Device for transporting loads between various elevations

Abstract

The invention is an improved device for transporting loads between various elevations. Such loads may be handicapped persons in wheelchairs, wheeled truck loads of freight or materials, wheeled people carriers, or other similar loads that require transport from one elevation to another, either ascending or descending. The improved device serves a double mission as a regular stairway facility for ambulatory persons, and as a ramp-type facility for wheeled vehicles carrying a person, or persons, or a load of freight or materials, and other such loads as may require movement from one elevation to another elevation. The improved device for transporting loads between various elevations consists of: a plurality of stairway treads; a plurality of stairway risers; said plurality of stairway treads and plurality of stairway risers being suitably hinged together in alternating sequence so as to be capable of expansion into a ramp-like surface; a plurality of guide slots to control movement of said hinged plurality of stairway treads and stairway risers when moving from a stairway configuration to a ramp-like configuration or the reverse thereof; a plurality of hinge pin-like extensions to connect the hinges, between each stairway tread and each stairway riser, to said plurality of guide slots; a contact member to temporarily affix to a loaded vehicle to be moved; a power means to operate a mechanism to change the stairway configuration to a ramp-like configuration or the reverse; and a power means to operate a mechanism to move the contact member to move said loaded vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.