A lift apparatus used for lifting and moving a person or object. The apparatus has a frame, wheels, a lift mechanism, a lift rod, an overhead support arm movable to a laterally extended position on a selected side of the apparatus, a rotatable head, a collar that is vertically movable along the head, an outrigger support with a bar pivotably affixed to the base frame and rotatable to the selected side of the apparatus, and an locking mechanism for retaining the bar on the side of the apparatus. A hanger on the overhead arm supports a load. A control system controls the lift mechanism. When the bar extends onto the selected side of the apparatus and the collar is in a predetermined vertical position along the head, the control system activates the lift mechanism and the overhead support arm is rotatable only to the selected side of the lift apparatus.
1. A lift apparatus comprising:
a base frame comprising
base frame members and
a plurality of wheels,
an overhead support comprising
an overhead support arm, and
a rotatable head,
a lift mechanism comprising
a cylindrical guide housing fixedly attached to the base frame,
a lift rod telescopingly housed within the cylindrical guide housing for controlling a position of the overhead support arm pivotably moveable to a predetermined laterally extended position on a selected side of the lift apparatus and rotatably connected to the lift rod,
a selector collar moveable along the rotatable head into a predetermined vertical position, and
a lift actuator,
an outrigger support comprising
a laterally rotatable outrigger pivotably affixed to the base frame and rotatable to the selected side of the lift apparatus, and
an outrigger locking mechanism for retaining the laterally rotatable outrigger in a predetermined laterally extended position on the selected side of the lift apparatus,
a hanger supported on the overhead support arm and adapted to support a load, and
a control system for controlling the lift mechanism,
wherein when the laterally rotatable outrigger is retained into the predetermined laterally extended position on the selected side of the lift apparatus and when the selector collar is in the predetermined vertical position along the rotatable head, the control system activates the lift mechanism and the overhead support arm can be rotated only to the selected side of the lift apparatus.
2. A method of using a lift apparatus comprising the steps of
providing a lift apparatus comprising:
a base frame comprising
base frame members and
a plurality of wheels,
an overhead support comprising
an overhead support arm, and
a rotatable head,
a lift mechanism comprising
a cylindrical guide housing fixedly attached to the base frame,
a lift rod telescopingly housed within the cylindrical guide housing for controlling a position of the overhead support arm pivotably moveable to a predetermined laterally extended position on a selected side of the lift apparatus and rotatably connected to the lift rod,
a selector collar moveable along the rotatable head into a predetermined vertical position, and
a lift actuator,
an outrigger support comprising
a laterally rotatable outrigger pivotably affixed to the base frame and rotatable to the selected side of the lift apparatus, and
an outrigger locking mechanism for retaining the laterally rotatable outrigger in a predetermined laterally extended position on the selected side of the lift apparatus,
a hanger supported on the overhead support arm and adapted to support a load, and
a control system for controlling the lift mechanism, the control system comprising
a power switch for activating the lift mechanism,
at least one outrigger position sensor switch,
at least one locking mechanism position sensor switch, and
at least one selector collar position sensor switch,
wherein the at least one outrigger position sensor switch is operationally connected to the at least one selector collar position sensor switch, and
wherein when the laterally rotatable outrigger is retained into the predetermined laterally extended position on the selected side of the lift apparatus and when the selector collar is in the predetermined vertical position along the rotatable head, the control system activates the lift mechanism and the overhead support arm can be rotated only to the selected side of the lift apparatus;
rotating the laterally rotatable outrigger to a selected side of the apparatus in order to activate the at least one outrigger position sensor switch;
retaining the laterally rotatable outrigger into the predetermined laterally extended position on the selected side of the lift apparatus;
moving the selector collar into the predetermined vertical position rotatable head that is associated with the selected side of the lift apparatus;
activating the lift mechanism;
elevating the overhead support arm; and
rotating the overhead support arm to the selected side of the lift apparatus.
3. A lift apparatus comprising:
a base frame;
a lift mechanism attached to said base frame and comprising:
a lift member; and
a lift actuator;
a rotatable support arm connected to said lift member wherein said lift member is operable to control a vertical position of said rotatable support arm, and wherein said support arm is moveable to a laterally extended position on a selected side of said lift apparatus;
a support arm selector moveable to a position corresponding to said selected side and to maintain said support arm on said selected side;
an outrigger support comprising:
a laterally moveable outrigger affixed to said base frame and moveable to said selected side of said lift apparatus; and
an outrigger locking mechanism for retaining said outrigger in an extended position on said selected side of said lift apparatus; and
a control system for controlling said lift mechanism,
wherein when said outrigger is retained in said laterally extended position on said selected side of said lift apparatus and when said support arm selector is in said position corresponding to said selected side, said control system activates said lift mechanism and said support arm can be moved only to said selected side of said lift apparatus.
4. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said support arm selector comprises a selector collar which further comprises:
a hollow substantially cylindrical body sized to accommodate said lift member and at least a portion of said rotatable support arm,
a curved slot formed in the wall of said hollow cylindrical body, and
a locking mechanism for securing a vertical position of said selector collar with respect to said lift member and said rotatable support arm.
5. The lift apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said control system comprises at least one of:
a power switch for activating said lift mechanism,
an outrigger position sensor switch,
a locking mechanism position sensor switch, and
a selector collar position sensor switch.
6. The lift apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises:
a spring-loaded pin disposed in said selector collar, and
an indexing detent disposed on said rotatable head,
wherein said indexing detent is sized to accommodate said spring-loaded pin.
7. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , additionally comprising a hanger slidably supported on said support arm.
8. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said base frame additionally comprises one or more wheels, and one or more wheel locking mechanisms for controlling movement of said one or more wheels.
9. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said lift actuator comprises one or more of: an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.
10. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said control system further comprises a controller for controlling said lift mechanism.
11. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a spring loaded pedal and a notch disposed on said outrigger and sized to snugly accommodate said pedal.
12. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said outrigger is spring loaded for maintaining said outrigger in a predetermined position.
13. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said outrigger is extendible in length.
14. The lift apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a sling affixed to said hanger for supporting said load.
15. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , said support arm further comprising a bracket affixed to said support arm.
16. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein
said selected side of said lift apparatus comprises a first side or a second side of said lift apparatus, and
said support arm selector controls a rotation of said support arm to either said first or second side of said lift apparatus.
17. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a power source for powering said lift actuator.
18. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a seat affixed to said lift apparatus.
19. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said lift member is telescopically housed within a guide housing.
20. The lift apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said outrigger is pivotably affixed to said base frame and is laterally pivotable to said selected side of said lift apparatus.