Abstract:
A canopy for a scooter lift may be used to protect items placed upon a lift at the rear of a car from the environment. The canopy may be retrofitted to an existing lift or may be an integral part of a lift. The canopy is supported by a frame and a series of ribs that fold out and an accordion type fashion. A zipper may be used to hold the canopy and a retracted position. Hooks may be included to attached the unfurled, open canopy to the platform of a lift.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/873,831 filed on Sep. 4, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Endeavor 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and systems for a scooter lift canopy. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for covering a scooter, wheelchair or the like when positioned on a lift attached to the rear of an automobile. 
     2. Background Information 
     It has become increasingly common for people with limited mobility to transport with them, a scooter, wheelchair, walker or similar device. For convenience, the scooter or other object is attached to a lift, which may be affixed to the rear of an automobile. Once attached to the lift, the lift raises the scooter off the ground and hold it securely during transportation. However, because the scooter is outside the automobile. It is exposed to the elements. As a result, it may become wet or may be damaged by debris. In addition, extensive exposure to sunlight, and the elements causes undue wear upon the device. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide additional protection to a scooter located on a lift on the rear of a vehicle. It is therefore desirable to provide a secure and effective means of covering and protecting a scooter during transportation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for covering and protecting a scooter attached to a lift at the rear of the vehicle. 
     In greater detail, a canopy may include a frame connecting bars and connecting plates, and a plurality of ribs all rotatable about a pivot point. The pivot point are at the base of the frame and the plurality of U-shaped ribs rotate about them. The material of which the canopy is composed is attached to the ribs and folds out over the lift and lift platform. In this manner, it covers any object on the lift. Hooks or other devices may be used to attach the opened canopy to the platform to hold it in place. While it is open. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a canopy for covering items placed on a scooter lift. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a scooter lift of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a scooter lift of the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a scooter lift canopy frame in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a canopy frame attached to a scooter lift in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a scooter lift canopy attached to a scooter lift in the up position in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a scooter lift canopy attached to a scooter lift in the down position in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an environmental view of an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Disclosed is a retractable canopy that may fold in an accordion style fashion when not in use. The canopy, as explained herein may generally be described as a canopy or cover for a scooter, wheelchair or similar object on a lift located externally of and attached to a vehicle such as a car, bus, truck or van. However, it may also cover other objects. The canopy may be attached to a frame which may be built integrally with a lift or may be retrofitted onto existing lifts. For convenience and simplicity, the invention is often referred to herein in relation to a scooter lift. However, this term refers generally to a scooter lift, a wheelchair lift or to any lift fitted externally to an object such as a vehicle. The vehicle may be a car, truck, van, bus, or even a boat, helicopter or any device for transportation. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a scooter lift  10  of the prior art. The lift  10  may include a hitch mount  12  for removable attachment to a trailer hitch receiver on an automobile. The hitch mount  12  may be designed for compatibility with any particular trailer hitch receiver that may suitably support wheelchair lift  10 . The hitch mount  12  may be in secured and/or adjustably connected to a bracket  18 . The bracket  18  is connected to an elongate body  14 . An elevator arm  17  may extend downward from the body  14  and may telescope into and out of the body  14  in order to increase and decrease the distance of base  15  and platform  16  from the ground. 
     To place a scooter or wheelchair on the platform  16 , the platform may be lowered to the ground by extending elevator arm  17  out of the body  14  until the platform  16  is flush with the ground. Once the device is secured to the platform  16 , the elevator arm  17  may be retracted such that the platform  16  is elevated to a position sufficiently high for safe transport. When the vehicle arrives at its destination, the platform  16  may be lowered by extending the elevator arm  17  until the platform  16  is flush with the ground. The raising and lowering of the elevator arm  17  may be controlled by manipulating various knobs, buttons, levers and the like on the control box  19 . 
     The platform  16  may be pivotally connected to the base  15 . Platform  16  may be pivoted through about 90° from a horizontal position perpendicular to the body  14  as shown in  FIG. 1  to a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 2  parallel to the body  14 . The platform  16  may be locked into each of these positions by any method known in the art. 
       FIG. 3  shows a canopy frame  20  that includes a beam  21 , two lateral rods  20  and two support arms  24 . The support arms  24  each extend from the lateral rods  20  and have a mounting point  22 . In this embodiment, the mounting points are round or elliptical plates having holes for accommodating the use of nuts and bolts to attach the mounting points to an elevator arm of a scooter lift. 
       FIG. 4  shows the frame  21  of  FIG. 3  attached to the scooter lift  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The mounting points  22  may be attached to the base  15 , to the body  14  or to the elevator arm  17 . Optionally, it may be desirable to attach the frame to the bracket  18 . This may allow the frame  22  to be secured to the lift  10  without getting in the way of or interfering with the other components of the lift  10 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a canopy frame  21  with three folding arms  34  attached at a pivot point  36  located on the lateral rod  20 . The folding arms  34  may pivot or rotate about the pivot point  36  such that they may fold out. A sheet  30  may be attached to the frame and the folding arms  34 . The folding arms  34  may be extended from the frame  20  in an accordion style, similar to some awnings. Together, the canopy frame  20 , the folding arms  34 , pivot point  36 , and sheet  30 , may form a scooter lift canopy  27  in accordance with the principles of the invention. When the canopy  27  is mounted on a scooter lift, the folding arms may be extended such that an object resting upon the platform  16  will be covered by the canopy sheet  30 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show a scooter lift canopy  27  attached to an elevator arm  17  of a scooter lift  10 . The mounting points  22 , here comprising plates that may facilitate attachment to the elevator arm  17  by means of nuts and bolts, screws, rivets, lynch pins or the like. Optionally, the mounting points  22  may be configured to attach by other mechanisms known in the art. The mounting points may preferably be secured such that the frame  21  is held in place stationary.  FIG. 6  shows the lift  10  having the platform  16  in the up position. Here, the top of the frame  21  and beam  23  are above the control box  19  and the folding arms may be easily unfolded and the canopy may be extended. 
       FIG. 7  shows the lift  10  in the down position with the platform lowered. In this configuration, the canopy may not be opened because the body  14  and control box  19  of the lift  10  hold the canopy in the closed position. This may be advantageous and simplify loading of a scooter or other device on the lift  10 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of a scooter lift canopy  50  in accordance with the principles of the invention. The canopy  50  includes a canopy sheet  52  having a window  54 . Zipper components  56  and  58  may also be seen. Inclusion of these zipper components may facilitate folding the canopy  50  and holding in the closed position. 
       FIG. 9  show the scooter lift canopy  50  from a different perspective. Zipper component  58  may be seen to extend across the length of the canopy  52 . A bungee cord  60  may be used to hold the canopy sheet  52  securely to a platform of a scooter lift and prevent it from flying up during transport. 
       FIG. 10  shows the canopy  50  on the swing arm  64  of an SUV. Bungees cords  60  hold the sheet  52  down securely.  FIG. 11  shows the beam  68 , lateral arms  70  and support arms  72  of the alternative embodiment of the canopy  60 .  FIG. 12  shows the canopy  50  zipped together at zip components  56  and  58 . The body  80  and platform  88  of the scooter lift may be seen. 
     Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of the embodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting or defining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claims unless such is explicitly indicated. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.