A retractable rail for mounting on a platform of a vehicle lift. The rail folded on top of the platform when the platform is raised into a substantially vertical position in an opening in the vehicle. The rail unfolded and extending upwardly on the platform when the platform is lowered into a horizontal position adjacent the opening in the vehicle. The rail provides the safety feature of allowing the user of the vehicle lift to grip the rail to maintain his balance during the use of the lift as it is raised and lowered adjacent the vehicle.

A wheelchair lift for use in conjunction with a vehicle having a door opening and a floor. The wheelchair lift includes a foldable platform assembly having two platform plates hingeably connected along their adjacent edges which are automatically foldable and stowed at one side of the vehicle door opening.

A wheelchair lift having a foldable platform including a first platform portion foldably coupled to a second platform portion, a lifting frame, at least one lifting arm with one end pivotally coupled to the lifting frame and the other end connected to the second platform portion and adapted to pivot the lifting arm between a substantially vertical stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position. A post extends from the lifting arm and a locking assembly is pivotably coupled to the lifting frame. The locking assembly includes a lever arm pivotably coupled to the lifting frame, a gas spring extending between the lever arm and the lifting frame which operates to resist pivoting of the lever arm, and a mechanical spring extending between the lever arm and the lifting frame which exerts a biasing force operating to pivot the lever arm to engage the post. Pivoting the lifting arm to the deployed position actuates unfolding the platform, while pivoting the lifting arm to the stowed position actuates folding the platform and engages the post with the lever arm.

A lightweight self-propelled vehicle of the tricycle type with all controls reachable by an occupant seated in a wheelchair. A retractable ramp lowers to ground level to permit entry of a person in a wheelchair. The person raises the ramp to provide clearance with the ground, and locks the raised ramp and the wheelchair to the frame of the vehicle. A small horsepower gasoline engine drives the rear wheels via a centrifugal clutch and a single speed transmission having a reversing gear. A hand hydraulic pump operates a hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the wheelchair ramp.

This concerns a wheelchair lift for a vehicle having upper and lower telescopic frames pivoted about an upper horizontal axis to swing out of the side of the vehicle. The lower telescopic frame is raised and lowered by sprocket chains connected around pulleys on a single hydraulic reciprocating motor anchored to the upper frame. A platform is horizontally pivoted to thelower telescopic frame for movement between a vertical and a horizontal position, either manually or by a separate reciprocating motor. The movement of the platform into its horizontal operating position also automatically swings the telescopic frames out from the side of the vehicle. The platform has pivoted along an orthogonal edge thereof a handrail which automatically raises from an inoperative position parallel to the platform when the platform is folded into its vertical inoperative position to an operative vertical position orthogonal to the platform when the platform is in its operative horizontal position. This motion is positively effected by an offset link connected between the base of the lower telescopic frame and a rotatable and axially slideable mounting axle of the handrail. Safety devices such as manual pump for the single lift hydraulic motor and locking slots on the ends of the cam for operating the handrail when in its operative position are also provided. An outer edge of the platform is provided with a ramp-barrier mechanism that acts as a ramp when the platform is in contact with the ground and the barrier when a platform is away from the ground.