Wheelchair ramp

A system for deploying a wheelchair ramp configured to support a wheelchair over a traverse, having a pair of ramp rails connected with cross-members, comprising:

• a hinge having a horizontal pivot axis, configured for attachment to a wheelchair;
• a lifting arm, configured for pivotal attachment at a rear side of the wheelchair about the horizontal pivot axis, and having an interface configured to detachably couple to the wheelchair ramp between the ramp rails and at a respective cross member, and to apply a cantilever force to the ramp at the cross member for suspending the ramp;
• and
• a mechanism configured to supply a force for moving the lifting arm.

A method of operating a wheelchair ramp system, comprising:

• supplying a force to deploy a wheelchair ramp, from a rear of a wheelchair, by lowering a pivotally-mounted lifting arm coupled to the wheelchair ramp;
• advancing the wheelchair forward from the wheelchair ramp;
• advancing the wheelchair rearward toward the wheelchair ramp;
• coupling the pivotally-mounted lifting arm to the wheelchair ramp;
• and
• supplying a force to stow the wheelchair ramp, at the rear of the wheelchair, by raising the pivotally-mounted lifting arm coupled to the wheelchair ramp.