# US 2014/0151157 A1 · Stairlift > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151157 A1 - Document ID: US20140151157A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/878,559 - Filed: 2011-10-21 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-21 - Assignees: Handicare Accessibility Limited - Inventors: David Hall; Jonathan David Handley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151157A1 ## CPC - B66B 9/0815: {Rack and pinion, friction rollers} - B66B 9/0838: {Levelling gears} - B66B 9/0807: {Driving mechanisms} - B66B 9/0853: {Lifting platforms, e.g. constructional features} - B66B 9/08: associated with stairways, e.g. for transporting disabled persons {(facilitating access of invalids to vehicles A61G3/02)} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract A stairlift (12) comprises a carriage (10) moveable along a rail (14) by a drive means (18) and a seat (34) moveably coupled to the carriage. Levelling means are provided for altering the orientation of the seat with respect to the carriage. Further, limiting means (40) are provided for limiting movement of the seat with respect to the carriage so as not to exceed a predetermined angle of inclination of the seat, and comprising locking means (42). When the angle of inclination of the seat reaches the predetermined angle, the limiting means mechanically engages with the seat assembly to prevent further movement of the seat and operates the locking means to secure the seat in position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stairlift comprising: a carriage moveable along a rail by a drive mechanism; a seat moveably coupled to the carriage; a levelling mechanism operable in either of two opposing directions for altering to alter the orientation of the seat with respect to the carriage; and a limiting mechanism configured to limit movement of the seat with respect to the carriage so as not to exceed a predetermined angle of inclination of the seat, and comprising a locking mechanism; wherein, when the angle of inclination of the seat reaches said predetermined angle, the limiting mechanism mechanically engages with the seat assembly to prevent further alteration of the orientation of the seat and operates the locking mechanism to secure the seat in position to prevent movement of the seat in either of said two directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stairlift of claim 1, wherein the limiting mechanism is pivotally or rotatably moveable with respect to the carriage or the seat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The stairlift of claim 2, wherein the limiting mechanism comprises a pendulum that is free to move with respect to the seat until said predetermined angle is reached. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The stairlift of claim 3, wherein the pendulum comprises formations that are configured to interengage with correspondingly shaped formations provided on a seat assembly that includes the seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stairlift of claim 4, wherein the interengaging formations comprise teeth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The stairlift of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member trapped between said pendulum and said seat when relative rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat is less than the predetermined angle of inclination, and wherein the locking member is freed to move so as to operate the locking mechanism when relative rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat reaches the predetermined angle of inclination. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stairlift of claim 6 wherein the locking member comprises a pin received in a substantially horizontal slot in said pendulum and in a vertically oriented slot in a member affixed to the seat, and wherein the horizontal slot extends into a substantially vertical slot into which the pin can drop when relative rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat reaches the predetermined angle of inclination. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stairlift of claim 7 wherein the vertically oriented slot in the member affixed to the seat and the substantially vertical slot in the pendulum are arranged such that when the pin drops further relative rotation between the pendulum and the seat is prevented by the pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stairlift of claim 1, further comprising a stopping device configured to stop movement of the carriage along the rail on engagement of the limiting mechanism with the seat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stairlift of claim 9 wherein the stopping device comprises a limit switch activated by said limiting mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The stairlift of claim 1 wherein the limiting mechanism is adapted to limit movement of the seat with respect to the carriage so as not to exceed a predetermined angle of inclination of the seat in either of said two opposing directions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stairlift of claim 11 wherein the limiting mechanism is substantially symmetrical in each of the opposing directions. ### Claim at position 13 13-23. (canceled) ### Claim 24 A method of installing a stairlift in an installation, the method comprising: providing a rail having a first end and a second end, the rail being installed such that the second end is vertically higher than the first end; mounting a carriage on the rail at the first end, the carriage being moveable with respect to the rail; providing a drive mechanism configured to drive the carriage along the rail; driving the carriage along the rail from the first end to expose the first end; and mounting to the first end an additional rail member to extend the length thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising mounting a seat and/or footplate assembly to the carriage. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising driving the carriage down to or near the first rail end in order to mount the footplate assembly to the carriage at the lowest possible position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the additional rail member is removable from the rail when the carriage has been driven up the rail to allow access thereto. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the rail is a mono rail. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the carriage is of minimum width to facilitate mounting to and/or removal from the rail. ### Claim 30 A stairlift installation comprising: a rail having a first end and a second end that is positioned vertically higher than the first end; a carriage moveable along the rail; a drive mechanism configured to drive the carriage along the rail; and an additional rail member mountable to the first end of the rail when the carriage is in a position on the rail that permits access thereto, wherein the carriage is adapted to be mounted onto the rail at the first end without the additional rail mounted thereto, and to be driven by the drive mechanism along the rail and the additional rail when the additional rail is mounted thereto. ### Claim at position 21 31-36. (canceled) ### Claim 37 A stairlift comprising: a carriage moveable along a rail by a drive means mechanism; a seat moveably coupled to the carriage; a levelling mechanism configured to alter the orientation of the seat with respect to the carriage; a limiting mechanism configured to limit movement of the seat with respect to the carriage so as not to exceed a predetermined angle of inclination of the seat, the limiting mechanism comprising a pendulum that is free to move with respect to the seat until said predetermined angle is reached; and a locking member trapped between said pendulum and said seat when relative rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat is less than the predetermined angle of inclination, and wherein the locking member is freed to move so as to secure the seat in position to prevent movement of the seat when relative rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat reaches the predetermined angle of inclination. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The stairlift of claim 37 wherein, when the angle of inclination of the seat reaches said predetermined angle, the limiting mechanism mechanically engages with the seat assembly to prevent further alteration of the orientation of the seat. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The stairlift of claim 37 wherein the locking member comprises a pin received in a substantially horizontal slot in said pendulum and in a vertically oriented slot in a member affixed to the seat, and wherein the horizontal slot extends into a substantially vertical slot into which the pin can drop when relative the rotation of the pendulum with respect to the seat reaches the predetermined angle of inclination.