Patent ID: 7185382

Claim:
A baggage handling unit for retrofitting an existing passenger boarding bridge having an existing foundation that is formed within a portion of the apron surface below the passenger boarding bridge, the existing foundation including a plurality of studs protruding therefrom, the baggage handling unit comprising: a walkway for coupling a terminal building access port and a rotunda of an existing passenger boarding bridge so as to support passenger movement therebetween, the walkway including a baggage access port; a support including a mounting end configured for engaging the plurality of studs protruding from the existing foundation and a support end for supporting the rotunda of the existing passenger boarding bridge at a position that is horizontally displaced from the existing foundation; a baggage elevating element mounted adjacent to the baggage access port of the walkway, the baggage elevating element including a controllable baggage lift mechanism and a baggage enclosure, the controllable baggage lift mechanism coupled to the baggage enclosure for controllably raising and lowering the baggage enclosure between an upper station adjacent to the access port of the walkway and a lower station at a height that is disposed elevationally below the access port of the walkway; and, a mount for fixedly coupling the baggage handling unit to the rotunda about a point opposite an aircraft engaging portion of the existing passenger boarding bridge, such that the baggage handling unit and the rotunda are structurally attached.