Patent ID: 6179546
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
A vehicle comprising an undercarriage and a wheelchair lift attached to the undercarriage, the lift comprising:an elongate horizontal support member pivotally attached to the undercarriage to swing in a substantially horizontal plane between a storage position below the undercarriage and a operating position extending outwardly from the vehicle;first and second connecting links pivotally connected to the horizontal support member at a first pair of pivot points whereby said first and second connecting links can swing upwardly and downwardly about said pivot points, said first pair of pivot points horizontally spaced along the elongate horizontal support member;a wheelchair platform having an inboard end, an outboard end, and a pair of sides, the wheelchair platform connected to the first and second connecting links at a second pair of horizontally spaced pivot points, said second pair of pivot points positioned on one of the sides of the wheelchair platform with one of the second pair of pivot points positioned adjacent the inboard end and the other positioned adjacent the outboard end, the wheelchair platform, the first and second connecting links, and the elongate horizontal support member forming a four-bar linkage whereby when the elongate horizontal support member is in the operating position the wheelchair platform is raiseable and lowerable between a raised position whereby the connecting links are directed upwardly from the first pivot points, through an intermediate position whereby the connecting links are substantially horizontal and a lowered position wherein the connecting links are directed downward from the pivot points, a first bell crank fixedly connected to said first connecting link and positioned opposite the first and second connecting links with respect to the elongate horizontal support member; anda powered cylinder connected between said bell crank and the horizontal support member, the powered cylinder extending along the elongate horizontal support member, whereby said first connecting link is powered.