Low profile lift apparatus with one to one direct lifting ratio

A lifting apparatus comprising:

• one of a mobile and stationary base;
• a lift platform having a geometric first center, the lift platform movable relative to the base from a lowered position to an upper position;
• a linkage interconnecting the base and the lift platform for guiding the base and the lift platform to stay in a generally mutually parallel relationship as the lift platform moves relative to the base;
• a pneumatically inflatable device having a flexible and laterally displaceable side wall, the inflatable device configured so one of its top, side, axis and wall(s) is one of a) off-set in one direction from its bottom with the lift platform lowered and b) off-set in another direction with the lift platform raised.

A lifting apparatus comprising:

• one of a mobile and stationary base;
• a lift platform movable relative to the base from a lowered position to an upper position;
• a linkage interconnecting the base and the lift platform for guiding the base and the lift platform to stay in a generally mutually parallel relationship as the lift platform moves relative to the base;
• an air spring mechanism mounted below the lift platform and to exert a force thereon to controllably raise and lower the platform between a lowered and a raised position, the air spring configured as an inflatable chamber formed by two inflatable members, an upper and a lower annular inflatable member operatively connected together, the upper and lower inflatable members each configured to be in a deflated condition when the platform is in a lowered position with the upper member collapse and off-set in at least one dimension relative the lower member.