Wheelchair lift
AssigneeTip Top Mobility, Inc.
InventorsPaul Steffes, Kenneth S. Eberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The wheelchair lift invention mounts to the roof of a vehicle such as an ordinary automobile using commonly available mounting hardware used for attaching a variety of rooftop storage containers to such vehicles. The wheelchair lift, powered by the vehicle's battery, is remotely operable from the driver's seat of the vehicle using a handheld or dash mounted controller. The preferred embodiment permits easy attachment of the wheelchair to a lifting assembly, which is then elevated with the assistance of an electric motor to a rooftop platform. Once securely positioned in a generally flat orientation, a hingedly attached cover member is lowered over the wheelchair and lifting assembly, and latched into position to the platform or support assembly.
Claims30
A wheelchair lift for raising and lowering a wheelchair to and from a storage area on the roof of a vehicle and storing the wheelchair therein, the vehicle being equipped with a support assembly to which is mounted the wheelchair lift, comprising:
- a supporting frame attachable to the support assembly for maintaining the wheelchair lift in position on the roof of the vehicle, said supporting frame having a proximate side and a distal side;
- a lifting assembly hingedly attached to said proximate side of said supporting frame;
- an extension assembly pivotally attached to said lifting assembly, the wheelchair being releasably attachable to said extension assembly;
- drive means for motivating said lifting assembly;
- motor means engageable with said drive means for motivating said drive means;
- a rigid hood hingedly attached to said distal side of said supporting frame said rigid hood being movable between an open position and a closed position;
- a hinge assembly fixedly attached to said rigid hood and pivotally attached to said supporting frame;
- a hood control linkage for raising and lowering said rigid hood as said lifting assembly is motivated by said drive means;
- and
- a hood control disk having a peripheral surface for cooperating with said hood control linkage for raising and lowering said rigid hood.
A wheelchair lift for raising and lowering a wheelchair to and from a storage area on the roof of a vehicle and storing the wheelchair therein, the vehicle being equipped with a support assembly to which is mounted the wheelchair lift, comprising:
- a supporting frame attachable to the support assembly for maintaining the wheelchair lift in position on the roof of the vehicle, said supporting frame having a proximate side and a distal side;
- a lifting assembly hingedly attached to said proximate side of said supporting frame;
- motorized drive means for motivating said lifting assembly;
- a swing arm pivotally attached to and extending from said lifting assembly;
- a hinged adjustment portion pivotally attached to said swing arm;
- a wheelchair arm pivotally attached to said hinged adjustment portion, whereby said hinged adjustment portion permits adjusting the position of said of said wheelchair arm relative to the vehicle;
- attachment means connected to said wheelchair arm by which the wheelchair may be carried;
- and
- fastening means for fastening the wheelchair to said attachment means.
A wheelchair lift for raising and lowering a wheelchair to and from a storage area on the roof of a vehicle and storing the wheelchair therein, the vehicle being equipped with a support assembly to which is mounted the wheelchair lift, comprising:
- a supporting frame attachable to the support assembly for maintaining the wheelchair lift in position on the roof of the vehicle, said supporting frame having a proximate side and a distal side;
- a lifting assembly hingedly attached to said proximate side of said supporting frame;
- an extension assembly pivotally attached to said lifting assembly, the wheelchair being releasably attachable to said extension assembly;
- and
- a powered linear actuator assembly for motivating said lifting assembly, said powered linear actuator assembly being pivotally attached to said distal side of said supporting frame, said powered linear actuator assembly including an outer tube member engageable with said lifting assembly, a threaded rod having a first end and a second end, said second end of said threaded rod threadedly engaging an inner portion of said outer tube member, and motor means, said first end of said threaded rod engaging said motor means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.