IE20150099A1 - A hoist and stander apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a hoist and stander apparatus comprising a boom mounting a jib; the boom being connected to a chassis, whereby the chassis comprises a pair of ground-engaging legs; the boom being pivotably connected to the jib and to the chassis so that the hoist and stander apparatus can be collapsed. By designing the hoist and stander apparatus to be collapsible, as opposed to be of a breakdown construction, the hoist and stander apparatus is still capable of being folded into a low profile arrangement for easy storage and portability, whilst the user will not be inconvenienced by having to break apart the apparatus and re-assemble it at a new location. <Figure 1>

Description

“A hoist and stander apparatus” introduction This invention relates to a hoist and stander apparatus which acts as an aid for infirm persons such as elderly people and invalids such as wheelchair users, referred to throughout the following specification as users.

In particular, the present invention is directed towards an apparatus which can be used as either a hoist or as a stand aid by users who are incapable of moving about freely unsupported. The apparatus acts as an invalid carriage for the movement of users, when acting as a hoist or as a stand aid.

Throughout this specification, the term “hoist” shall be understood to encompass any type of lifting device for raising users such that their weight is supported entirely by the apparatus. A hoist will be mounted on a wheeled chassis, so as to form an invalid carriage, which will allow a user to be transferred from one position to another when supported by the hoist.

Throughout this specification, the terms “stand aid, “stander apparatus”, “stander” and “riser” shaii be understood to be analogous and to encompass any type of articulated device which assists a user to transition from a non-standing position into a standing position and/or from a standing position into a non-standing position, whereby at least a portion of the user’s weight is supported by themselves in the standing position. Once the user has been transitioned from a non-seated position to a seated position, the user may be transferred from one location to another using the stand aid as an invalid carriage.

The prior art discloses various types of hoists, and separately, stand aids which are used by users in specific situations which require either a hoist or a stand aid.

These are separate devices in the prior art. -2For example, transferring a user out of bed, into a vehicle, or into a seat will often require a hoist. The stander unit is used in different scenarios whereby the user may be exercised by repeatedly transitioning from and non-standing position into a standing position, or could be employed by a user themselves to change their seated position so as to avoid pressure sores that may otherwise arise from not changing their seated position for a long period of time.

As these two devices carry out very different acts, they have heretofore been designed as two separate devices. This is in part due to the technical problems of attempting to provide a single device capable of acting as both a hoist and as a stand aid. The technical problems with the prior art devices relate to the need for a wide base for stability and a narrow base for manoeuvrability. Stability is of importance with the hoist and stand aid, but manoeuvrability is of importance for the hoist. As a consequence, designers will oftentimes compromise between stability and manoeuvrability when designing a hoist, whereas designers will not compromise on the stability of the stander unit as they do not need to improve its manoeuvrability.

An example of a hoist is shown in European Patent Publication EP2508158 (ARJO HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT AB). The hoist apparatus described is for lifting a load and the hoist apparatus comprises an elongate load bearing member having a longitudinal axis, connected to an intermediate support member comprising a hoist connection element, and adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the elongate load bearing member relative to the horizontal by adjusting the configuration of parts of the intermediate support member. These hoists are used to fully support the weight of a user and are hung from a jib on a moveable carriage forming the overall hoist device.

An example of a stand aid is shown in the UK Patent Publication Number GB 2,140,773 A (JAMES INDUSTRIES LIMITED) whereby a user is transitioned between a non-standing position and a standing position. Whilst the term ‘hoist’ is used in this specification, it can be seen that the user supports, at least in part, their bodyweight in the standing position and the device is therefore not truly acting as a hoist in the sense that the device does not lift the user into a position whereby all of the user’s bodyweight is supported by the device. Nonetheless, the device shown in UK Patent - 3Publication Number GB 2,140,773 A describes how a sling is wrapped around a user's back and underneath their armpits. The sling is connected to hooks on an articulated arm and as the articulated arm is rotated, the user’s upper torso will be urged upwards and towards the stander unit to assist the user in transitioning from a non-standing position into a standing position. A kneepad and footplate is used to assist in retaining the lower part of the user's legs in a substantially static position and to assist the user in rotating their knee and hip joints when transitioning from the nonstanding position into the standing position.

A further example of a stand aid is shown in European Patent Publication Number EP 0 547 901 A1 (PARKER). The stand aid is of a similar construction to the previously described stand aid in that the stand aid comprises an articulated arm which is connected to a sling. The sling is again placed beneath the user’s armpits and wrapped around their back. As the articulated arm is rotated upwardly by an actuator, the user will be urged into the standing position. As before, both footplates and kneepads are used by the stand aid in order to assist the user in transitioning into the standing position.

A problem for users of both hoists and stand aids is the need for both of these devices results in having two separate devices which must be taken with the user wherever they go and the separate devices take up considerable space. The cost of having to purchase and maintain two separate devices is also a downside to the separate nature of these prior art devices.

Also, the devices known from the prior art tend to be of a breakdown construction. Therefore, if a user wishes to bring one of these devices on holiday or to a temporary location, the device will need to be broken down and re-assembled at its new location. This is a time consuming for the user and additionally introduces a possibility whereby device is not correctly re-assembled in a sufficiently robust manner and may consequently represent a health and safety risk for the user.

It is a goal of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes at least one of the above mentioned problems. -4Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed towards a hoist and stander apparatus comprising a boom mounting a jib; the boom being connected to a chassis, whereby the chassis comprises a pair of ground-engaging legs; the boom being pivotably connected to the jib and to the chassis so that the hoist and stander apparatus can be collapsed.

By designing the hoist and stander apparatus to be collapsible, as opposed to be of a breakdown construction, the hoist and stander apparatus is still capable of being folded into a low profile arrangement for easy storage and portability, whilst the user will not be inconvenienced by having to break apart the apparatus and reassemble it at a new location.

The present invention is further directed to a hoist and stander apparatus comprising a boom mounting a jib; the boom being connected to a chassis, whereby the chassis comprises a pair of ground-engaging legs which are capable of being rotated from an in-parallel position to a splayed open position.

The advantage of providing the pair of ground-engaging legs which are capable of being rotated from an in-parallel position to a splayed open position is that the hoist and stander apparatus, being a single apparatus, can perform the function of a hoist and also that of a stand aid, whilst also having the ability to alter the width of its base. It will be readily understood that the hoist and stander apparatus can be operated as either a hoist or a stander with the ground-engaging legs being in the in-parallel position. Rotating the ground-engaging legs from the in-paralle! position to the splayed open position simply increases the stability of the apparatus. In this way, a user will only require one piece of apparatus to carry out both of these functions. This reduces not only the capital cost of investing in the apparatus, but also reduces the amount of space required for storage of the devices when the devices are not in use. The rotation of the legs from the in-parallel arrangement to the splayed open arrangement allows a relatively narrow configuration to be given to the hoist and stander apparatus so as to increase manoeuvrability in tight spaces such as caravans, RVs, boats, aircraft aisles and the like, or to splay open the legs to improve stability of the device when there is a greater chance of a user asserting an off-axis - 5force on the apparatus.

In a further embodiment, the boom is pivotably connected to the jib and to the chassis so that the hoist and stander apparatus can be collapsed. By designing the hoist and stander apparatus to be collapsible, as opposed to be of a breakdown construction, the hoist and stander apparatus is still capable of being folded into a low profile arrangement for easy storage and portability, whilst the user will not be inconvenienced by having to break apart the apparatus and re-assemble it at a new location.

In a further embodiment, the hoist and stander apparatus comprises means for receiving a kneepad arm which is connected to a kneepad and is used to retain the kneepad at a projected distance from the boom.

In a further embodiment, the means for receiving a kneepad arm comprises at least one through hole which the kneepad arm passes through, and the kneepad arm comprises a plurality of indents which are each capable to receive a locking pin, such that the kneepad arm may be slid along the through hole to an approximate desired position and the locking pin may be inserted into the nearest indent to secure the knee pad arm at that position.

In a further embodiment, a footplate may be mounted intermediate the groundengaging legs when the hoist and stander apparatus is to be used as a stand aid.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus has an actuator to raise and lower free ends of the jib relative to the chassis, and, the actuator is an electrically powered actuator. In yet another embodiment, the actuator is a hydraulic ram. In a further embodiment the actuator is a pneumatic ram. In a further embodiment, the actuator may be a motor positioned adjacent a jib pivot point at an upper end of the boom, so as to cause rotation of the jib relative to the boom about the jib pivot point.

In a further embodiment, the hoist and stander apparatus may be coated in an antimicrobial film. -6 In a further embodiment, the hoist and stander apparatus may be constructed of a hollow metal tubing. This allows the hoist and stander apparatus to be relatively lightweight.

In a further embodiment, the hoist and stander apparatus comprises castor wheels to allow the hoist and stander apparatus to be easily manoeuvred.

In a further embodiment, a position of the user relative to the hoist and stand aid apparatus when being hoisted is in front of free ends of the jib when the user is being hoisted and the user’s full body weight is supported by the hoist and stander apparatus.

Detailed Description of Embodiments The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which may not be to scale, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoist and stander apparatus in accordance with the present invention in a stander configuration with legs splayed open; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with legs splayed open and a jib in a lowered position; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with the legs splayed open and the jib in a raised position; Figure 4 is a top view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with the legs splayed open; and, Figure 5 is a further side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with the legs splayed open; -Ί Figure 6 is a detail view of means for attaching a kneepad to the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with the legs splayed open, showing a user’s position with the jib in a lowered position; Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the stander configuration with the legs splayed open, showing a user’s position with the jib in a raised position; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in a hoist configuration; Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a raised position; Figure 11 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a lowered position; Figure 12 is a top view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration; Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in a collapsed state; Figure 14A is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a raised position; Figure 14B is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a fully collapsed position; Figure 14C is a side elevation view of the hoist and stander apparatus of -8Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with both the jib and the boom arm in a fully collapsed positions; Figure 15A is a perspective view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a raised position; Figure 15B is a perspective view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with the jib in a fully collapsed position; Figure 15C is a perspective view of the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in the hoist configuration with both the jib and the boom arm in a fully collapsed positions; Figure 16 is a user shown carrying the hoist and stander apparatus of Figure 1 in its collapsed state; Figure 17 is a front perspective view of the hoist and stander apparatus in the stander configuration in an alternative embodiment with recessed individual kneepads; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the hoist and stander apparatus in the stander configuration with the legs in an in-parallel position and the jib in a lowered position; and, Figure 19 is a top view of the hoist and stander apparatus in the stander configuration with the legs in an in-parallel position and the jib in a lowered position.

Referring to Figure 1 to 5 inclusive, there is provided a hoist and stander apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 100. The hoist and stander apparatus 100 comprises a boom 102 which is connected to a chassis 104 via a boom pivot point 106. The boom 102 is therefore capable of rotating relative to the chassis 104, to which it is connected to a way of the boom pivot point 106, at a substantially mutually octagonal angle. During use, the boom 102 is fixed in a substantially vertical -9orientation and it is securely locked in place; however, the boom pivot point 106 allows the boom 102 to be lowered into a substantially horizontal orientation when the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is to be collapsed into a low profile arrangement for storage or transport.

A pair of ground-engaging legs 108A, 108B are connected to the chassis 104 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the chassis 104. The legs 108A, 108B provide the hoist and stander apparatus 100 with stability. The legs 108A, 108B are connected to the chassis 104 by way of lockable leg pivot mechanisms 112 which are provided at each free end of the chassis 104 and are connected to the legs intermediate the free ends of the legs 108A, 108B. Castor wheels 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D are attached adjacent the free ends of the legs 108A, 108B. It will be readily appreciated that the castor wheels 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D allow the hoist and stander apparatus 100 to be easily manoeuvred. There may of course be brakes on the castor wheels and indeed alternative types of heels may be used. The lockable leg pivot mechanisms 112 allow the legs 108A, 108B to be rotated within the substantially horizontal plane such that their angle relative to the chassis 104 may be slightly opened or closed.

When the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is being used as a hoist, the legs 108A, 108B may be rotated such as to be at substantially right angles to the chassis 104 within the substantially horizontal plane. In this manner, the overall width of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 will be determined by the distance between the legs 108A, 108B. When the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is used in a hoist configuration, the width between the legs 108A, 108B will be substantially equal along the length of the legs 108A, 108B as the legs 108A, 108B will run substantially in parallel to one another.

When the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is used in a stander configuration, the legs 108A, 108B may be slightly splayed open as is shown in Figures 1 through 4 in order to increase stability although it is fully envisaged that the apparatus may be operated as a stander with the legs in an in-parallel closed position as shown in Figures 18 and 19. -10It will be understood that by splaying the legs 108A, 108B outwardly, this will increase the overall width of the hoist and stander unit 100 when in the stand aid configuration. However this wider configuration wili also improve the stability of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 which is important when a user may be reliant on the hoist and stander apparatus 100 to act as a stable base during their transition from a nonstanding position to a standing position. This is necessary as the user is more likely to apply an off-axis force to the hoist and stander apparatus 100 when the use is attempting some level of physical assertion themselves in going from a non-standing position to a standing position. This ability to alter the width of the hoist and stander apparatus to suit the requirements of the different configurations of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is viewed as a very novel and unique approach which has heretofore not been known from the prior art. As such devices must be very stable to ensure the safe utilisation of the devices by users, it is counterintuitive for designer to allow the legs, which are the main component in providing stability to the device, to be rotated to a relatively narrow configurations. However, the great advantage of the present invention is that it allows the hoist and stander apparatus 100 to be changed into a narrower configurations and therefore allow greater manoeuvrability of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 in tight spaces such as aisles on vehicles and aircraft, recreational vehicles (RVs), caravans, coaches, boats and the like, or indeed, within tight spaces such as bathrooms and hallways and the like, in dwellings and buildings.

Referring still to Figures 1 through 5 inclusive, the boom 102 extends substantially vertically upwardly. Adjacent an upper end 114 of the boom 102 there is provided a handle 116 to allow a user, or an assistant, to firmly hold and manoeuver the hoist and stander apparatus 100, as necessary. A jib 118 depends outwardly from adjacent the upper end 114 of the boom 102. The jib 118 is connected adjacent the upper end 114 of the boom 102 via a jib pivot point 120. The jib 118 may therefore rotate relative to the boom 102 by virtue ofthe jib pivot point 120. The jib 118 terminates in a U-shaped arm 130 which mounts hooks 132 at the free ends 134A, 134B of the Ushaped arm 130. In use, a sling or other such device may be connected to the hoist and stander apparatus 100 via the hooks 132. It will of course be readily appreciated that a number of alternative abutment means or securing means may be used in place of the hooks 132. For example, inter alia, fasteners such as loop and buttons, ciamps, rings, hook and loop material sold under the registered trademark VELCRO, -11 and the like may be used instead of the hooks 132. The sling may be of the type shown in the above-identified prior art documents, which is to say, the sling would extend around the back of a user and beneath their armpits. Alternatively, full body slings, which the user fully sits or lies into, may be used when the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is being used as a hoist.

An actuator 122 is provided intermediate a connection plate 126, which is located adjacent a lower end of the boom 102, and the jib 118. Activation of the actuator 122 causes rotation of the jib 118 relative to the boom 102 about the jib pivot point 120. A controller 128 is provided on the hoist and stander apparatus 100 to control the operation of the actuator 122. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator 122 is an electrically-driven actuator ram which is powered by a battery (not shown). In a further embodiment, pneumatic rams, hydraulic rams, motors or screws may be used in order to cause rotation of the jib 118 relatively boom 102. Indeed, it is also foreseen that any means capable of causing the jib 118 to rotate relative to the boom could be used by the hoist and stander apparatus 100 in place of the actuator 122, The hoist and stander apparatus 100 is shown in Figures 1 to 5 in one embodiment of the stand aid configuration, where the legs are in the splayed open position, hoist and stander apparatus 100 is shown in Figures 18 and 19 in the alternative embodiment of the stand aid configuration, where the legs are in the closed in parallel position. In the configuration shown in Figure 1 to 5, the legs 108A, 108B are splayed open, as shown, and a truncated vee-shaped footplate 140 having connection lips along either side is mounted onto the legs 108A, 108B. The footplate 140 is thusly mounted between the legs 108A, 108B and provide a stable platform for a user to place their feet on to. In the configuration shown in Figures 18 and 19, the legs 108A, 108B are closed in the in-parallel position, and a substantially rectangular-shaped footplate 1800 having connection lips along either side is mounted onto the legs 108A, 108B to provide a stable platform for a user to place their feet on to.

A kneepad 136, which is preferably cushioned along its outwardly showing face, is connected to the boom 102 via a kneepad arm 138 and a means 142 for receiving the kneepad arm. The kneepad arm 138 extends between the kneepad 136 and the means 142 for receiving the kneepad arm 138. The means 142 for receiving the -12 krteepad arm 138 comprises a pair of through holes 144 which the kneepad arm 138 passes through. The kneepad arm 138 comprises a plurality of indents 146 which are each capable to receive a locking pin 148, such that the kneepad arm 138 may be slid through the pair of through holes 144 to an approximate desired position and the locking pin 148 may be inserted into the nearest indent 146 to secure the knee pad arm 138 at that position. The kneepad arm 138 is secured to the kneepad 136 at a rearward side of the kneepad 136, which is opposite to the outwardly showing face of the kneepad 136. An alternative kneepad is shown in Figure 17 and 18 where recessed individual kneepads 1700A, 1700B are used in place of the kneepad 136, which is a single rectangular piece kneepad.

In use, the hoist and stander apparatus 100 may be used as either a hoist, or, as a stand aid. This ability to act as either a hoist or as a stand aid is an important feature of the present invention.

When the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is in one embodiment of the stand aid configurations, as shown in Figures 1 through 5, the legs 108A, 108B are splayed open and the footplate 140 is mounted between the legs 108A, 108B. The kneepad 136 is connected to the boom using the kneepad arm 138. The caster wheels 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D may be locked in position during transition from standing to sitting and the hoist and stander apparatus 100 can now be used as a stand aid by the user. When the user has been raised to the standing position, the caster wheels 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D may be unlocked and the user may be transported in the standing position whist the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is being used as a stand aid.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, when using the hoist and stander apparatus 100 as a stand aid, the user 700 will sit facing the boom 102 and with their feet 702 on the footplate 140 and with their knees or shins 704 abutting against the kneepad 136, the user 700 will activate the actuator 122 so as to raise the U-shaped arm 130 of the jib 118. As described hereinbefore, a sling (not shown) may be wrapped around a user's back beneath their armpits so as to urge the upper torso of the user upwardly and slightly towards the boom 102. The kneepad 136 will prevent the user 700 from entirely shifting forward towards the boom 102 and will cause the user's hips and knees to rotate and transition the user from a non-standing position into a - 13 substantially standing position. This may be repeated to exercise the user’s muscles and limbs and/or to enable the user 700 to shift their position in a seat so as to avoid pressure sores from developing.

When in the hoist configuration, as is shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, the legs 108A, 108B may be arranged to be substantially in parallel with one another and the footplate 140 along with the kneepad 136 and kneepad arm 138 are removed from the hoist and stander apparatus 100. A sling is hung from the hooks 132 and a user (not shown) may be supported within the sling and thusly can be lifted by the hoist and stander apparatus 100 by activating the actuator 122. Activation of the actuator to extend causes the jib 118 to rotate relative to the boom 102 such as to lift the free ends 134A, 134B away from the legs 108A, 108B.

In this configuration, a battery 900 is shown on the hoist and stander apparatus 100. Alternative power sources may be used instead of the battery.

An important aspect of the present invention is the position of the free ends 134A, 134B relative to the user as the user is being hoisted. The position of the user relative to the apparatus when being hoisted is important as the proximity of the end of the jib relative to the user reduces the swaying of the user, which allows the legs to be positioned relatively close together such that the apparatus is relatively narrow in dimensions, and thus allows the narrow dimensioned apparatus can fit down narrow spaces, and the like. The length of the jib 118, including the U-shaped arm 130, is relatively short such that a user, when their full body weight is supported by the hoist and stander apparatus 100 in a relatively short slings, will be hoisted in front of the free ends 134A, 134B of the jib 118. This results in the user swaying beneath the jib 118 to a lesser extent than is known from the prior. As a consequence, the hoist and stander apparatus 100 may use legs 108A, 108B which are held apart from one another at a lesser distance than is normally known from the prior art. In this manner, the hoist and stander apparatus 100 of the present invention is relatively narrow in comparison to prior art devices and indeed it is capable of fitting down standard width aircraft aisles, narrow spaces and the like. This is clearly of great advantage to the user. - 14Referring now to Figure 13, the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is shown in its fully collapsed state. Prior art devices are known to be made of breakdown construction which require the user to separate the parts of the device from one another and reassemble the parts together in the correct manner, tensioning the bolts and other fixing means appropriately, when the device has been relocated. The hoist and stander apparatus 100 of the present invention is collapsible in the sense that the only parts which are removable from the apparatus 100 are the footplate 140 and the kneepad 136. The U-shaped arm 130 which forms part of the jib 118, the jib 118, the boom 102, the actuator 122, the chassis 104 and the legs 108A, 108B are the main component parts of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 of the present invention and these main component parts are not separated from one another as the hoist and stander apparatus 100 is folded down into its collapsed state. Instead, the actuator 122 is operated to fully retract its shaft within the cylinder body and in doing so rotate the jib 118 and U-shaped arm 130 into a substantially parallel orientation relative to the boom 102. The boom 102 may then be rotated about the boom pivot point 106 such that it is rotated from a substantially vertical position into a substantially horizontal position, which is substantially in parallel with and adjacent to the legs 108A, 108B. The jib 118 fits between the legs 108A, 108B in the fully collapsed state. This collapsed state can be clearly seen in Figure 5. The transition from the in-use state to the collapsed state in shown in Figures 14A-14C and 15A-15C, where it can be clearly seen how the jib rotates about the jib pivot point 120 and the boom 102 rotates about the boom pivot point 106 to cause the hoist and stander apparatus 100 to fully collapsed with the need for any tools or disassembly of parts or breakdown of the hoist and stander apparatus 100. This is of great advantage. When fully collapsed, the handle 116 can be used to manually lift the hoist and stander apparatus 100 at one end and roll the hoist and stander apparatus 100 along rearward caster wheels 110C, 110D as shown in Figure 16.

In a preferred embodiment, the hoist and stander apparatus 100 will have a mass of approximately 23kg, including the replaceable battery. The hoist and stander apparatus 100 is envisaged to be capable of hoisting a mass of approximately 140kg. The legs 108A, 108B will be approximately 3.5 cm in height and the height of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 in the fully collapsed state will be approximately 11cm. Due to the collapsible nature of the hoist and stander apparatus 100 of the - 15present invention, it is envisaged that the hoist and stander apparatus 100 can be placed in a boot or trunk of a vehicle and easily carried around with a user for the user's benefit.

The terms “comprise” and “include”, and any variations thereof required for grammatical reasons, are to be considered as interchangeable and accorded the widest possible interpretation.

It will be understood that the components shown in any of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and, like parts shown in several drawings are designated the same reference numerals.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (15)

1. A hoist and stander apparatus comprising a boom mounting a jib; the boom being connected to a chassis, whereby the chassis comprises a pair of ground-engaging legs; the boom being pivotably connected to the jib and to the chassis so that the hoist and stander apparatus can be collapsed by rotating the jib relative to the boom and then rotating the boom and jib relative to the chassis so that the hoist and stander apparatus is collapsed.

2. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein jib nestles between the pair of ground-engaging legs when the hoist and stander apparatus is collapsed.

3. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the pair of ground-engaging legs are capable of being rotated from an inparallel position to a splayed open position.

4. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein hoist and stander apparatus comprises means for receiving a kneepad arm which is connected to a kneepad and said kneepad arm is used to retain the kneepad at a selected distance from the boom.

5. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for receiving a kneepad arm comprises at least one through hole which the kneepad arm passes through, and the kneepad arm comprises a plurality of indents which are each capable to receive a locking pin, such that the kneepad arm may be slid along the through hole to an approximate desired position and the locking pin may be inserted into the nearest indent to secure the knee pad arm at that selected position.

6. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding ciaim, wherein a footplate may be mounted intermediate the ground-engaging legs when the hoist and stander apparatus is to be used as a stand aid. - 17

7. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a position of the user relative to the hoist and stand aid apparatus when being hoisted is in front of free ends of the jib when the user is being hoisted and the user’s full body weight is supported by the hoist and stander apparatus.

8. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hoist and stander apparatus comprises castor wheels to allow the hoist and stander apparatus to be easily manoeuvred.

9. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hoist and stander apparatus comprises a coating of antimicrobial film.

10. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hoist and stander apparatus may be constructed of hollow metal tubing.

11. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hoist and stander apparatus comprises an actuator to raise and lower free ends of the jib relative to the chassis, and, the actuator is an electrically powered actuator.

12. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic ram.

13. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic ram.

14. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuator may be a motor positioned adjacent a jib pivot point at an upper end of the boom, so as to cause rotation of the jib relative to the boom about the jib pivot point.

15. A hoist and stand aid apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.