Platform entrance gate safety barrier for a mobility vehicle lift

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10426673-B2
Application number	US-201715444461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Mar 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A lift platform assembly coupled to a floor and capable of transitioning a lift platform between a stow position and a ground level position. The lift platform assembly has one or more arms coupling the lift platform to the floor, a gate mount coupled to the lift platform at an outboard end, a retention gate coupled to the gate mount at a first terminus, and a mount pivot axis defined through the gate mount and parallel to a lift platform plane. The retention gate pivots about the mount pivot axis as the lift platform assembly transitions from the ground level position to the stow position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wheelchair lift assembly for a vehicle having a vehicle floor, comprising:
a plurality of arms configured to be coupled to the vehicle floor;
a platform assembly coupled at a first end thereof to at least one of the plurality of arms, the platform assembly including a floor surface that defines a lift platform plane, wherein the platform assembly is movable between a stowed position and an open position;
a gate mount coupled to a second end of the platform assembly, the second end being opposite the first end, wherein the gate mount defines a first pivot axis;
a gate including a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the gate mount; and
a second pivot axis defined through the gate mount and parallel to the lift platform plane;
wherein the gate is pivotable relative to the platform assembly about the second pivot axis as the platform assembly moves between the stowed and open positions.

2. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the second pivot axis, and the gate is pivotable about the first pivot axis when the platform assembly is in the open position.

3. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the platform assembly is in the stowed position the gate is disposed substantially parallel with the lift platform plane.

4. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the platform assembly is in the open position the gate is disposed substantially perpendicular to the lift platform plane.

5. The lift assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a roll stop plate pivotally coupled to the platform assembly at the second end, wherein the gate is independently pivotable about the second pivot axis relative to the roll stop plate.

6. The lift assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a latch member coupled to the gate; and
a latch assembly coupled to the platform assembly;
wherein, the latch assembly is removably coupled to the latch member.

7. The lift assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the gate is pivotable about the first pivot axis when the platform assembly is in the open position and the latch member is not coupled to the latch assembly; and
the gate is restricted from pivoting about the first pivot axis when the latch member is coupled to the latch assembly.

8. The lift assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a roll stop plate pivotally coupled to the second end of the platform assembly;
wherein, the roll stop plate is pivotable between a barrier position in which the roll stop plate is misaligned with the floor surface, and a planar position in which the roll stop plate is substantially aligned with the floor surface;
wherein, the latch assembly is removably coupled to the roll stop plate when the roll stop plate is in the barrier position.

9. A pivot base assembly for a lift platform movable between a stowed position and a ground level position, comprising:
a gate mount pivotally coupled to the lift platform about a mount pivot axis at a first platform side;
a retention gate pivotally coupled to the gate mount about a gate axis;
wherein the mount pivot axis is perpendicular to the gate axis;
further wherein the retention gate pivots about the mount pivot axis as the lift platform transitions between the stowed position and the ground level position;
further wherein the retention gate is pivotable about the gate axis when the lift platform is in the ground level position.

10. The pivot base assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a gate mount stop coupled to the lift platform; and
a lift platform plane defined through a surface of the lift platform;
wherein the gate mount stop contacts the gate mount when the gate axis is about perpendicular to the lift platform plane.

11. The pivot base assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a latch pivotally coupled to the lift platform at a second platform side; and
a latch member coupled to the retention gate;
wherein the latch selectively couples the latch member to the second platform side;
wherein, when the latch is coupled to the latch member, the retention gate does not substantially rotate about the gate axis.

12. The pivot base assembly of claim 11 , further wherein when the latch is not coupled to the latch member, the retention gate is pivotable about the mount pivot axis.

13. The pivot base assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a bump release plate coupled to the latch;
wherein when the lift platform is in the ground level position, the bump release plate contacts a ground surface to uncouple the latch member from the latch.

14. The pivot base assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a roll stop plate pivotally coupled to the lift platform and pivotable between a barrier position and a planar position;
wherein the latch selectively couples the roll stop plate to the lift platform when the roll stop plate is in the barrier position.

15. The pivot base assembly of claim 14 , further wherein the roll stop plate restricts the retention gate from pivoting about the gate axis when the roll stop plate is in the barrier position.

16. A lift platform assembly configured to be coupled to a floor and transition a lift platform between a stowed position and a ground level position, comprising:
one or more arms coupling the lift platform to the floor;
a gate mount pivotally coupled to the lift platform along a first platform side, the gate mount defining both a mount pivot axis and a gate axis therethrough;
a retention gate pivotally coupled to the gate mount;
a roll stop plate pivotally coupled to the lift platform at an outboard end and extending between the first platform side and a second platform side; and
a latch assembly coupled to the lift platform at the second platform side and configured to selectively couple the retention gate to the second platform side;
wherein when the latch assembly is not coupled to the retention gate and the lift platform is in the ground level position, the retention gate is pivotable about the gate axis away from the second platform side.

17. The lift platform assembly of claim 16 , further wherein the latch assembly selectively couples the roll stop plate to the lift platform when the roll stop plate is in a barrier position.

18. The lift platform assembly of claim 16 , further wherein when the lift platform is in the ground level position, the retention gate is pivotable about the gate axis between a closed position and an opened position.

19. The lift platform assembly of claim 18 , further wherein the roll stop plate is pivotable between:
a barrier position, wherein the roll stop plate provides a barrier along a planar surface of the lift platform; and
a planar position, wherein the roll stop plate is substantially aligned with the planar surface of the lift platform;
wherein the retention gate is restricted from transitioning from the closed position to the opened position when the roll stop plate is in the barrier position.

20. The lift platform assembly of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first vertically disposed lift arm coupled to an inward portion of the lift platform at the first platform side; and
a link arm coupling the first vertically disposed lift arm to the gate mount;
wherein, as the lift platform transitions from the stowed position to the ground level position, the link arm pivots the gate mount about the mount pivot axis.

Assignees

• Braun Corp

Inventors

• Budd Ii Alfred Lewis
• Bettcher Iii Robert Earl

Classifications

• A61G3/062 Primary

  using lifts connected to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60P1/4457

  Means for immobilising the load or preventing it from rolling off during lifting; Man-rails · CPC title

• B60P1/4492

  Design or construction of the moving platform itself · CPC title