Abstract:
A vehicular wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier for physically blocking a wheelchair from inadvertently rolling off a platform of the wheelchair lift during use. The power safety barrier utilizes a linkage mechanism to open or close a roll stop. The linkage mechanism includes a pair of linkage bars and a flexible linkage member to mechanically connect the roll stop to a power actuating device. The roll stop is pivotably mounted to an outer end of the platform. The roll stop is required to open and close relative to the platform according to the relative platform positions. When the platform is in the ground position, the roll stop is opened substantially in a horizontal plane and is an extension of the platform for unloading the wheelchair. In the powered control aspects, during the wheelchair lift transition period when platform is off the ground position, the roll stop is actuated to the closed position before the wheelchair lift can be operated. Reversely, during the wheelchair lift transition period when the platform is lowered to the ground, the roll stop cannot be actuated to the open position until the platform has reached the ground position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of vehicular wheelchair lifts for persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of vehicular wheelchair lifts with an automatic safety barrier for preventing a wheelchair from inadvertently rolling off a platform of the wheelchair lift in the boarding and exiting of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Vehicular wheelchair lifts are widely utilized to assist persons in wheelchairs to enter and exit vehicles. These lifts typically have a platform for transporting an occupied wheelchair, where the platform can be raised and lowered between a loading position at the ground level outside a vehicle and an entry position at the floor level inside the vehicle, and a safety barrier connected to an outer end of the platform for preventing a wheelchair from inadvertently rolling off the platform during use of the wheelchair lift. 
     While many of the prior art safety barriers have accomplished in minimizing the risk for injury to users of the wheelchair lifts on which they are installed, a need has developed for even greater security in this respect. Many prior art barriers currently in use are subject to the possibility that they may not always be operative by both power and manual controls. Some prior art safety barriers are not strong enough to positively assure against accident and resultant injury. These safety barriers stop to prevent objects from sliding or rolling off the lifts and are well known as disclosed in the following prior art patents below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,250 issued to Fretwell et al. on Sep. 17, 1996 discloses a wheelchair lift with a power roll stop actuated by a separate motor drive mechanism. If power or the motor becomes inoperable by any reason, disassembly some linkage parts in the motor drive mechanism is a must in order to, manually open and close the roll stop. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,130 issued to Rohrs et al. on Nov. 7, 1978 discloses a wheelchair lift with a safety barrier. The safety barrier is not power controlled. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,936 issued to Rhea on Aug. 20, 1991 discloses a wheelchair lift with a foldable safety barrier. The safety barrier is not power controlled. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,128 issued to Thorley et al. on Dec. 3, 1985 discloses a wheelchair lift with a power safety barrier. The safety barrier is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder. If the hydraulic power or any element becomes inoperable, the safety barrier cannot be opened and closed manually. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,342 issued to Hall et al. on Aug. 8, 1995 discloses a platform wheelchair lift with a safety barrier actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is driven by a hydraulic cyliner. The barrier cannot be opened and closed manually in the event of a power failure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,921 issued to Sherman on Apr. 17, 1984 discloses a wheelchair platform lift with a safety barrier. The barrier is actuated by a barrier pivotal latch mechanism without power control. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,135 issued to Stoen et al. on Mar. 28, 1995 discloses a wheelchair lift with a safety barrier. The barrier opens and closes by a barrier pivotal latch mechanism without power control. 
     It is desirable to provide a wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier for facilitating the entrance and exit of persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility into or from a vehicle which significantly improves the safety of the wheelchair lift. It is also desirable to provide a wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier which eliminates risks attributable to a wheelchair inadvertently rolling off a platform of the wheelchair lift during use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a vehicular wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier for physically blocking a wheelchair from inadvertently rolling off a platform of the wheelchair lift during use. The power safety barrier utilizes a linkage mechanism for lowering or raising a roll stop. The linkage mechanism includes a pair of linkage bars and a flexible linkage member to mechanically connect the roll stop to a power actuating means, such as a motor drive assembly. 
     Specifically, the roll stop is pivotably mounted at an outer end of the platform of the vehicular wheelchair lift. The roll stop is required to open and close relative to the platform according to the relative platform positions. The wheelchair lift usually has three interval lift positions which includes a stowed position, an entry position in which the platform has reached a vehicle floor level, and a ground position. In the entry position and between the entry and ground positions, the roll stop is in a closed position substantially vertical to the platform for loading a wheelchair. When the platform is in the ground position, the roll stop is opened substantially in a horizontal plane and relatively coplanar to the platform and is an extension of the platform for unloading the wheelchair. 
     In the powered control aspects, during the wheelchair lift transition period when the platform is off the ground position, the roll stop is actuated to the closed position before the wheelchair lift can be operated. Reversely, during the wheelchair lift transition period when the platform is lowered to the ground, the roll stop cannot be actuated to the open position until the platform has reached the ground position. 
     The unique feature of the present invention is that, unlike the prior art safety barriers, the present invention safety barrier can be operated in either an automatic powered control mode or manual control mode under the same simple structure. No additional parts are required to be added to the structure to perform both modes. In addition, there is no need to further assemble or disassemble the linkage mechanism in the structure from one control mode (such as power control) to the other (such as manual control). 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier which automatically opens and closes a roll stop relative to a platform of the wheelchair lift according to the relative platform positions. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier which can be operated in either an automatic powered control mode or manual control mode under the same simple structure. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicular wheelchair lift with a power controlled safety barrier which includes a linkage mechanism having a pair of linkage bars and a flexible linkage member to mechanically connect the roll stop to a power actuating means for opening or closing the roll stop. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wheelchair lift wherein the present invention power controlled safety barrier can be incorporated thereto; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a platform of a wheelchair lift, showing the present invention power controlled safety barrier incorporated thereto, with a roll stop in an opened position; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the platform of the wheelchair lift, showing the present invention power controlled safety barrier incorporated thereto, with the roll stop in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one side of the platform, with the roll stop in the opened position; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the same side of the platform shown in FIG. 7, with the roll stop in the closed position; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a motor drive assembly; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the other side of the platform, with the roll stop in the opened position; and 
     FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the same other side of the platform shown in FIG. 10, with the roll stop in the closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at  2  a conventional wheelchair lift which comprises a platform  22  located in a ground position with an outer roll stop  50  fully opened. Two opposite side panels  80  and  180  are relatively mounted on opposite sides of the platform  22  to prevent a wheelchair from rolling off the sides of the platform  22 . The platform  22  can be lifted upwardly and downwardly among a stowed position (not shown), an entry position (not shown) and the ground position by a pair of opposite hydraulic actuators  190  and  290  mounted on two relative parallelogram linkage structures  200  and  300 . The wheelchair lift  2  can be adapted to have the present invention power controlled safety barrier or power roll stop. It will be appreciated that the present invention power controlled safety barrier can be applied to many other kinds of wheelchair lifts which require the outer roll stop  50 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts the platform  22  incorporated with the present invention power controlled safety barrier or power roll stop  10 , wherein the safety barrier or roll stop  50  is in an opened position. FIG. 6 depicts the platform  22  incorporated with the present invention power roll stop  10 , wherein the roll stop  50  is in a closed position. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the power roll stop  10  comprises a motor drive assembly  14 , a linkage mechanism  28 , and a safety barrier or roll stop  50 . The power roll stop  10  can be used in conjunction with and mounted within the wheelchair lift  2  (see FIG. 1) which comprises the platform  22  having an outer edge  26 . The platform  22  has a build-in disc type small enclosure  25  located on one side of the platform  22  to accommodate the motor drive assembly  14  which powers the power roll stop  10 . A top cover (not shown) is provided for covering the enclosure  25  and coplanar to an upper surface of the platform  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  6  and  9 , the motor drive assembly  14  comprises a motor bracket  24  which is mounted in the enclosure  25 , an electrical motor  16  mounted on the bracket  24 , a driving gear  18  rotatably mounted on a driving shaft of the motor  16 , and a driven gear  20  rotatably mounted on the motor bracket  24 . Each gear has teeth for engaging with each other. The driving gear  18  and driven gear  20  have formed a required output torque and speed. A radial groove type opening  12  is provided on the driven gear  20  to define a rotation range for the driven gear  20 . A stop roller on stud  15  fixed on the motor bracket  24  and is adapted to receive within the radial groove opening  12  to terminate the rotational movement of the driven gear  20  when the stop roller  15  engages ends  17  and  19  formed on the groove opening  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , the linkage mechanism  28  is mounted within one side mounting frame bar  42  of the platform  22 . The linkage mechanism  28  comprises an elongated proximal linkage bar  30 , an elongated distal linkage bar  35 , and a flexible linkage member  60 , preferably a spring. The proximal  30  and distal  35  linkage bars are pivotaly connected at their respective adjacent ends  34  and  32  by a lockable pin means  40 , and substantially extended horizontally on their other ends  37  and  39 . The linkage bar  35  is located above the side mounting frame bar  42  of the platform  22 , where the inner end  32  extends inside of the side mounting frame bar  42  through a slot opening  54  formed on top of the side mounting frame bar  42  to pivotally connect to the outer end  34  of the proximal linkage bar  30 . The outer end  39  is pivotally connected to a fixed anchor  66  which is mounted on and projected outwardly from the roll stop  50  (see FIGS.  2  and  6 ). The proximal linkage bar  30  is mounted inside of the side mounting frame bar  42  and is slidably received within a guide bushing  55  which is fixed relative to an inner wall of the side mounting frame bar  42  by a pair of brackets  56  and  58  (see FIGS.  2  and  5 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  4  and  9 , the flexible spring  60  is connected between the motor drive assembly  14  and the two linkage bars  30  and  35 . The flexible spring  60  is designed and manufactured in a certain way so that it is rigid enough to transfer the thrust force from the motor drive assembly  14  to the linkage bars  30  and  35  to move the roll stop  50  to the closed or opened position. The two opposite ends of the flexible spring  60  are respectively connected to a thumb shaped projected portion  62  on the driven gear  20  and the inner end  37  of the proximal linkage bar  30  through an “” shaped bracket  64 . 
     In the power controlled mode, the motor  16  is activated to move the driving gear  18  which in turn rotates the driven gear  20  in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction for moving the roll stop  50  between an open and closed position. As one embodiment presented here, the driven gear  20  rotates clockwise to activate the flexible spring  60  which in turn pulls the linkage bars  30  and  35  for moving the roll stop  50  to the closed position (see FIGS.  6  and  8 ). The opening  12  on the driven gear  20  is configured in such a way that when the driven gear  20  stops at end  19  of the opening  12  during the clockwise rotation, the roll stop  50  is in the fully closed position which is usually substantially vertical to the platform  22 . When the roll stop  50  is closed, it is preferred that the flexible spring  60  is in its nominal length as to have the least thrust force applied on the linkage bars  30 ,  35  and the roll stop  50  in the open direction. It is preferable not to have the excessive force in the power roll stop system to open the roll stop  50  while it is in the closed position. On the other hand, when the driven gear  20  rotates counter-clockwise, it stops at end  17  on the radial groove opening  12  to more the roll stop  50  to the fully open position which is substantially horizontal and is to be an extension of the platform  22 . In this position, it is required that the flexible spring  60  is compressed until ideally bent towards the interior side of the platform  22 . In order to do that, the spring  60 , the radial groove opening  12  and the thumb portion  62  on the driven gear  20  need to be properly designed and mounted. By this arrangement, the flexible spring  50  exerts a moderate amount of thrust force applied to the linkage bar  30 ,  35  and the roll stop  50  in the open direction. 
     More details of the flexible member  60  in the present invention will be discussed below. In general, this element  60  should be rigid enough to enable it to transfer forces between the actuating means  14  and the linkage members  30  and  35  for opening and closing the roll stop  50  under the normal power operation. However, the element  60  should have enough flexibility to be extendible if the manual operation is required in some situations such as backup operations for the power failure. As one embodiment in this invention, an extension spring  60  is utilized which makes it possible for the roll stop  50  to be operational by both power and manual controls. The spring  60  (shown in the FIG. 6) is preferred to be in its nominal length or may be slightly extended while the roll stop  50  is in the fully closed position which allows extension of the spring  60  to more the roll stop  50  to the opened position under a manual force. In the fully opened position shown in the FIG.  2 ), the spring  50  is bent in order to facilitate the movement of the roll stop  50  to the closed position by manual operation, in which the spring  60  may be further bent. Although many conventional spring means can be used, by way of example only, the flexible spring  60  may be an extension spring, part number S-599, commercially available from Century Spring Corporation located in Los Angeles. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7,  8 ,  10 , and  11 , to ensure the roll stop  50  is locked in the fully closed position as described above, additional mechanical locking mechanisms are relatively mounted on both outer front ends of the side mounting frame bars  42  and  142 . Two opposite mechanical locking mechanisms are provided located respectively in the front end of the side mounting frame bars  42  and  142 . Since those two locking mechanisms are substantially identical, only one will be described in detail. 
     The locking mechanism in the side mounting frame bar  42  comprises a ski member  70  which is spring loaded and pivotally mounted on the front end of the side mounting frame bar  42  and a latch foot  52  which is fixed on the roll stop  50 . When the roll stop  50  is in the fully closed position, it is automatically locked by the ski member  70 , which latches to the latch foot  52  (see FIG.  8 ), where the lower side of the ski member  70  forms a ski plate  72  maintained in a download acute angle relative to the horizontal plane during the lift&#39;s loading operation. 
     When the platform  22  of the wheelchair lift has reached the ground position, the ski plate  72  of the ski member  70  contacts the ground first and pivot counter-clockwisely to the horizontal plane as to unlock the ski member  70  form the latch foot  52  so that it allows the roll stop  50  to unlock first and then rotate to the fully opened position under the normal power controlled operation described previously. 
     Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, it shows the other side of the platform  22  of the wheelchair lift  2 , where another ski member  170  is located on the side mounting frame bar  142  and latches to the latch foot  152  to lock the roll stop  50  in the closed position. As a safety feature, an electric control means is provided to conditionally activate the power for the motor means of the roll stop system and the power source of the whole lift upon the positions of the platform so that the power operations of the lift and the roll stop will be sequentially controlled and will not interfere with each other. For the electric control functions, there are two position limit switches  74  and  76  located adjacent to the ski member  170 . The position limit switch  74  is to control the motor drive assembly  14 . The position limit switch  76  is to control the lift motor control. Generally, these two limit switches  74  and  76  are connected to a main lift electrical control circuit (not shown) and mechanically should not be actuated at the same time to avoid the motion interference. In this arrangement, the switch  74  is positioned in such a way that it may be actuated only when the platform  22  has reached the ground position. The switch  76  is positioned in a way that it may be actuated only when the roll top  50  is in the fully closed position. More specifically, in the fully closed position shown in the FIG. 11, the lift can be operated but the roll stop  50  is unable to move under the power controlled mode. Referring to FIG. 10, when the lift has reached the ground position, the roll stop  50  is able to move by the motor drive assembly  14  while the lift operation is disabled. By this arrangement, the lift&#39;s electric sequential control is fully implemented and the safety features are accomplished in the present invention. 
     In general, the manual control for the power roll stop  10  is not necessary unless an emergency situation occurs such as the power or the motor drive assembly  14  becomes inoperable. To manually open the roll stop  50  (assuming it is from the fully closed position), pivot the ski members  70  and  170  upwardly to release the mechanical locking mechanism between the ski members  70  and  170  and the latch feet  52  and  52  and then naturally rotate the roll stop  50  to the open position. One should realize that the roll stop  50  will be automatically closed upon releasing the manual force from the roll stop  50  because of spring loaded functions designed in the roll stop  52 , the ski members  70  and  170 , and the spring linkage member  60 . One of the unique features of the present invention power controlled safety barrier is that due to the spring member  60 , no additional parts, tools or other assembling, disassembling operations are required in the manual operation. 
     Defined in detail, the present invention is a wheelchair lift, comprising: (a) a platform having an outer entrance edge; (b) a roll stop pivotably connected on the outer edge of the platform, where the roll stop is moveable between an opened position when the platform engages the ground for permitting movement of the wheelchair over the roll stop and across the platform edge, and a closed position for physically blocking movement of the wheelchair across the platform edge when the platform is away from the ground; (c) a linkage mechanism including an elongated distal linkage bar, an elongated proximal linkage bar, and a flexible spring member, the proximal and distal linkage bars pivotally coupled to each other at adjacent ends, the free end of the distal linkage bar pivotally coupled to the roll stop, and the free end of the proximal linkage bar connected to the flexible spring member; (d) a motor drive assembly including a motor, a driving gear electrically coupled to the motor, and a driven gear engaged with the driving gear and connected to the other end of the flexible spring member, such that when the motor is actuated, the motor rotates the driving gear which in turn rotates the driven gear to activate the flexible spring member which in turn moves the linkage bars away from the motor drive assembly to open the roll stop in the opened position, or to close the roll stop in the closed position; and (e) means for maintaining the roll stop in its closed position when the platform is raised or lowered. 
     Defined broadly, the present invention is a platform safety barrier used in conjunction with a wheelchair lift for preventing a wheelchair from inadvertent movement across an outer edge of the platform, the barrier comprising: (a) a roll stop pivotable on the outer edge of the platform, where the roll stop is moveable between an opened position when the platform engages the ground for permitting movement of the wheelchair over the roll stop and across the platform edge, and a closed position for physically blocking movement of the wheelchair across the platform edge when the platform is away from the ground; (b) a linkage mechanism including a distal linkage bar, a proximal linkage bar, and a flexible spring means, the proximal and distal linkage bars pivotally coupled to the roll stop, and the free end of the proximal linkage bar connected to the flexible spring means; (c) a motor drive assembly including a motor, a driving gear coupled to the motor, and a driven gear engaged with the driving gear and connected to the other end of the flexible spring means, such that when the motor is actuated, it rotates the driving gear which in turn rotates the driven gear to activate the flexible spring means which in turn moves the linkage bars away from the motor drive assembly to open the roll stop in the opened position, or moves the linkage bars away from the roll stop to close the roll stop in the closed position; and (d) means for maintaining the roll stop in its closed position when the platform is raised or lowered. 
     Defined more broadly, the present invention is a platform safety barrier used in conjunction with a wheelchair lift for preventing a wheelchair from inadvertent movement across an outer edge of the platform, the barrier comprising: (a) a roll stop means pivotably mounted on the outer edge of the platform, where the roll stop means is moveable between an opened position when the platform engages the ground for permitting movement of the wheelchair over the roll stop means and across the platform edge, and a closed position for physically blocking movement of the wheelchair across the platform edge when the platform is away from the ground; (b) a linkage mechanism including a pair of linkage members pivotally coupled to each other at adjacent ends and a flexible linkage member, the free end of the one of the pair of linkage members pivotally coupled to the roll top means, the free end of the other one of the pair of linkage members connected to the flexible linkage member; and (c) an actuating means connected to the other end of the flexible linkage member such that when the actuating means activates the flexible linkage member, the roll stop means moves to the opened position or to the closed position. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a platform safety barrier used in conjunction with a wheelchair lift for preventing a wheelchair from inadvertent movement across an outer edge of the platform, the barrier comprising: (a) a roll stop means pivotally mounted on the outer edge of the platform and moveable between an opened position and a closed position; (b) an actuating means; and (c) a linkage mechanism connecting the actuating means and the roll stop means, the linkage mechanism includes a flexible linkage member for permitting both powered and manual operations of the roll stop means between the opened and closed positions. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment disclosed herein, or any specific use, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus shown in intended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which the present invention might be embodied or operated. 
     The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing fully public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be grated.