Patent ID: 8246285

Claim:
An aircraft loader, comprising: a bridge platform and an elevator platform for transferring loads therebetween, each of the two platforms being movable between respective uppermost and lowermost positions; and a barrier system, including: first and second upright guiding elements, each being respectively attached to the bridge platform on each side thereof; first and second supporting elements, each being mounted on a corresponding side of the elevator platform in alignment with the corresponding guiding element; and an inverted-U-shaped element having first and second legs and a transverse element extending therebetween, each of said legs being slidably mounted inside a respective one of the guiding elements and cooperating with a corresponding one of the supporting elements that are adapted for supporting the legs and driving the inverted-U-shaped element with the elevator platform, said inverted-U-shaped element being slidable between a raised position providing a passage for the loads thereunder when the bridge platform and the elevator platform extend at a same level and a lower position wherein the transverse element extends across the passage for the loads for providing a guardrail between said platforms when said elevator platform extends below the bridge platform.