Patent ID: 6862768

Claim:
An overhead adjustable support system for use with an aircraft passenger boarding bridge, the aircraft passenger boarding bridge including at least two tunnel sections disposed one each on opposite sides of a flexible connection, the flexible connection for supporting a vertical swinging motion of one of the at least two tunnel sections relative to the other one of the at least two tunnel sections, the overhead adjustable support system comprising: a first support member for being mounted to one of the at least two tunnel sections at a first point proximate the flexible connection, and having a free end for being disposed elevationally above the one of the at least two tunnel sections; a second support member for being mounted to the other one of the at least two tunnel sections at a second point proximate the flexible connection, and having a free end for being disposed elevationally above the other one of the at least two tunnel sections; and, at least a lift mechanism having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a distance between the first end and the second end being controllably variable, the at least a lift mechanism in hinged communication at the first end thereof with the free end of the first support member and in hinged communication at the second end thereof with the free end of the second support member, whereby varying the distance between the first end and the second end of the at least a lift mechanism effects a change to the orientation of the at least two tunnel sections relative to the flexible connection so as to vertically swing one of the at least two tunnel sections relative to the other one of the at least two tunnel sections about a horizontal axis aligned with the flexible connection.