Ricon Corporation

Marlin J Freel

Gregory J Paquin

Howard E Burkett

Leonard L Rice

A vehicle mounted lift device for moving a wheelchair and its occupant to and from the bed of the vehicle includes a mounting apparatus fixed to the bed of the vehicle and a support assembly movably mounted to the mounting apparatus for being pivotally or translationally movable between a storage position and an outwardly extending operating position. The support assembly has a vertically stationary assembly which includes a pair of support posts, a lead screw mounted to each support post, a motive device for rotating the lead screws and a synchronizing apparatus interconnected so that the lead screws rotate at the same rate. The vertically stationary assembly also includes a safety flap apparatus to prevent inadvertent movement of the wheelchair from the vehicle through the access opening. The support assembly also has a vertically movable assembly which includes a coupling post interconnected to each lead screw and a foldable platform assembly pivotally connected between the coupling posts. As the lead screws are rotated the vertically movable assembly is raised or lowered. Switches prevent operation of the motive device when the support assembly is not in the operating position and when the vertically movable assembly is fully raised or fully lowered.

Growing community of inventors

San Dimas, CA, United States of America

Marlin J Freel