Patent ID: 6077025
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
A safety gate for a vehicle-mounted wheelchair lift, said lift having a lifting mechanism mounted to said vehicle in association with a doorway of said vehicle, said doorway having a first and a second side, and said lift having a platform movable between a lowered level and a transfer level at said doorway adjacent the vehicle floor inboard of said platform, said platform at said transfer level in association with said doorway defining a vehicle entry/exit passageway having a generally horizontal central axis, said safety gate comprising in operative combination:a) a gate assembly including at least one gate member mountable in association with said doorway to be movable between a first, closed barrier position generally transverse to said passageway axis to a second, open position generally parallel to said passageway axis;b) said gate assembly includes a stop mechanism to selectively permit said gate member to be opened inwardly into the interior of said vehicle, and to prevent opening said gate member outwardly toward said lift platform; andc) said gate member includes at least one barrier arm member positioned in said barrier position at an elevation above said vehicle floor a height between about ankle height to knee height relative to an occupant in a wheelchair positioned on said vehicle floor adjacent said doorway to provide a safety barrier against accidental roll-out of said wheelchair and occupant when said lift platform is away from said transfer level.