Vehicle flip-out ramp

A wheelchair ramp assembly, comprising:

• (a) a frame attachable to a vehicle having a floor;
• (b) a platform coupled to a portion of the frame;
• (c) a ramp coupled to at least one of the platform or the frame and having a lower surface and a weight;
• (d) a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and platform for reciprocating the ramp between a deployed position and a stowed position in response to a force, wherein at least a portion of the reciprocating mechanism reciprocates between a first direction when the ramp is moved from the stowed to an intermediate position and a second direction when the ramp is moved from the intermediate to the deployed position;
• and
• (e) a lifting assembly disposed between the platform and the frame to reciprocably displace the platform into and out of a position substantially flush with the floor as the ramp is reciprocated between the deployed and stowed positions.

A wheelchair ramp assembly, comprising:

• (a) a frame attachable to a vehicle having a floor;
• (b) a platform coupled to a portion of the frame;
• (c) a ramp reciprocably coupled to at least one of the frame or the platform and having a weight;
• (d) an energy storage apparatus coupled to the ramp for counterbalancing the weight of the ramp during reciprocation of the ramp between a deployed position, an intermediate position, and a stowed position, wherein at least a portion of the energy storage apparatus reciprocates between a first direction when the ramp is moved from the stowed to the intermediate position and a second direction when the ramp is moved from the intermediate to the deployed position;
• and
• (e) a lifting assembly disposed between the platform and the frame to reciprocably displace the platform into and out of a position substantially flush with the floor as the ramp is reciprocated between the deployed and stowed positions.

A wheelchair ramp assembly, comprising;

• (a) a platform adapted to be coupled to a vehicle;
• (b) a ramp coupled to at least one of the platform or the frame and having a weight;
• and
• (c) a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and platform for reciprocating the ramp between a deployed position, an intermediate position, and a stowed position in response to a force, the reciprocating mechanism comprising an energy storage apparatus for counterbalancing the weight of the ramp during actuation of the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions to reduce the force required to reciprocate the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein at least a portion of the energy storage apparatus reciprocates between a first direction when the ramp is moved from the stowed to the intermediate position and a second direction when the ramp is moved from the intermediate to the deployed position.

A wheelchair ramp assembly, comprising;

• (a) a frame attachable to a vehicle having a floor;
• (b) a platform coupled to a portion of the frame;
• (c) a ramp coupled to the platform and having a weight;
• and
• (d) energy storage means coupled to the ramp for counterbalancing the weight of the ramp during actuation of the ramp between a deployed position, an intermediate position, and a stowed position, wherein at least a portion of the energy storage means reciprocates between a first direction when the ramp is moved from the stowed to the intermediate position and a second direction when the ramp is moved from the intermediate to the deployed position.

A wheelchair ramp assembly, comprising:

• (a) a platform mounted to a vehicle having a floor, the platform reciprocably mounted to the vehicle to reciprocate the platform between a raised position, wherein the platform is substantially flush with the floor, and a recessed position;
• (b) a ramp having a weight, the ramp coupled to a reciprocating mechanism for selective actuation between a deployed position and a stowed position in response to a force, wherein when the ramp is in the stowed position, the platform is in a plane located below the floor;
• and
• (c) a counterbalance assembly cooperatively coupled to the ramp to counterbalance the weight of the ramp during actuation of the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions to reduce the force required to reciprocate the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions, wherein the counterbalance assembly further comprises a torsion assembly having a rotating end and fixed end, wherein the torsion assembly comprises a torsion rod extending between the rotating and fixed ends of the torsion assembly, wherein the weight of the ramp causes the torsion rod to twist about the fixed end of the torsion assembly when the ramp is reciprocated between the deployed and stowed positions to resist the weight of the ramp, wherein the counterbalance assembly further comprises an actuating arm rotatably attached to the torsion assembly and first and second bearing surfaces cooperatively coupled to the ramp, wherein the first and second bearing surfaces move in a predetermined path as the ramp reciprocates between the deployed and the stowed positions to contact a portion of the actuating arm and cause the torsion rod to twist, wherein one end of the actuating arm includes a cammed surface, wherein the cammed surface is positioned for engagement with at least one of the bearing surfaces, such that as the ramp is reciprocated between the deployed and stowed positions, at least one of the bearing surfaces engages a portion of the cammed surface, thereby twisting the torsion rod to counterbalance the weight of the ramp.