form a closed loop, and a pair of shoulder straps coupled to the torso panel and extending from a top edge of the torso panel. The subject support apparatus also includes a lower portion coupled to the pair of shoulder straps and extending from a bottom edge of the torso panel. The lower portion has a seat piece having a front end and a rear end.