Importance

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Abstract

A patient lift apparatus is provided with a U-shaped base that folds to enable convenient reduced width storage of the unit when not in use. Accordingly, the U-shaped base of the unit has a hinge with a vertical axis in each leg of the 'U'. These hinges are located midway of each of the vertical legs. Typically, these hinges provide for a pivotal movement of the casters at the ends of each leg of the 'U' from a caster extended position for patient lifting and transport to a caster folded position parallel to and spaced apart from the base of the 'U'. A releasable lock mechanism is provided to each leg for locking the hinge in either the caster extended position or the caster folded position. The lock includes an outer moving sleeve with a spring biased inner key connected to the spring biased sleeve. The key moves with the sleeve and fits into and out of paired apertures in the hinge. One aperture of the hinge is for maintaining the hinge in the caster folded position; the other aperture of the hinge is for maintaining the hinge in the caster extended position. In operation, an attendant moves the sleeve to unlock the hinge. Thereafter, and while the rest of the lift apparatus is supported at its respective casters, the outer leg member of the 'U' is moved between the caster folded position and the caster extended position for patient transport.

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First Claim