Patent ID: 8132281

Claim:
A ramp assembly for a 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; (b) a panel; a first end of the panel being rotatably coupled to a first end of the ramp portion about an axis; (c) a support member for supporting the first end of the panel; (d) a link rotatable about a first end, a second end of the link being operably coupled to the ramp portion; and (e) an actuator operably coupled to the link to rotate the link about the first end, rotation of the link driving the ramp portion through a first phase and a second phase of a deployment motion, wherein: (i) the first phase comprises the link rotating the ramp portion about the axis, wherein the axis maintains a substantially fixed position; and (ii) the second phase comprises the link moving the axis in a downward direction, wherein the second phase is subsequent to the first phase.