Lifting and lowering apparatus
AssigneeMangar International Limited
InventorRichard Edmond Fletcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for lifting or/and lowering persons has two interconnected X-frames each with two pivotally connected members arranged in an upright position in spaced parallel relationship, a support supported by the members, and one of two inflatable bags surrounding the pivotal connections so that portions of the bags lie between members, whereby inflation and deflation of the bags, opens the X-frames in scissors-fashion and allows the frames to close in a similar fashion thereby raising and lowering the support.
Claims20
An apparatus for lifting or/and lowering persons or objects which comprises a structure provided with or adapted to be provided with a support for persons or/and objects, said structure having two parts which are movable relative to one another between an erected condition in which the support is in a raised position, and a collapsed condition in which the support is in a lowered position, and an inflatable means operatively connected between the parts of the structure so as to move said parts between the erected and collapsed conditions on inflation and deflation thereof.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the inflatable means comprises at least one inflatable bag extending between the two relatively movable parts of the structure.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which further comprises means for producing or connectible to a supply of compressed air and connected to the inflatable means, and valve means for controlling the supply of air to the inflatable means and expulsion of air from the latter.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which has a structure comprising two parts pivotally connected together in an X-configuration, one of the said two parts being provided at its lower end with wheels, for example in the form of rollers or castors, arranged to run on a surface on which the apparatus is standing, towards and away from the lower end of the other part as the structure is moved between its erected and collapsed conditions.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support comprises a platform upon which a person can sit and/or lie, a seat or a stretcher which is detachable from the structure.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is provided with one or more additional structures with inflatable means similar to the first structure and/or one or more additional structures similar to the first structure but without similar inflatable means, the structures being arranged one on top of the or each other so that they can be moved between their erected and collapsed conditions by movement of the said parts of the structure having inflatable means or of at least one of the structures having inflatable means between their erected and collapsed conditions under the control of said inflatable means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.