System and method for transferring a wheeled load into a transport vehicle

A method of lifting a load on a transport into and out of a vehicle having an interior floor at a height, the transport having a carriage and a support frame, the method comprising:

• providing at least one extendable rail having a first end, a cot clamp device and a second end substantially enclosed in the vehicle;
• coupling the rail to the interior of the vehicle at a brace located at the first end and at an axle;
• extending the rail outside of the vehicle;
• allowing the brace to pivot the rail about the axle, bringing the second end of the rail in closer proximity to the transport;
• coupling the cot clamp device to the support frame of the transport;
• securing the cot clamping device to the support frame of the transport;
• moving the brace to pivot about the rail while the cot clamping device is coupled to the support frame of the transport sufficiently to raise the carriage of the transport to the height of the interior floor of the vehicle;
• and
• laterally manipulating the transport into the vehicle.

A lift system for use in loading a cot into and unloading a cot from an interior of an ambulance, the cot having a head end, at least one load wheel, a cot clamp device cot mechanism, at least one cot clamp device cot mechanism hole and a support frame, the system comprising:

• a first rail coupled to the ambulance by a brace and further coupled to the ambulance at a first axle, wherein the first rail pivots at the first axle;
• a second rail coupled to the ambulance at a second brace and a second axle, a second extension coupled to the second rail such that the second extension may move axially relative to the second rail and extend beyond the interior of the ambulance;
• a linear actuator coupled to the ambulance and to the brace, wherein the linear actuator has a length and is configured to mechanically vary the length of the linear actuator, wherein the linear actuator is a motorized winch;
• a first extension coupled to the first rail such that the first extension may move axially relative to the first rail;
• the first extension including a cot clamp device, the cot clamp device including a first cot clamp device arm, the first cot clamp device arm configured to pivot with respect to the first extension and configured with at least one hole, the first cot clamp device arm configured to detachably couple to the at least one cot clamp device cot mechanism hole by alignment of the at least one hole of the first cot clamp device arm with the at least one cot clamp device cot mechanism hole and insertion of a cot clamp device pin therein, such that when the cot clamp device is coupled to the support frame the cot clamp device and the support frame are of substantially fixed relative distance, wherein activation of the linear actuator pivots the extension to support at least a portion of the weight of the cot.