Reb Manufacturing Inc.

Melvin G Risner

Raymond L Smalley

William D Sherman

This concerns a wheelchair lift for a vehicle having upper and lower telescopic frames pivoted about an upper horizontal axis to swing out of the side of the vehicle. The lower telescopic frame is raised and lowered by sprocket chains connected around pulleys on a single hydraulic reciprocating motor anchored to the upper frame. A platform is horizontally pivoted to thelower telescopic frame for movement between a vertical and a horizontal position, either manually or by a separate reciprocating motor. The movement of the platform into its horizontal operating position also automatically swings the telescopic frames out from the side of the vehicle. The platform has pivoted along an orthogonal edge thereof a handrail which automatically raises from an inoperative position parallel to the platform when the platform is folded into its vertical inoperative position to an operative vertical position orthogonal to the platform when the platform is in its operative horizontal position. This motion is positively effected by an offset link connected between the base of the lower telescopic frame and a rotatable and axially slideable mounting axle of the handrail. Safety devices such as manual pump for the single lift hydraulic motor and locking slots on the ends of the cam for operating the handrail when in its operative position are also provided. An outer edge of the platform is provided with a ramp-barrier mechanism that acts as a ramp when the platform is in contact with the ground and the barrier when a platform is away from the ground.

Wheelchair lift with positive automatic handrail

The disclosure concerns steps interchangeable into a platform lift, such as for wheelchairs for vehicles. Such a convertible step lift comprises a frame mounted in a rectangular notched-out floor section, which frame comprises corner posts which also act as guides for up and down movement of the platform lift. The movable platform comprises three sections foldable into a lower step, a riser, and an upper step, which sections are pivoted on shafts along their adjacent edges. The pivot shaft for upper step section and riser also is connected to reciprocating motor means for raising and lowering the platform. Lever extensions are fixedly attached to the ends of the riser, which are pivotally connected to other reciprocating motor means which unfolds the riser from an acute angle under the upper step section into a position coplanar with the upper step and at the same time moves the lower step section horizontally outwardly and upwardly into the same coplane to form the platform. At the outer edge of the lower step section is another shaft to which a barrier plate and a ramp are pivoted and normally urged into their operative positions when the step sections are in platform position. The barrier is folded down by levers and links when the platform engages the ground. An additional lever connected to an end of the riser folds the ramp and the barrier into their inoperative positions when the sections are in their step position.

Step convertible platform lift

This disclosure concerns an automatic handrail for a platform lift which automatic handrail is pivoted along one side of the foldable platform along an axis perpendicular to that of the hinge of the platform for oscillating movement from an inoperative position parallel to the plane of the platform when the platform is in its vertical inoperative position, into a vertical operative position in a plane orthogonal to the plane of the platform when the platform is in its horizontal operative position. This movement of the handrail is affected by an oscillating cam arm anchored to the pivotal connection of the reciprocating motor for oscillating the platform, which cam arm engages a cam plate mounted on the side of the pivoted handrail. The handrail is normally urged into its inoperative position parallel to the plane of the platform by a resilient means. A stop may be provided for limiting the movement of the handrail into its vertical operative position.

Automatic handrail for platform lift

A hinged retainer barrier along an edge of a lift platform which normally is in its barrier position urged by a spring around the pivot of a secondary lever through links between the lever and the hinged barrier, which barrier is moved against the action of spring into its non-barrier position flat against the surface of the platform when the secondary lever engages the ground.

Lift platform retainer

A wheelchair lift such as for vehicles, comprising a stationary outer rectangular frame across the top of which swings an inner rectangular telescopic frame, the lower telescoping end of which has a foldable platform for the wheelchair. The inner frame swings out to clear the side of the vehicle, which swinging movement is limited by a pair of toggles that support a bridging platform between the lift platform and the floor of the vehicle. An electric motor-driven hydraulic pump, valve, and accumulator assembly provides the power for lifting the platform by telescoping the inner frame parts, and a valve in the hydraulic system damps the lowering of the platform. The folding of the platform from a vertical to a horizontal position and swinging of the inner frame may be done manually or by a separate reciprocating motor mounted on the upper telescopic frame.

Growing community of inventors

Carey, OH, United States of America

Melvin G Risner