Invalid hoist

An invalid hoist comprising a mobile chassis, a support structure or mast upstanding from the chassis, a non-rectilinear lifting arm connected to the upper end of the support structure or mast for pivotable movement about a first horizontal axis, a housing supporting a vertical bearing at one end of the lifting arm, the housing being pivotable relative to the lifting arm about a second horizontal axis, a sling hanger support supported by the bearing for pivotable movement about a vertical or substantially vertical axis and a sling hanger supported by the sling hanger support for pivotable movement about a third horizontal axis, wherein a flexible elongate element is connected between the support structure or mast and the housing in spaced relationship to the first and second horizontal axes, respectively, and is guided through the lifting arm to effectively form with the lifting arm a parallelogram linkage between the support structure or mast and the housing so that, as the lifting arm pivots, the housing pivots in relation to the lifting arm to keep the bearing vertical or substantially vertical.