Braun Gmbh

Other

Russell G Antrim

Ronald W Goodrich

Alfred L Budd

Jacques M Dulin

James R Pierrou

Jeffrey J Hermanson

Ned W McCormick

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

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

An under floor lift comprising a horizontal, U-shaped header framework which is mountable between a vehicle axle and floor, and which reciprocatingly receives a nestable carriage comprising a second U-shaped framework. The carriage comprises a transverse motor mount plate and a pair of spaced, horizontal arms between which is received the lift platform. The platform is pivotably suspended, lifted and lowered by spaced pairs of parallelogram linkages pivotably secured at their outboard ends to the outboard end of the carriage side rails and at their inboard ends to the inboard end of the lift platform. The carriage is telescoped by a gear and chain mechanism from an inboard stowed position horizontally out to a transfer level deployed position. The wheelchair lift is moved by a hydraulic/chain drive downwardly and upwardly supported by the parallelogram arms to or from a ground level position, to permit the lift to be an in-swing, negative type lift. An automatically transitioning inboard bridge plate is pivoted to the platform, and during decent inclines and forms an inboard barrier. The bridge plate is slidably mounted on channels or rails which are in turn mounted on a support plate pivotably mounted to the outboard edge of the carriage motor mount plate. The combination of the bridge and support plate assembly provides excellent stability to the lift mechanism, essentially eliminating lateral sway way and the problems attendant thereto.

Under floor wheelchair lift

Growing community of inventors

Winamac, IN, United States of America

Russell G Antrim