Vehicle mounted access ramp for wheelchair users

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening, pivot means mounting the lower edge of said door upon said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the respective lower edges of said door and said door opening, reversible power lift means mounted on said frame and coupled to said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said door projects outwardly from the lower edge of said opening with the outer end portion of the projected door supported upon the ground, means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface, first ramp means mounted on said door and operable to define a first ramp between the ground and said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, second ramp means mounted on the vehicle floor operable to define a second ramp extending between said main ramp surface and said vehicle floor when said door is in a fully or partially lowered position, said second ramp means comprising a generally rectangular second ramp plate, hinge means mounting said plate on said floor for hinging movement about a hinge axis parallel to said horizontal axis and extending generally along one edge of said plate, the opposite edge of said plate being slidably engaged with said main ramp surface during raising and lowering movement of said door, and anti-rattle means for maintaining said plate out of engagement with said ramp surface when said door is in its closed position.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising first lift control means mounted upon and movable with said ramp assembly for controlling operation of said lift means.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising first lift control means for controlling operation of said lift means mounted on said plate for movement therewith, said first lift control means including a control pedestal projecting from said plate to a distal end accessible to a person seated in a wheelchair located on said ramp assembly when said door is in a fully or partially lowered position, and lift control elements mounted adjacent the distal end of said pedestal.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 3 further comprising second and third lift control means located respectively on the exterior and interior of said vehicle adjacent a side of said door opening, said second control means being accessible to a person seated in a wheelchair outside said vehicle.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 1 further comprising remote control means for controlling operation of said lift operable by a person seated in a wheelchair.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said power lift means comprises rotary shaft means rotatably mounted On said frame for rotation about a drive axis parallel to said horizontal axis adjacent the upper edge of said door opening, reversible motor means drivingly coupled to said shaft means, flexible tension means coupled at one end to said shaft means to be wound upon or unwound from said shaft means upon rotation thereof, and coupling means coupling the other end of said tension means to the end of said door remote from said pivot means to raise or lower said door as said tension means is wound onto or unwound from said shaft means.

Claim 8

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said first ramp means is hingedly mounted upon said door for pivotal movement about a second axis parallel to said horizontal axis extending generally along the upper edge of said door, spring means biassing said first ramp means about said second axis in a direction increasing the included angle between said first ramp means and said main ramp surface, coupling means including means coupling one end of said tension means to said first ramp means at a location displaced from said second axis to pivot said first ramp means against the action of said spring means upon the application of tension to said tension means, and stop means limiting pivotal movement of said first ramp means by said tension means to a position wherein the included angle between said main ramp surface and said first ramp means is approximately 90*.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the motive force for lowering said door is gravity, said lift means controlling the rate of speed of said door in lowering movement, and resilient means biassing said door away from said closed position to initiate lowering movement of said door from said closed position.

Claim 10

In combination with a van-type vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening having upper and lower edges; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening with said door having upper and lower edges, pivot means mounting said door on said frame adjacent the lower edge of said means defining said door opening for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the door opening, lift means mounted on said frame adjacent the upper edge of said means defining said door opening and connected with the upper portion of said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said rear projects outwardly from said vehicle with the outer end of said door supported upon the ground, first means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, and second means defining a transition ramp surface extending from the vehicle floor to said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position or in positions immediate said closed and said lowered positions, said means defining said main ramp surface comprising a plate-like member fixedly secured to the inner surface of said door, said door having a recess in its inner surface extending along the major portion of its upper edge, said plate-like member having a depressed portion extending across said recess to define a transition surface inclined from a first location closely adjacent the outer surface of the door along its upper edge to a location overlying the inner surface of the door at a location spaced inwardly of the door from its upper edge to provide a reduced incline between the ground and the inner surface of the door when the door is in its lowered position, said access ramp assembly also including an approach ramp hingedly mounted on the upper edge of said door along said depressed portion, and means on said lift means operably to hinge said approach ramp upwardly to define a safety gate at the outer end of said ramp assembly during raising and lowering movement of said lift, Said lift means comprising a pair of straps, anchor means mounted on opposite sides of said approach ramp respectively connected to one end of each strap, bracket means adjacent the upper edge of said door at each side of said depressed portion, said straps passing from said anchors through said bracket means, rotatable shaft means mounted within said vehicle adjacent the upper edge of said door and coupled to the other ends of said straps to raise or lower said door as said straps are wound upon or unwound from said shaft means, anchors being engageable with said brackets upon the application of tension to said straps to locate said approach ramp in said safety gate position, and spring means biassing said approach ramp away from said safety gate position.

Claim 11

In combination with a van-type vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening having upper and lower edges; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening with said door having upper and lower edges, pivot means mounting said door on said frame adjacent the lower edge of said means defining said door opening for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the door opening, lift means mounted on said frame adjacent the upper edge of said means defining said door opening and connected with the upper portion of said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said rear projects outwardly from said vehicle with the outer end of said door supported upon the ground, first means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, and second means defining a transition ramp surface extending from the vehicle floor to said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position or in positions immediate said closed and said lowered positions, said means defining said main ramp surface comprising a plate-like member fixedly secured to the inner surface of said door, said door having a recess in its inner surface extending along the major portion of its upper edge, said plate-like member having a depressed portion extending across said recess to define a transition surface inclined from a first location closely adjacent the outer surface of the door along its upper edge to a location overlying the inner surface of the door at a location spaced inwardly of the door from its upper edge to provide a reduced incline between the ground and the inner surface of the door when the door is in its lowered position, said access ramp assembly also including an approach ramp hingedly mounted on the upper edge of said door along said depressed portion, and means on said lift means operably to hinge said approach ramp upwardly to define a safety gate at the outer end of said ramp assembly during raising and lowering movement of said lift, Said lift means comprising a pair of straps, anchor means mounted on opposite sides of said approach ramp respectively connected to one end of each strap, bracket means adjacent the upper edge of said door at each side of said depressed portion, said straps passing from said anchors through said bracket means, rotatable shaft means mounted within said vehicle adjacent the upper edge of said door and coupled to the other ends of said straps to raise or lower said door as said straps are wound upon or unwound from said shaft means, anchors being engageable with said brackets upon the application of tension to said straps to locate said approach ramp in said safety gate position, and spring means biassing said approach ramp away from said safety gate position.

Claim 12

In combination with a van-type vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening having upper and lower edges; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening with said door having upper and lower edges, pivot means mounting said door on said frame adjacent the lower edge of said means defining said door opening for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the door opening, lift means mounted on said frame adjacent the upper edge of said means defining said door opening and connected with the upper portion of said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said rear projects outwardly from said vehicle with the outer end of said door supported upon the ground, first means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, and second means defining a transition ramp surface extending from the vehicle floor to said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position or in positions immediate said closed and said lowered positions, said second ramp means comprising a generally rectangular plate; hinge means mounting one edge of said plate upon said floor for pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to said horizontal axis, the opposite edge of said plate being slidably engaged with said main ramp surface during raising and lowering of said door, and wherein said pivot axis is offset inwardly of said vehicle from said horizontal axis whereby said plate is inclined upwardly and outwardly of said vehicle when said door is in said closed position, and resilient means pivotally biassing said opposite edge of said plate toward said main ramp surface.

Claim 13

In combination with a van-type vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening having upper and lower edges; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening with said door having upper and lower edges, pivot means mounting said door on said frame adjacent the lower edge of said means defining said door opening for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of the door opening, lift means mounted on said frame adjacent the upper edge of said means defining said door opening and connected with the upper portion of said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said rear projects outwardly from said vehicle with the outer end of said door supported upon the ground, first means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, and second means defining a transition ramp surface extending from the vehicle floor to said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position or in positions immediate said closed and said lowered positions, said second ramp means comprising a generally rectangular plate; hinge means mounting one edge of said plate upon said floor for pivotal movement about a pivot axis parallel to said horizontal axis, the opposite edge of said plate being slidably engaged with said main ramp surface during raising and lowering of said door, and wherein said pivot axis is offset inwardly of said vehicle from said horizontal axis whereby said plate is inclined upwardly and outwardly of said vehicle when said door is in said closed position, and resilient means pivotally biassing said opposite edge of said plate toward said main ramp surface.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 10 further comprising anti-rattle means for holding said plate out of contact with said main ramp surface when said door is in its closed position.

Claim 15

In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening, pivot means mounting the lower edge of said door upon said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the respective lower edges of said door and said door opening, reversible power lift means mounted on said frame and coupled to said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said door projects outwardly from the lower edge of said opening with the outer end portion of the projected door supported upon the ground, means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface, first ramp means mounted on said door and operable to define a first ramp between the ground and said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, second ramp means mounted on the vehicle floor operable to define a second ramp extending between said main ramp surface and said vehicle floor when said door is in a fully or partially lowered position, and first lift control means mounted upon and movable with said ramp assembly for controlling operation of said lift means.

Claim 16

In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening; an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising a door adapted to close said door opening, pivot means mounting the lower edge of said door upon said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the respective lower edges of said door and said door opening, reversible power lift means mounted on said frame and coupled to said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said door projects outwardly from the lower edge of said opening with the outer end portion of the projected door supported upon the ground, means on the inner surface of said door defining a main ramp surface, first ramp means mounted on said door and operable to define a first ramp between the ground and said main ramp surface when said door is in said lowered position, second ramp means mounted on the vehicle floor operable to define a second ramp extending between said main ramp surface and said vehicle floor when said door is in a fully or partially lowered position, and first lift control means mounted upon and movable with said ramp assembly for controlling operation of said lift means.

Claim 17

In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening, an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising: a door adapted to close said door opening; pivot means mounting the lower edge of said door upon said frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending parallel to the respective lower edges of said door and said door opening; reversible power lift means mounted on said frame and coupled to said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said door projects outwardly from the lower edge of said opening with the outer end portion of the projected door contiguous to the ground; means on the inner surface of said door defining a ramp surface for supporting a person; and lift control means mounted upon and movable with said door whereby a person on said ramp surface can control operation of said power lift means.

Claim 18

In combination with a vehicle having a frame, a floor, and means defining a generally rectangular door opening, an access ramp assembly providing access between the vehicle floor and the ground, said ramp assembly comprising: a door adapted to close said door opening; pivot means mounting the lower edge of said door upon said frame for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis extending parallel to the respective lower edges of said door and said door opening; reversible power lift means mounted on said frame and coupled to said door for raising and lowering said door about said axis between a closed position closing said door opening and a lowered position wherein said door projects outwardly from the lower edge of said opening with the outer end portion of the projected door contiguous to the ground; means on the inner surface of said door defining a ramp surface for supporting a person; and lift control means mounted upon and movable with said door whereby a person on said ramp surface can control operation of said power lift means.