Patent ID: 7171908

Claim:
A movable platform apparatus for a transit vehicle having at least an outer wall, said transit vehicle further having a door portal aperture formed through said at least outer wall, said door portal aperture having at least one door for at least partially covering and uncovering said door portal aperture, said transit vehicle additionally having a stairwell formed within a floor portion of said transit vehicle adjacent said door portal aperture, said stairwell having at least one step member, said movable platform apparatus for cooperating with a low stationary platform having a surface disposed horizontally at a height of under 14 inches from a ground level and with a high stationary platform having a surface disposed horizontally at a height greater than 14 inches from said ground level, said movable platform apparatus comprising: (a) a movable platform having a platform member including a nose portion, said movable platform further having a pair of support portions, each of said pair of support portions attached to each side of said platform member, said movable platform additionally having at least one pair of rolling members rotatably attached to each of said pair of said support portions; (b) a rack attached to one of said pair of said support portions; (c) a pinion engaging said rack; (d) a driving means coupled to said pinion, said driving means being one of a foot operated wheel disposed above said floor portion adjacent an interior wall structure of said transit vehicle and a hand operated wheel disposed at a predetermined distance above said floor portion, said hand wheel coupled to said pinion by a power transmission means, said power transmission means is selected from one of a chain, cable, and belt, said pinion has a predetermined configuration for coupling to said power transmission means; and (e) a pair of guide means disposed within said stairwell under said floor portion.