CA1287320C - Device for transporting loads between various elevations - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention is an improved device for transporting loads between various elevations. Such loads may be handi-capped persons in wheelchairs, wheeled truck loads of freight or materials, wheeled people carriers, or other similar loads that require transport from one elevation to another, either ascending or descending. The improved device serves a double mission as a regular stairway facility for ambulatory persons, and as a ramp-type facility for wheeled vehicles carrying a person, or persons, or a load of freight or materials, and other such loads as may require movement from one elevation to another elevation. The improved device for transporting loads between various elevations consists of: a plurality of stairway treads; a plurality of stairway risers; said plura-lity of stairway treads and plurality of stairway risers being suitably hinged together in alternating sequence so as to be capable of expansion into a ramp-like surface; a plurality of guide slots to control movement of said hinged plurality of stairway treads and stairway risers when moving from a stair-way configuration to a ramp-like configuration or the reverse thereof; a plurality of hinge pin-like extensions to connect the hinges, between each stairway tread and each stairway riser, to said plurality of guide slots; a contact member to tempo-rarily affix to a loaded vehicle to be moved; a power means to operate a mechanism to change the stairway configuration to a ramp-like configuration or the reverse; and a power means to operate a mechanism to move the contact member to move said loaded vehicle.

Description

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BACKI~;ROUND AND SUMM~RY OF THE: INVE:N'rION

The invention is an improved device for transporting loads between various elevations and in particular -to transpor-ting handicapped persons in wheelchairs. Speci~ically, it re-lates to an improved device that serves a dual mission, firstas a regular stairway facility for ambulatory persons, and se-cond as a ramp-like or ramp-type ~acility for wheeled vehicles carryiny a person or persons, or a load of frieght or materials, or other similar loads. The comhination stairway and ramp facility being the means by which the aforementioned loads may be moved from the level of one elevation ~o the level of another elevation.
Such loads in wheeled vehicles might be handicapped per-- sons in wheelchairs, groups of people in wheeled people carriers, packaged freight or materials in wheeled truck means, or other similar loads in suitable wheeled vehicles.
The movement of such loads from one elevation to another elevation may be either an ascending movement or a descending movement~
Devices for moving the aforementioned loads between various elevations in the prior art usually consi.sted of ele-; vators running verticall~ in a sha~t-like enclosure between ~ the various elevations or the equivalent of such vertical ele-; vators running openly or within some restriction that might be ; 25 termed an inclined elevator means. The prior art elevators running in vertical shaft-like enclosures are well known. r~x-; cept fQr the ordinary escalator, or moving stairway, the prior art inclined elevator means are not as well known.

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12~320 Some of the prior art inclinecl elevator means are:
an inclined elevator means mounted on and along the pro-truding edges or nose of the treads of a stairway to one side of the stairway wal]cing area, providing a seat or platform on which a person sits or st~nds while heing moved; a const.ruction type elevator having a framework set at an incline between a ground level elevation and some higher elevation, such as a roof and having a box~like corner for transporting a load from one level to the other; and an inclined set of tracks on and to which a horizontal platform is moveably affixed to ride along the tracks as a load on the horizontal platform is moved from one ele-vation to another by motive power means. None of these concepts of the prior art provide the novel and unique structure of the present invention for moving wheele~ loads from one elevation : 15 to another Other prior art devices for moving wheelchairs from one elevation toanother elevation are described hereinafter, usually described as stair-climbing wheelchairs.
Such stair-climhing wheelchairs consist of wheelchairs having various means affixed thereto to propel the wheelchair . up the series of steps, some of which are: a tri-set of wheels rotatabl~ at the back o.~ the chair and a cro~s~type ~tructure o:~ small rollers at the front o~ the wheelchair which toyether drive the combination to climb -the stairway; a track-like device affixed at the bottom of a wheelchair which crawls up the stalr-way; a set of four wheels on vertically movable su~ports on each side of a wheelchair with the four wheels on each side operating to individually/ as a left and right pair, mount the stairs in turn while maintaining the wheelchair level; a similar .
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device to the latter with three pairs of driving wheels on eacl side of the wheelchair; a track-type device which lays the track on individual treads of a stairway one after the other;
and a plurality of wheels in a star-like configuration inside of a track-means that crawls up a stairway step hy step.
None of the so-called stair-climbing wheelchairs of the prior art provides the novel and unique structure of the present inven~ion for safely moving a wheelchair or other type of wheeled vehicle, as described hereinafter, from one elevation : lO to another elevation.
The improved device of the present invention consists ~ -of a plurality of stairway treads and a plurality of s-tai.rway ~ -risers set in a first configuration of an ordinary stairway which may be used by ambulatory persons. In a second confi-guration the plurality of treads and the plurality of risers are stretched out, as hereinafter described, to form a straight ramp-like means up or down which wheeled vehicles, as herein-before described, may be moved from one elevation to another elevation.
The plurality of stairway treads and the plurality of sta.irway risers are suitably hinged togetller so that they .
may be stretched out into the aforementioned ramp-l.ike rneans.
The plurality of hinge means are each locaked so as to hinge the bottom or lower horizontal edge of each riser to the back ~5 or inside the hori.zontal edge of each riser; and the top or upper hori20ntal edge of each riser to the front or nose of each tread;
thus providing the basic ramp~like surface when stretched ou-t.

- ., , The top horizontal edge of the uppermost riser is simi-larly hinged to the horizontal front or nose of the upper landing or platform of the stairway. The bottom horizontal 12151732(D

edye of the lowermost riser is arranged to feather-edge with the lower landing or floor when stretched into the said ramp-; like configuration.
At each side of each hinge of the plurality of hinges a hinge pin-like extension protrudes beyond the sides oE each riser and tread hinged combination. These hinge pin-like ex-tensions slidably fit into slots, described hereinafter, for support of the risers and treads and for control of the movement of the combination of hinged risersalld treads when changing from a stairway configuration to a ramp-like con-figuration or when reversing that movement.
A plurality of slots ateach side of the s-tairway are provided in the stairway side enclosure means. The hinge pin-like extensions extend into and slidably fit in the respective slots at each hinge pin-like extension location.
The aforementioned slots provide the control of move-ment of the hinge pin-like extensions when the stairway con-figuration is changed to a ramp-like configuration or a reverse : movement is made. The control of movement includes controlling the direction of movement as described hereinafter.
The aforementioned slots are so located and coneigured so that as the hinge pin-like extensions slidably rnove -therein, the risers and treads are brought into the ramp-like configuPation.

~, The slot for each hinge pin-like extension at the nose of cach trcad is straiyht and horizontal, thus the nose of the trearl moves Eorward in a straight line~ The slot Eor each hinge pin-like extension at the bottom of each ris~?r rises in a gëntle forward arc-like curve upwardly.

Thus, when moving into a ramp-like configuration, the nose ol each tread, vlth the top o~ the adjacent riser ' ' ., , ~ .

~ 732~) hinged to it, moves horizontally strai~ht outwardly to a point where the hinged joint will lie in the plane of -~he ramp-like surface.
C'oncurrently, the bottom of each riser, with -the rear edc3e of the adjacent tread hinged to it, moves in the gentle arc oE the slot to a point where this hinged joint will also lie in the plane of ~he ramp-like surface.
When the movement is reversed the hinye pin-like ex-tensions follow the control slots to their original position to return the ram-like configuration to that of a stairway.
At the lower elevation of the dual use device, as a stairway configuration and as a ramp-like configuration, a con-tact member is provided which is temporarily and removably affixed to the load vehicle to be elevated. The contact member is suitably hinged at one end thereof so that it can ~ be raised to provide access to the stairway of the stairway ; configuration when a person desires to walk up or down the stairs.
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Two power means and associated mechanisms are pro-vided as part of the atructure of the invention. A first i 20 power means is connected to a mechanism that changes the stair-way conEiguration to a ramp-like configuration, and to reverse the operation. A second power m~ans operates the contact member, after it is temporarily and removably affixed to the load vehicle, so as to push the load vehicle up the ramp-like sur-face from the lower elevation to the upper elevation; thecontact member when reversed will lead the load vellicle or per-mit th~ load vehicle to move down the ramp-like surface by gravity.

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It is, therefore, an object of this invention to pro-vide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation.

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It i9 another object of this invention to provide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation that may be operated in a stairway configuration or in a ramp-like configuration.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation wherein the wheeled vehicle is a wheelchair.
It is still another ob~ect of this invention to pro-; vide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation wherein the wheeled vehicle is a people carrier.
It is yet another object of this inven-tion to provide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation wherein the wheeled vehicle is a cargo carrier.
It i5 yet a further object of this invention to provide a device to move wheeled vehicles from one elevation to another elevation that will move the wheeled vehicles loaded or un-loaded in an ascending or descending mode between elevations.
Further ob~ects and advantages of the invention will be-come more apparent in light of the following description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH~: DRAWINGS
'; : --Fig. 1 is a partial cross section of a plan view of a device for transportincJ loads between various elevations, shown in a stairway configuration;
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E'ig. 2 is a partial cross-section of the device of Fig. 1, shown in a ramp-like elevation;
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Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5~5 of Fig. l;
Fiy. 6 is an enlaryed partial cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a portion of Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of Fig. 2; and ; Fig. 8 is a mechanism for converting the device for transporting loads in Fig. 1 to the device for transporting loads in Fig. 2 and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawinys and particularl~ to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a device for transporting loads between various elevations is shown at 10.
The device for transporting loads 10 between various elevations is shown in a stairway configuration in Figs. 1 and 3 and in a ramp-like configuration in Figs. 2 and 4.
The stairway confiyuration in Figs. 1 and 3, descrihed in detail hereinaEter, provide a means for ambulatory persons individua]ly, or carrying light loads, to ascent the stairway configuration from a lower elevation 12 to an upper elevation 14, or to descend from an upper elevation 14 to a lower elevation 12.
- The ramp-like configuration in Figs. 2 and 4, des-cribed in detail hereinafter, provide a means for transporting ; ~

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- loads in wheeled vehicles over the ramp-like configuration from a lower elevation 12 to an upper elevation 14, or from an upper elevation 14 to a lower elevation 12.
The lower elevation 12 and the upper elevation 13 may be of such structure as the floors in a building.
~; The device for transporting loads 10 between various elevations is suitably enclosed at the sides 16 and 18. Such ; enclosure sides 16 and 18 may be walls of the general structure in which the device for transporting loads 10 between the afore-mentioned elevations.
Where the enclosed sides 16 and 18 are walls of the ; general structure, the mechanisms, descirbed in detail herein-after, are suitably located within such walls. Where the enclosed sides 16 and 18 are mechanism enclosures of the de-15 vice for transporting loads 10, the enclosured sides 16 and ~8 ~ serve a safety purpose to prevent persons or loads falling i from the sides. In the latter case the enclosured sides 16 and 18 may be con~igured similar to low banister walls such as enclose free-standing or open stairways.
A partition or exterior wall 20 is shown at elevALion 14 for illustration. However, it is to be understood that the locatlon of the device for transporting loads 10 will determine the relative relationship of other walls or objects. The upper ed~e 22 o the device or transporting loads 10 should have adequate clearance from any wall 20 so that loads on wheeled vehicles, described hereinbefore and further described herein-after, ma~ have sufficient space in which to maneuver upon arriving at the upper level 14, or for maneuvering prior to descending to the lower level 12. Thus the upper edge 22 _g_ ,.:.

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should be adequately spaced from any wall 22 or other similar object of the general structure.
; Eigs. ]. and 3 show the device for transporting loads 10 in a stairway configuration. The stairway configuration 24 has a plurality of treads 26 and a plurality of risers 28.
Figs. 2 and 4 show the device for transporting loads 10 in a ramp-llke configura-tion 30. The plurality of treads 26 and the plurality of risers 28 of the stairway configuration 24 are now in line in the plane of the surface of the ramp-; 10 like configuration 30. Thus, the treads 26 and the risers 28 alternate in the plane of ramp-like surface 30.
In Fig. 3 showing the stairway configuration 24, the ramp-like configuration 30 is shown in phantom lines for treads 26 and risers 28.
In Fig. 4 showing the ramp-like configuration 30, the stairway configuration 24 is shown in phantom lines for treads 26 and risers 28~
The manner in which the plurality of treads 26 and the ` plurallty of risers 28 is moved from the stairway configuration ~ 20 24 to the ramp-like configuration 30 is described hereinafter.
; However, it will be noted in Fig. 4 that at the bottom of the ramp-like configuration 30 at the elevation 12 that the l)ol:torr orlowest riser 28 of the stairway conEic~uration 24 :is ~-:Laced in a position 32. rr~-is requires a filler treacl 34 to complete the ramp-like configuration 30. I'he filler tre~ad 34 is shown in the stairway configuration 24 in Figs. 3.
rrO prevent the leading edge or nose 36 o~ the fiLler tread 34 from presenting a safety hazard, the leading edge or nose 36 may he tapered or provided with a feather edge.

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~L287320 ., ; However, a preferred second embodiment is to suitably affix the leading edge or nose 36 to a plurality of narrow slat-like members 3R which has a top surface that is in the same plane as the elevation 12. The arrangement and operation of these ~.
narrow slat-like members 38 is described hereinafter and is shown in Fig. 6.
When the filler tread 34 with the ta~ered or feathered edge 36 is used, provision must be made for a depressed area 40, within the area of the lower elevation 12, within which the filler tread 34 moves when the airway conficJuration 24 is ex-tended into a ramp-like configuration 30.
: The end 42 of the depressed area 40 is spaced from the tapered or ~eathered edge 36 when the device for transporting loads 10 is in the stairway configuration 24, as shown in Fig.
1. When the device for transporting loads 10 is in the ramp-- like configuration 30 the tapered or feather edge 36 interfaces ; with and coincides with the end 42 of the depressed area 40 as shown in Fig. 2.
It is to be noted that the depressed area 40 is within the confines of the enclosed sides 16 and 18. This provides a measure of safety where end 42 of the depressed area 40 must also be tapered or given a feathered edge to prevent exposure to a safety hazard when the device for transporting loads 10 is in either the stairway configuration 24 or the ramp-li.ke con~iguration 30.
; In the secon~ embodiment for t:he lower en(l o the ra~
like configuration 3~, using the plurali-ty of narrow slat-li.ke members 3~, shown in F'ig. 6, the narrow slnt-like memhers 3R are situated within the depressed area 40 so that the top surface ol ,' .

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the filler tread 3~, the top surface of the plurality of narrow slat-like members 38, and the top surface of elevation 12 are substantially in the same horizontal plane.
A transition plate 44 with feathered edges provides the means whereby the narrow slat-like members 38 are moved away as the nose 36 of the filler tread 34 moves into its bottom position as part of the ramp-like configuration 30. It is to be noted that in this second embodiment the nose 36 shown in Fig. 6 is not tapered or feathered as in the first emhodi-ment shown in Fig. 1, but is so constructed so that the top surface of the filler tread 34 is flush with, and ad~acent ; to, the top surface of the first of the narrow slat-like mem-bers 38.
When the stairway configuratlon 24 is moved and con-verted into a ramp-like conEiguration 30, the plurality of ~
narrow slat-like members 38, hingedly 46 affixed to each other `
and hingedly 46 affixed to the leading edge or nose 36 of the filler tread 34, all move toward the end 42 of the depressed area 40. The narrow slat-like members 38 each, in turn, pass ; 20 under the transition plate 44 and then downwardly. I'he narrow slat-like members 38 may be stored temporarily in numerous ways aEter passing under the transition plate 44 and then downwardly, all of which are within the scope and intent of this invention.
The narrow slat-like members 38, after passing un(ler the transition plate 44, move over a drum like roller 48 arl(l then downwardly. The plurality of narrow slat-like members 38 . .
may be-permitted to hang straight downwardly within a slot at enclosure 50, as shown in phantom lines 52, or the distal end .

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narrow slot-like member 54 may be affixed to a reel-l.ik~
device 56. Other means of -temporarily storing the plurality of narrow slat-like members 38 may be used and such vari-ations are within the scope and intent of this invention.
It is to be understood that to have the lowermost transverse edge of the bottom riser 28 move straight outwardly i.n a horizontal direction to the lowermos-t point of the ramp-like configuration 30, thus establishing a slightly steeper ramp configuration 30, and eliminating the filler tread 34, is with-in the scope and intent of this invention. In such a structure the narrow slat-like members 38 are hingedly affixed to the lowermost transverse edge of the bottom riser 28 in a manner similar to the manner in which the slat-like members 38 were .
hingedly affixed to the leading edge or nose 36 of the filler tread 34 as shown in Fig. 7.
It is also to be understood that as a further variation, the lowermost transverse edge of the bottom riser 28 may be moved horizontally paralled with the plane of the elevation 12 without resort to the use of a depressed area 40 and the narrow slat-like members 38. In this latter arrangement, the lowermost transverse edge of the bottom riser 28 is tapered to .
a feather edge on theso called inside oL the riser 28 so as to provide an easy transition from the elevation 12 to the ramp-like confi~uration 30.
It i8 to be noted that in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, ~ive~
risers 28 and four treads 26, exclusive of the filler tread 34 and upper landing of elevation 14, are shown for illustration .
of the device for transporting loads 10. It is to be under-stood that the range of the plurality of treads 26 and risers 28 is unlimited in order to match and facili-tate di~ferencc :n .

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elevations between the lower elevation 12 and the upper elevation 14. 5uch an unlimi-ted range in the plurality of treads 26 and risers 28 is within scope and intent of this invention.
The treads 26 and risers 28 are hingedly 5~ affixed to each other. The uppermost riser 28 is similarly hingedly 58 affixed to the elevation 14 landing at the upper edge 22 of the device for transporting loads 10, ancl to the filler tread 34 or to the narrow slat-like members 38 when so structured.
The hinges 46 and 58 may be piano-type hinges or other similar hinges providing a positive in-line hinged joint that parallel each other in the plurality of hinged joints for positive movement.
The hinges 46 and 58 have ex-tended hinge pins 60 that fit into, are controlled and guided by, an~ are suppor-ted by ancl within slots 62 and 64. Slots 62 are ~or the extended hinc~e pins 60 of and to guide, control, and support the treads 26 when moving from a stairway configuration 24 to a ramp-like 20 configuration 30. Slots 64 are for the extended hinge pi.ns 60 of and ko guide, control, and support the risers 28. The extended h.inge pins 60 are intec3ral and monolithic wi.th the hin~e pin por-tions within the hinges 46 and 58 and extend outwardly on both sicles of the hinges 46 and 58.
The slots 62 are horizontally straight ancl level i.n or-der to guide the nose 66 of each treacl to its position in the plane .of the ramp-like configuration 30. The slo~s 64 are in an upturned arc-like configuration whi.ch follows the path taken by the extended hinge pins 60 of the risers 28 as they e~;Lellcl ~14-,: ..

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`~ and rise concurren-tly in order to bring the juncture of the lowermost point of each riser 28 with thc rearmost point o~
each tread to its position in the plane of the ramp-like configuration 30.
Note that the upper edge 22 of the device for -trans-porting loads 10 is essentially the nose o:E the landing or upper level 14 and is similar to the nose 66 of each tread 26, but the upper edge 22 is stationary.
At the bottom of the ramp-like configuration 30 at the 10 elevation 12, the extende~ hinge pin 60 of the h.inge 46 at the forward en~ of the filler tread 34 follows a similar horizontally straight and level slot 62. This is also the case when the narrow slat-like members 38 are part of the embodiment. If the alternative embodiment is used the lowermost transverse ed~e of the lowermost or bottom riser 28 is moved horizontally with the plane of the elevation 12, without resort to the use of a depressed area 40 and the slat-like members 38, the lowermost transverse edge of the bottom riser 38 moves in a horizontally straight slot 62, instead of an upturned slot 64. This latter embodiment variation then gives all the other slots 62 and 6~ a slightly shorter length as -the plane of the ramp-like configura-tion 30 is at a slightly steeper angle with -the elevation 12.
The movement oE the extended hinge pins 60 in the re-spect.ive slots fi2 and 64 .is by a ~)ower ~eans 6B as shown in~ig. 8. The power means 68 transfers or transmits motion ~o the respective extended hinge pins 60 by a plurality o~ push-pull r4.ds 70. Note that the length of slots 62 and 64 are each progressively longer in length from the top of the stair-way configuration 24, or ramp-like configuration 30, at elevation 14, ..
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to the bottom of the stairway configuration 24, or ramp-like - conEiguration 30. Note, also, -that the slots 62 and 64 are on each side of the device for transporting loads 10.
The plurality of push-pull rods 70 are progressive-ly longer to match the progressively longer distances thatthe extended hinge pins 60 must move in the progressively longer slots 62 and 64, respectively, from top to bottom as hereinbefore described, when converting from a stairway configuration 29 to a ramp-like configuration 30, reversing the movement. The p].urality of push-pull rods 70 are suitahly connected to a co~non motion lever 71 which in -term is suit-ably connected by a power transmission means 69 to the power means 68.

To assure an even movement in the aforementioned conversion from the stairway configuration 24 to the ramp-like configuration 30, the plurality push-pull rods 70 are provided on both sides of the device for transporting loads 10. It is to be understood, however, that to provide the plurality of push-pull rods 70 on one side only, or by a connec-tion means at the center point, transversely, of each tread 26 and riser 28 in the vicinity of the transverse center point of the hinyes 58, is within the scope and intent of t'nis invention.

It is also to be unders-tood, that alternative means for moving the exten-led hinye pins 60 in the slots 62 and 64, respectively, such as by a solid side plate, pair of side plates, or a center plate, is within the scope and in-tent oE
this invention.
Likewise, it is also to be understood that other alternative means for moving the extended hinge pins 60 in the slots 62 and 64, respectively, such as by a train of gears, ; 30 a plurality of racks and pinions, or by other similar or ~ -16-.

873~0 or equivalent means, so as to move the extended hinge pins 60 witllin their respective slots 62 and 64, in both timed and dimensional movement, in converting the device for transporting loads from one mode to another mode of configuration, is within the scope and intent of this invention.
In that regard, it is also within the scope and intent of this invention to provide a plurality of power means, instead of a single power means, to provide a synchronized timed and ; dimentional movement for each tread 26 and riser 28 in connec-ting the device for transporting loads 10 to -the several modes described hereinbefore.
The various alternative power means~ described herein-before, for converting the device for transporting loads 10 from one mode to another mode are somewhat optional, the primary portion of the invention lying in the mechanism of the detalled ~; description of the stairway configuration 24 and the ramp-like configuration 30, and in the means for moving the aforemen-tioned wheeled loads up the ramp-like configuration 30 as will be described hereinafter.
One simulation of the alternat~ve power means for the conversions is shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5 a power source 72 is mechanically transmitted or connected 74 to the alter-native mechanism 76 which is shown schematically.
Regarding the stairway configuration 24 anA the ramp-like configuration 30, there are three variations or emhodiments.
Fig. 1 and 2 show the first embodiment, Fig. 6 shows the seconcl embodimen~ which modifies the structure oE the first embodi-. . .
ment at the elevation 12 level, and Fig. 7, shows the thirdembodiment which modifies the structure of the first embodiment at the elevation 12 level and also modifies the angle of the ~..

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r~like con;~igura,tion 30 in relation to the elevations 12 a,nd 14.
The manner in which a wheeled load is moved up or down the ramp-like confiyuration 30 is by mean of a load push bar 78. The load movement bar 78 removably in-terfaces with a suitable contact means on the wheeled load and upon operation of the power means 80 pushes the wheeled load up the ramp of the ramp-like configuration 30. In reverse, the movement bar 78 serves as a restraining means to lead the wheeled vehicle down the ramp of the ramp-like configuration 30, the wheeled vehicle actually descendiny the ramp by gravity.

l~hen the wheeled vehicle is a wheelchair 92, ~he wheel-chair 92 is moved upon down the ramp with the person in the wheelchair facing down the ramp as the preferred method.
However, it is to be understoo~ that the wheelchair 92 may 15 be moved up or down the ramp with -the person in the wheelchair ~' faciny up the ramp, and such a variation is within the scope and in-tent of the invention.
The wheeled vehicles may be temporarily latched to the wheeled vehicle at the contact means thereon. Such a varia-20~ tion is also within the scope and intent of the invention, ~he movement bar 78 is lock-hincJed 82 at the side where , afEixeA to the mechanism 89 of the power means 80. '~'he lock-hinye 82 permits release and raising tlle movement bar 78 at the lower level elevation 12 -to permit movement o~ a wheele(3 vehicle into po5ition for movement ~lp tlle ramp, or ~'or move-ment of a wheeled vehicle away ~rom -the ramp which has descen-ded the ramp; and at the upper level elevation 14 it permits release and raising the movement bar 78 when the stairway configuration 24 is to be used by ambulatory persons. I'he lock hinge 82 provides a desirable safety factor.
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The movement bar 78, suitably affi~ed to the mechanism - 84 inside the enclosed side 16, moves in a slotlike openiny 86 in the enclosed side 16. The slot-like opening 86 paral~els the plane of the ramp.
Controls 88 for operation of -the power means 68 are located at the elevations 12 and 14. The controls are located conveniently for the person moving the wheeled vehicle or for the person in the wheelchair.
Regarding the power means 80 and the mechanism 84 associa-ted with it, it is to be understood that the mechanism 84 may be belt driven, chain driven, or by any other similar or equivalent means, and that these variations are within the ; scope and intent of the invention.
As can be readily understood from the foregQing des-cription of the invention, the present structure can be con-figured in different modes to providethe ability to change a stairway configuration into a ramp like con~iguration for moving wheeled vehicles up or down the ramp hetween several elevations.
Accordingly, modifications and variations to which the invention is susceptible may be practiced without departin~J
from the scope and intent of the appended claims.

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Claims (11)

1. A device for transporting loads between various elevations, comprising:
a stairway means;
said stairway means consists of a plurality of tread members, a plurality of riser members, and a plurality of hinge means, said stairway means extending from a first elevation to a second elevation, each hinge means of said plurality of hinge means in turn transversely hingedly affixing one of said tread members to one of said riser members, said transverse hinged affixation being provided alternately between the juncture of the lowermost transverse edge of each said riser member and the rearmost transverse edge of the adjacent said tread member, and between the juncture of the forwardmost transverse edge of each said tread member and the uppermost transverse edge of each said riser member, and between the uppermost transverse edge of the topmost riser member of said stairway means and said second elevation, the lowermost distal end of said stairway means being suitably affixed at said first elevation, and a mechanism means, said mechanism means being capable of converting said stairway means into a ramp means, said ramp means having a ramp-like configuration.

2. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 1, wherein said stairway means may be used as a stairway for ambulatory persons.

3. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 1, wherein said ramp means may be used for wheeled loads when in said ramp-like configuration.

4. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 3, wherein said wheeled loads may be persons in wheelchairs, a plurality of people in wheeled people carriers, and cargo in wheeled freight trucks.

5. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 1, and additionally a plurality of hinge pin extensions, said plurality of hinge pin extensions being integral and monolithic extensions of each hinge pin in said plurality of hinge means, said hinge pin extensions being on each end of each said hinge pin so as to protrude from both ends of said hinge means.

6. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 5, wherein said mechanism means consist of a plurality of slots, a power source, a power transmission means, and a housing means, each said hinge pin extension being suitably located within and supported by a respective slot of said plurality of slots equally situated on each side of said stairway means, said mechanism means being suitably enclosed in said housing means, said power transmission means transmitting motion from said power source to said plurality of hinge pin extensions in said plurality of slots, said mechanism means thereby converting said stairway means into said ramp means.

7. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of slots are configured in pairs of two different modes of progressively longer lengths, said two different modes of slots being progressively longer with the shortest slots being adjacent to said second elevation and the longest slots being at said first elevation, each pair of slots supporting a pair of said hinge pin extensions of each said hinge means located at said juncture of said forwardmost transverse edge of each said tread member and the uppermost transverse edge of each said adjacent riser member being configured in a horizontally straight slot mode, each pair of slots supporting a pair of said hinge pin extensions of each said hinge means located at said juncture of said lowermost transverse edge of each said riser member and the rearmost transverse edge of the adjacent said tread member being configured in an upturned arc-like slot mode, said plurality of slots serving to support, guide, and control the movement of said hinge pin extensions when said motion is transmitted to said plurality of hinge pin extensions by said power source through said power transmission means, said configuration of said progressively longer slots guiding said hinge pin extension means to a position so that said plurality of tread members and riser members in line forms said ramp in a single plane.

8. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 7 and additionally, a load movement means, said load movement means being for the purpose of moving a load up said ramp from said first elevation to said second elevation and for controlling the descent of a load from said second elevation to said first elevation, said load movement means consists of a load power means, a load motion transmission mechanism means, a load contact connection means, and a load contact slot means, said load contact connection means having a lock-type hinge means thereon, said lock-type hinge means facilitating the movement of said load contact connection means from a clearance position to a load contact position and providing a means for locking said lock-type hinge means in said two positions, said load contact slot means being located in said housing means, said load contact connection means projecting through said load contact slot means and being affixed to said load motion transmission means, said load transmission means receiving motion from said load power means to move said loads up and down said ramp.

9. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 8 and additionally, control means, said control means being located at said first elevation and said second elevation convenient to the first and second elevation ends of said device for transporting loads between elevations, one of said controls operating said power source of said mechanism means converting said stairway means into said ramp, and the other of said control means operating said load power means to move loads on said ramp.

10. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 7 and additionally, a filler tread member, and a depressed floor area, said filler tread member being suitably hinged at the rear transverse edge thereof to the lowermost transverse edge of the lowermost riser member, said filler tread member being equipped with hinge pin extensions and provided with slot means for said hinge pin extensions in a manner similar to other said tread members, said filler tread member being located at said first elevation and providing for extra length for said ramp at a lesser angle to the horizontal said first elevation, said filler tread member moving within said depressed floor area in said first elevation.

11. A device for transporting loads between various elevations as recited in claim 10 and additionally, a plurality of narrow slat-like members, a plurality of hinge means, a drum-like roller means, a reel-like device, a transition plate, and an enclosure means, each hinge means of said plurality of hinge means hingedly affixing a narrow slat-like member of said plurality of narrow slat-like members to an adjacent slat member, a first narrow slat-like member of said hingedly affixed plurality of narrow slat-like members being hingedly affixed with one of said hinge means to the unhinged transverse edge of said filler tread, said narrow slat-like members fitting into and moving in said depressed floor area, said hingedly affixed plurality of slat-like members moving from said depressed floor area into said enclosure means over said drum-like roller means therein, thereafter the most distal narrow slat-like member of the plurality of narrow slat-like members is hingedly affixed to said reel-like device, said transition plate covering the point where said plurality of narrow slat-like members move from said depressed floor area into said enclosure means.