Patent ID: 6599079
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A61G,Y10S

Abstract:
A wheelchair lift for use in conjunction with a vehicle having a floor, comprising:a lifting frame mountable to the floor of the vehicle; a hydraulic cylinder actuator operable with the lifting frame; a lifting arm/platform assembly, comprising: at least one lifting arm having a first end pivotally coupled to said lifting frame and a second end connected to said platform and adapted to pivot said platform between a substantially vertical stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position with the hydraulic cylinder actuator; a post extending from said lifting arm/platform assembly; and a locking assembly coupled to the lifting frame and further comprising: a lever arm pivotably coupled to said lifting frame, wherein positioning the platform to the substantially vertical stowed position causes disengagement of the post and the lever arm; a gas spring extending between said lever arm and said lifting frame and operating to resist pivoting of said lever arm in a first direction; and a mechanical spring extending between said lever arm and said lifting frame and exerting a biasing force operating to pivot said lever arm in the first direction to engage said post in opposition to the gas spring; wherein drift of the hydraulic cylinder actuator pivoting said platform from the vertical stowed position engages said post with said lever arm by allowing the mechanical spring to operate in opposition to the gas spring.