Lifting apparatus

In combination, at least one substantially upright wall defining an opening therein, for providing access through said wall, and lifting apparatus including a parallelogram-type raising and lowering portion that is extensible and collapsible in a first generally vertical plane and that comprises parallelogram linkage one side of which is secured against vertical movement and an opposite side of which moves bodily vertically, and a generally planar, load support portion connected thereto, said raising and lowering portion being pivotable about a generally vertical axis between a position on one side of said opening, wherein said load support portion lies in a second generally vertical plane generally parallel to said first plane in an inoperative storage position, and a position on the other side of said opening, wherein said load support portion lies in a third generally vertical plane substantially normal to that of said opening and generally parallel to said first plane in an intermediate inoperative position,

• said load support portion being pivotable about a generally horizontal axis with respect to said raising and lowering portion between said intermediate position and an operative position, wherein it lies in a generally horizontal plane substantially normal to that of said opening and on said other side thereof,
• said raising and lowering portion being actuable to move said load support portion, in its operative position, between raised and lowered positions with respect to said opening, and
• the connection between said load support portion and said raising and lowering portion being horizontal pivot means having an axis parallel to said first plane and integral with said opposite side of said parallelogram linkage such that said load support portion is immovable about a vertical axis with respect to said raising and lowering portion.