Apparatus for assisting subjects from supine to sitting position

A support structure configured for use in helping a subject to raise themselves to a sitting position from a supine position on a horizontal resting surface of a bed, the support structure comprising:

• a first triangular substructure comprising a first vertically telescoping member connected perpendicularly at a respective first base thereof to a first horizontally telescoping member thereby forming a first L-shaped substructure having a first distal end and a second distal end, and a first grasping member connected between the first distal end and the second distal end;
• a second triangular substructure comprising a second vertically telescoping member connected perpendicularly at a respective second base thereof to a second horizontally telescoping member thereby forming a second L-shaped substructure having a third distal end and a fourth distal end, and a second grasping member connected between the third distal end and the fourth distal end;
• a first horizontal cross-member connecting the first base of the first vertically telescoping member to the second base of the second vertically telescoping member;
• and
• a second horizontal cross-member further connecting the first vertically telescoping member to the second vertically telescoping member,
• wherein:
• the first horizontal cross-member and the second horizontal cross-member are configured to retain the first triangular substructure in a position that is parallel to and spaced apart from the second triangular substructure,
• the first horizontally telescoping member, the second horizontally telescoping member and the first horizontal cross-member together are configured to rest on the horizontal resting surface of the bed, and
• the first vertically telescoping member, the second vertically telescoping member, the first horizontal cross-member and the second horizontal cross-member are configured to define a rectangular vertical back plane perpendicular to the horizontal resting surface of the bed.