Patent ID: 8635729

Claim:
A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface from a vehicle floor to an alighting surface, the ramp assembly comprising: (a) a ramp portion coupled for reciprocating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position, the ramp portion being rotatable about an axis associated with a first end of the ramp portion; (b) a support member for supporting the first end of the ramp portion; (c) a sensor configured to sense a predetermined position of the ramp portion; and (d) an actuator operably coupled to the ramp portion to drive the ramp portion through a first phase and a second phase of a deployment motion, wherein: (i) the first phase comprises the actuator rotating the ramp portion about the axis in a first direction, wherein the axis maintains a substantially fixed position; and (ii) the second phase comprises the actuator moving the axis in a downward direction, the ramp portion rotating about the axis in a second direction opposite the first direction during the second phase, wherein the actuator drives the ramp portion through the second phase if the ramp portion reaches the predetermined position during the first phase.