A human lift apparatus is disclosed. In various embodiments, the lift apparatus includes a substantially vertical guide rail; a carriage positioned to be moved up and down along the guide rail; a drive mechanism coupled to the carriage and configured to move the carriage at a controlled rate along the guide rail; and a tiltable seat coupled mechanically to the carriage in a manner that allows the seat to tilt about a substantially transverse tilt axis that is substantially parallel to the floor and runs substantially across the seat at a depth that enables a human subject to be seated on the tiltable seat with the center of gravity of the human subject being between the tilt axis and a back end of the seat. The tiltable seat is tiltably mounted in a manner and location that allows the tiltable seat to tilt down, with a front edge of the seat lower than the back edge of the seat, as the center of gravity of the human subject is shifted to a position forward of the tilt axis.

The invention is a grab rail built onto or attachable onto a wheelchair, having a cross rail reachably above the seated user and forward of the seated user's center of gravity which joins into side rails above the sides of the wheelchair, with support bars extending downward from the rear ends of the side bars to attach rigidly atop the wheelchair's back rest, the grab rail helping the user reposition or transfer independently. The grab rail does not obstruct or interfere with indoor use and can also support a canopy for sun and rain protection outdoors.

The present invention relates to an inflatable chair lifting device comprised of an inflatable body further comprised of a pair of side members, a backrest member, a front member, a seat member, an electric pump and a foot pump. The body is preferably hollow and inflatable and may be generally configured as a chair. The body can be placed under a fallen user in an uninflated state, such that the body can then be fully inflated to form a chair-like structure that raises a user from a fallen position. The body can further be inflated manually via blowing air into the body, via a foot pump or via an integrated electric pump.

Devices for bringing a person that has fallen to the ground to an upright position comprise frames adapted to receive a person's body after a person has achieved a lying position, inflatable bladders attached to the frames on which the person's body rests when the bladders are in an uninflated state, the bladders being inflatable from a first position to a second position, and fittings attached to the inflatable bladders for receiving hoses to allow the inflatable bladders to be inflated from the first position to the second position.

Devices and methods for bringing a person that has fallen to the ground to an upright position comprise frames adapted to receive a person's body after a person has achieved a lying position, inflatable bladders attached to the frames on which the person's body rests when the bladders are in an uninflated state, the bladders being inflatable from a first position to a second position, and fittings attached to the inflatable bladders for receiving hoses to allow the inflatable bladders to be inflated from the first position to the second position.

A support structure device is configured to assist a human patient to rise. The support structure includes a tube bent into a shape described by way of a reference frustum such as a four-sided truncated pyramid. Each side of a top rectangular perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding side of the bottom rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of a first trapezoidal perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of a second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 18 inches, the top rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches and a width between 6 and 14 inches, and the bottom rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches and a width between 8 and 16 inches.

A harness assembly to assist in and secure a fireman's carry of a victim. The harness assembly includes an adjustable strap to be secured around the victim and an adjustable strap to be secured over the shoulder and under the armpit of a carrier. A harness system includes two harness assemblies with one harness assembly being attached around a leg of the victim and one shoulder of the carrier and the other harness assembly being attached around the chest of the victim and the other shoulder of the carrier. The straps are adjustable so that they can be cinched.

A device for inserting a support beneath an object is provided that includes an eversible tubular membrane with a closed end and an open end with the open end sealably connected to a container enclosing a pressurized fluid, wherein the closed end is connected such that it can be retracted under tension through the inside of the tube formed by the radially outward facing aspect of the membrane, and wherein with pressure and/or tension changes the membrane can be eversibly extended and retracted between two surfaces. In addition, the membrane may be co-everted with a sling or draw sheet such that the sling or draw sheet can be inserted between two surfaces along with the membrane. Further, multiple eversible membranes may be inserted between two surfaces or beneath an object or a patient in accordance with the disclosed invention.

A portable, lightweight emergency lifting device for downed persons that is intended for use by paramedics/emergency personnel as well as medical facilities and private owners. The lifting device has a redundant, fail safe lifting system utilizing twin electric screw jacks. It has a seat with a ramped front edge that extends to the ground when the device is in its collapsed configuration to aid in loading the patient. The vertical legs open only to an acute angled position so as to leave the immediate area under the seat open and uncluttered. The frame is on casters and the seat resides between the horizontal frame members when the device is in its collapsed configuration thus allowing the lowest possible pick up of a patient.

A lifting and lowering chair for lifting a user from and lowering a user to a surface includes a base and a seat. The base is configured to position on a surface. Each of a pair of lifts is coupled to a bottom of the seat proximate to a respective opposing side of the seat. Each lift is coupled to a top face of the base. Each of a pair of motors is operationally coupled to a respective lift. The motors are positioned to motivate the lifts to raise the seat to an extended position such that a user is lifted from a position proximate to the surface. The motors also are positioned to motivate the lifts to lower the seat to a retracted position, such that the user is lowered to a position proximate to the surface.