Braun Gmbh

Alfred L Budd

James R Pierrou

Barry E Wolff

James Robert Dupuy

Jeffrey J Hermanson

Russell G Antrim

Ronald W Goodrich

Jacques M Dulin

Edward A Czech

Ned W McCormick

Jeffery J Hermanson

A manually operated ramp assembly includes a ramp platform and a drive assembly. The ramp platform is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and the drive assembly is coupled to and affords movement of the ramp platform. A shaft extends away from the drive assembly and defines a shaft axis. The shaft is coupled to the drive assembly to cause movement of the ramp platform between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis. A handle is disposed at a distal end of the shaft for manual rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis. A biasing member biases the ramp platform toward the stowed position.

Manually-operated ramp for handicapped access

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the liftplatform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

Dual function inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the lift platform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier' to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

A wheelchair lift having a foldable platform including a first platform portion foldably coupled to a second platform portion, a lifting frame, at least one lifting arm with one end pivotally coupled to the lifting frame and the other end connected to the second platform portion and adapted to pivot the lifting arm between a substantially vertical stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position. A post extends from the lifting arm and a locking assembly is pivotably coupled to the lifting frame. The locking assembly includes a lever arm pivotably coupled to the lifting frame, a gas spring extending between the lever arm and the lifting frame which operates to resist pivoting of the lever arm, and a mechanical spring extending between the lever arm and the lifting frame which exerts a biasing force operating to pivot the lever arm to engage the post. Pivoting the lifting arm to the deployed position actuates unfolding the platform, while pivoting the lifting arm to the stowed position actuates folding the platform and engages the post with the lever arm.

Apparatus for locking a wheelchair lift in the stowed position

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the lift platform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

Multipanel rollstops mountable on the outboard end of a wheelchair lift platform in which at least one upper panel of the rollstop folds down or telescopes to reduce the rollstop profile for stowage. Preferred embodiments include bifold, trifold or telescoping rollstops for underfloor or under vehicle lifts. In the extended multipanel position, rollstops of the invention provide increased rollstop height and occupant security in the intermediate and transfer positions of the lift as compared to non-folding or telescoping rollstops of the same stowage profile. The folding of telescoping of the rollstop is automatic upon lift stowage. In a preferred embodiment, the rollstop upper panel is folded or unfolded by a direction-reversing mechanical actuator through a contact arm which engages structure of the lift or stowage compartment, and operates automatically without requiring operator intervention. In the unfolded, deployed safety barrier configuration the top edge of the rollstops of the invention extend at least 7&Prime; above the platform, which is the critical minimum to stop a runaway wheelchair event.

Multi-panel platform rollstops for wheelchair lift

A safety barrier for wheelchair lifts is disclosed, and more particularly a safety barrier assembly which can be used singly or in opposed pairs to open automatically and mechanically in cafe-style, rotating 90.degree. from a first closed or barrier position to a second, open, pass-through position. More particularly, these barriers may be used as barriers on wheelchair lift platforms or at the door opening of a van or transit vehicles on which a wheelchair lift is mounted. The barriers typically are shaped like the letter P with the lower most barrier member being spaced from twelve inches to two feet above the floor, and which are designed to prevent wheelchairs from rolling out of the van when the platform has left the transfer level (vehicle floor), and as a safety barrier in the case of runaway wheelchair events. The preferred embodiment of the gate is mounted to a pivotal cam slot/bias spring assembly which provides for stable open and shut positions with spring/gravity assisted closure. The preferred embodiment also includes a safety interlock switch circuit which prevents lift platform motion when the gate barrier is open.

Pivoting safety barrier for wheelchair lift

Improvement in wheelchair lifts generally of the dual hydraulic parallelogram type employing a lever arm assembly which assists in the rotation of the platform from the stowed position to the horizontal deployed position, by providing a gas spring disposed in the lever arm assembly connected at an outboard end to the lifting mechanism link and at an inboard end to at least one of the A arm, the B arm or the common pivot pin of the lever arm assembly. The outward force of the gas spring causes the sliding shoe of the lever arm assembly to maintain contact with the outer face of the lower link of the lifting parallelogram so that upon deployment of the lift during the gravity down phase from stowed position to horizontal transfer position, the inboard end of the platform is pulled up so that it rotates smoothly and is not subjected to free fall. This lever arm follower force member can be used alone or in conjunction with a deployment assist gas spring disposed in the lifting parallelogram, alone or in combination with 'reverse' type torsion springs disposed in one or more of the common pivot in the lever arm assembly or a pivot in the lifting assembly.

Wheelchair lift platform having internal gas spring deployment from

A wheelchair platform free fall control system comprising use of a tension means, such as at least one spring, biasing together the long and short arms of a lever arm assembly that keeps the lever arm slide block in contact with a lifting arm during gravity-down deployment of said platform from an over-vertical stowed position to a horizontal transfer position. A compression means may be used in conjunction with the lifting arm assembly to assist in overcoming the resting momentum of the lift platform mass from over-vertical outwardly until gravity takes over. The tension means may be one or more springs and the compression means may be a gas spring. The forces are preselected to provide lifting assembly over-vertical assist while keeping the sliding block in substantial contact with an arm of the lifting assembly. The springs can be used with a stud/slot interlock. Torsion springs are preferably eliminated.

Spring assist system for gravity deployment of stowed platform

A semi-ambulatory companion seating system including a base unit assembly, a carriage assembly, and a pivotable seat support assembly. The base unit assembly includes spaced apart side rails, each having an external and an internal track. Each of the internal tracks are generally horizontal throughout, and each of the external tracks has a generally horizontal section terminating in an inclined section. The carriage subassembly includes a generally rectangular framework having six rollers to move the carriage on the internal and external tracks. Four rollers are guided in the internal tracks. Two rollers, mounted on an outrigger disposed along the inboard end of the carriage assembly, are guided in the external tracks. The outboard end of the carriage assembly includes an axle bushing for receiving an axle of the pivotable seat support assembly mounted thereon. The seat assembly includes a seat base box-plate assembly having holes aligned to receive the bolts of a standard vehicle seat. A latch assembly is attached to the underside of the seat base box-plate to engage the seat support assembly in either a forward facing position or an outboard facing position. In use, the seat assembly is rotated in either a powered or manual manner. The latch assembly also includes a means for engaging an interlock switch so that the seat may not be moved laterally outboard until the seat is positively engaged in the outboard facing position. The carriage is then powered in a lateral outboard motion by following the horizontal track sections. As the rollers engage the inclined section of the external tracks, the carriage inboard end rises while the carriage simultaneously pivots on the midpoint rollers so that the carriage outboard end dips downwardly. The carriage continues in a laterally outboard and downwardly tilted motion to place the passenger in a feet-on-the-ground position. On entry of the vehicle, these motions are reversed.

Growing community of inventors

Winamac, IN, United States of America

Alfred L Budd