Patent ID: 7686562

Claim:
A lift and carrier assembly for a personal-transportation vehicle, comprising: a first column; a second column telescopically disposed within the first column; a platform assembly pivotally coupled to the second column for supporting the personal-transportation vehicle, the platform assembly and the second column translating linearly in relation to the first column between a first and a second position, the platform assembly comprising: (i) a first and a second cross member; (ii) a first platform weldment comprising a first platform for supporting a front wheel of the personal-transportation vehicle, and a first and a second support fixed to the first platform for securely engaging the respective first and second cross members; and (iii) a second platform weldment comprising a second platform for supporting a rear wheel of the personal-transportation vehicle, and a first and a second support fixed to the second platform for securely engaging the respective first and second cross members, wherein the first and second supports of the first and second platform weldments are selectively positionable along the respective first and second cross members so that the relative positions of the first and second weldments can be adjusted; a motor mounted on the first column and coupled to the second column for lifting and lowering the second column and the platform assembly between the first and second positions; a latch movable between a first position, and a second position wherein the latch engages a pin mounted on the second column when the second column and the platform assembly are in the second position thereby securing the second column and the platform assembly in the second position; a first limit switch, wherein the second column and the platform assembly translate linearly in relation to the first column between a first and a second position, the second column contacts the first limit switch thereby causing the first limit switch to generate a first output signal when the second column and the platform assembly reach the second position, and the first output signal causes the motor to deactivate; a second limit switch for generating a second output signal when the latch handle is in its second position; a light that illuminates in response to the first and second output signal; and a third limit switch for generating a third output signal when the latch handle is in its first position, wherein the motor is responsive to the third output signal so that the second column and the platform assembly can be moved from their second to their first position only when the latch handle is in its first position.