Patent ID: 7284944

Claim:
An apparatus for lifting a wheelchair from a first location to a second location generally above the first location, transporting the wheelchair from the second location to a third location, and moving the wheelchair from the third location downward to a fourth location comprising: a lift assembly for moving the wheelchair from the first location to the second location, said lift assembly including an upright first member and an upright second member movably mounted on the first member, a first linear actuator connected to the first and second members operable to selectively raise and lower the second member relative to the first member, a platform having a top surface for supporting the wheelchair, a coupling member having a front portion and a rear portion located along the middle of the top surface of the platform adapted to be connected to the wheelchair, fasteners securing the coupling member to the platform, means securing the second member to the rear portion of the coupling member to locate said coupling member and platform in front of the second member, a first stop member mounted on the coupling member between the front and rear portions thereof operable to allow movement of the wheelchair from the front portion toward the rear portion of the coupling member and prevent rearward movement of the wheelchair to the rear portion of the coupling member thereby positioning the wheelchair on the platform, a headrest connected to the first member of the lift assembly above and rearwardly of the platform, a transport assembly connected to the first member for moving the lift assembly, headrest and platform from the second location to the third location, said transport assembly including a first beam adapted to be a connected to a support and a second beam movably mounted on the first beam for movement between extended and contracted positions, said second beam being secured to said first member of the lift assembly, a second linear actuator connected to the first and second beams operable to selectively move the second beam between said extended and contracted positions thereby moving the lift assembly, headrest and platform from the second location to the third location, anchors located in the fourth location adapted to be secured to a fixed support for holding the platform into the fourth location, said anchors comprising a plurality of upright fixed pins, said platform having a plurality of holes accommodating the pins to support and retain the platform in the fourth location and a second stop member for preventing forward movement of the wheelchair on the platform when the platform is in the fourth location, said first actuator being operable to move the platform downward from the third location to the fourth location to locate the fixed upright pins through the holes in the platform thereby retaining the platform in the fourth location.