A patient transport apparatus comprises support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a support frame, and a patient support deck. A headboard and a footboard are coupled to the support structure. The support frame comprises a head section and a body section, the body section coupled to the patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface capable of articulating relative to the support frame. The head section is movable relative to the body section to define first and second configurations of the support frame, the support frame having a first footprint in the first configuration and a second footprint, smaller than the first footprint, in the second configuration.

Control unit (7), especially for a patient lift (1) comprising a base (10) and a power supply (8), said power supply (8) is releasably mounted on the base (10), and comprising locking means for retaining the power supply (8) on the base (10). The locking means comprises a set of slots and protrusions (17,18;20,22) on the base (10) and the power supply (8) and where the protrusions and slots engage each other, when the base (10) and the power supply (8) is displaced sideways in relation to each other. A tab (27) is arranged on an arm (24) of the locking handle (23). The tab (27) goes into the gap (28) between the base (10) and the power supply (8), when the locking handle (23) is locked. Thus, the protrusions (17,20) and slots (18,22) are in engagement with each other and at the same time functioning as a locking mechanism.

A patient transport apparatus comprises support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a support frame, and a patient support deck. A headboard and a footboard are coupled to the support structure. The support frame comprises a head section and a body section, the body section coupled to the patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface capable of articulating relative to the support frame. The head section is movable relative to the body section to define first and second configurations of the support frame, the support frame having a first footprint in the first configuration and a second footprint, smaller than the first footprint, in the second configuration.

A mobility aid assembly which may be used for lifting and lowering a user. The assembly includes an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure with a first portion of the lifting arm operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator. A first end of the linear actuator is pivotally connected to a second portion of the lifting arm with the second end releasably mounted to a second upright portion of the lifting arm. The lower end of the linear actuator disengages from its mounting on the second upright portion when the first portion of the lifting arm is lowered by the actuator to a position in which the first portion of the lifting impinges on the user.

A bed base frame assembly of a bed generally comprises a base frame, a plurality of steerable and lockable casters, a lateral support assembly at the first and second sides of the base frame assembly, and an in-line support assembly at the foot end of the base frame assembly. The lateral support assembly may further include: a base frame; a first leg and a second leg rotatably connected to the base frame; a first actuator connected to the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg and the second leg rotate from the retracted position to the extended position; a third leg and a fourth leg rotatably connected to the base frame; and a second actuator connected to the third leg and the fourth leg, wherein the third leg and the fourth leg rotate from the retracted position to the extended position.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base, a patient support surface, and a reference sensor arranged to sense inclination of the support structure. A drive system is coupled to the support structure and operable to propel the patient transport apparatus. A handle assembly is operable by a user to control operation of the drive system. The handle assembly comprises a handle movable relative to the base and a position sensor arranged to sense positioning of the handle. A controller is coupled to the reference sensor and the position sensor, and is adapted to control the drive system in response to signals received from the reference sensor and the position sensor.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure comprising a base, a patient support surface, and a reference sensor arranged to sense inclination of the support structure. A drive system is coupled to the support structure and operable to propel the patient transport apparatus. A handle assembly is operable by a user to control operation of the drive system. The handle assembly comprises a handle movable relative to the base and a position sensor arranged to sense positioning of the handle. A controller is coupled to the reference sensor and the position sensor, and is adapted to control the drive system in response to signals received from the reference sensor and the position sensor.

A mobile lifting system comprising: a base including a plurality of spaced apart legs extending substantially radially relative to a post extending from the base wherein one or more legs of the base are movable between an expanded stabilizing condition and a retracted condition, the post movably supporting a head configured for rotation about the post, the head having a lifting arrangement attached thereto, the lifting arrangement being arranged for effecting upward and downward movement of a body support arrangement to raise and lower a disabled person during use, the body support arrangement being movable between a supporting position and an inoperative position, the body support arrangement being connected to the base through an electro-mechanical linkage combination which moves the base into the stabilizing condition when the body support arrangement is in the supporting position and moves the base into the retracted condition when the body support arrangement is in the inoperative position; the head being rotatable about the post for rotational movement of the body support arrangement to transfer a person between two seating positions which are angularly displaced and in proximity of the post; wherein end portions of the plurality of legs of the base are arranged substantially equally spaced apart on a diameter about the post when the base is in the stabilizing condition and wherein a first plurality of movable legs are movably attached to a centrally located base housing and a second plurality of fixed legs are fixedly attached to the base housing and wherein each of the movable legs is movable independently with respect to any other of the first plurality of movable legs from a first radial position to a second radial position to bring the base into a partially stabilizing condition; and an actuator configured to be operable by the disabled person to effect movement of the body support arrangement to move the body support arrangement upward and downward on the lifting arrangement and to rotate the head about the post, the post being located substantially at a centre of the base to provide stability as the body support arrangement on the head is rotated about the post while supporting the person and wherein the actuator and the electro-mechanical linkage are operably coupled to move the body support arrangement between a supporting position and an inoperative position.

A person lifting apparatus includes a first lifting strap feeding device including a first drum and a first lifting strap wound on the first drum. A second lifting strap feeding device includes a second drum and a second lifting strap wound on the second drum. A controller is communicatively coupled to the first lifting strap feeding device and to the second lifting strap feeding device. The controller includes logic that controls operation of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device based on a comparison of current draws of the first lifting strap feeding device and the second lifting strap feeding device.

A mobility aid assembly for lifting and lowering a user; the assembly including an articulated lifting arm releasably mounted to a base structure; a first portion of the lifting arm operable between a lowered position and a raised position by a linear actuator; a first end of the linear actuator pivotally connected to the first portion of the lifting arm and, wherein a second end of the linear actuator is releasably mounted so as to avoid injury to the user if the linear actuator moves the first portion of the lifting arm to an excessively lowered position in which the first portion of the lifting impinges on the user.

Also described is a method of changing disposition of fork elements of a fork of a disability aid assembly from a first position in which the fork elements are parallel to a horizontal centerline of the disability aid assembly and a second position in which outer ends of the fork elements are more widely separated than inner ends of the fork elements; the method including the steps of: providing swivellable wheels at the outer ends of the fork elements with locking mechanisms, locking each of the swivellable wheels at an angle in which the direction of the swivellable wheel is “toed out” relative to a centerline of the fork element, moving the disability aid assembly in a forward direction to drive the fork elements from the first position into the second position, moving the disability aid assembly in a rearward direction to drive the fork element from the second position into the first position.