EP0756858A1 - Sickly person lifting device - Google Patents

Abstract

An invalid lift apparatus which can be compactly folded to be handy to carry is disclosed. An upright bar 10 is rotatably mounted on a base 2 on which a plurality of wheels 8, 9 capable of rolling on a floor face are mounted. An arm 11 is rotatably mounted on a movable end of the upright bar 10. A shackle 12 engaged with a hanger 63 for supporting the weight of an invalid 62 to be lifted up is provided on a movable end of the arm 11. Respective end portions of an actuator 13 are rotatably coupled to respective ones of a longitudinal intermediate portion of the upright bar 10 and a longitudinal intermediate portion of the arm 11. Due to driving of the actuator 13, the movable end of the arm 11 is upwardly or downwardly moved. When not used, the upright bar 10 and the arm 11 are brought to extend substantially in parallel with the base 2.

Description

Technical Field
• The present invention relates to an invalid lift apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to an invalid lift apparatus of a movable system.
Background Technique
• In case of moving an invalid between a bed, a bathtub, a chamber pot, a wheelchair and the like, an invalid lift apparatus is often employed in order to lighten the burden imposed on the nurser. Basically, the invalid lift apparatus has a function of lifting up the invalid and a function of moving the invalid in the transverse direction. An invalid lift apparatus of a movable form comprises a plurality of wheels which can roll on a floor face, and the aforementioned movement in the transverse direction is achieved by movement of this invalid lift apparatus itself along the floor face.
• Such an invalid lift apparatus of a movable form is easy to use. This is because it can be employed substantially with no hindrance for moving the invalid between the aforementioned bed, bathtub, chamber pot, wheel chair and the like regardless of the positional relations therebetween.
• The best use of such an advantage is particularly made when it is necessary to move an invalid who is under in-home care at his own home in case of travelling bathing assistive service, for example. This is because the arrangement of the rooms and the position where a bed or the like is placed vary with the house where the invalid lives.
• In case of making the aforementioned travelling bathing assistive service, the invalid lift apparatus is generally moved on vehicle. However, the conventional invalid lift apparatus is not necessarily suitable for such carriage. Namely, the invalid lift apparatus requires a height sufficient for lifting up the invalid from the bed or the like and requires extent of a base part for stably supporting the invalid in a state movable along the floor face, and hence the same is relatively bulky and unhandy to carry.
Disclosure of the Invention
• Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an invalid lift apparatus which can be compactly folded.
• In order to solve the aforementioned technical problem, the invalid lift apparatus according to the present invention comprises a base on which a plurality of wheels capable of rolling on a floor face are mounted, an upright bar which is rotatably mounted on this base thereby selectively taking a state upright from the base and a state extending along the base, an arm which is rotatably mounted on a movable end of this upright bar for supporting an invalid to be lifted up on the movable end, and an actuator for making driving for rotating the arm with respect to the upright bar when the upright bar is in the state upright from the base thereby changing the height of the movable end of the arm.
• When the invalid lift apparatus according to the present invention is used, the upright bar is brought into the state upright from the base. Then, the invalid to be lifted is brought into a state suspended on the movable end of the arm. When the actuator is worked and the arm is rotated with respect to the upright bar in such a state, the height of the movable end of the arm is changed so that the invalid can be moved in the vertical direction. Further, it is possible to move the invalid in the transverse direction along with this invalid lift apparatus by making the wheels mounted on the base roll on the floor face. Thus, the invalid is moved to an arbitrary place.
• When the invalid lift apparatus is not used, on the other hand, the upright bar is brought into the state extending along the base, while the arm is brought into a state extending along the upright bar. Thus, the three elements of the base, the upright bar and the arm can be brought into a state aligned in parallel with each other.
• According to the present invention, therefore, such a compact state that both of the upright bar and the arm extend along the base can be implemented when the invalid lift apparatus is not used while ensuring a sufficient height by the upright bar and the arm when the invalid lift apparatus is used. Consequently, carriage is simplified and the best use of this advantage can be effectively made when employed in travelling bathing assistive service, for example.
• According to the present invention, the actuator is preferably so structured that respective end portions thereof are rotatably coupled to respective ones of a longitudinal intermediate portion of the upright bar and a longitudinal intermediate portion of the arm for rotating the arm with respect to the upright bar by changing the distance between the both end portions. Further, the portion of the actuator coupled with the arm comprises an auxiliary link, so that an end portion of this auxiliary link is rotatably coupled to the arm and the other end portion of the auxiliary link is rotatably coupled to the actuator. The actuator is worked to rotate the arm with respect to the upright bar in such a state that the auxiliary link is directed toward the movable end of the arm, and the arm enters a state extending substantially in parallel with the upright bar when the auxiliary link is directed toward the portion of the arm coupled with the upright bar while the actuator minimizes the distance between its both end portions.
• It is possible to implement an operation of rotating the arm with respect to the upright bar with a simple mechanism by employing the actuator whose distance between both end portions is changed in its operation and mounting this actuator to be coupled between the longitudinal intermediate portion of the upright bar and the longitudinal intermediate portion of the arm, as hereinabove described.
• When the auxiliary link is employed on the portion of the actuator coupled with the arm as described above, the positional relation between the end portion of the actuator and the arm can be adjusted in two stages. Namely, the position of the end portion of the actuator is changed by bringing the auxiliary link into the state directed toward the movable end of the arm or into the state directed toward the portion of the arm coupled with the upright bar. In the former state, the end portion of the actuator can be more approached toward the movable end of the arm, whereby the actuator can rotate the arm with respect to the upright bar with relatively small force even if a load by the weight of the invalid is applied to the movable end of the arm. In the latter state, i.e., in the state that the auxiliary link is directed toward the portion of the arm coupled with the upright bar, on the other hand, the end portion of the actuator is more approached toward the portion of the arm coupled with the upright bar. Consequently, the dimensional relation between the actuator whose distance between both end portions is minimized and the auxiliary link allows such a state that the arm and the upright bar extend substantially in parallel with each other.
• In the present invention, the upright bar and the arm preferably consist of single bar members respectively, and the base comprises two base bars extending in parallel with each other and a bendable cross-directional connecting bar provided across these base bars, while the upright bar is mounted on a longitudinal central portion of the cross-directional connecting bar.
• If the base is structured in the aforementioned manner, the space between the two base bars can be spread thereby stably maintaining the upright bar not to fall when this invalid lift apparatus is in a used state. When this invalid lift apparatus is to be folded, on the other hand, the space between the two base bars is narrowed by bending the cross-directional connecting bar. The upright bar and the arm consist of single bar members respectively, whereby the folded state of this invalid lift apparatus goes into a relatively thin bar form as a whole, so that a more compact folded state can be attained.
• In the aforementioned structure, further, it is preferable to comprise a transmission mechanism for transmitting the operation of the upright bar to the cross-directional connecting bar when the upright bar is rotated with respect to the base thereby bringing the cross-directional connecting bar into a linear state when the upright bar is in the state upright from the base while bringing the cross-directional connecting bar into a bent state when the upright bar is in the state extending along the base.
• When the transmission mechanism is comprised as described above, it is possible to cause bending and stretching operations of the cross-directional connecting bar in association with rotation of the upright bar with respect to the base, whereby this invalid lift apparatus can be folded and opened by simple operations.
Brief Description of the Drawings
• Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of aninvalid lift apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing such a state that a movable end of anarm 11 is relatively highly positioned.
• Fig. 2 is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 1, showing such a state that the movable end of thearm 11 is most lowly positioned.
• Fig. 3 is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 1, showing such a state that anupright bar 10 and thearm 11 in an intermediate stage of folding extend substantially in parallel with each other.
• Fig. 4 is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 1, showing such a state that thislift apparatus 1 is folded.
• Fig. 5 is a right side elevational view of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 6 is a plan view of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 7 is a plan view of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 4.
• Fig. 8 is a front elevational view showing a part of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 3 in an enlarged manner perspectively through its interior.
• Fig. 9 is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 8, showing such a state that locking by alock member 35 is canceled.
• Fig. 10 is a plan view showing thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 6 in a partially fragmented manner while enlarging a part thereof.
• Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI - XI in Fig. 10.
• Fig. 12, which is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 10, is a plan view showing thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 7 in a partially fragmented manner while enlarging a part thereof.
• Fig. 13, which is a diagram corresponding to Fig. 11, is a schematic sectional view taken along the line XIII - XIII in Fig. 12.
• Fig. 14 independently shows anintermediate link 14, and (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front elevational view, (c) is a left side elevational view, and (d) is a right side elevational view.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• The drawings are adapted to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 1 to 7 illustrate the whole of aninvalid lift apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. Here, Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 are front elevational views of thelift apparatus 1, showing states changed on the basis of functions provided in thelift apparatus 1 respectively. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are a right side elevational view and a plan view of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 1 respectively. Fig. 7 is a plan view of thelift apparatus 1 which is in the state shown in Fig. 4.
• Thelift apparatus 1 comprises abase 2. Thebase 2 comprises twobase bars 3 and 4 extending in parallel with each other and a bendablecross-directional connecting bar 5 provided across thesebase bars 3 and 4.Wheels 6 to 9 which can roll on a floor face are mounted on respective end portions of the respective ones of thebase bars 3 and 4. Thesewheels 6 to 9 are preferably structured by casters capable of freely changing directions.
• Thelift apparatus 1 further comprises anupright bar 10. Theupright bar 10 consists of a single bar member, and is rotatably mounted on thebase 2, more specifically on a longitudinal central portion of thecross-directional connecting bar 5. Thus, theupright bar 10 can selectively take a state upright from thebase 2 as shown in Fig. 1, for example, and a state extending along thebase 2 as shown in Fig. 4, for example.
• Thelift apparatus 1 further comprises anarm 11. Thearm 11 consists of a single bar member, and is rotatably mounted on a movable end of theupright bar 10. Thearm 11 is adapted to support an invalid to be lifted up on its movable end, and ashackle 12, for example, is provided on such a movable end.
• Thelift apparatus 1 further comprises anactuator 13. Theactuator 13 is adapted to make driving for rotating thearm 11 with respect to theupright bar 10 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, for example, when theupright bar 10 is in the state upright from thebase 2, thereby changing the height of the movable end of thearm 11.
• Thislift apparatus 1 takes typical states shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively when used, and folded as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 when not used.
• The structure of thislift apparatus 1 is now described in further detail.
• Thecross-directional connecting bar 5 included in thebase 2 comprises anintermediate link 14 andend links 17 and 18 which are rotatably coupled to respective end portions thereof throughpins 15 and 16 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, for example. The end links 17 and 18 are rotatably coupled tobrackets 19 and 20 which are mounted on the base bars 3 and 4 throughpins 21 and 22 respectively.
• The aforementionedintermediate link 14 is independently shown in Fig. 14. Referring to Fig. 14, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front elevational view, (c) is a left side elevational view, and (d) is a right side elevational view.
• Theintermediate link 14 comprises abody part 23 whose section receiving a lower end portion of theupright bar 10 is substantially U-shaped. Thebody part 23 is provided with penetrating throughholes 24, and theupright bar 10 is rotatably held with respect to theintermediate link 14 through apin 25 passing through these throughholes 24, as shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 11 and Fig. 13, for example. Further, alock engaging part 26 is formed on thebody part 23 by a pin, for example.
• Bracket parts 27 and 28 whose sections are substantially U-shaped are provided to extend from the front surface and the rear surface of thebody part 23 respectively. Penetrating throughholes 29 and 30 are provided in thebracket parts 27 and 28 respectively. Respective end portions of the end links 17 and 18 are received in thebracket parts 27 and 28 respectively, while theaforementioned pins 15 and 16 are passed through the end links 17 and 18 through the throughholes 29 and 30 respectively.
• Theintermediate link 14 is further provided with abracket part 31. Penetrating throughholes 32 are provided in vertical walls of thebracket part 31 extending in parallel with each other. Two longitudinal throughholes 33 and 34 are provided in line in a horizontal wall of thebracket part 31. Referring to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, alock member 35 is arranged on a lower end portion of theupright bar 10. Thelock member 35 is guided by aguide member 36 provided on the lower end portion of theupright bar 10 to be movable in the longitudinal direction of theupright bar 10. In order to allow such movement, thelock member 35 is provided with a longitudinal throughhole 37 for receiving thepin 25. Thelock member 35 is urged by acompression spring 38 which is arranged between thislock member 35 and theguide member 36 to downwardly move. The terminal end of the downward movement of thelock member 35 is defined by engagement of thepin 25 with an upper end of the longitudinal throughhole 37.
• A lower end of arod 39 is coupled to thelock member 35. Therod 39 passes through thehollow upright bar 10 and extends up to the upper end of theupright bar 10, so that the upper end of therod 39 is coupled to acontrol lever 40 here. Abracket 41 is mounted on the upper end, i.e., the movable end of theupright bar 10, and thecontrol lever 40 is rotatably held with respect to thisbracket 41 through apin 42. Alternatively, a wire may be employed in place of therod 39.
• Referring to Fig. 8, theupright bar 10 is fixed in the state upright from thebase 2. Namely, thelock member 35 engages with thelock engaging part 26, so that theupright bar 10 enters a state unrotatable in the clockwise direction about thepin 25. Rotation of theupright bar 10 in the anticlockwise direction is inhibited by walls provided on thebody part 23 of theintermediate link 14.
• When an end portion of thecontrol lever 40 is rotated to be lifted up as shown in Fig. 9, thelock member 35 is upwardly moved through therod 39 against the elasticity of thecompression spring 38. Thus, the engagement of thelock member 35 with respect to thelock engaging part 26 is canceled, whereby theupright bar 10 enters a state rotatable in the clockwise direction about thepin 25.
• As clearly shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, for example, respective end portions of theaforementioned actuator 13 are rotatably coupled with respect to the respective ones of a longitudinal intermediate portion of theupright bar 10 and a longitudinal intermediate portion of thearm 11. As understood when Fig. 1 is compared with Fig. 2, theactuator 13 has a structure including telescopic pipes, for example, and is so structured as to rotate thearm 11 with respect to theupright bar 10 by changing the distance between its both end portions.
• In more detail, the lower end of theactuator 13 is held by afixture 43, and thefixture 43 is mounted on theupright bar 10 to rotate about apin 44. On the other hand, the upper end of theactuator 13 is coupled to an end portion of anauxiliary link 45 to be rotatable about apin 46. The other end portion of theauxiliary link 45 is coupled to abracket 47 which is fixed to thearm 11 about apin 48. Thebracket 47 holds theauxiliary link 45 from both sides in the state shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, so that theauxiliary link 45 is not unsteadied with respect to thearm 11. Theauxiliary link 45 can be brought from a state directed toward the movable end of thearm 11 into a state directed to a portion of thearm 11 coupled with theupright bar 10, i.e., toward apin 49 by raising the movable end of thearm 11 in the state shown in Fig. 2, for example. Thepin 49 is positioned on thebracket 41, and rotatably holds thearm 11 with respect to thebracket 41.
• On a relatively upper portion of theupright bar 10, ahandle 50 extending on its both sides is provided. Thehandle 50 is grasped by the hands of a proper operator, in order to supply force for moving thislift apparatus 1 on the basis of rolling of thewheels 6 to 9.
• Thelift apparatus 1 according to this embodiment further comprises a transmission mechanism for transmitting the operation of theupright bar 10 to thecross-directional connecting bar 5 when theupright bar 10 is rotated with respect to thebase 2 thereby bringing thecross-directional connecting bar 5 into a linear state when theupright bar 10 is in the state upright from thebase 2 while bringing thecross-directional connecting bar 5 into a bent state when theupright bar 10 is in the state extending along thebase 2. This transmission mechanism is described mainly with reference to Fig. 10 to Fig. 13.
• Asleeve 51 is provided on theupright bar 10, to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of theupright bar 10. Thesleeve 51 is positioned on a side closer to the movable end of theupright bar 10 than the aforementionedintermediate link 14.
• A central portion of a bendingcontrol link 52 which is structured by bending a rod having a circular section is passed through thesleeve 51, and the bendingcontrol link 52 is held with respect to thesleeve 51 to be rotatable about its axis. Both end portions of the bendingcontrol link 52 extend in opposite directions on the same linear line, and these end portions are received injoints 53 and 54 respectively. The respective end portions of the bendingcontrol link 52 are rotatable with respect to the respective ones of thejoints 53 and 54 about axes thereof. Thejoints 53 and 54 are mounted on the end links 17 and 18 throughpins 55 and 56 extending in directions perpendicular to the extending directions of the respective end portions of the bendingcontrol link 52 respectively. Thejoints 53 and 54 are rotatable with respect to the end links 17 and 18 respectively about thepins 55 and 56.
• An end of aslide control link 57 is rotatably mounted on the central portion of the aforementionedbending control link 52. The other end of theslide control link 57 is rotatably held by apin 58 passing through the throughhole 32 provided in thebracket part 31 of the aforementionedintermediate link 14.
• First ends of parallelism keeping links 59 and 60 are received in the longitudinal throughholes 33 and 34 (see Fig. 14(a)) provided in thebracket part 31 of theintermediate link 14 respectively, so that these parallelism keeping links 59 and 60 are rotatably held with respect to theintermediate link 14. Second ends of the respective ones of the parallelism keeping links 59 and 60 are rotatably held on thebrackets 19 and 20 which are mounted on the base bars 3 and 4 respectively.
• In the state shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, thecross-directional connecting bar 5 is in the linear state, and the pair ofbase bars 3 and 4 define the widest space therebetween. Further, the parallelism keeping links 59 and 60 extend in parallel with thecross-directional connecting bar 5, to keep parallel states of the pair ofbase bars 3 and 4.
• When theupright bar 10 is inclined and brought into the state extending along thebase 2 in the aforementioned state, the state shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 is implemented. Namely, when theupright bar 10 is rotated about thepin 25 which is provided on theintermediate link 14, thesleeve 51 is slid along theupright bar 10 toward its movable end due to a bracing action of theslide control link 57. Following this sliding of thesleeve 51, the bendingcontrol link 52 is also moved toward the movable end of theupright bar 10. Due to the movement of the bendingcontrol link 52 in such a direction, thejoints 53 and 54 are also attracted toward the movable end of theupright bar 10. On the other hand, theintermediate link 14 is mounted on theupright bar 10 through thepin 25, whereby the end links 17 and 18 are rotated with respect to theintermediate link 14 about thepins 15 and 16 respectively, due to the aforementioned movement of thejoints 53 and 54. Consequently, thecross-directional connecting bar 5 is brought into the bent state. Following the aforementioned rotation of the end links 17 and 18, thejoints 53 and 54 rotate with respect to the end links 17 and 18 respectively, while positions on the bendingcontrol link 52 are changed.
• Following the aforementioned bending operation of thecross-directional connecting bar 5, the pair ofbase bars 3 and 4 are approached to each other. Thus, the directions of the respective ones of the parallelism keeping links 59 and 60 are also changed, similarly to the end links 17 and 18.
• Thus, the state shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 is finally obtained. In order to reversely change the state shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 to the state shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, theupright bar 10 may be rotated to enter the state upright from thebase 2. Thus, the aforementioned operation reversely advances, so that the state shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 is finally obtained.
• An exemplary method of using thislift apparatus 1 is now described.
• In case of using thislift apparatus 1 in travelling bathing assistive service, for example, the apparatus is carried in the folded state shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7. In the home where an invalid lives, the apparatus is brought into the open state shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, for example. In order to bring the apparatus into such an open state, theupright bar 10 is first brought into the state upright from thebase 2, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, thecross-directional connecting bar 5 is brought into the linear state, and the space between the pair ofbase bars 3 and 4 is widened. Then, the movable end of thearm 11 is raised, so that theauxiliary link 45 is directed toward the movable end of thearm 11, as shown in Fig. 2. Theactuator 13 is driven in this state, so that the movable end of thearm 11 is upwardly moved as shown in Fig. 1.
• Referring to Fig. 1, abed 61 and an invalid 62 thereon are shown by phantom lines. An end of thebase 2 is inserted under thebed 61. Thus, the movable end of thearm 11 enters a state positioned substantially above a cross-directional central portion of thebed 61. Theupright bar 10 is preferably mounted on a position biased toward one side of thebase 2, so that the movable end of thearm 11 is positioned within the range of the extent of thebase 2 as observed in a plan view in the used state of thelift apparatus 1.
• In the state shown in Fig. 1, the invalid 62 is wrapped up in a hammock which is not shown, and this hammock is hung on theshackle 12 through ahanger 63 shown by phantom lines.
• Then, theactuator 13 is so driven that the invalid 62 floats in the air, and the movable end of thearm 11 is upwardly moved. In order to bathe the invalid 62 in this state, thelift 1 is moved to a portion close to a bathtub. At this time, theactuator 13 may be driven at need, so that the movable end of thearm 11 is downwardly moved.
• When the aforementioned operation is reversely performed, it is possible to return the invalid 62 on thebed 61 again.
• When the use of thelift apparatus 1 is completed, theactuator 13 is driven to minimize the distance between the both end portions thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Then, the movable end of thearm 11 is raised by the operator's hand, so that theauxiliary link 45 is brought into a state directed toward thebracket 41. Consequently, thearm 11 enters the state extending substantially in parallel with theupright bar 10 as shown in Fig. 3, when the force for raising the movable end of thearm 11 is removed. Then, thecontrol lever 40 is operated to be pulled up, whereby the engagement of thelock member 35 with thelock engaging part 26 is canceled and theupright bar 10 enters a state rotatable with respect to thebase 2, so that theupright bar 10 enters the state extending substantially in parallel with thebase 2 along with thearm 11 as shown in Fig. 4, as the result of the rotation. At this time, thecross-directional connecting bar 5 is bent on the basis of the transmission mechanism described with reference to Fig. 10 to Fig. 13, so that the space between the pair ofbase bars 3 and 4 is narrowed as shown in Fig. 7.
Industrial Availability
• The present invention is usefully applicable to an invalid lift apparatus of a movable form.

Claims (4)

1. An invalid lift apparatus comprising:

   a base on which a plurality of wheels being capable of rolling on a floor face are mounted;

   an upright bar being rotatably mounted on said base thereby selectively taking a state upright from said base and a state extending along said base;

   an arm being rotatably mounted on a movable end of said upright bar for supporting an invalid to be lifted up on said movable end; and

   an actuator for making driving for rotating said arm with respect to said upright bar when said upright bar is in the state upright from said base thereby changing the height of the movable end of said arm.
2. The invalid lift apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said actuator is so structured that its respective end portions are rotatably coupled to respective ones of a longitudinal intermediate portion of said upright bar and a longitudinal intermediate portion of said arm for rotating said arm with respect to said upright bar by changing the distance between its both end portions,
      a portion of said actuator being coupled with said arm comprises an auxiliary link, so that an end portion of said auxiliary link is rotatably coupled to said arm and the other end portion of said auxiliary link is rotatably coupled to said actuator, and
      said actuator is worked to rotate said arm with respect to said upright bar in such a state that said auxiliary link is directed toward the movable end of said arm, and said arm enters a state extending substantially in parallel with said upright bar when said auxiliary link is directed toward a portion of said arm being coupled with said upright bar while said actuator minimizes the distance between its both end portions.
3. The invalid lift apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upright bar and said arm consist of single bar members respectively, said base comprises two base pars extending in parallel with each other and a bendable cross-directional connecting bar being provided across these base bars, and said upright bar is mounted on a longitudinal central portion of said cross-directional connecting bar.
4. The invalid lift apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a transmission mechanism for transmitting the operation of said upright bar to said cross-directional connecting bar when said upright bar is rotated with respect to said base thereby bringing said cross-directional connecting bar into a linear state when said upright bar is in the state being upright from said base while bringing said cross-directional connecting bar into a bent state when said upright bar is in the state extending along said base.

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