Wheelchair lift apparatus

A wheelchair lift apparatus comprising:

• (a) a lift rail structurally arranged to be connected to a wheelchair in a generally vertical orientation at a first front vertical frame member of the wheelchair;
• (b) a generally flat support plate (i) engaged with the lift rail to be movable along at least a portion of the lift rail and (ii) structurally arranged so that, with the lift rail connected to the wheelchair and the support plate engaged with the lift rail, the support plate extends forward from the wheelchair in a generally horizontal orientation;
• (c) an actuator structurally arranged and operatively coupled to move the support plate along the lift rail between a ground position and a seat position, the support plate being positioned (i) on or near the ground while in the ground position and (ii) generally flush with a seat of the wheelchair while in the seat position;
• and
• (d) a support leg structurally arranged to be connected to the wheelchair at a lower front portion of the wheelchair and moveable between (i) a support position in contact with the ground so as to prevent or limit forward tilting of the wheelchair and (ii) a retracted position not in contact with the ground so as to enable unimpeded rolling movement of the wheelchair.